Sustainability in Fashion–Curating an Ethically Conscious Closet
Did you know that Americans throw away nearly 11.3 million tons of textile waste each year? That equates to roughly 2,150 pieces of clothing per second. Synthetic fabrics used in fast fashion account for one-fifth of all the plastic produced globally, exposing us to forever chemicals and filling the oceans with microplastics. The average American only wears a garment 7-10 times before throwing it away. Only a very small percentage of discarded clothing is re-used or recycled. Join us as we explore the effects of fast fashion on the environment and vulnerable populations on a global scale. There are ways each of us can shop smarter, lengthen the life of our clothes and commit to brands who put the welfare of their employees and the planet first. Attendees can enter a drawing for a chance to win a private shopping party with 9 friends at the Turnover Shop! Style and shopping support as well as light snacks and refreshments provided.
Our panel discussion includes Sandra Finkelstein, Grace Lanning, Sharon Sobel and Savonna Bocchino.
Sandra Finkelstein, Creative and Strategic Fashion Brand Leader, has deep expertise in the women’s, men’s and kids apparel industry, with over 35 years of successfully building powerful brand concepts. As a senior executive, she has led teams across the fashion industry for global brands like Calvin Klein, Puma, etc. Her technical knowledge in all aspects of apparel and accessories design and commitment to sustainable and responsible production has created legendary contributions. As a futurist, embracing a “Think Big” transformational approach to fashion, Sandra has been innovating bold programs and brands at Amazon Fashion for the last seven years, leveraging technology and data to create bar-raising products for customers.
Grace Lanning, Denim and Childrenswear Designer, has over 15 years of experience in fashion design and has worked for companies such as Chaps Ralph Lauren, Oshkosh B’Gosh and Kal Rieman. She is passionate about sustainable design and makes upcycled childrenswear through her own label, Army of Butterflies.
Sharon Sobel, President of the Turnover Shop of Wilton Inc., has lived in Wilton for 38 years and has been President since 1991. She earned a PhD in English and American Literature from Brandeis University and is currently a professor of English at UConn Stamford, and at Connecticut State Community College.
Savona Bocchino is a junior at Wilton High School where she leads the WHS Green Team. Her interest in fashion and dedication to sustainability motivated her to launch her own Poshmark account in 9th grade aimed at reducing consumption. She’s both a nominee and participant in the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership program (Connecticut – 2022) and HOBY’s World Leadership Congress (2023) as well as a Link Crew Leader at WHS where she guides incoming freshmen, helping them navigate their transition to high school and providing support throughout their initial year.
Breathe Easier: Navigating the Hazards of Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution
Dr. Sarah Evans speaks about potential health risks from exposure to indoor and outdoor air contaminants and what we can do to protect ourselves and advocate for effective public health policies. Patrice Gillespie, a founding member of Wilton Go Green, Wilton native, and long-time advocate for clean air and environmental sustainability, will tie the lessons from Dr. Evans’ talk to Wilton’s no-idling policies.
Sarah F. Evans, PhD, MPH, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health and a member of the Institute for Exposomic Research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Exposomics is a field of science that examines how environmental chemicals interact with physical, biological, and social factors to determine health outcomes. Dr. Evans’ research is focused on the impacts of early life environmental exposures on nervous system development and child behavior. She is a trusted voice on the health effects of toxic chemicals and what individuals can do to protect their own health as well as how to advocate for healthier policies in their local communities. She obtained her doctorate in neuroscience from Weill Cornell Medical College and her Master’s in Public Health from Mount Sinai, where she also completed a three-year fellowship in environmental pediatrics.
Trash Talk with Jennifer Heaton-Jones
Managing waste and knowing what to recycle can be confusing. The Wilton Library and Wilton Go Green are proud to sponsor this family-friendly event to learn where our garbage and recycling really goes after leaving the Town of Wilton.
What is the State of Connecticut’s universal recycling guide? What happens when you put the wrong thing in your recycling bin? What is this waste crisis in CT? How can managing your waste save you money and how does it affect your taxes?
