First I must express my gratitude to Nolcha for the invite to cover the shows during fashion week. I’m also the only person in the state of NY who misread the Nolcha schedule as open to all. Silly me. Kerry Bannigan, founder of Nolcha Fashion Week, was kind enough to show me grace and allow me to sit in on an intimate discussion on ‘Sustaining a Fashionable Future.’

The luncheon boasted an impressive group of entrepreneurs,  diplomats from Guatemala, designers, and corporate sponsors. All interested in doing the grunt work to improve fashion. Or perhaps it is rooted in a hope to hold on to what is left of fashion’s reputation. Arguably, to each attendee, sustainability carried a unique meaning. Whether it be labor laws, ethically sourced materials, pure ingredients, saving paper, or how to reduce contaminates. The issue is broad enough that, in my opinion, there is seemingly no way to do it all. Read, save the world. BUT, in each of our own corner’s of the world we can do our best to improve what we’re compassionate about. For instance, a designer solely focused on supporting human rights in factories overseas may not have the capacity to deal with the tremendous amounts of fabric dyes being dump into the ocean by the same manufactures.  But other there is someone who would jump to the challenge to improve water quality. The issues of fashion are multidimensional. Wisdom dictates doing one thing and doing it well. If/When the opportunity arises to branch out, then do so. No half stepping.

There is, of course, an easy way out. The ‘uh duh’ route. That is to pay no attention to the who what when where and why, and instead spend/buy without consideration. Just know that this trend is quickly dying and becoming increasingly un-fashionable.

Thoughts?

// Pictured: Spring/Summer 2013 accessory collection by Glocal Connection and Kem Ajachel handmade in Guatemala.

///Special thank you to Nolcha Fashion Week and Rusk for the discussion that sparked my mind to think just a little bit harder.)

////*Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this article. To be honest I wasn’t supposed to be there.