Model and climate activist Arizona Muse is on a mission to help clean up fashion’s dirty roots through her charity DIRT. We caught up with her to discuss regenerative farming on California’s Central Coast.
WHAT DOES THE WORD REGENERATION MEAN TO YOU?
Arizona: To me, regeneration is about healing and giving back more than we take. It’s a mindset that can affect the way we think, too. Thinking regeneratively is about nurturing the earth so that it can thrive, not just sustain itself. It means restoring ecosystems, replenishing soil health, and fostering biodiversity. It’s a hopeful concept—one that envisions a future where humanity works in harmony with nature rather than exploiting it.
HOW CAN BIODYNAMIC FARMING BE A SOLUTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE?
A: Biodynamic farming is a beautiful, holistic approach to agriculture. It treats the farm as a living organism, integrating crops, animals, and natural cycles. By focusing on soil health and biodiversity, biodynamic farming sequesters carbon and restores species-rich biodiversity to land, which both help mitigate climate change. Healthy soils act as carbon sinks, pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and storing it. Additionally, biodynamic farming eliminates the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. It’s farming with nature, not against it.
YOU LAUNCHED DIRT IN 2021. WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE CHARITY’S BIGGEST IMPACTS THUS FAR?
A: Demeter is the highest standard certifier for biodynamic farming, and through DIRT, we’re collaborating to develop new certification standards for textiles. Demeter Textile Standards will address the social and environmental impacts of fashion supply chains, from fiber production to final product. Our goal is to create a system where every step of textile production supports regeneration—improving soil health, protecting workers’ rights, and reducing harm to the planet. We are proud to have Faherty as a supporter in these efforts.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST SUSTAINABLE TEXTILES?
A: The most sustainable textiles come from regenerative agricultural systems and are dyed and processed without harmful chemicals. Our first Demeter Standard focused on dye, so we encourage everyone to request Demeter-certified dyes to ensure our clothes don’t harm the environment. Faherty’s regeneratively-grown Peruvian cotton is a great example of fibers that actively benefit the planet. Innovative materials like recycled textiles and fabrics made from agricultural waste also show promise, provided they avoid harmful chemicals, as they can reduce the demand for new materials.
HOW CAN CONSUMERS BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS WHEN IT COMES TO FASHION?
A: Start by asking questions about where your clothes come from and how they’re made. Buy second hand. Choose quality over quantity—buy fewer, better pieces that will last. Support brands that prioritize sustainability and transparency, and look for certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard). Don’t buy synthetic fibers which have a toxic story of creation shed microplastics. Finally, care for your clothes to extend their life—repair them, repurpose them, and, when you’re ready to part with them, donate or recycle responsibly.
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