Style With Substance (The Vendeur, Lucy Kebbell)
Explore every episode of Style With Substance
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 Dec 2020 | The Future Of Reusables with LastObject | 00:27:43 | |
The Future Beyond Single Use Plastics In this episode we’re moving away from fashion, but only temporarily to talk to Isabel Aagaard, Co Founder of LastObject. The day we recorded this episode it was a happy accident that it was also the day that the UK banned the production and sale of plastic cotton buds, straws and stirrers. So without access to single use items like cotton buds, what do we do? Well Isabel and her team came up with the perfect reusable solution, the LastSwab. A reusable silicone swab that can be washed and used again. That was in 2019. Their aim was to eliminate 1.5billion swabs that are produced everyday. Designing For A Sustainable World LastObject are purposely choosing the smallest objects that you wouldn’t give a second thought to and reimagining their use. From cotton buds, to packets of tissues and now cotton rounds, the company is not only seeking to change your consumption, but also your habits. Isabel and her team delight in problem solving. They create incredibly considered designs for real life. With one intention, eliminating single use items and plastics. We talk about the lifecycle of single use products and how much of an impact they make before you use them once then throw them away. And how little changes can make a huge difference. After we recorded this conversation, I got an email from Last Object announcing that their LastRound kickstarter campaign had achieved 3000% funding. This goes to show that people do want a reusable alternative to the things we buy and discard every day. With thanks to our amazing guest, Isabel Aagaard, Co Founder of LastObject Special thanks to Kathleen of Be Influential PR Mentioned in Episode Support Garment Workers With Sophie Slater of Birdsong - Style With Substance
Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 09 Dec 2020 | Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend With Natural Diamond Council | 00:29:47 | |
Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend While diamonds are usually seen on women, the diamond industry itself has been traditionally male dominated. From the mines to the heads of large jewellery houses like Graff and De Beers. Its a topic we spoke about in more detail in episode 5 with Jewellery designer Maryline Kekeli. However this has been changing gradually over the last few years as natural diamond companies emerge as models for sustainable practises and gender equality. The diamond industry supports the livelihood of roughly 10 million people worldwide so it’s important that this community is supported. Thats where the Natural Diamond Council comes in. They provide insights and transparency for the diamond industry, promoting sustainability and ethics. The NDC works directly with diamond companies and mines to educate and encourage them to build on important areas of ecology, human rights and gender parity. One example of positive transformation is Botswana, now the second largest diamond producer in the world. Gender Parity In Diamond Mining Excitingly women are rising to the top of diamond businesses and taking important roles in decision making. Women represent 30% of the workforce of the worlds largest diamond producers. More and more women are being bought into highly skilled but traditionally male dominated roles. This includes women in upper management, arguably the most key change of all. Because when diverse voices (both in gender and race) are heard at the top of companies, positive change follows. Naseem Lahri was recently appointed Managing Director of Lacura Botswana. In this episode Lucy speaks to Raluca Anghel Head of External Affairs at the Natural Diamond Council. They talk about incredible grass roots initiatives that are being built, about gender parity throughout the industry and the exciting environmental schemes that are being pioneered. With thanks to the wonderful Raluca Anghel from Natural Diamond Council Special thanks to Nafisa Boateng & Amie Tran Mentioned in the episode Maryline Kekeli - How To support Black Owned Businesses Livia Firth on Fashionscapes: The Diamonds of Botswana
Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 15 May 2020 | Is Renting The Future Of Fashion With Victoria Prew at Hurr Collective | 00:26:34 | |
Welcome back to episode four as we continue to discuss the Myths and greenwashing that surround Sustainable Fashion.This week we discuss the phenomenon that is renting and whether it could be the secret to a more sustainable wardrobe. We're thrilled to have as our guest this week, Victoria Prew, Co Founder of Hurr Collective. Launched last year, Hurr Collective showcase an intelligent and lustworthy selection of clothing that you can rent from other people's wardrobes. ***Money of Your First Rental with Hurr*** Hurr Collective have kindly offered listeners of Style With Substance a discount off their first rental. Simply head to the website hurrcollective.com and use offer code THEVENDEURNEW5 for £5 off first rental.* The Rental Revolution In 2019 alone 5 fashion rental platforms launched in the UK, hot on the heels of US success story Rent the Runway. Just as Uber and Airbnb have changed the way we view ownership of big things like cars and houses, it was inevitable that fashion would follow suit. Renting has proved an attractive antithesis to buying new clothes. According to Hubbub, 41% of all 18-25-year-olds feel the pressure to wear a different outfit every time they go out – rising to 47% for young women. One in six young people even say that they don’t feel they can wear an outfit again once it’s been seen on social media. This rate of enormous consumption is not sustainable so we need another option. Renting provides a practical answer to this conundrum. Not only is it relatively cheap but it allows us to wear an item of clothing once and send it back without it ending up in an incinerator or in landfill. It also allows consumers to experiment with new brands, styles and trends without the commitment or the guilt. Hurr Collective To find out more we're speaking to Victoria Prew, Co Founder of Hurr Collective. Launched in 2018, Hurr have been a huge success story in the world of rental. 'Consumer perceptions of renting have changed massively in a short space of time,' Victoria told us. And this was only emphasised by Selfridge's inviting Hurr Collective to do a pop up at the beginning of this year. Uniquely it was the first time the department store has given over space to a rental brand. It’s a huge vote of confidence in renting that the pop up was a success. Is Renting More Sustainable? We also discuss the environmental advantages, and disadvantages of renting. Borrowing between people means that the clothes have to be cleaned. However dry cleaning is a very damaging industry. So Hurr encourage users to utilise environmentally friendly cleaners such as Blanc Living. In order to get your clothes where they need to be, delivery services need to be used. Hurr are trying to minimise this tax on the environment by incorporating a geo tagging facility into the website. This allows users to meet in person if this is an option and eliminates the need for couriers. By meeting with each other to exchange, consumers are bonding over a piece of clothing they both love. 'We've seen photos of people sending notes to each other,' Victoria says. 'We're helping users create connections between women and their clothes.' Hurr was created to help make sustainability more democratic. 'Its all about accessing things without having to commit to a purchase and we are smarter about the pieces we want to wear once vs what we want to wear season after season,' Victoria explains. 'In the future I believe we will build sustainable capsule wardrobes and rent those incredible pieces that give us a buzz.' Our Sponsor This episode is kindly sponsored by Bolt Beauty. Bolt Beauty are a high performance skincare brand that also happens to be zero waste. Featuring a comprehensive collection of four products, each housed in handy pre portioned, biodegradable capsules, they not only save valuable space in your makeup bag, but also mean that you can dramatically cut your plastic packaging waste. Find out more by heading to Bolt-beauty.com and following on Instagram @Bolt.Beauty . More Rental Options If you want to expand your rental horizons, there are so many different offerings available. Here are just a few of the other platforms that we love. By Rotation works a bit like Hurr in that they are peer to peer and I love that I can start a conversation with the people I am renting from. The handy app allows you to rent and borrow in the easiest way possible, even on the go. Rotaro have a stunning range of Instagram worthy dresses with incredible brands like Reformation, Maggie Marylin and The Vampires Wife. During lockdown they are turning their hand to fruit and veg delivery, it's well worth a look. Onloan is a subscription service which means that once you can sign up you'll have a constant stream of newness each month. All you have to do is find enough places to wear it all! My Wardrobe HQ have a huge range of designer pieces available to rent for any occasion. Plus if you can’t bear to part from a certain piece, you have the option to buy it at a fraction of the price.
