Conscious Style Podcast

Fashion has a major waste crisis. Circularity — along with slowing down production — can be an antidote, if done right. But what does real circular fashion look like in practice? What would it look like to have a true systems approach to circular design and circular fashion?

Today Stella is interviewing Carmen Gama, the Director of Circular Design at Eileen Fisher, which is a company that has been leading the way on many circular fashion practices. Carmen Gama also founded a B2B circular service called MAKE ANEEW which you'll hear a lot about in this episode.

Carmen Gama shares what circular design means in practice and how brands can create their own post consumer waste reduction supply chains.

If you're curious to hear more about what it's like to be a circular designer, and how you might be able to explore this career path, you can read a Conscious Career Chat with Carmen on Conscious Fashion Collective

Also in this episode, we are continuing with our Green or Greenwashing series. This week, on the theme of circularity, Stella and I are unpacking the claims around recycled polyester. Very curious to hear your takes on this controversial fabric as well over on Instagram!

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EPISODE SPONSORS:

Brook There

Brook There creates organic cotton bralettes, underwear, and slip dresses ethically cut and sewn by their team in Massachusetts. Their GOTS-certified organic cotton is even milled and dyed domestically in the US too.

Brook There has a beautiful range of colorways — from ballet pink to bright orange to versatile neutrals, which are all colored using low-impact fiber reactive dyes.

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The Rounds

Looking for the convenience of grocery and product delivery to your doorstep, but not a fan of the wasteful packaging? Enter in: The Rounds.

This closed loop, two-way logistics network offers a zero waste delivery process by delivering your essentials with refillable containers in a reusable tote bag and picking up the empties for you — mostly by e-bike — to clean and reuse them.

See if The Rounds is offering services near you or get on their waitlist.

Use the code CONSCIOUSLIFE to get 1 month free and $10 off your first order!

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SHOW NOTES:

https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/circular-fashion-design

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CONNECT WITH CONSCIOUS STYLE:

📧Newsletter: https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/edit

🌐Website: consciouslifeandstyle.com

📸 Instagram: @consciousstyle

📹 YouTube: @consciouslifeandstyle

📌 Pinterest: @consciouslifeandstyle

Elizabeth speaks with Ayesha Barenblat, CEO of the global advocacy nonprofit organization Remake about the 10th Anniversary of the Rana Plaza Factory Collapse in Bangladesh to discuss what has changed in fashion since — and what has not.

They talk about the impact of the Bangladesh Accord on Fire & Building Safety, what's next for the Accord 10 years on, and how Remake is continuing to hold brands accountable.

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Also in this episode, we're introducing our Green or Greenwashing segment where we (Elizabeth and Stella) share our thoughts on if a sustainability claim in the fashion industry is green or greenwashing.

This week, we explore the decision of an online resale platform to ban fast fashion from their site. Should resale sites really ban fast fashion? We'd love to hear your thoughts over on Instagram!

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EPISODE SPONSORS:

Brook There

Brook There creates organic cotton bralettes, underwear, and slip dresses ethically cut and sewn by their team in Massachusetts. Their GOTS-certified organic cotton is even milled and dyed domestically in the US too.

Brook There has a beautiful range of colorways — from ballet pink to bright orange to versatile neutrals, which are all colored using low-impact fiber reactive dyes.

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Bounce Market

If you're looking for a sustainable — yet affordable — option for kids clothing that doesn't sacrifice quality or style then you'll want to check out the kids resale store, Bounce Mkt. This online (and in-person) store is a hub for gently used children's clothing.

As a children's resale store, Bounce Mkt makes selling your kids' gently used clothes and shoes and finding preloved kids items super simple.

