6 Sustainable Fashion Projects to Watch 2014

Depending on what you’re reading, it seems like sustainable fashion is popping up in the news daily. Media, bloggers, and everyday people are beginning to really talk about the future of fashion — and what it means to consciously consume.

While the occasional article on Forbes and HuffPo are great, it’s the grassroots projects that make a lasting impression. And 2014 has already shown some big players who are innovating and implementing for the long haul.

Here are six new projects to keep an eye on this year:

1.) The Tailor Project

Amy Dufault, a sustainable fashion consultant and writer, started The Tailor Project as a call to arms for people to support their local tailor, a profession being pushed out by cheaply made and priced clothing.

Because fast fashion has made it more cost effective to throw away a garment rather than mend it, Amy is working with her own tailor in Cape Cod, MA to recreate, revamp and revitalize her closet of existing clothing.

Read more about the background of the project here and follow Amy’s progress on her Facebook page.

2.) AWEAR2014

Kestrel Jenkins launched AWEAR 2014 to inspire us to think about where our clothes are made, what they are made of, and who made them. Throughout the year, she’s building a community of mindful consumers and stylish changemakers who pledge only to buy second-hand or ethically-made clothing and accessories.

Each day of 2014, she’ll highlight a different person joining the movement with a photo on her Facebook page and Instagram.

3.) Behind the Label: The Double Face of Indian Cotton

With what appears to be total indifference by governments, media and the world, the filmmakers of “Behind the Label” wanted to document what is really happening in the cotton-farming land of India.

By introducing the story of the devastating environmental and human consequences of traditional cotton farming, the documentary sets out to encourage people to think before they buy a cotton shirt or pair of jeans.

This hard-hitting documentary shows the story of the farmers and their families — the real victims of our excessive reliance on cotton.

You can watch the preview and rent or buy the documentary here.

4.) THREADS TV 

Bianca Alexander is an EMMY-award winning journalist, eco-fashionista and the host of Conscious Living TV. At the end of the month, she’ll launch THREADS TV, a 14-week, half hour series that will highlight the designers, trends and brands on the front lines of the ethical fashion movement. From the use of renewable, eco-friendly materials to creative fair trade partnerships that empower developing world artisans, THREADS bridges the gap between style and conscience.

You can watch the first episode here.

5.) Fashion Revolution Day 

As I’ve mentioned on the blog before, the Fashion Revolution Day USA movement launched on January 1 to increase awareness about the true cost of fashion. Consumers around the world are encouraged to wear their clothes #insideout on 4-24-14 to commemorate the first anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh.

From now until April, sustainable fashion thought-leaders, advocates, professors, designers and writers will spark a global initiative through consumer education, social media and live events. To get involved with FRD USA visit the FRD website and Facebook page.

 6.) DeScience

DeScience is an innovative new project that fuses fashion and science. Created by a team from MIT, Harvard and the Massachusetts College of Art & Design, DeScience creates a unique opportunity for fashion to engage the public in cutting edge science.

Scientists and fashion designers team up to create wearable art that makes science tangible and pushes the limits of design. Each team will compete to be featured in a runway show during Boston Fashion Week 2014.

Learn more about DeScience here. Applications are being accepted until January 29.

Here’s to sustainable fashion’s biggest year yet.

Reprinted with permission from Shannon Whitehead