With thanks to our amazing guest Victoria Prew, Co Counder of Hurr Collective. Thank you to our episode sponsor Bolt Beauty. You can find the range over at Bolt-Beauty.com and follow them on Instagram @bolt.beauty .
Please support us and join our community
Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd
*Valid through to September 2020. | |||
| 14 Oct 2020 | Celebrating Wool Week With Finisterre | 00:30:57 | |
Wool Week It officially feels like Autumn now, the leaves are turning, acorns and conkers litter the ground, and it’s Wool Week. Yes this week the Campaign For Wool is celebrating one of the oldest, but certainly the most impressive natural fibre we use. Last week we spoke to Hanna Fiedler about her use of alpaca which is a really sustainable fibre with a low environmental impact. This week Lucy is joined (remotely of course) by Debbie Luffman from Cornish outdoor brand Finisterre. With its origins as a cold water surf brand, they look to find the very best sustainable fabrics to keep you warm and dry when you find yourself surfing off the Cornish coast. If you’ve taken a dip in that part of the world then you know that the water can be insanely cold! As the company's Product Director, Debbie works with all sorts of fabrics but wool is her favourite. As with linen, which we discussed in episode 8, wool has a lot of amazing attributes that make it sound really techy and man made, not natural and environmentally friendly. Whats Up With Wool Debbie talks about wool’s amazing qualities, it’s durability coupled with it’s ability to regulate temperature and wick away sweat. We also hear the inspiring story of a dying breed of merino sheep, bought back from the brink to thrive in Devon. The Bowmont Flock continues to thrive after near extinction thanks to their support. Finisterre are proud to work with this one of a kind sheep farm. Debbie and the wider team at Finisterre are dedicated to deepening their knowledge and understanding of wool fibre and how to produce it more mindfully across their supply chains. When we understand the amazing journey that a wool jumper goes on, it helps us to truly understand the value we should all be placing in our clothes. ‘Wool is surprising, when you explain why wool is such an incredible fibre, people are shocked.’ - Debbie Luffman With thanks to our incredible guest Debbie Luffman, Product Director at Finisterre Mentioned In The Episode What Makes Linen So Sustainable With Lea From Arkitaip Episode 8 Finisterre’s Recycled Wool Fleece Lesley Prior and The Bowmont Project Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 19 Aug 2020 | Proudly Made In Africa With Audrey Migot-Adholla of Yala Jewellery | 00:36:54 | |
Made In Africa Based in Audrey's mother country Kenya, the brand employs artisans, all of whom are not only paid a fair wage but are empowered through the community and work that Yala brings. Audrey is passionate about running a brand with strong social values, and one that also challenges the inaccurate preconceptions that those outside of Africa have about what the people there make. I’m sure some of us here could admit to dismissing ‘Made in Africa’ as a sign of cheap workmanship. However this couldn’t be further from the truth. The skill involved in creating Audrey’s designs is highly coveted and being a jewellery maker at one of Yala’s workshops has a waiting list. An Empowered Workforce Audrey is here to champion Kenyan design and craftsmanship, not to mention empower her supply chain. And she has a pretty unique way of doing business which she talks about later in the conversation. Audrey knows her artisans personally and visits the workshops as often as she can. Ensuring that the people in her supply chain are supported is vital to the success of Yala Jewellery. I also learnt more about her B Corporation certificate. I also learnt something interesting about ice cream, but I won’t spoil the surprise. With thanks to the inspiring Audrey Migot-Adholla Mentioned in the episode
Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 24 Sep 2020 | Organic September With The Soil Association | 00:29:02 | |
Organic September This September is Organic September where we celebrate and draw attention to organic farming throughout the world. Organic processes play a huge part in reducing the effects of climate change and ensure that the fibres and food we grow have as little impact on the environment as possible. To find out more we reached out to Sarah Compson. Sarah works for Soil Association as an organic textile expert and basically knows everything about organic fashion. Organic vs Regular Cotton We primarily talk about cotton because cotton makes up 25% of all fibres worldwide. However just 1% of cotton output is certified organic. The rest is grown using GMO seeds, copious amounts of highly toxic pesticides as well as even bigger amounts of water. You may have heard of the disappearance of the Aral sea? The world’s 4th biggest lake has all but disappeared thanks to over irrigation of agricultural land in Uzbekistan. The majority of this land is used to grow cotton. So there is an urgent need to address our reliance on cotton. The Dangers Of Non Organic Cotton Growth We discuss the percentage of cotton that should be organic in order to call a product organic - spoiler alert, it’s worryingly small. Sarah explains why Soil health is crucial to our planet’s survival and the important role that carbon sinks play in reversing climate change. Although 2% of all cropland is used globally for cotton, some studies claim that 16% of all pesticides sold are used just on cotton. Many of them are highly toxic and classified as hazardous by the World Health Organisation. So cotton farmers and people, animals and vegetation living in the surrounding land are at risk of serious health problems. They kill an estimated 16,000 people each year. We also talk about organic wool and silk and why you should use organic tampons if you can. Content warning - this is a bit sciency but you probably already know that Lucy is a bit of a geek when it comes to fabrics so hopefully you don’t mind indulging her. Thank you to Sarah Compson of The Soil Association Mentioned in the episode Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 12 Aug 2020 | Living A Plastic Free Life With Sophie Rist at Agnes LDN | 00:31:39 | |
By 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish! Now thats a shocking statement. Unfortunately it’s just a scare tactic to help you remember your keep cup in the morning but is a completely accurate prediction based on our current rates of consumption. According to Greenpeace we dump around 12 million tonnes of plastic into our oceans each year. Most of it is washed into the sea from land, making its way through water ways to end up in the ocean. Others are so small you can’t see them. Micro plastics have been discovered in the stomachs of sea life, and so inadvertently as fish eaters, it’s also in our stomachs too. Single use plastic is undeniably a huge problem, but the good news is that you have the power to change this. If we all make some small changes and use less plastic, the result could be transformative for our environment. Sophie Rist is the Founder of Agnes LDN, a handmade lifestyle brand selling reusables and teaching us more about using less plastic. We hope you enjoy the episode, don't forget to rate, review and subscribe so more people can find us. Or maybe you can share this episode with a friend that you think would enjoy it. With thanks to our amazing guest Sophie Rist Mentioned in the episode
Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 16 Sep 2020 | Sustainable Leather Accessories With Nika Diamond-Krendel of Paradise Row | 00:26:55 | |
