Kristine Kilty has been working to promote sustainability in the fashion industry since childhood. Speaking with Sacet, she recalls,
“I have always been an animal rights activist. My personal standpoint has come from a place of not harming animals, and I haven’t eaten meat for 31 years. But when I started my career in fashion, there was very little in the media about sustainability and ethical practices. Any media narrative around designers pushing for change depicted them as disruptive anarchists or hippies. Nowadays, thanks to all the activism and work, the narrative has changed and continues to progress. The public is becoming more aware of sustainability within the fashion industry and can research for themselves on their phones. The younger generation that is studying fashion now are so switched on and sustainability-focused. In my own work, I never shoot fur or exotic skins and actively promote brands using plant-based leather products when I can. I also used to spend so much time on planes, but a few years ago, I made a conscious effort to travel less and use zoom more to reduce my carbon footprint.”
How The Fashion Industry Is Championing Sustainability Today
Whilst positive progress in the industry is being made, “its implementation is slow,” says Kristine. “The niche independent brands can find it challenging to be sustainable due to their order quantities and retail pricing.
However, they are the ones who are pushing the hardest to make the changes, and they are operating transparently. Larger brands, such as Gucci and Stella McCartney, are promoting plant-based leather made from sustainable, renewable and bio-based sources. And the entire Kering group has become fur-free.
I also recently attended Copenhagen Fashion Week and was incredibly inspired by the designers there. It appears that most brands, be it fashion, beauty, or accessories, come from a starting point with sustainability at the heart. This was refreshing to experience.
Both the young and established brands are equally passionate about creating incredible designs while caring about the impact their brand has on the planet. They are really energised and passionate when they speak about sustainability. I am watching the Scandinavian Fashion scene closely, many of the designers from this region are game changers.”
Which Areas of The Fashion Industry Need To Be Improved
For Kristine, the answer is simple. “Quite frankly, all areas! Starting with the cotton fields or the animals whose skins and coats we use to make fabrics, to the mills, the dyeing processes, all the transport and countries involved to make one garment, right up to the consumer making the purchase.
We also need to change our fascination with having a consistent flow of garments that are disposable.
Change can happen, and we must get behind the energy of collective change. There are many designers, brands and creative minds out there trying to make it happen. I have spoken with some incredible tech entrepreneurs tackling the production side of things, aiming to reduce textile waste on a mass scale.
This alone is huge and inspiring. There are so many great material innovations that have already been developed, what is required now is for the big brands and large organisations to invest in these solutions and roll them out on a large scale.”
How Can Celebrities Can Champion Sustainable Fashion
“I have worked with many wonderful celebrities who are fur-free or only wear vegan fabrics. Celebrities are becoming more conscious of sustainable fashion and want to champion eco-collaborations.
Billie Eilish is great, I love how she uses her platform to educate her fanbase about sustainable practices, particularly when it comes to fashion choices. Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett are just some of the many celebrities that have re-worn outfits on the red carpet.
What I would love to see is someone bold enough to wear the same dress repeatedly for an entire awards season but is fearless enough to really change the styling with hair, make-up and accessories. That would be incredible!”
What Should Consumers Be Cautious of When Shopping for Sustainable Fashion
“Sadly, there is a lot of greenwashing happening, particularly amongst the bigger online and high street retailers. Consumers are misled by clever marketing, for example, the focus might be on ‘green recyclable packaging’ when the production of the garment itself had a devastating impact on the planet.
We need fashion brands to be held accountable for their production and the entire supply chain for each garment to be traceable with a QR code. Mother of Pearl has done tremendous work in this area, now, the bigger brands need to follow suit.”
Kristine’s Top Tips For Consumers Who Want To Shop More Sustainably
- Buy less and wear more of your own wardrobe. Explore how you can style a garment in numerous ways. Take time to review your own wardrobe and create multiple outfits with the items that you already have.
- Rather than impulse buying numerous items from the high street, research independent brands focusing on being more sustainable and buy one great item.
- I understand that sometimes the price point can be higher, therefore, shop for sustainable brands during the sales or seek them out on discount websites.
- Invest in well-made items that are sustainable, and they will last so much longer than multiple cheaper throw-away items.
- Visit the PETA website to find ‘PETA-approved’ fashion brands, cosmetics, and household products.
- Beware of companies selling ‘plant-based’ cosmetic and household products, as some are tested on animals. Always research the brand and its parent company to see if both are cruelty-free.
- Google independent sustainable fashion magazines and blogs, as they will list both emerging fashion designers and large brands who are creating sustainable products. Vogue Scandinavia is a great read and showcases a lot of amazing sustainable fashion. Also, the book “Vegan Style” by Sascha Camilli is a wonderfully informative guide to compassionate eco-living and covers everything from fashion to travel and interiors.
