The Copenhagen-based design lab, The Garment, was founded by Sophia Roe and Charlotte Eskildsen in 2020. With a seasonless approach to creating timeless garments, the brand aims to stay relevant and inclusive by reinventing the perfect wardrobe for women who have an urge to build an everlasting and rotating wardrobe. Recognized for its Scandinavian aesthetic and serious sustainable commitments (The Garment’s collections are Co2 compensated in partnership with Norweigan climate company Chooose), LVRSustainable sits down with co-founder, Sophia Roe, to take about the value of embracing a conscious approach to fashion.
The Interview with Sophia Roe
LVR: Let’s start from the beginning – what led you to pursue a career in sustainable fashion?
SR: The urge to create and be creative has always been true to my nature ever since I was a child. Connecting with my creative self comes naturally and my language is very visual. Pursuing a career in fashion has appealed to me and I don’t remember a moment where I felt otherwise.
The core values my mother taught me roots deep in my heart. One of these values is to always appreciate and never underestimate quality handcrafted pieces with a long lifespan. These items are not only long-lasting, they also benefit our environment.
In Scandinavia, where I grew up, specifically Copenhagen, our culture is synonymous with slow living and sustainability. Furthermore, I would say combining fashion and sustainability was never a conscious decision. It was always something that was instilled in me from lifestyle at home and there has never been another option.
LVR: What can you tell us about the Garment’s sustainable values and corresponding commitments?
SR: Taking care of the environment and acting responsibly are the two core values of The Garment. We use the HIGG Product Module to calculate the carbon impact of each garment that we produce. This is based on a cradle-to-gate approach and we plan to change to a cradle-to-grave approach for the coming seasons. Based on the numbers gathered, we consolidate how much CO2 our entire production emit, and we offset the corresponding amount through our climate partner Chooose. Through Chooose, we have chosen three land-based climate projects to support — in Peru, Kenya and Cambodia. These projects simultaneously deliver compelling climate biodiversity and community benefits.
In addition to this, we are proud to announce that we’re also a part of 1% For The Planet — and contribute at least one percent of our annual sales to environmental causes.
LVR: What would you consider the main role of an editor when reporting on sustainable fashion? As someone who has worked in the industry as a fashion editor and now a designer and entrepreneur, what do you feel are some challenges encountered when reporting on sustainability and how do you find a solution to those?
SR: I feel very fortunate and grateful to have been given a platform where I can shed light and share my thoughts on sustainability. Our modes of consumption are not in harmony with the rhythm of our planet.
We are responsible for the way we purchase and consume so we should invest in garments with longevity and always consider the versatility of the design. My aim as an editor and influencer is to always communicate the need and benefits of sustainability to help my audience to buy right.
LVR: From your point of view, what does choosing a sustainable product mean in tangible and intangible terms? Is it more than just a choice and do you believe a form of responsibility comes with that decision?
SR: Today it should not be a choice of either-or, but I am proud to see that changes are being made towards a more sustainable future for fashion. The industry still needs time to readjust into producing sustainable garments and we as consumers are the most important and powerful assets to instill change — by consciously buying and demanding sustainable garments.
