WARDROBE CRISIS with Clare Press

"You can't farm spiders!" says this week's guest, scientist David Breslauer.You can keep more them in serious numbers spinning webs off hula-hoops suspended from your office ceiling though...Enter Bolt Threads, the Californian biotech company behind Microsilk - a bioengineered sustainable fibre used by Stella McCartney. Find out how they did it, where the science is headed, and what's next (hint, it's involves mushrooms). Just don't call David Spider Man.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2020/9/17/podcast-126-david-breslauer-on-spiders-biotech-amp-bolt-threads to read yours and #bethechangeLove the show? Don't forget to hit subscribe. You can contact host Clare Press on Instagram here, and follow the show here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did denim get so unsustainable? And did it all start with stone washing? Our guest this week accepts responsibility for the industry going so hard on that.Francois Girbaud was there at the start, when, as he says “I was just a stupid guy” - and didn't know about the environmental impact of stone washing. After that, of course, came acid wash, sandblasting, all the rest of it.So, yes, we discuss all the important environmental stuff, but this is an epic interview about Paris, the history of fashion, and the birth of cool - with a great many pinch-me stories!Outspoken, unafraid, and a true original, Francois Girbaud is fashion pioneer.Meet the man who brought denim to Paris in 1964 with his boutique Western House, who dressed Jimi Hendrix, counted Brigitte Bardot as a customer, and wanted to be a cowboy like John Wayne.This is a rare chance to hang out with one of the great fashion characters. ENJOY!Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2020/8/27/podcast-125-francois-girbaud-denim-legend to read yours and #bethechange Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's in my clothes? If you're asking that question, you probably expect the answer to be about fabric content. Polyester? Cotton? Wool maybe, or silk. But what about chemicals? You won't find these listed on your typical garment label.Last Series, Clare interviewed Greenpeace activist Kirsten Brodde, who led the Detox My Fashion campaign, launched in 2011, to force fashion to wake up to the toxic trail of textile production. So what's changed since then? Chemistry in fashion is still not a mainstream topic, and most people have no idea about chemical use in clothing production. But the fashion industry has made headway.The Greenpeace campaign succeeded in making fashion take action. Initially 6 brands got behind the formation of the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) programme, with the aim of removing hazardous chemicals from apparel and footwear supply chains by 2020. It's called Roadmap to Zero. Discover how it works, learn about the wins and find out what's left to be done.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2020/8/6/podcast-124-chemicals-in-fashion-supply-chains to read yours and #bethechangeTalk to Clare in Instagram and Twitter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You know those people who are always ahead? The true originals no one can catch? Helen Storey is one of them. This British former runway designer and current Professor of Fashion & Science uses fashion as a trojan horse for big issues. Ten years ago she collaborated with a chemist to make garments that filter pollution from the air. She's made dresses that dissolve to show how we destroy what's beautiful.In 2015, in the run up to the COP15, she turned a decommissioned refugee tent, that had once housed a family in Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan, into a travelling fashion statement on climate change. She called it Dress For Our Time, and debuted it in a London railway station. That dress has since travelled to the UN in Geneva, the climate strikes, and even been on stage at Glastonbury. But it is Helen who has travelled the farthest. Today she is the UN Refugee Agency's first ever designer-in-residence. Hear how she works in Za'atari, which is home to more than 75,000 displaced people. Recorded in London before the coronavirus shutdowns, this fascinating interview challenges us to rethink everything we know about fashion as a tool for change, connection and finding meaning.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2020/7/18/podcast-123-helen-storeys-dress-for-our-time to read yours and #bethechangeTalk to Clare in Instagram and Twitter.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I don't give voice to anyone, but I have a really amazing tool and that's my camera. I use my camera to amplify the voices of people who feel unheard.”Today photographer Giles Duley is the CEO and founder of the Legacy of War Foundation, and an activist for the rights of those living with disabilities caused by conflict. But he started out working in music and fashion, shooting for magazines like Vogue, GQ and Arena.Since 2004, his portrait photography has taken him all over the world, from Iraq and Jordan to South Sudan and Angola, documenting human stories, often in post-conflict zones or crisis situations. In 2015 he was commissioned by UNHCR to document the refugee crisis across the middle east and Europe. In 2011, while working as a photographer in Afghanistan, Giles himself was injured by an improvised explosive device (IED). He is now a triple-amputee. He was back taking photographs the following year.The legacy of war is violent and harrowing. Be warned, some of the stories Giles tells are graphic. And yet, this interview is full of warmth, laughter and mostly importantly hope and humanity.Have you listened to Part 1? Don't miss the related Episode 121 on Article 22 in Laos.Find Legacy of War Foundation here.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2020/7/9/podcast-121-anti-war-photographer-giles-duley to read yours and #bethechange Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can fashion really make a difference? Can artisans be agents of change? Could a humble bangle help make post-conflict land safe for the people who live there?It sounds crazy to be talking about war and bombs in the same sentence as fashion and jewellery. But that's exactly what Article 22, a New York-jewellery brand and social enterprise that's handmade in Laos, seeks to do.They upcycle shrapnel and scrap metal from The Secret War into jewellery, and they called their first collection Peace Bomb. For every jewellery item they make, Article 22 donates to MAG, the Mines Advisory Group - an NGO that's on the ground clearing undetonated bombs so that local families can live and farm in peace.Why are the bombs still there? From 1964 to 1973, the U.S. dropped more than two million tons of ordnance on Laos during 580,000 bombing missions - equal to a planeload of bombs every 8 minutes, 24-hours a day, for 9 years. Then acted like it never happened. It took 45 years for an American President (Obama, in 2016) to formally acknowledge the bombing campaign. Yet, Laos still lives with that legacy every day.For this week's Episode, we travelled to Xiangkhouang province with Article 22 founders Elizabeth Suda and Camille Hautefort, to meet the artisans whose land is contaminated, and the NGO workers from MAG whose job it is to clear it. And along the way hear powerful stories of positive change.