The (Un)Ethical Consumer (Zoe Goetzmann)

Happy Fall/Autumn! 🍂🍁🎃 Welcome back to another episode of “The (Un)Ethical Consumer Podcast” with me, your host, Zoë Goetzmann 🎤. On this current episode, we’re speaking to Interdisciplinary Artist, Director and Activist, Lidia Russkova-Hasaya (@saintlidia). Lidia works with “social and natural landscapes, light organizing space, and memory of the past and future," according to her Artist Statement. We first met when I interviewed her at this year’s Venice Biennale, where she exhibited her latest public art installation and two-person exhibition, “Homesick” with CREA Venice (an arts project and organisation which supports local artisans and artists) (@creavenice). She has been featured by Elle Decor, Amazing Architecture, Hammock Magazine, Interior+Design and Fetch London. Her work explores themes related to identity, womanhood, memory/nostalgia, dislocation, immigration, alienation and otherness. When it comes to sustainability, we speak all about conceptual art, mindfulness and meditation -viewing the world through a bit more of a thoughtful lens 🔎 via social and artistic observations 🧘‍♀️💭

Artist Bio: 

Lidia Russkova-Hasaya is a New York-educated Multidisciplinary Artist and a Theater Director. She has exhibited work globally, including the "Unfolding" Exhibition at the Ria Keburia Foundation in Georgia in 2023, public art installation "PORTAL" at Crea Culture Center in Venice and a recent project at MoMA in Tbilisi this year. "PORTAL" will also be exhibited at OASI Foundation in Pesaro, Italy.

More Info: lidia.art 

👉 Make sure to Follow: 

Lidia’s Instagram (@saintlidia)

👉 Follow #TUCPodcast Host, Zoë Goetzmann (@byzoesera)🎙💚🍃

TUC Podcast Instagram: @theunethicalconsumerpodcast

TUC Podcast Website: www.theunethicalconsumerpodcast.com 

Read my (Zoë's) review of Lidia's exhibition, "Homesick" at this past year's Venice Biennale in Fetch London (@fetch.london) 📖🇬🇧

🎙✨ 

We are super excited to welcome Kristina Ang @kristinamichelleang, the host of one of our other favourite podcasts @lifeofafashionstudentpodcast ✨🤗 Kristina is also an education & sustainable strategies intern at The Council of Fashion Designers in America (CFDA).

Some sustainability/sustainable fashion resources mentioned in this episode:

The Council of Fashion Designers in America (@cfda): have a look at their sustainability glossary + reports, The Re:Generation Innovation Scholar Award (established by Swarovski), ‘Upcycling Artist-Designer’ Nicole McLaughlin (@nicolemclaughlin), Sustainable Outwear Brand/Company, Arc’teryx (@arcteryx) — have a look at their design workshops! Also be sure to read Kristina’s piece in ‘Hyergoods’ on ‘Debunking Common Sustainability Myths’

Some other sustainable resources to share 🤗: 

Fashion Innovation: https://fashinnovation.nyc/

Fashion Revolution (@fashion_rev): https://www.fashionrevolution.org/

Vogue Business (@voguebusiness): https://www.voguebusiness.com/

Good on You (@goodonyou_app); https://goodonyou.eco/

Vashion Blog - https://www.thevashionblogg.com/

and some other ‘slow fashion’ influencers: @thevashionblogg, @theresaaxostyle, @sarafrii

So excited to introduce you to our next podcast guest @abi.guest_ ✨ 

We talk about it all in this episode: pop culture, musical theatre, the artistry of @alexandermcqueen as well as how sustainability plays a part in both the art & fashion worlds.

Sustainable/size inclusive shops, influencers and resources mentioned in this episode:

• @molbythelabel

• @housedeville

• @saturday_bymeganellaby

• the tea towel shirt is from @herbiemensahvintage and @thehippieshake trousers

Ep 6

Fair Fashion, Sustainable Fashion, Women4Women: An interview with Sabrina Bosch, founder of Boavista (@boavista_club)

In this episode, we speak to the founder of the Boavista Club (based in Lisbon, Portugal). Their designs are made of 100% Tencel - a biodegradable fabric making a significant impact on sustainable fashion. Boavista also partners with the Lisbon-based women collective "Bandim" - an NGO that empowers local women to turn their skills into their own sources of income. Their zero-waste accessories are created by the women of Bandim and 10% of Boavista's revenues are donated directly to this NGO.

