I have a dirty confession to make: Until the past year or so, sustainability hasn’t really been something that I’ve thought about when shopping. If I needed a new pair of black dress pants or a basic turtleneck, I’d have no problem sauntering over to a fast fashion chain like Zara and quickly fulfilling my need. But lately, my mindless shopping habits have left me feeling increasingly guilty. For one, I’m Indigenous—my people are supposed to be pioneers of eco-minded fashion design! And two, with the daily headlines of forest fires and melting glaciers coming at me like meteoroids, buying a new sweater made cheaply out of synthetic fibers feels wrong. Even though I know individuals don’t have the same impact as companies do in terms of championing sustainable and ethical design, I still feel the need to do what I can. So, here in the year 2020, I finally decided: It’s time to smarten up. But I needed help.
Enter Cassandra Dittmer, a stylist based in Los Angeles whose aim is to help people just like me. Dittmer has 10 years of experience in styling, and has worked for celebrity stylists like Ilaria Urbinati. She’s since branched out from red carpets, where she has styled actors such as Reid Scott and Ty Burrell. Dittmer now focuses on a more personal wardrobe styling experience. Specifically, she specializes in sustainable styling: She works with clients to purge and revamp their existing closets, find eco-friendly pieces to fill the gaps, and ultimately rethink their mindless shopping habits in general. “To me, being a stylist in 2020 is about an integration of values,” Dittmer says. “We have such increased access, and hunger, for transparency—and not just in fashion.”