CINCINNATI — Halloween will kick off seasonal consumer spending and the National Retail Federation expects Americans to spend $10.6 billion on candy, decorations and costumes. In November, however, most of those outfits will end up in the trash, even though they’ve only been worn once or twice.
The trend mirrors American fashion consumption in general, with the EPA estimating that the country throws away 11 tons of textiles each year, with most garments being worn an average of seven times. It’s a problem facing fashion students in the UC College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning as they prepare to enter the industry.
what you need to know
Americans are expected to spend $10.6 billion on Halloween this year
It is estimated that 85% of costumes end up in landfills.
DAAP students created sustainably sourced catwalk designs in partnership with St. Vincent DePaul
They believe that the wardrobe is a great starting point when envisioning sustainable fashion.
“There are too many clothes in the world, which is a bit scary for a fashion designer to say,” said Cierra Calmeise, a junior at DAAP. “So instead of creating more, I feel like it’s really important to look around and use what we already have.”
It’s the philosophy behind her latest design, a runway piece for the St. Vincent DePaul RetroFittings fashion show, one of the organization’s largest local fundraisers.
“I wanted a challenge,” he said. “I was like, ‘What are the weirdest things people wouldn’t think to wear?’ I will find a way to use them.”
Calmeise is working on a dress design for the RetroFitting competition. (Spectrum News/Michelle Alfini)
Calmeise said she spent about $20 at the thrift store collecting supplies to put together a costume design that exemplified the theme of “hope.”
“My cart just filled up,” he said. “I had broken umbrellas, a Santa beard and anything you can think of, I just piled it in there.”
The base was a white dress, Calmeise augmented with thread from Santa’s beard arranged to form a kind of ribcage at the front. He then fashioned a veil out of flowing tulle, a headband and hairpins, and completed the look with a choker made from a kid’s race track and a few coats of paint.
Calmeise is working on a dress design for the RetroFitting competition. (Spectrum News/Michelle Alfini)
“It all came together really well,” he said. “I’m very happy with that”.
Not only did the piece win first place in the RetroFitting competition, but Calmeise said it reinforced her passion for sustainable fashion.
“Just slowing down and looking at what you have is extremely important because there are already so many materials and things in this world,” he said.
Costumes, Calmeise believes, is a good place to start and she can’t imagine a better time to experience it than October.
“When people dress up for Halloween, they want to stand out, they want to have the best costumes and they want to be seen and heard, and I think it just takes a little bit of creativity and a little bit of time.” she said.
For those who don’t feel ready or don’t have time to make their own clothes to that point, Calmeise recommends finding costumes from your closet, a thrift store, or even swapping outfits and ideas with friends.
“The world around us is our materials and we just have to dive in and go into the unknown,” he said.
Calmeise isn’t sure where she wants to take her fashion career after graduation, but she hopes there are more opportunities for sustainable design on the horizon, both through wardrobe and everyday wear.
“I’m not exactly sure what I’m going to do yet, but I’m excited for what’s to come,” she said.
Source: news.google.com