Leather vs Vegan Leather Through our many conversations with founders and experts within the sustainable fashion space, we have learnt that it is not only a complicated subject, but a very nuanced one. In Episode 3 of this series, we spoke to Ioanna from Mashu, about her vegan bag label, based in London. She told us about the exciting innovations in the plant based fake leather industry. This week we’re exploring the other side of sustainable handbag manufacturing and are joined by Nika Diamond-Krendel, Founder of leather brand Paradise Row. Join us as we explore how a leather brand could be conscious and whether it can also be eco friendly. Socially Responsibility So what does conscious leather production look like? 90% of the worlds leather output is chrome tanned. Nika explains more about the harmful process later, and we also talk about her preferred and more environmentally safe option, vegetable tanning. However a large part of what Paradise Row does is tell stories. Nika founded the company to address the death of artisan leather manufacturing in East London and in doing so, discovered a lot of other proud traditions that could soon be lost. Through her designs, she explores what makes East London what it is today and gives back through various social impact projects. The conversation around real vs vegan leather isn’t as simple as it first seems. With most aspects of sustainability, we're discovering that an individuals' personal ethics play a huge role in how you decide to take part. Thank you to our inimitable guest Nika Diamond-Krendel, Founder of Paradise Row Also thank you to Florence van der Spek Mentioned In The Episode A Guide To Organic Certifications Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd
| |||
| 07 Oct 2020 | Slow Fashion & British Alpacas With Hanna Fiedler | 00:26:06 | |
Wool Week For 10 years, the Campaign For Wool has drawn attention to the wonderful wool offering available in the UK, and it’s incredible attributes. Today we are investigating a slightly less known wool available in the UK, Alpaca. Did you know that we have alpacas, right here in the UK? Along with Europe, the UK began farming alpacas for their super soft wool in the 90’s. So when we discovered that designer Hanna Fiedler was using alpaca wool for her collections, we had to find out more. Slow Fashion & Local Sourcing Hanna is a German born, now London based designer, taking the fashion industry by storm. Her precise and considered approach to fashion takes into account not just a sustainable work ethic, but also making less impact on our environment. However her approach to creating clothes is a lot slower than most brands and she prefers to do everything as locally as possible. Finding a balance between her love of fashion and her love for the environment, Hanna sources and manufactures in the UK as much as possible. When she discovered alpaca wool on her doorstep, (or a short 4 hour car journey from London) she jumped at the chance to find a way to incorporate this gorgeous fabric into her collection. Being farmed and spun in the UK means that the carbon footprint of the alpaca fibre is greatly reduced. We also know that alpaca have very little impact on the environment, making their wool an ideal sustainable fabric to use. With thanks to our amazing guest, Hanna Fiedler Mentioned in the episode Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 18 Nov 2020 | Championing African Brands In A Western Market With Akojo Market | 00:27:00 | |
An Online Marketplace With A Difference Natacha Buchler is the Co Founder of Akojo Market, founded in 2019 with Annie Rudnick. Akojo Market is an E-commerce platform championing independent and ethical brands across Africa and the diaspora. It acts as a tech enabler, providing direct routes to market for brands and makers, bridging the gap between designers and a possible customer base in the West. Since launching last year, they now have 40 brands on the platform ranging from fashion and jewellery to homewares and beauty. Natasha and Annie are passionate about creating a unique retail experience. They are passing the mic to incredible brands, rooted in sustainability and ethics. Brands that are merely lacking a springboard to new customers. It’s all about the stories and the makers. Building Awareness of African Design and Craftmanship Natasha makes it clear that this isn’t about appropriation, the brands are very much in control. Instead it’s about building an awareness and appreciation of people who live a fundamentally sustainable lifestyle. However they have been forced away from this natural path because of a Western appetite for fast fashion and disregard for waste. Akojo Market places a huge importance on financial independence too. Their innovative impact tracker shows us that it’s not just a worker who benefits from fair pay and working conditions, but their many dependents too. Colonialism and Western style capitalism took agency away from these people, Akojo Market are putting it back in their hands. With thanks to Natasha Buchler of Akojo Market Mentioned
Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 14 Nov 2020 | Creating Positive Impact With The Maiyet Collective | 00:25:10 | |
Introducing Our Inspiring Panel Lea Wieser is the co founder of Arkitaip. Together with her Mother she creates impossibly chic linen wear and her mother hand crochets swimwear and accessories too. Karen Yates is part of another Mother Daughter team, she is the Co Founder along with her daughter Ellen of Taylor Yates. The ethical leather bag brand creates beautiful and personal handbags with their responsible leather tannery in the UK. And finally, Rebecca Rose is the founder of To The Fairest, a luxury fragrance that is challenging the traditional role of a perfume company through their social impact work. Creating Positive Impact In the episode, recorded live over Zoom for our audience, we discuss creating positive impact. It’s an ethos that all the brands share. Whether through their manufacturing methods, charitable partners or their environmental footprint. All three founders are emphatically pro People, Planet, Purpose, the new triple bottom line. And incorporate giving initiatives and charitable partners as core aspects of their companies.The panel also discuss circularity and why it’s important, even as a young brand to consider the lifecycle of their products. Thank you to The Maiyet Collective for bringing these amazing brands together in their current pop up and for making this live podcast recording possible. Unfortunately due to the most recent lockdown they were forced to close the South Molton Street store but we hope to see it back very soon. In the mean time you can shop via The Maiyet’s virtual marketplace. With thanks to our guests, Karen, Rebecca and Lea. And a very special thank you to Olivia and the team at The Maiyet Collective. Mentioned in the Episode EAC Fixing Fashion: Clothing Consumption & Sustainability Taylor Yates Sustainable UK Based Tannery The Vendeur Supporting Small Sustainable Businesses - The Societe
Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 25 Nov 2020 | Support Garment Workers With Birdsong | 00:33:25 | |
