ISSUE 013
DECOLONIZING OUR ASPIRATIONS
HONOR THE EARTH EVERY DAY
originally released 22 April 2021
It's Earth Day! And so, we brace ourselves for the onslaught of themed merch and "sustainable" collections from fast fashion retailers. Is it just me, or has Earth Day turned into Earth Week and then Earth Month? Maybe that means we're getting closer to the point...shouldn't we be celebrating the Earth every day?
Still, we can take this moment as an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reset our intentions. In that spirit, I'm sharing a few different things today that I hope you'll find valuable:
On Intersectional Sustainability and Conscious Consumption, an excerpt from an older newsletter issue published before many of you were subscribers
Upcoming sustainability-focused events to inspire learning and reflection
Some of my favorite BIPOC vintage dealers to follow
A couple of environmentally conscious small businesses to bookmark
Sustainability in fashion and beauty is a major area of discussion and development, and an important issue for many of you who I've spoken to. It's a topic that I love exploring, and there are so many exciting ideas out there - from recycled fibers to zero-waste packaging to circular production and more. But I often feel that conversations around sustainable shopping are problematic in their lack of intersectional perspective.
The concept of environmental racism is something that I learned about fairly recently, but it immediately helped me work through many of the frustrations I was having with the mainstream discourse around sustainability and ethics. To summarize one of the central aspects that resonated with me - most environmental destruction has been perpetrated by those with power and privilege (typically white men) yet disproportionally impacts those who are already affected by systemic racism and poverty (and especially Indigenous populations).
Considering this perspective brings an additional layer of critique to the already problematic nature of sustainable fashion and beauty, which is typically priced highly and positioned as a luxury offering. If we're passionate about sustainability, it can be easy to judge people for buying from Amazon or Zara. But it's important to check our privilege, to consider the impacts of environmental racism, and to recognize the systemic barriers in action. Meanwhile, if we are coming from a place of holding privilege, perhaps we should reconsider our attraction to fast fashion trends and explore how we can consume more slowly (buying less) and otherwise more consciously, even if that means spending more money on a product from a small BIPOC-owned brand vs. a similar item from a large retailer.
There is so much more to unpack when it comes to these issues, and I'd encourage checking out some organizations that work specifically in the environmental justice space. Here are some that I've found most useful:
Slow Factory | a non-profit organization and open-education platform, led by Celine Semaan, with a focus on using design thinking to explore the intersections of social and environmental justice - highly recommend following on Instagram for insightful posts like this recent one on Environmental Colonialism or this graphic breakdown of Environmental Racism, and to stay updated on free events and talks.
Intersectional Environmentalism | a centralized platform and Instagram page founded by Leah Thomas, with informative posts about the issues surrounding environmental racism, like this recent one about Dr. Robert Bullard, the father of the Environmental Justice movement.
Sustainable BK | a media platform and Instagram page founded by Dominique Drakeford and Whitney McGuire, with a focus on fashion as it intersects with sustainability and BIPOC communities. Follow them to stay updated on interesting events and talks.
The Root: Decolonizing the Sustainable Fashion Agenda | a podcast series produced by Dominique Drakeford in collaboration with Conscious Chatter.
Resource List - Intersectional Sustainability | compiled by Adriana Hill, the research assistant for The Fashion & Race Database, a platform run by Professor Kimberly Jenkins
Resource List - Read Up on the Links Between Racism and the Environment | compiled by Somini Sengupta, the international climate reporter for the The New York Times
Happy exploring!
One of the positive aspects of Earth Day/Week/Month marketing is the plethora of programming we have access to, for free. Here are few I have saved:
Thursday April 22
Deconstructing the Green Revolution: The Fair World Project and Art of Citizenry come together for a nuanced and honest IG live conversation exploring the impact of the Green Revolution on global communities. Tune in at 10am PST / 1pm EST
Friday April 23
Navigating Supply Chain Transparency: Reclaim Collaborative hosts a conversation with Rachel Faller of tonle clothing to discuss transparency in the fashion industry. Tune in at 12pm PST / 3pm EST
Saturday April 24
Intersectional Environmentalist Virtual Summit: The Future Is. Buy tickets here (this one is donation based ticketing)
Tuesday April 27
Vital Voices Leading Climate Solutions: Vogue Business joins Reclaim Collaborative to amplify the voices of producers on the frontlines who are combatting climate change and creating real solutions within their community. Register here for the webinar starting at 9am PST / 12pm EST
Recorded
Watch Unwoven: Phasing Plastic Out of Fashion
When craving newness, vintage and secondhand are my favorite sources of inspiration. These are some of my go-to BIPOC sellers to support:
No brand is perfect, but here are a couple whom I feel take sustainability seriously:
Ayond
Ayond creates conscious skincare products inspired by the healing energy of the desert. Embracing the transformative and resilient qualities of nature, the brand explores our relationship to ourselves and our surroundings, with an emphasis on sensorial experience. Ayond takes a holistic approach to clean beauty, going beyond product formulations with eco-friendly packaging and a zero-waste recycling program.
Brightland
Brightland offers bold and decadent oils and vinegars, embodying the intersection of indulgent nourishment and conscious consumption. Founder Aishwarya Iyer was inspired to create her brand after learning about the problematic sourcing and production issues hidden beneath the veneers of many mainstream olive oil brands. Brightland prioritizes ethical sourcing and sustainable production.
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