This week we sit down with New Yorker Mara Hoffman to find out how she turned her namesake brand into a sustainable fashion leader, what makes her tick - from astrology and to the inspirational beauty of Mother Earth, and being a mamma thinking about the next generation.
Ep 155, In Pursuit of Balance - Tim Jackson talks Post Growth, Life After Capitalism
Do we really believe that we can pursue infinite growth on a finite planet? Why would we even want to?
This week's guest is Tim Jackson, the ecological economist who wrote Post Growth, Life After Capitalism.
It's a very persuasive argument for a complete rethink of how we define success, and why we need a new type of economy, one that prioritises relationships and meaning, over profits and power. Tim sees this book as "both a manifesto for system change and an invitation to rekindle a deeper conversation about the nature of the human condition.” Sound good?
What that might look like practically? How could we get there? On this Episode, Tim and Clare discuss all this and more, from how advertising fuels overconsumption and why big companies are banking on green growth, to the future of work, what a single universal income could do for us, and even a bit of fashion – by way of an 18th century philosopher.
Ep 154, Cecilie Thorsmark - How to Make Fashion Week Sustainable, Copenhagen-Style
As fashion weeks return globally, Clare sits down with Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week to discuss their future. Discover how Thorsmark introduced pioneering new sustainability requirements as a condition of brands showing on the Danish runway, and what it takes to get the carbon footprint of an event like this down.
Ep 153, Hauls! Algorithms! Crazy Cheap! What Does Shein's Ultra Fast Model Mean for Sustainability?
And you thought Zara was fast fashion! Buckle up because new trends are landing daily if not hourly, as a new breed of online disruptor throws out thousands of styles a week to see what sticks. Brands like Boohoo, Pretty Little Thing and Fashion Nova are part of a new ultra-fast fashion era, but Shein is by far the biggest player.
Ep 152, Fashion Act Now - Is Time to DeFashion? (And What the Heck Does that Mean?)
You've probably heard about degrowth, which is: "a planned reduction of energy and resource use designed to bring the economy back into balance with the living world in a way that reduces inequality and improves human well-being." Is it time to apply such thinking more specifically to the fashion industry? What would that look like?
This Ep presents the ideas of a new fashion activist organisation called Fashion Act Now (FAN), born out of Extinction Rebellion. They are calling for "a radical defashion future" - their interpretation of: "the role fashion must play in degrowth. It is a transition to post-fashion clothing systems that are regenerative, local, fair, nurturing and sufficient for the needs of communities."
They argue that the current system - which they call Fashion with a capital 'F' - is not only environmentally unsustainable because it's addicted to overproduction, but, in its current form, morally bankrupt being built on oppression.
Ep 151, What's the Story with Recycled Polyester? Cyndi Rhoades from Worn Again Explains All
More than half of all the textiles use today are polyester. You will definitely have poly in your wardrobe, even if you prefer natural fibres. Synthetics are lurking everywhere, whether as polyester, nylon, or blends mixed with cotton. Poly is cheap, ubiquitous and it's not going away any time soon. It's also made from fossil fuels, doesn't biodegrade and most of it ends up as waste. This week’s guest Cyndi Rhoades from Worn Again explains the challenges, opportunities and processes behind textile-to-textile recycling.
Ep 150, Liz Ricketts - Waste Colonialism and Dead White Man's Clothes
Ep 149, Status, Self-Obsession, Mental Health and What's Really Controlling How We Act - Will Storr
EP 148, Inclusive, Purpose-Driven - the Future of Fashion According to Kenyan Designer Anyango Mping
Fashion weeks are about to roar back with a vengeance, although the pandemic and climate change are still with us. In 2021, the fashion industry seems determined to get back to business as usual. This week's guest, London-based Kenyan fashion designer Anyango Mpinga has other ideas. Digital presentations could change the game, she says, but that's just one piece of the puzzle - Fashion must find it's heart again.
In this inspiring conversation, Anyango talks purpose, service and giving back - and how, in Anyango's case, coming from a family of strong African women shaped her. The designer shares her advice for independents trying to be as sustainable as possible, and the broader industry that needs to do better on diversity and inclusion.
EP 147, How Eco-Friendly is Fashion Rental, Really?
Have you heard the one about throwing your clothes away being better for the planet than renting them? In this Episode, we get the real story on the study out of Finland that spawned so many clickbait headlines, then ask a British retail legend about what's driving the fashion rental boom. We hear from a purpose-driven millennial founder about what her company is doing to ensure rental really is a greener fashion option than buying new clothes; and learn the secrets of eco-friendly dry cleaning.