Sustainability in Fashion: How MSU VIM Is Joining the Green Movement
PR students work with VIM to promote mindful consumption and responsible choices
By: Kailea Neubig
As sustainability becomes a growing concern in the fashion industry, organizations try to reduce their environmental impact. VIM Magazine at Michigan State University is no exception. VIM promotes sustainability and encourages students to think critically about their choices by embracing environmentally friendly processes. They are setting an example of how to blend creativity with sustainable responsibility.
VIM is a student-run MSU magazine covering fashion, beauty, health, interior design and college life. Named after the MSU fight song, it represents vitality and enthusiasm. As one of MSU’s largest student organizations, VIM publishes two issues yearly and hosts a spring fashion show. It offers hands-on experience in planning, designing and creating, along with guest speakers for career advice. Many members use VIM to obtain internships and job opportunities.
One of the key principles VIM follows is a commitment to reducing waste, particularly in how it produces and distributes the magazine. According to Milcah Solomon, a fourth-year public relations student, the team ensures that every printed issue is given to someone who truly values it, minimizing excess waste. VIM offers a digital version of the magazine, making its content accessible online and reducing the need for printing.
“We don’t throw away our magazines at the end of the year,” Solomon said. “We ensure every copy has a purpose, whether given to students, sponsors or kept as an archive.”
The magazine’s sustainable efforts extend beyond production. The creative team made a point of reusing outfits for fashion photo shoots. Instead of buying new items, they encourage members to find clothing from thrift stores. This approach reduces environmental impact and allows for unique and personalized fashion choices, highlighting the beauty of upcycling.
“We want to show that you can be creative with what’s already around you,” Solomon said.
Education is another cornerstone of VIM’s sustainability efforts. The organization invites speakers who are at the core of sustainable fashion. A notable example is a collaboration with Nextiles, a Detroit-based company that recycles denim textile waste for housing insulation. This initiative provided VIM members insight into the broader role of the fashion industry in sustainability.
Joining the green movement in fashion comes with its share of challenges. Solomon acknowledges the difficulty of enforcing sustainability across its members, many of whom come from different academic backgrounds. Solomon says she hopes to leave a lasting impression on its members by integrating sustainability into its values and operations.
“We can’t control what our members do outside of VIM, but we hope that our emphasis on sustainability influences how they approach fashion in their own lives,” Solomon expresses.
As the fashion industry tackles its environmental impact, VIM proves that style and sustainability can go hand in hand, fostering a movement to change how students view fashion.