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SHOW NOTES:

https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/rana-plaza-10th-anniversary

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RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• EP11. Fashion Activism: It’s Time for Brands to #PayUp with Ayesha Barenblat
• Pakistan Accord Brand Tracker
• #SignTheAccordPetition
• Vestiaire Collective's fast fashion ban announcement

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CONNECT WITH REMAKE & AYESHA:

🌐 Website: https://remake.world/

📸 Instagram: @remakeourworld

🐦 Twitter: @remakeourworld

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CONNECT WITH CONSCIOUS STYLE:

📧Newsletter: https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/edit

🌐Website: consciouslifeandstyle.com

📸 Instagram: @consciousstyle

📹 YouTube: @consciouslifeandstyle

📌 Pinterest: @consciouslifeandstyle

How can we make sustainable fashion more culturally and politically relevant? Fashion's environmental and social impact often gets overlooked by the climate movement and by governments, though this is slowly starting to change.

Similarly, the conversations around sustainable fashion don't often feel aligned with mainstream media and culture. But there is a massive opportunity to harness the power of mass media and celebrities or artistic talent, to drive change in the industry.

In this episode, Stella interviews Samata Pattinson, CEO of RCGD Global — formerly Red Carpet Green Dress — to explore how we can drive the sustainable fashion conversation forward and expand it to wider audiences.

Samata also shares how she brought in fashion to decision-making spaces at COP27, what role celebrities play in the sustainable fashion movement, and more

I found this conversation super inspiring, and it was a reminder that each of us, every single one of us — belongs in this movement, and has a unique place here.

P.S. If you're searching for where you might fit in in the movement through your career, I'd definitely recommend checking out our free ebook on Conscious Fashion Collective on 101 Careers in Sustainable Fashion.

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EPISODE SPONSORS

Passion Lilie

Fair trade fashion brand Passion Lilie partners with 5 different artisan groups in India to create their beautifully printed dresses, jumpsuits, and a variety of other clothing and accessories.

As a Fair Trade Federation member, Passion Lilie ensures that their partners are paying living wages to their makers, offering a safe and healthy work environment, and are investing in the overall wellbeing of the artisans. The brand also uses durable natural fibers and non-toxic dyes for their collections.

Conscious Fashion Collective Job Board

Want to start or grow a career in sustainable fashion? Find your next career opportunity on Conscious Fashion Collective's Job Board. (Or if you are hiring, submit your job opening!)

You can also sign up for the Conscious Fashion Collective job newsletter to get career opportunities delivered to your inbox, plus upcoming events.

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SHOW NOTES

https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/samata-pattinson

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RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Free Ebook: 101 Careers In Sustainable Fashion
• Podcast Ep.55 How To Challenge Cultural Misappropriation with Monica Boța-Moisin
• Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa
• Africa Earth Jurisprudence Movement
• Sindiso Khumalo
• Lukhanyo Mdingi

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CONNECT WITH RCGD GLOBAL & SAMATA:

🌐 Website: https://www.rcgdglobal.com/

📸 Instagram: @redcarpetgreendress

📸 Instagram: @iam_samata

📱 Tiktok: @rcgdglobal

👍 Facebook: @RCGDGlobal

🐦 Twitter: @RedCarpetGreenD

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CONNECT WITH CONSCIOUS STYLE:

📧Newsletter: https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/edit

🌐Website: consciouslifeandstyle.com

📸 Instagram: @consciousstyle

📹 YouTube: @consciouslifeandstyle

📌 Pinterest: @consciouslifeandstyle

The fashion industry has an outsized carbon footprint. But many fashion brands have been making promising statements about their carbon emissions reduction or carbon neutrality goals.

How does the actual progress and supply chain action match up to these goals, though? It can, frankly, be difficult to discern.

But in today's episode, we're going to unravel the tangled web of confusing greenwashing and claims and dig into the nitty gritty of where fashion actually stands on climate action today.

I (Elizabeth here!) spoke with Rachel and Erdene of the climate and environmental advocacy organization Stand.Earth. The team at Stand just released their 2023 Fossil Free Fashion Scorecard, ranking 43 influential fashion brands on their progress towards decarbonization in their supply chain.

In this episode, we talk about this scorecard, discuss where fashion stands now on climate action, and what brands need to do in order to reach their climate goals.