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2020/7/3/podcast-121-article-22-purpose-amp-peace-after-the-secret-war-in-laos to read yours and #bethechangeTalk to Clare in Instagram and Twitter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On World Oceans Day, we meet Australian big wave surfer Laura Enever.Laura started surfing as a kid in Sydney. She spent 7 years surfing professionally on the Women's World Tour . Now she's decided to reinvent herself as a big wave surfer.And we mean seriously big - these waves are scary, dangerous and remote, they break way out to sea, or on shallow rock ledges and only a few times a year.What has the ocean taught Laura about resilience and conquering fear?Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2020/6/5/podcast-120-big-wave-surfer-laura-enever-on-world-oceans-day to read yours and #bethechangeTalk to Clare in Instagram and Twitter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're hanging out on the Copenhagen kitchen of the brilliant "insecure overachievers" behind GANNI.Married couple Ditte and Nicolaj Reffstrup are the force behind the cult Copenhagen label and they've have made it, according to Vogue, a "stratospheric success" beloved of #GanniGirls all over Instagram. Just don't call it sustainable fashion."A brand might do one organic T-shirt and call themselves sustainable," says Nicolaj. "We just do what we do, and try to do better every day."They say their "mission is simple: We fill a gap in the advanced contemporary market for effortless, easy-to-wear pieces that women instinctively reach for, day in, day out." But they're also mapping their carbon footprint and trialling rental while trying to leave their kids a healthy planet. Oh, an hoping the women will take over soon.Love the show?Please consider rating and reviewing, share on social media, and don't forget to hit subscribe!Find Clare on Instagram and Twitter.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2020/5/27/podcast-119-ganni-eco-evolution to read yours and #bethechange Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friday May 22nd is the International Day for Biological Diversity. Actually this whole year was meant to be about that. The World Economic Forum named 2020 the Year for Nature Action. It was to culminate in a big conference about the UN convention on biological diversity in Kunming, China in October. But the coronavirus pause doesn't mean we get to hold off on action to protect Nature.This week's guest is Helen Crowley, Kering's head of sustainable sourcing and innovation, where she works with brands like Gucci , Saint Laurent and Balenciaga. She lives in France, but she's an Aussie with a PhD in zoology. And this year, she's on sabbatical with Conservation International, and is an advisor to the World Economic Forum.What is the New Nature Agenda? How can fashion take action to not just protect biodiversity, but help regenerate it? We cover all this and more in this episode.Love the show?Please consider rating and reviewing, share on social media, and don't forget to hit subscribe!Find Clare on Instagram and Twitter.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2020/5/21/podcast-118-fashion-amp-biodversity-helen-crowley to read yours and #bethechange  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the second of our special reports about the fashion industry and COVID-19. This one is about how designers, makers and manufacturers are responding to the shortages of PPE - personal protective equipment - and scrubs for frontline workers, as well as masks for all.What is PPE? Why are there shortages? How have fashion designers and industry leaders around the world stepped up to produce PPE for frontline workers?Featuring Shibon Kennedy, founder of PPE Volunteer; Emergency Designer Network's Phoebe English and Holly Fulton; Jayna Zweiman of Masks for Humanity, fashion educator Timo Rissanen and Aleksandra Nedeljkovic from Australian social enterprise The Social Studio.Love the show?Please consider rating and reviewing, share on social media, and don't forget to hit subscribe!Find Clare on Instagram and Twitter.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2020/5/2/podcast-117-special-covid-19-report-how-fashion-is-rising-to-the-ppe-challenge to read yours and #bethechange Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You probably already know that industrialised farming is chemically intensive and a big greenhouse gas polluter - but how much do you really know about animal agriculture? About its enormous scale, the waste and the way we treat the animals that feed us, and provide leather for the fashion industry?In this interview Philip Lymbery, CEO of Compassion in World Farming and author of Farmageddon, provides a powerful argument for a system reset.Love the show?Please consider rating and reviewing, share on social media, and don't forget to hit subscribe!Find Clare on Instagram and Twitter.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2020/4/29/podcast-116-animals-have-feelings-too-compassion-in-world-farmings-philip-lymbery to read yours and #bethechange Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you've listened to Episode 115 on how garment workers are being impacted by COVID-19, try this one next. It's an edited version of a story we ran back in 2017, about living wages. Many of the women who make our clothes in countries like Bangladesh still fall far short of earning a living wage. April 24th is the anniversary of the Rana Plaza garment factory disaster. Join Fashion Revolution, and keep asking #whomademyclothes?Don't forget to subscribe to Wardrobe Crisis!The shownotes are on https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this special report on how garment workers around the world are being impacted by COVID-19. Fashion is being severely impacted by the shutdowns. You might argue, the sustainable business is the one that survives this. But as usual, it is the worst off who bear the brunt, because they don't have safety nets to catch them. How is coronavirus impacting garment workers around the world?Why are activists calling for brands to #payup as factories reel under the strain of cancelled orders? And what's the outlook for a sustainable fashion industry long-term?Featuring Remake's Ayesha Barenblat, journalist Elizabeth Cline, union and NGO leaders Kalpona Akter, Rubana Huq and William Conklin, and factory owner Mostafiz Uddin, as well as the first-hand experience of a garment worker who's been laid off, this episode is a call for brands to act responsibly. Love the show?Please consider rating and reviewing, share on social media, and don't forget to hit subscribe!Find Clare on Instagram and Twitter.