By: Gabriella Phelan
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – A newly-established Registered Student Organization is encouraging students to shop consciously.
The University of Arkansas’ Sustainable Fashion Club held its first meeting on Sept. 13th, and it has since been working to create change.
Annalise Robins, SFC President, said that she was inspired to start the club after noticing that many people were not aware of the importance of thrifting and shopping vintage.
“So many people I know love thrifting and vintage fashion and express themselves through the way they dress. However, not many of them know about why thrifting or shopping vintage is sustainable and important.”
Robins also warned about the dangers of supporting fast fashion, citing lack of funds and accessibility as the reason the industry continues to thrive.
“So much of the fashion we see today is fast fashion. This is cheaply made clothing, often using non-biodegradable materials and fossil fuel production methods to fit into what is trending online. Most [of this] will end up right back into landfills when it does not fit what is trending. We can not continue to make clothing to sit on our earth. It is dangerous and poses a very real threat to our climate.”
As the club rises in popularity across campus, Robins said there are three mission statements that it plans to accomplish.
“We will educate on topics such as fast and slow fashion, greenwashing, and upcycling. We will connect students with eco-friendly fashion brands and businesses. We will build a community of like-minded, fashion-loving, eco-conscious students.”
This weekend, the club is set to hold a ‘Sustainable Student Market’ in Fayetteville. The event is the first of its kind to come from a student-led organization.
The market will feature nine local vendors who each have a passion for sustainability forward fashion.
The event will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at The Co-Op on College Avenue.
Committee members from the Sustainable Fashion Club will also be present to share information about the dangers of fast fashion, and give resources in order to make more informed shopping choices.