Giving Thanks, Giving Back: Giving Thanks, Giving Back: Fashion as an Act of Love
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- 2 min read
By Kate Padget-Koh
I have always loved fashion, not just for the clothes themselves but for what they represent: beauty, creativity, and love. Fashion can be an art form, an adornment, and a deeply human expression of who we are. Yet in recent years, it has also become an industrial juggernaut, churning out endless trends and waste. Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of the wonder that first drew me in.
After decades in the fashion industry, from design to supply chain and sustainability, I found myself questioning what it all meant. I had seen too many factories, too many leggings, too many disposable garments destined for landfill. My passion for fashion as an art had been replaced by cynicism. I knew it was time to rediscover what fashion could mean to me, and perhaps what it could mean for us all.
During the pandemic, something unexpected happened. As the world slowed down, I began reconnecting with my wardrobe through a personal project I called “Loved Fashion Friday.” Each week, I styled and shared pieces I already owned, some more than twenty years old, and reflected on the memories they held. These were not just outfits; they were emotional archives of my life. Wedding dresses, work clothes, party pieces, designer treasures, and garments I had made myself, each one told a story.
What began as a simple Instagram post became a form of therapy and gratitude. Each week, I revisited a version of myself, feeling joy, nostalgia, and even sadness. I realised that fashion had quietly held the timeline of my life. These clothes were not disposable. They were witnesses to love, creativity, and transformation.
As I reconnected with my past, I also felt inspired to reimagine it. Some pieces no longer suited my life or body, but I could not bear to let them go. So began my love affair with upcycling. Working with the talented Alexa of DesignBlender, I transformed old pieces into something new, garments that carried history yet felt alive again. Together, we celebrated craftsmanship, design, and reinvention. It was not the easiest or cheapest way to approach fashion, but it felt meaningful. It was, quite literally, fashion as an act of love.
This experience changed how I view style. Fashion can be so much more than following trends or filling a wardrobe.
It can be a creative process that honours what we already own, cherishes craftsmanship, and expresses gratitude for beauty in all its forms. It invites us to slow down and see clothes not as things to consume but as stories to continue.
“Fashion as an act of love” is my new philosophy, one that values what lasts, uplifts the people who make our clothes, and reminds us that style can heal, connect, and inspire. Love for the art, love for the planet, love for the self.
As we enter this season of thanks, I invite you to look at your own wardrobe with new eyes. Celebrate what you have. Repurpose what you no longer wear. Support creators who design with purpose and generosity. Fashion can be a powerful force for good, a true act of giving thanks and giving back.
Have fun, love life, and enjoy fashion.
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