Sexism and Garment Workers We hope you enjoyed last week’s chat with Natasha at Akojo Market. We discussed the valuable role that can be played in lifting up African Artisans and makers in order for them to grow their businesses. This weeks episode is in a similar vein but we’re a bit closer to home. In 2019 the UK fashion industry was estimated to be worth £118 billion. However it takes a major Fashion CEO just 4 days to earn what a female garment worker in Bangladesh will earn in her entire lifetime. So it’s clear that a huge gap in wealth exists in the industry but why is this. Women, specifically women of colour make up 80% of the garment maker workforce. So it’s safe to say that sexism and racism play key roles in reducing the value of the work done. Even though the work is highly skilled and technical, I couldn’t sew a hem to save my life and yet so many of us look down our noses at people who make our clothes. A Blueprint For Future Fashion Businesses This week we're speaking to Sophie Slater, the co Founder of Birdsong. The brand is widely recognised as being a pioneer in the social impact and sustainability spaces. 90% of women's organisations in London have had funding cuts since 2010. Birdsong work specifically with these charities, supporting the incredible makers and skilled artisans that exist in the UK. The brand aims to create a blueprint for a more localised, sustainable and fair fashion industry. It’s the very definition of slow fashion. The charities and organisations that Birdsong work with have said that through their partnership they feel less vulnerable to funding cuts. And we’ve spoken many times about the dangers of the ‘Made in UK’ tag on your clothes somehow negating the need for any work place responsibility on the part of brands. As we found out recently, factories in England are just as guilty of labour rights violations as those in the global South. Lockdown left many garment workers, especially migrant workers open to exploitation. Sophie is incredibly knowledgeable about supply chains in general, but knows her own like the back of her hand. Birdsong is more a community than it is a business. She is truly inspiring and Birdsong is proof that the old misogynistic and colonialist way of doing business is outdated and is not fit for purpose. We hope you enjoy this episode. Please show your support for the podcast by subscribing and leaving us a review, it helps other people to find us. With thanks to our amazing guest Sophie Slater, Co Founder of Birdsong. Mentioned in Episode To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out The World, by Lucy Siegle Fashion Revolution’s Fashion Transparency Index featuring H&M Inside Misguided: Made In Manchester Fixing Fast Fashion by the Environmental Audit Committee Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 29 May 2020 | Loved Clothes Last With Lucinda O'Connor At Clothes Doctor | 00:27:56 | |
In episode 6 of Style With Substance we investigate why our clothes so often end up in landfill. It turns out that caring for your clothes is an important aspect of extending the life of your garments. Did you know that the average lifecycle of a garment in the UK is only 2.2 years? Every year we send around 300,000 tones of used clothing to Landfill and that’s just in the UK. According the WRAP, if we were to wear an item of clothing for just 9 more months, we can minimise its carbon, water and waste footprint by 20-30%. So whats stopping us? We chatted to Lucinda O'Connor, Founder of clothing repair brand Clothes Doctor to find out why mending matters and what you can do to love your clothes for longer. Why Don't We repair Our Clothes? Many of us are guilty of discarding things once a button has fallen off, or a zip has become stuck. The fast fashion we buy isn't meant to last, and so once it breaks, which it inevitably will... we chuck it in the bin. The solution to the problem seems simple. Buy Less, Choose Well, Make It Last. But hands up if you invested in something, then left it languishing in the back of your wardrobe because it had a stain on it, or the fit wasn't quite right? In her book, 'How to Break Up With Fast Fashion,' Lauren Bravo bemoans an era in which none of us know how to sew or wash our clothes! And she's right. A lot of us wouldn’t know where to begin when it comes to mending or alterations. Luckily mending is becoming cool again thanks to craftivists like Bryony at Tickover, Katerina Rodabaugh and Molly Martin (our fave Sashiko repairer). Trusted Clothing Care For those of us who don't know our thimbles from our thread, there are some incredible companies out there who have made it their business to care for our clothes. So you can wear them and love them for longer. Whether there is a scratch on your favourite leather handbag, or a pesky moth hole in your cashmere knit, they have you covered. In this episode we are speaking to Lulu O'Connor, Founder of Clothes Doctor. They know that the major hurdle standing in the way of you and the long life wear of your clothes is being able to fix and clean them. So Lulu created a company that would collect your items for repair or alternation and send them off the experts to sort for you. Clothes Doctor found that the most common issue when throwing out clothes was usually a broken zip. However dropped hems, missing buttons and moth holes were also high on the list. Not only do they have the expert hand to mend your garment, they will work hard to source the correct replacement zips, buttons and threads. How Important Is It To Clean Your Clothes Properly As we have learnt from fashion icons like Stella McCartney and Victoria Beckham, you don't have to wash your clothes all the time to keep them in good shape. Good storage, spot cleaning and a little attention are all they need to really shine. Washing, especially at high temperatures and when followed by tumble drying, degrades fibres over time. Not to mention the effect of micro plastics washed out of your synthetic clothes having a detrimental effect on the environment. Clothes Doctor offer eco friendly cleaning solutions too, as well as helpful tips on how to care for your clothes. With thanks to our wonderful guest Lucinda O'Connor, Founder of Clothes Doctor Mentioned In The Podcast EAC (Environmental Auditing Committee) Fixing Fashion: Clothing Consumption & Sustainability Clothes Doctor Tips For Washing Clothing How to break up with fast fashion by Lauren Bravo
Please Support Us & Join Our Community
Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd
| |||
| 02 Sep 2020 | Building A Sustainable Capsule Wardrobe With Gemma McLean | 00:32:00 | |
Thank you for listening. Please rate review and subscribe so others can find us. What Is A Capsule Wardrobe A few years ago Marie Kondo got the world buzzing with her addictive life cleansing methods. But you don’t have to chuck out 75% of your wardrobe to get the advantages of a capsule wardrobe. A lot of sustainable fashion advocates are also fans of a capsule wardrobe. You know the ones, those minimal looking rails with 15 pieces of clothing that the owner claims to mix and match for any occasion. Is it just me or does this always seem a little unattainable? I was delighted when a friend of mine, Gemma McLean started offering her services as a capsule wardrobe and style consultant. She always looks effortless on social media and claims it’s all down to the magic of a capsule wardrobe. Rewearing Is the Future Any notions we have about spending more money to make our wardrobes more sustainable couldn't be further from the truth. Gemma is a big fan of rewearing, of swapping, renting and buying second hand. After all, in the words of Orsola de Castro, the most sustainable garment is the one already in your wardrobe. Wise words in a world where Gen Z feel judged by their peers for wearing the same outfit twice. Gemma hopes that times are changing and I do too. There are some pieces that I would never part with. So how can you spend minimal money and effort to achieve a stylish, time saving and sustainable wardrobe? Gemma has the low down. With thanks to our Incredible guest Gemma McLean You can find Gemma here and you can watch her over on her Youtube channel. Her eBook ‘ How to build the perfect capsule Wardrobe’ can be purchased here . Mentioned in the Episode
