Industry Insider Series: Kate Larsen On Using Vintage To Tackle The Sustainability Crisis

This month’s Industry Insider is Fashion Sustainability Advisor and former Burberry Corporate Responsibility Asia lead, Kate Larsen, who reflects during the Covid-19 outbreak on the importance that Vintage Luxury can play when looking at the bigger picture of sustainability and climate change.

This time of slowdown has caused many to reflect on deeper matters, with some connecting more with loved ones, or their inner hearts in meditation given less rushing around. For some, it is a time to remember again the fragility of life, which includes the ecology in our natural environment on our planet.

Many in the Environmental Sustainability world wish to remind people how important it is to protect all forms of life. Human life depends on ecosystems, which support our food systems, and keep disease and viruses in balance. US government science researchers have previously tracked the escape of Zika virus from bats and species released from rainforests in Africa in recent years, as a result of their homes being destroyed for logging, mining and industrial agriculture. Besides the importance of washing our hands longer, this period of reflection should also teach us to value and protect the little remaining rainforest and it's wildlife that we have left, as it’s role in protecting human life is greater than many realise.

So, how can we protect our environment more? A key step is to buy less, and appreciate what we have more. Luxury fashion was historically about greater appreciation of that which is most precious and well crafted. Whilst the mainstream commercial luxury industry is often still part of an industry of excessive consumerism, through shopping vintage and pre-owned, we can support the sharing of less material resource, but more intangible beauty. Designer vintage, when carefully curated, offers a chance for our generation to enjoy the beauties of incredible craftsmanship of decades before us, without participating in an industry which still utilises new and unrecycled metals from destructive mining, leather often still from farms which rainforest were destroyed for, and cotton and silk grown by industrial agriculture land for which forest may have been cleared.

Choosing to shop vintage also supports us in connecting and helping each other in this time of need. If we are able to acquire a beautiful piece, we are supporting other small fashion businesses (Open for Vintage stock products from over 70 small boutiques around the world.)

We advise fashion firms on Sustainability and Ethical Trade, and one of the greatest shifts brands will need to make is the shift to a circular economy, and to support the effort to extend the lifetime of well-crafted goods. In supporting vintage luxury, you are part of and causing the new economy. During this time, consider buying vintage as a more low impact way to shop, and enjoy quality, elegant, timeless pieces, whilst supporting other small businesses within our fashion community.

Kate Larsen is an advisor and advocate for Fashion and business Sustainability and Ethical Trade. Her previous roles include Burberry Corporate Responsibility lead Asia, Director Responsible Sourcing for a US retailer, advisor to Kering Group and other Fashion companies and Investors in ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance), and she leads Ethical Fashion advisory and advocacy projects at her social enterprise SupplyESChange.com for Environmental and Social Impact Change in supply chains. You can support upcoming efforts by following Kate on Linkedin, Facebook: SupplyESChange, Twitter @KatieAL, or Instagram @ktsuavEco.