The fashion industry is the second biggest consumer of water and one of the biggest producers of microplastics in the environment and food chain.

The fashion industry is responsible for more global emissions than international flights and maritime shipping combined and, by 2050, it's expected to generate 25 percent of the world’s carbon budget. Still we shop as if it was going out of style—which, if you ask San Francisco’s sustainable fashion nonprofit Remake, it is.

“The culture of constant consumption is ingrained in society, pushing shoppers to constantly buy new items,” says Katrina Caspelich, Remake’s CMO. “Remake is leading a movement to reshape the way people think about fashion and its impact[s].”

After 10 years as a fashion industry disrupter, the local nonprofit has made a global impact. The group has partnered with hundreds of brands and companies to push for industry change from the inside out, has trained more than 2,200 community leaders to drive the sustainable fashion movement forward, and has diverted 84 tons of textile waste from entering landfill via the promotion of secondhand and upcycled options over new ones.

Fafafoom Studio' at the recent Walk Your Values fashion show.(Vita Hewitt)

Remake has also advocated for policy changes and industry standards to improve the working conditions and wages of hundreds of thousands in the U.S., Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, India, and Cambodia. “But the work is far from over,” says Caspelich. “As we look toward the future, we’re committed to deepening our impact, expanding our community, and holding the fashion industry accountable for its role in both social and environmental justice.”

At first glance, San Francisco may seem an unexpected pivot point for a fashion industry reset. Unlike Los Angeles or New York, the Bay Area isn’t often considered one of the country’s (let alone the world’s) style centers. But that outsider status, combined with the region’s progressive values and tech and social enterprise culture, were exactly what prompted founder Ayesha Barenblat to establish Remake in SF.

With a “fresh perspective and access to change makers,” SF is “an ideal place to challenge traditional fashion norms,” says Caspelich. It’s also a city in which vintage and secondhand shopping has been organically embraced for decades, from Haight Street to The RealReal, which is also headquartered here.

Remake’s recent conscious fashion show Walk Your Values, a collaboration with KQED Arts’ series Fit Check, illustrated the versatility of thrifted fashion through partnerships with Empress Vintage (1962 Harrison St., Mission), ReLove (1815 Polk St., Nob Hill), and upcycle designer Fafafoom Studio.

Empress Vintage, a curated boutique in the Mission.(Courtesy of @empress_vintage)

“We encourage people to approach secondhand shopping as a creative adventure and path toward true personal style,” says Caspelich. For those who are new to the game, she recommends starting with high-quality staples like denim or jackets, “anything that has long-lasting appeal. For something unique, explore upcycled or altered pieces that designers have revitalized and that have a one-of-a-kind charm.”

Just like shopping for new items, you may have to visit multiple stores and/or online platforms like ThredUp or Depop to find clothes that resonate and give you confidence. But no matter what you gravitate to, you’ll rest assured that it aligns with the value-centered approach embraced by Remake which places sustainability over consumerism.

“Many garments are discarded after only a few uses, if any,” says Caspelich. “The most impactful action individuals can take is to adopt a more mindful approach to consumption such as buying less, prioritizing secondhand, and supporting brands committed to ethical and sustainable practices.”

Meanwhile, Remake will continue its mission to reform the fashion industry’s bigger picture with advocacy, education, and on-the-ground support for garment workers worldwide through campaigns like #NoNewClothes and their current Give Your Values fundraiser, to which every contribution will be doubled by a matching donor.

“Whether you’re a longtime supporter or new to the Remake community, your contribution will help ensure that we can keep pushing boundaries and demanding a more just, sustainable future for all,” says Caspelich.

// Learn more about sustainable fashion and Remake’s global movement at remake.world or @remakeourworld

Upcycled designs by Fafafoom Studio.(Courtesy of @miramusank)