S8 Ep31 FREE ARTS NYC: upcycling designer, Anne Whiting and recent FIT grad, Nashalae Martin - on how high school and college-aged young people learn about sustainable fashion.

S8 Ep31 FREE ARTS NYC: upcycling designer, Anne Whiting and recent FIT grad, Nashalae Martin - on how high school and college-aged young people learn about sustainable fashion.

Author: Emily Stochl November 11, 2024 Duration: 51:01

On today's show, we're chatting with Anne and Nashalae. Anne Whiting is an upcycled fashion designer, sustainable fashion activist, and writer. She is also a longtime volunteer and mentor for young people with Free Arts NYC, an organization that provides arts programming for youth – including arts internship placements.  Through Free Arts NYC and her upcycled brand, Anne James New York, Anne has worked with several high school and college-aged interns teaching them about the pillars of sustainable fashion and upcycling. She loves helping her interns create their own capsule collections using NYC secondhand shops like Goodwill and BigReuse as their source materials. 

So, she reached out to do an episode with one of her former interns, Nashalae Martin, and suggested we could chat about how Gen-Z and the next generations learn about sustainable fashion. Nashalae is a recent graduate of FIT, and has held several fashion-related internships, including with Anne and Anne James New York. I loved hearing how she thinks about thrifting, where she learned about sustainable fashion in the first place, and how she thinks we need to expand the definition of sustainable fashion education. 

This is such an interesting chat about how this movement connects with younger audiences  – so, let's dive right into it!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

  • [4:01] While Anne grew up during the fast fashion boom, she also loved thrifting with her grandmother. 
  • [7:57] Nashalae found an eventual love of fashion design through a love of art.
  • [10:38] Anne works with Free Arts NYC, an organization that provides arts programming for youth – including arts internship placements. 
  • [20:23] How young people like Nashalae get their sustainable fashion education.
  • [23:48] The two truths that young people love to thrift and they also love fast fashion.
  • [27:18] Expanding the idea of sustainable fashion education.
  • [35:33] Personal style and favorite pre-loved pieces.

EPISODE MENTIONS: 

LET'S CONNECT: 

SPECIAL THANKS: 

A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible!

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  • Anastacia Banicke of Goods & Provisions
  • Michael A.
  • Megan Morris
  • Jennifer

 


Every week, Emily Stochl invites you into a conversation that goes far beyond the clothing rack. Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl is built on the idea that every second-hand garment has a past, and that exploring those histories makes our present style more meaningful. Rather than just offering shopping tips, each episode feels like sitting down with a fascinating friend who shares your passion for vintage, digging into the many layers of what it means to wear pre-owned fashion. You’ll hear from a diverse range of guests-from collectors and stylists to entrepreneurs and historians-as they explore not only personal style but also the practicalities of running a resale business, the complexities of the global second-hand market, and the environmental ethos behind choosing used over new. The heart of this podcast lives in those incredible stories: the serendipitous flea market find, the garment that carries a decade of memories, or the simple, powerful act of giving a piece a new life. Emily guides these discussions with genuine curiosity, making each topic accessible whether you're a seasoned thrifter or just curious about sustainable fashion. It’s a thoughtful, engaging look at how what we wear connects to culture, art, beauty, and the kind of mindful consumption that can reshape an industry. Tune in for a fresh perspective that celebrates the character, sustainability, and deep personal connection found in pre-loved fashion.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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