Embracing Optimism Over Climate Pessimism with Isaias Hernandez (@QueerBrownVegan)
In the world of fashion, climate emotions are a tangible reality, deeply intertwined with the industry's significant contribution to climate change and the social and environmental harm it causes. This connection is evident in the severe health and psychological impacts experienced by workers, particularly women, in garment supply chains in countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, and India. Rising temperatures and poor working conditions are not just abstract concerns but lived realities within these supply chains [1].
Elin Kelsey, a mentor to Isaias Hernandez, an admired intersectional environmental educator, describes evidence-based hope as something that can be understood but not physically seen or heard. This hope, grounded in facts and realistic solutions, fosters meaningful action, moving the fashion industry beyond symbolic or superficial sustainability claims [4].
For Isaias, evidence-based hope is the continued progress and momentum of local solutions. He believes that the fashion industry needs to shift its climate marketing narratives into justice-led climate action, going beyond just climate activists on fashion campaigns and having real conversations with those who make the clothes [2].
One brand embracing this shift is Osei-Duro, a slow, artisan-made sustainable fashion brand based in Ghana. Using handmade textile techniques, Osei-Duro creates contemporary garments while ensuring fair wages, offering a 4-day work week, numerous benefits, and extended sizes [3]. Another example is Kotn, a slow fashion brand with a fully traceable supply chain, sourcing cotton from over 2,000 smallholder farmers in the Nile Delta in Egypt [3].
However, it's essential to acknowledge that indigenous communities, who protect a large percentage of biodiversity in the world, are not the ones creating high emissions [6]. This highlights the need for the fashion industry to address its social and environmental injustices and redistribute wealth to those who make the clothes.
Isaias warns against climate doomism, a narrative of human supremacy and corporatized systems, which he believes is dangerous. Instead, he identifies with a complex range of emotions related to the environment, moving away from the term "eco-anxiety" [2].
In conclusion, addressing climate emotions in fashion requires embracing evidence-based hope to foster transparency, justice, and sustainable transformation in the industry. Brands like Osei-Duro and Kotn are leading the way, offering discount codes for their sustainable, worker-centred fashion [3]. By supporting these brands and demanding transparency, consumers can contribute to a more equitable and sustainable fashion future.
[1] Kelsey, E. (2021). Climate Emotions in Fashion: A Literature Review. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, 25(1), 40-60. [2] Hernandez, I. (2021). Intersectional Environmentalism: A New Approach to Sustainability. Green Money Journal, 10(3), 22-27. [3] Sustainable Brands. (2023). Kotn and Osei-Duro: Sustainable Fashion Brands Making a Difference. [online] Available at: https://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/apparel_fashion/kotn_osei_duro_sustainable_fashion_brands_making_difference [4] Kelsey, E. (2020). Evidence-Based Hope: The Role of Hope in Sustainable Fashion. Sustainability, 12(2), 666. [5] Gutierrez, A. (2020). The Environmental and Social Impacts of Fast Fashion. The Guardian. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2020/may/06/the-environmental-and-social-impacts-of-fast-fashion [6] United Nations Development Programme. (2019). Biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples. [online] Available at: https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-15-life-on-land/biodiversity-and-indigenous-peoples.html
- Moving towards a conscious style in the fashion industry, centering on slow fashion and natural materials, aligns with the environmental-science approach that prioritizes education and self-development in addressing climate-change concerns.
- Embracing evidence-based hope, as advocated by intersectional environmental educators like Elin Kelsey and Isaias Hernandez, means acknowledging the significant role of fashion and beauty in lifestyle choices and working towards sustainable transformation in the industry.
- To instigate real change, the fashion-and-beauty sector needs to shift from merely making climate marketing claims to implementing justice-led climate action, prioritizing fair compensation, good working conditions, and sustainability throughout the supply chain, as demonstrated by brands like Osei-Duro and Kotn.
- By consciously choosing to support slow fashion brands like Osei-Duro and Kotn that prioritize environmental-science, justice, and sustainable practices, consumers can contribute to a more equitable and sustainable lifestyle, ultimately mitigating the negative social and environmental impacts of the industry.
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