INTERVIEW #29 EVELINA UTTERDAHL
Evelina Utterdahl, for some more known as Earthwanderess, might be familiar to people as the girl who traveled the world without flying. Evelina’s adventures has inspired a whole movement of people to consider how their actions contributes to climate change, and probably have resulted in less people traveling by air. She isn’t only an activist for the climate crisis, she’s also a person who’s passionated about human rights and environmental issues in the fast fashion industry. And thanks to second hand, she even finds clothing enjoyable. In this interview she tells us more about that and give you her honest tips and ideas on how to create a more sustainable closet.
“A sustainable closet is a closet with clothes you like, already have and use often.”
Occupation: Freelancer in writing, public speaking and a sustainable influencer
What’s your relationship with clothes?
I would say that my relationship changes quite a lot. When I was younger I had no interest in clothes and normally bought similar things to what my friends was buying. When I travelled I had a 34 litres backpack and then I used the same kind of clothes all the time. Very minimalistic. If I bought something new, I had to get rid of something else.
I stopped fast fashion a few years ago. I started to look for more ethical brands. Every time I were in Stockholm I went to Ecosphere for example, one of my favourite shops. But even if clothes are organic, they still require a lot of recourses, so I decided to only buy second hand instead. That was about 1,5 years ago.
When I stopped traveling full time, I had more living space so I started to buy a lot of second hand clothes. There’s a Stadsmissionen in a fashion mall, close to where I live and I really wanted to support them, so I’ve been shopping there quite a lot.
My relationship has change during the years. Sometimes I feel like I want to buy second hand to encourage others, but I don’t won’t to buy too many clothes either since they’re still resources that should be looked after.
To consume, even if it’s second hand, still release feel-good hormones in the brain, as it does with consuming fast fashion consumption. I try to stay away from that behaviour. As the behaviour of consuming more than we need isn’t sustainable.
My relationship with clothes are in other words complex.
How would you describe your style?
Wow, that’s a hard question. My style has changed during the years. It has to be comfortable, but it’s not like I’m only wearing relaxing clothes. Before I started to travel, all my clothes were black! Mostly because it was practical to match and to wash it all at the same time. But latley, I have really started to love colours! I like the female siluetts of the 40s and 60s fashion! I also like the style from the 70s.
How would you describe your closet?
“It’s all thanks to second hand that I find fashion enjoyable because you don’t have to follow trends as you unknowingly do when shopping in most fast fashion stores.”
It have more dresses than I can use. One part of my closet is very neutral and the other part is very colourful. Majority of my clothes are on a hanger but it’s not organised in any particular way. But it’s not messy. Sometimes I’m trying to sort it out to keep some kind of structure. But it never lasts. I would probably say I have a lot of clothes, but this comes from someone who only had a handful of clothes for a long time period. When I started to only buy second hand I also started to explore my style a little bit further. It’s all thanks to second hand that I find fashion enjoyable because you don’t have to follow trends as you unknowingly do when shopping in most fast fashion stores.
I’ve also started to think about learning how to sew so I can customise things I find second hand, or just have things made to fit me by a professional tailor.
What is a sustainable closet for you?
A sustainable closet is a closet with clothes you like, already have and use often. It’s about not having too many clothes that you’re not using very often. Those clothes can be used by someone else instead!
What do you think about the fashion industry?
“All the new trends coming every season that are encouraging and pushing people to buy new things every season. It tells us it’s not okay to wear the same clothes all the time.”
Very problematic. Honestly, as I see it today I think it’s disgusting and completely wrong. It’s unethical if anything! It’s not sustainable for the climate, for the environment and not related to the kind of behaviour it contributes to. For example, all the new trends coming every season that are encouraging and pushing people to buy new things every season. It tells us it’s not okay to wear the same clothes all the time. There’s a few exception that are better but they really are the exceptions. Fashion can be a lot of fun! But unfortunately money comes first. When money decides it’s the environment and people who pays!
What do you believe needs to change?
“The ones who work in the industry should also be able to live on their salary.”
Produce much less! Use materials that are not harmful for the environment or people. It’s actually insane when you think about it that there’s clothes that contains dangerous chemicals!
But that one is really number one, to reduce production! The ones who work in the industry should also be able to live on their salary. There’s no excuse that they can’t do that. The clothes should also be produced to last. If you’re going to take resources the clothes need to be produced to be used for a very long time. Some clothes has almost turned into single-use items. You use it only once and then you’re done. A t-shirt requires the same amount of water as a human drinks in two years, it’s doesn’t make sense that you can only use it once. Clothes being produced needs to last over time.
What can one do that seeks to create a more sustainable closet?
• Nr. 1 is to appreciate your clothes. There’s plenty of activities you can to the activate your closet. It’s a nice way to start using the clothes you already have.
• Shop second hand. Or exchange clothes with friends or get some donated, it’s about using the clothes who has already been produced.
• Learn how to remake and fix clothes. Clothes of good quality are worth the investment. With fast fashion it’s even more expensive to repair than to buy new. This shows how wrong it is.
• Go for quality.
Final say?
Overconsumption is still not sustainable even if it’s second handed. It’s still about using what you have in your closet and to really change our behaviour.