S2, E7: Will FAST FASHION ever be sustainable? We need to talk about eco-anxiety
In the seventh episode of season two, We Need to Talk about Eco-Anxiety, Clover rifles through the world of fast fashion to discover the true extent of its impact on the climate crisis, and how this accentuates global eco-anxiety.
First up, Clover sits down with environmentalist blogger, Aditi Mayer, to track the origins of fast fashion, and understand how our disposable culture has unravelled our sense of what is, and what is not art. Later in the show, our resident psychotherapist, Caroline Hickman, explains why our definition of beauty has been corrupted by our disregard for nature; and finally, Clover chats to Michael Doughty, co-founder of Hylo Athletics, to learn about the companies redesigning our fashion and textiles industries for a more sustainable future.
Featuring…
Aditi Mayer: Sustainable Fashion Blogger and Labor Rights Activist
Aditi Mayer is a sustainable fashion blogger, photojournalist, labour rights activist, and frequent speaker on topics of social and environmental justice. Her work looks at fashion and culture through a lens of intersectionality and decolonisation.
Three things we talked about in the episode:
How eco-anxiety, and in particular the feeling of hopelessness, is fuelled by a crisis in imagination.
What the acronym TINA, There is No Alternative, means.
Fashion as both a source of comfort and distress for our mental wellbeing
Caroline Hickman, resident psychotherapist
Caroline is a psychotherapist from the University of Bath, who has spent years researching children and young people’s relationships with nature and feelings about the climate and ecological crisis; in the UK, Maldives, South Pacific and other communities already affected by rising sea levels.
In their conversation, Caroline and Clover discuss how fashion isn't inherently bad and how expressing ourselves through clothing is important. However, our relationship with fashion has been hijacked by an industry focused on consumerism and profit.
Michael Doughty, Co-founder and Managing Director of Hylo Athletics
Michael Doughty is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Hylo Athletics. Hylo is a sustainable footwear and athletics manufacturer with a number of sustainability goals and pledges at the heart of their business.
In their conversation, Michael discusses why he chose to create a sustainable brand, and how facing up to the problem ignited a fire within him.
Quotes from the episode
"Traditionally, we had four fashion seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. With fast fashion, it became 52 seasons a year."
- Aditi Mayer
"Fast fashion has caused us to see clothes as a disposable commodity rather than the art that it is."
- Aditi Mayer
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Read the Bloom
Will fast fashion ever be sustainable?
Before I made the commitment to sustainable shopping, I felt trapped by the concept of trends and upholding them…
Have you listened to season 1 yet?
In this 9-part series, Clover sits down with the people who are leading the charge: from the woman who started a global movement out of her backyard; to the lawyer responsible for the world’s most historic climate agreement; and a three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
A Force of Nature and OneFinePlay production
Director: Clover Hogan
Studio: OneFinePlay
Executive producer: James Bishop
Editor & producer: Kasra Firouzyar
Producer & researcher: Connor Foley
Additional creative support: Selena Christofides
With special thanks to everyone who makes Force of Nature possible!
Phoebe Hanson, Kathleen Hamilton, Alejandra Arias, Sacha Wright, Julia Sams, Vida Han, Zineb Jaoudat and Rohan Shah.