Artist’s Journal:

I think beauty and fashion are part of a human’s animal instincts. Hear me out.
Humans are animals, and many animals have rituals and behaviours that employ colour and pageantry. I don’t think we’re any different. I think the desire for new, special, unique, impressive finery is built into our DNA. Think of all the David Attenborough birds you’ve seen in the documentaries during mating season.

As an artist, fashion and makeup is part of my daily artistic expression. I love it. It is—for me, anyway—impossible to give up.

But I know that the hills of the landfill are full of this stuff. And I am keenly aware that I contribute to it.

In this collection of art, I used fabrics and old clothing for every single piece. I felt like I was making a difference; but in reality, reusing these materials is like trying to bail out the Titanic with your cupped hands. There is just so much of it, I can’t possibly make a difference.

The key: make less of it. Find ways to thrift, trade, or re-make clothes. Focus on buying ethical brands when you can. Choose natural fibres even when you have to shop commercially.

You won’t always get it right. I know I don’t. But I have probably adapted my shopping habits by a good 20% this year alone. If everyone did this, we could reduce production of fast fashion by millions of pounds.

Things to know:

• Women spend approx $3700 per year on beauty. Imagine if we redirected even 30% of that spending to self-improvement, health, and/or entrepreneurship….(The irony is that you’re not likely to get anywhere in business without makeup. Studies show that people perceived makeup-less women as less capable and professional.)

• 3500 chemicals are used in textile production, with 350 of them being hazardous to human health and 175 hazardous to the earth.

• 25% of new garments remain unsold.

• 35% of primary microplastics in the ocean are from washing synthetic textiles.

• Shein emits 6.3 billion kilograms of carbon dioxide each year—the equivalent of 180 coal-fired plants. Their fabrics contain unsafe levels of lead.

• Only 12% of textiles are recyled.

• The beauty industry creates 120 billion packaging units annually. most of which is not recyclable.

• 10.4 million tons of water is used annually in the production of cosmetics.

• Beware of greenwashing! Processing bamboo for fabric requires toxic chemicals. Recycled polyester clothing creates toxins and new waste.