New Year, Real Change.
Written by: Rebekah Stokes, Communications Assistant @Threading Change
December 26th, 2024
[5-minute read]
Am I the only one who feels like “Happy New Year” comes with conditions?
Popular culture often insists that a truly “happy new year” requires a complete overhaul of our lives. The “New Year, New Me” narrative bombards us through relentless ad campaigns, urging us to reinvent ourselves by changing our diet, joining a gym, or revamping our wardrobe.
It’s tempting to embrace this dramatic transformation - don’t we all love a Cinderella moment? But just like Cinderella, too often when we focus on a quick outer transformation, we find ourselves at midnight right back where we started.
Real change doesn’t happen with the wave of a wand or the hanging of a new calendar. Real change is an evolution. As Ruth Bader Ginsburg so aptly puts it, “Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time”.
Just as we can view our personal lives through this lens, we can also apply it to the fashion industry. Sustainable fashion is precisely about that: creating change in the industry that can be sustained. Quick fixes have no place here. Sustainability involves confronting truths, learning from the past, and building something enduring, even if the process is inconvenient or slow.
Slow and Steady…
In our instant culture, driven by a social media world that never sleeps and is constantly evolving, we often hold ourselves to unrealistic expectations. We assume that making a resolution will lead to immediate transformation—that we’ll wake up the next day fitter, more assertive, more conscientious, and perfectly aligned with the person we want to become. However, the incremental nature of change rarely, if ever, allows for overnight transformations.
Whether it’s sticking to a new workout routine or passing legislation on fast fashion, change follows its own timeline. Even moments that feel like sudden breakthroughs—such as the decision to finally let go of something holding you back—require ongoing commitment. You’ll need to reaffirm that choice in countless small ways long after the initial decision.
These truths and our personal journey of change extend into sustainable fashion. It’s not about throwing everything out and starting from scratch with only FairTrade, BCorp, GOTS Certified clothes (though we love brands committed to these certifications!). Instead, it’s about learning to make choices that align with your values, even if they aren’t immediately obvious or easy. In recognizing that change, like growth, is gradual, we give ourselves the freedom to pursue it imperfectly and in whatever time frame it requires.
The Past isn’t Something to Leave Behind
As much as we might want to, we can’t simply leave the past behind. Our past is woven into us as tightly as the polyblend in a sweater I once bought, thinking it was pure wool. Whether it’s lessons, mistakes, or victories, the past becomes part of who we are. We can’t just discard it—and that’s a good thing.
In fashion, as in life, we often feel the urge to shed what no longer serves us. Maybe it’s a trend that’s gone out of style or a piece of clothing that no longer fits. But even those items teach us something. That sweater made of polyester instead of wool? It reminds me to read labels more carefully, to be more intentional with my purchases, and to ask questions about materials and their environmental impact. Just like in the circular economy, where every step in a product’s lifecycle is valued, we must embrace and learn from each step in our own sustainability journeys.
Our past choices, even those that didn’t unfold as we hoped, hold valuable lessons that guide us forward. Who we were shapes who we are and who we are becoming. Rather than rejecting or ignoring our past selves, we can embrace the growth they’ve inspired, using those experiences as a strong foundation to build our future.
Building a Sustainable Future—One Step at a Time
Just as personal change requires us to confront truths about ourselves, sustainable fashion calls on us to face the realities of the industry: the waste, the pollution, and the unethical labor practices. While we can’t completely erase the past or its impacts, we can choose to learn from it; those lessons empower us to make better decisions moving forward.
This year, instead of striving for drastic transformations, let’s focus on the incremental changes that lead to a more sustainable lifestyle - starting with our wardrobes. You don’t need to discard everything that doesn’t align with your new sustainability standards. Instead, take the time to assess what you already own and reflect on what it reveals about your consumption habits. Perhaps it’s time to buy less or to prioritize quality over quantity. Or maybe it’s about extending the life of your clothing by caring for it better, repairing what needs fixing, and embracing secondhand shopping.
Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. Just as the new year doesn’t mean leaving behind who we were last year, moving toward a more sustainable lifestyle involves integrating lessons from the past to shape our actions today and tomorrow. Change may be slow, and it may not always be visible, but every small decision contributes to something lasting—whether it’s a more thoughtful approach to fashion or a more intentional way of living.
Moving Forward into Real Change
Real change isn’t about abandoning the past; it’s about learning from it and using it to create a better future. Just as we evolve personally, we can evolve as consumers—making more sustainable choices that align with our values, even when that means going against the tide of fast fashion.
This year, as we reflect on the paths we want to take, remember that change is incremental, and sustainability is a practice, not a goal. It’s a journey that requires patience, awareness, and a willingness to build on a solid foundation, step by step. If we can do that, we will see real change.
Edited by: Luiza Giocondo Teixeira, Communications & Engagement Director @Threading Change
Rebekah Stokes
Rebekah is a Global Development student, passionate about creating real-world solutions to complex issues. She advocates for pivoting current systems towards a more just and sustainable future. She’s applied her knowledge and skills in various projects, such as in urban planning on Granville Island, circular economy, and local outreach initiatives. Her passion for fashion was born out of a love for its storytelling capability and through her work in the sustainable fashion sphere, she seeks to advocate for more stories of justice and equity in the clothes we wear.