As an added bonus and gift to any of you listeners, you can check out and shop Boavista and any of their clothing using the code UNETHICALCONSUMER15 for a 15% discount. So perfect for anyone’s upcoming summer holiday! :)

Resources and sustainable fashion brands mentioned:

• @mudjeans

• @goat.organic.apparel

• @basicrights

This week on the podcast, we speak to Carlota Cotarelo, a designer from Spain now living in the U.K. She recently graduated in the U.K. at University for the Creative Arts - Rochester and showed her designs this past Spring In London. At the moment, she is working on building her own brand. On this episode, we speak all about artisanship, the art of dressmaking, tailoring, the quality of luxury vs fast fashion, the issues with overproduction, how to ‘survive’ fashion school (and the pressures, anxieties that come with it) … how to stay true to yourself and your personal design/aesthetic and style. 

Follow Carlota, her designs, and design making process here:

@carlotacotarelo_cc

@carlotacotarelo

CarlotaCotarelo (Etsy)

In this episode, we speak to Sarah Wasilak, writer, Associate Director of Commerce at PopSugar and, most importantly, host of the podcast “Dinner for Shoes” (covering all things fashion + style mixed with a food/dinner party vibe). We talk about all sorts of things: accessibility, Gen Z shoppers, Mean Girls: The Musical (Fast Fashion vs. Vintage), the dangers of TikTok shopping, how to style clothes that are both trendy AND affordable, best plays to buy vintage, recycling and of course SHOES! ⁠👠⁠

Sarah Wasilak (Links): 

Instagram: @slwasz, @dinnerforshoes

Watch Her Podcast (on YouTube): "Dinner For Shoes"

Some vintage/thrift platforms we talk about in this episode: The RealReal, Resee, Rebag, Vivrelle, Farfetch Pre-Owned (lots of people don’t know about this!), Vestiaire Collective, Tulerie, ASOS Marketplace, Shrimpton Couture, Depop

We are so pleased to welcome our second guest, Dilayla Kopuz, Co-Founder, Creative Director and Designer of the brand @imperfectionists_official - a sustainable, unisex clothing brand based in Copenhagen (as well as ethically made in Turkey). We cover so much in this episode: from how to source materials, how to run a brand, what is sustainability? The ethics of NFTs and NFT fashion, the benefits of human connection and the importance of fair wage ✨between genders 👏

In this episode of the show we're dedicating a mini-sode to the passing of designer and activist Vivienne Westwood. Our guest on the show is designer Abi Guest (@abiguest_). We talk about it all: Vivienne Westwood's design career, her iconic looks, why she inspires us, her 'punk queen' status, her activism, her positive and (often rebellious) affects on the sustainable and sustainable fashion landscape, Hulu's Pistols and Pam & Tommy, and if sustainability and sustainable fashion can be considered as 'punk.' 

RIP to the iconic Dame Vivienne Isobel Westwood DBE RDI 💫

"Buy Less, Choose Well, Make It Last" - Vivienne Westwood

@viviennewestwood

www.viviennewestwood.com

And as always, if you liked this episode, please feel free to leave us a kind review and five stars to help us climb the pod charts! 

Follow us at:

@theunethicalconsumerpodcast

Host: Zoë Goetzmann (@byzoesera)

Happy Holidays TUC Podcast Listeners! 🌲🎉 As we wind down the year/2025, I’m so happy to bring you our final episode with Andreea Vaitis (@andreea.vaitis), a sustainable fashion consultant, stylist, advocate/fashion influencer based in London. Andreea operates a sustainable beauty, health and wellness business with the B-Certified company Arbonne and works as a Communications Officer for an environmental charity. Currently, she is also CEO of Sustainability at Créatif, a Paris-London based Creative Agency - further supporting brands in their sustainable efforts 💫💅💪

Working as a stylist at H&M for many years (based on her “passion for fashion”), she left this fast fashion retailer space and began to “live life with purpose”💡

In this episode, we talk all about top tips for truly dressing/styling/shopping sustainability, B-Corp certified businesses (“4%” of businesses are categorized with this ethical ranking, according to Andreea’s episode), “greenwashing,” how to stay sustainable this holiday season 🎊, motherhood (how this changed Andreea’s style and sustainable mindset), “disposable culture” and steps to take to protect future generations 🫶🌳👏

