There has always been talk about fashion’s harsh impact to sustainable and ethical production, however in recent years there has been a bright spotlight on the production issues of fashion and its impact on the environment especially by the young generation of consumers. At the same time, fashion is reaching new heights in terms of design, trends and how much of it is being produced. As of right now, maximalism fashion is huge trend seen in every magazine and while walking down the streets of an urban jungle such as Toronto. While sustainability promotes the idea on cutting down on buying and maximalism focuses on excess, can the maximalism trend be sustainable? In short, yes! Riley Walsh, a 26-year-old fashion designer who co-owns the streetwear brand “Everything’s Fine” weighed in on the sustainable maximalism conversation as he believes in sustainable/ethical fashion while being a participant in the maximalism trend.
While the term maximalism is usually associated with excess of items, maximalism fashion is the trend of having an aesthetic of excess, not necessarily having actual excess. Unofficially, maximalism fashion is all about putting your own unique style on display for the world to see. Mixing and layering bold prints, colours, fabrics and accessories at any time, regardless of what trends are currently taking place. Riley emphasizes that he loves dressing in the maximalist style because it gives him the opportunity to really showcase his personality through his outfits. Undoubtedly, anyone can be a maximalist fashion dresser while caring about how their clothes are made and who made them.
While the term sustainability has been said and heard many times over the past decade, what does sustainable fashion mean? Sustainability in fashion means producing products with the least amount of damage to the environment as possible. Another part of sustainable fashion is ethical fashion, meaning the clothes are made in safe work conditions by labours who are getting paid a fair wage and who are being treated well by employers. It’s no secret that the fashion industry as a whole, has ignored issues of sustainability and ethically manufacturing for decades. In fact, McKinsey & company, a global consultancy firm reported “the global fashion industry produced around 2.1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases emissions in 2018, equalling 4% of the global total”. Unethical and sustainable production is changing with consumers being more aware of where their clothes are coming from and companies are responding by changing their production methods. With the rise in sustainability, came the trend of minimalism fashion, having very basic timeless pieces such as a white t-shirt or blue jeans that are always in style and can be worn, in other words a “capsule collection”. While minimalism fashion is the preferred way to dress for some, for others it’s too boring and does not allow for any uniqueness. Thus, there are fashion conscious consumers who think they are caught between having to be sustainable or dress the way they would like. The answer to this dilemma is sustainable maximalism.
The benefit of maximalism fashion is that it’s not about following trends and having to buy new clothes every month to keep up with the current trends, rather showcasing your own personal unique style even if it’s not what everyone else is wearing. Therefore, there’s no need for an over consumption of clothing, a common feature of fast fashion. Instead, focusing on investing in more statement pieces is the way to go, for example instead of buying 5 different jackets, buying 2 unique standout jackets that will make everyone stop and stare when you wear them. Another part of maximalism is working with what you already have access to, shopping in your parents or grandparents’ closet is a good place to start! I went on a shopping spree in my grandmas closet and now I have beautiful vintage pieces that were not created by fast fashion and would have gone to the donation box. I also have a friend who started wearing a childhood skirt she loved into a top which she proudly wears now as a 22 year old. Upcycling clothing is great way to practice sustainable maximalism as well. Riley upcycles his own clothing to fit is eccentric style, he’s taken a pair of jeans and adding rhinestones and studs instead of buying new jeans for himself.
Second-hand shopping is the easiest and most effective way be a sustainable maximalist. According to Riley “vintage shopping is great because your saving clothing from eventually getting thrown out and sitting in landfills and it’s a great way to explore your style preferences because there is such a broad spectrum of clothing at thrift stores”. Giving old clothes a new home as opposed to them being thrown out is helping the environment. Furthermore, Riley believes Vintage shopping is the best way to find one-of-a-kind pieces and recommends it regardless of anyone’s style.
Ultimately, maximalism and sustainability can co-exist for the fashionable and sustainable conscious consumer. Investing in clothing that reflects your personal style while thinking about where it came from and how it was made is essential to being a sustainable maximalist. Upcycling and shopping second hand are both easy and affordable methods to dress maximally while staying sustainable
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