Reduce - Reuse

Fungi Fashion, 2021

ink, watercolor on cotton paper

The fourth prompt of the #OurPlanetWeek challenge was “Reduce - Reuse”. Hosted by @OurPlanetweek on instagram.

While this prompt certainly addresses plastic packaging more, I felt that this topic is widely discussed already.

For some reason, the “reuse” made me think of fashion and so by extension of fast fashion, which is bursting with plastic. Polyester, nylon, acrylic, spandex, neoprene, vinyl, micro fiber to name just a few.

It is no news that fast fashion takes a toll on the environment, yet the fashion industry has never thrived more. Every year, another scandal of unethical behavior, workers dying, animals suffering, or the environment being polluted. So next time you are lured into buying some shiny new thing, stop for a second and question that wish, do you really need it? How is it made? Who made it?

As a general rule, reduce your consumption, reuse your clothes, mend them, consider second hand and avoid plastic clothing.

So for this prompt, I decided to let a high heel be overgrown with moss and mushrooms. On a side note, mushroom leather is actually a thing and is already used in certain shoes and clothes worldwide. Mushroom leather is a viable and sustainable alternative to animal leather, and I hope to see it being developed and used more in the future.

You can find this original painting here.
Another option are prints in my Redbubble shop.