Nina Ambasna is a politics student and fashion model based in London. She has been featured in Vogue India and Marie Claire UK, and has especially enjoyed collaborating with sustainable brands such as Kalissi Vienna, Maison Bent and L Saha. Alongside modelling, she has had featured acting roles with the BBC and Channel 4. Nina follows a vegan diet, and advocates for animal rights and environmental issues, aiming to spread more
awareness and educate others. In her spare time, you can find Nina in a fitness class, out for drinks with her friends, or cooking up new vegan recipes.
Nina was recently a participant of the Noctis x Garment Streak slow fashion week, taking one item of clothing and styling it in five ways to encourage sustainable fashion and help break the negative taboo of wearing the same thing multiple times. #NoShameWearingTheSame
We asked Nina about her experience taking the challenge and her thoughts on the fast fashion industry.
Do you remember when or how you first became conscious of the connection between fast fashion and climate change?
I saw a post shared on instagram which outlined the environmental impacts of the major fast fashion brands in the UK, such as the clothes being made from non-biodegradable fabric which can sit in landfills for decades. I realised that, despite my plant based diet, I was still massively contributing to climate change through my fast fashion shopping habits.
I consequently decided that I needed to educate myself on the issues surrounding fast fashion and make a change.
What positive role do you think public figures and influencers could have in the fight against fast fashion and climate change generally?
I think that public figures should spread awareness of the issues surrounding fast fashion, and aim to pressure fast fashion retailers to become more sustainable – for example through the use of environmentally friendly materials, and producing less clothing collections each year. Influencers could also normalise re-wearing outfits, and buying
second-hand, for example from ‘Depop’ or charity shops.
What has it felt like for you to be seen on Instagram wearing one item of clothing multiple times?
I have felt self-conscious, especially with so many fashion influencers wearing a completely different outfit in each post, and seeing female celebrities ‘called out’ in the media for wearing the same thing twice. I have also felt the pressure to keep up with fashion trends, and as a student I have in the past turned to fast fashion, as it’s affordable and enables you to stay on trend. But since learning the cost to the environment I have used Depop regularly, rather than buying directly from a fast fashion retailer.
Besides performing in the Garment Streak, what else should we know about you or what you are doing? Any new work or projects coming up?
Hopefully you will see me modelling for a variety of designers at London Fashion week, but it’s not yet known if it will take place in September due to the impact of coronavirus. I also have a couple of look-books shoots coming up (socially distanced of course), and I am hoping to book more shoots as the modelling industry picks up pace again.