Name: Jenna Rodrigues
Major: Economics
Class Year: 2014
Residential College: Whitman
Eating Club / Sorority / Extracurricular Activities:
Co-Founder of the Sustainable Fashion Initiative, Princeton University Cheerleading, Captain of Women’s Club Volleyball, Deputy Chair of the Whitman College Council, Research Assistant in the Department of Politics, Student Advisory Board of the American Studies Program, Green-leaders Board, Princeton Women in Business, the Whig-Clio Society, the Ivy Council
What does sustainable fashion mean to you?
I truly believe that sustainable fashion is an outlet for people of all ages to voice their personality in a language that the entire world can interpret. Sustainable fashion is a broad term, but it truly allows people to use their clothes to tell a story. Fashion should be a means of ultimate expression and serve as a means to distinguishing ourselves from others. A huge part of the way that we present ourselves to the world is through what we wear. I think it is extremely important that we have a clear understanding of where our clothing and accessories are coming from. In the sustainable fashion industry, I love that I know that I can trust that many people were positively impacted through my purchasing of a product. I really want to be able to feel secure that what I put on my body has not made a negative environmental mark on society, nor has it had a negative impact on workers involved in the production process of my clothing. I further believe that sustainable fashion should include the recycling or reuse of clothing in innovative ways in order to further reduce negative externalities that are often inevitably aligned with the production process. While I do believe that there are various ways to interpret the broadly defined term “sustainable fashion,” the underlying principle is to understand the life cycle of your clothing and minimize the costs to the environment while maximizing benefits to workers involved in the production process. Clothing is an expression of who we are, and I ultimately want to feel good about what I wear and the way that I present myself to the world.
Favorite eco-friendly designer:
My favorite sustainable designer of the moment is David Peck. I love the pieces in his new line, and I truly admire the way that he embodies principles of sustainable design while not sacrificing the most stylish industry trends. His focus on local employment and manufacturing aligned with minimal environmental impact makes him a true role model in the sustainable fashion industry.
Be sure to check out Meg Partridge’s responses as well!