Jennifer Heaton-Jones the Executive Director of the regional, governmental, solid waste and recycling authority, Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority (HRRA). She will give a one hour presentation followed by a half hour Q&A. You’re guaranteed to learn something new!
Wilton is a member town of HRRA.
BIOGRAPHY
Jennifer Heaton-Jones is the Executive Director of the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority. A regional, governmental, solid waste and recycling authority serving 14 municipalities in Western CT. She has been with the HRRA since 2009. She is the current chair of the CT Product Stewardship Council, Vice President of the CT Recyclers Coalition and President of the Northeast Chapter of NAHMMA. She has received state and national recognition and awards for her work in the solid waste industry.
K-12 Climate Action in Connecticut
American public schools use nearly 480,000 diesel school buses, serve over 7 billion meals annually and are one of the largest energy consumers in the public sector. Transitioning to more sustainable operations in these areas provides environmental benefits and learning opportunities for students. How can Connecticut schools mitigate their climate impact and adapt to the effects of climate change?
Join Wilton Go Green and Waste Free Greenwich for a webinar on how the education sector can lead on climate solutions in Connecticut. Explore the Aspen Institute's K12 Climate Action plan and This Is Planet Ed initiative to learn how education systems can reduce their carbon footprints through energy, transportation, and food and discover how Mansfield Public Schools are reducing their climate impact and saving money through their new net zero school building.
Resources:
1. K12 Climate Action Plan
2. Questions to Get Started
3. Menu of Solutions
4. Potential funding opportunities in the IRA and IIJA:
Watch Recording HERE
Entangled and Ingested: Combating Plastic Pollution through Art
Saturday, November 5th, 2022
Dr. Katharine Owens will share how she uses the arts to communicate about the pervasive problem of plastic pollution. A researcher and artist, Dr. Owens has spent the last year and a half creating a series of forty-six life-sized portraits of animals harmed by marine debris. She creates most of the pieces herself by hand sewing film plastic onto canvas, but the largest pieces (including three life-sized whales) are being co-created with the public.
After the presentation you can choose to stay and put your sewing skills tow work and help stitch one of Dr. Owen's pieces.
Energy Efficiency and the Historic House: Presentation by Marena Wisniewski and Todd Levine/CT State Preservation Office (SHPO)
Thursday, February 17th
In partnership with the Wilton Historical Society.
Click here to watch the recording and find additional resources for historic homes.
Thursday, September 30th, 2021
Our Plastic World: How you can help the environment and your health by living with less plastic.
Click here to watch the recording.
“Achieving Drawdown – A Hopeful, Science-Based Plan to Stop Climate Change" – Watch Recording here.
April 2021
“Cultivating a Sustainable Lifestyle" Webinar with Analiese Paik of Sustainne
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Watch webinar
In this two-part Green Speaker Series event, participants virtually watched “Microplastic Madness" and then returned a few days later to hear from a panel of experts on the state of plastic in CT and what we can do.
Sunday July 12, 2020 and Tuesday, July 14, 2020
UCONN Master Composter Gail Reynolds takes us through some science and steps of starting and maintaining a home composting pile.
April 21, 2020
View Gail's full presentation by clicking on the button below.
Sherill Baldwin of CT DEEP and RecycleCT presents on the state of recycling, the impact of China's National Sword, and the recycling program “What’s In? What’s Out?"
Tuesday, February 4th, 2020
View Sherill's full presentation by clicking on the button below.
Learn more at www.recyclect.com
Bag It: Is Your Life Too Plastic? Film Screening and Discussion
Q&A with Jeannine Behr-Getz, BYOCT, and Tim Dolnier Co-Owner of Village Market
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
“STRAWS" Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion with members of the Norwalk River Valley Trail, NAMEPA, The Maritime Aquarium and Norwalk River Watershed Association.
Wednesday, January 9, 2019 and Saturday, January 12, 2019