I just watched 'Mrs. Harris goes to Paris' and if you like Fashion here are some sustainable reasons why you should watch the movie.
Do not take this as a serious movie, it is just a fun romanticised movie around Fashion in the 50s. Yet, some fashion and especially sustainable lessons from the past can be highlighted after watching the movie.
First, going into a brief History of Fashion recap, Christian Dior is the last great modiste at the end of the Golden Century of Fashion when fashion was around haute couture, high society and bespoke experiences. It is a true delight to see in the big screen all those beautiful clothes from Dior that redefined fashion. Also, as seen in the movie, it is shown how during those last years of the 50s fashion was transformed into a more accessible industry through the model ‘ready-to-wear’, as the markets became more modern, practical and democratised. It is not only about how new markets and models were introduced to the fashion business, but about the moment when modistes became fashion designers as a way to understand they create products and lifestyles beyond fashion itself.
Now, to the main topic: sustainability.
Mrs. Harris as a housekeeper, she works mending garments, too. She is presented actually as an expert in repairing clouds. This is an old practice that new generations have left behind, since fashion became shorter and clothes disposable. Let’s be honest, a pair of socks can barley be repaired nowadays. Also, less and less people know how to mend clothes or as simple as sew a button.
So, first big lesson: REPAIR your clothes and products. Remember that before recycling, buying or throwing away, repairing and remanufacturing are two relevant options.
The second lesson is to: SHARE your clothes. Specially among women this is a normal habit but it has to be enhanced. There is no point on having your clothes without use in your closet. Share them and ask for clothes among your peers. This is a way of giving live to the garments and reduce the necessity of buying.
Without spoiling any big detail, even when sharing comes wrong in the movie, at the end there are good consequences for Mrs. Harris and for Dior as a brand because of sharing the dream dress. Then, let’s keep this lesson alive. Let’s share.
So, important to keep in mind, as part of the circular economy repairing and sharing (or even giving away) are two ways of continuing the cycle before disposal. It is never late to bring back this sustainable practices.