Sustainable fashion, slow fashion, eco-friendly fashion… all these are terms that are at the forefront of the current conversation in the industry. Nowadays, with the culture of consumerism and its very well-known effects on the global environment, more and more people are becoming conscious of the fact that the way we consume clothes, shoes and accessories needs to turn into a direction that does not affect the planet the way the current one does. Many famous fast fashion brands are being publicly questioned about the source of their items, and where do they end up when they cannot be sold anymore, and slow fashion brands with ecolines, as well as practices such as upcycling, are appearing in the dozens as an alternative to the current purchasing cycle.
One of these lines is single-handedly produced by Chilean designer Cris Miranda. Born and raised in Santiago, Miranda has spent time learning about new materials and design sensibilities, as well as developing his own ideas about what sustainable fashion should really be, in places such as Hong Kong and Tokyo. “I reference Japanese aesthetics and pre-Hispanic garment patters”, Miranda says. “I believe in a more sustainable approach to fashion, working only with premium upcycled materials and reconstruction of old clothes.”
Miranda’s latest collection, called Dream, is heavily inspired by his experiences during his two years in Japan, as it is made almost entirely in upcycled silk from vintage kimonos that he acquired in Tokyo. The collection includes genderless tailoring and a wide variety of sizes, as Miranda strongly believes in making fashion accessible to the largest possible number of individuals. This proposal was met with both critical and commercial success after its presentation on the renowned Pasarela Valparaiso in March 2022.
Furthermore, when a customer buys their Cris Miranda garment, it includes a permanent service of repair and retailoring with no expiry date, making it possible for the user to adapt the clothes to their own changing needs and body type, as opposed to the omnipresent fast fashion pieces that are meant to be used and discarded in a short period of time. “I don’t like producing waste and I always tell my customers I will mend their clothes if ever needed. Some kind of a lifetime guarantee.”
Another issue in the conversation about sustainability is the treatment of workers in the production chain, especially those who are at the lowest level of the industry, such as seamstresses. For Miranda, this is a crucial topic. In his own words, “sustainability is not only about the materials you use, but also about the way your brand takes care of the social impact it has. I always make sure to pay fair wages to people that work with me so they have a better living.”
All in all, Miranda believes that the key in sustainable fashion is honesty and transparency in all stages. As a brand, “you need to be fully committed to answer questions about your chain of production, about the way you treat your workers and from where you’re sourcing your materials.” This is by no means an easy task, although he says that “start-up companies like mine have an easier way to be transparent because we don’t have big chains of production.” While some of the biggest players like Swedish giant H&M are taking steps towards building a more sustainable model, they still have a long way to go in the aim of being fully transparent. Miranda thinks that “the most important thing we can do for us as consumers is to ask about the truth”.
Miranda’s approach to fashion is not only sustainable and fair, but also circular, in the sense that the clothes are meant to be worn and taken care of for as long as possible. “I’m working on a complete garment care guide so that I can give to anyone that’s ever bought my clothing, and I am expanding my production to meet the customer demand, but always trying to keep in mind that I create slow pieces that are unique and tailored to my customers.” This not only ensures that the clothes will be used for a long time, but also creates a closer relationship with the customers. As consumers, we have a special bond with the clothes that we like and wear the most, and having them customized and repaired whenever necessary makes them a staple in our closet, something that we will use with pride and that will become a vintage piece that future generations can discover with excitement while raiding our old closet.
Besides planning his next collection that will be launched in October 2022 and the aforementioned care guide for his creations, Miranda is now venturing into another creative outlet: storytelling through Japanese style comic books. “It will be about recollecting memories from past experiences and bringing them to today through the launching of my new manga project that will have its first published chapter in Mexico.” No doubt, the future is looking up for Miranda and his many passions, which have been met with recognition and praise in all the different places in the world where he has left his creative imprint.
In all industries, the final say belongs to the customer who is paying for a good or service. As society moves to a more conscious way of purchasing and consuming the things we want and need, the accompanying lifestyle that comes with it requires that, as customers, we become more aware of what is happening in the production chain of our belongings, and this movement has become particularly strong in the fashion scene, since it is the second most contaminating industry in the world and one that is sadly recognized by the poor treatment of his workers. In Miranda’s words, “the power of changing the fashion industry lies in us, not in the big companies.” He concludes: “It is we as consumers who have the responsibility of asking about the truth and demanding big companies to be open about what they do and their practices, and how they treat their workers.”
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