We are at a tipping point, where sustainable fashion is moving from being a trend to becoming the norm.

With the faithful idea that each garment could be a statement of sustainability and love for our planet, Erica Vega founded IMIX in 2019, a social enterprise focused on the textile sector that responded not only to her passion for fashion, but her intention to make a positive impact through three aspects: environmental, social and economic.The result was a life project with a responsible and conscious approach. With studies in textile design, Vega comes from the fourth generation of the family dedicated to sewing and the birth of IMIX, which responded to the challenges that fashion in Argentina -and the world- made palpable a few years ago. " Upcycling was not just another option, it was the only one. That's why circular fashion represents more than a passing trend. It is a philosophy that embraces sustainability in all stages of the production process, from design to reuse."

Under this premise, Erica Vega Replica Belts work focused on giving garments a second life. "We recycle discarded jeans, rescuing their value and avoiding their final destination in landfills. From the cotton seed to the finished garment, a single pair of jeans can consume up to 10,000 liters of clean water, leaving a huge water footprint. We get the raw material from fairs, donations (for example, post-consumer jeans ) or it is sent to us by the brands that work with us," says the Argentinean. Thus, she added to this vision a project that fulfills the function of upcycling and called it Fundación Futuro Verde (Green Future Foundation).

"We close the denim cycle by reducing the demand for new materials and promoting a more sustainable approach to fashion," she adds. This is achieved by transforming textile waste into other pieces. In Latin America, as in the world, textile waste and overconsumption are still considered major challenges for the future of the industry. A more efficient and ethical reuse of products and a change in the promotion of the culture of waste consumption is seen as one of the great alternatives to combat this problem. Vega believes that sustainable fashion today is based on a comprehensive commitment to sustainability, ethics and transparency at all stages of a garment's life cycle. When I ask her where we are in the sustainable fashion movement, she replies, "We are at a tipping point, where responsible fashion is moving from being a trend to becoming a norm, driving significant changes towards a more sustainable future in the textile industry." Undoubtedly, designers and creatives in Latin America continue to forge a foundation for understanding and developing more responsible processes. And that gives hope to all of us who believe that a greener future is possible.

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This project was shot by Mauricio Holc, part of our PhotoReplica Handbag Store Community, who participated in the exhibition “What is Beauty?” at the PhotoReplica Handbag Store Festival 2023.