Sustainably Scandinavian: Edgy and Ethical Fashion

If designers like Titania Inglis are any indication, ethical fashion is finally hitting its stride. Her recently launched line breaks tradition from the drab hippy sacks of yore, hewing more closely to the Scandinavian idea of "a very pared-down, architectural" and "androgynous" aesthetic (Titania herself hails from Ithaca, NY). But what really sets it apart is a whole-hearted dedication to establishing a sustainable model that considers practice as well as product.

"From the ground up, every decision I make takes sustainability into consideration, whether it's buying wind-powered electricity, trying to source fabrics from American mills, or dyeing white fabrics so they won't need to be washed as often by the wearer."

Initially conflicted about "adding more stuff to the world as a designer," Titania set up a blog (fadetogreen.blogspot.com) and through her writings found she could make a positive impact by "paving the way for the apparel industry as a whole to go organic." She straightaway crafted a few core pieces that became the basis for her full collection, patterned and sewn over several months with an intern's help. She simultaneously designed a logo, built a website, and dove into the business and marketing end of things—the latter, she discovered, easily took up more time than the actual designing portion.

Her biggest challenge is sourcing "rare-to-find beautiful, sustainable fabrics that deviate from the usual scratchy hemp canvas model." Staying within budget, however, was tough and she occasionally resorted to non-organic versions of more cost-prohibitive fabrics, or remaindered (leftover) fabrics. She oversees all aspects of production, even hand-dying her own fabrics using vegetable dyes and household products, and anticipates outsourcing production later to local factories in the New York garment district.

Her advice to other entrepreneurs? "Start small, and grow your business from there. It's much better to do excellent work on a small scale than mediocre work on a larger scale. Whenever possible, try to work with people who share your vision; it saves so much trouble with communication. Know when to let go: once you've invested a lot of time, it can be hard to admit that a particular collaboration or piece isn't working out, but you'll be better off starting fresh than throwing more resources into something that's beyond repair."

Next steps include finding ways to improve the line's sustainability; through relationships with ethical fabric mills and small factories, upcycling her fabric scraps or sourcing vintage fabrics, and finding ways to waste less in general; and collaborating with another designer—who happens to be Swedish, natch.