Harlem Fashion Row’s 4th Sustainability Event

When discussing fashion sustainability, it often feels like there is an invisible velvet rope. And if you’re a plus size, you’re waving to the other side. It’s irritating, right? If the “environmental” option cannot go past size 12, how can you talk about building an eco-friendly wardrobe? That’s why Harlem Fashion Row’s fourth annual sustainability event was such a breath of fresh air.

This event is the first of its kind, featuring several well-known fashion speakers and experts. The purpose of the event is to educate and provide tools for sustainable practices in the apparel industry, in addition to serving as a sounding board for successful color designers in the fashion space. For those of us who feel left out of the sustainability movement, this event was a reminder. We deserve better and become part of the change.

Sustainability Snub

Let’s be authentic: Plus-sized people are often left out of sustainability combos as there are several important blind spots in the industry. Sustainable brand? Most of them stop at size L. Eco-influencers? We rarely see bodies that look like us. Even refreshing can feel tricky when a “curated vintage rack” offers just one dusty pair of elastic jeans. Yes, it’s not just you. It’s a system.

Harlem Fashion Row made it the first thing on his head. This year’s panel featured a smart and stylish lineup of designers, stylists and sustainability experts who have never escaped these realities. They discussed how upcycling, wandering, and even DIY fashion not only moves to save the planet, but how plus-sized people are powerful tools that allow them to express their style and creativity outside of their usual limited retail options.

Savings and Upcycling: Ultimate Power Moves

The panelists emphasized that savings aren’t just about winning bargains. It’s about finding unique pieces that can be tweaked, twisted and tweaked into your dream wardrobe. It’s a sustainable uprising against a system in which we pretend not to exist. Upcycling? Same atmosphere. Making your own shirt or vintage dresses wearing an oversized shirt is like saying, “Your small eco size is not my limit. Look at my work.”

How to Kill Sustainability Games

For me, this was the big point as a plus size attendee. Sustainability doesn’t suit small molds. It’s about expanding the conversation and opening up your own space. Even if your brand doesn’t offer eco-friendly options for sizes yet, you can still participate by lifting, swapping, customizing and supporting manufacturers who prioritize inclusion.

Here’s how to get started:

• Creatively about rif. Hit the cycling store and search for gems.
• Upcycle old works. Are you tired of jackets? Add studs, stain and trim. Let’s create something new again!
• Supports indie brands. Many small designers offer custom sizing and prioritize slow fashion.
• Host swap party. Put your crew together and refresh your wardrobes sustainably (and for free).
• Invest in quality. Buy fewer pieces that last longer and adjust them to fit perfectly with you.

The fourth annual sustainability event by Fashion Row in Harlem was a loud and proud memory of plus-sized people belonging to every part of the fashion conversation. It was when I stopped treating plus-sized bodies as afterthoughts in an eco-friendly way and started seeing them as important voices leading the accusation.

So, don’t be discouraged when the next time someone says “sustainable fashion” and doesn’t think you’re reflecting yourself. It will be the power to redefine it. Rift it, flip it, DIY, and strut it. Sustainability isn’t perfect for all sizes, and neither is style.

What sustainable practices did you adopt as a winding fashionista? Let us know in the comments!