Stepping Into the World of Sustainable Fashion
Written by Anysley Genga, Youth in Residence Weaver @Threading Change
October 15th, 2025
[3-minute read]
I have always believed that the paths we walk are rarely straight; they twist, they turn, and sometimes weave us into places we can only dream of. It is often only in retrospect that we can look back and see that they were threading our future.
When I joined the YxY Weavership Fellowship, I did not know it would lead me to Threading Change. This fellowship program is designed as a 10-month journey for young people who want to weave change, built on the belief that real transformation happens when we recognize our interconnectedness with those around us and view collaboration as an essential part of growth.
For me, the fellowship program was about reimagining education and learning how to apply the lessons I have been taught in other aspects of my life to a specific social initiative. Through this program, I was partnered up with Threading Change, which catapulted me into the world of sustainable fashion – a space I hadn’t had the opportunity to be in before.
Coming from a legal background, fashion was never really something I thought deeply about. For me, it was always about comfort, affordability, and whether I felt content in what I wore. I never considered the human rights implications, or how fashion connects to both the health of workers and our planet.
That is why my first month has been focused on discovery; discovering the social, environmental, and ethical consequences of choosing what we wear, and how our impact stretches much farther than just our closet. It has truly been an eye-opening and humbling journey into a whole new world.
Originally, when people asked me to explain sustainable fashion, I stumbled on my answers. My responses often felt incomplete, and I always found myself wishing I had a concise definition that actually made sense, not just for those who asked, but for me as well. I asked my residency supervisor, Sara McQuaid, for guidance. She smiled and told me that she had been through the same thing when she started. Then, in a few simple words, she changed how I looked at the whole idea.
She explained that sustainability means meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Applied to fashion, it’s not only about what we are wearing today but also ensuring that future generations and those involved in the production process can also thrive. It’s about protecting traditions, ensuring fair pay and safe working conditions, reducing harm to the community, and uplifting creativity without exploitation.
With that definition, everything clicked. Suddenly sustainable fashion became bigger than a buzzword. It became a bridge connecting human rights, culture, the economy, and the environment.
Through my residency program, I have been helping with Threading Change’s Global Innovation Story Map (GISM), an interactive tool that connects you with the world’s most inspiring sustainable and ethical fashion brands and organizations.Working on the GISM has deepened my understanding of sustainable fashion practices, especially when it comes to dye practices and certifications. These included learning about standards such as the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Oeko-Tex Standard 100, which ensure that the fabrics used during production are both environmentally responsible and safe for humans.
The GISM has also helped me discover inspiring new brands, not only in my own region but also in other parts of the world. From small community-based projects to international movements, the creativity and commitment I have come across gives me much hope for the future of fashion.
Challenges persist, specifically in terms of cost and awareness. Many sustainable fashion products are priced on the higher end, which raises very tricky questions: is sustainable fashion only for those who can afford it, or can it truly be designed for everyone? On one hand, fair pay and ethical production are non-negotiables, but accessibility matters too. So how do we balance these realities? Is it possible to balance these factors? And if it is, how do we make sure people all over the world truly understand why this movement matters?
As it stands, I don’t have all the answers figured out yet, but that’s part of the beauty of this residency. It’s all about learning, unlearning and discovering. Sustainable fashion, I am realising, is really about the connection between people, and the earth we all call home.
