How to build a practical sustainability strategy even if you’re a solo slow fashion founder.

You don’t need a full-time sustainability officer or a corporate budget to make a real impact in fashion. You just need the right guidance and the belief that what you’re already doing matters more than you think.

If you’re a slow fashion founder who deeply cares about people and the planet but feels unsure how to 'prove it' with a documented sustainability strategy, you are so not alone.

A lot of passionate, purpose-driven designers feel stuck in the same limbo. 

I know I’m doing the right thing, but I don’t have the data.
I want to do more but where do I even start?
I’ve got nothing in writing. Is that bad?
I don’t want to greenwash, so I just don’t talk about it.

These are super common questions that have super easy answers, and why I'm bringing in Athena Savvas for an exclusive Slow Fashion Lab mentor masterclass call that will completely shift how you think about your sustainability strategy as a small, independent or handmade brand.

Athena is as purpose-driven as it gets. She’s the current Sustainability Manager at Dissh, where she’s been instrumental in embedding ethical and environmental practices across one of Australia’s most recognisable fashion brands. Before that, she led the sustainability strategy at MJ Bale, pioneering carbon-neutral collections and championing regenerative agriculture at a national scale.

Athena doesn’t just 'get' sustainability. She lives and breathes it in a way that’s both practical and inclusive. She’s been behind the scenes in boardrooms, on factory floors, and in conversations with innovators. And she’s passionate about breaking down big-brand ideas into accessible, actionable steps for values-driven businesses like yours.

Because sustainability isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress and purpose. And sustainability matters now more than ever. 

Many slow fashion founders start their brands with deep values around ethical making, fair pay, local production, and mindful consumption. But somewhere along the way, the pressure to 'do sustainability properly' creeps in and sometimes that means things get messy and complicated. And when things get messy and complicated, we tend to bury our heads in the sand. 

Maybe you feel unsure about whether what you’re doing is 'enough'. Maybe you’re avoiding adding sustainability pages on your website because you don’t know what to write. Maybe you’re worried that not having data, certifications, or formal goals means you’ll be judged.

But if you’re actively trying to reduce fashion’s impact and create good through your business, you already are a sustainable business. Now it’s just about getting clear on how to document, refine, and communicate that. That’s exactly what this mentor masterclass call will help you do.

This is not a fluffy, surface-level session. This is a practical, real-world sustainability strategy workshop designed specifically for small, slow fashion businesses.

Athena will guide you through...

  • How to asses what you're already doing through a mini sustainability audit (you'll likely realise you're doing more than you think).
  • The 3 pillars of a strong sustainability strategy (and how to choose realistic goals based on your brand’s capacity and resources).
  • How to write a simple but powerful sustainability statement for your website, even without certifications or big data.
  • Where to focus your energy in the next 6–12 months for the biggest impact (and how to stop wasting time on what doesn’t matter).
  • Free tools and frameworks to help you track your efforts and progress over time.

She’ll also share lessons from her experience inside large brands, what works, what doesn’t, and how small brands can skip the red tape and act with agility.

You’ll walk away feeling clear, capable, and confident that you do have a sustainability strategy, and you’re not behind, you’re just getting started.

This is your sign to start owning your impact. Because sustainability isn’t just a 'nice-to-have'. It’s a trust-builder, a conversion booster, and a point of differentiation, especially in a world dominated by fast fashion greenwashing.

Consumers are asking more questions than ever. And the brands that will last are the ones who can answer honestly, clearly, and with courage.

That starts with clarity. It starts with having a simple, documented sustainability strategy, even if it’s scrappy, even if it’s still evolving. And that’s exactly what Athena will help you create in this exclusive session inside the Slow Fashion Lab.

Not a member yet? If you're a slow fashion founder doing something good for the world, I want to help you do more of it. That’s what the Slow Fashion Lab is for.

It’s your go-to growth hub for learning how to build a meaningful, ethical, and sustainable business without burning out or selling out.

Inside, you get...

  • Access to our monthly live strategy calls.
  • Exclusive mentoring from industry experts like Athena.
  • Plug-and-play tools to grow your audience and increase sales.
  • A community of likeminded, purpose-led fashion founders who get it. 

Don’t miss this call. Don’t miss this opportunity. Athena’s session is hosted inside the Slow Fashion Lab on Monday 9th June at 11am AEST and it’s exclusively for our Slow Fashion Lab members. 

So if you’ve been stuck in 'one day I’ll write a sustainability strategy' mode, this is the masterclass for you.

Join the Slow Fashion Lab now to access the LIVE call plus lifetime access to the replay, and get ready to build your most impactful year yet, one practical, powerful step at a time.

Claire x 

How to build a practical sustainability strategy even if you’re a solo slow fashion founder - The Fashion Advocate
The Fashion Advocate ethical sustainable circular slow fashion business strategy mentor online course marketing how to

I spent my first five years in business stressed and in debt.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or if you're not making enough sales to survive, you're not alone. I've been there.

I was exhausted and I wanted to quit.

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Want to know the top three ways to grow a successful and sustainable fashion brand?

  • ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS

    Every week on Instagram, you can ask me anything about fashion, business, ethical manufacturing, sustainability, and growth to get the answers you need to overcome challenges. Marketing, PR, your strategy, sales, how to wholesale, Instagram engagement, customers, sourcing... Whatever it is, ask me your questions and I'll go LIVE on Instagram with the answers you need to move forward.

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  • KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

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    READ THE BLOG HERE

  • BUILD YOUR SKILLSET AND LEVEL UP

    The only difference between a big fashion business and a small fashion business is a different skillset. Everything your competitors know - you can learn. My online courses and masterclasses are specifically designed for ethical and sustainable fashion brands, labels and businesses, so you can build your skillset, level up, fast-track your success and increase your impact.

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