Marie Nasemann: Sustainable fashion for everyone

Marie Nasemann was a normal model before she decided to do it differently. She spoke to BE GREEN about whether green consumption is not just consumption – and where it has buckled since Corona.

INTERVIEW Alexandra Zykunov

Marie, you've been mom for half a year. How are your nights right now?

Marie Nasemann: Wild! When I have a shoot, my boyfriend and I take turns with the nights, that makes it more bearable (laughs).

You work freelance, your boyfriend is on parental leave. Such a distribution of roles is still a big exception today.

Total! Our model is rare. He works in a large law firm that a man takes a year of parental leave did not exist there yet. Because we both take on care work and have realized that it is more exhausting than working at work, we can both appreciate it more when the other takes care of the baby all day alone.

You live sustainably, but let's be honest: where have you collapsed since the pandemic?

Corona has not changed much for me in terms of sustainability. However, the offspring had a few negative effects on my ecological footprint: We failed because of the cloth diapers and I have so many things to think about when I leave the house that I keep forgetting my to-go cup. I was already able to do it so well!

Not afraid of shit storms?

I am not hiding anything. For example when I fly to a friend in London. Nobody is perfect and therefore nobody needs perfect role models, but more authentic ones who show how you can live more sustainably and where you sometimes fail.

You work as a model and at the same time rebel against the fashion world. How does that fit together?

I still remember sitting in front of the TV in 2013, the Rana Plaza textile factory collapsed, I saw the pictures of the corpses, of the weeping men who mourned their wives. I knew that as a model I could not fuel this madness with cheap fashion and new trends. And not only did I get a lot of equipment, but also went shopping and had five multi-door wardrobes full of clothes! The broadcast was the moment I said: There is no way it will go on like this.

Did you give notice to all clients afterwards?

I couldn't do that so quickly because I was financially dependent on the orders. It was a long process. I became more and more concerned with the topic, wrote to fair labels whether they would like to equip me for the red carpet, and founded my blog "fairknallt.de" about fair fashion. And then at some point the right jobs came in.

But isn't green consumption also consumption in the end?

Our economic system is based on consumption. I think people will always want to represent and position themselves through fashion. So if they buy anyway, they'd better buy green products. Nevertheless, I very much hope that there will soon be a world in which a few rich people, that is, we, do not live in abundance and very many others have nothing at all.

Your blog doesn't prevent millions from running to the usual chains again tomorrow. What are you answering?

It's like the argument: why should we separate rubbish when it's supposed to be thrown on the streets in India anyway? Something like that annoys me! It just doesn't make sense to compare yourself, because it's always a question of what kind of environment you're born into. If your family always flies to Mallorca, you don't want to be the only one who says, "I won't come with you and go hiking in Saxon Switzerland". You should just be honest with yourself: what can I do myself, where am I willing to accept restrictions?

That means you don't try to proselytize others?

No, I don't want to teach, but to arouse curiosity. Most of them already know what they're doing wrong. Nobody can say today that they did not know how badly the climate is polluted. When people are interested in fair fashion and ask, "Where can I get the fair winter jacket?", I write in detail, I name labels. But the incentive must come from them. It's a bit like therapy: you have to want to change something yourself.

Do you think that we can get out of this safe?

I actually believe that! The climate crisis is currently mainly affecting the global south – in my opinion, the willingness in rich countries to really change something is still not great. I guess we won't be ready to change anything until we are really upset here. Then the biggest changes and restrictions go very quickly, as has now been seen with the pandemic.

Where does so much optimism come from?

People want to live. And they also want their children and grandchildren to live. In the end, a selfish urge to survive will flip the switch.

Would you like to read more about the topic and exchange ideas with other women? Then take a look at the BRIGITTE community's "Fashion Forum" past!

In BE GREEN, the new BRIGITTE sustainability magazine, you can read the exclusive interview with Greenfluencer Marie Nasemann: "I don't want to fuel the fashion madness anymore"

© Brigitte

BRIGITTE BE GREEN 02/2020