Scissors, thimble, and measuring tape are the tools to provide a second chance to used clothing and promote circular economy. This is the philosophy of the IV Slow Fashion Sustainable Fashion Week organised by the Tenerife Council between the 22nd and 26th of April, with the Fine Arts Faculty of the University of La Laguna (ULL) as the ideal setting. Over those five days, the public administration, experts, businesses, and designers will discuss and put into practice – culminating in a final day fashion show – ideas surrounding sustainability in the textile sector. From social, resource, ethical, and employment perspectives. The presentation event – even more captivating with the four mannequins dressed in recycled materials from the third edition – was attended by the Employment Councillor, Efraín Medina; the Sustainability Councillor, Blanca Pérez; the Dean of Fine Arts, Bernardo Candelas, and the event organizer, José Javier González.
Strategic Plan
Medina thanked ULL for hosting the event and emphasized that the Sustainable Fashion Week is part of the Strategic Plan of Tenerife Moda 2024-2027. This, he noted, “is based on three fundamental pillars: excellence in design and production; development of local talent and sustainability, and international projection.” Regarding sustainability, he highlighted the numerous challenges that the fashion industry faces. He believes that “it is essential to address them to achieve sustainable development goals and progress towards a circular economy.” The councillor emphasized the need to avoid excessive consumption and waste, as well as the use of sustainable materials, responsible production in terms of transportation and carbon footprint, and, on the other side of the scale, education and awareness. Ultimately, an equation that combines circular economy, technological innovation, regulatory pressure – including stricter regulations on the origin and destination of clothing from January 1, 2025 – transparency and labelling, and global collaboration.
Sustainable Consumption
Blanca Pérez, on her part, pointed out the need to create the habit of sustainable consumption. She advocated for “tackling the issue of textile and fashion responsibly” and “together.” She provided the statistic that “we consume 96 kilos of clothing per year and more than 90 per cent is incinerated or sent to landfills, and that cannot continue.” Therefore, she believes that “the citizen’s awareness needs to be transformed, as well as that of the industry in the sector.” Bernardo Candelas appreciated the Fine Arts Faculty of ULL, stating that it “has wonderful facilities to host these kinds of events.” He assured that professors and research staff are “linked to sustainability” and see design as “a means of communicating sustainability itself.” He sees this initiative as “a great opportunity for our students to access talks, workshops, and fashion shows.”
Four Spaces
González outlined the multitude of activities to be carried out in four spaces for the discussion of design and craftsmanship, social, employment, education, and textile resource economy. In addition to zine workshops (specialized magazine with limited resources); upcycling workshops, an art gallery, and the final fashion show. The fair’s goal is to raise awareness and re-educate in sustainable fashion through two fundamental elements. Firstly, transforming and enhancing used or discarded garments to create new pieces with added value. It’s about reusing existing materials and elements to create new and unique products without going through an industrial process. The second element is slow fashion, a consciously sustainable response to the problems created by fast fashion, which seeks to change how people consume and buy clothes. Quality over quantity and a greater appreciation for garments and the production process. The summary can be put into one sentence: collective commitment to textile recycling, reuse, and giving a second life.
