Funkshion fired up the conversation on sustainability in Miami Beach with The Future Special Edition, a three-day interactive platform aimed at making the cause real in a city battered by the effects of global warming and rising sea-level.

Numbers like 13 million tons of clothing thrown away each year are real and astonishing and become more so when they resonate to the consumers with the actions taken by sustainable establishments, practices and professionals. The support of the City of Miami Beach was decisive with the launch of the first of its kind initiative in South Florida.

The panel discussion drew the attention on The Importance of Sustainable Fashion with the participation of prominent ethical entrepreneurs like Veronica Pesantes of The Onikas, Sophie Zembra owner and founder of Wynwood’s own Antidote, as well Patrick Duffy co-founder of Global Fashion Exchange and Daniele D’Orazi from Istituto Marangoni.

Purpose, transparency, ethical production were discussed among the panelists, conscious or “critical consumerism” was a concept raised, because, let’s be honest everyone has had in their life that “I have nothing to wear” moment.

Patrick Duffy brought sexy back to clothes swapping, a practice that creates community, promotes a healthy relationship with your own wardrobe and stops the vicious circle of fast fashion and the imprisonment of buying for the sake of buying.

Antidote’s “Ete ‘84” first runway show in collaboration with Miami City Ballet was the best show I personally have ever seen in Miami, chic, elegant, fun, fashionable, feminine, the right dose of everything, masterfully orchestrated into an experience that with music, dance, smiles, lavender and rose’ catapulted the audience in a carefree afternoon in Provence.

Not really.

The takeaways:

The conversation was amplified even in Miami where until then it had been restricted to a small circle of die-hard

Adopting sustainable practices isn’t “bad for retailers”, but it’s the only way they will be able to survive the next 10 years;

Same goes for fashion students: they have to see it as the opportunity to start their business based on ethical principles … wait a minute, isn’t this common sense? Well it was, it went out of fashion surpassed by the mindless need to live on the fast lane and now we just need to reinstate common sense.

As Sophie put it: my wish is that I will not have to be here in 5 years from now as the exception, because sustainable will become the norm.

Buying second-hand, vintage or clothes swapping is sexy, builds community, creates the happy environment that before used to be going shopping with your friends.

ANNOUNCEMENT ——>

ANTIDOTE is the only brick ‘n mortar local establishment that has chosen to sell and showcase the book, and we are genuinely thrilled about it. When in town, you know where to go.