Sustainable Fashion with Brian Mark Odipo

Quick Facts:

According to the Business Insider, fast fashion houses like Zara put out 24 new collections per year. H&M puts out between 12-14 collections a year
85% of textiles go into landfill each year
4% of the world pollution (92 million tonnes) is from the fashion industry
Polyester is a petroleum-based material that requires 70 million barrels of fossil to make. Polyester takes between 20-200 years to degrade

What does this all mean?

In other words, the Fashion industry plays a massive role in contributing to the annual solid waste. Ever wondered what happens when we subscribe to the notion of Out with the old, in with the new? Well, the 'old' goes into landfills. Bear in mind that fast fashion can switch up collections almost every two weeks meaning decent, reusable clothes are dumped more often than should!

But we need a solution. Meet Brian Mark Odipo; A thrift-fashion enthusiast

Brian Mark in one of his DIY creations from his collection LIVE AND DYE IN AFRICA

Brian Mark Odipo is a product designer, creative, and a stylist from the University of Nairobi. Becoming a stylist and a fashion enthusiast was one of those unprecedented events for Mark.

'I did not really have an identity throughout my high-school years, so I did not know my style either. However, I started dressing differently upon completing high-school and noticed people would compliment my garments. That is when I started selling my own clothes and thrifting for customers'

Jeans 254; a mini-start-up was born as a result of an individual's interest in Brian's sense of fashion. This later became S tyle na Odipo; a brand and project by Mark where he styles and showcases his creations.

Thrift and Renovate

Despite slowly going out of business, Gikomba; the largest second-hand store in Nairobi Kenya has been Mark's go-to place for materials and stylish clothing. Mark renovates these items and sells them at an affordable price on his Instagram page Style na Odipo and BM Creatives.

The Tote bag

An interesting 'thrifted' and renovated item is the tote bag which was built from an old pair of corduroy pants. A lot of Mark's bags are as a result of renovated jeans and old pieces of material which would have otherwise gone into landfill

Tatiana Karanja, also known as Mama Olive; a Kenyan Influencer and Photographer models for one of Mark's tote bags

Normal is boring

Aside from changing something old into an incredibly new item, Mark adds a tonne of his personality into a garment with the aim of maintaining the piece's original form while still being extraordinary. 'I don't like being normal' he says.

It's more than just fabric!

Why the Spotlight on Brian Mark

Mark's work meets at least four of the seven forms of sustainable fashion; that is

Rent, lease, and swap
Repair, re-design, and upcycle
Secondhand and vintage
On-demand and custom made (DIY)

Mark is one of the few youths in Kenya striving to reduce the fashion carbon footprint through readily available materials (which reduce the cost of production) and basic design principles.

From Mark to prospective youth entrepreneurs:

Starting is the hardest, but make sure you start
You will never be ready. Work with the million ideas you have, it will eventually narrow down
If you want to solve a big problem, start with the small problem
Think about what you want to be remembered for and work with that