For Dona Lim, the drive to create a sustainable fashion line sprung from an eye-opening experience in one of the poorest communities in Manila. “When I first became aware, was when I visited a landfill in Tondo. I was dumbfounded seeing mountains of garbage and there was a community of people living right there. I started asking questions.”
Her initial response to this experience was to stop throwing away her clothes, forcing her to be more discerning with her purchases–staying away from trendy pieces and investing in classic and timeless ones. “For it to be timeless, it has to stand the test of time, so I started investing in more expensive but quality pieces which made me value clothes that are made of natural fibers because they do last longer. My personal journey made me see how difficult and expensive it is to find clothes that are natural, sustainable, well made, stylish, and affordable here, which eventually led me to creating a sustainable contemporary brand that is exactly that,” says Dona.
Dona’s collections are exactly as she envisioned them. Drawing inspiration from the environment and being sustainability-driven, her brand features timeless pieces that are classic and contemporary. Her focus is on using natural fibers, such as silk, silk cotton, and cashmere, as well as sustainable fabrics like bamboo, lyocell, recycled polyester (from plastic bottles), and recycled nylon.
The brand also uses recycled packaging. She directly works with companies that dedicate themselves to creating recycled fabrics and gathering data on their environmental impact. She then sews that information into the garments to spread awareness of sustainable fashion.
“We believe that aesthetics, sustainability, and comfort go hand in hand, and a beautiful garment should not destroy the planet,” says Dona. “We handcraft every piece with love. For us, a garment should transcend seasons and trends, and timelessness is one of our core values in the sense that each garment should be kept, [and] treasured for a long time.”
XOXO,
Your Fashion Bestie
Dona Lim is available at donalim.com and in pop-up stores announced via their Instagram.
