Why Sustainable Fashion Matters

Q: Why did you want to host a dinner centered on fashion and sustainability?

A: It felt important to create space for honest dialogue about sustainable fashion and the fashion industry’s impact on the planet. Fashion is a an art form we all love and participate in as a source of self expression, but it’s also one of the most resource-intensive industries on the planet. The fashion industry produces 10% of global carbon emissions - more than international flights and shipping combined and uses 93 billion cubic meters of water annually, enough to meet the needs of five million people. We can’t just continue to consume without conscious… buying fast fashion like it’s fast food. Turning a blind eye to the real life consequences of the over consumption of ever changing trends. I call it the fast fashion crash - a dopamine hit from purchases that don’t last, don’t fit, and are made in factories full of overworked foreigners whose lives are negatively affected by our desire to have a “new outfit” for a Friday night out on the town. We get instant gratification while someone else on the other side of the world suffers.

We can pretend we don’t know but this day and age what we mean is we don’t care to know.

Or … we simply don’t care. 

Building Community Through Conscious Living

Q: What did the conversation on fashion and sustainability mean to you personally?

A: It was a night of industry friends and colleagues who care but maybe haven’t done as deep of a dive on the detrimental effects of global warming. So it was an opportunity to educate without shame. Sharing this dialogue about sustainable fashion face-to-face reminded me why Blackbird Collection exists. As a sustainable fashion boutique in Kansas City, we are more than just a collection of beautiful clothing and luxury interiors, but a place where consciousness, sustainability and creativity can coexist.

A: Nights like these prove that change doesn’t have to be loud or massive to matter. Sometimes it starts quietly, around a table, with open hearts and full glasses.

Q: If there’s one thing you hope guests carried with them from this discussion on sustainable fashion, what would it be?

A: That fashion with intention is possible. Making change doesn’t come all at once… it’s millions of tiny actions every day that add up to something bigger. With every purchase we make, we have the power to make real world changes, whether it’s factory conditions or environmental impact. And that we each have the ability to rewrite our future in the fashion industry together.

A: These numbers can feel overwhelming… but similar to thinking about our to do lists we do better focusing on one thing at a time so as not to get discouraged. They felt like a challenge, and sometimes the hardest work is by far the most rewarding. Partnering with local Kansas City businesses Dinner Article, Green Dirt on Oak and Big Mood Natural Wines, gave us the perfect setting to have that conversation with 14 friends from the fashion industry in Kansas City.

Conversations from the Table About Sustainable Fashion

Q: What kinds of ideas came up during the discussion about sustainable fashion?

A: We talked a lot about mindful consumption and slow fashion. We emphasized conscious fashion choices. Things like choosing natural fibers - organic cotton and wool to reduce synthetic waste, investing in timeless pieces instead of chasing fleeting fashion trends, and embracing circular fashion by reusing, repairing, and up-cycling what we already own to keep textiles out of landfills. Being sustainable isn’t just buying up-cycled pieces… it’s buying timeless pieces and having personal style that doesn’t need to be replaced each season with trends. Not only is that exhausting our planet but it’s exhausting our wallets and time. It depletes our energy trying to keep up with trends as well as the earth’s energy overproducing unnecessary clothing.

A: Which is why we explored how building a capsule wardrobe can help lower demand for new production, which reduces the carbon footprint of our closets. And beyond the environmental side, sustainable fashion is about honoring the people who make our clothes - supporting fair wages and safe working conditions.

The solution isn’t to stop buying fashion as it’s a huge part of our self expression and economy, but we desperately need to rethink how we manufacture and consume.

A consciously curated lifestyle brand, Blackbird Collection blends sustainable fashion with thoughtfully selected luxe interiors, offering timeless pieces that embody quiet luxury. Founded by Amy Appleton Dreyer, the concept honors her Sicilian heritage and passion for exploration while championing sustainability and intentional living. With a mix of international designers, vintage finds, and small-batch brands, Blackbird invites you to experience sustainable fashion and luxury interiors in Kansas City.