Shae Barnes
Model
My personal journey in life today is all about living a life of connection, experience, creativity and making the most of every opportunity given, and to just enjoy this wonderful gift of life.
I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was three years old. When I was 17, my doctor prescribed medication to me that I found out I was highly allergic to. I went into anaphylactic shock, and there were a few moments when my heart had stopped. Luckily, my parents got me to a hospital in time, and the doctors were able to save me, but they were worried about brain damage and the longevity of my life with this condition.
I spent a few months admitted to multiple hospitals and epilepsy clinics. During that time, I was extremely depressed. I was self-harming to control some of the pain, and I was suicidal because I felt like giving up.
It was hard to come to terms with the fact that I will live with this problem for the rest of my life, but I had to keep telling myself that I needed to get better because I have so much I want to see and do. I needed to see my little brother grow up, I needed to see the world, and I needed the world to see and know me!
This was a major defining moment in my life. I overcame so much in those years after that no matter what happens now, it’s easy breezy! I always think to myself, “I died! And came back, the universe must have had a reason for that. Keep on going girl! You got this.”
What does sustainability mean to you?
Sustainability is a vital part of our future survival. We are mindlessly consuming and throwing away, to the point where we are covering the earth in our leftovers. We need to start reusing what we already have and stop making more. My favourite quote, which has stuck with me, is "Mother Earth is a source of life, not a resource" - Chief Arvol Looking Horse.
As a model, what do you love about your industry, and what changes would you still like to see?
My favourite part of the fashion industry is the self-expression and creativity of dressing oneself. I love how humans have become chameleons, able to change our appearances for certain environments, events or moods. I do wish that fashionistas would stop being so judgmental about what's fashionable and what's not. I wish that if something's out of season, people would still wear the old clothes! Maybe dye them or cut them, draw on them, experiment with new ways to improve what they have, and not buy a whole new wardrobe every season!
How much of the weight of trying to protect the planet should be on the individual - what specific things do you try to be aware of yourself? What can we do as individuals, and where should the government and companies take responsibility?
When I think about my individual carbon footprint, I feel extremely intimidated, as I'm sure most of us do. But I believe that the small efforts we make will add up if each individual does their best to be sustainable in small ways. In my opinion, governments and companies hold the bulk of the responsibility. But those are still individuals at the end of the day making these decisions. They need to stop thinking about money and start thinking about what's more important - the survival of our home, Mother Earth.
As individuals, we need to vote for governments that want to be better, not use companies that are mass-producing or having a negative impact on the environment. It's really up to every single person on this planet to be better, to think about their impact. As humans, we are powerful when we are united. If we all work together and make changes, we will be able to save the climate crisis and every single life that shares our home with us.
In your opinion, what are some good ways of slowing down our approach to consumption? Where can we refocus and rethink in terms of our modern lifestyle?
The biggest challenge facing modern society is the prevalent mindset of living a lavish lifestyle. We all aspire to live like the Kardashians, wearing a new outfit every day, jetting off to exotic destinations, and buying more than we need. This lifestyle has been glorified for decades, and it's what most people strive for. If we could make a minimalist lifestyle more fashionable, it could make a significant difference.
We would love to hear more about your approach to fashion, wardrobe, and style.
My approach to fashion is primarily self-expression. I've always been the odd one out since I was a kid. I don't follow trends or try to look like everyone else. I love taking something dull and making it unique and interesting. (Yes, my mom used to scold me a lot for cutting up my clothes, but it was worth it!) I want to wear something that will make you take a second look when I walk past you. I adore the freedom of nonconformity and finding something so rare that no one else has it.
Is there a garment in your wardrobe that is of special importance to you, or that has an interesting story you would like to share?
A while ago, I was given an old denim Levi's jacket. It was nice and comfortable, but I found it extremely dull. I wanted to make it something special, something unique. My best friend @hausmayhem took this opportunity and got to work. She screen-printed an incredible skeleton on the back, hand-stitched "what r u lookin at?" on the back, added some red and yellow stitching to the seams, and voila! My favourite piece of clothing was reborn. She completely transformed it, turning it from a hand-me-down jacket to a wearable art piece.
Photographed by @alexbramall with illustrations by @shae.barnes
Styled by @nataliewj
Make-up by @karinaconstantine
Lighting @mfurlonger
Digital @bobjamesself
Styling assistant @imanebenbetka
Shot at @drop__studios