Series Credits Host: Lucy Kebbell Theme Composer: Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 19 Jun 2020 | Fashion After COVID-19 With Livia van Heerde | 00:39:22 | |
As we recorded this episode, the societal landscape throughout the world was shifted yet again, in a hugely profound way. A social revolution is following after the brutal death of George Flloyd at the hands of Police in Minnesotta, USA was filmed. Protests have taken place around the world and social media has been abuzz with black people calling out racism. It has also begun a global discussion around allyship, anti racism and equal rights. This was initially meant to be an episode discussing the effect of COVID-19 on the fashion industry however it is important that when talking about ethics and sustainability we also talk about equal rights. And there's no getting away from the huge gap in equality that exists in society, and within the fashion industry. In this bonus episode we speak to Livia van Heerde, not only is she an interesting voice in the sustainable fashion space but she is an Environmental Science to Climate Change student. Livia writes about environmental sustainability and social responsibility as well as appearing on many panel discussions. We discuss the plight of Bangladeshi garment workers, many of whom have been laid off due to $1.5 Billion of cancelled orders from big fashion brands. Union busting is now rife in Myanmar. Union members are being fired under the guise of financial difficulties as a result of lockdowns and cancelled orders. Closer to home, the Black Lives Matter movement is gaining momentum and we have seen fashion brands publish disingenuous statements of support for the black community. We question how brands will be implementing strategies to support black people going forwards throughout their companies and in their supply chains. With fashion week coming up, what will be the future of the fashion show? Livia explains the carbon footprint of fashion shows and events and asks whether we will see the privatisation or the further democratisation of fashion? She also shines light on the environmental impact of shopping online, and the problem of buying to return. With thanks to our lovely guest Livia van Heerde Resources Mentioned Eco Age Report into Boohoo's Treatment Of Staff
Please Support Us and Join Our Community
Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 14 Apr 2020 | Style With Substance Trailer | 00:00:46 | |
Style With Substance is the first podcast by The Vendeur, a conscious style platform. If you love fashion, but don't love harming people or the planet, we're here for you. We're taking our sustainable fashion myth busting to the airways to bring you the truth behind the greenwashing. Our amazing guests will be on hand each week to discuss the truth behind common held misconceptions about sustainable fashion and living. You can find out more on our website The Vendeur. Please follow us on Instagram @vendeurfashion and join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook. | |||
| 01 May 2020 | Preserving Artisanal Design With Lorna Watson of Stelar | 00:30:18 | |
Welcome back to episode two as we continue to discuss the Myths and greenwashing that surround Sustainable Fashion. This week we discuss the human element of Fashion and the importance of preserving artisanal heritage. A popular but untrue view of the fashion industry is that a lot of work, even complex, highly skilled work is done by machines. Or better yet, by highly skilled artisans that are paid well for their work. Unfortunately this is not always the case. To delve a little deeper we are so excited to be joined by Lorna Watson, Founder of Stelar. Lorna started out in fashion as a Jewellery designer but a few years ago she decided to create something a little different. Stelar is an accessories brand, created exclusively in Bali by artisans. Lorna travels to East Bali frequently, forming lasting relationships with her suppliers and the people who create the accessories. Being given the space and safety to create, as well as a fair wage means that the vital skills that these artisans have learnt from elders and their community are not lost. What Is An Artisan? Common Objective terms it as 'independent craftspeople making products from start to finish, networks of artisans, vocational projects helping marginalized people, cooperatives and social enterprises operating with small-scale factory units or across whole communities.' How Does Stelar Support Artisans? Stelar began as a project to raise the perceived value of the skill of weaving. Balinese people weave every day; from their sleeping mats to prayer baskets. However because it's such a common skill, the value of the work was fairly low. More money can be earned driving a taxi. Lorna felt strongly that this weaving technique shouldn't be allowed to die out. After spending time in Bali, she found a local leather supplier that is a by product of the meat industry and taught the weavers how to transfer their techniques from locally grown grasses like atta to leather. This has meant that the artisans can charge more for their work. Paying A Fair Wage Stelar worked hard with the community to set a fair wage. Not only that but also supporting the community with education initiatives and buying shoes and bags for the children to take to school. As well as training in subjects such as finance and marketing. All of the weavers can work from home in a flexible way that allows them to take care of family and children. It's a complex subject that Lorna goes into during the podcast. Why Should We Support Artisanal Brands? From the outset, the brand was centred around the importance of the artisan within the manufacturing process. In a world where we have become accustomed to buying mass manufactured items, the maker is faceless to us. There is no connection between us and them. Let alone any knowledge of the conditions that the people who make our clothes and accessories work in. Lorna is passionate about transparency and authenticity and bringing the story of the artisans to the forefront. Each bag has a small metal disc tag with a unique code. Type this code into the website and you can find out who made your bag. Lorna believes this allows the consumer to have a different, more meaningful relationship with their bag. It helps to create a personal and emotional connection with the things we own. "I really wanted to make sure that we pay the artisans a living wage that allows them to thrive and not just survive." - Lorna Watson We couldn't leave the conversation there without sharing a few other accessories brands that support Artisans in a variety of different ways. Veja - the sneaker company, popular with fashionistas, works with a network of rubber tappers in the Amazon Rainforest. Allowing them to collect the rubber for the soles of the trainers sustainably. Caplait - are aUK based brand who produce womens sandals. They're styles are modelled on the traditional Pakistani Chappel. The shoes are designed in the UK and crafted in Peshawar by artisans. Greenpacha - these elegant hats are handcrafted by communities in Ecuador using their native toquilla palm leaves. Pippa Small - supports Turquoise Mountain an initiative which works with communities in Myanmar and Afghanistan. She designs collections in collaboration with the craftspeople, who then make the pieces, often in highly dangerous and stressful situations.
