Eco-fashion: Inka Sherman - designer at Ism Mode

Bryan: What prompted the extraordinary focus on making your designs sustainable?

Inka: Our planet is in bad shape. I think everyone should try to do their part to reduce their impact and we should try to do this in all domains of our lives, like at home and at work. I try to reach sustainability in the materials I use and also in they way I produce my collection

Bryan: Have you found any benefit? Does acting ethically pay off?

Inka: It's hard at first, because doing this right (sustainably) costs more and it takes more time to figure out if the things I think are sustainable are actually sustainable. I can see the benefits of increasing my local economy and I can see that people feel the difference in my product, so yes, I think it pays off.

Bryan: How do you go about sourcing? What gets your attention when choosing fabric?

Inka: I balance my sourcing between finding good hemp, micromodal, tencel and other alternates along with reclaimed materials. The most important attributes of fabrics, for me, are texture and a soft feel.

Bryan: What inspires you currently in nature as applied to your work?

Inka:We live in large city states with varying access to nature, I try to reflect that in my clothing. I like choosing colors and combinations that are complemented by cityscapes and nature. I think that we should increase the interaction between city and nature. I also use the textures found in nature as inspiration for my shapes and draping in the clothes. www.ismmode.com

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