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Amid the popularity of fast fashion and constant trend cycles, Queen’s for Sustainable Fashion (QFSF) is fighting back— one clothing swap, upcycling workshop, and handmade piece at a time. With co-presidents Allie Madan (Bachelor of Arts and Education 26’) and Luna Han (Health Sciences 26’) at the helm, QFSF’s mission is clear: to make sustainable fashion accessible and engaging for the whole Queen’s community.  

Students tend to be drawn to cheap, fast fashion options, due to tight budgets and convenience. The team at QFSF are eager to spread the message that the transition to sustainable fashion does not require drastic or expensive lifestyle changes. Instead, QFSF stresses that slight shifts in mindset and consumption habits can have a big impact. 

The club’s calendar consists of a variety of initiatives, including student-made clothing sales, mending workshops, and upcycling socials. The biggest event of the year is their annual conference, this year the theme was Waste Design: The Past to Present. Each January, over sixty students participate in panels with a diverse array of speakers, interactive workshops and sustainable fashion vendors. A highlight from last year was the designer panel featuring experts on sustainable fashion such as Professor Berta Pavlov.

At QFSF, impact is measured not just in constructive conversations, but through the choices students make towards sustainable fashion afterwards. Last year, the QFSF St. Patrick’s Day sale raised a record-breaking amount of over $700 dollars, by selling upcycled clothes. 

“I try to balance personal goals with systemic issues by integrating sustainability into my existing routine,” says co-president Allie when explaining her personal mantra for responsible consumption. When shopping at a fast fashion retailer, she asks herself, “Could I see myself wearing this piece of clothing in one year, two years, three years?” If she has any hesitation, she leaves it behind.