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2020/4/15/podcast-115-payup-how-covid-19-is-impacting-garment-workers to read yours and #bethechange  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What kinds of products do we want to put out in the future? How can we rethink our design practices and material choices - and persuade the customer that it matters? Once we get to the other side of the COVID-19 crisis, circular and regenerative systems are going to be even more important. But how do we do it case by case? This week's guest British accessories designer Anya Hindmarch has already started. In 2007, Anya launched her famous "I'm not A Plastic Bag" to raise awareness of how much single-use plastic goes to landfill. Now she's back with a new version, and this one's recycled.Find links and more info in our shownotes here.Love the show? Get in touch in IG @mrspress & @thewardrobecrisisTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"We are at one of those pivotal moments when it feels like the world is coming undone," wrote David Ritter, CEO of Greenpeace Australia Pacific in a recent newsletter. "But the best of humanity comes out in moments of crisis. It's a phenomenon that we saw in the [recent Australian bush] fires, and which we are seeing again in the face of the pandemic."Can we take this enforced pause to design a better way of relating to each other and the natural world? How can we use compassion in our activism? Where can we find solidarity in solitude?This week's Episode is a must-listen and a balm for the soul at the increasingly bizarre time. Like it? Please consider rating and reviewing, share on social media, and don't forget to hit subscribe!Find Clare on Instagram and Twitter.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2020/3/29/podcast-113-love-in-the-time-of-coronavirus-greenpeaces-david-ritter to read yours and #bethechange Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For 7 years, Fashion Revolution has been asking, #whomademyclothes? on a quest for greater transparency in fashion supply chains.Now, they're asking #WhatsInMyClothes?, and say: "The answer is far more complicated than the composition label on the side seam. This is the starting point, but it doesn't account for the plastics lurking in our clothes, the trees cut down to transform wood into viscose, or the pesticides sprayed on fields of cotton, leaching into waterways."Fashion Revolution's co-founder Carry Somers is focusing on the plastics issue, and has just returned from voyage of discovery to research microplastic pollution in the oceans. Meet the inspiring activist, fair trade fashion pioneer and now explorer!  Don't forget to check the shownotes for all links and further reading.THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO WARDROBE CRISIS.Don't forget to hit subscribe. Can you help us spread the word? We'd love you to rate & review in your favourite podcast app, and share this Episode on social media. Here's Clare on Instagram and Twitter. Get in touch via [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Penn is a British sailor and the co-founder of eXXpedition - a series of all-women voyages exploring the impacts of plastics and toxins in our oceans."The only way to reduce the potential impacts on human health and the environment is to reduce consumption," she says.But where to begin?For the next two years, a total of 300 women will sail around the world on eXXpedition's voyages of discovery, to look deep into what's going on with plastic in our oceans, and try to come up with solutions. Why XX? Women are underrepresented in science and sailing - the XX in the title refers to the female sex chromosome. But it's the impacts these toxins might have on women that will blow your mind. Could plastic pollution be gender discriminatory? Could women suffer greater effects from it than men? Remember, pollution can bio-accumulate - the fish eat the plastic, and we eat the fish.We know that, but there is much we remain in the dark about. Of the estimated 700 contaminants in our bodies, many have barely been researched.Don't forget to check the shownotes for all links and further reading.THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO WARDROBE CRISIS.Don't forget to hit subscribe. Can you help us spread the word? We'd love you to rate & review in your favourite podcast app, and share this Episode on social media. Here's Clare on Instagram and Twitter. Get in touch via [email protected]  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's driving the fashion's latest obsession with upcycling? And how far can it go? Might fashion stop using virgin materials completely one day? Upcyling means taking something discarded, usually unloved and considered trash, and transforming into something new and of a higher quality.It's become a major fashion buzz word, thanks to designers like Marine Serre in Paris, and even Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. But it's the next generation that's really pushing it. This week, you'll meet three of them: Londoners Maddie Williams and Helen Kirkum, and brilliant Dutch trouble maker Duran Lantink.THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO WARDROBE CRISIS.Don't forget to hit subscribe. Can you help us spread the word? We'd love you to rate & review in your favourite podcast app, and share this Episode on social media. Here's Clare on Instagram and Twitter. Our detailed shownotes are at https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcastGet in touch via [email protected]  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The #metoo hashtag was a moment, sparked in when the actor Alyssa Milano used it on Twitter in October 2017 in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein revelations. That tweet went viral. More than 19 million people around the world have since used the hashtag to share their stories of sexual harassment, abuse and violence.But Me Too is a about more than social media. Me Too is a movement, founded by the American activist Tarana Burke in 2006 to help survivors of sexual violence, particularly Black women and girls, and other young women of colour from low wealth communities, find pathways to healing.This is her story...THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO WARDROBE CRISIS. Don't forget to hit subscribe. Can you help us spread the word? We'd love you to rate & review in your favourite podcast app, and share this Episode on social media. Here's Clare on Instagram and Twitter. Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2019/12/28/podcast-108-tarana-burke-on-me-too-amp-building-a-movement-for-change to read yours and #bethechangeGet in touch via [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London stylist Bay Garnett has magic powers when it comes to finding fashion gems in charity shops. The former editor of Cheap Date magazine (all about thrifting) famously put Kate Moss in the pages of British Vogue wearing vintage. Want to get in her wardrobe?Even better, learn her tips and tricks, hear how thrifting has changed over 20 years, and learn why giving garments multiple lives is more important than ever as a tool to reduce fashion's environmental impact.