Common Threads

EP. 32 What does Transparency have to do with Fashion?

If we can't see it, we can't fix it, and that's why transparency is essential for a fairer fashion system. This week's episode is a solo chat between Alice and Ruth, breaking down the Fashion Revolution Transparency Index results for 2021, and exploring what the future of fashion transparency might look like. We also touch on wokewashing, and how Covid 19 has impacted garment workers. Read the Fashion Revolution Transparency Index for yourself here. Follow Fashion Revolution on Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates. Common Threads is an ethical fashion podcast from stylist Alice Cruickshank and writer Ruth MacGilp. If you liked this episode and you want to support our work, you can buy us a Ko-Fi here. For more updates on the ethical fashion conversation, follow Common Threads on Instagram, like us on Facebook, and join the conversation on Twitter. You’ll find Ruth on Instagram: @ruthmacgilp_ and Twitter @ruthmacgilp You’ll find Alice on Instagram: @styledbyalicex and Twitter: @styledbyalice Common Threads artwork was created by ​​Madeleine Welsch. Music produced by Feena McKinnell.

EP. 31 Sharing is caring with Aisling Byrne and Kalkidan Legesse

This week we're talking about a topic that is fundamentally transforming the way we consume fashion, and it’s called the sharing economy. We're joined by two guests helping us explore how we can make our wardrobes accessible to others, and what that means for making the industry more sustainable. First up we chat to Aisling Byrne, founder of peer-to-peer swapping and renting app, Nuw. You can sign up to Nuw here, and follow on Instagram. Next up we spoke to Kalkidan Legesse, founder of ethical retailer Sancho's and new venture, Shwap. Shwap offers circular solutions for both consumers and the brands they buy from, using innovative tech. Sign up for Shwap here, and follow on Instagram. Other clothes sharing platforms we recommend are Swopped.co.uk and Swishup. Read Ruth's article for EcoCult on clothes swapping here. Common Threads is an ethical fashion podcast from stylist Alice Cruickshank and writer Ruth MacGilp. If you liked this episode and you want to support our work, you can buy us a Ko-Fi here. For more updates on the ethical fashion conversation, follow Common Threads on Instagram, like us on Facebook, and join the conversation on Twitter. You’ll find Ruth on Instagram: @ruthmacgilp_ and Twitter @ruthmacgilp You’ll find Alice on Instagram: @styledbyalicex and Twitter: @styledbyalice Common Threads artwork was created by Madeleine Welsch. Music produced by Feena McKinnell.

EP. 30 F**k the system: How to transform fashion with Mairi Lowe

You'll often hear us talk about how the fashion system needs to change, but what exactly is a system? We're breaking down what a more equitable fashion landscape could look like with systems expert and Sustainable Fashion Scotland co-founder, Mairi Lowe. Listen to our conversation with Mairi to learn what the 'fashion system' is, how to fight the feeling of overwhelm when thinking about all that's wrong with fashion, and what we as individuals can do to make a difference. To learn more about the fashion system, we recommend watching the recording of this Fashion Revolution Week event hosted by Mairi. You can also read the Sustainable Fashion Scotland magazine here. Follow Mairi on Twitter, and keep up-to-date with the work of Sustainable Fashion Scotland via Instagram and by registering for its newsletter. Common Threads is an ethical fashion podcast from stylist Alice Cruickshank and writer Ruth MacGilp. If you liked this episode and you want to support our work, you can buy us a Ko-Fi here. For more updates on the ethical fashion conversation, follow Common Threads on Instagram, like us on Facebook, and join the conversation on Twitter. You’ll find Ruth on Instagram: @ruthmacgilp_ and Twitter @ruthmacgilp You’ll find Alice on Instagram: @styledbyalicex and Twitter: @styledbyalice Common Threads artwork was created by ​​Madeleine Welsch. Music produced by Feena McKinnell.

EP. 29 Is Ethical Fashion Out of Touch?

Common Threads is back for Series Three! In this solo episode, Ruth and Alice explore all their gripes with ethical fashion. From not serving everyday families to the difficulty of investing in clothes for life, this is an episode for anyone who’s felt like the world of sustainable style doesn’t quite cater for them. Common Threads is an ethical fashion podcast from stylist Alice Cruickshank and writer Ruth MacGilp. If you liked this episode and you want to support our work, you can buy us a Ko-Fi here. For more updates on the ethical fashion conversation, follow Common Threads on Instagram, like us on Facebook, and join the conversation on Twitter. You’ll find Ruth on Instagram: @ruthmacgilp_ and Twitter @ruthmacgilp You’ll find Alice on Instagram: @styledbyalicex and Twitter: @styledbyalice Common Threads artwork was created by ​​Madeleine Welsch. Music produced by Feena McKinnell.

EP. 28 Who Made My Fabric? Fashion Revolution Week 2021

Welcome back for a special mini episode to mark Fashion Revolution Week 2021. Now in its eighth year, Fashion Revolution Week is designed to bring the global community together to demand change within the fashion industry. You have likely already seen the hashtags #WhoMadeMyClothes and #WhatsInMyClothes, and this year the focus is on #WhoMadeMyFabric. In this solo episode, Alice and Ruth explore why rights for workers need to extend much beyond the cutting and sewing stage of garment production, and how we can all get involved in Fashion Revolution Week. Be sure to follow Fashion Revolution on Instagram and Twitter, and head to the organisation’s website for more information on how to get involved, including a printable Who Made My Fabric poster and a tool to email your favourite brands to ask them about their full supply chain. You can read more about Uyghur forced labour in the cotton industry in this Fashion Revolution Statement. You can also find out about the need for supply chain transparency in the ‘Out Of Sight’ report. If you liked this episode and you want to support our work, you can buy us a Ko-Fi here. For more updates on the ethical fashion conversation, follow Common Threads on Instagram, like us on Facebook, and join the conversation on Twitter. You’ll find Ruth on Instagram: @ruthmacgilp_ and Twitter @ruthmacgilp You’ll find Alice on Instagram: @styledbyalicex and Twitter: @styledbyalice Common Threads artwork was created by Hannah Mitson of Mitson Design.