Andrea Cheong is a sustainable fashion educator, author and digital creator best known for her Mindful Monday Method, which helps consumers make informed, ethical and long-lasting fashion choices.
The latest season of her podcast, Fashion our Future featured an interview with our founder, Gosia and we wanted to know more from Andrea about her relationship to her wardrobe and her work in educating others on how they can make more conscious choices when it comes to fashion.
Kowtow Loves is a regular series that spotlights intellectual crushes, thought leaders and humble challengers. In this series we speak to people we love, admire and are inspired by.
Can you describe your style in three words?
No unnecessary synthetics. I don’t really want people to focus on my style but the perspective behind the choices.
What actions do you take personally to maintain a circular wardrobe?
I do a Wardrobe Audit which is the first step in my book, which looks at which clothes didn’t serve us and helps to build a strong foundation that acts as a filter when we do shop.
It’s not about personal style, I think this is an extremely advanced notion that is important but also very misunderstood. First we have to understand our own needs when it comes to what we wear and not just what we look like. Beyond that, I think circularity isn’t really the right word because that involves infrastructures beyond individuals. But I run a monthly community event where people can learn to mend and alter for the price of a coffee in London. It’s called the Mindful Monday Mending Club and I’m joined by a team of tailors - we’ve seen so many amazing guests fall in love with repair and sewing.
How important do you think people’s personal fashion choices are in having a real impact on the problem fashion perpetuates?
We have a lot more power than we realise, the problem is that our fashion choices have been shaped into being seen as a vanity thing or at most, an articulation of taste. But all of this is relatively superficial. What we buy and choose to represent ourselves can align with our values. There doesn’t need to be a divide between what we think and feel and what we wear. It’s this disconnection that makes us feel like we have no authority in the space.
What could we all start practising tomorrow with our wardrobes that would make a meaningful difference to the impact fashion is having on the planet?
Mending and alterations!
What inspired you to start advocating for sustainability in fashion? Was there a particular moment or experience that started you on this path?
When I first started talking about the Mindful Monday Method, which is my approach to shopping better for your mental health and the planet, it was about identifying quality clothes. I was sick of feeling like I had nothing to wear, which is also the name of my book. And as I was showing people on social media how things are made and what they’re made of, I realised how much greenwashing was going on and that sustainability is something that actually benefits us, not shames or belittles us.
What item in your wardrobe are you planning to keep forever?
As much of it that exists now as possible.
What trends or innovations in sustainable fashion excite you the most? What do you think your wardrobe/ the industry will look like in 10 years?
I think this rejection of perfection in fashion - in the way that we look, eclectic styling and embracing wearing the things we’ve made or mended is very much needed. It’s interesting because the nature of social media will always create a performance around it but it will sink in for people and become a real thing that lasts.