With thanks to our wonderful guest Lorna Watson, Founder of Stelar. Sustainable Podcast Shout Out - Agnes Ldn
Please Support Us and Join Our Community Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd
| |||
| 26 Aug 2020 | The Truth About Vegan Leather With Ioanna Topouzoglou of Mashu | 00:25:22 | |
What Is Vegan Leather Made Of? This week I’m exploring vegan leather and it’s place within the contemporary fashion landscape. Did you know that vegan leather is usually made of PU, which is polyurethane, which is made from oil? The majority of vegan leather you will find on the high street especially is made of PU. Having oil products so close to your skin is a little worrying right? However there are some exciting new innovative plant based textiles that are fabulous faux leather substitutes. Plant Based Alternatives One brand using these alternatives is Mashu. I originally came across Mashu at London Fashion Week and couldn’t believe that these cool, sculptural bags were made of eco friendly materials. Mashu’s Founder Ioanna is passionate about creating really good quality leather substitutes for vegans and people who want an eco alternative to leather. The brand is manufactured in her native Greece and she uses all sorts of interesting materials to try to be as close to zero waste as possible. In this conversation she tells us about the cons of real leather production and tanning and why she believes that plant based textiles are the future for accessories brands. With thanks to the wonderful Ioanna Topouzoglou Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd Podcast powered and distributed by Simplecast | |||
| 16 Dec 2020 | Building Sustainable Brands With Factory 45 | 00:29:16 | |
At The Vendeur we work with a lot of small sustainable brands and we truly believe that they are the future for a more sustainable world. However, it’s not easy owning a brand. And this year, a pandemic and world wide lock down made it even harder! So I thought it was appropriate to speak to someone who knows about building and sustaining brands. She's done it herself and now she helps other people to realise their dreams. Sustainable Fashion Accelerator Shannon Lohr is the Founder of {r}evolution Apparel and her experience inspired her to go on to start Factory 45, an online accelerator programme for sustainable and ethical brands. We talk about a few of their success stories like capsule brand Vetta and size inclusive label Poppy Row. This episode isn’t just for brands or aspiring entrepreneurs, it’s also a handy inside look for consumers as to what a sustainable brand goes through to bring you a product and why they make the decisions they do. The Importance of Transparent Fashion Shannon believes that there is no such thing as perfectly sustainable. She’s a big fan of ‘progress over perfection’. Which is why it’s so important to have honest and open communication when marketing your brand. If your products aren’t as sustainable as you would like, tell your customer. Explain to them how you are working to make your product better and include them in the development. While I have Shannon, I ask her the ugly question. Why are you helping brands create more stuff? And so far she's the first person to give me a credible answer. Thank you to our fabulous guest, Shannon Lohr of Factory 45 Mentioned In The Episode Fashion Revolutions 2020 Fashion Transparency Index Organic Cotton - Organic September With Soil Association More Information About The Société
Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 24 Apr 2020 | Recycling Your Clothes With Olivia Dowie, CEO Riley Studios | 00:29:36 | |
Style With Substance Episode One – Recycling Your Clothes With Olivia Dowie of Riley Studio A podcast by The Vendeur
Welcome to the first in our discussions about the Myths and greenwashing that surround Sustainable Fashion. In this episode we are unpacking clothing recycling, how to do it, where it all goes and how to create new clothes from recycled waste. The recycling app ReGAIn, questioned 2,200 respondents and found that in spite of growing awareness concerning the importance of recycling, a large number of people are still throwing unwanted clothing items into the bin. Every year around 300,000 tones of used clothing ends up in landfill in the UK alone. Should I Recycle? More of us are recycling more than ever before, thanks in part to initiatives powered by Love Not Landfill and High Street stores such as Zara and Marks and Spencer. However recycling your clothing should be a last resort. If it can't be mended, repurposed, swapped, sold or donated to charity, only then should you consider recycling banks as an option. You may not be aware but what you recycle doesn't necessarily go into making new clothes because of a lack of global infrastructure. Currently recycling is sorted by hand. Anything deemed wearable becomes part of a lucrative market in second hand clothes in Africa. Anything unwearable in down cycled to become sofa stuffing and insulation. Riley Studio However there are some exciting brands out there that are using recycled fibres in their collections. Riley Studio is a gender neutral fashion brand with sustainability at it's core. Our guest, Olivia Dowie is CEO of Riley Studio, working alongside the Founder Riley Uggla. The fashion industry has a huge waste problem. In the UK alone, 11 million items of clothing go to landfill. Riley Studio work with innovative recycled fabrics to create everyday staples. Fabrics that include ECONYL, QNOVA, Recover Yarn and Reverso regenerated cashmere. This one featured in Riley's Winter collection as comfy sweaters and scarves. In everything they do Riley want to minimise their impact on the planet. Each piece is produced in small runs of 50. We discuss the difference between chemical and mechanical clothing recycling, microplastic shedding and the impact of using recycled fibers instead of using virgin fibers like cotton and wool. 97% of resources to make our clothes today come from virgin materials. If we flip that to instead using 97% recycled then what would happen to those people in the supply chain? Millions of people would be without jobs. Olivia is a staunch advocate of a balance between the use of the two. How and when should you recycle your clothes and what happens to them once you drop them off in the collection bank? Olivia believes that this is problematic because while it's great that brands are acknowledging that mass consumption is a problem, it should be the last resort after mending, donating, swapping, selling or keeping. How Do I Recycle My Clothes Not sure where to take your recycling? Check out the below handy apps and initiatives to help you make the right choice.
