My work in fashion sustainability
Clothes Swap Shops: Encouraging Circular Fashion
As the President of the Westminster Fashion Society, I have organised two clothes swap events to promote circular fashion. These swaps encouraged students to exchange pre-loved garments, reducing waste and fostering a more sustainable approach to fashion consumption. By giving clothing a second life, we help minimise the environmental impact of fast fashion while making sustainable fashion accessible to everyone.
Plastic Waste in Fast Fashion Campaign
I led a campaign across different University of Westminster campuses under the Cavenidish Living Lab to raise awareness about plastic waste in the fashion industry. At my stand, I engaged students in discussions about fast fashion’s environmental consequences, invited them to complete a questionnaire on their shopping habits, and encouraged them to write personal messages about fashion sustainability on fabric waste. I later incorporated these messages into a dress, turning collective awareness into an artistic statement on sustainable fashion.
Cavendish Living Lab: Developing Sustainable Textiles
Through my work with the Cavendish Living Lab, I have been involved in researching and developing sustainable materials, including creating a kombucha-based fabric. This innovative textile was used to craft a dress, which we later mended using the fabric waste messages collected during my fast fashion campaign, reinforcing the importance of sustainability in both material development and design.
Sustainability Workshops & Upcycling
As part of my role in the Cavendish Living Lab, I curate and deliver workshops focused on sustainability and upcycling. These hands-on sessions teach participants how to repurpose textiles, extending the life of existing garments while reducing waste. My workshops emphasise accessible, size-inclusive, and gender-neutral fashion, ensuring that sustainability is both practical and creative.
Sustainable Fashion Design
In my personal design work, I deconstruct and reconstruct second-hand garments into unique, reimagined pieces. By working exclusively with pre-loved clothing, I reduce textile waste and contribute to a more sustainable fashion cycle. Each design embodies the philosophy of transformation and longevity, proving that sustainability and creativity go hand in hand.
RE(LOVE)UTION x Malinia London Fashion Show
I recently organised the RE(LOVE)UTION x Malinia London fashion show, a platform that celebrated sustainability in fashion. We recruited designers whose work embraced sustainability in various forms, from upcycling to zero-waste techniques. This event highlighted the importance of conscious design and showcased the innovative ways fashion can be both stylish and environmentally responsible.
Sustainable Personal Styling: Second-Hand Fashion Curation
I run an Etsy business offering sustainable personal styling services. Clients share their Pinterest boards to define their aesthetic, and I source three second-hand garments tailored to their style, body shape, size, and seasonal colour palette. This service encourages thoughtful consumption by ensuring clients receive items they truly love and will wear for years, while also supporting charities with every purchase.
Lou-Ann Quentin 