In an interview, TRT World speaks to consultant and designer Nermin Kose about sustainability in fashion, and how customers can make choices that respect the Earth and their fellow humans. Miss Nermin Kose, born in Kocaeli, studied Econometry at Marmara University, and Fashion Design at La Salle Academy, both in Istanbul. The 40-year old is now working for her own sustainable design company, Away Denim, and doing design and brand consulting for textile clients under the Creatrix name.
According to Greenpeace’s ‘Timeout for Fast Fashion’ report, “sales of clothing have nearly doubled from $1 trillion in 2002 to $1.8 trillion in 2015, projected to rise to $2.1 trillion by 2025”. This means that consumers buy more, wear less, discard quickly.
Nermin Kose, consultant, and designer said, “I used to work for a fast-fashion company, so I know what that’s like the fast pace, cheap quality fabrics. The multi-season approach and fast trends are putting pressure on people and the environment. Sustainable fashion is against that. It aims to treat the world with a responsible view, and leave the next generations with resources they can rely on.”
Kose’s initiatives, Sustainable Fashion Platform, and Notion Collective are working to inform end-users of the effects of capitalistic consumption, arranging panel discussions and film screenings to better explain the ideas behind their work.
She added, “We can say that there is a new consciousness among end-users in Turkey. But there is still much to do. We can share more information via sustainable fashion initiatives and bring suggestions to consumers about making choices that respect the environment and humanity. I suggest that end users check the labels of their purchases and especially stay away from polyester-based products for their own health and to protect the environment. They are better off investing in sturdy, long-lasting products that they can wear for a long time, preferring goods made of organic cotton, and shopping from local brands and second-hand shops.”