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2019/12/29/podcast-109-bay-garnetts-thrifted-fashion-superpowers to read yours and #bethechangeFollow Clare on Instagram and Twitter @mrspress Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Series 4! Our first guest is American supermodel Amber Valletta -sustainable fashion's favourite face, using her platform to make positive change in the industry.How did she move from celebrity covergirl (she had her own MTV show in the '90s, and in the 2000s did a Hollywood movie with Will Smith) to fashion's eco conscience? Today Amber is the model most closely associated with eco-fashion, she's fronted the last two Stella McCartney campaigns, and protested on behalf of climate action with Jane Fonda. But can a career in high fashion be truly sustainable? How does she deal with the overwhelm about over-consumption? Could self-care be the answer?Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2020/1/9/podcast-107-amber-valletta to read yours and #bethechangeFollow Clare on Instagram and Twitter @mrspress Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Obsessed with Allbirds? Join the club. For the last Episode of Series 3, Clare visits the San Francisco HQ of the hottest comfy shoe brand on the planet, and unpicks what makes it work.On the way, she discovers the secrets of algae as an eco ingredient, asks the hard questions about end-of-life and greenwashing, and decodes the complexity of carbon offsetting. Oh, and sits next to Matthew McConaughey on the plane… Alright, alright, alright!“Phenomenal for customers, and also phenomenal for the planet… that's a big idea,” says Joey Zwillinger. But what does it look like in practice? How hard was it to make it happen?And where did they fall short?Hear how Joey and co-founder Tim Brown set out to shake up the way sneakers get made and marketed, took on the big guys and won, and where their future challenges lie. Now, that's a wrap for Series 3 - we're off to the beach. The perfect time to catch up on our monster back catalogue! Get ready for Series 4 - launches February.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2019/12/18/podcast-106-allbirds-how-to-make-and-sell-sustainability to read yours and #bethechangeTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING, CHANGEMAKERS! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the Great Barrier Reef dead? Headlines to that effect zoomed around the world after two consecutive coral bleaching events in 2016 and 2017. But Australia's most famous World Heritage wonder is still very much with us - a vast eco-system, roughly the size of Germany, it teams with life.Threats from climate change and other factors aren't going away though. Find out what is being done to build resilience on the reef. Meet the scientists and activists working together to protect it. Learn what makes coral tick - and how it makes love (seriously!)This week's podcast invites you on an excellent adventure with Clare, Vogue Homme cover model Jarrod Scott and Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef to discover the full story. Also starring: Andy Ridely, Laura Wells, Professor David Suggett, researcher Katie Chartrand and dive guide Fiona Merida.Don't miss the shownotes on clarepress.comGot feedback? Connect with us on social media - find Clare on Instagram and Twitter. And please consider rating and reviewing the show in your favourite podcast app.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2019/12/8/podcast-105-saving-the-great-barrier-reef-science-meets-activism to read yours and #bethechangeHAPPY LISTENING! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you into vintage shopping or second-hand style? Join the club. Whether you're glued to Depop, buying high end designer vintage or a committed charity shop trawler, secondhand has lost its stigma in fashion circles. Recommerce is growing. According to Thredup preloved fashion is on track to eclipse fast fashion within a decade, while 64% of women have either bought or are open to buying used clothes. But... that doesn't mean the world isn't drowning in unwanted stuff. This podcast goes live on Black Friday. On this holiday and sales frenzy last year, Americans spent $6.2 billion on Black Friday, up 23.6% on the previous year.Much of this haul will end up on the bin. We're still discarding clothing and other unwanted items at a record rate. So what happens to all our stuff when we're done with it?Meet the recycling obsessive who grew up on a junkyard and now works for Bloomberg. Adam Minter, author of Junkyard Planet, has a new book out. This one's called Secondhand - Travels in the New Global Garage Sale, and to write it he travelled all over the world talking to the people who deal in trash.In this fascinating interview, we discuss everything from how metals get recycled to the politics of exporting our trash.LOVE THE SHOW? Please share on social media and consider rating and reviewing in your favourite podcast app.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2019/11/25/podcast-104-adam-minter-reuse-recycle-amp-the-second-hand-economy to read yours and #bethechangeFind Clare on Instagram and Twitter.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if our buildings weren't just a little bit more energy efficient or decorated with a few extra plants? What if they gave back to the environment instead of taking away from it? Biophilic design is a buzz word, and we're on board!Meet the visionary Canadian architect Jason McLennan, founder of the Living Building Challenge and the Living Future Institute.This Episode is all about how we can not just green our built environment but totally rethink it so that it's regenerative, and provides havens for other species too. How might we truly live in harmony with nature? And as Jason puts it: “Create places that are not only lovely but express the love we have for people, for animals and for the environment.”Oh, and seriously, we need to fix the toilets!Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2019/11/3/podcast-102-raj-patel-a-history-of-the to read yours and #bethechangeHappy listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are the old white men still in charge? What's the system build from, and how might be change it? In A History of the World in 7 Cheap things, Raj Patel and his co-author Jason W. Moore argue that the modern world has been shaped by the exploitation of cheap nature, money, work, care, food, energy, and lives."Cheap is a strategy, a practice, a violence that mobilises all kinds of work - human, animal, botanical and geological - for as little compensation as possible.” And it goes back way further than the Industrial Revolution. Think about Columbus "conquering" new frontiers. Centuries later, we're still carrying on the same way - invade, exploit, move on.Is it really easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism? Could we reform society along more equitable lines and create a brighter future for people and planet?This week, Clare gets to hang out with Raj Patel, the US-based British writer, speaker, activist, academic and wearer of very nice ethically made jackets. He's got degrees from Oxford, the London School of Economics and Cornell. And he has worked for the World Bank and World Trade Organisation - but he has also protested against them. Fascinating, provocative and full of ideas and information, this Episode will make you question everything.Enjoying the show? DON'T FORGET TO HIT SUBSCRIBE. Please consider rating and reviewing Wardrobe Crisis in your favourite podcast app.