Mavazi, Utamaduni, Uhifadhi na Maendeleo
Fashion, Culture, Conservation and Sustainability
Our culture plays a key role in influencing how we dress, with changing environmental and climatic conditions contributing to this.
Driven by the desire to look good, we have explored different ways to fulfill this desire, going ahead to do what has been described as part of being human; exploiting the environment.
One begs to question “How are Conservation and Fashion related?”
Shifting Cultures Within & Beyond
Conservation and fashion are deeply intertwined through the choices we make in what we wear and how it’s produced. Fashion, traditionally seen as a form of self-expression, has a significant environmental footprint—from water usage and chemical dyes to textile waste and carbon emissions. Embracing sustainable fashion practices, such as upcycling, ethical sourcing, and slow fashion, transforms clothing into a tool for conservation. By prioritizing longevity, natural materials, and responsible production, fashion can shift from being a contributor to environmental degradation to a catalyst for ecological awareness and preservation.
“You are What You Wear” Lin Xin Xiao
Traditionally, we used to wear clothes made from locally available materials, such as animal skins and plant fibers. The dye for these materials was naturally obtained from plants, making it an eco-friendly alternative to the current fashion practices in Kenya.
Currently, Kenya faces significant environmental challenges such as deforestation and pollution due to unsustainable practices within the fashion industry.
The Life We Choose to Build
This has come to change, thanks to the devoted hearts of conscious environmentalists, bringing up a movement within the fashion and textile industry, to make this world a better planet for You and I.
Noting the impact of the consequences of our everyday choices, we can see how we have created a world of endless possibilities.
Engaging conservationists through the journey of cloth production, we are realizing the need to take a step back and rethink our actions. Climate change is one of the effects of fashion choices, with an example being fast fashion and improper dumping.
Circling upon global ethical fashion, geared towards conservation, Circular fashion is one of the models we need to embrace. Circular fashion is making new clothes from used clothing materials.
You will see sustainable fabrics extracted from materials that are less harmful to the environment. These materials may include organic cotton, lyocell fabrics, and recycled polyester.
Visualizing the thoughts of different generations about perceptions of nature and conservation reflects in their eyes, we can understand the journey we have with us. By portraying fascinating creatures, events, phenomena, and conservation efforts through visual arts embedded in our clothes, increases awareness and intrigues the call to action.
The beautiful turtle t-shirts visualizes elements in conservation, drawn by local children inspired by hatching Green sea turtles in Watamu, Kenya. The efforts of the Sea turtle conservation team and their caring interactions with mama turtles, hatchlings, and the local children draws the emotional connections we bear with mother nature.
Let’s make a nature-conscious fashion! Our fashion choices reflect our commitment to the ecosystem and human wellbeing
Remember, we are what we wear. This indeed is an environmental emergency!
Big thanks to AGA and Kipepeo Clothing
Article and photos by Fanaka Tsofa
Every shirt sold via Kipepeo or AGA will bring a donation for Bahari Hai. You can get a copy of the T-shirts in Germany from AGA or Kipepeo clothing via links below:
Reach out to us to get a copy of the Kipepeo T-shirt via email hello@baharihai.org or our social media platforms.