👉 Make sure to follow: 

Andreea Vaitis (+ her fabulous sustainable/second-hand styling outfits & ventures) via her Instagram (@andreea.vaitis) 

Follow #TUCPodcast🌱 Host, Zoë Goetzmann (@byzoesera) 

TUC Podcast Instagram: @theunethicalconsumerpodcast.com

TUC Podcast Website: 💻 www.theunethicalconsumerpodcast.com 

👉A few sustainable collaborations/resources to check out: 

Arbonne UK

Créatif (Find out about the agency's sustainable mission)

Finitsterre x Reskinned: Donation/clothing recycling scheme [trade in Finisterre gears and products at any physical store for discounts on new purchases/gear/clothes]

This week on the show we interview Audrey Long, founder of the platform ‘xoxoposhipgirl’ - a place where you can find and purchase the most iconic wardrobe pieces from shows like Gossip Girl (obviously!), The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars. With 65.9K followers on Instagram, 110,715 Postmark followers and 22.8K followers on TikTok, Audrey has defined herself (at 17 years old!) as a leading authority / seller in the Gossip Girl Fashion community (truly the ‘Deux Moi’ of GG Fashion). We talk about everything in this episode: how she started her platform, our mutual love for Gossip Girl, the show’s fashion (Audrey pulls a few pieces including Serena’s iconic Vera Wang bridesmaid’s dress #iykyk), ‘Nostalgia Dressing,’ Met Gala Fashion, how Audrey runs her platform and creates her content and why archival fashion is truly a sustainable/Art form (Audrey also spills some secrets on Jennifer Aniston/Rachel from Friends' Wardrobe as well) ☕

Follow Audrey and her shop/platform: https://xoxoposhipgirl.com

Instagram (@xoxoposhipgirl): https://www.instagram.com/p/CzpgM6GNy-l/

Hello, TUC listeners (hope you all are recovering post LFW/Fashion Week). Today on this episode, we’re speaking to Blanca Sume (@fillesume) who is a Regenerative Fashion Designer based in Spain. She studied at Istituto Marangoni and received a Master’s Degree from BAU, (where she first learned more about Biomaterial Design and working with biomaterials and sustainable material alternatives when it comes to fashion design). In this episode, we talk all about Regenerative Fashion, eco-anxiety (which I can relate to), not being the most sustainable or perfect consumer (also fitting in with the title of the podcast, “The UnEthical Consumer Podcast” and why I started this podcast), her Olive Pit production (that is regional to where she grew up and is special ingredient when it comes to designing Biomaterial/Regenerative Fashion). Her collection, Reverie, was featured in a fashion editorial by Metal Magazine. In this episode, we truly have one of the most honest discussions about our eco journeys (and I’m super excited for you all to hear it)!

Follow Blanca Here:

• Instagram: @fillesume
• Website: fillesume.com
• Metal Magazine Editorial (Her "Reverie" Collection): https://metalmagazine.eu/post/bau-x-razzmatazz-all-together

This week on The (Un)Ethical Consumer Podcast (#TUC), we welcome Ariana Rebello (IG: @itsarirebello), fashion and media professional as well as host of her own show, Essenza [now streaming on Koko Connect]. We talk about it all on this episode: sustainable fashion, pop culture, celebrity, South Asian fashion, why inclusivity matters when it comes to sustainability, fashion & media landscapes. We also talk about her recent coverage of NFW and Milan Fashion Week (you can catch her episode on MFW October 16!)

As always make sure to rate our podcast (5 stars!) and leave us a lovely comment on Apple Podcasts.

Follow the lovely Ariana: @itsarirebello

Instagram: @essenzashow

Now on kokoconnect.tv

Our Insta: @theunethicalconsumerpodcast

Website: theunethicalconsumerpodcast.com

My Insta (Host!): @byzoesera

Mollie Dunn (@responsibleregalia) is a slow fashion influencer // instagrammer // YouTuber who creates content focused on sustainability, sustainable fashion and environmentalism. 

In this episode we talk all about the idea of ‘authenticity,’ how sustainable fashion influencers function in their community, our mutual love of classic fashion shows like “What not to wear” (throwback to anyone who was a fan) and loads more.