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2019/11/3/podcast-102-raj-patel-a-history-of-the to read yours and #bethechange Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever thought about the water footprint of beef or olive oil? Or how far your food has travelled before it reaches your dinner plate? And what has all this god to do with fashion? Meet Gung-Ho designer Sophie Dunster, food writer and photographer Sara Kiyo Popowa, and chefs Lauren Lovatt and Abi Aspen Glencross. Whether they're vegan or just very excited about colourful vegetables; sure that what we eat can affect our mental health or just really keen on yummy food that doesn't cost the Earth - these four female foodies are combining fashion with activism to put change on the menu. Bon appetit!THANK YOU for listening.Looking for links and extra info? Find detailed shownotes here.Get in touch on Instagram and Twitter  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

IT'S OUR BIRTHDAY! You are listening to the 100th Episode of Wardrobe Crisis - hurrah! Thank you for being part of it.This week's guest is Sinéad Burke, the Irish fashion journalist, activist and inclusivity advocate. Maybe you've watched her TED talk, Why Design Should Include Everyone, or heard about reminding the World Economic Forum at Davos this year, to ask: "Who is not in the room?" Probably you saw her on the cover of the Duchess of Sussex-edited September issue of British Vogue.This interview was recorded during London Fashion Week, so of course we talk clothes. These days, Sinéad sometimes gets about in custom-made Gucci, but that wasn't always the case. We discuss, what happens when clothes don't fit you? How do you navigate a world that is not designed for you? Is the fashion industry finally ready to embrace the opportunity to cater to more shapes and sizes, abilities and needs? Why does it so often exclude so many people, and how can we change that?Let's get to it!Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2019/10/27/podcast-100-sinead-burke-a-new-perspective to read yours and #bethechangeCAN YOU HELP US CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAY BY SHARING ABOUT THE SHOW? Clare's on Instagram and Twitter, @mrspressWe love it when you rate & review is in Apple Podcasts too - keep them coming. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do we need to "fix" fashion? Try because textile production contributes more to climate change than international aviation and shipping combined and consumes lake-sized volumes of fresh water. If current consumption levels continue the industry could account for 25% of the world's carbon budget.Because our wardrobes are full of clothes we don't wear, yet we keep buying more and more garments, most of which are made from polyester and shed tiny plastic microfibres every time we wash them. Because we buy fashion to throw it away.This Episode's guest is Mary Creagh, who at the time of recording was chair of the UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) and the Labour MP for Wakefield - the woman responsible for raising all these things with the British parliament in 2019.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2019/10/13/podcast-99-mp-mary-creagh-fixing-fashion-amp-the-environmental-audit-committee to read yours and #bethechangeDon't forget to hit subscribe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How are you doing with all this climate news? Is it getting you down? This Episode to the rescue! It's all about climate hope and how we can feel more courageous and positive about our activism.Meet climate activist, Anna Rose. She started forming environmental groups when she was a school kid. By the time she was at university, she, and her friend Amanda McKenzie, cofounded the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, which today has more than 150,000 members. She's been involved in leadership for Earth Hour, is on a bunch of important academic advisory boards and today works with an organisation called Farmers for Climate Action. But the reason you need to listen to her is that Anna has a long view on how to stay motivated with our activism . She talks about "hope as a strategic decision" and reminds us that we all have difference capacities that "it's only called impossible until it's done."“Often I don't feel brave, but I have to do things that I know are important,” she says. "I see courage as a muscle we can build up over time."In this upbeat, inspiring conversation, we discuss where to begin, why courage is important, how to foster it and how we can use it to change the world.ENJOYING THE SHOW? Don't forget to subscribe. Please consider rating and reviewing us? Follow Clare on Instagram.Head over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2019/9/4/podcast-97-courage-how-to-deal-with-climate-change-freakout-with-activist-anna-rose to read yours and #bethechange Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Episode was recorded during London fashion week. Extinction Rebellion is a grass roots activism movement demanding radical action on the global climate crisis. The group formed in the UK in October 2018 on the premise that trying to be a bit more sustainable, tinkering around the edges of the system but essentially carrying on with business as usual, will not save us from climate breakdown.They are calling on governments to declare a climate and ecological emergency, and to act immediately to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2025.You will hear from some of the Extinction Rebellion protestors who staged a 'funeral' for London Fashion Week in September, then sit down with activists: Clare Farrell, Sara Arnold and Will Skeaping to find out why they think civil disobedience is the way to go, what to do about the scary science, and where fashion fits in with all of this.Do you value this show? Please help us spread the word by rating and reviewing in your favourite podcast app, and sharing about Wardrobe Crisis on social media.Find Clare on Instagram and Twitter @mrspressHead over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2019/9/29/podcast-97-extinction-rebellion-is-it-time-we-tore-the-whole-thing-down to read yours and #bethechange  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does colonialism play out in fashion? And how can we encourage the fashion industry in general, and retail in particular, to be more inclusive? And when will fashion finally wake up to cultural appropriation and do better?Join me and Sara Ali, a London-based luxury fashion consultant who focuses on Arabia and Africa, as we decode this sensitive