justification of political apathy in the name of commerce has long been common for fashion brands, luxury and mass alike. Wple on both sides of the aisle? But with a global climate crisis looming, more and more fashion brands have been speaking out. Mthe CEO of Conservation International, hy wade into a debate when you’re looking to clothe peo-. Sanjayan, Front Row
fany & Co., Levi Strauss & Co., and Gap fired its own shot across the bow: joining Inc., who took out full-page newspaper ads protesting Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris climate accords in 2017. short of the courtroom, but Patagonia points to the companies, including Tif-a lawsuit against the Trump administra-tion to block cuts to two Utah national monuments. Mis leaning into this news cycle. (“Hey, Around the same time, Patagonia ost fashion activism stops
dent Going?” read a company blog post How’s That Lawsuit Against the Presi-last spring.) “Every time the rest of the industry starts catching up, they rein-vent [themselves],” Sanjayan says. They are, Wgenerations are asking hard questions of us, questions that army of conscious consumers,” many of whom are millenni-als or Gen Zers, who’ve been raised to question many of the fashion industry’s norms. “Williams says, “trying to build an e are really happy that younger
we do not always have evpetroleum sources by 2025, and it launched ReCrafted, an upcycled line made from Patagonia pieces that were beyond raise the bar.” The company has pledged to eliminate virgin Sanjayan says. “They’ve taken a position repair, this past year. It’s also been doing a sideline in environmental documenta-it “has increased their market share,” a feature on public lands called turned off its customers. If anything, Trustries: This year, Patagonia will premiere ery answer to. They’re helping us. Activism doesn’t appear to have Public
for the planet, but for their bottom line.”to do collaborations with fashion brands, of the clothing. “Mthe “gorpcore” aesthetic (Sandy Liang’s clout fleeces, Prada’s hiking sandals), Patagonia has even gained an unexpected fashion following, and it’s gotten requests that has ended up being good, not just according to Winitially admired the performance aspect Wang, who is known for her street style, Between its message and its place in illiams. Stylist Rachael y appreciation evolved
about the company’s holistic approach to environmental re-sponsibility and social justice. They are certainly not perfect, but they don’t claim to be. They don’t use imperfection as an excuse to stagnate.” into reverence,” she says, “once I learned
successfully steer her Caracas boutique through the political nities in the most difficult of situations, Busquets managed to the Mentrepreneurs. Among Busquets’s 2020 initiatives is Nations and Fashion 4 Development, and a Wher personal duty to empower more Latin American artisans and a founding majority investor in Net-a-Porter. Now she feels it is council member, Carmen Busquets has extended her reach well beyond the front row. Winstability of her native Venezuela in the early ’90s and became A GLOBAL GOODWunsung craftspeople in Latin America and the Caribbean, while asters, her first film series, which highlights the talents of ILL AMith an innate knack for seeing opportu-BASSADOR to both the United orld Wildlife Fund Looking for
aiming to ensure their artistic traditions survive through strategic partnerships with luxury brands. Busquets has also emerged as a mentor for the next generation of activists, such as Venezuelan conservationist Bibiana Sucre, who is working to protect Mgarita Island, home to the critically endangered yellow-throated parrot. “Bibiana has been held at gunpoint twice in recent weeks, and her family has fled,” Busquets says. “But she remains to protect her work, the land, and the parrots.”—Naomi Rougeauar-Wvisionary retail entrepreneur Carmith her zero-waste ethos, activist, investor, and is using her resources to bring about lasting change, in the fashion industry and beyond.Global Gooden Busquets
LINDSAY ROSE MEDOFF AT SUAY SEW SHOP.