As always, feel free to listen to the episode and please rate us + leave a kind review on Apple Podcasts so we can get on the charts and keep making more episodes.

Some sources to look into + follow:

@slowfactory — online classes mentioning about fashion sustainability + where you can learn more about sustainability  

@ellenmacarthurfoundation

@projectdrawdown — for all facts related landfills, greenhouse gases, impact of items going to landfill

Here are the online classes about fashion sustainability: https://slowfactory.earth/. They used to offer their courses for free for all BIPOC attendees and then pay what you want donation-based for anyone else. Not sure if that is still the case. 

Here are some additional resources I have compiled over the years about honestly just a lot of different things: 

On how fashion "seasons" have increased over the years

https://www.zayahworld.com/seasons-in-fashion-industry-year/

https://carlin-creative.com/the-evolution-and-development-of-mi-season-collections-resort-and-pre-fall-their-roles-and-their-relevance-today/

On the complicated issue of textile recycling: 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/clothes-recycling-marketplace-1.4493490

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/whats-in-your-landfill-lots-of-textiles/2020/01/27/7d43830c-364c-11ea-bb7b-265f4554af6d_story.html

On how fast fashion has trained consumer habits for the worse: 

https://fee.org/articles/fast-fashion-has-changed-the-industry-and-the-economy/

https://www.brandingmag.com/2019/12/12/hms-greenwashing-short-sighted-and-unethical/

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22573682/shein-future-of-fast-fashion-explained

https://www.npr.org/2013/03/11/174013774/in-trendy-world-of-fast-fashion-styles-arent-made-to-last

On landfills, greenhouse gases, impact of items going to landfill: 

https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/landfill-methane-capture

On how to fix it: 

UK Parliament Environmental Audit Committee's Fixing fashion: clothing consumption and sustainability report: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvaud/1952/full-report.html#heading-7

Happy August! 🌸 Welcome back to The (Un)Ethical Consumer podcast with me, your host, Zoë Goetzmann 🎤 (like always) with our next podcast guest eco-friendly designer Emi (@emibiolab) 🌿. With just over 60K followers on TikTok, Emi went viral for her “mermaid bags” - creating unique content and social media content which explores the aquatic mystery & beauty of Venice, Italy. Drawing upon her passions for Art, Fashion & Science, Emi explores bio-material and material alternatives to create her own sustainable, biodegradable designs using algae-yarn, which she crochets to make truly amazing creations 🪡🧵 In this episode, we speak all about her process, content creation, fashion industry issues (or her issues with the fashion industry) & her future goals as a designer. She’s also currently pursuing her MA at IUAV in Visual Arts and Fashion 💫.

Follow Emi Here:

• Instagram: @eemieeemi and @emibiolab (to learn more about her Bio Research/Materials/Courses)
• TikTok: @emibiolab
• Website (to subscribe to her newsletter!): emibiodesigner.com

As always, please make sure to rate our podcast (5 Stars!) and let us know what you thought of this episode :)

You can also follow:

• Podcast Instagram: @theunethicalconsumerpodcast
• TUC Podcast Host Instagram: @byzoesera 🎙️

Thank you all so much for listening! 🌱

In this episode, we speak to Megan Shears (Fashion Journalist & PR) who has launched her own blog & platform, “Dollhouse Diaries” - consisting of features and articles about “fashion and beyond.” Recorded on May 6, 2024 ("The First Monday in May"), we delve into all things Met Gala 2024 related: covering topics including the event’s history and its background, this year’s theme and dress code, our outfit predictions, favourite previous Met Gala themes, the future of menswear as well as sustainable (and circular fashion). 

Megan Shears (Links): 

Instagram: @megannrosiex 

Read “Dollhouse Diaries” Here: https://dollhousediaries.com/

Also, make sure to read all her Met Gala 2024 coverage here (written and edited by Megan): 

“Sleeping Beauties: Something I won’t be on Monday night:” https://dollhousediaries.com/2024/05/04/sleeping-beauties-something-i-wont-be-on-monday-night/

“IT’S TIME: My Favourite Designers at the Met Gala 2024:” https://dollhousediaries.com/2024/05/07/its-time-my-favourite-designers-at-the-met-gala-2024

“The Mess of the Met Gala 2024:” https://dollhousediaries.com/2024/05/08/the-mess-of-the-met-gala-2024/

Related Links: 

Met Costume Institute (Instagram): @metcostumeinstitute

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Instagram): @metmuseum

To kick-off London Fashion Week (#LFW) & Season 2 of the #TUCPodcast 2️⃣📸⁠⁠💅, I’m super excited (+ pleased) to introduce our next guest: Celebrity Stylist Ebony Brown (@ebonybrownstyle). 

