because this model's on a mission.
FTD: Can one actually save the world with environmentally-conscious style?
Summer Rayne Oakes:
Naturally—no, but fashion is very linguistic, can reach a wide audience, and therefore make a big impact. It not just about organic materials and fair trade, but also about improving the lives of many, which I’ve seen—from Bangladesh to Kenya.
FTD: How did you actually become “The Eco-Model?”
SRO: I didn’t really plan it at first (laughing). I wanted to get my environmental work and ideas out through a more prominent media [so it could reach as many people as possible]. I had no prior connections and in the fashion industry, unfortunately there is a lot of conflict of interest (no one was “going green seven years ago” when I started). Therefore I began to advocate for these issues, help build buzz, interest, programs and infrastructure, and align my values, my image and who I was as a person with the environment.
FTD: What environmentally-correct criteria must a designer fulfill for you?
SRO: I will check to find out as much as I can beforehand about the company and their company culture. If the company is publically-traded, as most of them are, I will run a KLD report that records facts such as human rights issues, environmental offenses, diversity, worker rights, etc. It’s the same thing someone would do if they invested money in a company in their stock portfolio. Would you invest in a company, for instance that supports genocide by selling weapons? You can actually “screen” that out. Most of the time, however, I know a fair amount about the company and hear out their executives on where they want to go. I don’t really compromise. But many of the companies are not “all green.” If I have a feeling that a company is really serious about a green program—and was not green previously, I want to help them—not shun them.
FTD: Do you and your modeling agency always go about this special type of selection process?
SRO: Seven years ago terms like “organic” and “green” were not as popular as they are now. My first agency personally supported me, but couldn’t support me resource-wise; they really didn’t understand what I was trying to do, so we parted ways. Now my agency and management are fully supportive of my work. The times have change. Companies understand that going green can mean gaining profit and a new marketplace. Because I have exclusively aligned myself with programs, companies, and projects in this area, it has become very valuable for clients interested in this space.
FTD: When you say, “organic fashion,” many may think of Birkenstock and hemp bags…
SRO: It is so important that one creates fashion which a person can identify himself or herself in. You have to understand that the original eco-designers were almost all exclusively environmental activists wanting to make a statement in a new way. That usually resulted in a environmentally-friendly product, but without any style. Meanwhile there is a second generation of eco-designers that have stepped up in the ranks. They are designers by trade, but want to make a lighter impact on the planet. Organic fashion can’t look “organic” because no one wants to sacrifice style.
FTD: Can haute couture then meet organic and environmental standards?
SRO: If anything, haute couture is more easily produce as environmentally-friendly because it is not produced in mass quantities! Most haute couture is bespoke and made by hand with artists and artisans. Even a firm such as Gucci—for many of their products–has worked for decades with local artisans and family businesses. I’d argue that is very socially-responsible and ecological.
FTD: What do you shop for [when it comes to clothes]?
SRO: I love it if clothes tell a story; I like to know where they come from and everything I can about the piece. Therefore I usually buy from small local designers or eco-conscious designers that I know. Or I go to vintage stores. That’s like recycling and probably the most environmentally-friendly method when it comes to shopping.
FTD: Which clothes are from your viewpoint absolutely taboo?
SRO: One should be wary of “Made in China” labels. I don’t want to preach to people though. It’s not my style. I’d rather present the opportunities and the positive options that are compatible with a more values-driven lifestyle. It’s exactly the subject and why I wrote my book that is coming out in February, style, naturally: the global guide to sustainable fashion & beauty.
FTD: As a Model, you must travel very much – that sounds after an enormous CO2 emissions…
SRO: Yes, flying is my largest environmental sin. I often bundle my trips—so if I have to be out on the West Coast, I’ll try to stay out there instead of flying back and forth. If there is car transportation—it’s always in a hybrid or some gas-efficient vehicle. When I’m in New York—my carbon emissions are minimal: It’s all about walking and the subway. And I don’t drive, so I don’t own a car. Otherwise, I’m investing in carbon neutralizing projects—like the sustainable forestry project I help work on in Mozambique.
FTD: You help run and work with your consulting agency that has almost 30 colleagues. Is there a temptation to splurge in luxury?
SRO: [Laughing]. It’s all relative I suppose, but I promise you that you will never see me in a SUV or a 600-quadrameter villa in the posh part of Hollywood. I like to keep my life minimal. It’s less complicated that way. Too much stuff can make me anxious. For me, it is easy, really. It’s not a “job” for me, but rather who I am; it’s my lifestyle.
