We’re totally biased about the Peggy Sue Collection here at Peace Flag House. Not only do we represent PSC as a creative agency but we love the clothes, the aesthetic, the message, the supply chain, just the whole darn thing. We also believe in crowing about our fabulous clients but as a nod to being (slightly) less biased, we’ve invited KC Santo, writer and editor extraordinaire, to talk ethical luxury and the Annual Collection that the Peggy Sue Collection debuted at Toronto Women’s Fashion Week. Welcome KC!
The fashion world is not where I live. I don’t understand it and therefore have kept my distance, but a new movement has made me stand up and take notice. It’s called ethical luxury and the Peggy Sue Collection is leading the way.
Part of my frustration has been about recognizing the history of sweatshops and child labour in the process of fast and cheap fashion. The tags on my clothing declare where my garment has been made, often telling me a story of many stages and steps taken long before my purchase. Yet I can buy a t-shirt in Canada for roughly ten dollars.
Yet I can buy a t-shirt in Canada for roughly ten dollars…
I’ve never understood how this works. Words like globalization have hovered around the scant few conversations I’ve had and the social media posts I’ve read, but it was never very clear what I, as an individual consumer, could do about it.
In her new Annual Collection, she focused on three words: Connected, Conscious and Regenerative. She says, “I wanted to create luxe fabrics and fashion-forward designs that celebrated Made in Canada, respected the people of our supply chain and envisioned fashion as a sustainable practice. I wanted to show luxury from an ethical perspective.”
This means new fashion that is intentionally local, conscientious, and responsible. Like the concept of farm to table, Peggy Sue has expanded fashion to include farm to body. Promoting the #nofarmsnofashion hashtag across the internet, she recognizes the source of her textiles and materials. Using local weavers and fibre artists, she brings #madeinCanada to a whole new level.
Even though the Peggy Sue Collection was just on the runway at Toronto Women’s Fashion Week, her designs are available to consumers like me right now via her online boutique. I have to admit it’s pretty exciting to be able to see her designs move from runway to shop so quickly!
However, I have learned there are a few more things I can do to enjoy ethical luxury beyond just crashing Peggy Sue’s boutique.
Here’s what’s next on my list:
- Make it a point to shop at consignment boutiques and second hand stores. Not only can I find the name brands I’m used to, but I’m removing those items from landfill: clothing is close to becoming the number one garbage issue in North America and investing the effort, one piece at a time, makes my wardrobe unique and satisfying.
- Shop locally. If the difference of dollar or two means supporting a local creator, isn’t it worth it? I love knowing the person who made the items in my home, like art and furniture. It hadn’t occurred to me to extend this to my clothing before I met Peggy Sue.
- Take a moment to discover the background of my favourite clothing stores. I’m still the worst at this. I shop at certain chains because they offer plus-sized clothing at affordable prices. Perhaps just a tiny bit more information will encourage me to lesson my ecological footprint through fashion.
- Intentionally recycle, upcycle, and donate my used clothing. I’m very excited to try creating a few concrete flower planters out of old wardrobe pieces instead of towels.
With ethical luxury, it’s exciting to know I can learn to look great and feel good about it. Maybe fashion won’t be such a mystery to me after all.
KC Santo is a writer and editor, who lives and breathes speculative fiction in Essex County, Ontario. And this bio photo face sums it all up. Follow KC on Twitter @KC_Santo
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