We sat down with Roisin, a London-based artist whose work explores how the objects around us shape who we are. Her paintings, textiles and everyday surroundings blend into one another, and clothing plays a big part in that story.

The conversation touches on style, sentiment and the slow joys of sustainable fashion through swapping clothes and wearing pieces that carry history.

What kind of relationship do you have with your wardrobe? Are you more of a collector, a reworker or maybe a borrower?

“Definitely more of a collector, but I do rework a lot of my more sentimental or favourite items.”

Roisin’s wardrobe is like a living archive, reinforcing why sustainable fashion is important on a personal level. The clothes we hold onto the longest often carry the most meaning.

Your work explores how identity is shaped by the things we own. How do you think clothing fits into that idea? Can clothes both reveal and disguise parts of ourselves?

“I think clothing is such an integral part of our general iconography that it’s almost on a par with the paintings I work on. For example, I can paint from things I own or from the things around me, which will instantly give the viewer an idea of who I am as a person, as painting is such an honest and raw practice. Whereas clothing is more about the way it's used, and there is more room there for playing with authenticity and who you would like to portray yourself as.”

The playfulness is central to many emerging sustainable fashion trends, styling, layering, borrowing and reworking instead of replacing. It’s fashion as self-expression rather than consumption.

If you could turn one of your outfits into a painting, what would it look like?

“There would definitely be a lot of line work. I'm not very good at getting rid of clothes, particularly jeans, since that's what I work in, so there are always lots of fraying and loose threads. It would probably be a very messy painting.”

This is exactly why sustainable fashion is important: we don’t need brand new, just the need to restyle, layer, rework and reinterpret what we already have.

A lot of your work is about layers, paint or collage. Do you think that connects to the way we layer and restyle our clothes?

“Of course, for me, painting always starts with sketching, but even before that, I look at my surroundings and see what stories each object tells and how they interact with each other. It's a very layered approach, and these are also stories and memories held in garments, and they can be restyled or shaped to tell different stories altogether.”

How do you feel about secondhand shopping?

“It's great! Not only is it a lot more sustainable than buying new items. It's such a social activity, you can spend the whole day doing it, and you do meet a lot of great people. Even if you're using platforms like Vinted or Depop, it's easy to find sellers that you like shopping from. It can become second nature to look there before buying new from a big company.”

Whether it’s a swap with friends, a secondhand market or a platform like CloSh, it’s not just about the clothes, it’s about connection and finding your community. And that’s why sustainable fashion is important, it’s about culture, not just outfits.

Tell us about a time you’ve swapped clothes or borrowed clothes from someone.

“I’ve always been a big fan of borrowing or swapping clothes. I think the only thing that's ever made me dubious about it is the convenience. When I was living at home, I was always borrowing/stealing clothes (mainly bags from my mum or t-shirts from my dad). I remember it being such a bonding experience since he has a lot of film or music t-shirts. It would almost become something that I would do as a point of learning about these bands or films, which as I've grown up have become such an important piece of my identity. One which stands out is his Clash London calling t-shirt. I remember first seeing him in it when I was around ten and thinking, "Oh wow, this is so cool," and by around twelve I was obsessed with their music, which is one of our main points of conversation now; music. This is why I think it's so important to swap and share clothes, you gain so many stories and learn about new interests.”

If you could borrow a piece of clothing from anyone famous, who would it be and why?

“That's difficult; it would probably have to be Zoe Kravitz's long leather jacket from High Fidelity. It's just so timeless and easy to throw on over anything.”

Timelessness is at the core of sustainable fashion, it’s all about investing in pieces that last, grow with us and become a part of our identity.

You talk about objects holding memories. Do you have any specific pieces of clothing that feel like little time capsules?

“100%. I still have my first pair of Levi's Jeans that my mum bought me when I was fourteen. They obviously don't fit me anymore, but I remember it being such a special experience. They’re still the most expensive pair I own, I think, but it was about the experience of buying them at an age when I was really coming into my own style-wise. I looked up to a lot of people like Patti Smith and Alexa Chung, and the one thing they have in common is great jeans.”

If your wardrobe could tell a story, like one of your paintings, what would it say about who you are right now?

“I just moved to London over the summer so I actually had the perfect opportunity to go through my wardrobe. It would be messy and very demonstrative of one of the most transitional phases of my life so far, but still fun with staples that I always go back to.”

Sustainable fashion isn’t always just about helping the environment, but is essential to building culture, memories, identity and communities. This is where sustainable fashion trends are heading, making style personal and individual again.