#FashRev 2016: Asato Goto, Kitx and People Tree
There are fourteen fantastic brands that grace the #FashRev 2016 campaign. Alice Wilby, Stylist and Co-Founder of Novel Beings, has interviewed each one about being part of the Fashion Revolution.
Read on to hear from Asato Goto, Kitx and People Tree…
KITX (Australia)
Australian womenswear designer Kit Willow is passionate about ethical fashion. Kit consciously sources low impact, innovative materials to craft elegant modern classics. Sustainable down to the details, with zips made from recycled bottles and vegetable ivory buttons, the Lycra corsetry detailing on the skirt we shot for the campaign was made from waste plastic found in the ocean.
Why do we need a Fashion Revolution?
We need a fashion revolution because currently there is no regulatory body policing the impact fashion production has on the planets precious resources or on humans in production. This lack of transparency has resulted in profound impact on natural resources and humanity. Fashion is the second largest polluter in the world behind oil and workers are literally dying in factories, with very few benefitting from fashion production.
Who made your clothes?
We make our clothes with makers in China, Kolkata India and Vietnam. Each maker has been audited to ensure the worked receive for living wages and fair conditions.
What inspired you to be a sustainable brand?
There is so much choice and product in the world – for me it was about creating not only beautiful designer product that makes women feel special but using material that are consciously sourced so that we maximizing the win win rather than destroy one to benefit another. This is the philosophy of KITX. It’s very simple.
PEOPLE TREE (London and India)
Safia Minney: With over 20 years experience working with artisans and famers in developing worlds, People Tree are the real deal. Clever collaborations with the likes of Emma Watson and Zandra Rhodes have kept the brand fresh, whilst the fairtrade ethos guides every aspect of their business.
Why do we need a Fashion Revolution?
We need to redesign the fashion industry. We need to redesign our economy. We need to put pressure on big brands to change their practices. Without a more sustainable system we don’t have a future. Fast fashion is made by ignoring the planets’ limited resources. We need to consume more sustainably as well as produce more sustainably. Fashion Revolution ignites and unites the fashion industry to use fashion as a tool for positive change to address these vast industry issues.
Who made your clothes?
The edit for Fashion Revolution Day is made by People Tree’s producer partner Rajlakshmi. Rajlakshmi is a pioneer in organic garment manufacturing in India which seeks to combine high quality tailoring with a fair deal for farmers and workers, whilst supporting local environmental and social projects. The cotton is certified by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), FLO-Fairtrade and Fair Trade-USA. Rajlakshmi works together with Chetna Organic to ensure Fair Trade is practiced throughout the supply chain right down to the cotton farmers. Chetna Organic work with marginalised farmers from Maharashtra, Odessa and Andhra Pradesh towards improving their livelihoods and making farming a sustainable occupation. With the Chetna project, Rajlakshmi have helped set up many vocational training centres for women in rural farming villages. This educational training and support enables women become more financially secure. In addition to this Rajlakshmi have sponsored organic vegetable gardens in local schools, as well as contributing to more advanced school facilities such as science laboratories.
What inspired you to be a sustainable brand?
The People Tree team and customers are deeply committed to worker’s rights, systemic change, organic farming, protecting the environment and heritage and traditional skills. By using hand skills like hand weaving, hand knitting or hand embroidery we can create employment in rural areas for women where work is often scarce. We campaign for a better trading system that delivers trend pieces that keep human rights and environmental innovation at the forefront. Our Fair Trade and sustainable fashion has changed the lives of 5,500 farmers, artisans and tailors – won’t you help us make it the norm?
ASATO GOTO (Tokyo, Japan)
Inspired by her Japanese heritage and her teenage years living in North America Designer Asato Goto fuses modern design with heritage fabrics, to create simple pieces with a utilitarian edge.
Why do we need a Fashion Revolution?
Fashion shouldn’t cause people to feel ashamed, we should be able to enjoy it to it’s fullest. Fashion should free people’s minds and allow them to feel and be beautiful in their own skin.
Who made your clothes?
I make my samples in my own studio, then my orders are sewn by a husband and wife team who are in their 50’s and their assistant. I selected the factory myself last year. I packed my first samples into my backpack with my and travelled 500 km south of Tokyo, riding my bike through rice fields searching for the right factory.
What inspired you to be a sustainable brand?
It was very important to me to be able to do what I loved, whilst still remaining true to my values and ethics.
Download the 2016 campaign posters here
Photoshoot part of the #FashRevTour #EYD2015
