Catching Up With Megan McSherry of @acteevism on Sustainable Fashion
In an age where sustainability and slow fashion are gaining popularity with the masses, you may be wanting to make changes in your own fashion choices, but maybe you don’t quite know where to begin. We interviewed Megan McSherry to get all of the answers for you! Megan is an activist dedicated to an ecologically responsible lifestyle. Read her tips to learn more about her experience with slow fashion and how to begin your journey of sustainable consumerism.
Photo: @acteevism
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey with sustainable fashion.
I always knew I wanted to work in the fashion industry and went to college to study business administration. In my first semester of college, I had to write a paper about sustainability issues in the industry I was interested in and that was the first time I was ever exposed to sustainability and ethics issues in fashion. Over the next five years I slowly but surely moved completely away from fast fashion, got into sewing my own clothing, and transitioned to a more sustainable lifestyle in general.
How do you educate yourself and others about sustainability within the fashion industry? Which resources do you recommend everyone check out?
I am a very visual person so I love to watch documentaries and docuseries about sustainability issues. It was the documentary The True Cost that originally got me interested in sustainable fashion and I recommend that to everyone. I also try to read books about sustainable fashion whenever possible. I love Elizabeth Cline’s books Overdressed and Conscious Closet, and am reading The Travels of a T-Shirt In The Global Economy right now. In terms of educating others, I try to be on every platform possible talking about sustainability and sustainable fashion. I make TikToks answering peoples’ questions and sharing resources, I make YouTube videos talking through activities like clearing out my closet and selling my clothing, and post more long-form written content on my blog and Instagram.
What are some brands that you think are making a conscious effort to be sustainable and are worth spending money on?
Photo: @acteevism
Girlfriend Collective is by far one of my favorite sustainable brands. They sell activewear made from recycled plastic bottles and recycled fishing nets and just expanded their product lines into underwear and socks. They understand that materials made from recycled plastics still contribute to the issue of microplastic pollution in our oceans, so they created a microfiber filter that can be attached to washing machines. It’s this sense of Extended Producer Responsibility that I admire. Girlfriend is also committed to slow fashion manufacturing and takes the time to educate their followers on why restocking their products may take longer than typical fashion brands. They continue to be leaders in sustainability, ethical production, and inclusivity with the influencers, activists, and models they work with.
Some other brands I admire include MATE The Label, whose organic and non-toxic loungewear is manufactured ethically within a 6 mile radius of their headquarters in Los Angeles, Boyish Jeans, a sustainable denim company that is serious about certifications and publishing sustainability reports, and Knickey, an organic and fair trade underwear brand with a recycling program.
Has your style changed since starting this journey to leading a more sustainable life?
I have become much less influenced by micro-trends and much more creative with my closet since becoming more sustainable. Instead of feeling like I need something new to be part of a trend every few weeks, I have gotten crafty with styling pieces already in my closet to make them feel new and updated. I have quite a few midi-dresses in my closet. When midi-skirts became popular last summer, I styled those dresses with tees or sweaters over them to make them look like skirts instead of going out and buying brand new skirts. I now specifically look for products that are more versatile and less trend-specific when I buy new or secondhand items so I can get the most wear out of them for many seasons to come.
What has been your favorite DIY or thrift flip that you’ve done so far?
My favorite thrift flip that I’ve done so far was turning a long black cardigan into a matching cropped tie sweater and shorts set inspired by something sold by Lisa Says Gah. It was by far one of the most difficult flips I’ve ever done but it is so versatile and I had nearly zero wasted material by the end.
Megan also has in-depth tutorials on her thrift flips on her YouTube channel!
Do you find any current trends or styles are specifically easy to follow when thrifting and shopping sustainably and if so, which? Alternatively, have there been any styles or trends that you have had more trouble recreating?
One of the fun parts of thrifting is being able to make trends your own. As I mentioned above I have gotten crafty with what’s already in my closet when it comes to trying out trends and interpreting them with what I already have. Style-based trends, like tucking or tying a t-shirt a certain way or layering different items, are normally easier to follow with what you already have or are able to find in a thrift store. DIY trends like tie-dyeing or bleach-dyeing, embroidering, or cropping are also much easier (and more fun) to follow with what you already have or what you can find in a thrift store. Trends that are pattern or color-specific can be harder to follow exactly, but can always be interpreted in different ways depending on what you have and what you can thrift!
Lastly, let us know some of your favorite and most useful tips for anyone looking to shop more sustainably or get into slow fashion!
Photo: @acteevism
Transitioning to slow fashion requires a full shift in your consumer mindset. We are almost brainwashed by fast fashion brands into thinking we constantly need new trendy things and that the price of an item is the only thing that matters. That mindset is really difficult to break out of, especially if you’ve been a fast fashion aficionado for a long time. My first tip for people wanting to transition to a more conscious way of shopping is to ask themselves 10 or so questions before they buy something new. Some of the questions I ask myself are:
Why do I want this? Do I need this? Does this need to be bought new? Could I buy this secondhand? Could I borrow something similar from a friend? Do I know who made this? Do I know where this was made? Do I know what it’s made of? Do I know how to properly care for this item (can it be machine washed, does it need to be hang-dried, will it shrink if I wash it wrong, do I know how to mend it?)? Is this something I will wear once or something I will wear for years to come? Is this a trend that I won’t want to wear after a few months?
These questions will slow down the purchasing cycle and make you more aware of what motivates you to buy something. I’ve found that just by asking these questions I have prevented a ton of trend-driven and retail-therapy-driven impulse purchases, and as a result I have more money to invest in higher quality, timeless, and sustainably-made items.
Be sure to check out Megan’s blog at www.acteevism.com
Follow Megan on Instagram at @acteevism
You can also find Megan on Youtube, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook!
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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