Hello everyone ,
We are now on day 5 of the campaign and at 40% of our funding goal. We need to get things moving as the pledges have really slowed since the first day. So, I have decided to implement a referral scheme offering you and anyone you refer 10% cashback. All you have to do is head to our booster page following the link below. Then copy your unique referral link and share it with whoever you can, online and in person. https://discover-boys-fashion-thats.kickbooster.me/boost Please note that this offer is only valid for new referrals you bring to the project and will not be valid against your original pledge. Thanks again for all your support! Ismay x #crowdfunding #kickbooster #referralscheme So our crowdfund campaign has now launched and we need your help to make it a success. The social media and PR side of the business is extremely time consuming as I am doing it all on my own. It doesn't leave much time for anything else right now!
So I am asking everyone I know including all you lovely readers to tell at least 3 other people about us, what we do and our campaign. Sharing, liking, retweeting, commenting and generally engaging with our campaign content on social media will also help us to get seen. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. Go and visit the Kickstarter campaign even if you don't want to buy anything and share it to your social media feeds. Sign up to our mailing list too to keep up-to-date with what's happening with the campaign. There will be exciting offers and the possibility of new products too so don't miss out. I really appreciate all the support and feedback many of you have given me over the years in getting set-up so a big thanks to all of you. Let's make Boy Wonder a success together! Ismay x #brandlaunch #startupbrand #ethicalfashion When we launched our campaign on Kickstarter it soon became evident that most of our audience were not familiar with crowdfunding or backing projects and weren't even sure what it was. So I thought I should put together a post to explain what it is and how to use it.
Crowdfunding is a great way to raise money from a 'crowd' to fund a project. Kickstarter is one that is product based but there are also ones that raise money for equity or charity. Products featured in the projects have normally been sampled or prototyped and the money raised is often to then take them into production. This means the goods are not available to buy straight away as the backer is pledging to have it made first. This set-up has helped a lot of interesting (and crazy) ideas become reality, which probably wouldn't have got funding in the traditional ways. It is also a great way for creators to test the demand for their product before investing in it as putting a lot of money into stock before knowing it will sell is very risky.. You can only make one pledge on Kickstarter, but you can add other items onto your pledge and increase the amount to cover the add on. We include a handy table to show the prices with add-ons. So if you decide you want to add something else you can go back to the site and go to 'manage pledge'. You can also cancel a pledge if you need to, but only while the project is live. You will receive a confirmation page and/or email once the pledge has gone through. You also don't need to actually pledge on an item (reward) you can just back the campaign by selecting no reward and an amount or select one of the little, big or super wonders rewards that are set a specific amount. So If you have now little wonders to buy for you can still support what we are doing. Kickstarter works on an all-or-nothing basis, so if a project doesn't hit its funding goal within the timeframe they have set then they don't get anything. This means as a backer that your bank card would not be charged if the target is missed. If it is successful your card will be charged only at the end of the project for the final amount pledged. You will be notified about whether the project has succeeded by Kickstarter and by us. If a funding goal is met before the end of the project you can still pledge. Most project creators like us will set a low goal that only covers their bare minimum costs, otherwise they risk not getting anything at all if they can't raise the funds. So keep pledging as this gives the creators much needed extra funds. The Kickstarter site doesn't give you choices about sizes and colours etc. So at the end of a successful campaign you are sent a survey where you add all these details and contact information for shipping. You will be regularly updated by the us after the project ends about the progress on production. If you have anymore questions please do contact me. Ismay x #crowdfunding #kickstarter #pledging The Boy Wonder Kickstarter campaign is now LIVE!
Check out the new, lower prices, discounts and bundled deals. There will be other treats as the campaign runs such as extra offers, friend referral deals and stretch goals depending on it's success. To get the momentum going on the campaign and get noticed by the algorithm we need raise at least 30% in the first 24 hours so if you are considering backing us please do it as soon as you can. Let us know what you think and help to spread the word by sharing our campaign. Love Ismay x We use organic cotton in our collection which is more expensive. So what is organic cotton and why should you buy it? No Toxic Chemicals! Conventional cotton is grown and treated with many cancer causing chemicals including frightening ones like cyanide[i], formaldehyde and sulfuric acid[ii]. Organic crops do not pollute natural water courses, thereby helping to protect aquatic and wildlife, promoting biodiversity and precious ecosystems. Chemical free crops also mean that local communities have clean drinking water without toxic run-off poisoning them. Conventional cotton growers have high rates of cancer and death by suicide which has decimated large communities. "A single drop of the pesticide aldicarb, absorbed through the skin can kill an adult."[iii] Safe for Children Clothing by its very nature is in close contact with the skin which allows for easy absorption of harmful chemicals. Young children are at a greater risk of exposure to these chemicals due to their size, behaviour and metabolism[iv] Exposure to these have been have been linked to a whole range of medical conditions from eczema and asthma to ADHD[v] Lower Environmental Impact Organic soil is very healthy and fertile helping to store carbon while also acting like a sponge soaking up flood water, in both ways directly helping to combat climate change. Most organic cotton is rain-fed reducing the strain on water supplies especially in countries with high drought levels. It uses 88% less water and has 62% less energy use. Organic cotton also lasts longer[vi] than the standard meaning it can be kept in use for longer. Better Wellbeing Organic cotton farming is subject to higher ethical standards than conventional cotton. They have to follow very strict guidelines which are regularly checked and scrutinized[vii]. Standard cotton growing is rife with child and forced labour in places such as Uzbekistan[viii]. As they don't grow organic cotton it is less likely such practices are used in organic growing areas. As the workers and farmers are not exposed to the nasty chemicals used in standard cotton growing they have better health and wellbeing where others suffer from acute pesticide poising often requiring hospitalisation. Multi-cropping Organic cotton is grown alongside food crops allowing farmers greater food security for themselves and their families and can provide extra income. Conventional cotton is grown as a mono-crop where nothing else can be grown with it and any nearby food sources are contaminated with high levels of toxic pesticides and fertilizers. Non GM Genetically modified seeds are owned by large corporations who farmers have to buy seeds from every year[ix]. As organic cotton never uses GM seeds farmers can save the seeds for the following year without extra cost or getting into debt. They can control the quality and type of seed they want to grow giving them better yields. How do I know if it's organic? Certified organic cotton should have a GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), OCS (Organic Content Standard) or Soil Association logos either on the garment labelling, on the retailers website or they will have a copy of the certification if you ask them. I hope this helps you to make an informed decision about buying organic clothing. Ismay x Related Posts Toxic Monsters Water, the latest fashion Victim Tale of a T-shirt Wake up to Child Labour #organiccotton #sustainablefashion #nontoxic [1] https://kathleenbarnes.com/your-cotton-t-shirt-may-be-poisoning-you-4/
[1] https://www.naturalnews.com/022803_cotton_chemicals_organic.html [1]http://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/Global/eastasia/publications/reports/toxics/2013/A%20Little%20Story%20About%20the%20Monsters%20In%20Your%20Closet%20-%20Report.pdf [1] ]%20About%20the%20Monsters%20In%20Your%20Closet%20-%20Report.pdf [1] https://www.eczemaclothing.com/certified-organic-cotton [1] https://www.littleleaforganic.com/organic-cotton-environment-impact/ [1] https://www.cottonique.com/blogs/blog/8-benefits-of-organic-cotton-clothing [1] http://www.cottoncampaign.org/uzbekistans-forced-labor-problem.html [1]https://www.soilassociation.org/media/11664/cottoned-on-briefing.pdf http://www.cottoncampaign.org/uploads/3/9/4/7/39474145/2007_ejf_deadlychemicalsincotton.pdf
If you have been following the blog and Boy Wonder for a while you will know that we first launched our collection on Kickstarter back in June. Sadly, the crowd fund campaign was a big failure and it's taken a while to get back to the point of being able to relaunch again.