subject and ask, Why don't more conversations focus on it?Enjoying the show? Thank you for listening. Please help us spread the word. Rating and reviewing in iTunes can help others find us. Or share about the show on social media. Find Clare on Instagram and Twitter @mrspressTo see all the podcast info and shownotes, visit https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you heard the one about denim factories turning rivers blue in China? Horrendous, right? But change is possible.Kirsten Brodde is a former science journalist on a mission to clean up fashion. Meet the Greenpeace activist who led the Detox My Fashion campaign, which spurred an industry-wide commitment to phase out harmful chemicals from clothing production.In this interview, we unpick what it takes to be an effective activist (think dogged persistence!) and passion but also a willingness to be unpopular.The Detox campaign took time, major pressure and careful negotiation, but it actually worked. Kirsten describes what's happened as a result as “a paradigm shift,” and says there's no going back.The message, activism matters. We need these dedicated, gusty individuals to rock the boat.Enjoying the show? Thank you for listening. Please help us spread the word. Rating and reviewing can help others find us. Or share about the show on social media. Find Clare on Instagram and Twitter @mrspressHead over to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/2019/8/20/podcast-96-detoxing-fashion-with-greenpeaces-kirsten-brodde to read yours and #bethechange Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The New York Times calls him "the poster boy for zero waste living". He's a florist, artist, restaurateur, architect, inventor and revolutionary thinker. Meet the man on a mission to convince us we can grow all the food we need where we live.In this riveting episode, we discuss everything from how wasteful the floristry industry is to the microbial power of healthy soil to boost serotonin (Yep, it can get you high apparently). What would happen if we reconnected with the natural world? How might eating seasonally change our health, happiness and impact? Could we really grow all the food we need on the roof and walls of our houses and apartment buildings? What's the future of green cities?Enjoying the show? Thank you for listening. Please help us spread the word. Rating and reviewing in iTunes can help others find us. Or share about the show on social media. Find Clare on Instagram and Twitter @mrspressTo see all the podcast info and shownotes, visit https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you have any idea how much it actually costs to make your clothes? Most brands would rather you didn't.Meet the fashion disruptor who is happy to tell you exactly what it costs his company to make its products, and exactly how much profit they make on each style.Michael Preysman founded Everlane on the concept of "radical transparency" and says: “We believe our customers have a right to know how much their clothes cost to make. We reveal the true costs behind all of our products—from materials to labor to transportation—then offer them to you, minus the traditional retail markup.”Why is transparency important in the fashion industry? How does that idea apply when it comes to garment workers and factory supply chains? How did this Californian start up become a major global player, and what drives Michael Preysman? In this interview we discuss what it takes to succeed, the power of disruption, and being okay with not being perfect. Check out the shownotes on https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast for links and more info.Enjoying Wardrobe Crisis? Get in touch with Clare on Instagram and Twitter (@mrspress) and let her know. Please consider rating and reviewing us in Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that handwork, or craft, is the second largest employer of women in emerging economies? Since a large proportion of them work from home, this is an often hidden and unregulated sector.Post Rana Plaza, there's been more attention on garment factories, but how often do we consider outworkers - homeworkers - who are often contracted by third parties?This week's guest is Rebecca van Bergen, founder of fab New York-based NGO, Nest. They are on a mission to “build a new handworker economy to increase global workforce inclusivity, improve women's wellbeing beyond factories, and preserve important cultural traditions around the world.”In this interview, we discuss what it takes to make it as a social entrepreneur, the importance of practical plan as well as a big vision, the familiar story of women's work being values and what's being done about it. Enjoying the show? Don't forget to hit subscribe, and please tell your friends! Connect with Clare on Instagram and Twitter, @mprsressHead to https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast for detailed shownotes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm sure you've heard that sustainable fashion is the thing right now. Searches on Lyst increased by 66% last year. Vogue has a sustainability editor. Slow fashion is so popular that even Zara is trying to convince us they're not a fast fashion brand. But what does it take to make it as an independent designer working in this space? To cut through the noise to become a sustainable label people talk about? And buy?Are hard work and dedication enough? Nope, says Courtney Holm, the Australian designer behind buzzy independent fashion label A.BCH. She argues that new gen designers need to rethink the whole system. Holm is on a mission to revolutionise how we buy, wear and dispose of clothing.In this interview we discuss the instinct to have a go yourself when you see something isn't being done, the importance of doing your homework and the usefulness of having a stubborn streak. And we bust the myth that size matters when it comes to being the change.Enjoying the show? Let us know via https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcastFind Clare on Instagram and Twitter @mrspressThank you for listening. Don't forget to hit subscribe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denim is ubiquitous. Almost 2 billion pairs of jeans were sold around the world in 2017. That's a lot of jeans. It's also a lot of jeans waste. According to The New Textiles Economy report, less than 1% of used clothing is recycled into new clothing. We're landfilling and incinerating more while at the same time decreasing clothing use over time. The new Jeans Redesign Guidelines from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation seek to solve this. Can they get everyone on board? Enjoying the show? Let us know via https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcastFind Clare on Instagram and Twitter @mrspressThank you for listening. Don't forget to hit subscribe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By 2030, we keep going as we are, the fashion industry will manufacture 102 million tons of clothes and shoes. For comparison, that's the weight equivalent of half million blue