Sustainable Fashion: The New Luxury | Marina Spadafora | TEDxLaRomana

Summary

In this TED Talk, the speaker shares a personal journey from the luxury fashion industry to sustainable and fair trade practices. She recounts her career in fashion, working with iconic brands and photographers, before realizing the need for a change towards sustainability. Passionately committed to social entrepreneurship, she now works globally with artisans, creating eco-friendly and ethically produced collections. Highlighting the efforts of designers, communities, and organizations, she advocates for transparency and fairness in the fashion industry, inspiring future generations to embrace sustainable practices and revolutionize the world of fashion.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of sustainable fashion and the positive change it can bring to the world.
• 😀 The speaker's journey includes working in the luxury fashion industry, collaborating with famous photographers, and later transitioning to sustainable fashion.
• 😀 The speaker shares their dedication to supporting artisans globally and highlights the impact of social entrepreneurs who balance fair business practices with social welfare.
• 😀 One of the key projects highlighted involves helping Maasai women in Tanzania stop deforestation by creating leather products from goat hides.
• 😀 Collaborations with brands like Moschino, Pico, and others have focused on creating sustainable fashion lines, with attention to supporting local communities and using eco-friendly materials.
• 😀 The speaker also emphasizes the importance of educating younger generations, particularly Gen Z and millennials, who are demanding greater transparency and sustainability in the fashion industry.
• 😀 Social entrepreneurship is described as a balance between capitalism and communism, where businesses operate ethically while investing in community development.
• 😀 The speaker highlights several emerging sustainable designers, such as Bethany Williams and Marsh Marsh, who are exploring alternative materials and creating socially responsible collections.
• 😀 The idea of 'fashion with a mission' is discussed, where the speaker and their husband plan to document the relationship between artisans and designers in different countries.
• 😀 The speaker is a strong advocate for the Fashion Revolution movement, which was born after the 2013 Rana Plaza tragedy, and urges transparency in the fashion supply chain with the hashtag #WhoMadeMyClothes.

Q & A

What was the speaker's career journey before focusing on sustainable fashion?

The speaker started in the film industry in Los Angeles before transitioning to the textile industry, where they launched their own collection and worked with renowned photographers and designers. They also had a career as a senior design consultant for luxury brands such as Ferragamo, Prada, and Miu Miu.

What prompted the speaker to move away from luxury fashion and focus on sustainability?

After working for a major luxury firm, the speaker grew frustrated with the industry's focus on trivial issues, such as discussing the length of a skirt for hours. They decided to leave and pursue something meaningful, focused on the environment and people, which led them to work with artisans worldwide.

How did the speaker contribute to sustainable fashion in Nepal?

The speaker worked with social entrepreneurs in Nepal, helping to create fair trade systems where artisans were paid fairly, and profits were reinvested into the community, such as funding schools for street children and offering microcredit to artisans.

Can you describe a project that helped the Maasai women in Tanzania?

In Tanzania, the speaker helped establish a project where Maasai women, who were cutting down trees to make charcoal, were taught how to process leather from their livestock. This initiative created a cottage industry, provided income, and helped reduce environmental damage by stopping deforestation.

What is the significance of Gen Z and Millennials in driving sustainability in fashion?

Gen Z and Millennials are demanding more transparency and sustainability from brands. They refuse to buy products made in non-transparent ways or those that harm people and the environment. Their advocacy is seen as crucial for pushing the fashion industry toward more ethical practices.

What are some innovative sustainable materials featured in the speaker's work?

The speaker has worked with various sustainable materials, including natural latex as an alternative to leather, kombucha leather made from fermented yeast and sugar, and recycled fabrics, such as organic cotton and denim, to minimize waste and promote eco-friendly fashion.

How does the speaker support emerging sustainable designers?

The speaker collaborates with startups and designers, such as Studio 189, which works in Ghana, and various other emerging talents around the world. They focus on fostering creativity while ensuring that the design processes are socially and environmentally responsible.

What is the 'Fashion Revolution' movement and why is it important?

The Fashion Revolution movement, started in 2013 after the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh, advocates for fair wages and better working conditions for garment workers. The movement encourages consumers to ask brands 'Who made my clothes?' to raise awareness about unethical labor practices and the need for industry reform.

What role does education play in the speaker's mission for sustainable fashion?

Education is central to the speaker's mission. They are a professor and actively engage with students to teach them about sustainability in fashion. One example is a workshop where students were tasked with redesigning second-hand shirts, showcasing the potential of reusing materials creatively.

What is the speaker’s vision for the future of fashion?

The speaker envisions a future where fashion is an example of sustainability and fairness, promoting ethical practices and environmental responsibility. They believe in the power of young designers and social entrepreneurs to drive this change and hope to document these efforts through a project called 'Fashion with a Mission.'