Author: Mariah Morgan ’27
Say No to Fast Fashion
Fast fashion, the rapid production of cheap, trendy clothing, has become a major driver of environmental degradation and social injustice. The fast fashion industry is notorious for its reliance on unsustainable practices, including the overuse of water, toxic chemicals, and synthetic fibers that contribute to pollution and waste. In addition, fast fashion perpetuates exploitative labor conditions in developing countries, where workers are often underpaid and subjected to unsafe working environments. The harms of fast fashion are far-reaching, affecting ecosystems, communities, and consumers alike. By choosing to mend and repair clothing instead of buying new, we can help combat the wastefulness of this industry, reduce our environmental footprint, and foster a more sustainable and ethical approach to fashion. One group on campus, Mend, is taking steps to raise awareness around this issue.
Vision and Goals of Mend
Mend is a student group that aims to teach the skills of alteration and mending to prolong the lives of our clothes. They also seek to discourage discarding gently-used garments and to spread awareness around upcycling the contents of our closets. Having a resource like Mend on campus means we can explore ways to get the most use out of our clothing, reduce the amount of fast fashion consumption, and avoid contributing to companies that are inherently unsustainable.
This past year, Mend was an integral part of the numerous sustainability-led events on campus. Mend plays a large role at the EcoReps’ annual Clothing Swap, which offers a venue for students to bring, swap, and donate old clothes. At the event, Mend occupies a table with sewing machines and other supplies to help fix clothing with tears, rips, holes, and frays. Additionally, Mend participated in the 2024 spring Earth Day Festival and the weekly Farmers Markets. Last but not least, they also serve as a resource for other on campus groups, getting involved with sewing projects for performance and theater groups.
The MEND team is led by four passionate Princeton undergraduates: Lauren Owens ’25, Susan McLernon ’27, Tanaka Dunbar Ngwara ’24, and Isabella Gomes ’25. We sat down with each of them to hear why they joined Mend.
For Owens, it started with her love of sewing from the age of six when she got her first sewing machine. Once arriving at Princeton, she wanted to find a fun crafty club on campus, and found Mend was the perfect opportunity. She knew she had found a place where she could creatively express herself, while being sustainable.
Similar to Owens, Gomes was excited to find a sustainable creative outlet like Mend. She found joy in learning from the other members and has since learned how to use a sewing machine.
Dunbar Ngwara initially had planned to work at a costume shop, but when it didn’t work out, she was elated to find an ad for Mend on a listserv. She not only found the group really fun to be a part of, but was also deeply moved learning about the importance of sustainable fashion and thrifting. It’s an added plus that she already had experience with friends asking her to help fix and alter items, so Mend was a perfect fit.
McLernon shared the same feeling as the others, an excitement to be part of such a unique sustainability group. Already having a knack for sewing that flourished during the Covid Pandemic, she appreciated having a creative outlet as a job.
Getting Involved
Students interested in being a part of the Mend team should always feel free to reach out. Mend’s office hours are typically on Mondays 7–9 pm in the Frist Ecolounge. Be sure to follow their Instagram to keep up with the latest updates!
Citations:
A new textiles economy: Redesigning Fashion’s Future. A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning Fashion’s Future. (n.d.). https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/a-new-textiles-economy
Abelvik-Lawson, H. (n.d.). How fast fashion fuels climate change, plastic pollution, and violence. Greenpeace International. https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/62308/how-fast-fashion-fuels-climate-change-plastic-pollution-and-violence/