fashion fast GOING ON AN APPAREL DIET The opposite of sustainable is untenable ; or a state of being that can’t be maintained for long. The emotional rush elicited by true love, the physical euphoria that comes from a good workout, or the deep satisfaction felt after a decadent meal are all wonderful, attractive states, but not lasting. For some, bargain-hunting results in the same sort of high. In fact, the lure of low prices and trendy styles that change almost weekly and the desire to snag a good deal can turn into an obsession. Simply put: it’s addicting, and wardrobes grow bloated with new additions, on an almost constant basis. Consumers are bombarded with the message that more is more. Incentives to “earn” items beyond what is needed include: buy one, get one sales, 50% off your next item coupons, gifts with minimum purchase and free shipping offers. The initial thrill of a new purchase or a “free gift” quickly fades and must be revived repeatedly, looping shoppers into an endless, unfulfilling cycle. After a few weeks, new scores can go from being frequently worn to sitting at the bottom of the drawer—or worse yet, part of the 68 pounds of textile waste produced by each American every year. That garment workers worldwide spend long hours, often for little pay, constructing objects that are destined for the dump, is an especially hard truth to learn. In can be frustrating to recognize this and yet not know how to make a change. Modeled after the “Six Items or Less” movement from 2010, UK campaign group Labour Behind the Label launched the Six Items Challenge as a way to show people how to do more with less. The “fast” was originally marketed as a fashion diet for fashionistas who couldn’t stop shopping; Labour Behind the Label (LBL) then adopted the idea in 2012 as a fundraiser for workers’ rights. Through the Challenge, LBL brings awareness to the risks of fast fashion and in turn, raises money to fight for the justice of garment workers. Before the challenge, participants choose six clothing staples from his or her wardrobe (excluding underwear, accessories, athletic wear, outerwear and footwear) and pledge to wear those items—and only those items—for six weeks. Running from February to March, the event provides an opportunity to practice personal sustainability; to explore what is really necessary and what isn’t.
GSI GSI E XIM A MERICA, I NC. EXI
A fearless group of Marist fashion students recently took on the task, raising almost $2000 for Labour Behind the Label:
Rebekkah Colclasure I specifically chose garments that were simple so they could easily be mixed and matched with accessories. I never realized how many looks you could get from one article of clothing—it really goes to show how much we have that we don’t need.
John Scott I dress monochromatically all the time anyway, so this challenge was mainly about shape for me. I like oversized things; mostly black, but I always wear white socks and white shoes. 1. Cropped black slacks 2. Oversized Black T-shirt 3. Black Pique Knit Pullover 4. Big White Dress Shirt 5. Slim Black Pants 6. Black Cashmere Turtleneck
Alexa Abrams I was very excited to choose my six items for the challenge because I find the concept of using fashion as a medium for a cause to be very powerful. 1. Gray Swing Dress 2. Chambray Button Down 3. Red Patterned Dress 4. Cream Knit Sweater 5. Black Leggings 6. Skinny Jeans
1. Black Leggings 2. Maroon Jeans 3. Black Sweater 4. White T-Shirt 5. Black Dress 6. Gray Cardigan
—Kelsi Kobata
94 | Marist Fashion
Vol. 3 | 95
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