One of the big reasons I have really struggled to keep going was that I had been offered help by various industry experts, which for some reason evaporated. I totally understand how busy people are and so maybe it just wasn't practical for them, but it left me feeling very lost. It can be really difficult making decisions when you are running a business single-handedly, but as a widow I also have no life partner to help me either so it's doubly hard. I do have amazing friends and family who do what they can and have had some wonderful help and advice from various contacts, but the expert industry support would have been invaluable. One of the hardest things to decide on is how high to set the funding goal. As Kickstarter is an all-or-nothing crowdfund site I have to set the target high enough to cover my anticipated costs but low enough to be realistically met. I have also decided to cut back what I am offering to just the jerseys which should help with reaching a minimum of 50 units per style. Any lower than this could make the project unrealistic unless I invest in the rest as stock which is very risky. Anyway, after everything I have faced in my life I knew I couldn't just give up and had to give the collection one last shot. I have since been doing substantial research and analysis to try and work what went wrong (aside from the high prices) and what to do differently. So this time round I will have discounts and special offers to help stimulate pledges and will be featuring more about our amazing makers, press features and follower feedback during the campaign. I have put an enormous amount of time and energy into promoting the collection and campaign across social media and mass media this time. Having contacted hundreds of contacts, journalists and bloggers, I have at least doubled my previous reach, but only had about a dozen people who are happy to feature us without charging me. So your help as my dedicated readers will be essential. You can help spread the word by telling your friends, sharing and commenting on our posts and signing up to our mailing list here. Another time-consuming and costly element I have been dealing with has been switching to a new printer. On recommendation the new one will be far more reliable but it has meant having a third lot of fabric test prints done. Hopefully these will work out ok, as they haven't used the fabrics I wanted before. Having invested so much of my own money in the business already this is really my last opportunity to have a successful launch and possibly to continue with the business. at all I don't have to resources to do it again, so if it fails again I will have to make some hard decisions and reconsider what I am doing. On top of the all the cost and hard work of the last few months my old car died and needed replacing (we have a secon-hand electric one now!). We have also had various bouts of illness between me and my son and his school was flooded out and had to be closed. Then factor in the usual juggle of motherhood with working whilst being on my own, which sometimes seems an impossible thing to balance. My late husband's birthday has just passed too adding another layer of emotion to deal with. So we could really do with some good luck and for all my efforts to finally pay off! On a good note, I have had lots of lovely responses to the Boy Wonder designs. Our subscribers list has increased by 116% since the last launch and our social media following is slowly growing. We had a double page feature in Future Textiles magazine here and been named in Drapers as ‘Childrenswear brand to watch’ and one of the ‘Alternative Occasionwear: The Brands to Know’ - high praise indeed! So, maybe things are moving in the right direction. Thanks for sticking with us and I hope you will join us for the launch on Friday 6th December. Ismay x #brandrelaunch #startupbrand #businessstruggles Related Posts Blogging Woes Start-up Struggles What Now for Boy Wonder What do you Need?
Fashion resale has become a big thing over the last year or so and is a good sustainable option. In fact the second -hand clothing market is predicted to grow faster than new sales. I have been buying second-hand clothes and selling my old things for a while now, so thought I could pass on some tips to you.
Where There are so many platforms online where you can sell your clothes now. Depop is a great app you can have on your phone to buy and sell and is my favourite. eBay is an old trusted platform, Vestaire Collective is for designer goods and there is also Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, ThredUP and Poshmark, to name but a few. Choose the platform where the person who is most likely to buy your clothes from will be looking. If you're not sure, then where would you be most likely to buy from? For example Depop has a younger audience than eBay and Facebook and Vestaire Collective is for the wealthier customers. There are also some brands like John Lewis, Levi's and Patagonia that now take back their clothes giving you a discount or payment and they will resell them. This is something we have in mind for Boy Wonder in the future. How First of all make sure that the garments are clean and ironed. Nobody is going to want to buy a crumpled old thing from the bottom of your laundry basket. It's probably worth even fixing any repairs too. It is also much nicer for the buyer when they receive it when it's nice and clean and ready to wear. You will get better feedback too which is important to build trust if want to sell anything again. The key thing if you are selling online are the photos. There is nothing more off putting than a terrible photo. Most mobile phones these days have really good cameras, so there is no need to worry about expensive kit. You will need somewhere that has good, preferably natural light, but not so bright that it throws strong shadows. You may be able to brighten them up a little on your phone afterwards if necessary and crop out anything you don't want on the image. It always look better to show garments being worn as they look very different on the hanger. Most people don't have a great imagination and if they can't imagine how good it could look on them then they won't wear it! Try also to have a plain background behind the wearer, that won't distract too much from what you are trying to show. Photograph key details too, especially any branding if it's premium or designer to show authenticity. Be honest about any imperfections and show them too, as you don't want unhappy buyers. The more photos you have to show the garment off the better. Pricing is a tricky one and will depend on the platform you are selling on. eBay is an auction site, so maybe start at the very least you are willing to accept and you can always relist with a lower price if it doesn't sell. Depop is not an auction site, so it's worth doing a bit of research to see what prices other people are selling similar things at. Consider how much you would be willing to pay for something similar if you were a buyer. Items that are brand new, have never been worn and still have the price tags on you can obviously charge more for, but you will not get the retail price back. It's important to check as well how much a platform will charge you for selling with them as they vary from a 10-25% commission. Describe the item well and make sure you include all the key information honestly. Most sites will require you state size, colour and brand at the very least, but an indicator of quality is also really helpful. Other useful things to mention maybe the fabric, washing information or even for strange sizes some dimensions too. I have sometimes also included images for how to style the garment or links to fashion bloggers reviews. Buyers love to see if something is a bloggers favourite so include it in the headline too. When it comes to adding on postage and packaging be honest and only cover your costs. High postage is off putting and most people would rather wait longer than pay more. You can weigh your item on home scales along with the mailing bag and then check out the royal mail's website to find out how much you are likely to pay. If you are sending multiple or heavy items it might be worth comparing costs with a courier company instead. Try to be quick in dispatching the goods after someone has paid and let them know it has been sent. It's always safer to send something with a signature on delivery and with enough insurance to cover it as there are rogue buyers out there who will say they haven't received it. Send the tracking number to the buyer too and an estimated date of delivery. Answer any questions that prospective buyers may have quickly and clearly otherwise they will go elsewhere. If there are any problems with the sale or afterwards deal with them as soon as possible and in a polite manner. Problems can happen to anyone and if its at your end being honest and upfront with an apology will go a long way. Remember to rate your buyer afterwards and give feedback and ask them to do the same. That way you can build your reputation as a seller and hopefully have customers returning to you. When This is stating the obvious, but don't try to sell winter coats in the summer and vice versa. But, also consider scheduling the item to start when people are most likely to be on the internet browsing for stuff. I often start eBay items on a Sunday afternoon as people often are free then. With auctions you also have to consider ending them at a time when people will be able to bid. No one wants to get up in the middle of the night to bid on some old jumper! Another thing to consider with timing is what time of the month you are trying to sell in. Near the end of the month a lot of people won't have much disposable income to spare, but after payday they are more likely to part with their cash. Realising the potential of your unwanted clothes can be quite lucrative but also they are then going to live a second life with someone else which is better for the planet. Hopefully these tips will help you od just that. Ismay x #resalefashion #secondhandfashion #consignmentfashion
Further reading
https://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/sell-clothes-online/slide10 https://www.forbes.com/sites/victoriapavlova/2019/08/31/ethical-fashion-online-5-clothing-resale-platforms-making-waves-in-europe/#1fbc00532da3 https://wellkeptwallet.com/sell-clothes-online/ https://www.fbicgroup.com/sites/default/files/Online%20Consignment%20report%20by%20FBIC%20Global%20Retail%20Tech%20Jan.%2011%202016.pdf https://remake.world/stories/style/top-5-online-consignment-stores-to-buy-sell-your-clothes/ https://www.storiesbehindthings.com/theedit/2019/8/27/a-profitable-circular-model-for-fast-fashion-brands https://www.hatchmag.com/articles/patagonia-wants-buy-back-your-used-gear/7714461 https://statementsstore.com/the-best-fashion-buy-back-schemes/ So lovely readers I need your help...
