Starting Your Sustainable Fashion Journey: Insights from QFSF Panelists

The fashion industry has a major sustainability issue. From unsustainable production processes, complex supply chains, and excessive textile waste, the industry's impact is impossible to ignore. Addressing some of these issues was the focus of QFSF’s annual conference, Zero Waste Design: From Past To Present. The conference emphasized the importance of building a sustainable wardrobe and minimizing individual textile waste. One of the biggest highlights of the event was a panel discussion featuring QFSF designers Allie Madan, Annie Spafford, Lily Kyte, Olivia Sit, and Abbey Malcolm. They shared firsthand experiences about the challenges of sustainable fashion, and offered practical tips on how to start your own journey towards a greener closet. 

One recurring theme from the panel was how overwhelming it can feel to start making sustainable fashion choices. Whether it's designing your own clothes or diving into thrifting, the process can seem daunting. As QFSF’s Creative Director Allie mentioned, we live in a fast-paced, capitalist-driven society, which sometimes means that making sustainable choices takes a lot of effort. A key concept to remember is that sustainable fashion is slow fashion. Designer Olivia explained that building a sustainable wardrobe will take time. You won't always find the perfect piece at the thrift store or source the exact material you want for a design project. Sustainability is about patience, creativity, and making the most of what’s available to you. 

The price tag attached to sustainably made pieces is another common concern. Sustainable fashion tends to cost more, while fast fashion thrives on low prices and mass production. Although the high price of sustainability reflects the time and quality of materials used, it also makes items less accessible to many shoppers. Olivia suggested that an easy fix to this obstacle is to swap clothes with friends or explore thrift stores instead of buying new. QFSF designer Annie also reminded everyone that sustainability isn't just about what you buy, it's about making the most of what you already own. Before tossing an old piece, consider repurposing, altering, or finding new ways to style it.

Another obstacle of pursuing a sustainable closet is that it requires a shift in perspective. As panelist Abbey pointed out, sustainability starts with your mindset — but this shift in mentality doesn’t happen overnight. It's difficult to unlearn the habit of chasing every new trend or the latest must-have styles, which is why it's so important to keep educating yourself on the impact of your choices. To make this transition easier, the QFSF panelists recommended finding a community that shares your values and encourages you to make ethical choices. Lily noted that Queen’s and Kingston offer plenty of sustainability resources! In addition to QFSF, there are groups like Queen’s Collective Closet and sustainability hubs that are incredibly helpful when navigating the beginning of your sustainable fashion journey. 

At the end of the day, sustainable fashion isn’t about being perfect. It's about making mindful choices, one step at a time. Whether it's thrifting a single item, upcycling an old piece, or resisting the urge to impulse buy, every action adds up. QFSF panelists emphasized that everyone’s journey looks different, so don’t get discouraged if your efforts feel small. While individual choices won’t single-handedly solve the fashion industry’s sustainability problem, they are part of a larger movement. Change starts with awareness, education, and a community that pushes for better, and this year's designer panel proved just how powerful those conversations can be.