If you think "greenwashing" is a new kind of laundry hack, well, we've got news for you (and it isn't good). We're delving into the murky waters of sustainable fashion, offering actionable insights to navigate the deceptive world of greenwashing. Sustainable fashion designer Abbie James explains what it is, why it's so bad, and shares some practical tips to help us discern real eco-facts from fast fashion fiction.
Guest bio:
A passionate campaigner against the fast fashion industry, environmentalist and fashion designer, Abbie James is changing the fashion industry from the inside out.
With the fashion industry in crisis, Abbie knew she needed to use her skills to make a change. Offering transparency and accountability in an industry that is anything but honest, Abbie is looking towards a future where clothing is loved and cherished and craftsmanship is honoured over cheap labour.
Connect with Abbie:
@abbiejames.official on Instagram
Mentioned in this episode:
About the show:
This is Reloved Radio: Sustainable Fashion Stories, the fortnightly show that brings you inspiring stories from guests who are making a positive impact in the sustainable fashion space.
Want to know the BEST places to shop secondhand online in Australia? Download this EPIC list for free!
Join the Reloved conversation on Instagram.
Credits:
Music: 'Old Leather Sneakers' by PineAppleMusic
Fifty-nine percent of green claims are misleading.
2
:That's a statistic in the UK.
3
:And I know, and 68 percent of
companies in the USA have confirmed
4
:that they have greenwashed.
5
:So when a company is saying,
"We're a green company", don't
6
:just take it at face value.
7
:You need to have a look on their website
and see how they're backing them up.
8
:Chryssius: Hey, Relovers,
welcome to Reloved Radio.
9
:Today, I have Abbie James on the show to
talk about greenwashing - what it is, why
10
:it's so bad, and what can we do about it?
11
:Abbie isn't your typical fashion designer.
12
:- she's combined her love for fabrics and
design with a commitment to environmental
13
:sustainability and as such, has
carved out a niche for herself in the
14
:world of luxury, sustainable fashion.
15
:Abbie challenges the fashion
industry's norms, and I'm totally
16
:on board with her vision of a
future where clothing is treasured,
17
:craftsmanship is revered, and ethical
practices prevail over cheap labour.
18
:Welcome to the show, Abbie!
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:Abbie: Thank you very much for
having me and what an important topic
20
:we're going to talk about today.
21
:Chryssius: It is, and I want
to start with what greenwashing
22
:actually is, because I'll
tell you a really quick story.
23
:We were having a conversation in
our lunchroom the other day, and
24
:I had mentioned "greenwashing" and
nobody at the table knew what it was.
25
:And most of them actually thought that
it had something to do with laundry.
26
:So, can you give us, a bit of
a rundown of what greenwashing
27
:actually means in the fashion world?
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:Abbie: Yes, I can.
29
:And it's absolutely rampant in the
fashion industry, but not only the
30
:fashion industry, every single industry
that, uh, we are dealing with at the
31
:moment is greenwashing because we
are, as a consumer, so focused on
32
:environmental issues and sustainability
that the companies are grabbing
33
:onto this and they realise that
"green" things, "eco" things sell.
34
:And so they are trying to make their
products as green as, or to seem as
35
:green as possible to us so we buy them.
36
:The problem is greenwashing is when
it isn't a sustainable product,
37
:but they're greenwashing us to make
us think that it's sustainable.
38
:People say, oh, certified green,
but they've certified it themselves.
39
:So you've got to be really
careful of all those words.
40
:But any word, sustainable, green,
eco, it's all just these buzzwords.
41
:And it's actually really hard for
consumers because there are people out
42
:there that are doing the right thing.
43
:And what words do they use?
44
:Because they don't want to
sound like they're greenwashing.
45
:But it's really confusing for consumers.
46
:Chryssius: So how can we spot when
a brand is trying to greenwash us?
47
:Are we just looking for those
words or what are we looking for?
48
:Abbie: You're looking
for No, you know what?
49
:You're not just looking for those words.
50
:You're looking for backup of those words.
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:And it does mean as a consumer,
you need to research a little bit.