I need you to tell me what YOU need. Over the last three years of blogging I have had over 40,000 unique visitors to this site from all over the world. It takes up a lot of my work time writing the blogs and getting them out into the world. But, there seems to be a problem. When my crowdfund launched in June I had little to no visitors from this site and when I recently did a survey to find out why it hadn't worked I discovered that most blog readers didn't even know the crowdfund campaign was happening. Now, the big news is that we are re-launching a paired-down collection on Kickstarter on Friday 6th December at 11AM GMT and I want you all to know about it and visit the crowdfunder, so you can get your hands on some lovely Boy Wonder stuff. The best way to do that is to get you to sign up to the mailing list. In fact, my subscribers were the only ones in the survey who all knew about the campaign. Sadly, considering the amount of visitors I get here not many of you actually sign up. So what can I do to change that? What is it that will encourage you to join us as a subscriber? Firstly let me tell you what you get from signing up. The current enticement is access to a 10% early bird discount on the launch. You will also recieve a monthly newsletter (sometimes bi-monthly, but I am doing my best!) which has the highlights from the blog over that month. There is also a news section that keeps you updated on what's happening behind the scenes, exclusive content and also details on giveaways, prize -draws and other exciting stuff. Sometimes I will also email you to tell you about important events such as the launch so you don't miss out. The best thing is that it is all delivered to your inbox absolutey free! But maybe this is not quite what you want? Maybe there is something better I can offer you? So, I have been doing some research and wracking my brains and I have a few options to offer you. These would be free downloadable content for you to access on signing up:
In the meantime I am going to busy rejigging the blogsite a bit to prepare it for the launch and make signing up more obvious. So please bear with me if you encounter any problems. Thanks for reading and hopefully your feedback too Ismay x #subscribersignup #mailinglist #freebies
I penned this brief piece to mark Extinction Rebellion's first birthday on the 1st November which was read out at my XR group's celebrations. It is further insight into the October Rebellion and why I am involved. I hope you like it x
I first grew rebellious in my youth, but matured into sensible behaviour in my thirties. Now, I am rebelling again and I have to say I have rather a taste for disobedience! There is an illicit, childish thrill to sticking your fingers in your ears and humming, whilst an officer of the law is issuing you with a section 14! And a swelling of pride in seeing the boys in blue being diverted by chasing after a decoy structure, so we could get more packed into our little love rebellion village. My activist parents have led by example, both having been arrested in their past for direct action. So, a family tradition had perhaps begun, as I sat in the Rose blockade with my mum by my side. A passing down of values and protest, which I hope to instil in my son too as it’s his future I am fighting for. But fighting for action shouldn’t be so much fun though surely? Although tempered with discomfort from the cold, rain and restricted space at times, it was also a bit of a wheeze. The first night on the Poppy blockade the air was filled with the sound of our harmonious rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody led by a young Freddie Mercury lookalike (moustache and all), I am sure Boris (Johnson) appreciated our singing talents as he tried to get to sleep! I made the decision to be arrestable some weeks before London and wrote a pre-prepared statement that could not be read without tears streaming down my face. Although I was ready and in the right headspace the day it looked possible, I was still very apprehensive. My stomach churned as my flight response kicked in. I knew I could back out at any time, but the camaraderie and energy of the day kept me true. I told myself that I have faced far worse in my life than a few hours in a police cell and it’s certainly not as frightening as what is coming. We sat on the Rose blockade for many hours, our spirits kept high with the help of the samba band, rounds of singing, Rebel Roos and copious amounts of snacks generously handed out. Please note, I will be happy if I never see another flapjack again! The incredible ingenuity of the Da Vinci bridge matched by the amazing temerity of the young woman atop kept the buzzies busy for some time. I was asked if I had anything to say, and being very smart I had written SAVE EARTH on my hands, which I held aloft for all to see. Embarrassingly, as my hands were turned the other way they actually stated EARTH SAVE sounding more like an ethical bank account than a plea to the authorities! Finally arrests began to happen in earnest and it looked like our waiting was over. With lock-ons and glue-ons around us the adrenaline was coursing… only for the police to walk away! Their cells and vans full and rebels being de-arrested. Although I was disappointed, I like to think I made their job a bit more difficult and what’s more important I stood my ground for what I believe in. I do feel that I should have stayed as the later threat of forceful removal did move me away. But, I now know I can put myself in that space when the time comes again. When people ask me what the rebellion was like, the first word that comes to mind is intense. The mixture of emotions coupled with a high dose of adrenaline is a heady cocktail (with a similar hangover afterwards) and difficult to express to the uninitiated. Expectations after my April rebellion experience were high, but I was not disappointed. The incredible sense of community, love, power, purpose and hope embraced me in an almost spiritual way. So much so that when I am now asked if I am part of Extinction Rebellion, I defiantly said “yes, I am!” I once read that activism is like ripples in water, every action spreads out even when it feels like it hasn’t achieved much. We will be mostly unaware of how much our efforts have affected other people and drawn them into the fight. I had a friend down to visit us on our blockade, who until I met her would have only been a petition filler and an MP writer, but my bad influence has led her astray. But better than that she is singing the praise of activists like us in the very conservative town where I live, where she holds far more sway then I have. Finding XR has been like finding my tribe. After losing my husband, I lost a lot of friends and have been very isolated. Becoming aware of the true extent of climate crisis was doubly isolating. But now I am finally surrounded by people who are willing to do pretty much anything about it and are pretty amazing too. So, I feel honoured to stand beside you all and call you my friends. Ismay x #tellthetruth #actnow #rebelforlife Related Posts Rebel for Life Why I am Rebelling 5 Ways to Save the Planet pt2 Responding to Criticism of the Rebellion
The days are getting shorter and the nights are drawing in. There is a chill wind blowing and the leaves are falling. It is nearly All Hallow's Eve, a time of witches and ghouls and...tonnes of plastic rubbish. This ancient celebration, which America has supercharged, grows in popularity and environmental impact every year. But Halloween can still be enjoyed without the guilt and the waste.
Costumes 30m people dress up for Halloween[i] and 7m Halloween costumes are thrown away in the UK each year. Most are made from polyester or other oil-based plastic such as PVC which releases harmful chemicals as it breaks down. Two thousand tonnes of plastic waste is created from clothing and costumes alone, not considering all the plastic accessories, wigs, masks and hats. This is equivalent by weight of waste plastic to 83 million Coca Cola bottles. Not only that, but most are made very cheaply and in all likelyhood unethically. You could make your own costumes with what you have already, borrow, swap or reuse old ones or get them second hand from charity shops. Local sewing shops will have Halloween fabrics if you have a sewing machine and Pinterest has lots of ideas for costume designs. Or if you are going to a special Halloween party then consider hiring a costume instead. Decorations Cheap plastic Halloween decorations sadly cant be recycled as they are too poor quality. So why not use natural items such as pine cones, colourful autumnal leaves and acorns to decorate with? Or buy or make your decorations out of paper. Candles or tealights in jam jars are also a lovely to set the spooky mood. Otherwise if you don't have time to make or find paper or natural decorations then you may need to spend a bit more to invest in some good quality, non-plastic items that you can re-use year after year. LED or solar powered lights will cost you less in electricity as well as lowering your carbon footprint. There are lots of ideas on my seasonal zero waste Pinterest board here. Treats The vast amount of sweets and chocolate that are bought and consumed over Halloween are not only bad for our health but for the planet too. Most come in plastic bags and wrapped individually in plastic too. Foil wrapped chocolate or ones in cardboard like raisins at least can be recycled. Sugar is also a very environmentally damaging crop along with palm oil which is in many chocolate treats, so another good reason to limit naughty treats . A visit to a sweet shop or a pick 'n' mix counter will cut out some of this excess packaging. You could also give something useful instead of sugary treats like fun rubbers or spooky pencils. Or have fun making your own treats such as chocolates, biscuits, toffee apples or popcorn that can be given out in paper or cloth bags. You can get fun silicon moulds to make your own chocolates and use them for other seasonal events like valentines and Easter too, Pumpkins In the UK alone,only 5% of the 10 million pumpkins that are carved out for Halloween are actually eaten. 18,000 tons of pumpkins are left to rot in the UK. All the water and energy that went into growing and transporting those pumpkins is wasted. [i] Buying locally grown pumpkins means you are supporting local farmers but also reducing those food miles. Make sure you use the flesh that you scoop out of the pumpkin to make some delicious soup or pie and try roasting the seeds with a little salt for a tasty snack. Here are some recipes to try. Put your old pumpkin in your compost bin or food waste collection rather than your waste bin so it can give something back to the earth and not release harmful gases in a landfill site. The same goes with apples for apple bobbing too. Party table Reusable cutlery, plates, napkins, tablecloths, straws and other table settings not only look nicer but reduce waste and environmental impact. Again investing in some good quality crockery that you can reuse each year makes sense if you can afford it but otherwise be inventive and creative with what you already have. You can find some layout ideas on my fright night Pinterest board here. Hope you all have a Spooktacular and waste -free Halloween! Ismay x #zerowastehalloween #greenhalloween #plasticfreehalloween [i]http://www.fairylandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Halloween-Plastics-Clothing-and-Costumes-Report-2019.pdf [i] https://www.permacrafters.com/zero-waste-halloween-ideas/
After spending a week in London with XR (Extinction Rebellion) I wanted to try and share some of the experience with you. It is very difficult to express it to people who were not there but I will do my best!
Sacrifice It was a really intense experience and a roller-coaster of emotions with long days, late nights, little sleep and lots of adrenalin. While holding sites there was discomfort from long periods of sitting down in tight spaces, little access to toilets and food as well as the cold & rain of autumn. I chose to take time off work and be away from my son and put my liberty at risk, but I would take all the down sides and do it all again in heartbeat to highlight the severity of the climate crisis and push for action. There are environmental activists around the world who die trying to protect our plant and our future, so these all seem insignificant in comparison. witnessing other rebels and friends making huge statements of sacrifice by gluing and locking themselves onto buildings and structures is very humbling. However, I do recognise my privilege as a white, middle class woman to be able to be part of the rebellion, but I do feel that I should use this and whatever platform I can for the cause. Community On our sites we created our own XR villages complete with sustenance, art, meditation, wellbeing, first aid and stewards tents. We even had toilet tents with buckets, as the police confiscated our portaloos! Our site was next to St. James' Park where the campers had a lovely setting next to the lake and the pelicans. For me this embodied the natural world we are fighting for whilst being directly opposite the opulent buildings of Horseguards Rd which embody the establishment we are fighting against. We heard speeches from many notables including Gail Bradbrook, Mark Rylance, Bruce Parry and Rupert Read. We had live music from KT Tunstall and many others. Entertainment came from the Red Rebel Brigade, Rebel Roos, the Skeleton Parade and the dancing birds and of course people’s assemblies to make all the group decisions for the site. We truly created the society we want to see with inclusion, community and resilience. Power It is difficult to describe the incredible energy of the experience in standing beside like-minded, passionate people who are using civil resistance to drive change. You begin to realise what power we all have when we come together and disobey the powers that be. That immense power of communal spirit and love was summed up for me while we protested outside the BBC by singing 'Amazing Grace'. It was so moving it had the police officers struggling to hold back tears. You also start to realise how much social conditioning we have in society to ‘put up, and shut up’, not just from the authorities but also from peers for fear of disapproval. I was quite anxious about what some friends and family would think about what we are doing in XR, but have been pleasantly surprised with all the support I have had. It is really empowering after years of feeling like we are getting nowhere with letters, petitions and marches to see people rising up and taking action. Love The main thing I take away from the whole experience is the amazing sense of love. We went to London as thousands of rebels and came back as friends. Everywhere I went hugs and words of support were given, food and supplies shared and hopes bolstered. Whilst we are sitting blocking the road, the wellbeing team would pass us food, blankets, cushions and handwarmers, while legal observers would check we knew our rights. Supporters would cheer and the samba band would drum in defiance of the police. We had pizzas delivered to us from anonymous supporters, our home rebels raised money to buy extra supplies and visitors dropped off folding chairs and head lamps. We sang together, laughed together and cried together and it was the most incredible experience of my life. #rebelforlife #actnow #tellthetruth Related Posts Why I am Rebelling 5 ways to save the planet pt2 Responding to Criticisms of the Rebellion On Monday the 7th of October I will be taking to the streets of London with Extinction Rebellion to protest against the British government's lack of action on the climate emergency and ecological breakdown. Now, I am aware that some people may be critical of this, so in the spirit of XR's (Extinction Rebellion) first demand to tell the truth, I thought I should be open about it and try to explain why.
