Atlanta
Sustainable fashion might sound like an oxymoron, especially with the current trends in the fashion industry appearing to be at odds with global sustainability movements. However, an ex-electrical engineer in Atlanta is making strides towards dispelling this notion. Tanjuria Willis is launching the latest edition of Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week from Sept. 24-28, showcasing how glamour and eco-responsibility can coexist.
This engaging event series will encompass fashion shows, workshops, design showcases, and seminars that highlight how innovators are re-imagining the fashion industry to be more environmentally friendly. The week’s initiatives are notably international, drawing on leading ideas from outside the United States. Willis emphasized the importance of learning from those at the forefront of environmental policy, stating that Americans should “learn from the people that are willing to teach you how to do it.”
“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. We’re just trying to make it feasible for everyone to have a car.” Ms. Willis has a rich history of collaborating with international organizations. This year, she is partnering with experts from Germany and France to present “Fashion Utopia.” This book and photography exhibition will be complemented by discussions on fashion as a catalyst for social change across Atlanta, Berlin, and Paris. Additionally, she’s planning a trade mission to the Netherlands, with a “Met Gala style” opening reception on Sept. 24, sponsored by the Netherlands.
“It was always my vision to make this global,” Willis said. She believes that sustainable fashion is a global issue that necessitates a collaborative approach for meaningful impact. This vision is also reflected in her efforts with eKlozet, a luxury consignment boutique she founded to keep used clothing in circulation for longer periods.
Tanjuria’s foray into fashion was untraditional. Initially an electrical engineer, the Chicago native began her career working in nuclear power plants in underserved communities. This experience cultivated her dedication to climate and energy justice. Her passion for fashion, however, was stoked later, when an illness in her daughter made her rethink the textile materials’ impact on health.
Willis uncovered some startling facts during her research: the presence of plastics that release microplastics into drinking water when washed or heated, the rising trend of early cancer diagnoses in otherwise healthy people, and the environmental woes linked to fast fashion. This sparked a new drive within her to address these concerns through fashion.
Founded in 2014, eKlozet became her platform for educating the public about the benefits of higher-quality materials, seeking to prove that one can adopt eco-friendly practices without sacrificing style and comfort. Her participation in the City of Atlanta’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative and Women’s Export University programs further broadened her global perspective.
Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week, first launched in 2021, mimics the high-energy aura of New York Fashion Week but with an eco-friendly twist. This year’s edition includes various innovative events, such as a shoe deconstruction session, a screening of Patagonia’s “Shitthropocene,” and an exhibit by Nancy Judd, an artist renowned for her couture pieces made from upcycled materials under the “Recycle Runway” moniker. Willis hopes to create a permanent home for Judd’s masterpieces in Atlanta through a Conscious Couture Museum.
Beyond that, the Fashion Week will feature a repair café, vintage store runway shows, and a marketplace of responsible brands. This event has attracted designers from countries like Canada and El Salvador, reflecting Willis’s goal to create an international platform for ethical designers.
“My goal is to really create an international feel and for ethical designers to have a home.”
The efforts of Tanjuria Willis show that with vision, collaboration, and a bit of cross-border learning, the fashion industry can transform to align with a more environmentally responsible future.
