CIRCULAR DISRUPTORS_TINA_Newsletter

Welcometothe CircularDisruptors Series

Join us as we delve into the stories of masterminds of sustainable innovations and celebrate the individuals and organisations driving positive change for our planet. Get ready to be inspired, informed, and empowered!

MartinaSteinke

Martina Steinke is a Personal Sustainable Stylist and the CEO of Kleiderordnung Berlin. She is passionate about secondhand and vintage fashion and has a knack for spotting pearls where they’re least expected. As a slow fashion advocate, she uses her superpower to create minimalist, colourful, bold, modern, strong, feminine, androgynous and assertive styles from your own closet!

CONSCIOUSCONVERSATIONS

E: How do you personally define sustainable styling?

M: Sustainable Styling for me starts with the goal to define your personal look, what suits you the best and underlines your personality. It also involves finding combinations in your existing wardrobe and adding on if needed, well-selected secondhand, vintage or high-quality clothes.

The corner store caught my eye and I began frequenting the place to find new pieces. I started building my closet step-by-step, drawing inspiration from my style and my community of friends. My closet is an eclectic mix of brands from all over the world.

E: What inspired you to become a Sustainable Stylist?

M: I didn’t start my career as a sustainable stylist. I didn’t attend fashion school or follow fashion that was in vogue. I started as a single mom who lived near a second-hand corner store in Düsseldorf.

E: Can you describe your process for assessing a client's existing wardrobe and understanding their styling preferences and lifestyle?

M: After a call and briefing where I find out my client’s needs, we start with a wardrobe “deep-dive” and go through the existing items defining the signature pieces and valuable basics. My clients' favourite clothes also tell a story of what they like and what kind of colours and fabrics they prefer! Sometimes a mood board with specific styles guides us through this process.

E: How do you incorporate elements of circular fashion, such as clothing rental, resale, and upcycling, into your styling services?

M: I choose stores where I can find a variation of eco-fair fashion brands which are well selected by the shop owners and are certified or choose Berlin-based designers who showcase their processes and work for example with deadstock or have a zero waste approach. I send links to all these sustainable solutions to my clients when they ask for my services. I also bring items from my wardrobe to showcase upcycling or visible mending.

E: Can you share any success stories or memorable experiences of working with clients to build sustainable wardrobes?

M: My clients are mostly very surprised at how “shop in your own closet” really works and what wonderful new collections come out For one client, we were able to put together a completely new capsule wardrobe with around 45 pieces. We started from almost zero and her capsule now contains a brilliant mix of new fair-fashion items, second-hand and vintage clothes, Humana, fleamarket rare finds and even preloved clothes from my closet which I wanted to give away. It suited her perfectly and helped us build a completely new collection.

E: What advice would you give to individuals who want to embrace sustainable fashion but may not know where to start?

M: Start with your closet, drawers, and hangers Get everything out! To take your time, try items on and find out if you still have a good connection. Feel it. Take photos. It is also helpful to browse through magazines, Pinterest and online shops of sustainable brands. Build a mood board to create a vision of yourself or your future self. After that, you have a good blueprint for your new journey. Perhaps, what you may be looking for could be in your own closet!

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