Her Designs Are Helping the Planet

Today, in addition to running Maya’s Ideas, Penn advises other fashion companies on how to reduce their environmental impact. And though she believes the fashion industry has a long way to go, she is hopeful that it is heading in the right direction. Penn says there has been a shift in the importance of eco-friendliness in the fashion world. This, she says, is because more consumers are concerned about the environment.

The fact is, we can all make a difference when it comes to clothing and the environment. Instead of throwing away a shirt because it has a tiny tear, look up how to mend it on YouTube. Instead of tossing out clothes that no longer fit, donate them to charity or to a take-back program. (A take-back program collects old items and has them recycled into new ones.) Research how your clothes are made and identify companies committed to sustainability. If you find a business that’s not, write a letter explaining why it should be.

“You’re never too young or too old to make an impact,” says Penn. “Believe in yourself and what you’re passionate about. There are so many people who will be excited to support your unique voice if you take that leap to start.”

_{* The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development}

By Mackenzie Carro

Mackenzie Carro: What does it mean to be an eco-fashion designer?

Maya Penn: Eco-fashion designers create clothing in unique and innovative ways that have less of a harmful impact on our planet. We look at what kinds of materials and resources are needed to make clothing, and what impact those materials will have on the environment when that clothing is thrown away. Being a sustainable-fashion designer requires a lot of creative problem-solving and a passion for putting the planet first.

MC: When did you decide that you wanted to make eco-friendly clothing?

MP: I was a really nerdy and artsy kid. I’ve always had a passion for art and design, including fashion design. I’ve also always had a passion for the natural world: plants, animals, and ecosystems. So when I had an idea to start a fashion line, I was naturally inclined to start doing my own research on the fashion industry and its environmental impacts. What I discovered was mind-blowing, and I was shocked that sustainable fashion wasn’t talked about by more people. Based on what I learned, I knew I wanted to make my designs eco-friendly. I started by creating headbands from old fabric and vintage clothes that I had around the house. Soon, my friends and family started complimenting my designs, and that’s when I decided to start my own business. I soon started creating more eco-friendly items, such as scarves, blouses, hats, bags, jewelry, and more.

MC: Why is it important to make sure that our clothes are eco-friendly?

MP: A big contributor to climate change is carbon dioxide emissions, and the fashion industry emits an estimated 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually!** Also, did you know that an estimated 87 percent of the clothing people buy ends up in landfills or incinerators?*** These are just two examples of why it’s so important for the fashion industry to become more eco-friendly.

MC: What can we all do to be more environmentally friendly when it comes to our clothes?

MP: There are lots of things you can do to make your wardrobe eco-friendly. First, remember to really take care of your clothes to try and make them last as long as possible. The longer they stay out of a landfill, the better! For example, if something of mine gets a hole in it, I sew it instead of throwing it away. Or I love to turn my old clothes into totally new designs! There are so many awesome possibilities—have fun and get creative! Second, when you buy clothes, shop sustainably. The clothes that I wear are all either secondhand, meaning they were owned by someone else before me, or made with environmentally friendly materials.

MC: Has the Covid-19 pandemic affected your business at all?

MP: Covid-19 has affected my ability to work with some of the artisans I collaborate with to produce my designs, but I’ve also started making masks using some of the leftover fabric that I have in my studio. I’ve been distributing the masks to women and children’s shelters, health-care workers, and health-care facilities here in Atlanta where I live, as well as in countries like Senegal in West Africa.

MC: In addition to running your business, you also work as a consultant for other businesses in the fashion industry. Can you tell us a little bit about what that entails?

MP: Being a consultant means that other companies come to you for advice. In my case, other companies come to me for advice on how they can make their business more eco-friendly. Sustainability can be very tricky for many businesses that haven’t yet taken the time to make it a priority. I consult several different types of businesses, but when I work with fashion companies, I’m usually helping them figure out how they can use fewer materials or how they can switch to recycled and natural materials to make their products. I also show them how they can use less water and electricity, reduce their carbon footprint, and more!

MC: You started your business in 2008. How has the fashion industry changed since then in regard to sustainability? Has it gotten better?

MP: This is definitely a really interesting time to be in sustainable fashion. There has been a shift in the importance of eco-friendliness in the fashion world since I started my business. At that time, most people I met had never even heard about sustainable fashion, and I’m really glad I was able to help not only raise awareness about this issue, but also create an eco-friendly alternative for customers through my own fashion line. As of now, there is still a long way to go, but every day more and more steps are being taken to create a greener future. The important thing is that the fashion industry makes the necessary changes quickly.

_{**Nature Climate Change: “The Price of Fast Fashion” https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-017-0058-9
***Environmental Protect Agency, Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling—Textiles: Material-Specific Data https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/textiles-material-specific-data (VIA https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200710-why-clothes-are-so-hard-to-recycle#:~:text=85%25%20of%20all%20textiles%20thrown,37kg%20of%20clothes%20every%20year.}

_{Correction: The print version of the article says Penn launched her business in 2010. Penn started her business in 2008.}