CCAD Possibilities: This grad uses fashion to save the environment
CCAD grad Krista Sison’s (Fashion Design, 2013) Multitudes Studio rescues unwanted textiles from the fashion industry and gives them new life as one-of-a-kind clothing and home goods. We talked with her recently about her work.
How did you become passionate about sustainability?
I was working in the fashion industry out here in Los Angeles and I watched the Netflix documentary The True Cost, about sweatshop workers who produce low-cost fashion items. It exposed so much of the industry to me, and I had an ethical crisis. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how I could solve the problem of ethics in fashion, whether through labor practices or environmental awareness.
Q&A
What is Multitudes Studio and how did it come to be?
I’m building a platform for sustainability and social awareness. I released the first collection in May 2017 and, building up to that, I was educating people about problems in the fashion industry. Multitudes started as a home goods line. I was making items from swatches and extra fabric that companies were throwing away, and this year, I’ve added one-of-a-kind clothing pieces made from found textiles.
How can fashion change the world?
I think about this all the time. It’s sad to me that fashion isn’t using its influence for good. Fashion is something that shapes culture, and designers need to be more aware of that. The industry is heading in the right direction, but all those involved in the industry really need to make conscious effort to do the right thing.
What advice would you give current students about making the world a better place?
Use your creativity to solve real problems. Don’t be afraid to try new things, or to just fail. I thought I was going to start a home goods business, then I realized I still have a passion for clothes. So I shifted. It’s not a big deal to change your mind, but be conscious about the steps you're taking.
For the 2018 drop, Sison collaborated with rapper P. Blackk, embroidering lyrics from his song Blakyaw.
The Mixed Race Button Up in Bold Stripe was created in collaboration with poet Geramee Hensley, who often writes about his experiences being mixed race as a Filipino-Italian American.
Mihn Bui in the Multitudes Vintage Stripe Slip and Demons Thermal modeling the 2018 drop, made from found and rescued materials. The Demons Thermal showcases lyrics from rapper P. Blackk - reading “Do you fight the demons? Do you roll with them?”
A handmade quilted denim patchwork jacket that took over 24 hours to make. The materials were all leftover scraps being thrown away by fashion companies. Images provided by Krista Sison.
Post date
October 9, 2018