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Looking out the window of her Toronto home, singer and pianist Sarah Slean began to ponder what she could do to walk in harmony with the environment. Taking the mantra “Think globally, act locally,” to heart, Slean canvassed nearby Queen Street hoping to find like-minded artists. Her aim was to find innovative Canadian fashion designers who could aid her in putting a positive spin on a lingering problem.
“I really wanted to reach out to the neighbourhood where I live, shop and ride my bike,” she says. “I was about to go on tour, and I realized I wanted to do it in an environmentally responsible way. They tell you that constant travel is the worst thing you can do. So, I opted to tour as a soloist and to buy carbon offsets. But most of all, I just wanted to do some serious in-sourcing and find some good green citizens who are trying to get the same messages [across] as I am.”
“I happened upon a boutique that provides retail space to new designers in return for them running and taking responsibility for the shop,” she continues. “They recycle textiles and repurpose jewelry and create one-of-a-kind pieces that exist nowhere else. I found three designers there, [and] I also recruited Annie Thompson, who is also an amazing painter and sculptor, and of course, Sunny Fong, who made me a dress out of old judge’s robes.”
Reaching out to fashion designers from across the country, Slean selected nine talented individuals to create the gowns she plans to wear on her solo tour this spring. As dramatic, fresh and radiant as Slean herself, each dress is a unique garment that represents more than just another pretty frock. Once displayed onstage on lean Slean’s size 4 frame, these handcrafted gowns, all made from material found at vintage and used clothing stores, will be put up for auction with the proceeds going to the David Suzuki Foundation.
“It’s only natural that people enjoy their clothing more if they know its production didn’t harm anyone, and that they’re not partaking in economic injustice by supporting that company,” the singer-songwriter elaborates. “Of course I want to be virtuous and considerate of the next generation in every aspect of my life, but as a consumer I can’t possibly know whether or not my shoes were made by an eight-year-old in Indonesia. I see a coming consciousness shift where people will move past consumer thoughtlessness. A huge part of doing this is the reward in knowing that you’re conducting business in an ethical manner.”
Slean’s passion for fashion and desire to deepen her commitment to the environment is evident in both her words and actions. Like many musicians, she struggles to reconcile the demands of her career with making green lifestyle choices. One thing is clear: Giving up music isn’t an option for this blossoming diva whose soaring vocals and modern-classical charm have endeared her to international audiences. In Slean’s estimation, the next best thing is working with good people to help clean up what she describes as “our little corner of the universe.”
“The facts surrounding global warming can be scary and people get overwhelmed and tune the whole thing out because it’s too depressing,” she says. “I’m trying to energize, delight and inspire people to use their imaginations to solve these problems. Human minds perpetuated all this technology and progress, and that same creative ingenuity is what’s going to get us out of this mess. I was so happy to find a fresh collective of designers who are doing just that. They haven’t given up on beauty; they just do it in a way that isn’t harmful.”
Look for the post-tour auction at www.sarahslean.com.
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