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THIS EPISODE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

Passion Lilie

Fair trade fashion brand Passion Lilie partners with 5 different artisan groups in India to create their beautifully printed dresses, jumpsuits, and a variety of other clothing and accessories.

As a Fair Trade Federation member, Passion Lilie ensures that their partners are paying living wages to their makers, offering a safe and healthy work environment, and are investing in the overall wellbeing of the artisans. The brand also uses durable natural fibers and non-toxic dyes for their collections.

***

Conscious Fashion Collective Job Board

Want to start or grow a career in sustainable fashion? Find your next career opportunity on Conscious Fashion Collective's Job Board. (Or if you are hiring, submit your job opening!)

You can also sign up for the Conscious Fashion Collective job newsletter to get career opportunities delivered to your inbox, plus upcoming events.

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SHOW NOTES

https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/stand-earth-fossil-free-fashion

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TRANCRIPT:

https://conscious-style-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/80-where-does-fashion-stand-on-climate-progress-rachel-erdene-of-standearth

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CONNECT WITH STAND.EARTH:

🌐 Website: https://stand.earth/

📸 Instagram: @stand.earth

💻 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/stand.earth/

👍 Facebook: @stand.earth

🐦 Twitter: @standearth

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CONNECT WITH CONSCIOUS STYLE:

📧Newsletter: https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/edit

🌐Website: consciouslifeandstyle.com

📸 Instagram: @consciousstyle

📹 YouTube: @consciouslifeandstyle

📌 Pinterest: @consciouslifeandstyle

In recent years, there's been an exciting increase in sustainable fashion legislation and reforms working to clean up this industry — from garment worker protections against wage theft to supply chain due diligence to greenwashing enforcement.

In today's episode, Stella interviews author, educator and activist Elizabeth Cline to dive into all things fashion legislation: historical context, what's going on now, why it matters, and how you can get involved. Plus hear about:

+ Why we need to move away from the binary of individual versus collective action

+ How historic changes in the law have influenced the fashion industry

+ The role of fashion legislation in creating a more equitable fashion future

+ And how investing in the lives of garment workers is part of the overlooked solution to fashion's climate impact

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SHOW NOTES

https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/elizabeth-cline

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CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH CLINE:

🌐 Website: www.elizabethclinebooks.com

📸 Instagram: @elizabethlcline

🐦 Twitter: @elizabethlcline

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CONNECT WITH CONSCIOUS STYLE:

📧Newsletter: https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/edit

🌐Website: consciouslifeandstyle.com

📸 Instagram: @consciousstyle

📹 YouTube: @consciouslifeandstyle

📌 Pinterest: @consciouslifeandstyle

Right now, are you dressing for the person you are, the person you fear, or the person you want to be?

Not even sure how to answer that question?

Today's guest — fashion psychologist Shakaila Forbes-Bell — is breaking it all down for us. Shakaila wrote the book Big Dress Energy and in this episode she's talking about how you can harness your own big dress energy and dress for your best self.

We're also talking about:

• The chemical warfare we're up against when shopping
• How we can make more mindful purchasing decisions
• What the endowment effect is and how it can reduce fashion waste
• Plus how you can do a wardrobe ethnography

(P.S. Shakaila was on the show before too in episode 24 discussing the psychology behind what and why we buy!)

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EPISODE SPONSORS

Wearwell

wearwell is your destination for finding vetted sustainable and slow fashion brands that suit your personal style.

Whether your style leans minimalist or maximalist, preppy or rocker chic, classic or bold, or you just love your basics and athleisure, you'll want to check out online conscious marketplace, wearwell at shopwearwell.com. (You can use the code CONSCIOUS20 for 20% off your first order.)

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Conscious Fashion Collective Job Board

Want to start or grow a career in sustainable fashion? Find your next career opportunity on Conscious Fashion Collective's Job Board. (Or if you are hiring, submit your job opening!)

