It’s time for an urgent shift in fashion. And not just towards a path of doing less bad, but of bringing positive change. Not just less harmful fashion. Not even just more sustainable fashion. But building a regenerative fashion future.
Recently I read the book Regenerative Fashion: A Nature Based Approach to Fibres, Livelihoods, and Leadership*, by Safia Minney. And this book could not have come at a better time for me. I was feeling discouraged and overwhelmed by the weight of it all and the stories and changemakers highlighted throughout this book was the inspiration that I needed.
So I am super grateful that I was able to have the author, Safia Minney — who has been a disruptor in the fashion space for decades — onto the show. You may know Safia Minney as the founder of fair fashion brand People Tree, or you may know her as an activist, consultant, thought-leader, or author of books like Slave to Fashion and Slow Fashion.
In this episode, Safia Minney discusses the themes of her latest book on regenerative fashion. And what I loved about this book was that it wasn’t just about regeneratively grown fibers and decarbonization — though of course that was covered and that’s super important.
But Safia also discussed regenerative leadership and regenerative relationships, the importance of revitalizing artisan crafts and textile traditions, why living wages and a just transition are central to regenerative fashion, and how our current economic systems are completely at odds with a livable future.
So let’s dive in and explore both the challenges and solutions facing the fashion industry from one of its foremost sustainability advocates.
*Bookshop.org affiliate link
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Listen to This Episode:
Tune in to this episode of the Conscious Style Podcast below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Links From This Episode
- Organization: Fashion Declares!
- Book: Regenerative Fashion: A Nature Based Approach to Fibres, Livelihoods, and Leadership*
- Safia’s Fair Fashion Brand: People Tree*
*affiliate link
About Safia
Safia is an award-winning social entrepreneur & sustainability champion. Internationally recognised for the company she founded, People Tree, the pioneer of sustainable fashion & food. She led the business as Global CEO for 20+ years, leaving her operational role in 2015. She founded Fashion Declares, REAL Sustainability and is a Speaker, Author, Advisor and Executive Coach. Safia is a Trustee with The Countryside Charity (CPRE) and advisor with Business Declares.
Safia launched Fashion Declares in 2022, with leaders from FARFETCH, Reformation, Continental Clothing and other campaigning organisations to build a bottom-up, industry-wide movement bringing together people at all levels within the fashion industry to tackle the current climate, ecological and social emergency.
Safia is recognised by the World Economic Forum as an Outstanding Social Entrepreneur and is a leading influencer in Sustainability, Anti-Modern Slavery and ethical business.
‘The True Cost’ movie featured Safia’s work and she has made many documentaries and short films. Author of 7 books, including, Slave to Fashion campaigning to eradicate modern day slavery. By Hand, Naked Fashion – The Sustainable Revolution, and Slow Fashion – Aesthetics meets Ethics. Saf’s new book Regenerative Fashion was published 2022 in English, Spanish and Japanese.
This Episode Was Brought To You By:
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