The symposium was held at Coco-Mat, a sustainable housewares store in SoHo.

Last Wednesday, I had the pleasure of attending a symposium about “fast fashion” and its impact on the environment, the economy and our buying habits. The panel included Elizabeth Cline, author of “Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion,” designers Timo Rissanen and Anthony Lilore, fashion rep Amy Dufault, and Owyn Ruck from the Textile Arts Center. Carmen Artigas, who teaches Ethical Fashion at FIT, moderated.

It was exciting to feel like part of a real movement: there’s a growing interest in sustainable fashion, as evidenced by the impressive turnout. I’ve educated myself about the negative impact of fast fashion and written about it in many blogs here, so the information provided was not news to me, but many attendees hearing it for the first time were inspired. I urge everyone to read Elizabeth’s book and carefully consider your choices when buying clothing. Be responsible: buy less, read labels, support local and eco-friendly designers and wear vintage, Vintage Is Green™.