whales!Growth is not something we like to question in the fashion industry (or indeed any industry). In our capitalist system, commercial success is measured by growth. But, how can we support infinite growth on a finite planet? “If we could live within the limits of what we've already got, we could get a glimpse of what fashion might be like beyond consumerist obsessions,” says this week's guest, Kate Fletcher.Kate is a professor at the Centre for Sustainable Fashion in London. She is a founding member of the Union of Concerned Researchers in Fashion, and the author of a wonderful book called Craft of Use. In it she asks, what if we paid more attention to the tending and wearing of garments rather than their acquisition? Enjoying the show? Let us know via https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcastFind Clare on Instagram and Twitter @mrspressThank you for listening. Don't forget to hit subscribe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What drives us to consume, and what does over-consumption do to us and the planet?Twenty-five-old British poet, filmmaker and activist Wilson Oryema describes himself as “a semi-retired fashion model”. He was scouted on his lunch break when he was working a London office job, and walked his first show for Margiela in Paris in 2015. He went on to appear in ads for Calvin Klein Underwear and Hugo Boss.His first book of poetry, titled Wait, explores consumerism, contemporary culture and waste. It sprang from an art show he held in a London gallery, after he interned for his photographer friend Harley Weir.Now, as well as writing, he's making short films about the fashion industry's impacts on the environment. Wilson says poetry is just another way to communicate his ideas to his audience, and that when he began it didn't worry him one bit that he hadn't read loads of poetry - he just gave it a go and it worked. This interview is about how we reach different people, how we story tell, and - ultimately - how we change the world.Enjoying the show? Let us know via https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcastFind Clare on Instagram and Twitter @mrspressThank you for listening. Don't forget to hit subscribe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cameron Saul is a British social entrepreneur and the co-founder of ethical accessories brand Bottletop. For his next trick, he's teamed up with the United Nations and Project Everyone on #TOGETHERBAND - which is all about spreading awareness of the UN Sustainable Development Goals - (SDGs) - also known as the Global Goals.“We want solutions, but what most of us don't realise is that there is a roadmap for a healthy planet, and that's the Global Goals. It's an extraordinary framework for action and for scaling solutions, and helping us achieve that healthy future for ourselves, our children and our children's children.” - Cameron SaulJoin us as we decode the Goals, and discuss where we're kicking them and where we've got a long way to go. This is an inspiring and info-packed episode - essential listening, sustainability warriors!Join the conversation - follow Clare in Instagram and TwitterFind all the links on the show-notes here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(Trigger warning: this interview contains a brief reference to suicide.)This week's interview is with brilliant writer and activist Professor Jennifer Finney Boylan. Her memoir She's Not There, A Life in Two Genders is a must-read, as are her New York Times columns.For many years, Jenny was the co-chair of GLAAD's board of directors. She was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Kinsey Institute for Research on Sex, Gender and Reproduction, and she advised and appeared on the TV series I Am Cait with Caitlin Jenner. But wait - there's more: Jennifer Boylan's big TV moment was on Oprah, and you're going to hear all about that.We discuss the transgender experience, and the detail of Jennifer's journey. We talk about the role and limitations of clothes in communicating identity, how fashion represents status, the moral imagination, why Kris Jenner believes in the power of the stylist, and fighting bigotry in Trumpland. Join the conversation - follow Clare in Instagram and TwitterDon't miss the show-notes each week on https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast - they're packed with links and extra info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blue jeans were invented by Jacob Davis and Levis Strauss in the 1870s. They were worn by gold miners and cowboys, then James Dean, Marlon Brando, American teenagers and rock stars. If you want to talk about the history of cool, Levi's was there. From Debbie Harry and The Ramones to Jim Morrison - they all wore Levi's. And did you also know that Levi's introduced women's jeans in 1934, when skirts were the norm? The company has also been active raising money and awareness in the fight against AIDs since the '80s. So there's a lot to love about this brand.But how sustainable is Levi's? This week, we hear from Levi's Vice-President of Sustainability, Michael Kobori. He started out in human rights, and joined Levi's in 1995. He's seen the conversation move from sweatshops and corporate social responsibility (CSR) to new gen materials, life cycle assessments, worker wellbeing and carbon emissions. Join the conversation - follow Clare in Instagram and TwitterDon't miss the show-notes each week on https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast - they're packed with links and extra info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CHOOSE LIFE, EDUCATION NOT MISSILES, WORLDWIDE NUCLEAR BAN NOW, SAVE THE FUTURE, and more recently, CANCEL BREXIT...just a few of the iconic slogan T-shirts designed by this week's guest over the years.Designer Katharine Hamnett is one of the pioneers of modern British fashion. She invented the much copied slogan T-shirt, was the first winner of the British Fashion Council's 'Designer of the Year' award (in 1984), and championed organic cotton long before it was trendy. This year marks her 40th in the industry.In 1989, her research into fashion's environmental & social impact horrified her. She lobbied the industry to act for change, but with little success. She campaigned directly on issues such as the use of pesticides and the plight of cotton farmers, and badgered her licensees to reduce the environmental and social impact of her collections. But it was a war before its time. She took the decision to wind down her brand – ripping up licences – until production methods could meet her environmental criteria. Moving out of the mainstream industry, she concentrated on campaigning, political activism and collaborating with charities. Now the world has caught up with Katharine Hamnett - in 2017, she relaunched her business.In this frank, intimate discussion, you get to hear it all from her glitzy early years as a designer to what motivates her to be change agent today. We talk fast fashion, climate change, her work with organic cotton, saving the bees, but also growing up in France and being