Fast Lane, Slow Fashion: Benita Robledo

Once an actress, this eco star is no longer acting. Real Deal Benita Robledo is an ethical fashion activist and influencer. Her passion is arming you with all the info you need to go out and create a more compassionate closet (and lifestyle) for yourself. She lives in Pennsylvania's Amish country, with her husband, three cats, and way too many books.

Today, she chats with AIW about being an influencer, tips for sustainable fashion designers, and the common sense of slowing down.

AIW: We first connected over Instagram when [Kelly] won a contest of yours in 2018. The contest was a collaboration with Known Supply, a sustainable clothing brand. Kell was ecstatic. You were incredibly kind and positive, and you became what has become a colloquial phrase, “Instagram friends.” How many other brands have you collaborated with and what difference have you seen that making? Where do you see your platform having the most impact?

BR: I’ve collaborated with a ton of brands at this point, ranging from one-person companies to huge brands like Samsonite. It’s been a fun mix!

The biggest impact has been in changing the perception of what ethical fashion looks like. It has this awful stigma of being unflattering, unsexy, and most definitely uncool. With all the new brands out there it’s now possible to shop ethically no matter what your style is. I’m proud to be a part of that shift.

As my thinking on ethical fashion has evolved, so has my platform. I now think it’s imperative for people to slow their rate of consumption, and now my Instagram focuses on how to get the most of what you already own.

AIW: You are an accomplished actress, and an incredible writer, who uses her platform as a force for social good. How did you get involved with sustainable fashion? How did you make the transition from acting?

BR: I was first introduced to the horrors of fast fashion about ten years ago when I read Overdressed by Elizabeth Cline. Since then, I’ve been working on my own ethical fashion journey (sometimes nailing it, sometimes not of course). It was only after being on Teen Wolf that I decided to share my journey with others. That show gave me an audience of young women that were paying attention to what I was saying—so I knew I had to make what I was saying count.

AIW: You founded the über informative Compassion Fashion blog/platform where you regularly have tough conversations about diversity in fashion (and sustainability) as well as socio-economic struggles faced by many which may make conscious shopping harder to do. You have collaborated and designed for brands, hosted pop-ups, and are what most would categorize as very in demand. What do you think is the solution to the aforementioned extremely pressing issues in both traditional and sustainable fashion? Do brands take your words seriously? Do they make changes based on what you say?

BR: I wish more brands took my words seriously, because then Forever 21 would’ve shuttered their operation years ago! I do have brands approach me for feedback on products or methods from time to time, and I am so honored by that. Making your brand ethically is hard (way harder than it should be), and I have a lot of respect for companies that are making a real effort to do things the right way rather than using the term “ethical” as a buzzword.

I don’t think there’s a silver bullet fix for everything that’s wrong with the garment industry. The supply chain is way too long for that! But there are a couple of things that would go a long way to solving some major issues. The biggest thing I’d say [to sustainable designers trying to change things] overall is: don’t try to be one of the big guys, because they’re the ones that messed it up in the first place. Instead, look to established independent designers like Mara Hoffman. They’re the ones who are going to thrive as the the market changes.

1. Companies need to let go of the idea that they have grow every quarter. Unchecked growth like that only comes at the cost of their workers and the planet. It’s ok to be a small but profitable brand.

2. Embrace technology as a way to cut down on waste. Digital printing, on-demand manufacturing, pre-ordering, etc. Nineteenth Amendment is a great example of this. You can blend the old ways (such as plant dying) with new technology (like pre-ordering through social media) and get the best of both worlds.

3. Get lean. Having as much of your production [as possible] in one area cuts down on your carbon footprint and allows for better quality control.

4. Educate your consumers on why you’re doing what you’re doing. If customers understand why you don’t put out a new collection every season they won’t get annoyed; they’ll champion you and in turn, create brand loyalty.

AIW: You recently made a cross-country move from Los Angeles to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. What has that been like for your career? For yourself? Is it challenging to find others in Lancaster that share your beliefs or do you see it as an exciting opportunity to educate and advocate?

BR: Moving to Lancaster has been a really interesting mixed bag. In some ways it feels like the place I should’ve moved to years ago. In other ways it’s still so foreign to me, [even] a year later. The stoic Germanic roots of Lancaster are about as far away from my Hispanic culture as you can get! However, that same culture has made it a hotbed of sustainable living. There are several boutiques, designers, and makers all focused on producing goods ethically. Lancaster has a long history of helping others and a strong appreciation of frugality and getting the most out of everything. Not everyone knows what "ethical fashion" or "sustainable living" is, but a lot of people have been doing it for most of their lives anyway. They just call it common sense.

AIW: Recently you were on an “Instagram Break.” Talk to us about this. Is privacy a concern of yours, is it the need to constantly post (even if it is about positive things?) overwhelming af? How do you manage it all?

BR: The need to constantly create content is draining af, and believe it or not I don’t actually love being in front of the camera. Yes, it’s a thing I can do, but I’d much rather be in the thick of things getting shit done. What people don’t realize is that being an influencer takes a lot of time. All told, each post of mine you see has cost me about 6 hours of my life. And for a while that was fine. But when we moved to Lancaster, my priorities shifted. I’m now a caregiver for a sick family member and I don’t have the time or emotional energy that I used to. While I love sharing things with my Instagram fam, I needed time to take care of myself. The struggles of having a family member with a terminal illness had taken a serious toll on me. I was pretty depressed and my OCD came back with a vengeance. I had nothing left in me and wasn’t about to fake it. Now that I’m back, I’m really enjoying treating Instagram less like a job and more as a hobby. It’s become fun again and I’m looking forward to seeing how this new attitude manifests on my page.