Designer Spotlight: Upcycled Jewelry By Lilian (Q&A)

The world of slow fashion requires community building and interaction to stay strong. The movement can only grow and expand if we all support and uplift one another. As a part of the Slow Fashion for Earth and Beyond campaign being held by Slow Fashion USA, the issue of how to expand your community interaction will be a main key point. One of the best things that you can do as a reader is to support local and online small businesses. By buying from sustainable sources and creators, you not only benefit the earth but also strengthen personal shopping values.

In this article, we have interviewed Slow Fashion Latin America member and small sustainable brand owner Lilian Griselda Pagoda. Owner of Upcycled Jewelry by Lilian (lili.upcycledjewelry on Instagram), Pagoda is dedicated to promoting sustainability through her brand as well as through Slow Fashion. Located in Ithaca, NY and Latina-owned, the company focuses on repurposing items to create unique pieces as well as preserving and reinventing new ideas.

What progress or lack of progress related to sustainability is there in today's fashion industry? 

“I think one of the biggest problems is prioritizing profit over the planet and its people.  It is evident that changes are necessary across all sectors within this system. When it comes to fashion, a significant challenge we face is the prevailing notion that fashion is a disposable cycle of purchase, discard, and repeat. Fast fashion’s low prices and too many seasons encourage overconsumption.  There are different levels of actions we can take on sustainability, and a big problem is that the political part is not helping… 

Policies should be enacted that promote responsible production practices, emphasizing the use of fewer negative impact materials on the planet and ethical manufacturing processes. We need to prioritize quality over quantity. Additionally, regulations should be established to curtail overproduction, discourage wasteful practices, and enforce extended producer responsibility, where companies are accountable for the lifecycle impact of their products.”

How important do you think sustainability is to the fashion industry as a whole?

“There is no other way to survive! The over-production and overconsumption are killing our planet. We need to work together and demand transparency, shift our mindsets to slowing down. We need to return to the past where quality was first, and hand-me-downs, repair, and taking care of our clothes were a lifestyle.

“There's also the issues of chemical toxins in dyes, and excessive water usage. Fashion is the second most water-consuming industry in the world. Things like that show what’s wrong with our current way of life.”

How does your brand make sustainable jewelry accessible to the general consumer?

“For me, I focus on my target audience, people who resonate with my values. Reaching the right people instead of people in general… It is more important to create a strong relationship and customer satisfaction. I want to connect with people who have the same values as my brand.”

What is most important to you in terms of values/morals as an owner of a sustainable fashion brand?

“We’re committed to an environmentally responsible approach so you can look and feel good about what you wear.

Lowering the demand for newly manufactured products is part of our core values, too. Repurpose, repair, relove,  and extend the life of clothing and jewelry to help reduce the negative impact of waste on our planet and to reduce our fashion footprint. Creating awareness about these values is an important goal for Lili [my business].”

Is it ever a challenge to incorporate the sustainable aspect of your company into selling and promoting your jewelry? If so, how does your company work around this?

“One of the most difficult challenges is that I don't have access to the same variety of beads and materials that I would if I just went to a store to buy them new. I work with what I have on hand from the jewelry that I have repurposed.

We want to appeal to people that care about the planet! People who value the fact that a pair of earrings was made with repurposed beads! People who are aligned with our sustainable values. We create jewelry with a purpose that many people might not care about. But that's ok with us.”

What inspired you to create your brand in the first place, and what encouraged you to keep it sustainable?

“When I discovered the negative and irresponsible impacts of the fashion industry, I decided to create a platform to help raise awareness about sustainable fashion (responsible_forwardfashion) and with this platform, the idea of ​​Lili was born, a brand of upcycled jewelry. I wanted to create unique pieces by reusing discarded jewelry materials, and bringing disused pieces to life so they did not end up in landfills. By lengthening the life cycle of the materials, we avoid that fate.

Reimaging, reinventing, and repurposing are our core! For me, it's a way to be a sustainable fashion activist and inspire others to change their relationship with what we consume.”

Does Slow Fashion Latin America and your brand collaborate at all, and if so, how?

“The Slow Fashion Movement avoids promoting brands. They educate and empower fashion consumers to make environmentally and socially conscious choices. It’s good to share my experience and also to learn from other sustainable brands.”

All images used are from lili.upcycledjewelry.

Written by Alyx Sheridan
Alyx Sheridan is from the D.C. area. She gained interest in slow fashion through shopping at her local thrift store, and since then has been on a journey to learn more about the industry. Slow Fashion USA is her creative outlet, where she can explore this interest and hopefully inspire readers across the country