Prince Charles and fashion, at first glance, might seem to be mutually exclusive. Well, no.
In his first Australian interview in five years, the 69-year-old royal’s interest in fashion – and sustainability – has been revealed.
In his interview with the Australian Financial Review Magazine Prince Charles focuses on sustainable fashion and the move away from synthetic fabric.
In the interview he’s given huge props to the Australian Wool industry – and talked about how the move away from wool has create an environmental catastrophe.
Recognising Prince Charles’ passion for wool as founder and Patron of ‘Campaign for Wool’ the AFR Magazine’s international fashion editor Marion Hume asked HRH: Why might Australians join you in this passion?
“Wool lasts, and as my campaign has demonstrated on many occasions, at the end of its life, it will biodegrade and enrich the soil in which it is buried,” Prince Charles said.
”Recent research has shown that it will even biodegrade in sea water. It also has remarkable resistance to fire, unlike man-made synthetic fibres which are highly flammable and made from fossil fuel!
“Australian wool growers across the nation enthusiastically supported the campaign in cash and in kind, and merino wool is now enjoying an unprecedented global revival, which gives me great pride.”
While Prince Charles may not seem like an obvious trendsetter in fashion, but Marion Hume said: “Prince Charles was far ahead of the curve when warning people about the negative impacts that synthetic fabrics have on the environment.
“He was one of the first fashion ‘influencers’ – one who used his platform to support conscious clothing made from sustainable fabrics.”
And it seems longevity is a consideration for the royal.
Speaking about his personal approach to fashion Prince Charles told Ms Hume: “I have always believed in trying to keep as many of my clothes and shoes going for as long as possible (some go back to 1971 and one jacket to 1969!) – through patches and repairs – and in this way I tend to be in fashion once every 25 years …”
“It is extraordinary how fashions change and, speaking as someone who, on the whole, hates throwing away things without finding another use for them or mending them, I couldn’t be more delighted if, at last, there is a growing awareness of the urgent need to get away from the ‘throwaway society’ and to move towards a more ‘circular economy’.”
- The Australian Financial Review Magazine’s fashion issue, also a Fairfax publication, is on sale this Friday.
