MONICA VINADER X DOINA CIOBANU

What was the most important thing you wanted to accomplish with this recycled collection with Monica Vinader?

The biggest priority for me was to create something beautiful that I would genuinely love to wear for years to come. But to simply create more things with no sustainable angle was not an option. We set ourselves a challenge to be as sustainable as possible, and the recycled silver material was the first [part of that], which is very exciting for Monica Vinader as well.
 

What’s been the most challenging aspect of championing sustainability as a model and influencer, and how did you overcome it?

The fashion industry itself is the biggest challenge – it is, after all, one of the biggest polluters in the world. Sometimes, I’d hit ups and downs with a never-ending dilemma: how can I be in this industry and also advocate for better? I got over that when I realised that the best way to change an industry is from within, especially one so elitist and non-inclusive as the fashion industry. I think you can have a real impact when you’re sat next to a creative director or CEO of a fashion brand at a dinner and tell them about sustainability and why they should be doing it…. I turn down a lot of jobs based on the practices of the companies – fashion or otherwise – but I am all for unsustainable companies wanting to work with me on sustainability projects because they have to start somewhere.

How do you walk the line between being on-trend and keeping sustainability front and centre?

It’s definitely a hard line, and by no means am I doing it well – I'm also always on a journey to a more sustainable lifestyle, and that’s what I always try to communicate. Sometimes sustainability feels very ‘elitist’ and ‘secluded’ – that if you’re not 100% sustainable in every area, you can’t possibly be involved in sustainability, which I find hugely unproductive.

What you should be working on is becoming more sustainable every day. Making a more conscious decision every time you get in a car, buy bottled water, buy a £2 T-shirt, etc. Of course, I absolutely love vintage, and it’s mostly how I purchase my clothing, but I am privileged enough to borrow amazing outfits from brands [because] I work so much on art direction and content creation…. My ‘daily’ style very much evolves around amazing basics that you can re-wear for decades. 

What inspires you most when it comes to your activism?

I think seeing first-hand the awful actions humans have done to the planet, but also how stunning it can be. I’m very much a person that gets motivated when I see things. When I’m out and about and see pollution in places where it shouldn’t be, when I go to the mountains and breathe in the fresh air and realise how it can be.

What books, podcasts or films would you recommend to start learning about living a more planet-friendly life? Why did they strike a chord?

I recommend everyone to watch The War on Plastic by the BBC. And The True Cost [documentary], of course, comes to my mind. Also, Netflix’s Rotten documentary series – it approaches the massive environmental and ethical problems behind our food supply chain.

I love following [Instagram] accounts like @easy_green_tips and @thezerowasteguide for easy, day-to-day sustainable swaps. Also, @futuretechlab, @fastcompany and @testingthings are very future-technology-driven, so I see a lot of new start-up tech and product ideas there that give me hope and help me keep up with sustainability trends.