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:So when a company is saying,
we're a green company, don't
53
:just take it as at face value.
54
:You need to have a look on their website
and see how they're backing them up.
55
:Because if someone, if a brand is
sustainable, is eco-friendly, they
56
:are going to back up their claims
because financially it's a really smart
57
:thing to do because it makes sense.
58
:But if it's not backed up,
then it's greenwashing.
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:Another thing to do, and I was
given this tip from another podcast
60
:called Clotheshorse Podcast.
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:I interviewed her on my website
and, if you type in the company
62
:into Google the company's name
and then the word "greenwashing",
63
:have a look at what comes up.
64
:And if they have had a lot of
greenwashing claims in the past,
65
:that'll come up and, you know,
it'll just give you some red flag.
66
:Chryssius: That's a great tip, I'm
definitely going to try that one.
67
:I hadn't even thought of
doing that, to be honest.
68
:Abbie: works.
69
:works.
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:Chryssius: Can you give us some
examples of the tactics that brands use?
71
:You know, more of the sneaky tactics
they're using to make themselves seem
72
:more eco-friendly than they actually are?
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:Abbie: Yeah.
74
:H& M at one point, they, you know,
they had their Conscious Collection.
75
:I'm pretty sure they don't
have that collection anymore.
76
:I'm not really into H& M, so I'm
not really following them, but they
77
:promote their collection as being
sustainable because, say they're using
78
:a natural fibre like linen or, you
know, recycled poly, whether that's
79
:sustainable or not is another story,
but they're looking at one particular
80
:thing that is a sustainable claim.
81
:But then if you look at
everything else they're doing.
82
:It is completely unsustainable.
83
:Say they've got a lot of micro
seasons, a lot, you know, maybe
84
:they have one season a week, which
is really normal for fast fashion.
85
:They have a huge amount of
pieces coming out each year.
86
:It is so cheap.
87
:So ethically the, uh, the manufacturers
and the makers are not getting a living
88
:wage, even though it is the minimum wage.
89
:It needs to be looked at holistically
rather than just looking at one piece.
90
:And so one piece of the puzzle does not
make a whole puzzle, but greenwashing
91
:makes you just focus on one single
piece and they hang on to that.
92
:And you as a consumer need to go,
hang on, that is saying it's linen,
93
:but, they're doing all these other
things that are really unsustainable.
94
:So are they actually sustainable?
95
:It's like I said before, it's all about
just delving just under the surface
96
:and you'll see what they're on about.
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:Chryssius: So it's very similar
to reading the labels on your food
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:packages and that sort of thing.
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:Abbie: got it!
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:That's right.
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:Chryssius: Some great tips there.
102
:There's been quite a bit of negative press
in recent times, particularly around that
103
:Conscious Collection that they called it?
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:Abbie: Yep.
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:Yeah,
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:Chryssius: And there are a
few others out there as well.
107
:There was one that I saw the other day
that was a very, very high end brand.
108
:And there was some type of fibre that
was apparently softer than cashmere
109
:and they were selling them for these
ridiculous prices just crazy crazy prices
110
:and the people in this one particular
place, I think it may have been Peru,
111
:weren't even getting paid at all.
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:Abbie: Oh, I saw that.
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:That was on, on some form of social media.
114
:I did see that.
115
:Yes.
116
:Yes.
117
:That's it.
118
:Look, and it's really confusing for
consumers as well because in the industry,
119
:we've got sustainable practices, but then
we also have ethical practices and ethics.
120
:are a little bit different to sustainable.
121
:So a sustainable brand will be,
"Oh, we're using sustainable fibres.
122
:We're using, um, organic
farming", but ethics are not
123
:about the sustainable fibres.
124
:It's more about the people and the animals
that, that are being either misused or,
125
:you know, used in the, in the industry.
126
:So that's a really confusing thing
as well, because personally, I would
127
:love to see ethics and sustainability
be as I said before, holistic.
128
:I like things to be holistic,
but at the moment it's not.
129
:So you think about, okay, there is,
I'm not going to name names, but
130
:there is a particular Australian
brand that is incredibly popular
131
:that does vegan handbags and they
are calling themselves sustainable
132
:because they don't use animal products.