Thank You For Listening & Please Subscribe With thanks to our wonderful guest Olivia Dowie, CEO of Riley Studio, Hannah Carter at Love Not Landfill & Lottie Hanson-Lowe at Hubbub, Resources Mentioned Within The Episode
Join The Vendeur Community
Or Follow Us
Credits Host: Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd
| |||
| 16 Oct 2020 | Wear To Care With Hurr x Malaika - Bonus Episode | 00:25:33 | |
Education For All Lockdown was hard for everyone but what we don’t hear about are the stories of those who faced starvation and destitution, simply because they couldn’t go to school. This was the situation faced by students of the Malaika school in the Democratic Republic of Congo only a few months ago. The school, founded 13 yrs by model and philanthropist Noella Coursaris Musunka provides a free and holistic education to 370 girls from the ages of 5-18. Before the school, the village had no water, electricity or healthcare, but since then it not only has a school and community centre, but 20 wells providing clean water. As well as this they provide sports programmes, adult vocational skills and IT classes to around 5200 people. So you can see that this is a much needed and impactful programme. Women Supporting Women Post lockdown there is a lot of work to be done. Malaika have partnered with rental platform Hurr to raise much needed awareness and funds for the school and community. I was incredibly lucky to get to speak to Noella and Victoria, the CEO and Co Founder of Hurr on the day the campaign launched. Wear to Care offers renters an opportunity to rent pieces donated by incredible celebrities including Helena Christensen, Thandie Newton, June Sarpong, Eve and Natalia Vodianova, as well as brands such as Vilshenko, Roland Mouret and Roksanda. All the money raised goes directly to the school. Not only that but Hurr are using the amazing community that they have fostered around their peer to peer rental service to encourage women to sponsor girls at the school. The campaign seeks to highlight the power of female friendship and the importance of empowering each other through knowledge, finance and holistic support. We all know that when young girls are given these things, their potential to thrive is improved exponentially. We hope you feel uplifted and inspired by our conversation with these two amazing women. With thanks to our inspiring guests, Noëlla Coursaris Musunka and Victoria Prew Mentioned in the episode Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 08 May 2020 | Fashion That Gives Back With Oliver Tomalin, Founder of Love Brand & Co. | 00:34:45 | |
Welcome back to episode three as we continue to discuss the Myths and greenwashing that surround Sustainable Fashion. This week we discuss fashion brands that do more than just give to charity. Their entire ethos is built around charitable giving and raising awareness. We often hear about brands who donate to charity. Buy this t-shirt and save the planet, buy this tote bag and we'll donate some money to solve world hunger. Rarely are brands created with the sole purpose of giving back. How Does Fashion Give Back Have you ever been suckered into buying a charitable t-shirt on the promise that 20% of profits went to a charity, we felt better about buying another t-shirt we didn't need. But the picture isn't as clear as that. Lets break it down. Firstly, 20% of sales profits isn't much. A lot of fast fashion and luxury brands could afford to give a lot more that than from their own pockets. Second, who made that t-shirt? If its making a charitable donation to a human rights fund, then you have the right to ask how the garment workers were paid and treated. Not to mention whether or not the cotton farmer got a fair deal. If this makes you feel uncomfortable then the simple answer is to either give directly to the charity instead, or to support a small business with a difference. Love Brand & Co. Love Brand & Co. Is one such company. After a chance encounter with an Asian Elephant through the charity Elephant Family, Oliver Tomalin came up with the idea of supporting Elephant conservation through a swimming trunks label. Fast forward 10 years and Oliver's company are a proud member of 1% For The Planet. If you've not come across it before, the organisation was co-founded by Patagonia's Founder Yvon Chouniard, and these guys love to give back to Mother Earth. Any brands that join are partnered with vetted charities that benefit the earth and help to combat the climate crisis. Love Brand & Co. Is proud to work with Elephant conservation charities around the world. How Does Love Brand & Co. Give Back To The Earth Oliver is passionate about raising awareness, while creating great products. What started with swimming trunks, has turned into a full blown mens apparel brand. Sustainably sourced linen shirts, with nut buttons, organic cotton polo's and of course the swimming shorts make up a stylish selection. The shorts themselves are made with recycled polyester and they use an innovative eco printing technique with uses paper that can then be reused. They even use carbon offset initiatives when you purchase, so you can be sure that your footprint as a consumer is minimal. Has this conversation fired you up to include more charitable giving when you shop? Here are a few other brands who are making donating money too dam easy. Love Brand & Co. Have generously shared a discount code with us for you to get 15% off when you shop online. Use offer code THEVENDEUR at checkout. Rites - This is a preloved platform with a difference. Donate luxury fashion pieces to sell and Rites automatically make a minimum 20% donation to charity from your sale. Ninety Percent - not only are they an uber cool casual wear brand that is totally perfect for any lock down situation, they also donate you guessed it, 90% of their distributed profits to charity. Patagonia - The OG's of giving, Patagonia have been donating 1% of sales since 1985. And more recently they gave $10 Million dollars back to the planet, which was the money they saved in US tax relief. Toms – have moved on from their initial one for one model, to now donate a third of net profits to organisations around the world. Currently that is to their own COVID-19 Global Giving Fund, created to help existing Giving Partners who are responding to the pandemic. Allbirds - the sneaker brand beloved by Leonardo Dicaprio et al, are partnered with Souls4Souls an initiative that supports micro enterprise programmes in developing countries. They donate gently used trainers to be resold in local markets, helping people to lift themselves out of the cycle of poverty. With thanks to our amazing guest Oliver Tomalin, Founder of Love Brand & Co. And to Alexandra at Carello Consulting. Sustainable Podcast Shout Out - Scribbles and Nipples Please Support Us And Join Our Community Credits Host: Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 22 May 2020 | The Rise Of Thrifting With Emma Slade Edmondson | 00:34:55 | |
