Style & Sustain

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

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

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

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

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

According to a Guardian article written in 2017, 100 companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions. Topping that list of companies are fossil fuel companies. Over the past few years, conversations around which global actors are the biggest culprits of the climate crisis have increased - slowly moving the narrative from individual actions like recycling and living sustainably to mitigate climate change to holding the biggest culprits like fossil fuel companies accountable for their above-average contribution to the destruction of our planet and human livelihoods. Despite all this, individual action is essential. In this episode, I give three reasons why I believe individuals/consumers should still make changes to live greener lifestyles even if they are not the biggest and definitely not the only culprits of climate change. Let's dig in. 

Fernanda Simon is the Director of Fashion Revolution Brazil, as well as Sustainability Editor of Vogue Brazil. The movement now brings together thousands of people passionate about seeing change in the industry in the country and beyond. Fernanda is an empathetic powerhouse and I love this conversation with her. We talk about her spiritual transformation that led to her passion for bringing forth a new fashion industry to her current role as Vogue Brazil Sustainability Editor, as well as the important part that the indigenous people of Brazil play in the future of the country, the environmental and economical impact of fast fashion and more...we cover it all in this inspiring conversation. Listen for yourself.

In this episode, I start by sharing my current heightened state of eco-anxiety post the publication of the IPCC report, how I cope with it and some key resources we can all use to tackle the climate crisis together. 

I then dive into tips around 5 Indications that a brand/company has authentic ethical & sustainable practices. It's a greenwashing minefield out there these days and these 5 tips I picked up along the way have helped me identify the brands I should engage with and support versus the ones to avoid and hold accountable for their actions. 

Resources mentioned in the episode: 

Earth Rise Studio: https://www.earthrise.studio/

#stopcambo: https://linktr.ee/StopCambo

Paid To Pollute Campaign: https://paidtopollute.org.uk/?ltclid=1984a11a-9233-468a-83ba-f467c5f0578f

In this episode, I’m talking to Shakaila Forbes-Bell a Fashion Psychologist and founder of the Fashion is Psychology platform based in London. You may be wondering, what is Fashion Psychology? Simply put the clothes we wear impact the way we live our lives, Fashion Psychology is the research and study of that impact. Shaikaila and I chat about what exactly fashion psychology is and how this up and coming field can transform how we relate to our clothes, be it as a brand or as a consumer. Fashion psychology is about the journey we go on with our clothes in our lifetime, and how wielding their power positively can be transformative for us as individuals and as a society at large.  Shakaila shares some deeply emotional journeys with her clothes, and about how her profession is seeing a rebirth for the better.

This episode, I chat to Helene Lucas, one of the key initiators of Panafrica shoes. She takes me through the incredible origin story of the brand and how the amazing shoes are uniquely made ethically and consciously across Africa- from Ivory Coast to Morroco, they are proof that Made in Africa can truly embody sustainable and ethical practices that take into account economical and environmental impact of production. Have a listen!

Esha Ahmed, founder of fabulous sustainable and ethical brand Ominana is the definition of #bosslady.  Omi Na-Na is authentic, cool and flaunts stunning statement dresses. We talk about how her Indian heritage shaped her journey into sustainable fashion and inspired the craftsmanship behind her brand. The at-times hidden realities of garment workers in India and the lack of representation of people from that part of the world in sustainable and ethical fashion and so much more. Enjoy!

This is the story of my past as a fast fashion addict, my transition to sustainability and a sneak peek about what this podcast will be about. Hope you enjoy it! Don't hesitate to share comments, ideas or questions by emailing me at amma@styleandsustain.com.