Truth Having been environmentally aware for most of my life (thanks to hippy parents) I knew the climate crisis was bad. I had signed petitions, supported and donated to green groups, gone on strikes, marches, became vegan and zero waste and fostered many other individual actions to 'do my bit', But when I watched 'Heading for Extinction and What to do about it' and read the undisputable science behind it I was truly shocked. I strongly believe that if everybody knows the dire truth, most people would do something about it. Some of the key facts that stood out for me were that the IPCC report is actually somewhat conservative and doesn't include dangerous feedback loops that make the situation worse. But also if we continue on the course we are on we are headed for 3.5-5 degrees of warming or more which will not be survivable. I now know that all the laudable things I had been doing are not enough. In some ways they have even been a distraction or an illusion that suits the fossil fuel producers and their enablers in government to point the finger at us so they can carry on with business as usual. "Humanity and life on Earth now face a ‘direct existential threat’ UN Secretary General, Antonio Gutteres Fear I am really scared for my son's future and even for my own, as the risks we face are also very likely within my own lifetime. I had always hoped to have another child with my late husband and although I am still single, I have decided that I cannot now bring another child into the world. The risks of mass starvation, drought, societal breakdown and violent unrest (even in the UK) are not the world I would want my child (or anyone's) to have to live through. We are already experiencing the melting of artic sea ice, arctic forest fires, record breaking temperatures, mass biodiversity loss and global crop failures many of which were predicted to happen many years from now so it's not hard to imagine these rapidly increasing. "Climate Change is now reaching the end-game... the issue is the very survival of our civilisation" Prof. Hans Schellnhuber Love I love my son more than anything else in the whole world, He is the Boy Wonder, my incredible miracle and the embodiment of my love for my late husband. I am doing this for him more than anything as I want him to be able to grow up in a safe and beautiful world. I love this earth too, especially this small part of it that we call home, and want to be able to protect it and pass it on to him and future generations along with all the wonderful animals and living things in it. My son should be able to enjoy clean air, clear blue seas and the wonderful, rich natural world that I grew up with. All children and all people deserve this. Change Change is not happening quickly enough and the 1.5 degree target set by the Paris Climate Accord according to the science is now impossible to meet. Our emissions have not declined to meet these hard won targets, but are actually rapidly increasing. We have all the solutions to drawdown these carbon emissions. We know what we need to do, but need the political will and complete system change to bring it about and fast. The 11 years the IPCC report gave us to turn things around is now 10 years and many scientists in fact say that the next 18 months are critical in getting things moving. Studies and history show that Non Violent Direct Action and civil disobedience is the most effective way to do this; from the civil rights movement to the suffragettes. Indeed, the actions that XR took in April have already changed the public's opinion on climate change with over 64% saying that we are running out of time. It also helped to change the dialogue enough to get parliament to declare a climate emergency. All this has helped raise awareness, but no positive actions have yet been taken; instead support for renewable energy has been withdrawn and the 3rd runway at Heathrow and new coal mines approved. "It takes around 3.5% of the population actively participating in the protests to ensure serious political change." Erica Chenoweth So, the government has failed us. As a widowed parent I will not put myself forward for arrest, however it is my duty as a mother to do all I can to protect my child. This is why I am rebelling against government and the system they uphold. I hope you will join me on the streets x #actnow #tellthetruth #extinctionrebellion Related Posts Responding to criticism of the rebellion 5 ways to save the planet pt2 How to talk to kids about the Eco Crisis How to stay climate positive
Cost
If a garment is very cheap, then you do have to ask yourself why. Cost is normally a very good indicator of ethical credentials, but not always. You have to remember that it will have been made for a fraction of what you are buying it at, as the retailer will add their own mark-up. So the factory workers would get very little which could mean safety is not great as well. That said, a high cost garment does not always ensure good ethics either, merely a higher profit for the retailer. Materials Certifications such as Fairtrade, Oeko-tex and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) are an easy first check for a shopper as they will appear on labelling or marketing. They all have differing sets of standards regarding social and environmental aspects and factories are often audited by the certifying bodies. You can find out more about the different certification on our glossary page here. It is important to state here that we have spent a great deal of time specifically sourcing materials with the above certifications and paid a premium for them, but we are not allowed to use their logos as our factory is not itself certified. Therefore we simply state that the materials are certified organic and chemical-free. You can request to see a company’s certifications if you want to check. Ours are available to view here. Transparency How open are the brand about their production and supply chain? If they are doing all the right things, then they will have nothing to hide. How much information do they provide to their customers and are they happy to answer questions on these issues? An ethical brand may have open factory events or show video and photo footage of their staff and factory premises. Full disclosure of the list of factories they use is another big tick. Our factory and supplier list is available here. Policies & Initiatives Many big brands are signed up various initiatives that check up on their ethical claims and promises. The most well-known one being the ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative), but others such as the Bangladesh Fire & Safety Accord, Fair Wear Foundation and Fair Living Wage. However they should also have their own comprehensive ethical policy too, that states their own guidelines and working with manufacturers and suppliers. For many small brands this will be all they have, as they won’t be able to bear the cost of being part of costly initiatives. See our Policy pagehere. A strict Animal Welfare policy is also a must have for an ethical company. This should state which animal products they will not use and should include: mulesed merino, cashmere, mohair, shearling, angora – or any animal hair, down, feathers, fur, exotic skins, silk, shell, horn and bone. If they use wool it should carry the RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) Symbol which guarantees a high animal welfare standard. Audits Many big brands will carry out factory audit, either by a third party or themselves to ensure ethical practice. The main certifications of this are SEDEX (Supplier Ethical Date Exchange) and Fast Forward which is the highest standard. Audits are expensive though, so many small brands don’t have them for the smaller factories they work with. This doesn’t necessarily mean they are unethical if they are ticking some of the other boxes. Many of the small factories such as ours are family businesses with less than 10 employees who they have worked with for years. Our main supplier has Living Wage Employer certification, which we hope to gain for others in our supply chain too. Ranking There are various apps and websites that rank fashion brands according to various markers. Check out the Ethical consumer magazine, rank-a-brand, Good on you app, Fashion Revolution’s Transparency Index and the Good Guide. However, I find that many of them have odd anomalies so I compiled my own brand rankings. You can read about who came out best here. Big brands really have no excuse to not be ticking all these boxes. So if they don’t, then ask them why. Consumer behaviour and demand can drive change if we are all more vocal. I hope this helps you to shop more ethically and feel more confident in your choices Ismay x #ethicalfashion #howto #fashionexpert Related Posts 5 Most Ethical High Street Fashion Brands Top 5 ethical kids Fashion Brands Top 6 Ethical Kids Accessories 6 Fashion Brands to avoid & why
Resources
https://www.wikihow.com/Shop-for-Ethically-Made-Clothes http://www.selflesslystyled.com/blog/how-to-tell-if-a-brand-is-ethical-or-not https://cladwell.com/blog/2016/1/22/4-ways-to-know-if-a-company-is-ethical-sustainable https://beezer.co.uk/know-clothing-ethical/ https://thetab.com/uk/2016/09/07/how-to-shop-ethically-18087 https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-know-if-a-clothing-brands-ethical-claims-are-true https://thegreenhubonline.com/2018/11/05/how-to-tell-if-a-fashion-brand-is-actually-ethical/ https://mashable.com/2015/04/24/ethical-fashion-tools/?europe=true Hello readers!
