Miss Universe 2021 candidates talk about fast fashion and building a sustainable wardrobe
As another pageant season is upon us, the Miss Universe Organization is getting everyone in the mood with teaser and video releases on social media. This gives every fan a glimpse of this year’s contestants and the upcoming competition. These video campaigns range from an insider's view of the lives of the candidates to sharing messages about the pageant’s causes and initiatives. This time, the beauties of the 70th Miss Universe tackle the topic that is evident in many closets around the globe—fast fashion.
In the three-minute video, the candidates of the 2021 edition of the pageant shared the importance of having mindful clothing consumption. Some shared how fast fashion contributes to the world's waste and how it destroys natural resources. Others share tips on how they build ethical closets and eco-friendly shopping practices. Among them is Philippine bet Beatrice Luigi Gomez.
The beauty queen from Cebu City hit on the issue that eco-conscious fashion is just a fad. “Sustainable fashion is not just a trend, but it is a lifestyle choice we have to make for the future,” she said.
In an interview with Fashion Revolution Philippines’ country coordinator Theresa Arigo, she mentioned that garment production is predicted to grow by 81 percent by 2030, which will raise demand for agricultural land to produce cotton, viscose, wool, rubber, leather hides, and other natural fibers. This could result in deforestation leading to wildlife losing their habitats and increasing the risk of disease transmission from wildlife to humans.
“The past year has shown us more vividly than ever before that the health of our world is the health of its people. The COVID-19 pandemic is a direct consequence of human impact on the natural world,” Theresa said.
She also pointed out new research about “chemicals and microfibers present in our clothing are now prevalent in every part of the earth, the oceans, and within our human bodies.” Making matters worse is fast fashion’s “severe and exploitative working conditions.”
Her advice in building a sustainable closet echoes Fashion Revolution founder Orsola de Castro’s words, which is: “The most sustainable garment is the one already in your wardrobe.”
“One of the key things that we think Filipinos misunderstand when it comes to creating a sustainable closet is that you need to buy from sustainable brands for your closet to become sustainable,” Theresa said. “When in fact, the key to sustainability is actually not buying anything and using what you already have in your closet and taking care of them.”
Discover more about fast fashion and sustainable clothing practices straight from the beauties of Miss Universe 2021 here: