Thank you for having me and thanks so much for your nice comments everyone! 💚 Watching this back I realise I misspoke apologies: 131 workers were arrested during the Bangladesh wage protests and 4 workers were killed which is still 4 workers too many. Since we spoke, 1 charge has been dropped against 250 workers but there’s still 35 to go so please do support Clean Clothes’ wages not warrants campaign!!
I personally don't buy polyester clothes, except for sport attire, mainly because they are uncomfortable and make me sweat :P I would love it if polyester boycott could be added and highlighted in big anti-plastic campaigns like Plastic Free July. I think it might open some eyes. It was a fascinating conversation, thank you very much.
Same here. I'm on the lookout for a winter coat and I've come across so much polyester in the thrift shop, but it also makes the whole process more rewarding when I finally find my wool + cashmere dream coat.
What a wonderful experience, it’s so grateful to hear a whole hour of these important topics like the model of production in the fashion industry and the perspective of the fast fashion and “luxury” having lesser differences, in my opinion, it’s necessary to have a different point of view once you talk to a person that knows the inside of this industry in her own way, thanks for this!
so happy you liked it & ty for watching 🫶 I completely agree how important it is to get different perspectives on the industry so will be trying to do a lot more of these in the future!!
As a young person, it's great to see young people like Katie and Mel not only talking about these issues, but also taking action! It inspires me to take action too! 💪💪
Thanks so much Katie and Mel for having these conversations. You’ve influenced my purchasing since I’ve been watching your videos, I always look at fiber content now and will pass on purchases with polyester and other synthetics. A small step, coupled with less consumption, but it would not have happened without your well-researched content! ❤
Amazing as always, so rare for platforms to speak about the ongoing issues overseas in Bangladesh 🇧🇩 There was a whole internet and telecommunications cut out for weeks by the government at the time literally leaving people no choice to be able to reach out. So sad that hardly any brands spoke out about the issues of their biggest supplier
Companies like H&M saying "We don't make these clothes." In reference to contracting Chinese companies to produce clothing is just economically incorrect. Many of these companies wouldn't exist without a client like H&M. Choosing their contractors wisely as an extension of their products and product image is extremely valuable ESPECIALLY because they don't produce clothing in their own factories. This would be like NVIDIA saying they aren't responsible for their motherboards being covered in pizza grease because they aren't responsible for workers in Taiwan who eat on the job.
Hi ! There is also a question if a customer wants to pay much more or can afford to pay much more for a better qualité ( fabric + eco- friendly manufacturing). I'm curious if the production of organic cotton/ cashmere is so sustainable : work conditions( + children who work during recolte) , salary , pollution /transport to other countries ( as you need a specific climat and there is no country in Europe that can cultivate them )etc.
It's always going to depend but tbh as someone who works in supply chain, there's a point where perfect is the enemy of progress. A big focus currently necessarily needs to be on getting natural fibers back into the supply chain. tbh those same arguments have been brought up everytime we worked to get rid of something bad. "What about the customers who like their lead mercury and asbestos." Honestly we need to get rid of the pfas and microplastics and if you buy only cotton even though linen is more local, then that is totally fine. These companies hide behind arguments like that to avoid improving though
@@dismurrart6648 I agree! Every garment has its own impact and footprint, while everyone’s own sustainability criteria differs. Joanna, I would recommend pinning down what matters most to you, looking for that in everything you buy and calling on the industry at large to champion this!
The truth is evident: most fashion companies do not want to invest in becoming actually sustainable and they’re just plain lazy. Patagonia, the brand I use as my baseline when it comes to quality and actual sustainability efforts, does a good job not only in talking and breathing sustainability but they also educate their customers on clothing as a whole. Topics such as layering, mending, benefits of different types of materials, etc, is something that the Fashion industry doesn’t feel to present to the customers and instead tries to woo you on aesthetics. Whereas Patagonia is actively making you a participant in the buying process so you make the right choice for you. The Fashion industry as a whole I feel like gaslights the customers since fashion is seen as more artistic, so they don’t have to explain things to you. Vs Patagonia takes more of the engineering approach and makes decisions based on performance. 2 different types of customers but I feel like that bridge needs to be shorter between both design perspectives.
The truth is evident: most fashion companies do not want to invest in becoming actually sustainable and they’re just plain lazy. Patagonia, the brand I use as my baseline when it comes to quality and actual sustainability efforts, does a good job not only in talking and breathing sustainability but they also educate their customers on clothing as a whole. Topics such as layering, mending, benefits of different types of materials, etc, is something that the Fashion industry doesn’t feel to present to the customers and instead tries to woo you on aesthetics. Whereas Patagonia is actively making you a participant in the buying process so you make the right choice for you. The Fashion industry as a whole I feel like gaslights the customers since fashion is seen as more artistic, so they don’t have to explain things to you. Vs Patagonia takes more of the engineering approach and makes decisions based on performance. 2 different types of customers but I feel like that bridge needs to be shorter between both design perspectives.
Yeah, clothes used for physical activity shall be high quality or you'll have a really bad time wearing them and won't get them anymore. But most people just see fashion as something you put on top of your skin, done. Lots of people don't care they're wearing stinky polyester just because it looks cute and coats 7 euros. It's so sad, and fashion consumers just seem happy with it, which doesn't help anything change.
@@angienicolehernandez104 I mean hopefully by asking them why they picked that item in particular it will make them think on why they buy. It’s def not going to be a life changing question for majority of people. What’s missing in fashion is intentionality. You see this with older people when they’ve had time ro amass an actual collection that represents who they are.
Thank you for having me and thanks so much for your nice comments everyone! 💚
Watching this back I realise I misspoke apologies: 131 workers were arrested during the Bangladesh wage protests and 4 workers were killed which is still 4 workers too many. Since we spoke, 1 charge has been dropped against 250 workers but there’s still 35 to go so please do support Clean Clothes’ wages not warrants campaign!!
I personally don't buy polyester clothes, except for sport attire, mainly because they are uncomfortable and make me sweat :P I would love it if polyester boycott could be added and highlighted in big anti-plastic campaigns like Plastic Free July. I think it might open some eyes. It was a fascinating conversation, thank you very much.
Same here. I'm on the lookout for a winter coat and I've come across so much polyester in the thrift shop, but it also makes the whole process more rewarding when I finally find my wool + cashmere dream coat.
What a wonderful experience, it’s so grateful to hear a whole hour of these important topics like the model of production in the fashion industry and the perspective of the fast fashion and “luxury” having lesser differences, in my opinion, it’s necessary to have a different point of view once you talk to a person that knows the inside of this industry in her own way, thanks for this!
so happy you liked it & ty for watching 🫶 I completely agree how important it is to get different perspectives on the industry so will be trying to do a lot more of these in the future!!
As a young person, it's great to see young people like Katie and Mel not only talking about these issues, but also taking action! It inspires me to take action too! 💪💪
love this!!! ty for watching 🫶
This comment made my day!
Thanks so much Katie and Mel for having these conversations. You’ve influenced my purchasing since I’ve been watching your videos, I always look at fiber content now and will pass on purchases with polyester and other synthetics. A small step, coupled with less consumption, but it would not have happened without your well-researched content! ❤
love this, thank you sm for watching!!
What an amazing conversation!!!! And thank you for also publishing as a podcast.
so happy you liked it!! bring me along on your commute /hot girl walk /house cleaning lol
Please do more interviews like this with people from the industry❤
Amazing as always, so rare for platforms to speak about the ongoing issues overseas in Bangladesh 🇧🇩 There was a whole internet and telecommunications cut out for weeks by the government at the time literally leaving people no choice to be able to reach out. So sad that hardly any brands spoke out about the issues of their biggest supplier
Companies like H&M saying "We don't make these clothes." In reference to contracting Chinese companies to produce clothing is just economically incorrect. Many of these companies wouldn't exist without a client like H&M. Choosing their contractors wisely as an extension of their products and product image is extremely valuable ESPECIALLY because they don't produce clothing in their own factories.
This would be like NVIDIA saying they aren't responsible for their motherboards being covered in pizza grease because they aren't responsible for workers in Taiwan who eat on the job.
This is so important. Wonderful interview
Hi ! There is also a question if a customer wants to pay much more or can afford to pay much more for a better qualité ( fabric + eco- friendly manufacturing). I'm curious if the production of organic cotton/ cashmere is so sustainable : work conditions( + children who work during recolte) , salary , pollution /transport to other countries ( as you need a specific climat and there is no country in Europe that can cultivate them )etc.
It's always going to depend but tbh as someone who works in supply chain, there's a point where perfect is the enemy of progress.
A big focus currently necessarily needs to be on getting natural fibers back into the supply chain.
tbh those same arguments have been brought up everytime we worked to get rid of something bad. "What about the customers who like their lead mercury and asbestos."
Honestly we need to get rid of the pfas and microplastics and if you buy only cotton even though linen is more local, then that is totally fine.
These companies hide behind arguments like that to avoid improving though
@@dismurrart6648 I agree! Every garment has its own impact and footprint, while everyone’s own sustainability criteria differs. Joanna, I would recommend pinning down what matters most to you, looking for that in everything you buy and calling on the industry at large to champion this!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
The truth is evident: most fashion companies do not want to invest in becoming actually sustainable and they’re just plain lazy.
Patagonia, the brand I use as my baseline when it comes to quality and actual sustainability efforts, does a good job not only in talking and breathing sustainability but they also educate their customers on clothing as a whole. Topics such as layering, mending, benefits of different types of materials, etc, is something that the Fashion industry doesn’t feel to present to the customers and instead tries to woo you on aesthetics. Whereas Patagonia is actively making you a participant in the buying process so you make the right choice for you. The Fashion industry as a whole I feel like gaslights the customers since fashion is seen as more artistic, so they don’t have to explain things to you. Vs Patagonia takes more of the engineering approach and makes decisions based on performance. 2 different types of customers but I feel like that bridge needs to be shorter between both design perspectives.
The truth is evident: most fashion companies do not want to invest in becoming actually sustainable and they’re just plain lazy.
Patagonia, the brand I use as my baseline when it comes to quality and actual sustainability efforts, does a good job not only in talking and breathing sustainability but they also educate their customers on clothing as a whole. Topics such as layering, mending, benefits of different types of materials, etc, is something that the Fashion industry doesn’t feel to present to the customers and instead tries to woo you on aesthetics. Whereas Patagonia is actively making you a participant in the buying process so you make the right choice for you. The Fashion industry as a whole I feel like gaslights the customers since fashion is seen as more artistic, so they don’t have to explain things to you. Vs Patagonia takes more of the engineering approach and makes decisions based on performance. 2 different types of customers but I feel like that bridge needs to be shorter between both design perspectives.
Yeah, clothes used for physical activity shall be high quality or you'll have a really bad time wearing them and won't get them anymore. But most people just see fashion as something you put on top of your skin, done. Lots of people don't care they're wearing stinky polyester just because it looks cute and coats 7 euros. It's so sad, and fashion consumers just seem happy with it, which doesn't help anything change.
@@angienicolehernandez104 I mean hopefully by asking them why they picked that item in particular it will make them think on why they buy. It’s def not going to be a life changing question for majority of people. What’s missing in fashion is intentionality. You see this with older people when they’ve had time ro amass an actual collection that represents who they are.