Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator

When fashion entrepreneur Richard Catalano, came up to me at a sustainability event wearing one of the best smiles ever, I had no doubt I would like him. For the record, I still do.

The former CEO and President of American sportswear designer Adrienne Vittadini, designer/founder of 5 Circles and fashion strategy consultant had a question for me though:”Why do you hate fast fashion so much?”

Caught off-guard, my first reaction was, “Why are you NOT?”

Going outside of one’s comfort zone is the next necessary step in this world of “fashion done right,” and “responsibly made fashion.” In fact it’s past due for the industry’s continued growth, to see perspectives that will either sharpen or put into better focus, the conscious mantras we carry daily. For too long, many in the sustainable fashion community have held tight to their beliefs, encouraged daily by colleagues who enforce they are always right, and rarely questioning or challenging others in the community for fear of ostracism.

Richard asked if we could set up a time to agree to probably disagree but at the very least, to hear the other out on why we believe what we believe in. So this past week, we did just that, meeting in a coffee shop to reach across the aisle and be curious, be vulnerable and see if we truly believed in what we said.

After our two hour talk, Richard admitted little changed for him but he appreciated that I never shut down from considering the other side.

Me? I felt even more strongly that I am on the right path and thanks to my new colleague’s insight, I see how much harder and consistently we have to educate mainstream thinkers. But should we still be doing this the same way? Should we not be opening up our doors to have authentic conversations from real platforms? And by this I mean behind closed doors, where we get no publicity, where we only gain knowledge from relating human to human and discovering where ethics lye in relation to people and planet.

What I’m saying is that it’s time to turn off the buzz and listen in earnest.

Here are some of the big questions Richard and I talked about and here are some of his answers.

You asked me to defend not liking fast fashion, but what are the top 3 reasons why you think it is an okay model.

I feel it is ok because it allows people to buy fashion at a very affordable price and supports creativity. It employs a lot of people and in a way keeps fashion in perspective- playful not serious. And a lot of the product is non logo-ed. Things from H&M and Uniqlo… so a person can express themselves as individuals.

What do you think is the key reason more mainstream brands aren’t asking more honest questions from the sustainable fashion community?

I think you are in a tribe of believers so they think along the same lines as you -kindred spirits. I’m kind of like reaching across the aisle because I have an interest in understanding someone who is authentic and believes what they believe in even if different from me and can discuss without getting offended by my questions.

Should large companies become more transparent or less when implementing sustainable initiatives?

I think we live in a transparent world and if companies make a statement about sustainability, they should be held to their statement. Large or small. I think becoming sustainable is a process and it might take time to turn a big ship around. As long as they are making measured strides that’s cool, even it takes time to get there.

How do you see the fast fashion model working in lieu of future environmental challenges like access to water?

I feel the garment business is very flexible and will use innovative ways to meet this challenge. How they will I’m not sure but they will want to maintain and grow and will use technology to figure it out. The construction of buildings and houses might be a bigger problem!!!

I think some of these so called “Fast Fashion” companies will lead the way for the more traditional companies who will stick to old ways of doing things.

Agree with Richard or not?