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Iraq fashionistas champion climate-friendly vintage wear
In a palm grove north of Baghdad, bemused Iraqi shepherds looked on as models paraded second-hand garments down an improvised catwalk.
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An Iraqi model presents an outfit during a fashion show in an orchard in al-Husayniyah, north of Baghdad, on March 7, 2023. (AFP/Ahmad Al-Rubaye)
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n a palm grove north of Baghdad, bemused Iraqi shepherds looked on as models paraded second-hand garments down an improvised catwalk, seeking to raise awareness of the fashion industry's environmental impact.
Haute couture has given way to upcycled outfits, sourced entirely from used clothes, as the models strut, pause and pivot on the runway, a sign of the growing popularity of chic, environmentally friendly vintage wear among young Iraqis.
"We don't want overproduction of clothes, we have to reuse them," said Mohamed Qassem, 25, a hairdresser and organiser of the fashion show near Al-Hussainiya village.
The global fashion industry accounted for two percent of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, according to the World Resources Institute.
Campaigners and a growing number of climate-conscious social media influencers have led a push toward sustainable fashion.
Many young people in climate-stressed Iraq, like Qassem, have become passionate about vintage clothing.
The palm grove event showcased fluorescent green puffer jackets, long black leather coats, ample double-breasted blazers, and modern takes on traditional costumes.
