fashion revolution

Can you believe it's been a year since the disaster in the Bangladesh garment factory that took over 1100 lives? As we reach this anniversary, many of us sustainable fashion advocates can't help but ask ourselves if anything has really changed.

On the one hand, fast fashion appears to still rule the day. H&M and Uniqlo have both recently opened their first stores in Australia, and Zara's Australian profits outrank sales in other countries. And judging by the number of times I hear phrases such as, "Oh this top? I got it for only $20!", I know that cheap, fast fashion isn't going anywhere, well, fast.

On the other hand, there have been quiet rumblings of hope. . . if you read certain blogs and magazines, or hang out in certain pop-up retailers and cafes, there is a definite fashion revolution underway. Little by little, considered-purchase by considered-purchase, the tide is turning . . .

More often than not this revolution starts with looking at your clothing's labeling, and pondering questions of materials and country of manufacture. And it grows with each conversation you have about an interesting local designer producing clothing here in Australia, or a label producing in a fair trade factory in India. And it's all culminating in this week's Fashion Revolution Day, 24 April 2014.

On 24 April, we're all asked to wear our clothes #InsideOut, see what's on the labels of our clothing, and start asking questions about the truth behind our labels.

Whether you have on a designer dress, your favourite Zara number or that top you love but you have no idea who made it - turn it #InsideOut and learn a little bit more about what you love to wear. And don't stress too much if you learn it wasn't made ethically; instead ask that favourite designer of yours to start changing their practices. That's when we'll really start to make a change.

So come on, what are you waiting for? Turn your clothes inside out, take a picture of yourself and post it to your Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #InsideOut

Viva la (Fashion) Revolucion!

xxLisa

clean cut designer showcase

I know, I know. I've been absent for awhile. But with good reason, I promise!  I finally finished the second edition of Sustainability with Style (more on that later), and I've started my PhD. Hooray!

In more recent news, last week the fabulous sustainable fashion start-up I'm working with, Clean Cut, hosted the first ever green runway as part of Sydney's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Here are some of the highlights from the Clean Cut Designer Showcase.

Backstage excitement! Thanks so much to Lush for being our Principal
Sponsor and also providing hair & makeup.

The clothes were meticulously organised, ready for fast changes
as we showed 8 different labels in one show.

First, I LOVED this dress I borrowed from Goodone,
a designer we featured in the showcase.
Second, I made my TV debut on Channel 10's Wake Up!

I was thrilled to have my mentor, Romilly Madew, as one
of the intro speakers, alongside Lisa Messenger from
Renegade Collective.

It was a full house at The Hughes Gallery - thanks again
for letting us use your space!
And check out the amazing greenery on the ceiling and
walls, the vision of the Flower Era.

A look into our goody bags - treats from Lush, ALAS,
EcoStore (another amazing sponsor of ours), Camper,
The Collective Magazine, and the second edition
of Sustainability with Style!

And we're ready . . .

First up were some jaw-dropping gowns by
Rachael Cassar, made with recycled materials.

We loved pairing these Bhalo dresses with the Sass & Bide
Made in Africa clutch.

We were thrilled to celebrate Desert Designs
first 'Made in Australia' collection.

Great little number from the Social Studio.

One of my favourite looks from Goodone.

Clean and chic by Ovna Ovich.

Some of the striking looks from Kowtow.

A few of the gorgeous pieces from Lalesso - made ethically
in Kenya, and some pieces made from recycled water bottles.

The Clean Cut team - happy and relieved at the end of a fab show!

One thing I know for sure, we couldn't have done this
without our extended sustainable fashion family.
Here's a pic with our colleagues from Peppermint Magazine,
Fashion Revolution and Ethical Clothing Australia.

Long after the excitement of our show, when all the
clothes had been packed away, the flowers taken
down and the Hughes Gallery put back to normal, we finally
had a moment to relax. We went to MBFW central, Carriageworks,
for a celebratory beverage and a snap of the four Clean Cut gals
in front of our official listing on the MBFW schedule.

