Fishing for a brighter future with Isabelle Taylor

Using discarded fish skins donated by her local fishmonger, Isabelle constructs artful and inventive pieces that wouldn’t look out of place on the cover of a magazine or donned by one of fashion’s edgier stars like Julia Fox or Charli XCX. 

As well as succeeding in being visually striking and meticulously crafted, the resulting garments are an experiment in sustainability, offering the industry a low-impact alternative to the damaging practices rife today.

Every step of Isabelle’s process, from sourcing, to preparation to construction is done with sustainability at the forefront. Using fish skins that would have otherwise been discarded reduces waste and offers an alternative to the typical cow leather, that is linked to things like deforestation and high water consumption; or the so called “vegan” leather, which is really just repackaged plastic. “I wanted to pick a textile that I could work with day-to-day and have it be doing some good, not contributing to the problem,” she explained. 

These features are undoubtedly impressive, and a testament to Isabelle’s commitment to positive contribution in an industry wrought with issues, what made the biggest impression from our conversation was in fact her clear mindset and artistic attitude towards her practice. An attitude that flies in the face of the damaging yet all-too-familiar values held in the industry today. 

It led me to wonder: is a sustainable mindset just as important as a sustainable practice? 

As every follower of fashion knows, the fashion industry is without doubt one of the biggest players when it comes to climate change, known for its mass production, rapid trend cycles and copious waste products. As a result, I like many other enthusiasts, am always intrigued to see the steps that up and coming designers are taking to help make the future of the industry a brighter one. 

This is a quest that has brought us so many innovations over the years – an abundance of new materials and techniques designed to offer alternatives to the harmful practices that are the norm within the industry. A testament to the dedication of the next generation to pave the way for a brighter future. 

This leads us to the work of Isabelle Taylor, who I reached out to after coming across her work on TikTok, where she uses her ever-expanding platform to share her unique practice with the world.

When I asked Isabelle her intentions behind sharing her work online – whether she hoped to use her platform to help implement fish-leather as a more widespread alternative, she responded affirmatively, but shared her concerns that fashion’s track record made her apprehensive. “Knowing the industry, it would make it a negative thing,” she shrugged, “I can see it farming fish for skin, over-producing, making it in a really unsustainable way. It probably wouldn’t end up being a waste product, which is one of the biggest advantages.”

This is, of course, a valid concern, and one that is rooted in the destructive values held by the industry today. After all, how can you expect a sustainable technique to hold up in an industry that prioritises mass production and overconsumption above all else. 

What is often left unsaid, though is the effect that this overconsumption culture is having on the designers, who are increasingly under pressure to keep up with endless trend cycles that seem to speed up every day. The industry, being so intertwined with social media, celebrities and the influencers of the week, expects fast movement. What was cool today won’t be cool tomorrow. 

As a bit of a fashion fanatic, I too am guilty of the overexcitement. Often, after I see something I like, I want to ask “what’s next?” Which is exactly what I asked Isabelle. 

“I dont even know what I am doing today, let alone in the future, and I like it that way…” she said, “I have also recently realised that whenever something good happens to me, I always just want the next thing. There are things I used to dream of, and when I achieved them, I felt nothing.” 

It felt clear to me upon hearing that answer that despite the temptation and excitement of the new, we need to find a way to extend our enjoyment. We have seemingly become more comfortable with discussions about how we make our physical processes more sustainable, but it is about time we start talking about making our mindsets more sustainable too. 

Interestingly, Isabelle explained to me that she has taken a slower path with her masters, prioritising thoughtfulness and consideration over producing masses of garments – and it seems to have had a positive impact on her relationship to her work. “I have had lots of ups and downs mentally, and I have just realised that I cant base my worth on my work… I would only feel happy if I had achieved something, if I felt like I wasn’t working hard enough then I was a massive loser. It is such a such a stupid way of thinking. I think, finally, I have reached a point, after all these years, where I am happy.” 

Whether you’re a designer or a consumer, maybe we would all be happier if we slowed down a little. Took time to develop a connection with what we have instead of always wondering “what’s next?”