I'm so excited to be bringing you this special edition episode featuring the recording of our LIVE panel discussion in Chicago with Chicago Fair Trade and 3 of their business members. This was such a fun event to uncover the powerful stories behind these purpose-driven founders in Chicago and what ethically-made and sustainably-made mean in practice. 

We've all seen words like "sustainable" become buzzwords by Big Fashion, but what does it actually look like to do the work to ensure fair employment, responsible sourcing, and mindful production? This was an ongoing theme throughout the panel — each of these founders' ideas of sustainability was distinct and yet overlapped.

Pushpika Freitas, founder of Marketplace Handwork of India, told the story of partnering with artisans in India to create truly fair trade fashion; Jamie Hayes, founder of Production Mode, discussed what it really takes to produce ethically in the US today (hint: "made in the US" does NOT automatically equal ethical); and Vanessa Arroyo shared how her heritage and 15+ years in fashion helped her build an authentic, ethical footwear brand.

 

🌿 CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTS:

 * Pushpika | Marketplace Handwork of India: marketplaceindia.com [https://www.marketplaceindia.com/]
 * Jamie | Production Mode: productionmodechicago.com [https://www.productionmodechicago.com/]
 * Vanessa | SERES: seresfootwear.com [https://seresfootwear.com/]
 * Chicago Fair Trade: chicagofairtrade.org [https://chicagofairtrade.org/]

🧵 CONNECT WITH CONSCIOUS STYLE:

 * Website [https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/]
 * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/consciousstyle/]
 * Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/consciouslifeandstyle/]

📧 JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER:

consciouslifeandstyle.com/subscribe [https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/subscribe/]

💚 JOIN THE CFC MEMBERSHIP:

consciousfashion.co/community [https://consciousfashion.co/community]

 

 

110) "Sustainability is Not Just a Buzzword" | LIVE Panel Recording

Fashion is rarely focused on fixing real problems for real people. But what if slow fashion did things differently? 

The thoughtfulness and attention to quality that is embedded into the slow fashion movement can be harnessed to make genuinely better products that make these options a no-brainer IF brands understand the true needs of their customer.

In this episode, you'll hear from Karen Poirier, founder of Embrago, a bra-alternative that uses a new approach to built-in bust support that can ebb and flow with our changing bodies. 

Karen shares what is wrong with most undergarments today — it's not you, it's the clothes (or undergarments)! — and the potential health implications. Plus we discuss the often overlooked technicality to good fashion and how undergarments can add to the mental load for women (and how she is hoping to change that).

We cover a lot of ground in this one, so grab a cozy drink and hit play to dive in!

*****

🎧  LISTEN NEXT >> EP57: Tips for Starting a Slow Fashion Brand with Selina Ho [https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/starting-sustainable-fashion-brand/]

🌿 JOIN THE COMMUNITY >> Conscious Fashion Collective Membership [https://consciousfashion.co/community]

💌 FOR MORE >> Subscribe to Slow Fashion Saturday [https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/subscribe/]

*****

✨ CONNECT WITH KAREN >> embrago.com

Website: embrago.com [https://www.embrago.com/]

Instagram: @embragoclothing [https://www.instagram.com/embragoclothing]

109) How this Founder is Creating Solutions, Not Just More Stuff with Karen Poirier of Embrago

The declining quality of sweaters has been a big discussion in the past year, but is a reality we've been witnessing for the past couple of decades.

But what exactly is so much worse about today's sweaters and what has been going on behind the scenes that's made them so bad? And importantly, how can brands do better? What should we be looking for in a high quality knitwear piece?

We're covering all of this and more in today's Conscious Style Podcast episode with expert knitwear designer and product developer Mari Medina. Mari is the founder of April Knit Studio, a design studio dedicated to creating high-quality knitwear for fashion brands. With an extensive network of trusted suppliers and artisans, April Knit Studio offers brands access to natural materials, enabling the development of knitwear that reflects each brand's unique identity.

In this episode, Mari also discusses what an ethical supplier or artisan partnership looks like, the benefits for both the customer and the brand of keeping the same styles year over year, and the value of harnessing external expertise instead of going at it alone as a brand founder.

🎧  LISTEN NEXT >> EP44: How to Identify High Quality Clothing with Zoe Hong [https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/identify-high-quality-clothing/]

🌿 JOIN THE COMMUNITY >> Conscious Fashion Collective Membership [https://consciousfashion.co/community]

💌 FOR MORE >> Subscribe to Slow Fashion Saturday [https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/subscribe/]

*****

🧶 CONNECT WITH MARI >>

Website: aprilknitstudio.com [https://aprilknitstudio.com/]

Instagram: @aprilknit.studio [https://www.instagram.com/aprilknit.studio/]

LinkedIn: April Knit Studio [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilknitstudio/]

108) Inside the Decline of Sweater Quality — and What to Look for in a Durable Knit with Mari Medina

What is the state of circular fashion today? There has been a LOT happening with circularity in textiles in recent years, which is exciting but also means that it can be tough to keep up with and to discern what the most promising signs of progress actually are.

So in today's episode, you'll hear from Cynthia Power about the state of circular fashion, 5 areas of "invisible progress" in circularity, and what fashion brands should know about implementing circularity into their value chains. Cynthia also speaks to the happiness of repair, illuminating something that doesn't get talked enough about enough — that yes, slow fashion can actually be joyful!

Cynthia Power is the founder of Molte Volte and is an expert in the fields of fashion resale, reuse, repair, recycling and design for circularity. Working in fashion for over 17 years, she spent 6 years at the helm of EILEEN FISHER Renew and two years working on the service provider side at Recurate with dozens of brands. (In fact, you can hear Cynthia speak on behalf of Recurate in episode 27 [https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/fashion-resale-recurate/]!) Cynthia is also the co-host of the Untangling Circularity podcast.

Hit play to dive in!

 

LISTEN NEXT >> EP83: What is Circular Fashion Design? with Carmen Gama [https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/circular-fashion-design/] 🪡

FOR MORE >> Subscribe to Slow Fashion Saturday [https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/subscribe/] 💌

 

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA:

Cynthia's Circularity Substack [https://moltevolte.substack.com/]

Molte Volte [https://www.moltevolte.com/]

Cynthia's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-power-24963513/]

 

107) The State of Circular Fashion with Cynthia Power

When you hear the term artisan-made, what do you think of? Do you assume that it means ethically made? Do you assume it's a certain aesthetic? Is it old-fashioned or contemporary?

In today's episode, Elizabeth is speaking with Anjali Purohit, founder and creative director of the home and fashion textiles brand Studio Variously to unpack and demystify all things artisan-made.

Anjali has over 20 years of experience in design, working globally with brands like Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel. Based in the US for 16 years, she collaborates with artisans in India, Nepal, and Peru to create sustainable, handwoven textiles and home goods.

Anjali has won multiple design awards and was Eileen Fisher’s 2019 Artist in Residence, and continues to consult and develop ethical, artisan-made collections.

In this episode, you'll hear Anjali speak to the greenwashing of “artisan-made” goods and what it means for brands and designers to work ethically with artisans. Also in this conversion, the thread of “collaboration” kept coming up in really interesting ways!

Anjali not only talks about the processes of collaborating with artisans in India, but collaborating with her clients — whether that's retail buyers, interior designers, or end-customers — to see what is truly resonating with them. 

Think of it as an elegant dance balancing the heritage techniques that Variously's artisan partners work with, the physical realities of natural materials and natural dyes, and also what her ideal client actually wants in their home or wardrobe and importantly, is willing to invest in. She is constantly paying attention to what materials and formats people are excited about and willing to pay for. 

This isn't about following every trend, but Anjali has found a beautiful balance of keeping Variously's products relevant while also respecting traditional artisanal practices.

Anjali has been a Conscious Fashion Collective Member with us, so we've gotten to know her work over the past year and a half, and are so excited for all of you to get to know her work + insights now as well!

