With the effects of global warming looming on the ever-growing closer horizon, and Covid a constant reminder of what it is exactly we stand to lose if we take action—sustainable fashion is on the rise. But aiming for sustainability doesn’t necessarily mean you need to compromise your style. Sustainability, one might argue is in fact—the new black.
Architects-turned-outfitters Mollie Decker and Mike Sklenka know best. Based in Detroit, MI, they run a small sustainable clothing company named Object Apparel with the goal to create a model of sustainable clothing production that doesn’t harm our natural environment.
Aiming at sustainability also means that quality is of utmost importance. “I choose the materials based on quality,” Decker relayed in an interview with LICORNE Magazine. “I want the clothing to feel good on the body. There’s a reason you go back to that favourite tee, or pair of underwear; the feel.”
Aligning with eco-conscious ideals, the brand also sticks to organic materials. “We don’t want to support companies that don’t align with our ideals,” stressed Decker. “Non-organic cotton production uses more pesticides than any other crop! We want to be part of changing that.”
Founded in 2013, the couple designs, pattern, cut, dye, sew, and screen-print everything themselves in their Detroit studio, using organic cotton and water-based inks to print their original designs. And while they’ve yet to hire any other employees, their long term goal is to grow into a zero-waste company that doesn’t hurt the environment or the people that work there, providing living wage jobs for people living in their area.
Architects by trade, Decker and Sklenka are very much informed by their training, applying their backgrounds in art and architecture when creating their well-constructed clothing. “Object Apparel is our creative outlet, and definitely a dream job…” they admit, “although we love architecture as well!” According to the couple, they started making clothing as a way to display their artwork in a more accessible way.
Head to their website, and follow them on social media for more.