133
:But - and ethical of course - but they are
using virgin plastic instead of leather.
134
:So it's really, I feel misleading because
virgin plastic isn't very sustainable.
135
:Chryssius: It's very confusing.
136
:There's so much noise out there.
137
:And with all that, it makes it really
hard for people to know if they're
138
:making a, sustainable fashion choice.
139
:So do you have any tips there?
140
:Obviously doing the research,
is there anything else?
141
:Abbie: It's really important
to know what your values are.
142
:Some people value, it is very
important that ethics around animal
143
:cruelty and not using leather or
fur, that's really important to them.
144
:For other people, it
is very environmental.
145
:Say, I mean, I'm, I'm a vegetarian, but
I'm a vegetarian for different reasons
146
:to my daughter who's also a vegetarian,
I'm for environmental reasons, she's
147
:for ethical reasons for animals.
148
:So that just really hone in on what
your values are and what you're
149
:looking for in sustainability
because everyone is different.
150
:It's not a "one-size-fits-all" and then
look into the brands that you're wanting
151
:to purchase and really, really be aware
that especially fast fashion brands, they
152
:have marketing companies working for them
that know so much about human nature.
153
:They know what drives us.
154
:They know everything about psychology.
155
:They know how to manipulate you SO WELL.
156
:So if you know this and you have the
knowledge, knowledge is power when it
157
:comes to greenwashing and to sustainable
fashion, just know that you could be
158
:being greenwashed and look into it.
159
:And, if it is fast fashion and they're
saying they're sustainable, you are being
160
:greenwashed because there is no way the
fast fashion model could be sustainable
161
:in any way, shape or form because you
can't make that many items so cheaply
162
:and it be or sustainable or ethical.
163
:Chryssius: Yeah, that's right.
164
:And exactly as you mentioned
these micro seasons, it's crazy.
165
:There's no way that
that can be sustainable.
166
:There's just no way.
167
:Abbie: No, and, and look it is the way we
have been going with, you know, just the
168
:way we are in general as a community.
169
:I know when I had my boutique, when you
had something new, people were interested.
170
:As soon as something was a week
old, they were not interested.
171
:So I get why fast fashion is, really
doing a lot of micro seasons every
172
:single year, but as a community and as a
consumer, we need to rethink what we want
173
:in fashion and it's up to us to dictate
that you know what we're not going to buy
174
:into all of these micro seasons, we're not
going to buy into this over-consumerism
175
:and we are going to shop our wardrobe
a lot more than shopping these fast
176
:fashion chains and and I'm honing in
on the fast fashion chains because
177
:they're the ones that are doing the main
greenwashing because they have the money
178
:to really hone into our psychology.
179
:Chryssius: And it becomes a bit
of a vicious circle as well.
180
:You know, they're putting it out there.
181
:We're buying it, which means that they're
going there, you know, they're going to
182
:create more and we're going to buy more.
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:So you're right.
184
:It
185
:Abbie: That's exactly
186
:Chryssius: Yeah.
187
:At a, at a community level
where we have to say, "Does this
188
:really align with my values?
189
:Is this what I want?"
190
:Yeah.
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:Abbie: And, and it's really important to
know as a consumer, you have the power.
192
:And we think these fast
fashion giants have the power.
193
:They're putting the
clothes into the shops.
194
:They're telling us, as far as, you
know, we may think, they're telling
195
:us what is fashionable, what's on
trend, what colours we need to buy.
196
:But we need to take the power back
because you are voting with your dollar.
197
:And every time you spend something,
at a shop, spend your money,
198
:you are condoning the practices
of that shop of that company.
199
:And trust me, the people that
own fast fashion companies do not
200
:care a fig about fashion at all.
201
:They are just in it for the money,
but they have such amazing marketers
202
:working for them that just are kind
of, I'm going to say brainwashing us to
203
:think that we really need them to feel
whole, to feel okay, to be accepted.
204
:Chryssius: Yep.
205
:And I mean, brainwashing and greenwashing.
