Ropa Nunca Muere: Clothes Lasts Forever

An indigenous celebration intersects with fashion through a dream. Listening to the ancestral wisdom to take better care of Mother Earth. Fashion being one of the top pollutants of our planet, they ask us to choose wisely what we wear. Wear our values. The capitalist mindset has never been the indigenous way. Questioning us what it means to us over consuming fashion. As clothes never die, it just goes to rest in a landfill.

Clementina Martinez-Masarweh

Clementina Martinez-Masarweh was born in Merced, California. She is a first generation Mexican-American filmmaker. Her parents worked as farm laborers and she lived in a migrant camp as a child. Occasionally, working alongside her brothers on agricultural fields during school breaks.

Clementina always used her imagination in telling stories in everything she got involved with. Using storytelling in fashion or in film. With over 20 years experience as a fashion designer, she saw first hand the detrimental effects the fashion industry was creating. This led her to focus only on sustainable fashion. As a visionary, she also noticed there were not many conversations on climate solutions and climate action at the time. She then pivoted to writing stories for films that would motivate and inspire others to join the climate change movement. Her first film “Vida Vert” was produced in 2020 during the first pandemic lockdown. Working with director Theo Michel. The film demonstrates the unhealthy practices of the fashion industries and inspires others to take action. This then led her to outline the “Upcyclers” story. Working with Roxana Chapela, the director. Upcyclers: Fashion’s Climate Frontliners film is currently nominated for best short documentary and best editing.

Going forward she has many stories outlined that intersect with the environment, fashion and climate change. She looks forward to getting funding for these films to get produced. She hopes to see more support for Latina filmmakers as herself.

Clementina also utilizes her voice with education in sustainability via a podcast for The Raine School. Along with advocating for garment workers through the Garment Workers Center in Los Angeles for equality. She also enjoys representing and collaborating with organizations like Slow Fashion Movement, Citizens Climate, SFSFWI, Fashion Revolution and Remake to name a few.

Clementina’s work has been featured on NYC Times Square billboard, No Kill Magazine, PAGE Magazine, HYPHENOVA Film Festival, Golden Gate Xpress, Impact Fashion NYFW, Clean Beauty Kit, San Francisco Sustainable Fashion Week International, Earth Day Summit Los Angeles, East Bay Economic Development Alliance and more.