comfortable with being a minority of one. This Episode goes live on World Environment Day 2019, as Katharine Hamnett launches her latest tee. The Global Green New Deal Now T-shirt can be purchased at katharinehamnett.com and all proceeds go to support Greenpeace and their work on climate justice. Join the conversation - follow Clare in Instagram and TwitterDon't miss the show-notes each week on https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast - they're packed with links and extra info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We don't talk very much about mindfulness in fashion, but it's not like the two are mutually exclusive. If the opposite of sustainable fashion is thoughtlessly buying more and more clothes and getting rid of them after just a few wears, then mindfulness surely has a place.Fashion journalist Bandana Tewari is a former Vogue India editor who now writes for Business of Fashion, and speaks globally on India's rich tradition of fashion craftsmanship. This episode covers that but from a unique perspective: Bandana's been developing a theory around what we can learn from the great Indian activist Mohandas Gandhi (mahatma means high-souled in Sanskrit). It was Gandhi who lead the khadi movement, uniting Indians in opposition to British colonial rule around the issue of cotton production. How did he develop his sartorial integrity, and what can we learn from that in today's context of hyper-consumerism. As powerful argument as we ever heard in support of the idea that clothes do matter...Join the conversation - follow Clare in Instagram and TwitterDon't miss the show-notes each week on https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast - they're packed with links and extra info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2011, Arizona Muse landed a Prada contract and a 14-page story in American Vogue, with Anna Wintour comparing her to Linda Evangelista and Natalia Vodianova. She's since become a familiar face on Vogue covers everywhere (including Vogue Paris, British vogue plus she's graced 3 Australian Vogue covers). But these days Arizona has new priorities.Today she is using her platform to help the industry that she loves transition to a more sustainable future. She's been working with The Sustainable Angle, curating showcases of young sustainable designers with her friend Rebecca Corbin-Murray, and she plans to set up a consultancy.This episode is about following your dreams, diving into new worlds, reinvention, and learning. It's the story of a woman we knew for one reason, her beauty, changing the conversation around her, to focus outward. Join the conversation - follow Clare in Instagram and TwitterDon't miss the show-notes each week on https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast - they're packed with links and extra info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet the millennial behind cult New Zealand label Maggie Marilyn. We hear a lot about how the Gens Y and Z are more woke, more into sustainability and of course more worried about climate change and the environment - why wouldn't they be? These are the generations that are going to inherit the mess that's been made. They are already inheriting it.Find out why designer Maggie Hewitt is determined to do fashion differently, how she sold her very first collection to Net-A-Porter and gets most excited about seeing her clothes worn by women she doesn't know in the street. Yep, even though Megan Markle, Kendall Jenner and Rose McGowan are fans.The brand launched in 2016, and is Made in New Zealand. Big on pink, but never simply pretty, these clothes evoke a sense of feminine strength and speak to the designer's passion for sustainable production and materials. (BTW, who wants to move to New Zealand?!)Join the conversation - follow Clare in Instagram and TwitterDon't miss the show-notes each week on https://thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast - they're packed with links and extra info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The mainstream fashion production process is extremely wasteful. The whole system is built on over-ordering, taking a punt on how much will sell, and writing off over-production. This leads to shocking amounts of pre-consumer textiles and garments being landfilled or incinerated - according to some estimates, 1/3 of all the fashion ever produced it never sold.Australian made-to-order T-shirt company Citizen Wolf is using big data and algorithmic power to disrupt this. And they plan to take on the world. Can it work? How did founders Zoltan Csaki and Eric Phu build it? This thought-provoking discussion looks into the fashion crystal ball to imagine a leaner, greener, more responsive manufacturing future.For links and further reading, check out the show notes here.Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast in Apple, and join the conversation on social media. You can find Clare on Instagram and Twitter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fashion has a long association with craft, but what about fashion activism? Could we stitch out way to a better world?Meet the author of How to be a Craftivist and founder of Craftivist Collective. Sarah Corbett believes, “If we want a world that is beautiful, kind and fair, shouldn't our activism be beautiful, kind and fair?”This Episode is a call to arms for fashion change-makers, a demonstration of the persuasive nature of gentle activism, and the wonderful idea that together we might stitch a rebellion, sweep out the status quo and usher in a fairer world in fashion and beyond.Happy Fashion Revolution Week! For links and further reading, check out the show notes here.Are you a craftivist? Would you like to be? We'd love to know what you think. Find Clare on Instagram & Twitter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we gear up to Earth Day on April 22, we're thinking about living more lightly on the planet. This year's theme is Protect Our Species, and one of the quotes that inspired it is from Rachel Carson, who said, “In nature nothing exists alone.”This week's podcast guest is proof of that. She is Natalie Isaacs, the super-inspiring Australian movement builder behind 1 Million Women. Natalie is one-woman powerhouse who decided to harness that power of other women - heck, the whole of womankind! - to start a lifestyle revolution to fight climate change. We discuss connectivity, community and staying focused, plus the fact that the strangest routes can lead you to where you want to be. How did Natalie transition from cosmetics producer (and plastic polluter) to eco warrior? What kickstarted the process, and kept her going? How does she bring others along with her? And how can you?“We as individuals and as citizens of the world have a) and obligation and b) the power," she says. "We have glorious power to act in our lives and rise above politics, because we cannot just wait for politicians and for governments to put in policies to fight climate change. We can't wait! We have to get on with it!" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.