Fast fashion: Frau Fiber speaks about modern clothing system

By Conner Celli 

What are you wearing and where is it from? This is the question that must be asked to understand the fast fashion industry.

On Oct. 19, students and faculty gathered on Western’s campus to hear Carole Frances Lung talk about the fashion industry.

With the help of her alter ego, Frau Fiber, Lung makes people aware of the supply chain system and challenges the public to think about the items that they are consuming.

The goods that are being produced by fast fashion are leaving behind large amounts of waste, causing environmental harm. The employees that make these clothes are often exploited.

“Fast fashion is a contemporary system and has come into being the last 20 years,” Lung said. “Historically the clothing system moved very slowly. 200 years ago, the change in styles happened over decades and now we’re presented with new goods every two weeks.”

Reece Jones Huie, a recent Evergreen State College graduate, became more aware of the fast fashion industry and the presentation cemented why he doesn’t purchase mainstream clothing.

“There are great resources in the community, both here, in town, and in Seattle. People that are trying to change the way it all works,” Huie said.

Senior Maddy Price makes many of her own clothes and hearing Lung speak gave her a different outlook on clothing.

“I viewed fashion and clothing as an act of resistance for a while, but this presentation intensified that because Frau is making clothes directly as an act of resistance and that was really inspiring to me,” Price said.

Price’s message to the community is to think about how much you consume. Think about where the waste goes and who it affects globally.

What Lung is most passionate about is creating a space where people can learn and grow. “Those moments when learning happens and when people rethink the way they are consuming is the most exciting for me,” Lung said.

Towards the end of the presentation, Lung said the future is up to the younger generation and it all starts with educating people.

“The next time that you go out and buy something, you might look and see where and how it was made,” Lung said