➡️ In this episode, we talk about it all: Her “Stylist Story,” BTS of a celebrity stylist, Wardrobe + Costume Design, Fashion Industry insight on working with celebrities, “It Ends With Us”💐🎥 Film Fashion (see her fabulous TikTok fashion breakdown + why “Lily  Bloom” is a #Swiftie)🔗👏, her platform “Celebrity Style Academy” (providing tips on working with celebrities/”how to become a stylist”), capsule wardrobes, saying “no to Fast Fashion” and what she would change about the industry in 2025 ♻️🪡 💪

💫 Ebony Brown’s worked with high-profile clientele such as Jordan E. Cooper, Halsey and Camila Cabello as well as with companies and brands from the likes of Nike, Adidas, McDonalds (and many more). Ebony’s worked on fashion editorial with publications such as Paper Magazine and V Magazine (to name a few). 

She’s worked with fashion industry creatives from Ellen Von UnWerth, David LaChapelle and Hype Williams Finally, Ebony’s also the creator of her own “Celebrity Style Academy” which offers online styling courses, resources, a fashion/stylist guide and insider insights into the fashion business (as well as “how to become a working fashion stylist”). 

👉 Make sure to follow:

Ebony Brown Instagram: @ebonybrownstyle  

Ebony Brown TikTok (for her amazing stylist breakdowns and stylist/wardrobe designer industry behind-the-scenes): @ebonybrownstyle 

🎤 Follow  Host, Zoë Goetzmann: @byzoesera 

TUC Podcast Instagram: @theunethicalconsumerpodcast

TUC Podcast Website: www.theunethicalconsumerpodcast.com

👉 Make sure to check out Ebony’s “Celebrity Style Academy” for Stylist resources + tips on “how to become a stylist” - https://www.celebritystyleacademy.com

Welcome to the first episode of ‘The (Un)Ethical Consumer Podcast,’ a podcast that strives to answer the question: ‘what does it mean to be sustainable?’ as hosted by Zoë Goetzmann. Through a series of interviews with artists, designers, creatives and industry professionals working in both art and fashion, the podcast seeks to create a place and space to break-down the technical processes behind design: ‘how things are made’ etc. Raising questions like: ‘What is ethical, what is not ethical?,’ ‘What is sustainable, what is unsustainable?,’ Through experience working in both the art and fashion, Zoë has come to realise that the best way to do this is sharing the stories that artists and designers have to tell.

Woo Jin Joo (@woojinstudio) is a celebrated emerging artist based in London, UK. She is a graduate of Central Saint Martins and Royal Academy of Arts. She is a material storyteller who’s work is inspired by sustainability as well as the ordinary objects in our daily lives. She is the recipient of the Janome Fine Art Textiles Prize, an Ellen MacArthur Foundation Pioneer, an RA 2021 Summer Exhibition Finalist as well as curator of @creating.in.crisis - a collaborative art project found via Instagram.

Hosted by: Zoë Goetzmann

Edited and Produced by: Marlon Percy

Written and (Co-Produced) by: Zoë Goetzmann

In this episode, we speak to the founder of the Boavista Club (based in Lisbon, Portugal). Their designs are made of 100% Tencel - a biodegradable fabric making a significant impact on sustainable fashion. Boavista also partners with the Lisbon-based women collective "Bandim" - an NGO that empowers local women to turn their skills into their own sources of income. Their zero-waste accessories are created by the women of Bandim and 10% of Boavista's revenues are donated directly to this NGO.

As an added bonus and gift to any of you listeners, you can check out and shop Boavista and any of their clothing using the code UNETHICALCONSUMER15 for a 15% discount. So perfect for anyone’s upcoming summer holiday! :)

Resources and sustainable fashion brands mentioned:

• @mudjeans

• @goat.organic.apparel

• @basicrights