INTERVIEW
Redesigning the fashion industry
Founding member of social venture Sustainable Fashion Scotland (SFS) and GCU graduate
Mairi Lowe has not paused since graduating in 2020, as she is driving for system change
and sustainable fashion.
As the recipient of a GCU Sir Alex
Ferguson Magnusson Award in
2021, Mairi was given funding and
support to realise her dream of building
a sustainable fashion business.
Thereafter, she started working
towards her community-led social
venture with a mission to connect the
fashion community in Scotland.
When asked how fashion waste can
be changed, she said: “Put simply, we
need to produce less clothing and invest
in organisations that are working with
the extortionate amounts of existing
textile waste. For fashion waste to be
transformed, I believe we need genuine
commitment from multiple stakeholders
to uproot the extractive and exploitative
dominant global fashion system.”
She added: “I dream and hope for a
fashion system that has potential to
strengthen community capacity,
improve wellbeing, regenerate the
environment, and unlock and catalyse
more positive impact across society.”
To further raise awareness of
sustainable fashion, Mairi’s ‘Generation
of Waste’ exhibit was displayed within
the COP26 Blue Zone. The exhibit
communicated the negative
environmental and social impact of
textile waste generated by the fashion
industry, highlighted the complexities of
fashion’s supply chains, and showcased
sustainable solutions from around the
world that are collaboratively catalysing
change.
Commenting on her COP26
experience, she said: “Meeting new
people and reconnecting with so many
friends from Scotland’s sustainable
fashion community in person again
after lockdown was very emotional and
motivating. It was also incredible to
meet inspiring changemakers from
around the world and to be reminded
that we are not alone in our work
at SFS.”
Reflecting on her university
experience, Mairi said she had a brilliant
time and added: “If I hadn’t studied MSc
Social Innovation, I would not have met
my now great friend and colleague Liisa
Lehtinen, with whom (and a few
others) I co-founded Sustainable
Fashion Scotland. The MSc Social
Innovation course opened my
mind to many new ideas,
perspectives, and ways of thinking;
the research project specifically
launched me into the world of
systems theory, which is the core
theme of my practice today.”
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mairilowe.com
www.sustainablefashion.scot
www.generationofwaste.com