Emily Gartner
Fashion Designer & Textile Artist
Emily Gartner Designs
Indiana
Phumla Jasopu
Assistant Editor
In recent years, the fashion world has seen a big change, with more focus on being eco-friendly. Once a small concern green fashion has become mainstream influencing designers, brands, and shoppers alike. This change isn’t just a fad—it’s a needed answer to the environmental issues our planet faces. Because the fashion business causes a lot of global pollution, adopting green practices is key to lessen its harm to the environment.
In a world where fashion fads change, the idea of reusing clothes offers a fresh and green option. Instead of throwing away clothes after a season or two, reusing lets us give old clothing new life cutting down on waste and helping create a more earth-friendly fashion scene.
Quick-turnaround cheap trendy clothing known as fast fashion, has ruled the industry for the last few decades. It gives shoppers access to affordable styles, but this comes with a big environmental price tag. Making fast fashion clothes often uses too much water, releases harmful chemicals, and pumps out a lot of carbon. What’s more, these clothes are made to be worn just a few times before being thrown away, which adds to a scary amount of fabric waste. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation says that every second, we dump or burn the same amount of textiles as one garbage truck can hold.
It was learning about such waste that Emily’s passion for sustainable fashion and knowing who made the clothes began. She joined the global group Fashion Revolution USA an organization whose mission is to educate and engage people in the US about the social and environmental impact of their clothing. She became the Indiana Ambassador for the Fashion Revolution USA. “As we know fashion is the second worst polluter in the world next to oil,” she remark. It was this unnecessary wastage that inspired her current collection L’Amour. She takes vintage wedding gowns in good shape and damaged gowns and re-fashions them to dress the mother of the bride, the bride, bridesmaids, and even guests. The repurposing of wedding gowns that would have been otherwise packed away is a great example of curbing fashion waste. Because of this, one gets to appreciate the history of the garment and its sentimental value which spans multigenerational by giving it new life.
It was learning about such waste that Emily’s passion for sustainable fashion and knowing who made the clothes began. She joined the global group Fashion Revolution USA an organization whose mission is to educate and engage people in the US about the social and environmental impact of their clothing. She became the Indiana Ambassador for the Fashion Revolution USA. “As we know fashion is the second worst polluter in the world next to oil,” she remark. It was this unnecessary wastage that inspired her current collection L’Amour. She takes vintage wedding gowns in good shape and damaged gowns and re-fashions them to dress the mother of the bride, the bride, bridesmaids, and even guests. The repurposing of wedding gowns that would have been otherwise packed away is a great example of curbing fashion waste. Because of this, one gets to appreciate the history of the garment and its sentimental value which spans multigenerational by giving it new life.
Emily was excited to bring this collection to life and have it photographed at Avon Gardens studio where Jennifer thought it would showcase best since it is a wedding venue. Thanks to Jennifer’s work Emily’s new collection has been published in 4 global magazines. She sees this as a win for everyone and why she continues to do what she does.
Emily reflects on fast fashion clothing indicating how it “may look beautiful, but at what cost to the person who made them? Brands have a key part in pushing eco-friendly methods, but shoppers also have a lot of sway.” “When people buy with care, they can back companies that match their beliefs and nudge the business world to be more green” says Emily. The boom in thrift store shopping, clothes for rent, and the trend of owning less stuff all point to a change in how we think about buying things. People are starting to shop with more thought.
The Benefits of Repurposing Clothes
- Reduction of Textile Waste: Repurposing clothes helps to significantly reduce the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills. By finding new uses for old garments, we can extend their lifecycle and minimize their environmental impact.
- Conservation of Resources: The process of repurposing requires fewer resources compared to producing new clothing. It reduces the demand for raw materials, such as cotton or synthetic fibers, and lowers the energy and water consumption associated with garment manufacturing.
- Creative Expression: Repurposing clothes provides an opportunity for creative expression. Whether it’s transforming an old pair of jeans into a stylish tote bag or turning a worn-out T-shirt into a trendy crop top, the possibilities are endless. This creativity not only results in unique, personalized fashion items but also fosters a sense of accomplishment and sustainability.
- Cost Savings: By repurposing clothes, individuals can save money that would otherwise be spent on new garments. This practice is especially valuable in an era where fashion prices continue to rise, allowing people to maintain their style without breaking the bank.
- Support for Ethical Fashion: Repurposing aligns with the principles of ethical fashion, which prioritizes the well-being of people and the planet. By choosing to repurpose, consumers can take a stand against the exploitative practices often associated with fast fashion, such as poor working conditions and unfair wages.
The environmental benefits of sustainable fashion are extensive. For example, if brands go for organic cotton, they can conserve lots of water and avoid using harmful chemicals. Likewise, the use of natural dyes eliminates the chance that toxic substances will be discharged into rivers or oceans thus helping in the conservation of marine life. The utilization of reused resources like polyester made from plastic bottles also minimizes the quantity of waste going to landfills and reduces the demand for new materials.
The transition into durable and responsible fashion is more like a requirement than just an inclination. It has become apparent that sustainability will have to remain the hallmark of development in this sector of the economy as it keeps changing. No one can deny that this is good for the planet- less waste and pollutants, conservation of resources as well as promotion of ethical labor practices. Such practices allow women to know they are in a safe space when they come together to create because they know the environment that they are in is a safe space for them. Everybody can help in making the world greener by supporting sustainable clothing lines. This calls for immediate action if at all we are going to save our future generations’ sense of style.
In such an instance where fashion trends shift within the twinkle of an eye, redefining clothes presents a better and more sustainable choice. This is because in so doing we breathe new life into old garments rather than throwing them out after a season or two, thus reducing waste while simultaneously contributing towards a greener fashion industry.
Emily Gartner’s collection is one to watch as she focuses on eco-friendly, ethical designs and repurposing what others might wear once. Check out her full collection at emilygartner.com
Emily Gartner is a Fashion Designer who specializes in sustainable fashion while also creating her own custom, eco-friendly prints in natural fibers. She recently onboarded with the global fashion activist group @fashrev_usa to encourage others to make more intentional decisions as it relates to their clothing. She is an avid mender in her local community and enjoys teaching others how to up cycle their own clothing by shopping their closet or swapping with friends. She has showcased her collections in Milan, as well as Indiana and has been featured in over a dozen international fashion and art magazines. She is proud to be back in her hometown of Evansville, Indiana creating small collections out of her downtown studio. Her labels read “Made in Evansville” and locals love that