Welcome back to episode five as we continue to discuss the myths and greenwashing that surround Sustainable Fashion. This week we discuss the rise of thrifting and how Gen Z are flying the flag for second hand fashion. Strategic Creative Director and lovely thrifting pro Emma Slade Edmondson joins us to talk about thrifting, COVID-19 and how privilege informs sustainable fashion. Her modern approach to retail, sustainability and initiatives focused on social change is well known. If you've popped into Cancer Research UK's Marylebone branch and been totally balled over by how slick and un-charity shop-ish it looks, that was Emma. We'll be chatting about the resurgence of thrifting and how Gen Z have jumped on it as a money making enterprise. We also tap Emma for her tips for making the most out of charity shopping. Thrifting Makes Sustainable Fashion Accessible Time and again, we hear people put off by the expense of buying from sustainable and ethical fashion brands. And yes, if you were buying a beautifully made alpaca jumper from Gabriela Hearst then you can expect to pay upwards of £1000. However, a more exciting place to start would be by buying second hand, or preloved. Kate Moss made vintage cool in the early noughties but until very recently charity shopping was not. I remember as a kid enjoying weekends spent in charity shops and at car boots sales finding bargains. Friends would love the items I found but when I told them they were second hand, they were very put off. Now however, having sharp elbows and talent for spotting vintage Laura Ashley is a boast. Instagram influencers often describe themselves in their bios as 'Thrifters'. They tag their items with the charity shops they found their gems in, and boast of the money saved and the inspiration they find through not shopping the high street. Is Thrifting the antidote to overproduction in Fashion? According to Hubbub, one in six young people say that they don’t feel they can wear an outfit again once it’s been seen on social media. This feeling has fuelled Youtube Hauls of popular cheap, fast fashion brands like Boohoo, H&M, Primark and Misguided. Last year, Love Not Landfill hosted a pop up in London inviting major charity shops to collaborate with Instagram influencers. Barnardos collaborated with Emma Breschi and Oxfam worked with Elizabeth Whibly to mention a few. Each curated collections of their favourite second hand finds, offering them for sale at the pop up. #LoveNotLandfill’s last pop up made £23,000 for the charities involved and had 4500 visitors. The role of privilege in fashion Emma has some interesting insights on the way in which thrifting and second hand shopping is viewed according to privilege. However she believes that through the work that she is doing with charity shops and with her initiative 'Charity Fashion Live', people's perceptions of buying preloved clothes are changing. She is only too happy to see a rise in popularity but hopes that post lock down, we continue to love thrifting and avoid the high street where we can. With thanks to our fabulous guest Emma Slade Edmondson, Strategic Creative Director and founder of ESE Consulting. Mentioned within the podcast
Please Support Us and Join Our Community Please recommend us to one person so we can continue to spread our message of sustainable living.
Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd
| |||
| 30 Sep 2020 | What Makes Linen So Sustainable With Lea Wieser of Arkitaip | 00:26:27 | |
Luxurious Linen When you think of a really luxurious linen brand, Arkitaip is surely top of your list. Lea Wieser co created the company with her Mum. Together they design the clothes and Lea’s mum crochets the beautiful bags and swimwear that the label offers. Lea herself is a big fan of linen. Like cotton and wool, it has a lot of amazing hidden properties that make it sound more like a really techy sports fabric, rather than a natural and biodegradable material. Lea knows a lot about natural linen and shares with us why it inspired her to begin her own fashion label. Natural & Biodegradable Linen fabric is really great for our skin, because it’s hypoallergenic and temperature regulating. This makes it a kinder fabric for people with sensitive skin, plus it can be worn all year round. Unlike growing cotton, growing flax linen uses rain water and doesn’t compromise the land for growing food later on. It also doesn’t need pesticides. In her words, organic linen fabric is the perfect durable low impact clothing, grown and made in Europe, which minimises the companies carbon footprint. Lea’s love for the fabric and for the amazing artisan work of her Mother is infectious, you’ll be a linen nut too after this episode. Thank you to our fabulous guest Lea, Co Founder of Arkitaip Mentioned in episode Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||
| 09 Sep 2020 | How To Support Black Owned Businesses With Marilyne Kékéli of Mamater | 00:27:16 | |
Performative Allyship Following the tragic loss of black lives in the US this year, and fuelled by social media, the topic around racism, allyship and tokenism has been an interesting and necessary one. It has touched every facet of our lives and fashion has had it’s own reckoning in many ways. From highlighting the plight of black and brown female garment workers to former employees calling out fashion and beauty brands for their performative stances on allyship. This week my conversation is with Maryline Kekeli, founder of jewellery brand Mamater. As a black female creative, she was concerned by the way her peers and their businesses were being portrayed in the press. Lifting Up Black Creatives The jewellery industry isn’t a very inclusive one and as a product historically advertised to wealthy women, by often wealthy men, black women have been woefully missing from the narrative. Marilyne has worked hard to carve out her own story, creating beautiful, and responsibly made pieces designed to let the wearers personality shine. So she is keen for her talents and brand to be talked about in its purest way, and not simply because of the colour of her skin. She believes that lumping all manner of black owned businesses into shopping guides is not the way to help. Yes we should showcase black talent and she believes that real change comes from awareness. However our support has to be respectful and long lasting, not simply a flash in the pan to appear PC or pander to a trending hashtag. With thanks to my incredible guest, Marilyne Kékéli Please Support The Vendeur & Join Our Community Series Credits Host Lucy Kebbell Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd | |||