Sustainable Fashion: Good for Humanity and Good for the Planet

Goodwill supports sustainable fashion and local designers that champion the cause. Check out our recent conversation on Mrs. Green’s World

Goodwill supports sustainable fashion in our business model through the donation and sale of second hand goods but we also support local program and designers that champion the cause. Listen in on how we have worked Pima Community College and their Fashion Design students to create unique, runway ready outfits from upcycled Goodwill finds. Students are given $25 gift cards to Goodwill to source materials for an outfit. At the end of the semester, students create a collaborative class brand and showcase their individual pieces on the runway (This year online) at the Pima FashionArte show, Southern Arizona’s premier fashion show.

In several cases, students have gone on to create their own brands. Utilizing sustainably sourced materials(thrifted from Goodwill) and the skills and insights they gained from the upcycling project. One of those students Erin Donaghy, is featured in the podcast talking about the journey that led her to create her very own fashion forward, sustainably conscious brand.

Down to Earth: Tucson, Episode 44,  Sustainable clothing is created in a way that is most considerate of humanity and the environment. As a consumer, participating in the sustainable fashion loop means that you are thinking about what your purchases are supporting. In this episode, we take a closer look at the benefits of sustainable fashion and the role that thrifting plays in supporting the movement away from fast fashion.

• More about Fabiola Bedoya: Fabiola Bedoya is a digital marketer, sustainable shopper, and community oriented artist with an eye for thrifty chic. A creative Latina finding savvy ways to empower others to achieve their dreams, while using her photography to find visual flair wherever it exists. Fabiola uses mixed media art projects to highlight her love of color in her art and her life. Fabiola graduated with a BFA in Photography from the University of Arizona and is currently the Marketing Specialist at Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona.

• More about Erin Donaghy: After enjoying sewing as a hobby for ten years, Erin pursued the fashion design certificate at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. Launching an imaginary brand as a class assignment led to the actual creation of what is now Applause Lingerie. Deciding to focus on lingerie, Erin attended the bra drafting workshop from well-known bra expert Beverly Johnson in Ontario, Canada, and learned about the complexity of bra pattern drafting and fitting. While creating an upcycled look for a Goodwill Challenge where thrifted garments were the primary fabrics of a new garment, this experience provided the inspiration and realization that becoming a sustainable and ethical brand was the only way forward. Since the launch in 2019, Erin continues to provide in-person bra fittings and virtual consultations to serve women with their intimate apparel needs, and is a proud member of the UN Conscious Fashion Campaign.