Iif you're also a slow fashion founder looking for community and resources to support you in your professional and business development, you can join us inside of the CFC Membership here: consciousfashion.co/community [https://consciousfashion.co/community]

 

CONNECT WITH ANJALI:

studiovariously.com [https://www.studiovariously.com/]

@studiovariously [https://www.instagram.com/studiovariously]

LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjalipurohit]

 

STAY IN TOUCH:

Subscribe to Slow Fashion Saturday [https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/subscribe/]

Join the CFC Membership [https://consciousfashion.co/community]

106) Behind the Greenwashing of "Artisan-Made", the Art of Collaboration, and Sustaining Yourself as a Creative with Anjali Purohit

Is it possible to truly balance financial and environmental sustainability in circularity? This week's guest not only believes that it's possible to do both, but has proven it by architecting one of fashion’s most impactful resale programs, Worn Wear (at Patagonia). In this episode, she's sharing her lessons learned on everything from the type of resale model that could be capable of reducing new production to how we can better engage customers in circularity.

Our guest Nellie Cohen [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nellie-cohen-69233194/] spent nearly a decade at Patagonia as the architect of the brand’s precedent-setting and award-winning circularity program, Worn Wear. She holds over 15 years of sustainability experience and is widely recognized as a leading figure within the circular economy movement.

In 2019, she founded her consultancy — Baleen [https://www.workwithbaleen.com/] — which is a specialized agency that focuses on circularity design and implementation. Over her career, she has worked with some of the world’s best known brands including Levi’s, Target, lululemon, and DÔEN.

***

This is a recording of a conversation that Stella led with Nellie inside the Conscious Fashion Collective Membership community! 

If you'd like to join in on future conversations like this, access our entire past session library, unlock our value-packed resource hub, and connect with a changemaking community, join us inside the CFC Membership. [https://consciousfashion.co/community]

💚 Learn more & join: consciousfashion.co/community [https://consciousfashion.co/community]

105) The Blueprint for a Successful Circular Fashion Program

Slow fashion can (and dare we say should?) be joyful! So if you've been feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, or isolated on your sustainable fashion journey, it may be a sign to lean into community. In this episode, get tangible tips and encouragement to find or cultivate your own slow fashion community. 

The second part of this episode features a replay of Elizabeth's interview on the Ecommerce Maven Podcast [https://www.kristisoomer.com/pages/the-brave-and-boss-podcast], where she spoke about building community around your slow fashion business and creating thriving partnerships.

CONNECT:
📧 Conscious Fashion Collective Newsletter [https://conscious-fashion-collective.ck.page/newsletter] (stay updated on upcoming events, like founder x freelancer mixers!)

🌿CFC Membership [https://consciousfashion.co/community] (private community for sustainable fashion professionals & entrepreneurs)

💌 Slow Fashion Saturday [https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/subscribe/] (free newsletter for slow fashion advocates)

104) How to Find & Build Slow Fashion Community

After a so-called "slow fashion recession", what's next for the movement? How can we come back stronger and make slow fashion so irresistible, that it becomes inevitable?

Those are big questions, but that's what we're exploring in this podcast episode! 

I'd love to hear your thoughts & ideas on this too — find me at @consciousstyle [https://www.instagram.com/consciousstyle] on Instagram or email me. [hello@consciouslifeandstyle.com]

 

CONNECT:

💌 Slow Fashion Saturday Newsletter [https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/subscribe/]

🌱 Join the CFC Membership [https://consciousfashion.co/community] (community for sustainable fashion professionals & founders)

♻️ Upcycling Workshop [https://lu.ma/y4kmzsj5]

 

 

 

103) Where Does Slow Fashion Go From Here?

For our first-ever Conscious Fashion Collective Membership panel discussion, we discussed a topic that is often taboo in the slow fashion space — money! We believe that financial sustainability is essential for creating a more just, and sustainable, fashion ecosystem with thriving businesses that care about people and the planet.