After analysing the poor success of the crowdfund campaign I realise I need to do some research on who my audience is and whether they are actually potential customers or not. So it would be a massive help to me if you could answer the short 2 minute survey which pops up on this page. (You can go to the home page for another pop-up if you got rid of this one) Everyone who takes part in the survey will be entered into a prizedraw to win a free t-shirt from our sample collection. The survey will run for 4 weeks with winners announced on September 30th. So do it now, so you don't forget and miss out on this great giveaway! x
We have all felt the lure of that shiny new thing and most of us will have enjoyed a shopping spree in our time. In our western culture of mass consumption, we are constantly surrounded by advertising, in mass and social media; TV, films, billboards and magazines portraying aspirational lifestyles. All these seductively persuade us into thinking we need to buy more stuff. But does this really make us happy? And are we now beginning to confuse our wants over our needs?
As social beings we are heavily influenced by our families, friends and environment often leading us to feel we need to ‘keep up with the Jones’s’ with a fear that if we don’t we are in some way not good enough. This constant push to have more, bigger and better drives consumer debt and means we work ever harder and longer to… “Buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.”[I] Many people within this economic model are often so time poor due to long working hours that they spoil their kids with stuff out of guilt over not spending time with them. I know I have and I worry about what affect this will have in the long run because we know innately that kids want our love not our money. In these grave times of climate emergency and ecological breakdown we really need to start challenging this idea of consumerism. The capitalist model of endless growth which is fed by our consumption is literally killing the planet and ourselves, yet we seem powerless to stop ourselves like moths to a flame. Our wardrobes get more crammed, our landfill sites get ever fuller and our purses ever more depleted. However, more and more research shows that less is definitely better and proves, what we all know deep down, that material wealth does not make you happier… “The bulk of the evidence seems to contradict the consumption-happiness relationship”[ii] And in fact… “Being dissatisfied with what you have, and making a point of acquiring more, is the quickest way to dissatisfaction in life”[iii] The Happy Planet Index goes some way to prove this. It found that Costa Rica has the highest level of happiness while having just one quarter of the GDP per capita than the richest countries. So what is it that is making them happier than others? Although there is evidence that some level of wealth and material goods do add to our happiness in terms of being able to cover our basic needs we derive most of our happiness from other sources.[iv] “People who live a life of intrinsic motivation are much happier than those who live a life dominated by extrinsic motivation”[v] Intrinsic motivation means finding happiness within yourself, through self-acceptance, affiliation and community, whereas extrinsically motivated people seek happiness through appearance, social popularity and financial gain. The minimalist movement is a good example of people choosing to live their lives with less and have found happiness and satisfaction from it. “Minimalism is a tool that can assist you in finding freedom. Freedom from fear. Freedom from worry. Freedom from overwhelm. Freedom from guilt. Freedom from depression. Freedom from the trappings of the consumer culture we’ve built our lives around. Real freedom.”[vi] I suspect too, that the current interest in decluttering experts such as Marie Kondo shows that actually we do want to be free of our excessive consumptions and actually crave a more frugal existence. So maybe there is hope for us if we can chnage our mindsets in that way? If we start first with our fashion consumption then hopefully the rest will follow. So why not join in #secondhandseptember by buying everything second-hand this month? #lessismore #slowfashion #ownlessdomore Related Posts Slowly Does It The 4 R's of Eco Fashion Donating or Dumping? My Wardrobe Audit
Resources
[i] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/25775-we-buy-things-we-don-t-need-with-money-we-don-t [ii] https://www3.nd.edu/~adutt/activities/documents/DuttConsumptionandhappiness.pdf [iii] https://www.getrichslowly.org/the-psychology-of-consumerism/ [iv]https://www.megforum.uni-freiburg.de/prevfora/Forum%202012/SOE%202012%20papers/Consumption%20and%20Happiness [v] https://www.getrichslowly.org/the-psychology-of-consumerism/ [vi] https://www.theminimalists.com/minimalism/ http://rethinkingprosperity.org/the-psychology-of-consumerism/ https://www.thebalance.com/wants-vs-needs-1388544
Ok, so let's first talk about what fast fashion is. Fast fashion is when clothing is produced quickly and cheaply, often being able to have new designs in store just weeks after being designed. The business model is based on high volume and turnover of stock.
VOLUME The main problem with the fast fashion industry is the sheer volume of clothing it produces - 1 billion garments annually! Sophisticated marketing and the high turnover of stock drives consumers on to the next trend in order to buy ever more. Considering that fast fashion is predicted toincrease 60% by the year 2030 this is not sustainable when we all need to be buying less (of everything) to save our planet. The truth is we don't actually need any more clothes at all, we have more than enough to go round already, but fast fashion taps in to the desire for the new 'must have' and the affordable 'don't miss it' offer. ENVIRONMENT Aside from a few small conscious ranges, most fast fashion garments are made with synthetic fabrics which are responsible for 0.6 – 1.7 million tons of microfibres end up in the ocean every year. We all know from The Blue Planet II what the impact of plastics is on our sea life, but the fibres also end up in our drinking water and in our food as they do not biodegrade like natural fibres. The fast fashion industry is also responsible for producing 20% of global wastewater. The dwindling resources on our planet cannot sustain such turnover of 'stuff' driven by company policies based on growth and expansion; new stores, emerging markets, ever more lines. The industry emits1.2 billion tons of CO2 equivalent per year which is about 5% of global emissions - more than air travel and international shippingemissions combined. Much of this will come from the thousands of fashion miles that are incurred when the products travel across the world to get to our stores. ETHICS Most fast fashion (97%) is produced in far off countries which have extremely low wages. Low price fashion often means unethical practices and little transparency. The prices we pay in a fast fashion store do not reflect the true cost of what someone should have been paid, nor the resources used and the environmental damage done. Large fast fashion brands have incredible power, which puts pressure on developing countries to provide goods at rock bottom prices and cut corners on health and safety in order to keep the orders coming in. The speed of production can also lead to long working hours and extreme pressure to hit impossible deadlines. The Rana Plaza tragedy is a prime example of this. RECYCLING Some fast fashion brands have sustainability schemes such as H&M's 'Closed loop' and ''recycling' schemes. However, with current technologies, it would take 12 years to recycle what the fast fashion industry creates in 48 hours. It is also unclear about how much of these unwanted garments actually get recycled or reused. This seems to be a marketing idea rather than a solution, as it still takes energy and resources to recycle. What happens to what cannot be recycled? The worry here is that so much low grade fast fashion is going out to African countries that their local textiles industries are collapsing. Clothing recycling as with household recycling makes us believe that it's ok to keep consuming at the rate we are without considering it's impact. QUALITY The Environmental Audit Committee's inquiry into the sustainability of the fashion industry had one main conclusion and that is we need to value our clothes. And high street and fast fashion does not necessarily mean low quality if you choose good pieces that are classic and look after them. However, the majority of fast fashion is not designed for longevity which is one of the principles of circular fashion. So, I don't believe that fast fashion can be sustainable because of all these issues. Can the big fast fashion brands change their way of working and become more sustainable? Maybe, but I doubt they would want to jeopardise their bottom line. So don't be fooled by clever initiatives and green-washing or that at least they are trying. There are so many other ethical and sustainable brands that deserve our attention that are doing so much more. Ismay x #fastfashion #sustainablefashion #ethicalfashion RELATED POSTS 6 Fashion Brands to avoid Top 5 Ethical Kids Brands 5 Most Ethical High Street Fashion Brands
RESOURCES
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/shortcuts/2018/dec/03/worn-out-is-fast-fashion-more-sustainable-than-we-think https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/tamsin-lejeune/sustainable-fashion_b_12136862.html https://circularfashion.com/key-principles/ https://www.essentialnoir.co.uk/can-large-fast-fashion-retailers-truly-be-sustainable/ https://www.commonobjective.co/article/fast-fashion-can-it-be-sustainable https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/trewin-restorick/sustainable-fashion_b_7500260.html https://www.simply-sustainable.co.uk/can-fast-fashion-ever-sustainable/ https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2014/can-fast-fashion-really-be-sustainable/58741 https://www.hubbub.org.uk/blog/what-contribution-to-sustainability-do-clothing-take-back-schemes-offer https://sustainable-fashion.com/blog/take-back-schemes-what-are-they-really/ https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/fast-fashion-isnt-the-problem-synthetic-fast-fashion-is/ https://7billionfor7seas.com/fast-fashion-facts/ https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2016/high-environmental-cost-fast-fashion/20881 https://www.unece.org/info/media/news/forestry-and-timber/2018/fashion-is-an-environmental-and-social-emergency-but-can-also-drive-progress-towards-the-sustainable-development-goals/doc.html https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/geip/WCMS_614394/lang--en/index.htm https://www.thebalancesmb.com/the-basics-of-recycling-clothing-and-other-textiles-2877780
It's been nearly 6 months since I wrote my first post on how to save the planet. Since then I have learnt a whole lot more on climate issues, become a climate activist myself and frighteningly the climate emergency has sped up a great deal. So I felt strongly that I had to go back and rewrite my suggestions in light of all this.
As I write the Arctic is experiencing the worst wildfires and fast melting ever seen and across the globe historical temperature records have been broken. I have become aware of all the dangerous feedback effects that are not even taken into consideration in the IPCC reports and global emissions are still rising despite all the Paris Accord pledges. So, If like me you are worried about all these things and want to do something about it, here is my list of suggestions in order of importance: ACTION 30 years of inaction by leaders and rising emissions despite agreements, petitions, marches and polite letters to MPs go to show these methods are totally ineffective."Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will". Non violent direct action and civil disobedience has proven to be the most effective way to bring about change according to research and it only needs 3.4% of the population to be successful. No matter what you think of Extinction Rebellion, they have been more successful in the last 6 months in increasing public discourse on the climate crisis than most green groups have been in their entire existence. However, massive changes need to start happening to save our planet and they need to happen now, so more direct action is necessary. DIET I am sure you are all well aware of how "a vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth". With an ever growing global population, agricultural land is becoming scarcer and climate changes are already seriously affecting food production. Our oceans are being devastated by pollution and overfishing and animal agriculture contributes massively to methane emissions. But aside from all that, a vegan diet is the most healthy diet there is and sentient creatures don't have to suffer and die for it. So even reducing meat and dairy can have a high impact and the wide variety of vegan options available now make it an easy choice. AVIATION "If aviation was a country, it would be the 7th worst polluter globally". Frequent flying and long haul flights cause significant carbon emissions (aside from the pollution). A return flight from London to New York will result in the loss of 6.6m2 of arctic ice, which is the earth's natural climate regulator. The rise of budget airlines and cheap flights have been enabled by the fact that airline fuel carries no duty and flights do not have VAT added on like with other forms of transport. This added to the lack of investment into public transport has now created the biazarre situation where it is often cheaper to fly somewhere than get the train. This needs to change and fast and reducing your own air travel will go way some way towards this. DIVESTMENT Many pension schemes and savings accounts are invested in fossil fuel companies or other unethical and polluting projects. Withdrawing your hard earned cash or putting pressure on the financial institutions to divest from such areas makes a big statement and hits big companies where it hurts. As "100 companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions" of which fossil fuels companies are the highest emitters, they are the ones that need to change the most. Because as long as they are still making billions in profit as well as receiving £10.5 billion subsidies in the UK they won't change a thing. LEGAL There have been various legal cases against governments and fossil fuels companies in regard to climate change and some are still on going, but without an international law covering loss, damage and destruction to ecosystems, justice is rarely done. The late UK barrister, Polly Higgins, dedicated her life to getting ecocide made law and her team are still working hard to achieve it. If the legal case can be passed then CEOS and government ministers could be held criminally responsible for the damage they have caused. You can contribute to their legal team and support activistshere and become an earth protector too. Taking real action in the face of climate catastrophe can really help with eco-anxiety, beacuse as Greta Thunberg says "once we start to act hope is everywhere" so I hope you will join me in doing whatever you can. RELATED POSTS 5 ways to save the planet Responding to Crticism of the Rebellion How to stay Climate Positive #climateactivism #divestment #ecocide #flightfree
FURTHER READING
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/12/arctic-wildfires-c02-carbon-emissions-same-sweden https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49108847 https://earthhow.com/climate-feedback-loops/ https://ifrf.net/ifrf-blog/the-iea-reports-that-co2-emissions-are-still-rising/ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/07/embark-essay-climate-change-pollution-revkin/ https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/1857-frederick-douglass-if-there-no-struggle-there-no-progress/ http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world https://rebellion.earth/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/31/avoiding-meat-and-dairy-is-single-biggest-way-to-reduce-your-impact-on-earth https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190531152047.htm https://www.populationinstitute.org/resources/populationonline/issue/1/8/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/29/methane-emissions-cattle-11-percent-higher-than-estimated https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-design/15-degree-lifestyles https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/quickfacts/seaice.html https://shameplane.com/?fromCity=London&fromCode=LHR&toCity=New%20York&toCode=JFK&roundtrip=true&typeofseat=3 https://www.flightfree.co.uk/ https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/a3xyjj/cheap-flights-environment-damage-climate-crisis-ryanair https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/what-is-fossil-fuel-divestment/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/23/uk-has-biggest-fossil-fuel-subsidies-in-the-eu-finds-commission https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/20/can-climate-litigation-save-the-world https://pollyhiggins.com/ https://www.stopecocide.earth/ https://ecocidelaw.com/ https://www.oneworldweek.org/theme
As most of you will know, our debut collection launched a few weeks ago on Kickstarter but sadly, had to be cancelled due to lack of pledges.
It was very clear, even from day one, that we were unlikely to reach the target, which would not have looked to good to any future prospective investors. So, I felt it would be less damaging to the brand to cancel it, than let it run it's course. The campaign was a test of the market and should have been proof of a good concept, but it showed that something was clearly not right. The vast majority of pledges were from friends and family, which of course we are very appreciative of, but don't go to show there is a wider market for our products. Most pledges were also for low amounts suggesting people weren't prepared to spend too much. The launch was a culmination of a dream, and of course years of research, hard work and significant financial investment, so it was extremely disappointing. However, I have learnt a lot from it and hope to still be able to move on somehow. The brand and collection themselves have been really well received and since promoting it our mailing list subscribers have increased by 25% and our Instagram followers by 16%. So, I still firmly believe that they are strong products and that there is a demand for them. Having done further research and sought advice from industry experts, as well as feedback from our followers on social media, it is clear that the prices were the main problem. If the costs I was paying to have the garments made had been lower giving me a higher mark-up, I would have been able to have offered special early bird discounts, bundled gift packs, and other incentives to backers that I couldn't do with the costs I had. I naively hoped that being able to pre-order the garments before they were available through the retail site would have been tempting enough. Ethical and sustainable products, such as ours, will always command higher prices as workers are paid fairly and the highest quality materials used. Despite difficult times in the retail industry the ethical market is rapidly increasing, so I felt confident that we would find customers. But perhaps I was pitching the product too high in aiming for designer level? I must add here that this was not the reason for the high prices, rather that my costs dictated the prices and therefore the high market level. Having gained over 34,000 unique readers on this blogsite (thanks everyone!) which currently equates to over 2,500 visitors a month, I was expecting much more of a turn-out with the campaign as this is my main audience. However, having looked at the analytics, I can see that I didn't advertise the campaign well enough and sadly it didn't get as much press attention as I had would have liked. As I am being to realise all too well, PR, marketing and social media management are jobs in themselves, which as a I am running this show single-handedly is maybe just too much. I was also unsure of how much of the product to reveal before launch which may not have helped, so it is much easier now to market the product in all it's glory, rather than a concept that people have to imagine. Some people have suggested that I wasn't running the campaign for long enough, though actually this wouldn't have made any difference in reaching the target anyway for the reasons stated above. According to Kickstarter statistics, successful campaigns get a lot of pledges in the first couple of days as the buzz drives visitors to the site, then the pledges will dip right down in the middle of the campaign and pick up again at the end as people rush to pledge before it finishes. Their statistics also show that a "shorter duration better positions a project for success", so with that in mind I also had to consider being able to deliver the duffle coats within the best selling period of 'back to school' in September which within the long production schedule didn't give me any longer than two weeks to run the campaign. So, what's next? I am determined not to give up and to relaunch again soon, with an aim to be delivering in time for Christmas. I am currently negotiating with new manufacturers and working to bring my costs down further in the hope of being able to provide lower price points. The campaign did show which products people were most interested in, namely the t-shirts, which is what I will focus on for relaunch. (I am even considering adding in a new Christmas print) I am also looking into involving outside agencies to help me with PR and marketing too as I know now that I cannot do it all! So please stick with us and sign up to our mailing list so you can be the first to know when pre-orders will be available again. And thanks again for all your support and feedback x
You might have noticed that we have named the styles in our launch collection after some amazing people. We really wanted to honour them for all they have done in service to the planet and animals big and small.
They can all be pre-ordered on our crowdfund page here.
Caroline Lucas is a member of parliament for the Green Party, who has campaigned and worked tirelessly to help protect the environment and highlight climate change. She also writes about green economics, localism and animal welfare amongst other subjects. In 2008 she was listed in The Guardian as 'one of 50 people who could save the planet'. She has previously worked for the RSPCA, CND and Oxfam.
Greta Thunberg is the 16 year old Swedish schoolgirl who has brought the shocking truth about climate change and the lack of response to it to the world. Her solitary school strikes inspired million of other children around the globe and shamed politicians and decision makers alike. Her powerful speeches and non nonsense approach galvanized us to start marching and taking action for the climate.
Jane Goodall is a world expert on chimpanzees. She has worked on many animal welfare and conservation issues. She has been a board member of Nonanimal Human Rights Project since it started and is vocal about factory farming and animal transportation amongst many other issues. She is the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute who work to protect chimpanzees and their habitats.
Chris Packham is a broadcaster and naturalist whose TV show 'The Really Wild Show' is a strong memory from my childhood. He has campaigned for and works with many wildlife conservation groups and is a strong oppose of fox hunting, badger culling and hen harrier persecution.
Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as being a famous film star, is identified as one of the most active celebrities in the climate change movement. In 1998 he set up the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to promote environmental awareness. He has also been an active supporter of many environmental organisations. He backed the documentary Cowspiracy which enabled it to get released on Netflix. He also executive -produced and starred in Before the Flood, which documented the various issues with climate change.
Al Gore, vice president to Bill Clinton is a long time environmentalist most famous for his 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth. He held the first congressional hearings on climate change back in 1976 and was one of the strongest advocates of the Kyoto Protocol back in the 90's. He founded The Alliance for Climate Protection and has even attempted to persuade Donald Trump that climate change is real!
Sir David Attenborough needs no introduction as Britain's best loved natural historian and broadcaster. He has brought the lives of many amazing animals into our living rooms and he is the president of various conservation charities. In recent years he has become a more vocal supporter of environmental causes and his climate change documentary and speeches are taken seriously by people across the political spectrum.
Here is a snapshot of the Boy Wonder launch collection that is now available on Kickstarter.
This crowdfund campaign will run for 2 weeks only. Further orders will not be taken until the retail website is up and running in September/October. The set up of this is of course dependant on gaining enough pre-orders to make production and website investment viable. So don't miss out! (sorry, I hate this salesy talk too but I've come this far so I have to try and sell it now!) Click HERE to see the whole collection and pre-order now.
So it's finally here after years of work! I really hope everyone likes it as I have put so much into it. I am pretty pleased with it and am eager to get designing again now. There have been so many problems along the way and sometimes it felt impossible to achieve but I have also really enjoyed creating it all. I do feel a real sense of achievement because I have also done it on my own without a business or life partner. So although I've had advice from friends, family and business associates, all the decisions had to be made by me alone. I am hoping I made the right decisions and will have lots of lovely backers giving me good reason to crack open the bubbly next Sunday and celebrate my baby 'Boy Wonder' going out into the world.
We will be launching the Boy Wonder collection on Kickstarter for pre-orders before the retail site is launched in September. Please save the date! SUNDAY 30TH JUNE at 11AM BST This will be the first chance to see the collection in full and see the video of the Boy Wonder story. The cross-seasonal collection for 5-10 year olds comprises of duffle coats; a British design classic, hard wearing raw denim, practical cotton drill trousers and comfy jersey-wear to cover all the needs of a busy child's wardrobe. The garments feature bright, hand-drawn prints with a quirky British twist and follow circular design principles with in-built room for growth and care and repair products & guides. If you want to be kept up to date with launch details and exclusive content including livesteam video of the collection please sign up to our VIP mailing list. This is early bird access to see the garments in detail and hear all about them before anyone else does. You can sign up on the contact page, on site pop up box or link above. Then follow us on Instagram and direct message me so I can add you to the VIP list. More details on this will follow very soon. I will also be available on Twitter for a live Q&A on the collection from 8pm BST. Please join me to tell me what you think. Click on the links above to follow us on social media and keep up to date with all the latest news.
With constant stories in the press at the moment about the environmental crisis and the word extinction now being used in everyday conversation it must be a very frightening time to be a child. I remember the threat of nuclear missiles hanging over my childhood in the 1980s, but it always seemed very abstract to me then. However, as my son lost his dad when he was four, loss, grief and fear are a reality to him when they weren't to me. So as I become more of an activist I wonder how best to talk to him about such existential threats without frightening him.
RESPECT Bringing children up with a love and respect for nature will mean they will grow up understanding the need to protect it. Being outdoors creates a connection with nature and gives you the opportunity to explain certain aspects of what is happening to the environment. For instance, if you spot insects you can talk about them and explain that they used to be many more when you were their age and that the birds need them to eat and so on. Grandparents could be a good source of information on this as they will have seen many changes they can talk about. Talking about our impact through daily routines such as when you are out shopping asking your kids to choose produce that's from the UK and explain why that's important. I talk more about this in my How to raise Eco Kids blog here. FACTS I do believe it's very important to be honest with children and the problems we face now are so vast that we should not hide it from them. For small children though the complexities of climate breakdown would be beyond their understanding, so any information must be age appropriate. You know best as a parent how much your child can take in or how much they already know and what they feel about it. Maybe start small by explaining how trees absorb CO2 and give us oxygen? Make it relatable to their interests, whether they love birds or big cats. Explaining the impacts of climate change on the animals they love or things that are happening around them will mean more to them and hold their interest. Learning the difference between the weather and climate is critical for children. It is important though to have a good understanding yourself of what you are talking about, so it's worth reading up about things first. If your child asks a question you can't answer, then be honest and maybe you can suggest you look it up together. If you are worried you can't give them enough or the correct information then find out what their school can advise or do. Environmental, wildlife charities and even natural history museums may be able to provide answers or evidence of some of the issues in an interesting way that would appeal to kids. SOLUTIONS It is really important to make sure your kids know that they are safe but also that it's ok to feel afraid, sad or angry about things that are happening to our planet. They need to know that clever scientists have been working on these problems for many years and have told us what the solutions are and that they are many people all over the world trying fix things. Frame your conversations hopefully, even if you don't feel it, as you are their protector and they need to know we can all do something about it. There are many success stories you can share about how we can change things like rewilding projects, the growth of renewable energy and reforestation. ACTION As Greta Thunberg said "with action comes hope". Help children to realise they are not powerless and to find their voice. Whether that is writing a letter to their school or MP .Talking to them about the school climate strikers, the sunrise movement in the US and all the other brave kids standing up for the planet will show them that they can help too. Measuring their own carbon footprint is a good way to get them started on thinking about what they can change and how things can affect the planet. Make them aware too that they haven't caused the problem and shouldn't be expected to fix it, but that we can all help and that governments and other big guys are the ones that need to do the most. Also, children learn by example so be the change you want to see in the world and they will want to be earth protectors too. There are a few books and websites here that may help: https://www.worldsavingbooks.com/ https://www.climaterealityproject.org/sites/default/files/kidsandclimatechangee-book.pdf https://climatekids.nasa.gov/how-to-help/ And my Pinterest boards on kids eco books and films are here I know I will change the way I discuss the crisis with my son after writing this so I hope this will be useful to you and your kids too. I would love to hear your thoughts on this and any of my blog posts, so do drop me a line x #ecokids #climatecrisis #earthprotectors Related posts Kids fight for climate How to stay climate positive 5 ways to save the planet
Resources
https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-climate-change https://mashable.com/article/climate-change-talking-to-kids/?europe=true https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/planet-stewards/talking-about.html https://www.fatherly.com/parenting/education-parenting/talk-kids-climate-change/ https://www.treehugger.com/family/how-talk-kids-about-climate-change.html https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/04/raising-kids-climate-change/554969/ https://blog.usejournal.com/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-climate-change-3465079793f1
As I have been preparing for our launch collection photoshoot I have been sourcing ethical and sustainable kids accessories to style the outfits with. Here are some of the best I have found in summer brights and hot styles. Hope you like them! x
#kidsethicalfashion #kidsaccessories #kidsstyling
There seem to be more and more ethical kids fashion brands appearing all the time. Even high street stores are getting in on the act with organic or sustainable cotton ranges. While this it is good to see, how do you know if they are as good as they say? If you are unsure you can always do a little research on their website to see how they back up their claims. If they have recognisable certifications such as GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), Oekotex or Fairtrade then there will have been rigorous checks & testing done on environmental and social aspects.
Mini Rodini If you have been reading my blog for a while you will know that I love Scandi kids brands, and Mini Rodini is my most favourite. Founded by illustrator Cassandra Rodini, their print designs are fun and often quirky. The garments although expensive are long lasting as the Boy Wonder can attest to. They have a living wage project and are a member of the Fair Wear Foundation. Most of their collections are made from GOTS Organic cloth and tested by Oekotex. They also use recycled polyester, ocean waste and upcycled cloth in some of their products too. Mini Rodini’s range is quite extensive and includes backpacks, denim and even bedding. Their age range is birth to 10 years. Småfolk This is another great scandi brand with amazing prints that have a retro feel. They use GOTS Organic jersey fabrics that are all bright and comfy. Their oeko-tex certification means there are no nasty chemicals in the clothes while also ensuring good working conditions for the people who produce them. As well as the usual jersey items they also do wellies, raincoats and swimwear. Their range starts at birth up to 12 years. Boys & Girls This British brand is unisex and also uses GOTS organic cotton. This means that aside from not being grown with nasty chemicals, the workers will have been paid a fair price for it too and have better working conditions. Their printing and dying is organic and water based too again avoiding chemicals. Their range of garments are in jersey fabrics and start at 6 months up to 6 years. Tootsa Tootsa is a British award winning unisex brand who make clothes for baby up to age 10. All their cotton knitwear is 100% GOTS certified. They work with SEDEX (Suppliers Ethical Data Exchange) factories. The garments are designed to last longer with longer legs and sleeves that can be rolled up or down. They also provide a repair service by sending out buttons, trims & patches and even zips if their worn garments need it. You can also recycle your old Tootsa clothes with them by sending them back in exchange for a discount and the proceeds go to a hospice charity. Their packaging is also made from 100% recycled materials. Frugi Frugi use GOTS Organic cotton and are audited by Soil Association providing ethical and environmental credentials. Their designs are colourful, comfy and fun and loved by parents and kids alike. The designs are often reversible making them versatile and are designed to last. Their outerwear including pramsuits are all made from recycled bottles and their packaging is biodegradable. As well as the kids clothing (babies to age 10) they also have a maternity and homeware ranges. They are very charitable too, donating 1% of their turnover to charities, including; the Cornwall Wildlife trust and community and children’s charities. And not to forget… Toby Tiger Little Green Radicals Who are your favourite ethical kids brands? Let us know, we would love to hear from you x #ethicalkidsbrands #ethicalkidsfashion #ethicalkidsclothes Related Posts Spring Ethical Fashion Edit Cool Brits Mini Love Little People
Further reading
https://moralfibres.co.uk/7-places-to-buy-ethical-kids-clothes-in-2019/https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/kids/clothing-footwear/best-sustainable-organic-clothing-brands-kids-uk-reviews-eco-friendly-ethical-a7934641.htmlhttps://goodonyou.eco/ethical-childrens-clothing-brands/https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2013/apr/29/top-10-ethical-shop-childrens-clotheshttps://ecowarriorprincess.net/2018/09/6-ethical-eco-friendly-baby-kids-organic-cotton-clothing-brands/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/11365801/Best-ethical-childrens-clothing.html
After taking part in the International Extinction Rebellion in London last week (and I stress here that as a widowed parent I never put myself in line to be arrested) and avidly consuming every bit of news and video footage in the press and on social media since, I am acutely aware that many people I know will be very critical of this movement. I have read probably every reason that the critics have against it and although I believe these actually come deep down from guilt, denial or just plain ignorance, I wanted to address some of them head on. So here goes…
It’s such an inconvenience XR (Extinction Rebellion) realise that many people will have had journeys disrupted or otherwise be inconvenienced. They know this is frustrating and do apologise. But, the full impact of the climate crisis will be far more disruptive to everyone, everywhere as sea levels rise, crops fail and water shortages bite. The disruption is necessary today, in order to make the government act now to save our tomorrow. “Blaming Extinction Rebellion for disruption is like blaming your fire alarm for waking you up”. It’s inconvenient, but so is being extinct! It’s also worth noting that people lose many hours every day sitting intraffic jams on our clogged motorways and due to disruptions on the rail and tube networks anyway, and this could be remedied with a comprehensivegreen transport network if the government took climate action seriously. It’s wasting policing time & resources Granted, hundreds of police officers have been policing the rebellion. However, large scale policing operations take place all the time which would never be questioned in this way, such as big football derbies, carnivals, festivals and music events. To put it into perspective there were 13,000 police officers on duty at the 2015 Notting Hill Carnival, compared to the 1500 dealing with XR. The right to peacefully protest is permissible under UK law and is a fundamental human right backed by the United Nations. It also worth pointing out that a rising climate will lead to more violent crime ,so if we don't even attempt to stay within the recommended 1.5 degrees we will be looking at much worse than peaceful protests. They drive, fly, use plastic bottles and wear clothes The vast majority of rebels will have used public transport to get to London (as I did) and some even walked from Cornwall! They were all indeed wearing clothes, as we all do most of the time and some will have even used plastic and flown on actual planes at some point. They are not claiming to be perfect, pure beings but flawed humans trying to do their best, just like you and me. In the words of Jesus Christ 'let him who is without sin cast the first stone'. It also has to be said that pointing the finger at individual consumer behaviour is a diversion tactic that has been used to shift the focus from the big polluters, denialists and delayers. Such small incremental actions pale in comparison to the actions of top 100 fossil fuel businesses who are responsible for 71% of emissions. So what we do ourselves is simply not enough. Only a completely radical system change will keep the planet in a liveable state. They're creating more pollution The action in central London has significantly reduced pollution in those particular areas and has in fact not lead to any extra emissions in the surrounding areas according to local pollution data. In fact, hourly pollution concentrations went down as much as 45%. Many cyclists and visitors loved the car free areas and birdsong could be heard for the first time in many years. They’ll leave behind all their mess Everyone involved was asked to either bring their own crockery, cutlery and reusable drink bottles and clear away their own rubbish. All the protest sites had waste and recycling points and volunteers going round collecting rubbish and even sweeping the streets. All the (chalk) spray paint and art materials used would wash away in a rain shower and are non-toxic. All the protest areas were cleaned up thoroughly afterwards, before the rebels left the sites and they even helped out cleaning up Hyde Park after a separate event unrelated to them that was left covered in rubbish. They’re a bunch of drop-out hippies XR activists are of all ages, many walks of life and varied ethnicities. The majority are tax-paying, middle class people who are normally law-abiding citizens that are also accused of using their privilege. However, the western middle classes (especially those from the US and the UK) are the ones with the highest cumulative carbon footprints. So maybe it is right and just that it should be people from that segment of society who are using their ‘privilege’ to try and change things for everyone. The ravages of climate change are hitting the poorest first and the hardest, especially those in the global south who have the least power to do anything about it and contribute to CO2 levels the least. I do believe though that to build on the successful movement XR need to become more diverse by reaching out to a more diverse range of people, as this ‘hippy’ stereotype does put people off engaging with a matter that affects every single one of us. They can afford to waste their time Activists that spent many days down in London on the front line of the protests were not doing it for fun. If they weren't retired, most people took annual leave giving up precious time with their families to do what they felt they had to. They were risking their liberty, comfort and safety for the greater good. All of them would rather that the issues they are fighting for are being dealt with by our governments, so they could get on with their lives too just like everyone else. The IPCC told us that we have 12 years left to limit climate catastrophe, so to put it bluntly, there is no time to waste, no matter who's time it is. They should do it in the proper way Farhana Yamin is an internationally renowned lawyer who has worked for many years on climate change policy, through the Kyoto Protocol to the Paris Climate Accord. As she states; 30 years of petitions, marches, letters to MPs, campaigning and donating to environmental groups has not changed the fact we are still on course for an unsustainable rise in global warming. She is now a passionate XR activist. Or to put it another way, if you knew someone was killing your child, you wouldn’t simply write them a letter to ask them to stop. You would do everything in power, lawful or otherwise to save them. A proportional response to a dying planet is not handing just out leaflets and asking nicely; otherwise the message will not be taken seriously. Breaking the law is never acceptable Non-violent civil disobedience has changed the world in the past, as particular groups have had to turn to drastic measures to get their point across. Women in Britain weren't allowed to vote until the suffragettes took their stand, some of whom went to prison. Black Americans were segregated from whites until the civil rights movement began and laws were broken. These hard fought for rights are what our modern societies are based on. Aren’t the fossil fuel and ‘dieselgate’ car companies who have lied to us, broken laws themselves, lobbied and funded politicians the real criminals here and why are they not held accountable? Aren’t world governments also being unlawfully neglectful to allow their citizens to be dying from polluted air, heatwaves and hurricanes? And that’s not to mention the ever increasing demise of our natural world. But other countries are worse As everyone mentions China as being the problem, it should be noted that the UK carbon footprint per capita (per person) is higher than China. As China are the workshop of the world they are making nearly all of our goods, which causes most of their carbon emissions. So in effect we in the west are offloading our emissions on to them. As the industrial revolution began in the UK, we effectively started the whole CO2 problem off, so its only right that we should be the ones to inspire and drive change. The world has been watching the rebellion happening in the UK and many other countries around the world. They have also seen the school strikes starting to spread too and it’s slowly waking people up. This is evident in The Green New Deal in the US which is now backed by 81% of registered voters; a massive shift for such a fossil fuel dependent country. They're losing public sympathy An independent survey was taken recently to assess the response of the general public to the rebellion protests in London. It found that 46% supported it, 41% think the UK government aren't doing a lot to tackle climate change, 61% agree that a citizen's assembly would do a better job and 83% agree that climate change is one of the greatest threats facing humanity. XR have also had support from scientists, UN diplomats, politicians, academics, religious groups, and celebrities. Around 4000 people a day are signing up to join the rebellion and their website is receiving over 50,000 new visitors a day and have raised almost £200,000 for the cause. 21 business leaders have also signed an open letter in the Times to state that they support XR. What’s the point? For me, it all comes down to the fact that I want my son and his future children to grow up and have a long and healthy life in a beautiful world full of amazing animals, clear, blue seas and to be able to breathe clean, fresh air. I can’t imagine that anyone, no matter what their opinion of XR, would not want that for their loved ones. Our government, along with others around the world, have not just done too little, but have actually subsidised fossil fuel companies and damaging practices through their policies which are killing our world and our children's future. I cannot stand by and literally watch the world burn and have my son ask me later ‘why didn’t you do something?’ #rebelforlife #tellthetruth #extinctionrebellion Related posts 5 Ways to save the Planet How to stay climate positive
Further reading
http://tomchance.org/2017/07/21/whos-to-blame-for-a-problem-like-climate-change/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/22/why-is-the-us-news-media-so-bad-at-covering-climate-change http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2014/05/carbon_dioxide_emissions_by_country_over_time_the_worst_global_warming_polluters.html |
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