206
:Abbie: It's so similar, you could kind
of confuse the words, couldn't you?
207
:Chryssius: How big of a deal
is transparency when it comes
208
:to fighting greenwashing,
particularly in the fashion space?
209
:Abbie: Yeah, transparency is everything.
210
:I've got a collection coming
out next month, in April.
211
:And I'm focusing on being transparent
as possible to give my customer and my
212
:community the respect that they deserve
to actually know exactly what is going
213
:into their garment, even down to where
I purchased the thread from, where
214
:the fabric comes from, the company.
215
:People don't like to be transparent
because they're also worried
216
:about people stealing, you know.
217
:their manufacturers and things like that.
218
:But I mean, seriously,
we're all in this together.
219
:And you know, I lift other designers up.
220
:I'm not in competition with them.
221
:So I'm happy to help someone
be as sustainable as they can
222
:be if they're wanting to do
the same thing that I'm doing.
223
:So yeah, transparency is really rewarded.
224
:I feel if there's another brand out
there that's thinking about being more
225
:transparent and they're listening to
your podcast, then I say go for it and
226
:if you are a consumer and you see a
brand being transparent, that's being
227
:really vulnerable and you should put a
lot of respect into that brand because
228
:they're making themselves really
vulnerable, they're making themselves
229
:really open and That is to be respected.
230
:So yeah, transparency is key because
what you're doing is putting the
231
:onus back onto the consumer to say,
this is everything that my brand is.
232
:Now you choose if it
aligns with your values.
233
:Chryssius: When we're talking about
transparency are there any, like, seals
234
:of approval or certifications that we
as consumers can trust, that's going to
235
:show that a brand is actually, walking
the talk when it comes to sustainability?
236
:Abbie: Yeah.
237
:Look, It's, I mean, there are some
certifications, but it's very, very
238
:hard for a small brand to get them.
239
:And so the small brands are actually
leading the way with transparency and
240
:with sustainability because they are
the ones that are able to say deadstock
241
:fabric, which is a remnant fabric, which,
you know, it still can be a little bit
242
:hazy whether it's authentic dead stock.
243
:That is another podcast for you
244
:But the small brands are actually
leading the way in sustainability,
245
:which is really really exciting.
246
:So you're not going to see those small
brands get the certifications because
247
:it's a lot of money, but it's also
easier to delve into the small brands
248
:and see where they're coming from.
249
:And because it's written everywhere on
their website, because they're celebrating
250
:this sustainability that they're doing.
251
:But you've got B Corp certifications.
252
:There are some brands,
but they are bigger.
253
:So I feel if you've got a B-Corp
cert, then, you know, that is
254
:showing a lot of integrity.
255
:I mean, you've got something like
the BCI, which is their Better Cotton
256
:Initiative; that is a certification, but
I kind of take it with a grain of salt.
257
:Target and a lot of fast fashion brands
do get cotton from BCI and I have
258
:spoken to manufacturers of cotton who
say it's a bit of a load of hogwash
259
:but I'm not educated in it so I'm
not really going to go into that.
260
:You've got Fairtrade certifications,
you've got the GOTS which is the Global
261
:Organic Textile you know so that means 70
percent of the fibre has to be organic.
262
:You've got the Ecotex which certifies
against harmful substances, so it doesn't
263
:mean it's natural, it doesn't mean it's
not synthetic, but that is, I suppose,
264
:better than not, if that makes sense.
265
:Chryssius: So how does all the
greenwashing affect the good guys?
266
:So the brands that are out there
genuinely trying to make a difference
267
:with their sustainable fashion,
how are they being affected by
268
:greenwashing by the bigger brands?
269
:Abbie: Oh that is such a good
conversation, because it makes it really,
270
:really hard for us, because people don't
know if they're being greenwashed or not.
271
:And so some people just assume they're
being greenwashed and they're just hearing
272
:these buzzwords over and over again.
273
:"Sustainability", "conscious" - I
mean no one wants to use the word
274
:"conscious" anymore because of
H&M and how they overused it.
275
:Yeah, and look Fifty-nine percent
of green claims are misleading.
