Ethical Fashion

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Ethical Fashion

Lesley Hampton

Mic. Carter

Lesley Hampton, an Indigenous artist and fashion designer, shares why slow fashion is so important and what excites her about the future of the fashion industry.

Mic. Carter, a Toronto-based creative and creator of L’Uomo Strano, shares their perspective on non-binary fashion and why it's important for social justice to be a part of fashion industry conversations.

Why is it important for businesses both big and small to integrate slow fashion and sustainability frameworks into their practices?

What inspired you to get started in fashion?

We at LESLEY HAMPTON believe in slow fashion. The majority of our items are made to order. By purchasing made-to-order pieces, you're helping reduce wasteful overproduction while also supporting our Indigenous-owned, women-led, small business. It's important for both big and small brands to integrate slow fashion because as the world transitions to more mindful buying habits to protect the environment, it's imperative that brands develop mindful production to keep in step.

What still needs to change when it comes to proper representation and inclusion in the fashion industry? Representation is extremely important. Fashion is something that almost everyone interacts with on a daily basis, and it's often the first daily choice many of us make in the morning while getting dressed. I believe

what you choose to wear on your body can say so much about your values and perspective. A great beginning goal for brands and retail spaces would be to have “plus size” and “straight size” garments integrated on the same rack or same drop-down menu online, or to even offer a wider range of sizes in general. We need the industry to not only welcome but celebrate all bodies equally.

What excites you most about the future of the fashion industry? I'm excited to see the future of the fashion industry transition to include all bodies. I believe we're transitioning to a movement of body neutrality, to knowing that like having a bad hair day, you can and are allowed to have a bad body image day. I think with the increased awareness of personal health, we'll focus more on caring for the one body we have, and on having fashion and clothing work for us. I think this point of view will influence our fashion choices to be less about trends and more about personal style.

Sage Paul

I was inspired to start L’Uomo Strano after struggling for years to find affirming non-binar y wardrobe staples. Simultaneously, I also desired to co-construct fashion spaces that would encourage dialogue surrounding issues of social justice. This was done primarily through shows that centered the lives, resilience, and joy of folks whose identities were frequently marginalized within traditional fashion institutions.

When it comes to diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry, what's the biggest change you’d like to see?

and pathways to funding can ensure that the next generation of dynamic creators is able to thrive through every stage of its evolution.

Why is it important to have conversations about gender fluidity and gender-nonconformity in the industry?

Fashion belongs to all. It has the innate power to transform, to empower, and to actualize. For far too long, the industry has relied on and invested in the gender binary, thus reinforcing its societal pervasiveness. Insisting on including gender-nonconformity in the conversation ensures that the notion of the gender binary is challenged at one of its roots, thereby creating space for a more inclusive sartorial future.

One aspect I’d like to see change is how diversity and inclusion initiatives are made sustainable within the industry, particularly with respect to funding. New labels — many of which are committed to diversity and inclusion work — often struggle navigating the first few years of building their venture,

Body Confidence Canada

Sage Paul, an urban Denesuliné tskwe based in Toronto, an award-winning artist and designer, and the Executive & Artistic Director at Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto shares her thoughts on why accountability and proper representation in the fashion industry are so important. What actions need to be taken in order for proper inclusion and representation of Indigenous people in the Canadian fashion industry?

What role do fashion brands as well as government and policymakers play in transforming the practices of the fashion industry?

There are many things that need to happen in order for proper inclusion and representation of Indigenous people in the Canadian fashion industry. Most immediately, I would say that anything that is about us needs to be led by us at all levels, including design, marketing, education, manufacturing, and executive leadership. It's also important that companies understand what it means to create more inclusion in their workplaces. It isn't enough to do a marketing campaign about us — Indigenous people (and other diverse people for that matter) need to be invited into leadership roles in mainstream companies. Not only will that support better inclusion and representation of us, it will also allow for the industry to creatively flourish with innovation.

Everyone plays a part in transforming the practices of the fashion industry. There needs to be accountability at all levels that acknowledges this through action. While industry practices won't change overnight, I think a good place to start is by encouraging corporate values to evolve to benefit collective well-being and guide how decisions are made. I believe those values should focus on fostering local designers, working with local creators and manufacturers and paying them properly, and stewardship of the earth. If those three pillars were enforced for decision-making and business practice in the fashion industry in Canada, I think things would be very different for the better.

Co-founders of Body Confidence Canada, Aisha Fairclough and Jill Andrew, share their insight on why fashion is deeply political and how all brands must ensure clothing is inclusive to the diverse bodies that they serve. Why is it important for fashion brands to recognize inclusivity of all shapes and sizes? All bodies, regardless of shape, size, weight, height, gender identity or expression, and ability, have a right to style! How we fashion our bodies serves as a second skin in society. Our sartorial choices help us move in the world with confidence as we navigate relationships along the way. Not only is it the socially responsible thing for fashion brands to do but it also makes economic sense. Everyone shops — everyone participates in the fashion economy. It's in brands' best interest to read the room and ensure their lines fit and flatter the diverse bodies they serve.

What change would you like to see in the fashion industry? Representation! We can never get enough of that. We need to continually promote local designers, and locally-sourced materials, and

shop local when we can. The fashion industry is integral to our identity, culture, and heritage and it can only get better if we amplify it and help it become more sustainable.

What excites you about the future of fashion?

Fashion scholars and students, designers, and consumers are engaging in deeper conversations on the history of fashion. Many in the fashion industry are no longer shying away from the need to decolonize fashion. Instead, they're demanding the exploration of uncomfortable connections between fashion and truth and reconciliation, colonialism, racism, labour relations, and the environment, for instance. Fashion is personal but it's also deeply political, as we've seen both historically and more recently through movements such as Black Lives Matter where clothing, accessories, and design have literally helped fashion the resistance.

Strategic Account Manager: Anna Sibiga Strategic Account Director: Jessica Golyatov Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Content and Production Manager: Raymond Fan Designer: Lauren Livingston Web Editor: Karthik Talwar All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve National Post or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.

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