Whew! What a ride. It's been a hectic few months planning all the details, and I couldn't be prouder to have been involved in this significant moment in Sydney fashion history.

Thank you so much to everyone who volunteered their time, skills, insights and energy to create this amazing event. And thanks to our PR team at New Future PR for getting this sustainable fashion news out far and wide!

If you want to see more of the fabulous fashion, check out our Facebook page, as well as the slide show on Marie Claire online. We'll be updating the Clean Cut website in the coming weeks with more photos, video, and news of what's next for Clean Cut.

For now, I'm off to relax and enjoy this long Easter weekend.

xxLisa

1 Million Women reblog

Thanks so much to 1 Million Women for considering me as one of your inspirational women! It was truly an honour to be asked to participate in your blog and campaign (one of my fave climate change campaigns, even gets mention in Sustainability with Style).

Also, you've made my weekly blog post extra easy this week - I'm just copying and pasting - thanks a million!

xxLisa

Celebrating inspiring women: Clean Cut Fashion founder, Lisa Heinze

International Women’s Day was Saturday the 8th of March.

The theme this year was INSPIRE CHANGE calling for advocacy for women’s advancement everywhere in every way, and challenging the status quo for women’s equality to bring positive change.

In light of this wonderfully stirring theme, we’ve also made it the March theme for the 1 Million Women blog! We’ll be sharing the inspiring stories of women from all walks of life, who are changing the world for the better everyday. Never think that 1 person can’t make a difference, because we can and together we are a community of women changing the world!

1. Describe yourself in 3 words? (Or more if you need too!)

Stylish, Playful, Passionate, Traveler, Greenie (does that last one go without saying?!) 

 

Photo by: Alicia Fox

2. Tell us a bit about your story, what you do, what you’re doing at the present?

I tend to joke, but it’s very true, that a coffee cup changed my life. When I learned that takeaway cups are generally not recyclable, my inner greenie switch flipped and I haven’t looked back. I completed Masters research on lifestyle/cultural barriers to climate action, traded my job in advertising for a green-collar career, and published my book, Sustainability with Style.

2014 is a very exciting year!

First off the rank – a special second edition release of Sustainability with Style, available in print for the first time, and including a brand new shopping guide for sustainable fashion and beauty products. Essentially it’s a peek into my wardrobe and beauty cabinet, sharing my favourite shops and brands. I hope it will help many women see how easy it is to maintain your personal style, sustainably.

I’m also so excited to be part of Clean Cut, Australia’s new sustainable fashion advocacy group. We are officially launching at Sydney’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in April with the first sustainable fashion show to be part of Australian fashion week. We will have a media launch as well as special industry dinners/events, sharing ideas on how we can transform the future of Australian fashion to a more ecologically and socially responsible business model.

I’ve also commenced a PhD with the University of Sydney, examining how sustainable fashion can influence a transition to sustainable living – I will make sure to keep you posted on what I find out!
You can see why I’ve named 2014 the Year of Sustainable Fashion!

 

3. What inspires you to lead a life that is better for the planet?

It may sound corny, but I truly love life and this gorgeous planet of ours. It saddens me to think that future generations and others in less-developed nations may not be able to enjoy life on this amazing earth because of my actions.

 

4. What do you think are the unique strengths of women taking action on climate change and living more sustainably?

I think that most women have an innate sense of empathy that enables us to view the world in a different way to past male leaders of the world. We have the ability to look beyond simply the dollar value of an item to see the underlying qualities of life that must be maintained. (Of course many men have this quality, it just has not been encouraged in the past, and doesn’t seem to come as naturally to most men).

I also think women are excellent multitaskers and networkers – it comes second nature to us! Both qualities are essential for taking climate action.

 

5. We know the time is now to act on climate change! Do you have an inspiring message about living a more sustainable lifestyle you’d like to share with our 1 Million Women community?

Don’t worry about the past or the size of the issue, the important thing is to just jump right in and see where you can start making change in your life. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve in a short span of time, and you’ll feel better than you can even imagine knowing you are making a real difference.

 

6. What’s your top tip for living sustainably in the modern world?

Identify the area in your life that has the biggest impact on the climate, and make change in this area.

For me, this meant buying fewer new clothes (what can I say, I’ve always been a fashion fanatic!). I have been able to enjoy the beauty of fine vintage, enjoyed the camaraderie that comes with clothes swaps and markets, and embraced the value of quality items building a wardrobe to outlast the trends. For others this may mean taking public transportation a few times a week, or installing solar panels because of their electricity usage. Whatever it is - just get started!

a green iPad fling

Okay, I admit it: I'm an Apple fangirl.

I'm writing this on my iMac,  and around my home is a collection of iPhones, iPods and a MacBook. And after showing much restraint, I finally got my first iPad. Actually, Santa left it for me under the tree this Christmas, knowing it would come in handy as I balance work, study and a start-up this year.

This isn't just any iPad, though, it's a green one - Santa knew I'd prefer something used, so he let the elves off the hook and bought it on Gumtree.

 To keep this a green iPad, I've just ordered a used keyboard from eBay . . .

. . . as well as a handmade cover from Etsy.

E-Waste is a growing concern across the globe.

Did you know that Australians buy more than 4 million computers per year? And less than 10% of discarded computers get recycled. This is a problem in terms of wasting energy-intensive resources that go into computers, and the potential leaking of mercury, lead and other toxic chemicals from discarded e-waste.

Apple frequently gets a large portion of the e-waste blame as each iteration of the iPhone and iPad seems to come out quicker than the last. And personally I'm not impressed that the batteries of the devices can't currently be replaced (I haven't faced this problem myself, but this seems to me to be a major design flaw).

But we need to take personal responsibility for how many new devices we buy, as well. So, if you're in the market, I suggest you consider secondhand for your next computer, phone or tablet. You'll probably be surprised at the condition, and the quality of Apple products mean they should last for years to come. (The iMac I'm working on is now 6 and a half years old and still going strong

And when it comes time to farewell your next piece of technology, make sure to dispose of it properly. Donate it, sell it, or recycle it.  It's easy enough to recycle if you know when your local council e-waste collection is, or you can take it to various recycling centres or organise your own pick up. Check out the sites below for assistance in responsibly disposing of your old computers, devices, televisions and other bits of e-waste.

Australia
1800 EWaste
SITA
Kimbriki

America
EPA

a green fairy bread fling

I attended a birthday party for my very favourite one-year-old this weekend, and had my first taste of Fairy Bread - what a delight! Growing up in America I missed out on this Aussie children's party tradition of white bread topped with a slick of butter and a dash of hundreds and thousands (known as sprinkles up north).

Since I was in a 'healthy' household our Fairy Bread
was made on wholemeal bread. Still decadent!

And this is not just any one-year-old, she is the greenest little one I know. Her folks are dedicated to cloth nappies and homemade, healthy food for their bub, and I'd calculate her wardrobe is 75% 'pre-loved' from her lovely older cousins and friends, and 10% homemade. No addiction to fast fashion here!

You can understand why it was imperative I get her a sustainable gift - I can't let her thinking her Aunt Lisa doesn't care about the planet!  I decided on a couple pre-loved books and an environmentally-aware toy made of FSC-certified wood.

Every little girl needs a copy of Madeline! These used
books were both in excellent condition.

My little one-year-old friend loves playing with blocks!

My craft-basket is quite empty after the past two nomadic years of my life, so I didn't have much to work with in terms of reusing wrapping paper. Instead of buying an entire roll (shrink-wrapped in plastic and wrapped around a tube of cardboard), I bought a couple of sheets that were FSC-certified. This was slightly more expensive, but at least I know I only bought what I'd use, it wasn't over-packaged, and it was made of responsibly-sourced wood.