276
:That, that's a statistic
in the, in, in the UK.
277
:And I know, and 68 percent of
companies in the USA have confirmed
278
:that they have greenwashed.
279
:Chryssius: They've admitted it.
280
:Abbie: Yeah, they've admitted it.
281
:Yeah.
282
:So maybe, you know, without, I
don't know how they've admitted that
283
:without, you know, going to court.
284
:But, um, what I'm saying is everyone
is greenwashing the consumers.
285
:And so the consumers are
just so freaking wary now.
286
:And I put a poll out on
my Instagram community.
287
:And the, one of the number one things
that they are concerned about in the
288
:sustainable fashion arena is how do they
know if they're being greenwashed or not?
289
:And, and so, yeah, it does really
affect us as a smaller, sustainable
290
:brand, because, how do people
know if we're telling the truth?
291
:If they don't listen to a podcast like
yours, where we say, you know what,
292
:just delve into it a bit more, do that.
293
:They just, they don't know.
294
:So yeah, it has really affected
us, but you know what we're just...
295
:that's what my job is.
296
:I've got a really strong
community on social media.
297
:I've got an extra strong
community in my newsletter.
298
:And we talk about this all the time.
299
:And so being part of a community like that
really helps just knowing who to trust.
300
:Chryssius: From what you're saying,
it's just seems like there's two camps
301
:as consumers, because on one end of the
scale, it at face value that someone is
302
:saying that their product is sustainable.
303
:So, you know, you're believing it, but
then end of the scale as you said, people
304
:don't know whether or not to believe,
you know, an honest claim, so...
305
:So confusing.
306
:Abbie: Yeah, and look, it's, it's like
that old saying ignorance is bliss...
307
:until it's not.
308
:Wouldn't it be so nice to just believe
everything everyone was saying?
309
:Chryssius: be nice.
310
:Abbie: so simple, but it's not like that.
311
:You have the power as the consumer,
like I said, before, to vote with
312
:your dollar and that's a huge power.
313
:And it's something that
you shouldn't take lightly.
314
:Chryssius: Hmm.
315
:Absolutely.
316
:And my next question was actually
going to be, is there anything that
317
:we can do as consumers to make brands
own up to their greenwashing habits?
318
:And as you said, voting with
your dollars is a big one.
319
:Is there anything else
that you'd add to that?
320
:Abbie: Yeah.
321
:Ask questions.
322
:When I had my boutique and it's
in quite a, an alternative area, it
323
:was on Brunswick street in Fitzroy.
324
:And it's where I launched
the Abbie James brand.
325
:And now the Abbie James brand is online.
326
:I had so many people coming up to me
and asking me, "How am I sustainable?"
327
:And they were putting me to the
test and they were just asking a
328
:lot of hard questions, which I had
so much respect for those people.
329
:Asking questions, asking the awkward
questions because it can be really hard
330
:to ask those questions, but ask shop
owners because that gets passed on to
331
:brands, ask brands, send them emails,
especially if it's a smaller brand.
332
:Ask them, are you having
this made locally?
333
:There's a lot of questions
that you can ask.
334
:Have a voice.
335
:Speak out against greenwashing.
336
:Tell people about it.
337
:Say, "Hey, they said
this, but it wasn't true.
338
:I think you should know about this."
339
:And then more people know about it.
340
:Chryssius: What about for your brand?
341
:Have you faced any bumps in the
road when you've tried to push
342
:back against the greenwashing?
343
:Abbie: I have faced bumps in the road
in regards to manufacturing and when I
344
:was, so my first collection was designed
during lockdown and I had a local
345
:manufacturer lined up in Sydney, I'm in
Melbourne, and they went out of business.
346
:They had a family member pass away
from COVID and they just stopped, they
347
:just closed their, their business.
348
:And so I was like, I put
so much work into this.
349
:It's kind of like, I'm going to stop
or I have to pivot really quickly.
350
:And so with the help of another
company just to give me,
351
:contacts, I had it made overseas.
352
:Now I didn't know as much as I do now.
353
:And I'm not getting my next
collection made overseas.
