Style & Sustain - The podcast

Today's guest, Giovanna Vieira, founded a sustainable fashion tech company: The Fashion Blueprint. It is a space and community of fashion entrepreneurs, brands and supply chain partners working together to change the fashion industry from the inside out, with the main goal being to build solutions to reduce waste colonialism. Giovanna is a citizen of the world with a multicultural background whose ambition to take the fashion industry by storm started at a young age. With grit and perseverance, she built her experience and eventually her own business to drive change in an industry that often shuns inclusivity or fair practices. The Fashion Blueprint holds a special place on the London sustainability scene, bringi. It bringsse community into the heart of the solus that will improve the industry. Website: https://www.thefashionblueprint.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefashionblueprint.co.uk/

In this episode, I talk to Ria Ana Sejpal, founder and brilliant creative behind Kenyan brand Lilabare. We dive into the creative process of a designer who creates at the heart of community. She recounts how it took almost three years to find the right banana farmer to develop a unique banana fibre and how she works with nuns who crochet love and light into the brand's pieces. Ria brings her village into the creation of her collections. We also talk about her experience at  Lagos Fashion Week, what makes African fashion incomparable to any other and what to get excited about in her next collection.  See more about Lilabare and the new collection here: https://linktr.ee/LilaBare?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZupznSqf5VCagR7fSznD3H1Cmg3xFZG2vDz_zENT7sSHr7M7_bmPNU8Xw_aem_ouJ0pDrvpBac1qZHsQZGMQ 

We collaborated with the amazing team at Bed Stuy Clothes swap, a community-based safety net for NYC residents. We helped them create an educational platform weaving circular fashion principles from Ghana into conversations and games about the fashion industry for their clothes swap event at the Brooklyn Museum. This resulted in the creation of this video, which was showcased within the space. It highlights the Oye Adie Yies of Accra, who are a testament to Ghana’s deeply entrenched cultural sustainability. Bed Stuy Clothes Swap collectively moves against the grain of New York’s hyper-capitalist systems that encourage over-consumption and the destruction of our environment, displace long-term community members, and exploit and subjugate Black and Brown communities.

In this episode, I talk to Mande Mory, an entrepreneur based in Senegal and one of the founders of Africa’s first secondhand shopping app: Donkafale. But beyond a simple Depop or Vinted (no shade to those apps we love them!) this app aims to create jobs for young creatives struggling to find employment after university and allow them to connect to a community of creatives in multiple industries, online and in real life. I loved talking to Mandé because it was never just about fashion for his team. He saw a problem and created a solution which is what all great entrepreneurs do, but what was most inspiring was his heart for creating opportunities that make a difference in the everyday life of African youths while digitising and preserving cultural sustainability. Let's dig into his story. Find out more about Donkafele here: https://donkafele.com/en/ Follow here: https://www.instagram.com/donkafele/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/styleandsustainthepodcast/message

Slow Fashion is a key part of the sustainable and fair fashion movement. It has claimed its space as a more realistic and wholesome approach to changing the fashion industry for the better. In this episode, I dive into the definition of Slow Fashion, and its importance for local communities around the world, while highlighting five slow fashion brands that celebrate and support Palestinian craftsmanship and textile heritage.  The five brands:  Nol Collective - ⁠https://nolcollective.com/⁠  Anat International - ⁠https://anat-international.com/⁠  Meera Adnan - ⁠https://meeraadnan.com/⁠ SEP Jordan - ⁠https://septhebrand.com/en-gb?scr=yes⁠  Paliroots - ⁠https://www.paliroots.com/⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/styleandsustainthepodcast/message

