8 Latinx Sustainable Fashion Leaders You Should Support
The world of sustainable fashion is becoming more diverse and inclusive, thanks to the efforts of Latinx leaders who are reshaping the industry with their unique perspectives and dedication to ethical practices. From clothing swaps and conscious consumerism to decolonizing design and promoting body positivity, these trailblazers are not only redefining fashion but also advocating for environmental and social justice. This article highlights eight Latinx sustainable fashion leaders whose work and voices are making waves in the industry, championing sustainability while celebrating their cultural heritage and inspiring others to do the same.
Nicole Macias, Co-Founder of the Radical Clothes Swap
Image Credit: Nicole Macias @nicult
Nicole Macias is the co-founder of the Radical Clothes Swap, a women of color (WOC)-run, donation-based clothing swap in Los Angeles, California. The initiative aims to transform our relationship with clothing by providing free clothes for everyone, promoting radical sustainability.
Their mission is to normalize sustainable practices and educate communities on the harmful effects of fast fashion and overconsumption. The Radical Clothing Swap is fueled by the belief that in a capitalistic world, the most radical act is to give resources away for free while helping the environment. This is significant given that offering free clothes, especially to Black and Brown communities, is not expected when comes without a catch.
2. Xica, Founder of the Gordita Community
Image Credit: Xica from @xicaliproduct
Xica is the founder of the Gordita Community, a group that organizes a Latina Plus Size Clothing Swap in Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) every first Friday of the month.
The event provides a safe space for Latinas and others to build friendships, challenge systems of oppression, and receive free clothes.
Xica is also the founder of a company that focuses on health and beauty, offering natural CBD remedies to help women, particularly chingonas, reduce anxiety, manage migraines, and improve sleep.
Additionally, they have expressed solidarity with the Free Palestine movement on her online presence.
3. Valerie Salazar, Content Creator
Image Credit: Valerie Salazar from @vallerinagirl
Valerie Salazar is a Indigenous Latinx sustainable content creator from the Bay Area.
She began sharing her slow fashion journey online after noticing that many ethical and sustainable brands produce clothing in Peru, her family’s homeland, yet lacked representation from influencers who resembled her.
Valerie advocates for ethical fashion by blending thrifted and vintage pieces with conscious clothing brands and by repeating outfits.
She shares this content because she believes that being mindful of what we wear is one way to reduce our impact on the planet and its people.
4. Diana Albarrán González, PhD, Design(er), MOTHER and Craftivist
Image Credit: Diversity Works
Diana Albarrán González is a PhD candidate at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, focusing on ethical collaborations with Indigenous artisanal communities and the decolonization of design practices. Born and raised in Chiapas, Mexico, she is of mestiza heritage with Nahua, P’urhépecha, Japanese, and Spanish ancestry. Diana holds a Master’s in Design Management from the Polytechnic University of Valencia in Spain, a Bachelor’s in Industrial Design from the Autonomous University of Guadalajara in Mexico, and a diploma in Modern Design and Craftsmanship from Kyoto Institute of Technology in Japan.
With over 17 years of design experience across New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Spain, and Mexico, Diana is passionate about using creativity and co-design to improve mindsets, communities, and businesses. She is also a design educator, guest speaker, and co-author of a strategic design and management book, with her work internationally exhibited.
5. Jazmine Brown, Influencer and Founder of Sustainable Baddie
Image Credit: thatcurlytopp on TikTok
Jazmine Brown is a Black/Mexican sustainable fashion content creator based in NYC.
Her platform is dedicated to fun and optimistic content around imperfect sustainable fashion and living. She is also the CEO of Sustainable Baddies, which aims to provide hope and refuge for those anxious about the climate, emphasizing that sustainability doesn't have to be scary.
The platform encourages joy in the present while advocating for a livable future, offering sustainable lifestyle advice, creative eco-thought pieces, and recommendations through diverse voices and events.
6. Tracy Garcia, Slow Fashion Designer
Image Credit: Tracy Garcia from @transformationbytracy
Tracy Garcia is a slow fashion designer and internet personality based in NYC, known for her TikTok and Instagram presence.
She uses her platform to promote slow fashion by demonstrating how old clothes, thrifted items, and scrap fabrics can be upcycled into stylish, fashion-forward pieces.
Garcia creates easy-to-follow how-to videos, shares and sells patterns, and offers digital resources to help her audience upcycle clothes at home.
Through her "Thriftflip Thursday" series, she provides detailed tutorials, showcasing her process of transforming thrifted items, like turning a velvet and silk scarf into an evening gown.
Garcia emphasizes that while fabrics can be upcycled, new materials like threads and ribbons are sometimes needed, in an attempt to make sustainable fashion accessible and affordable for everyone.
7. Aida Hurtado, Professor and Author of meXicana Fashions
Image Credit: Chicano Studies Institute
Aída Hurtado, a professor and the Luis Leal Endowed Chair in the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is known for her work on intersectional Latino masculinities.
In the book meXicana Fashions, she and other scholars explore the cultural and political significance of fashion within Chicana and broader Latin American communities.
The book examines how different styles—defined by region, age, and social class—reflect and express complex aspects of identity, including occupation, origin, personality, and sexuality.
It covers topics like urban indigenous fashion shows, quinceañera trends, plus-size clothing, and drag, revealing the diverse messages embedded in these fashion choices.
8. Miriam Vega, Content Creator
Image Credit: Miriam Vega from @Miriam.vegac
Miriam, a San Diego-based Mexican creator, showcases her style through sustainable, vintage, and designer pieces.
A fashion design graduate, she uses fashion as a way to express her passion, proving that people of all body types can embrace and enjoy fashion that deserves visibility.
Miriam emphasizes the importance of choosing sustainable, vintage, or secondhand items to reduce the environmental impact of her wardrobe—a practice she also applies to her furniture and homeware.
While she acknowledges that she isn’t a perfect sustainable consumer, she believes that even small changes in our shopping habits can make a significant difference.
Support these eight Latinx sustainable fashion leaders who are not only shaping the future of fashion but also challenging the norms of consumerism and environmental impact. Their dedication to sustainability, cultural heritage, and inclusivity serves as a powerful reminder that fashion can be a force for good. Let their stories inspire you to make more mindful decisions in your fashion journey and to uplift diverse voices within the sustainable fashion community.