354
:It's from lovely, lovely makers
who are self employed in Melbourne.
355
:But I used a certified company.
356
:I used a certified factory.
357
:They paid, you know, the minimum wage.
358
:They did everything correctly.
359
:But as a designer, that is still,
not a very sustainable option that
360
:I chose and I'll admit that and
I love to admit that because it
361
:shows that companies can change.
362
:Because the minimum wage isn't a living
wage and it's been proven that it's not
363
:over, you know overseas And so a brand
can be, you know told we've got these
364
:certifications, we've got this, we've
got that and they can go into this with
365
:their kind of blinkers on thinking they're
doing the right thing, but it's up to the
366
:brand to really do their research, too.
367
:You know, we, we might think that fabric
made in Bali is good because it's done
368
:by local, communities, but there is a
river in Bali and just off the top of my
369
:head, I can't remember the name of it,
but I wrote a blog piece on it and it
370
:is the most polluted river in the world.
371
:And it is because of the fashion
industry and the textile industry.
372
:So these things brands don't know, and
they're trying thing, but as a consumer
373
:you need to educate yourself and as a
brand you need to also educate yourself
374
:and go deeper than what you're being told.
375
:Chryssius: Yeah, that is such good advice.
376
:And I will link that in the show
notes as well for you, Abbie.
377
:Do you have any hints about what is
coming up next in the fashion world?
378
:Do you think things are going
to get better or worse when
379
:it comes to greenwashing?
380
:Abbie: That's such a good question.
381
:Things are getting better in
the fashion industry in general.
382
:As far as greenwashing goes, that's a
really tough one because in my arena,
383
:I feel it's getting better because
people are educating themselves,
384
:but I feel there are a lot of people
who don't have it on their radar.
385
:who are just believing what
these companies are saying.
386
:So it's not on their radar.
387
:So you know what?
388
:I think it can only get better,
but it really depends on if
389
:people are interested enough.
390
:Chryssius: Yeah.
391
:And do you think that it
is a generational thing?
392
:Abbie: Well...
393
:generational because the older
generations are not as interested
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:as the younger generations.
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:That would definitely say that the
future is looking a lot better because
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:the 20s, 30 year olds are definitely a
lot more interested and a lot more aware
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:of sustainable fashion and they are
making us in the industry accountable.
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:Whereas the 60 plus men and
women statistically, aren't,
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:it's not on their radar as much.
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:So yeah, generational,
that's a huge thing.
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:Definitely.
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:Chryssius: There's going to be people
that will listen to this and they're
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:going to want to know more, naturally.
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:So do you have any recommendations
for books or documentaries, websites
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:or blog posts, that sort of thing?
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:Abbie: Yeah, definitely.
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:You can look at my blog on my website.
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:Books are a huge thing for me.
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:I actually have a few here with
me, next to me because I wanted to
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:share what I personally have read.
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:The most amazing book which is
about colonialism and climate change
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:and consumerism is "Consumed".
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:It's by Aja Barber.
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:Amazing, amazing book, but I
really like "The Psychology of
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:Fashion" as well by Carolyn Mair.
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:I do feel that may be
more industry related.
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:I think that's something
that you would love to read.
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:"How to Break Up with Fast
Fashion" by Lauren Bravo is
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:a really great one as well.
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:And "To Die For" by Lucy Siegle.
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:That's a really good one.
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:"Is fashion wearing out the world?"
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:There are a lot of great books.
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:There's some amazing
documentaries as well.
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:Oh, what was that one?
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:I watched one about the denim industry.
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:Can I give it to you and you
put it in the show notes?
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:Yeah.
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:Look, I really feel it really helps
if you are on social media and
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:all credit to you if you're not.
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:But if you are on social media, find
communities that are aligned with your
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:values that build you up rather than
make you feel less than you should.
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:There are a lot of influencers now
that are promoting sustainable fashion
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:but promoting it in a way where it's,
slow fashion, vintage fashion, shop in
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:your closet and really there's a lot
of stylists out there that are helping
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:people style clothes they already have.
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:Like the old days, you know, when you had
a wedding maybe you look what's in your
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:wardrobe rather than going to a shop.
