Emma Knudson

“I care about sustainable fashion because it can be such a uniting front for people who want to protect the environment. Everyone wears clothes, so this becomes an issue that suddenly impacts people who may not see what stake in the game they have when it comes to the climate change movement.

As a student, I promote sustainable fashion by working with one of my organizations, Mizzou Women in Natural Resources. Each semester, we host a large thrift shop on campus that students can walk up to. It includes informational resources about fast fashion and the harmful effects of the industry. However, we also try to keep the event really fun and approachable, to show how easy and exciting it is to do something good for the planet!

Whether you care about the planet, wearing high quality clothing, or protecting workers rights, the sustainable fashion movement can embolden so many people to create effective change in the world around them.”

What’s the problem with fast fashion?

“The problems with fast fashion go so far beyond harming the environment. The industry targets youth by highlighting their low prices and short-term, trendy styles, promoting extreme overconsumption. It also harms marginalized communities around the world, by employing them in hostile work environments for little pay, and using poorer countries as dumping grounds for waste, subjecting citizens to hazardous waste contamination. The fast fashion industry stands for nothing except profit, which comes at the cost of people and the planet.”

How do you hope to see the fashion industry change?

“In the future, I truly hope that regulations are put on the fashion industry to protect workers’ rights and limit the emissions created by the harmful practices of corporations. I love seeing companies that are utilizing clothing repair programs and promote making items that can last through years of use.”