by Lauren Kammerdiener

Sustainable Style first appeared on the scene in St Andrews in January 2019 and, in their short history, have collaborated with the likes of Ensemble, FS, and On the Rocks on everything from thrift fayres, to upcycling workshops, to an OTR-partnered fashion show that unfortunately never made it out of the planning stages. Fashion has for so long been an important and integral part of life for most students here in St Andrews, but it seems sustainability has only recently stepped onto that scene.

‘I think fashion is such a big deal here because of the size of St Andrews,’ says SS president Hannah Stewart. ‘With not many clubs or bars around, we’ve turned to it as a form of entertainment and self-expression. Most big nights throughout the year are focused around fashion.’ But she doesn’t think sustainability has been adequately incorporated; discussed in some circles, maybe, but it seems there’s still more that can be done.

This year, Sustainable Style has exploded. There were over fifty applicants to the new committee, and there seems elsewhere to be a mystified interest as to what exactly the group gets up to. Vice president Emma Craig attributes this to the recent trendiness of the sustainable lifestyle and, with so much currently going wrong in the world, a certain desire to feel like you are really making a difference. She warns against the pitfalls of this popularity, such as shifting accountability onto individuals rather than the large corporations who really tend to be at fault, but is also encouraged by the positives and recent increase in student engagement.

The inaccessibility and privilege that unfortunately so often accompanies sustainable practices has not been lost on the team, and is in fact an important aspect they’re trying to raise awareness around this year, particularly in breaking down the judgement associated with it. ‘Not everyone can boycott fast fashion,’ says Hannah, pointing out that the recent trendiness of secondhand shopping has resulted in ‘an increase of people buying from charity shops, driving up prices and reducing the amount of nice pieces available for those who actually rely on them.’

Emma Craig also points to how many ‘young Black women, especially those new to the influencer scene, are being exploited for their work; being underpaid and used as token Black images for major companies who want to appear both sustainable and diverse, but don’t want to put their money where their mouths are and actually pay their influencers (or their garment workers) fairly.’ Sustainable Style this year is all about inclusivity and raising awareness of these issues so we as consumers are encouraged to really stop to consider the reality behind the marketing front that, for many brands, is merely a facade.

So what’s next for SS now that their committee has been fully expanded and student interest is at an all-time high? There are rumors of a Depop account in the works, with plans to support local student artists, that will hopefully replace some of the in-person fayres the group is primarily known for. But this year, they’re looking to even bigger things.

Next month SS is running a campaign they’ve deemed Nothing New November, ‘the kind I’ve always wanted to make happen,’ says Emma. ‘People often equate sustainable style with doing all your shopping at charity shops, thrift stores, and apps like Depop, but forget that one of the biggest shifts you can make in your clothes-consuming habits is to buy less.’ The goal of the campaign will be to encourage an anti-consumerist mindset and challenge the St Andrews student community to commit to not buying, secondhand or otherwise, for thirty days. We’ve been advised to keep an eye out for a roundup of events and other exciting content from the team to wrap the campaign at the end of the month.

I asked Hannah for one way we, in the meantime, can be implementing sustainable practices in our own fashion choices right here in St Andrews, and she emphasized reducing consumption above all else. ‘If you’re going to buy an item of clothing,’ she says, ‘make sure you really love it, that it’ll go with many outfits, and that it’ll really last.’

Disclaimer: Lauren Kammerdiener is herself a member of the Sustainable Style committee, and perhaps a bit biased, but she really does think the work SS is doing is important and the need to raise awareness about these issues even more so.

ST.ART does not own the rights to any images used in this article.