The 1st edition of the Afro-Sustainable Street Fashion Show of July 29th, 2023, was a runway with a difference, showcasing designs from eco-friendly fabrics only.
Put together by Catharina Natang, a Cameroon based fashion house and the Afro-Sustainable Fashion Initiative Network (Afro-SFIN) , sponsored by the Afri-Plastic Challange, the Afro-Sustainable Street Fashion Show was a major step in creating awareness and emphasizing the importance of reducing plastic based fabrics in fashion design. The show expressed how Sustainable fashion can be both stylish and eco-friendly, showcasing streetwear culture which is characterized by its bold and expressive designs.
Team member and organizer Dr Maboh Michel enlightened the guest on how dangerous the Fashion industry can be to the environment, the ecosystem and human health. The Fashion industry is the 2nd highest polluter in the economy after the Petroleum industry. At least 10% of plastics is available in almost every clothing we wear, either through dye or other fabrics.
All these micro plastics pollutes the ocean killing aquatic life and in turn causes harmful illnesses to humans who consume these sea foods. Our oceans are polluted with over 35% of micro-plastics coming from the fabrics we wear and it can take over a 1000 years to breakdown the micro-plastics settled at the ocean floor affecting the Algea; the ocean’s forest.
In the presence of the Ministry of Arts and Culture, the Afro-Sustainable Fashion Show was a laminating factor that expressed the possibilities of sustaining our eco-system and maintaining a plastic free ocean. What we wear contributes greatly to the amount of plastic in the ocean.
The show featured 11 designers and brands that prioritize sustainability in their production processes, including the use of eco-friendly materials, ethical production methods, and innovative design. Celebrated under the theme “Go Street Go Eco-friendly, these designers presented collections of both men, women and children clothing down out of waste fabrics, an implementation of their training and empowerment in Sustainable Fashion through the Training Empowerment-Promotion (TEP) model.
The designers included: Catharina Natang, Boni Creative, Ayisi’s Collection, Blessing Fashion, House of Trose, Marth’s Fashion House, Suzy’s Signature, Yalah, J&J Fashion, Mommy J collection, and Mary Bright Fashion.
Mrs Catharine N. Michel-Maboh through the Afro-Sustainable Fashion Initiative Network (Afro-SFIN) brings together fashion designers and brands to showcase their collections to a wider audience and to promote Sustainable fashion.
Sustainable Fashion offers several benefits both for the environment and for society. By using eco-friendly materials and ethical production methods, sustainable fashion reduces the environmental impact of the fashion industry, including greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and waste. Additionally, sustainable fashion creates opportunities for innovation and encourages consumers to make conscious choices when it comes to fashion.
Through this show, Mrs Catherine N.Michel Maboh makes the future of sustainable street fashion look promising, as more designers and brands embrace sustainability in their production processes, consumers are also becoming more aware of the environmental and social impact of the fashion industry and as such would be demanding more sustainable and ethical fashion choices. The Sustainable Street Fashion Show was a platform to promote sustainable fashion and encourage the fashion industry to prioritize sustainability in its practices.
