If you're an ethical, sustainable, circular or slow fashion brand, you're in the right place, and I'm here to help you. I live, love and breathe sustainable fashion and I know we can use fashion as a force for good.
I share strategies and solutions to increase your impact and increase your sales, and I'm a big believer in the sharing economy. We need to succeed as a collective of sustainable fashion businesses if we’re going to change the world, and that means sharing knowledge, offering support, and growing as a community of like-minded labels.
It’s what my weekly Instagram LIVE sessions are all about. I speak with incredible guests doing amazing things in the industry and we talk all things fashion, business, sustainability, sales and growth.
This week's Instagram LIVE was with Kirstie Clements and it was such a juicy conversation filled with so much fashion wisdom. Kirstie is an author, editor, journalist and speaker, and she's most known as the ex-editor-in-chief of Vogue Australia. To say 'Kirstie knows fashion' is an understatement.
You can watch the full interview on Instagram here and catch up on the three big takeaways from our chat below.
1. To last in fashion, you have to be outstanding.
Kirstie Clements has seen it all in fashion and if there's anyone who knows what we need and what we don't - it's her. The world doesn't need another pair of blue jeans. The world doesn't need another plain white t-shirt. What the world needs, is something different, something outstanding, something creative. If you're going to last in this industry, you need to be outstanding.
2. You have to have a strong purpose as a brand.
The fashion industry has changed dramatically over the last few decades and it's not just about making money anymore. Kirstie agrees that commercial kingpins will always exist who are in it to make money, but if you're running an independent fashion brand in 2023, you have to have a strong purpose and you have to design with meaning. What you make has to make a difference in the world and your purpose needs to be one of your main priorities because we simply don't need more 'stuff'.
3. Mentors are essential.
The fashion industry is tough, it's gruelling, it's hard work and it's all about connections. You need to have a good fashion foundation to build a brand on and you need guts, determination and a strong will, but you also need a mentor to help you navigate the industry and connect you with the right people. If you're looking for one, you can reach out to Kirstie or myself here.
Learn more about Kirstie Clements and her work via her website or watch our full Instagram live interview here to learn more about fashion, business, sustainability, sales and growth.
If you're running an ethical, sustainable, circular or slow fashion label and you have a challenge you're trying to overcome, tune in every week on Instagram to watch my LIVE interviews with brands and businesses who have overcome their own challenges - proving that you can too.
You can also reach out to me here.
Claire x
