When discussing sustainability in fashion, it often feels like there’s an invisible velvet rope—and if you’re plus size, you’re stuck waving on the other side. It’s frustrating, right? How can we talk about building a greener wardrobe when the “eco-friendly” options barely make it past a size 12? That’s why Harlem’s Fashion Row’s 4th Annual Sustainability event was such a breath of fresh air.
This event is the first of its kind, featuring several notable fashion speakers and experts. The event’s purpose is to educate and provide tools on sustainable practices in the apparel industry, in addition to serving as a sounding board for Designers of Color who have proven success in the fashion space. For those of us who feel left out of the sustainability movement, this event was a reminder: we deserve better and to be part of the change.
The Sustainability Snub
Let’s be real: plus-size folks are often left out of the sustainability convo because the industry has some significant blind spots. Sustainable brands? Most of them stop at size L. Eco-influencers? Rarely do we see bodies that look like ours. Even thrifting can feel tricky when the “curated vintage rack” offers exactly one dusty pair of stretchy jeans. So…
