🌿 The Fashion Letter | #20 📩

1. Stockholm’s Slow Fashion District on the TIME World’s Greatest Places list

Founded by Stina Löving, Mikaela de Verdier, and Therese Forsberg, the newly dubbed Hornsgatan Slow Fashion District is home to 19 secondhand and vintage storefronts in and around the main thoroughfare of Hornsgatan.

Shoppers can scour racks of items from indie brands such as Katja of Sweden and Sighsten Herrgård as well as early-gen H&M pieces.

“We wanted to build Stockholm as a slow fashion city,” says Löving, who creates new designs from cast-off vintage materials. “We saw the potential in Hornsgatan to work with local stores to push for slow and secondhand fashion.”

The collective supports small makers of ceramics, candles, and upcycled jeans for kids by giving them platforms within existing shops to help build their businesses. Click here for details

2. Meet the sustainable fashion pioneer channeling circularity in this interview.

Gabriella Hearst is an American fashion designer who works with sustainability and prioritizes traditions rather than trends, a "luxury with a conscience".

In addition to her eponymous brand, she is also the creative director of Chloé. The collaboration with Clergerie came about after working with the brand's creative director, David Tourniaire-Beauciel, born in Romans-Sur-Isere.

Hearst’s point of view extends above and beyond sartorial matters. Through her understanding of the perils of our climate crisis and the urgency to stem and hopefully reverse it, she has put positive social and environmental impact at the core of everything she does.

It manifests itself in several ways, perhaps foremost in her firm belief in embracing a slower pace and process and to champion fashion with purpose, or, as she puts it, “honest luxury.” Check the the full interview.

3. 4 innovations helping the fashion industry embrace the circular economy

This World Economic Forum article highlights the increasing popularity of secondhand clothing as a sustainable fashion choice. It discusses how the secondhand market contributes to a circular economy by extending the life of garments, thus reducing waste and environmental impact.

The article points out that the secondhand clothing market is expected to grow significantly, driven by consumer demand for affordable and eco-friendly options. It also mentions that younger generations are leading this trend, valuing sustainability and unique fashion finds.

Technological advancements have made it easier to buy and sell pre-loved items through online platforms and apps, broadening the market's accessibility. This shift is encouraging brands to rethink their production and consumption models. Find out all the details about these 4 innovations.

Londre Bodywear

Londre was dreamt up on a beach by Ainsley Rose and Hannah Todd, while working on a photo shoot in Sayulita, Mexico. They were inspired to create the most flattering, high quality garments with the lowest possible impact.

Its final stage of production is undertaken in Canada, a low risk region for labour abuse. It is unclear whether it ensures payment of a living wage in its supply chain. It traces most of its supply chain including all of the final and second stages of production. It visits its suppliers regularly.

This brand makes products that are generally free of animal materials so it is not applicable to rate its impact on animals. The brand has a high rating from environment and labour scores.

So far, Londre has recycled over 1 million plastic bottles off of beaches and streets into our sustainable offerings.

Creating positive change in the global community is at the heart of Londre. They use the small business to make quantifiable change for women and the environment, with initiatives leading to the removal of 4,500lbs of garbage off of BC's coast, and planting 450 baby corals. Check more about this brand.

Kate Fletcher. First published 2008. Fully revised Second Edition 2014 with new content and a new geometric pattern cover. In English and Korean. Highlights:

• Holistic Approach: The book emphasizes a holistic approach to sustainability in fashion and textiles, integrating environmental, social, and economic perspectives.

• Design Strategies: It outlines various design strategies for sustainability, such as using renewable resources, designing for longevity, and creating multifunctional garments.

• Case Studies: The book includes numerous case studies and real-world examples to illustrate sustainable practices in action and their impact.

• Lifecycle Thinking: Fletcher promotes lifecycle thinking, encouraging designers to consider the entire lifecycle of a product, from raw material extraction to disposal.

• Innovation and Creativity: The book encourages innovation and creativity, urging designers to rethink traditional practices and explore new, sustainable solutions in fashion and textiles. Check this book.

This Eco Fashion Sewing article shares 19 fantastic tips for creating stylish upcycled clothes. It starts by emphasizing the importance of selecting high-quality, durable materials from old garments to ensure your new pieces are both beautiful and long-lasting.

Next, it encourages creativity by mixing and matching different fabrics and textures to add unique flair to your designs. Personal touches like embroidery or fabric paint can make your upcycled clothing truly one-of-a-kind.

The article also highlights the value of proper planning and sketching out your ideas before cutting any fabric. This helps avoid mistakes and ensures a polished final product.

Lastly, it stresses the importance of patience and practice. Upcycling is a skill that improves over time, so enjoy the process and experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you. Check this 19 fantastic tips.