1. Please introduce who you are and what you do in 2 sentences.
Hi! I’m Mia, the designer and CEO of MIA Sustainable Collection, a sustainable fashion brand here, in the Island of Tenerife. We make clothes that are mindful and responsible with ourselves and the planet.
2. How would you describe your current mood?
Currently, I have suffered through several moods, but as of today, I feel positive and with a desire to continue working a lot for a better future.
3. What effect has Covid 19 had on you and your business?
At first, it has been hard, psychologically and professionally, because our plan was to showcase our new and almost first collection in this month of April, but it hasn’t been possible, so we’ve had to reorganize and change the entire previous plan, and acquire tons of patience and a positive attitude.
4. What effect had Covid 19 had on your supply chain (if relevant)?
Well, it has caused the shut down of our main working focus, the workshop where our pieces are tailored, that is the reason for the huge pause in production that we’ve had. However, on the other hand, we’ve been able to advance, create, research and make new hand-made models, which we had a great need for.
5. What has been the biggest challenge during this period of lockdown?
The greatest challenge for me has been not to lose sight of the path and goal that we’ve had since we started, being able to adjust to the new events. It is very important not to stop, to continue making, even though at first we may not see it clearly, if you don’t stop you’ll see that very soon everything makes sense again.
6. What have you done during lockdown to innovate?
As I said earlier, we have been able to experiment on new hand-made models. Also, we’ve had more time to refine, and very soon finish, our website.
7. What small act of kindness has someone shown you or that you have shown someone during the lockdown?
The truth is that it has all been sheer support between family, friends and enterpreneurs who are in the same situation, reciprocally. This has given me a lot of peace of mind, joy and confidence for a better future.
8. How do you think this crisis will affect the fashion industry?
I think that it will affect abruptly, because even though clothing is considered a basic need, we all have clothes in the wardrobe and therefore, that need being covered, after this severe economic falldown it will take a long period of time to recover. For this reason -this being said-, I think that there will emerge two kinds of fashion consumers, even more clear-cut than before: those who will prioritize their temporary monetary capability and will consume fast-fashion considering it “cheaper” and “better” for their pockets. And, on the other hand, those who after this period and, sadly thanks to this world disaster, will have acquired an awareness of seeking a better world, prioritizing consumption -consequently- of a responsible, conscientious, and sustainable fashion.
9. How do you think you will need to do things differently in your business post lock down?
From now on, we will have to be constantly rescheduling each step we take, because it is not clear what is going to happen in terms of the future buyer, that is, any current plan will surely become obsolete faster than before. We have to be constantly active and attentive for this change.
10. What would you advise our/your followers to keep their spirits up during lockdown?
I mainly advice for patience and, even though sometimes it may seem difficult, we have to try to get the better positive part of this confinement. For example, to me it has been of great help to relax and try to live more the here-and-now and not the before or after. Also, to value the quiteness of where I live, listening every day the sound of nature, of the birds, and to remind myself that what I do is what makes me happy and that I lose more if I get overwhelmed, and instead, I gane it all if I get the strength to seize each moment.
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