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:So find a community.
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:I have a really strong community
on my Instagram and Facebook and
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:we really connect with each other
away from that with my newsletter.
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:I, get people emailing me and asking
me for advice, and then I answer it.
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:And so finding people that you trust
and finding your community because
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:they will keep it on your radar.
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:Chryssius: I love that.
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:Abbie: Yeah.
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:Chryssius: What's your top piece of advice
for anyone who wants to shop ethically
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:and avoid falling for greenwashing?
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:Abbie: Okay, so my top advice
is it is not sustainable to
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:overshop sustainable products.
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:Just remember that first.
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:I'm talking about that on my social
media this week, because that's something
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:that I did when I first discovered
sustainability back in the day.
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:And really know your values and know
that your worth is not dictated by
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:trends, by what other people are wearing.
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:You are an individual and you don't need
whatever those fast fashion companies
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:are trying to tell you you need.
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:You don't need that to be a whole person.
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:So, just do your education but know that
you are enough without buying new clothes.
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:Chryssius: I need to write
that on a post it note stick it
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:everywhere just as a reminder!
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:Abbie: See, I'm the fashion designer that
tells people to stop buying clothing.
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:I don't, I don't know if
anyone else is doing that.
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:And, and I know it sounds really odd
to be doing that, but I know I'm going
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:to sell enough clothing, even when
I'm telling people to just hold off on
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:all of those new purchases, because so
many people are still buying clothes.
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:But I just remember the old days when your
grandparents or your great grandparents
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:and they bought a jacket and that jacket
was super, super special and they were
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:going to keep that jacket for years and
years and years to come, and they were
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:going to hand it down to their children
and it was going to be generational.
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:That jacket had a story.
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:Let our clothes live long
enough to tell stories.
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:Chryssius: Yes, yes, I
love stories about clothes.
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:Hence the podcast!
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:Abbie: Yes, I know, that's right.
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:Chryssius: I love it.
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:So just before we go, do you have a
Best Bargain Brag you can share with us?
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:Abbie: Well, it's a story, and
I don't know if this breaks the
479
:rules because I didn't buy it.
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:But my mum owned a maxi
skirt that was a kilt.
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:It was a traditional kilt but it goes
all the way to your ankles and she
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:kept it and she kept all of our kilts.
483
:We, we were, we went to church, my dad was
a minister so we dressed up a lot and to
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:keep up with appearances, but this kilt
I discovered last year in a box and I've
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:been wearing it a lot and styling it.
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:And I'm getting a lot
of inspiration about it.
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:And this kilt is amazing.
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:It has such a story for me
and I'm holding onto it.
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:So I'm classing it as secondhand, because
yes, it is from my Mum, but It was free.
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:Chryssius: It absolutely is.
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:Yeah, that's perfect.
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:It's got history,
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:Abbie: yeah, yeah, I have a lot
of, a lot of clothes that have
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:history and I love them all.
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:Chryssius: Well, I can't wait to
see it, and for anyone else who
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:wants to see it, I will pop it up
on our Reloved Radio highlights
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:and you'll be able to see it there.
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:Lovely.
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:And also quite important, how
can people get in touch with you?
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:Abbie: Well, there's two ways.
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:You can get onto social media,
you can get onto Instagram
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:and, it's @abbiejames.official.
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:Or you can jump onto my
newsletter community because
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:that is where I really dive deep.
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:And you know what, I'm quite honest,
I'm quite raw, I'm very very unfiltered
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:there, and that's on my website, which
I'm sure you'll have in the show notes.
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:It's abbie-james.com.
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:Remember my name is spelt A
double B I E, not like the church.
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:Chryssius: Thank you.
510
:That's excellent.
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:And I do have that all linked
for you in the show notes.
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:Thank so much!
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:Abbie: Thank you.
514
:It's been such a pleasure chatting to
you, and I just want to say thank you
515
:so much for bringing this subject to
light because the more the merrier.
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:I think the more podcasts that
are championing slow fashion,
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:sustainable fashion, the better.
518
:So well done.
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:You are being a part of
the change for better.