💰 WE DISCUSSED:

 * Taboos/misconceptions about making money in the slow fashion space,
 * What alternative business models and revenue streams can be successful for slow fashion brands who don’t want to follow the traditional fast fashion trajectory,
 * Slow fashion pricing and forecasting,
 * How freelancers can go about finding clients, retaining clients, and creating a client rotation that allows for financial sustainability,
 * How to diversify your slow fashion skills and develop alternative streams of income/business offerings,
 * And SO MUCH more!

 

This episode was brought to you by…

Conscious Fashion Collective Membership [https://consciousfashion.co/community]: the global community for sustainable fashion professionals, freelancers, and entrepreneurs.

Doors will be closing to new members on Friday, March 29th as we prepare to add even more value to the membership.

When we reopen, we'll be increasing the price to account for the additional value. If you sign-up this week, you'll lock-in our current pricing for the lifetime of your membership.

Learn more + join us: consciousfashion.co/community [https://www.consciousfashion.co/community]

 

LINKS:

 * Picnicwear [http://www.picnicwear.com/]
 * Kismet Concept Studio [http://www.kismetconceptstudio.com/]
 * MAHDIYYAH [http://www.mahdiyyah.co/]
 * Devinto [http://www.devinto.net/]
 * Jacqueline Schumann [https://www.jacquelinediane.com/]
 * Picnicwear DejaVu Dress Pattern [https://images.app.goo.gl/ffFvnDejJ3q6VDuY9]
 * YouTube video: NYC Tailor Aims To Reduce Fast Fashion Waste [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVxGrc8sB20]

CONNECT WITH CONSCIOUS STYLE:

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

🌐Website: consciouslifeandstyle.com [https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/]

📸 Instagram: @consciousstyle [https://www.instagram.com/consciousstyle/]

102) Leveraging Your Slow Fashion Skills To Make Money Beyond Products

Financial sustainability is essential for creating a more just, and sustainable, fashion ecosystem with thriving businesses that care about people and the planet. But how do you go about actually making money in this space, especially when you care about not overproducing? Money-making is a topic that is all-too-often taboo in the slow fashion space, but our panelists Dani Des Roches, Mahdiyyah Muhammad, Jacqueline Schumann, and Aiste Zitnikaite are unpacking their experiences, transparently, in this episode!

Note: This is a recording from a Conscious Fashion Collective Membership panel discussion, so you may hear references to the membership and “CFC". You can learn more about CFC's membership community here: consciousfashion.co/community [http://consciousfashion.co/community]

💰 WE DISCUSSED:

 * Taboos/misconceptions about making money in the slow fashion space,
 * What alternative business models and revenue streams can be successful for slow fashion brands who don’t want to follow the traditional fast fashion trajectory,
 * Slow fashion pricing and forecasting,
 * How freelancers can go about finding clients, retaining clients, and creating a client rotation that allows for financial sustainability,
 * How to diversify your slow fashion skills and develop alternative streams of income/business offerings,
 * And SO MUCH more!

LINKS:

 * Conscious Fashion Collective Membership [https://consciousfashion.co/community]
 * Picnicwear [https://www.picnicwear.com/]
 * Kismet Concept Studio [https://www.kismetconceptstudio.com/]
 * MAHDIYYAH [https://www.mahdiyyah.co/]
 * Devinto [https://www.devinto.net/]
 * Jacqueline Schumann [https://www.jacquelinediane.com/]

 

CONNECT WITH CONSCIOUS STYLE:

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

🌐Website: consciouslifeandstyle.com [https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/]

📸 Instagram: @consciousstyle [https://www.instagram.com/consciousstyle/]

101) Demystifying Financial Sustainability in Slow Fashion

Conscious Style (@consciousstyle) · Zencastr

Conscious Style (@consciousstyle)

What will it really take to create a more sustainable and equitable future for fashion? Each week, host Elizabeth Joy interviews fashion changemakers — from labor activists to slow fashion entrepreneurs — to explore this very question. Hear about topics like greenwashing, garment worker rights, consumer psychology, secondhand fashion, making the most of your closet, and more. For more, visit consciouslifeandstyle.com and follow @consciousstyle on Instagram.