You can also sign up for the Conscious Fashion Collective job newsletter to get career opportunities delivered to your inbox, plus upcoming events.

***

SHOW NOTES

https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/shakaila-forbes-bell-big-dress-energy

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CONNECT WITH SHAKAILA:

🌐 Website: fashionispsychology.com

📸 Instagram: @shakailaelise

📗 Book: Big Dress Energy : How Fashion Psychology Can Transform Your Wardrobe and Your Confidence

🎙️ Podcast: Big Dress Energy: The Podcast

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CONNECT WITH CONSCIOUS STYLE:

📧Newsletter: https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/edit

🌐Website: consciouslifeandstyle.com

📸 Instagram: @consciousstyle

📹 YouTube: @consciouslifeandstyle

📌 Pinterest: @consciouslifeandstyle

How can we cultivate our authentic personal style in a trend-focused, overconsumption-driven world? What would it mean to truly democratize fashion — as in not the fast fashion co-opted use of the term, but genuine style democracy?

And how can fashion move beyond using diversity as a buzzword to create a holistically inclusive and intersectional sustainable fashion future?

In this episode, Stella Hertantyo is interviewing ethical stylist Natalie Shehata to explore all of these questions and more.

(P.S. Stella also interviewed Natalie for a piece on Conscious Fashion Collective about how to become a sustainable stylist!)

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SHOW NOTES

https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/natalie-shehata-ethical-stylist

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EPISODE SPONSORS

Wearwell

wearwell is your destination for finding vetted sustainable and slow fashion brands that suit your personal style.

Whether your style leans minimalist or maximalist, preppy or rocker chic, classic or bold, or you just love your basics and athleisure, you'll want to check out online conscious marketplace, wearwell at shopwearwell.com. (You can use the code CONSCIOUS20 for 20% off your first order.)

***

Conscious Fashion Collective Job Board

Want to start or grow a career in sustainable fashion? Find your next career opportunity on Conscious Fashion Collective's Job Board. (Or if you are hiring, submit your job opening!)

You can also sign up for the Conscious Fashion Collective job newsletter to get career opportunities delivered to your inbox, plus upcoming events.

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CONNECT WITH NATALIE:

🌐 Website: www.natalie-shehata.com

📸 Instagram: @nattystylist

🌐 tommie Magazine

📸 Instagram: @tommiemag

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CONNECT WITH CONSCIOUS STYLE:

📧Newsletter: https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/edit

🌐Website: consciouslifeandstyle.com

📸 Instagram: @consciousstyle

📹 YouTube: @consciouslifeandstyle

📌 Pinterest: @consciouslifeandstyle

Have you ever felt like you're stuck on a fashion trend-mill? That the process of getting dressed is more frustrating than it is creative or joyful? That you're unsure what to wear so you just default to what's trending? I've been there!

But in this episode, Nina Gbor of Eco Styles is sharing:

• The process of self knowledge when it comes to personal style,
• Her personal style formula for finally getting off that fashion trend-mill
• How the ever faster moving trend cycle leads to such immense levels of textile waste,
• And the realities and multi-layered impacts of waste colonialism.

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EPISODE SPONSORS

Wearwell

wearwell is your destination for finding vetted sustainable and slow fashion brands that suit your personal style.

Whether your style leans minimalist or maximalist, preppy or rocker chic, classic or bold, or you just love your basics and athleisure, you'll want to check out online conscious marketplace, wearwell at shopwearwell.com. (You can use the code CONSCIOUS20 for 20% off your first order.)

***

Conscious Fashion Collective Job Board

Want to start or grow a career in sustainable fashion? Find your next career opportunity on Conscious Fashion Collective's Job Board. (Or if you are hiring, submit your job opening!)

You can also sign up for the Conscious Fashion Collective job newsletter to get career opportunities delivered to your inbox, plus upcoming events.