 This time around we talk to Alyssa Erin Kardos Loera and Tiffany Bopha, a fantastic duo. Alyssa is the Executive Director of Re-Made in Cambodia while Tiffany is the Designer and Global Ambassador of the organisation. We met at the GFA this year and immediately connected. They were both so authentic and truthful in the work that they do so I wanted to have them here to talk about the solution they have developed around the textile waste issue in Cambodia through their sustainable fashion enterprise. Remade In Cambodia is a fashion enterprise that transforms recovered textile waste into wearable products, empowering local designers and raising awareness about the environmental impact of the fashion industry. Elevate the next generation of Cambodian designers to become trailblazers in the global fashion industry, while championing Cambodian arts and fostering innovation. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/styleandsustainthepodcast/message

Featured in Magazines like Grazia UK, Sooki Sooki Vintage oozes power, joy and irreplicable style. Founder Lapoze McTribouy beautifully embodies all these qualities that reflect through her craftsmanship. From her talent in hunting down unique vintage pieces to mending and upcycling to create unique one-offs and her sheer joy, she’s definitely one to watch and support in the sustainable fashion space. In this episode, we talk about her beginnings, inspirations and her courage to pursue her talents and dreams, and how sustainability has always been embedded in her Congolese culture. Get ready to be inspired!  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/styleandsustainthepodcast/message

A brief insight into the future of Style & Sustain as an online magazine. In this episode, I highlight the new Style & Sustain Magazine, explain our core values, our new consultation offering and the expansive ways we are working with authentic sustainable and ethical brands we've always loved. S&S Mag is a modern-day welcoming of the future of fashion and beyond, come explore the future of fair fashion with us! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/styleandsustainthepodcast/message

This episode is all about Indian fashion! We interview Nivi Murphy founder and curator at Ikkivi, a Banglor-based fashion company that curates fair, artisanal fashion brands, bringing Indian craftsmanship from around the country to the world. Their beautiful pieces are created by blending the artistic cultural heritage of India with a contemporary aesthetic. We talk about all things culture and sustainability, the joys of getting clothes tailor-made, running a clothing business in India and her hopes for the future of fashion. Take a listen. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/styleandsustainthepodcast/message

In support of the OR Foundation's current campaign #stopwastec%nialiam , this episode dives into exactly what waste colonialism is and how it affects countries in the Global South like Ghana. The foundation is currently working on a solution which centres around holding European EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) policymakers accountable. This could shift the fashion landscape for the better. Support them via the links below: Please sign the OR Foundation's petition here: https://stopwastecolonialism.org/ Please donate to their incredible work here: https://theor.org/donate   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/styleandsustainthepodcast/message

Happy 2023 everyone! It's the first episode of 2023 and I'm talking to the fantastic Stephen Steele, founder of the organic brand Kind Socks. What can I say, get ready for positive vibes and lots of dopamine in this episode as Stephen and I talk about why he created a sock brand, his journey as an entrepreneur and what it means to give back to community in a powerful way. Take a listen!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/styleandsustainthepodcast/message

It’s true we live in a world of rules and regulations. 3 ways to do this or 5 ways to achieve that and yes that helps tremendously, especially when you are a beginner at something. But, we are all unique and sometimes trying to fit into a standardised box is exhausting. When it comes to sustainable fashion, there seems to be a “formula”, standards to live by, but what if I told you that the only formula is to adjust and shift your perspective to create a mindful lifestyle that’s uniquely yours? Let's talk about the rules to break when it comes to eco-fashion!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/styleandsustainthepodcast/message

In this episode, I chat with the brilliant Akua Yeboah Opoku, a Wednesday-born fellow Ghanaian based in Tampa, Florida. She is the founder of AYO Business Finder, a space that elevates and points people towards Asian, Hispanic, Black and Indigenous-owned sustainable businesses. AYO houses over 250 businesses owned by people of colour, all for shoppers to explore and purchase from. She also gives fun and easy tips on how to be a more mindful shopper. We talk about her inspirations, how to navigate finding your passions and why the events of 2020 lit her path to creating AYO business finder, her way of fighting back and finding a solution for minority communities in the US to thrive. Take a listen!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/styleandsustainthepodcast/message

