Milwaukee — Milwaukee women are on a mission to reduce waste while creating fashionable, upcycled clothing.

Madame Chino

Vanessa Devaki Andrew owns Madam Chino. She started it in her 2003.

“Let’s turn what people see as garbage into something I can sell and add value to,” said Andrew.

She uses old t-shirts, boat sails and other types of fabrics to create one-of-a-kind outfits. This can be a laborious process, but it’s worth it, she says, Andrew. She said we are wasting too much and need to rethink what we buy and think we can’t use anymore.

“I’ve taken Goodwill’s backend tour a few times and seen the sheer amount of what we throw away in our culture.

James Glow

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 11.3 million tons of textiles ended up in landfills in 2018. It accounted for 7.7% of total waste. In addition, 50 billion garments are thrown away within the first year of production, according to a study released by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NSIT) in May 2022. Andrew said this number is too high.

Additionally, NSIT, part of the US Congress, says the fashion industry is the second largest consumer of water supply in the world, using 20 trillion liters of water annually. Additionally, 20% of water pollution comes from textile processing and dyeing.

Fast fashion contributes greatly to these environmental problems. Thinking about how you can make your clothes last longer and not throwing things away too soon can have an impact on the environment as well as your wallet.

“I just think it’s important to put power back in the hands of the people. We’re not putting money in someone’s big pocket by relying on style and trends.”

James Glow

There is little to no waste throughout her design process. Almost all are used. If we can’t find a way to wear it, we donate it to local church organizations.

Madame Chino is more than just a clothing store. Andrew also hosts sewing classes and does remodeling. This class empowers others to make clothes they feel comfortable in and is more environmentally conscious. This mod will help your clothes last longer and keep them from ending up in landfills.

“Let’s create self-sufficiency with people, how to do it yourself,” she said.

Andrew accepts clothing donations. Call or text her to talk about her donation- (414) 303-1981. For a complete list of sewing classes, visit her website.

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