We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carolina Bedoya a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Carolina, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
My journey from Colombia to the USA at the age of 15, as the daughter of an immigrant single mother, has undeniably shaped the narrative of my life story. Driven by the desire to pursue a college degree, I embraced the challenge of working full-time as a bilingual community liaison at my local high school. Juggling both school and a demanding job presented its difficulties, but the significance of supporting immigrant families and advocating for students fueled my commitment. While contemplating the possibility of deviating from my true passion for art and textiles, an unexpected opportunity arose to work as a workshop facilitator. This marked a significant chapter, where the prospect of merging my dedication to education with my artistic inclinations became a compelling possibility. Taking the leap from a secure job into the realm of new opportunities presented a calculated risk, one that promised a deeply fulfilling and integrated journey.
The catalyst for this transformative risk was the Eileen Fisher Leadership Institute, initiated by the renowned designer Eileen Fisher. The institute aimed to provide young high school girls with opportunities for leadership development and confidence building. The company’s commitment to people and the planet resonated with me, inspiring my commitment to its cause.
Starting as a part-time workshop facilitator focused on textile upcycling, I guided participants through hands-on workshops exploring sustainability and creative techniques to transform used clothing. This experience led to a full-time role as project manager for the Eileen Fisher Community Foundation, overseeing the Makers Space—a creative hub for the community.
My dedication to the intersection of art and sustainability, coupled with a passion for diverting textiles from waste streams, propelled me into a pivotal role within the Eileen Fisher brand. Entrusted with managing solutions for unsalable and damaged clothing inventory, I collaborated with experts to develop sorting operations and inventive reuse solutions. These efforts aimed to restore value to garments through repair, remanufacturing, felting, and fiber recycling.
My tenure at Eileen Fisher, spanning nearly a decade and culminating in my role as the Resale and Recycling Manager, stands out as a defining chapter in my professional journey. This experience marked a significant period of commitment to steering the brand towards sustainability, but it was more than just a career milestone—it was a transformative journey that left a lasting imprint on both my professional trajectory and personal growth.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My journey into sustainability and fashion began with childhood memories centered around the sewing machine, where I eagerly collected fabric scraps to create clothes for my dolls. This early experience sparked a lifelong fascination with the creative process, laying the foundation for my later immersion in art and the sustainable fashion movement. Driven by a deep passion for sustainability, I committed myself to reshaping the fashion industry’s trajectory. This commitment led me to collaborate with Carmen Gama, a kindred spirit I consider a “sister from another mother”. Our paths converged at Eileen Fisher, a women’s clothing brand, where we directed our efforts toward developing circular processes and remanufacturing operations, focusing on restoring value to used and damaged clothing.
The application of our knowledge and experience became a clear testament to the feasibility of integrating circular practices within the industry. Recognizing the urgent need for a paradigm shift, Carmen and I firmly believe that the fashion industry can transition successfully to embrace sustainability and a circular approach. This realization fueled our determination to take action.
When the pandemic struck, providing an unexpected pause for reflection, Carmen and I seized the opportunity to channel our energies into establishing MAKE ANEEW. Our business is dedicated to preserving the highest value of discarded clothes, diverting them from landfills, and contributing to a more sustainable future.
MAKE ANEEW operates as a B2B Circular Design Recycling Center, offering unique services such as recollection, sanitization, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling to recover value at scale from discarded clothing and textiles. Our comprehensive approach involves every stage of the process—from collection and sortation to cleaning, design development, and remanufacturing. This enables brands to transform their textile waste into valuable resources, aligning with their sustainability objectives.
What sets MAKE ANEEW apart is our holistic commitment to leading the fashion industry towards resource maximization. We foster opportunities that create a balanced society, economy, and environment. Our pride lies in not only helping brands enhance their environmental goals but also empowering them to create new revenue streams and attract environmentally-conscious customers.
At MAKE ANEEW, we are not just service providers; we are catalysts for change, driving the industry towards a more sustainable, circular, and responsible model. Our dedication goes beyond the transactional—it’s about influencing a positive transformation in the fashion landscape.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
In my capacity as an artist, my creative journey is intricately linked to a profound mission—to employ art as a powerful means of addressing the environmental impact of the textile industry and raising awareness about the detrimental linear model prevalent in today’s textile ecosystem. Bearing witness to the immense scale of clothing production, consumption, and disposal, I have felt a compelling need to act as a catalyst for change. The central objective of my creative endeavor is to harness art as a transformative tool, capable of reshaping society’s perception of textile waste. I am committed to prolonging the life-cycle of textile fibers, particularly post-consumer textile “waste.” I firmly advocate for the belief that textiles, integral to our daily lives, should be valued and preserved at every stage of their life cycle.
Through the meticulous deconstruction of clothing and the application of a self-taught needle felting technique, my artistic aim transcends the mere transformation of textile fibers into art; it extends to emotionally engaging the viewer. I aspire to cultivate a sense of familiarity with discarded textiles, emphasizing their latent potential and value that society often disregards as waste.
In essence, my creative journey is driven by a commitment to contribute meaningfully to the discourse on environmental sustainability. Through art, I strive to instigate a shift in perspective, encouraging individuals to recognize the inherent value in materials considered waste and catalyzing a collective effort toward fostering a more conscious and responsible relationship with our environment.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
In my artistic journey, I derive profound fulfillment from the ability to express myself and communicate my perspectives on sustainability through my creative pursuits. The transformative process of crafting new pieces, be it in the form of clothing, accessories, or works of art, is a deeply rewarding experience that resonates with me. Observing these creations connect with others and inspire fresh perspectives on textile waste is particularly gratifying. The freedom to explore and evolve within both my craft and sustainable career adds an extra layer of satisfaction to my creative journey. The intrinsic joy I find in creating something new out of materials deemed discarded is a driving force for me. My commitment to sustainability and the pursuit of creative expression serves as a guiding principle in my artistic endeavors.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.makeaneew.com/
- Instagram: makeaneew / carolinab.art_
- Linkedin: Make Aneew