What does it take to make it as an independent, small, local ethical business in a global world that favours big brands? How can we work together to ensure that our local businesses and creatives are literally sustainable - in that they thrive and stick around, and continue to give us the awesomeness that, at times, we maybe take for granted?
It's not just fashion this applies to, but all the beautiful, unique, heartfelt local businesses that make our neighbourhoods sing - the cafes and family-owned restaurants, the fruiters, newsagents, hairdressers and book stores. Don't forget the circular services (like the one we featured last week - Clare's local cobbler, Roger Shoe Repairs).
In the interview hot seat are Rowena and Angela Foong - two of the three sisters behind an ethically-driven, family fashion business called High Tea With Mrs Woo, based in Newcastle, Australia - which just so happens to be the world's biggest coal port BTW (listen out for a super interesting discussion on how being amongst all that fosters a special kind of community action around building alternatives).
Mrs Woo (for short) is a studio of many things - natural fibre fabrics, unique designs, and the craft of pattern-making and sewing in house, but also mending workshops, community activations and collaborations with innovative textile upcyclers. As they say, you need to wear many hats to make it these days, but that's also part of the joy. Not that it's easy. In this frank interview the sisters' share their challenges and strategies - which include "co-retailing" - fun! Practical! To all those struggling with crazy rents, listen up.
This episode is a love letter to all the small sustainable businesses out there.
We appreciate you!
But it's also a provocation to customers: if you value this stuff, you need to support it - otherwise one day you might turn around and find it gone.
Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to the crowdfunder for my documentary about trees. You are the best, and I very grateful.
If you haven't heard about this, or seen the crowdfunder, I'd really love your help. Discover here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This is the Real Circular Fashion Economy - Meet Roger, My Local Cobbler
Return to Sender: Buzigahill's Bobby Kolade on Fashion Waste Colonialism in Uganda
Lou Croff Blake Talks Pronouns, Fashion For Every Body and the Language of Belonging Beyond the Gender Binary
Access Some Areas? Model Junior Bishop on Fashion's Disability To-Do List
Are You Posh & White Enough for a Career in the Creative Arts? Rahemur Rahman on Strategies for System Change
Caryn Franklin, Beyond The Clothes Show - Fashion, Identity, Representation and Belonging
Irish Artist Richard Malone, Who Gets To Make It in Fashion?
Magnificent Michaela Stark - From Insta Bans to Victoria's Secret, Meet the Body-Morphing Couture Lingerie Maker
From Natural Dyes to Reading Nature's Signals, Re-Finding Knowledge Disrupted by Colonialism
Meet Fiji's Fashion Dynamo Ellen Whippy-Knight
Could You Buy No Clothes This Year? Jenna Flood's Wardrobe Freeze
Desperate Measures: Gregory Andrews' Climate Hunger Strike
Spotlight on COP28: Flora Vano - Now is the Time to Stand with Pacific Climate Activists
Meriel Chamberlin - Factory Made & Fabulous? Fashion's Sustainable Re-shoring Opportunity
SPECIAL EDITION (Part 2) Ep 197, Juno Gemes on Photographing the Australian Civil Rights Movement
SPECIAL EDITION (Part 1) What You Need to Know About The Voice Referendum in Australia
London Fashion Renegade: Dr NOKI is the O.G. Upcycler - Just Don't Call Him That
Taylor Zakhar Perez on the Power of Influence
Parley for the Oceans' Cyrill Gutsch - Welcome to the Materials Revolution!
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