The Global Sustainable Development Congress [GSDC] is co-hosted by Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. Vincent says it is an incredible opportunity for sustainable fashion in New Zealand.
“To sit there and listen and hear what Southeast Asia has to offer with sustainability and also to see what responsibilities I can take on for our environmental impact and how I can reduce that for fashion.”
The GSDC agenda for 2024 is to challenge the usual thinking on what higher education, governments, businesses, and society must do to help society meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Vincent said New Zealand needed to improve its response to sustainability in fashion.
“In the sense of staying away from the greenwashing side, making sure that those that are speaking on sustainability or, eco practices to make sure that they’re not just saying it.”
The goals set by the UN are to be achieved by 2030 and include no poverty, zero hunger, quality education, gender quality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work, and economic growth.
Vincent says his clothing brand prioritises sustainability by using end-of-line or deadstock fabrics.
“Sustainability as a business is important to me when we create kakahu.
“In order to do that, we reuse fabrics that have obviously been discarded by other factories or labels because the material is in existence anyway.
“It means that we are able to give them new life, meaning that they’re not going to landfill.”
Vincent went to Taupo-nui-a-Tia College and earned his graduate diploma in clothing design at Waikato Institue of Technology in Hamilton.
Aleyna Martinez is a multimedia journalist based in the Bay of Plenty.
