I enjoy crafting and sewing, but lately I've become hyperaware of the waste produced to sustain this hobby. When I walk into a craft and fabric store, I feel like I could pick up the entire store and dump it directly into a landfill. It's mostly plastic – yes, even the fabric – and it likely won't get recycled.
But I love to craft and sew. I make PJ pants and homemade ornaments for my family for Christmas. Plus, having a creative hobby is good for my mental health.
That's why when I learned that New York fashion designer Anna Molinari is committed to sustainability, I had to talk to her. She was recently named one of Forbes' "30 Under 30" in Art & Style. Molinari learned to sew after watching the reality Television series "Project Runway.
" She was 8 years old, and her parents encouraged her to use the things they already had around the house for her projects. She sewed with old tapestry fabrics her mom had and random thrift store fabrics and old clothes. Little did she know it would set the foundation for her future in upcycling.
In college, Molinari learned how horrible the fashion industry is for the environment. She said, "I made the conscious decision that if I'm gonna pursue this as my career, I'm not gonna harm the environment while doing it." But sustainable fashion seems like an oxymoron.
Edward Humes writes in his book "Total Garbage" that "Heat trapping pollutants generated by fashion production account for nearly 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide." .
