The Future of Fashion is Sustainable, by Grace Connelly
We all love clothes, however do you ever sit and think about what happens to our environment while our favorite shirt is being created? Well the fashion industry is one of the main contributors in the release of greenhouse gasses into our atmosphere. The good news is that fashion brands such as Patagonia have brought this issue to the forefront and they are now doing things to help alleviate some of the greenhouse gasses. 89 percent of the fabric Patagonia used this year are preferred fabrics. This means that 89 percent of the fabrics they use help improve social and environmental sustainability.(Merriam Webster) Patagonia’s website contains thorough descriptions of all their materials while giving detailed information on why they are better for the environment. Another amazing thing about Patagonia is that the owner Yvon Chouinard gave away the company. He did not sell it for a large amount of money, instead he traded in his billion dollar brand toward a trust and a non-profit organization. This means that all of the company’s profits go toward relieving climate change (New York Times). This is just one example of a sustainable brand however there are so many more such as Reformation, Levi’s, and Eileen Fisher. (The Good Trade). I encourage you now to see how your clothes are created and consider buying from sustainable brands because the future is sustainable.
Jane Winchester, by Elle Brady
About a month ago, Jane Winchester, a jewelry designer, stepped foot onto Agnes Irwin’s campus to talk to the Skirt publication team about her experience of becoming a successful businesswoman. Jane Win, her company, has been very successful since it opened in 2017. Her journey is like no other. Jane Winchester originally worked in fashion design and marketing for 20 years until she opened her own company. Winchester worked for brands such as Lily Pulitzer, Adrienne Vittadini, Calvin Klein Cosmetics, and Barneys New York. One significant fact about Jane Winchester herself is that in college she had no idea what to do after her time. She was stuck on what to do with her career which goes to show that anything can happen as long as you stick with your passion. Jane Win is known for their gold-plated pendants. In fact, there is a meaning behind each pendant. There are 8 amulets that symbolize a load of positivity, strength, hope, and luck. Winchester says that her jewelry is inspired by “coin jewelry of the 1900s which was functional, spiritual and symbolic”. Her jewelry is not like no other. It is big, eye-catching, and filled with meaning. Even today, many girls at the Agnes Irwin School wear Jane Win necklaces, even myself, which is a daily accessory to a student’s collection. This company is still increasing with loads of different styles, sizes, and amulets. Jane Winchester’s story is truly remarkable and it will help the younger generation be inspired by owning their own company and how to handle it.
