If you follow fashion, then you know that nothing stays the same for long. Short skirts are «in» one season, and «out» the next. You spend a lot of money on a must-have red coat, and a few months later, you have to buy a blue one. And what happens to your old clothes? They go in the rubbish. Fashion is not an environmentally friendly industry, but can things be different? Some designers think so, and they are changing how they work.

Stella McCartney is one designer who has been worried about this problem for a long time. She uses materials which do not damage the environment. For example, 100% of the denim that she uses is either organic or recycled. Some of her coats are made from a new material called Koba that is made from plants and recycled materials instead of plastic. Koba looks like fur but does not use animals.

McCartney has also included crafts in her work. The bags in a recent fashion show came from villages in Madagascar where women know how to work with natural materials like leaves. The women use the money they make to protect the environment around their villages.

Gabriela Hearst is another designer who is changing the fashion industry. Her fashion shows have included second-hand designer bags she bought on the website eBay. She also supports a company which makes coats for homeless people out of recycled sportswear.

Of course, McCartney and Hearst’s designs are expensive. However, even if most people can’t pay hundreds of pounds for a designer coat or dress, McCartney and Hearst could have the power to change the way the whole fashion industry works. These designers are trying to make fashion both beautiful and eco-friendly. They want to make the world a better place and they’re inviting us to join them.

Questions

Why is the fashion industry considered harmful to the environment?
→ Because people often throw away clothes when fashions change quickly. What problem are some designers trying to solve?
→ They are trying to make fashion more environmentally friendly. What kind of materials does Stella McCartney use?
→ She uses materials that do not damage the environment. What is special about the denim Stella McCartney uses?
→ It is either organic or recycled. What is Koba made from?
→ It is made from plants and recycled materials instead of plastic. How do women in Madagascar help with McCartney’s fashion work?
→ They make bags using natural materials like leaves. What do the women in Madagascar do with the money they earn?
→ They use it to protect the environment around their villages. What unusual items has Gabriela Hearst used in her fashion shows?
→ She has used second-hand designer bags bought on eBay. How does Gabriela Hearst help homeless people?
→ She supports a company that makes coats for homeless people from recycled sportswear. What do McCartney and Hearst hope to change?
→ They hope to change the fashion industry and make fashion more eco-friendly.