In this episode, I talk about four brands or as I like to call them fashion's wolves in sheep's clothing - these brands sit in that grey area, easily mistaken for sustainable and ethical brands but a deep dive into the behind the scenes show that it's not exactly the case. I also recommend authentic sustainable and ethical alternatives to go for instead. Can you guess what these brands are? Let's dive in! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/styleandsustainthepodcast/message

Selina Ho is the brilliant founder of Recloseted, a consulting agency for sustainable fashion. In this conversation we go back to her beginnings: from her favourite food growing up to why she felt the pull to start a consultancy focused on fashion brands that want to do better for people and the planet. She also gives us incredible insight into 3 top trends and innovations in the sustainable fashion space right now, which you won’t want to miss! I loved debating with her about whether sustainable growth is possible for brands, as well as exploring some of the trends shaping the industry for the better. I start by asking here about life between her two homes London and Toronto…take a listen! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/styleandsustainthepodcast/message

Greenwashing and activism are two words that have become THE buzzwords of this fashion generation but what do they really mean? Two big announcements happened in the last few weeks in the fashion world. If you follow sustainable fashion news, you would have heard that Boohoo partnered with Kourtney Kardashian to embark on a performative "sustainability" journey while Patagonia decided to give all its current and future profits to climate justice initiatives and organisations. Two decisions that stand in stark opposition to each other. In this episode, I use the example of these two events to break down what greenwashing entails (Boohoo) and what real sustainability activism with the planet's interest at its core can shift the narrative and have an impact (Patagonia). Let's dive in! Check out these articles and sources:  https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-09-15/patagonia-has-no-more-owners?leadSource=uverify%20wall https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2022/sep/12/kourtney-kardashian-boohoo-fast-fashion-sustainable

Mutete Bakhita is an all-round creative passionate about art, apothecary and spreading the word about sustainable fashion through her social enterprise: 25sw4p. 25sw4p hosts swaps in Nairobi Kenya where Mutete is based and also creates space for local brands and other creatives to connect. This conversation is full of hope and offers a fresh look at the abundance of positivity we can find on this beautiful planet through sustainability, art and mother nature. Take a listen! 

In this episode, I explore what it actually means for fast fashion brands to pay up and which movements/charities/organisations are championing this. Many movements are arising against the capitalistic fast fashion industry, over the last decade or so many non-profit organisations have set their intent on transforming the industry by holding fast fashion brands accountable on many fronts and it's paying off in amazing ways! Support Remake Our World here: https://remake.world/donations-page/  **Episode correction:** the #payup campaign has ended. It garnered $22 billion from more than 25 major brands, including H&M, Zara, Gap Inc., Calvin Klein, Target, for orders they placed prior to the pandemic, making it one of the most successful worker rights campaigns in modern fashion history. Support the OR Foundation here: https://theor.org/donate Support AWAJ Foundation here: http://awajfoundation.org/get-involved/donate/ Read about the Tamil Nadu Textile and Common Labour Union (TTCU): https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/%C3%BAltimas-noticias/india-tamil-nadu-textile-and-common-labour-union-calls-on-buyers-to-agree-to-enforceable-binding-agreement-to-end-gender-based-violence-at-natchi-apparels/ Support Asia Floor Wage Alliance here: https://asia.floorwage.org/ Please rate & review my podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/style-sustain-the-podcast/id1541781666

In this episode I chat with the fab Rosette Ale aka @thriftqueenlola, digital content creator and founder of sustainable fashion brand Revival London. We talk and laugh about the struggles of mindful fashion, how her faith influences her brand and her passion to share her sewing skills through workshops across London. Plus, WE SHARE lots of tips on where to thrift and find the right brands. Revival London repurposes denim in a stylish and innovative way, think of your denim jeans as a tube top or a handbag. I start off asking Rosette about her cool Instagram name @thriftqueenlola and what it means: here’s her answer and the rest of the episode! Enjoy!

In this episode I share my thoughts on fashion & women's issues, delving into why and how an industry powered by women is mainly run by profit-driven men and what some of the female-led solutions could be. Take a listen!  *Recorded in April.