The
Revival of Regional
Wear
Fibershed ’ s environmental and economic transformation of the textile industry
In the past decade , there has been a monumental shift in the way we think of food . Organic , local , free range , non-GMO — these are the buzz words that have become ingrained in the national consciousness as we peruse the produce aisle .
For those who are mindful about their food , an open fridge is a showcase of regional flavors , environmental innovations , and a return to slow living . Unfortunately , the momentum of the food revolution has been slow to extend into other aspects of our lives .
Today , around 95 % of all clothes in America are imported
by Sophie Kidd
from other countries , and with the rise of fast fashion , the average wardrobe is cultivating more and more synthetic , cheap materials . An open closet offers a dismal look into the reality of the fashion industry .
There is a persisting cognitive dissonance in America when it comes to the production of clothes . While we make a conscious effort to eat food that isn ’ t laced with chemicals and ingredients we can ’ t pronounce , the labels on our new clothes are too often cut off and discarded before we ever read what we are putting on our bodies .
“ You don ’ t have to look very far to see what the problems are when you ’ re wearing plastic against your skin for years and years ,” Mary Kingsley , cofounder of Lady Farmer , told me . “ And , you know , the average person throws away 80 pounds of textiles a year-- most of that is synthetic or a synthetic blend . And guess what ? That ’ s not going anywhere for thousands of years .”
Mary and her daughter Emma created Lady Farmer five years ago as a brand that sold sustainable clothing . Today , they have largely shifted their efforts toward educating the public on the fashion industry and reconnecting with the environment .
“ When we are disconnected from the source of the things we use every day , like our food , like our clothing , like our items of daily use of products we really lose touch with the source of our own sustenance and our daily living ,” Mary explained . “ So , the more we can create or recreate , I should say , more of a connection with the things in our daily life the more we can create a relationship with the environment and care about the future of it .”
For many of us , it is hard to look at a piece of clothing and imagine who — or what — is on the other end of the shears , the mills , and the sewing machines . Until recently , it seemed unlikely that there would never be a time where we could put faces to each step of the process .
However , there is now a growing movement of people in our own community who are working to transform our approach to fashion .
8 plenty I autumn harvest 2021