 

A little twine ribbon was the perfect eco-finishing touch!

I hope she likes her gifts as much as I enjoyed selecting and wrapping them!

What are your favourite eco-children's gift ideas?

a green getaway : leura

Do you ever feel like switching off?

You know, switching off your phone, your email, your twitter, instagram and facebook feeds?  Well I do, and this past weekend I did just that.

After a hectic start to the year my hubby and I escaped the comfort and charms of our Manly home for a weekend in the Blue Mountains.

My iPhone stayed on 'Do Not Disturb' until Monday morning. Heaven.

It's so easy to have a green getaway when you live in Sydney thanks to the far-reaching public transportation system and myriad of natural beauty spots within a few hours of travel. The MyZone 3 ticket that I use to commute to and from Manly all week covered my entire 2 hour train trip to Leura, so I essentially traveled to the Blue Mountains for free - doesn't get much better than that!

It was a drizzly weekend, but my hubby and I didn't let that get in the way of our exploring. As soon as we dropped our bags at the charming Leura House (claiming to be Leura's oldest guest house), we laced up our hiking boots, put on our raincoats and began our adventure amongst the gumtrees.

Up amongst the clouds! They were moving so quickly, it was surreal.

Down on the valley floor - I loved these cascades.

Lovely Leura Falls.

We walked along the clifftops and down in the valley (my legs are still sore from going down, down, down), enjoying a picnic along the way. It drizzled off and on, and I really enjoyed walking in the sprinkles under the canopy of the forest.

I find that I really need time like this to reconnect with nature - these moments provide many reminders of what I'm fighting for as an environmentalist, but more than that the quiet calm of nature really nourishes my soul.

We also enjoyed delicious seasonal food at the cafes and restaurants in Leura, and even participated in a bit of shopping - always doing my bit for the economy!

A darling hanging succulent by Mister Moss, picked
up at the charming Bespoke & Found

A soy candle scented with Australian essential oils from Moontree -
reminding me of my magical time in Kakadu a few years ago.

It's amazing what a change of scenery can do for a gal!

After one night away, a five hour hike in the forest, one-on-one time with my favourite person, and switching my phone off for two days, I feel like I've been away for a week.

Now, back to work . . .

source brand preview 2014

This really is the year of sustainable fashion, there are so many wonderful up-and-coming labels and sustainable fashion pioneers creating beautiful clothing for all of us.

Earlier this week I participated in a fantastic global event - Source Brand Preview for 2014 run by the Ethical Fashion Forum.

This two-day event was run entirely online, meaning that interested designers, buyers, writers and bloggers from around the globe could witness the latest in sustainable fashion hot off the press, or rather, the sewing table.

The Ethical Fashion Forum is the leading industry body for sustainable fashion. In 2011 they launched Source, the global platform for sustainable fashion that includes an information database, online networking and a business intelligence platform.  Source's members provide excellent examples of how businesses can be financially viable without sacrificing ethics (or style, of course).

Aside from being completely impressed with the logistics of the online Brand Preview, I was thrilled to see the amount of stunning sustainable fashion coming our way this year. Here are a few standouts.

Carlie Ballard

I have these pants! I know Carlie personally and I was so
happy to see her new line of ethical fashion in the Preview.

The Top Project

Recycled silk, hand printed tops and dresses.

Linda Mai Phung

Organic cotton, Tencel, patchwork silk.

Goodone

Gorgeous upcycling - reclaimed fabrics mixed with sustainable materials.

Mucke

More clever upcycling - this was a men's shirt.

And this was just the tip of the iceberg!

Because of the time difference between here and London I couldn't participate in too many sessions, so make sure to check out the rest of the 160 labels that participated on the Source Brand Preview website.