How to Preserve New Orleans Natural Wonder and Wear It Well
The undeniable elegance of New Orleans City Park is but one natural asset worth changing consumption habits for… City Park Bridge; Photo by Susan Q Yin
Our Gulf Coast is a canary in the coalmine of climate change, and there’s no better harbinger to sound the alarm than New Orleans. We’ve been intrigued and encouraged by the the city’s various Mardi Gras bead recycling initiatives, to rescue and reuse what would otherwise slide into a drain. Upcycling and recycling movements have also been adopted by many other Mardi Gras communities across the Gulf. ‘Via NOLA Vie’ student Hannah Hogan explores a few NOLA fashion retailers that are taking the commitment one step further. – Editor
New Orleans is a natural wonder, defined by rows of sprawling oak trees, deafening thunderstorms, and sunshine that keeps the party going all year. Residents rely on this ecosystem to prolong traditions for centuries to come. But this city, these wonders, and our traditions are at risk. Anthropogenic climate change has altered weather patterns, increased temperatures, and risen sea levels.
These issues feel big, bigger than the New Orleans community and bigger than the individual, but one solution is small. The solution is not moving further inland, raising homes, or permanently displacing residents. One solution lies in our closets and within our community: clothing.
Trying on Solutions
Two of the largest actors in this crisis are waste and temperature increase, which are induced by excessive consumption of material goods and carbon emissions. Waste rates have skyrocketed alongside fast fashion. Trend cycles are growing shorter and shorter by the year. Decades-long trend cycles are reduced to months, meanwhile, sea levels rise.
“Shop Local” is not a phrase unbeknownst to most, but we need to introduce a new phrase into our lingo: “Shop Slow”. The slow fashion archetype blends seamlessly into the New Orleans cultural context. Slow fashion revolves around shopping sustainability by purchasing environmentally conscious materials and reclaimed goods. Slow fashion is about consuming ethically.
Click through to learn how NOLA retailers Slow Down Nola, Sister Hearts Thrift Store, and ALTAR New Orleans fit into this movement.
