DATI

What are the differences between sustainable and fast fashion?

Sustainable fashion prioritises people and the planet over profit. In terms of fast fashion, they are pumping out stuff as quick as they can, trying to keep up with trends, and they disregard anything in terms of; how much water they are using, the dyes they are using, how much pollution goes to rivers.

Sustainable fashion is more focused on the people, the terms of working conditions, the amount they are getting paid, the hours they are working. They care more about the environment as a whole. You have a lot more sustainable fashion designers working together collaboratively wanting to make change.

What impact is the fashion industry having on the environment?

The fashion industry counts for 10% of global carbon emissions. It is very heavy on its production processes, so if we can’t cut those down then we are going to keep seeing the same problem.

We are still seeing lots of landfill and textile waste that either ends up in a charity shop or ends up getting sent abroad, so we aren’t really solving the problem. We just have this excess. We have tried to close the loop for so long and it isn’t working so we need to dramatically change the way that we buy and make clothing.

How are DATI Clothing helping to create a greener Wales

DATI have always been trying to tackle the climate situation since we began 15 years ago. We have been upcycling, sharing the message with all ages, working with local universities trying to educate people at every level. We work with young people, and we are trying to get the message out there wherever we can. We are keen to upskill the generation below us so they can come through and learn from local brands that are trying to promote sustainability.

We collaborate with different businesses, whether they are a sustainable business or not. It is important to share your values and that really rubs off on people. So, the more that we can use collaboration as a tool to teach and educate people on sustainable processes, and sustainable ways of valuing our clothing then that’s a win.

If we have any photoshoots, we always keep it circular, so we will go to vintage shops to lend and hire styling pieces instead of going to a fast fashion brand.

In terms of our emissions, a lot of the fabric that we get is from local kilo sales, vintage, pre-loved and second-hand stores. We make our garments in house using local talent. Everything is kept as local as possible. We are not 100% there, but we are trying to do our best and that is the most important thing.

What advice would you give other people to be more sustainable?

• Buying better quality is key. Back in the day, I probably had about 5 black vest tops or shirts, but now I just have one which cost me a bit more, but it lasts because the material is much better. It doesn’t bobble when I wash it, and the dye doesn’t fade.

• Swapping clothes. We do a swap clothes all the time and have rail in our own studio where we encourage people to swap clothes. Look out for brands or local businesses that are running swap events or swap with your friends.

• Shop your own wardrobe. The most sustainable clothes are the ones in your wardrobe. Go on Pinterest to look at ideas so you can refresh your current pieces, or style them in a different way, such as cutting sleeves off jackets, crop, rolling a pair of jeans or trousers up.

• Upcycling. Go to a class or workshop where you can learn to upcycle your clothes, such as how to sew a button on. With TikTok and Instagram there are a lot of young people now upcycling rugs and carpets, curtains and making it fun and accessible. You can also renew your garments, like you say there’s natural dyes you can buy, that’s also a good way of keeping the longevity of a garment.

• Renting. Some vintage shops and brands rent out pieces so that you aren’t having to spend lots of money on something new. You could borrow it for a couple of days and bring it back to save money.

• Buy and sell second-hand.15 years ago buying from charity shops wasn’t cool and there was a bit of shame about it. Now people are really keen, especially on second-hand apps, it’s amazing to see.

• Donating. Donate really good quality clothing to charity shops. They can have real trouble getting rid of waste, so if you are going to give to charity, make sure it is good quality.