together for a better Fashion
High-street garments share a life cycle; they impact the local and global environment in multiples ways, as well as the lives and health of workers during manufacturing and retailing.
‘‘Hi,
I’m Denim Jacket
‘‘some parts of me are made of polyester but I’m mostly made of cotton. It took a big amount of water for the cotton to harvest, along with tons of pesticide & fertiliser. A large part of these chemicals end up as waste in the oceans, as the water treatment plants are currently insufficient or absent in most garments-exporter countries. To process synthetic fabric - derived from oil. Less water was required but a great amount of energy was used and greenhouse emissions were released, contributing to climate change. For my final touches, I required different heavy metals & industrial paints, that exposed workers to possible long term health problems.
Once I was fully grown, I travelled by sea and on the road for miles... I was lost within piles of ‘me’ in a big store before I was found and worn for a whole season! But at home I was just another item on a chair, washed too often and too hot. I was forgotten for a long time in your closet and right when I was getting used to hanging... the impatience to claim that hanger for a new jacket reached its peak, so I was sent away … hopefully to a charity shop and not into a regular bin...’’
Everyone can help to reduce the fast fashion impact.
Industries are reducing their use of chemicals and to look for ways to protect their workers, however at Mery Angelo-Atelier we believe change starts at home.
Mery Angelo’s way of contributing to positive change in the environment is through upcycling and by raising awareness on better consumption behaviour.
What’s upcycling and how does it help?
In the last years we have come to realize the fragile condition of Mother Nature and consequently ours. We must make corrections in the way we approach her, to preserve her good health.
An easy way to do this is to reuse as much as possible. Recycling, upcycling, downcycling are not new things, but doing it now is more necessary than ever.
Using materials that are already in circulation to give them a new use, not only activates our creativity, but also reduces the use of raw materials whose extraction, elaboration, transport, disposal, etc. unbalances our ecosystem. Upcycling is one of the many paths that we must take.
At Mery Angelo- Atelier you will find that almost all the materials used are gathered from vintage and second hand stores, chosen by the artist herself for their quality and versatility.
The fabric paint used is non-toxic and disposed accordingly, so no harm was done while creating the original illustrations.
The completed pieces are unique collages of textures, saved from becoming landfill waste.
The collections made are garments and accessories that require minimum wash after purchasing.
Labels, cards and packaging have also been carefully picked for their eco-friendly materials, to minimize waste in the little things.
What can you do to help?
Buy in second hand shops.
Buy less items.
Repair instead of littering.
Choose pieces whose materials are eco-friendly as their sources might be less toxic.
Wash items less and at the right temperature.
Rent clothes, especially those used for special occasions.
Donate, exchange, recycle or deposit correctly a piece that you no longer want.
Research about the topic and its alternatives to support our environment. You will be surprised to see how many there are.
Support artists that work on repurpose
Embrace exclusive looks made by artists for you & the environment
want to collaborate with us? or simply have a question we missed? don’t hesitate to write us at hello@meryangelo.com or check our Frequently Asked Questions