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SHOW NOTES:

https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/nina-gbor-fashion-trendmill

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CONNECT WITH NINA GBOR:

🌐 Website: www.ecostyles.com.au

📸 Instagram: @eco.styles

👍🏻Facebook: @eco.styles.au

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CONNECT WITH CONSCIOUS STYLE:

📧Newsletter: consciouslifeandstyle.com/edit

🌐Website: consciouslifeandstyle.com

📸 Instagram: @consciousstyle

📹 YouTube: @consciouslifeandstyle

📌 Pinterest: @consciouslifeandstyle

In this episode, Stella Hertantyo interviews fashion analyst and trend forecaster Mandy Lee (who you might know as @oldloserinbrooklyn on social media)to explore:

+ Fashion trends and the trend cycle,

+ The role of trend forecasters,

+ What microtrends and niche trends are,

+ How to find amazing secondhand gems,

+ The dynamic between following trends and finding your personal style,

and so much more!

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EPISODE SPONSORS:

Wearwell

wearwell is your destination for finding vetted sustainable and slow fashion brands that suit your personal style.

Whether your style leans minimalist or maximalist, preppy or rocker chic, classic or bold, or you just love your basics and athleisure, you'll want to check out online conscious marketplace, wearwell at shopwearwell.com. (You can use the code CONSCIOUS20 for 20% off your first order.)

***

Conscious Fashion Collective Job Board

Want to start or grow a career in sustainable fashion? Find your next career opportunity on Conscious Fashion Collective's Job Board. (Or if you are hiring, submit your job opening!)

You can also sign up for the Conscious Fashion Collective job newsletter to get career opportunities delivered to your inbox, plus upcoming events.

***

SHOW NOTES:

https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/mandy-lee-trend-forecaster

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RESOURCES & EPISODES MENTIONED:

• [Article] My Trend Videos Are Viral on TikTok—Here Are 5 Trends I Think Will Last
• EP24. The Fascinating Psychology Behind Fashion and Consumption with Shakaila Forbes-Bell
• EP17. More Creativity, Less Consumption: Sustainable Stylist Tips from Alyssa Beltempo

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CONNECT WITH MANDY LEE:

📸 Instagram: @oldloserinbrooklyn

📱Tiktok: @oldloserinbrooklyn

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CONNECT WITH CONSCIOUS STYLE:

📧Newsletter: https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/edit

🌐Website: consciouslifeandstyle.com

📸 Instagram: @consciousstyle

📹 YouTube: @consciouslifeandstyle

📌 Pinterest: @consciouslifeandstyle

Sustainably-minded stylist Sophie Strauss shares advice on how to do a responsible closet audit.

Plus Sophie and I discuss:

• What even is personal style in the first place?
• Do you need to have a go-to personal uniform?
• Can we (and should we) still participate in trends if we're dressing for our personal style?
• How can we balance experimentation with understanding our personal style?

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EPISODE SPONSORS

Wearwell

wearwell is your destination for finding vetted sustainable and slow fashion brands that suit your personal style.

Whether your style leans minimalist or maximalist, preppy or rocker chic, classic or bold, or you just love your basics and athleisure, you'll want to check out online conscious marketplace, wearwell at shopwearwell.com. (You can use the code CONSCIOUS20 for 20% off your first order.)

***

Conscious Fashion Collective Job Board

Want to start or grow a career in sustainable fashion? Find your next career opportunity on Conscious Fashion Collective's Job Board. (Or if you are hiring, submit your job opening!)

You can also sign up for the Conscious Fashion Collective job newsletter to get career opportunities delivered to your inbox, plus upcoming events.

***

SHOW NOTES:

https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/sophie-strauss-personal-stylist

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CONNECT WITH SOPHIE STRAUSS:

🌐 Website www.sophiestraussstyling.com

📸 Instagram: @sophiestraussstyling

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CONNECT WITH CONSCIOUS STYLE:

📧Newsletter: https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/edit

🌐Website: consciouslifeandstyle.com

📸 Instagram: @consciousstyle

📹 YouTube: @consciouslifeandstyle

📌 Pinterest: @consciouslifeandstyle