Transparency in the fashion industry, or lack thereof, is what the Fashion Revolution campaign is all about. The #whomademyclothes movement runs from April 23-29 each year to combat human rights issues in the fast fashion industry, and through awareness, conversations and events, slow fashion advocates and positive change makers all around the world work together to better the industry.
As a community at The Fashion Advocate, we take responsibility for the impact that we have on our people and our planet, and our designers are at the forefront of the Fashion Revolution. We are proud of our values and ethics, and we’re more than happy to strip back the bright lights and the glitz and glam of it all, to get real at The Fashion Advocate. Through honesty and integrity, we can change the industry for the better and use fashion as a force for good, and our community of designers work towards this shared goal every day.
Jacky Stickler shares our values and views, and she's the creative mind behind Brisbane based womenswear label, sticks + stone. Jacky is passionate about ethics, she cares about sustainability, and she's a responsible slow fashion advocate...
Why are you passionate about ethical fashion?
Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my aunt, who was a dressmaker, and she owned her own shop called ‘Just You Boutique’. In her younger years, she worked in many Australian apparel production factories, in order to save up her pennies and open her own boutique. Whilst the conditions in these factories were a far cry from the troubling situations that we continue to see across the world, my aunt often spoke about her own experiences with poor working conditions, low wages and lack of worker benefits. This gave me direct insight into the struggles of garment workers from an early age, which really stuck with me in an emotive way. Over the past few years, the more I have educated myself and experienced the numerous and varying ethical issues within the fashion industry, the stronger my passion has become to make a difference
Why are you passionate about sustainability in the fashion industry?
Climate change is the single biggest issue facing our generation. There is plenty of work to be done to restore the ecological balance and protect our ability to thrive for generations to come. However, the majority of people in our society are blissfully unaware, remaining oblivious to the existence of issues and the role they can play in helping to solve them. That’s where I think the beauty of sustainable fashion lies; the simple fact that everyone wears clothes. I see sustainable fashion as a vehicle to connect with people in an engaging way, to get them thinking about conscious consumerism and conscious living in general because the power really lies with the people. I could talk all day about the benefits of sustainable fibres, sustainable cotton farming, non-toxic dying processes and a circular fashion system, but if people still want to buy a $20 polyester dress from fast fashion outlets, the aforementioned things are immaterial.
Why do you do what you do?
I worked in a corporate marketing environment for the first 10 years of my career and whilst I loved it at the time, I always felt like there was something missing. I was lacking a purpose. I love connecting with driven and like-minded communities like The Fashion Advocate, their shoppers and their readers. It’s rewarding to be a part of a community committed to social and environmental justice while working towards inspiring all fashion lovers to live more consciously.
What does slow and conscious consumerism mean to sticks + stone?
We aim to inspire slow and conscious consumerism and a slow and conscious lifestyle in general. Humans are always going to need to ‘consume’ things, so we try to keep our approach simple; don’t buy it unless you need it and refer to your dictionary for the definition of need versus want! When a purchase is necessary, in the words of Dame Vivienne Westwood, 'Choose well and make it last.'
You use Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certified fabrics. Why is this textile standard important to sticks + stone as a brand?
GOTS is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibres. It is lauded because the standard includes ecological and social criteria, and it's supported by independent certification throughout the entire textile supply chain. Our range is made from GOTS Certified Organic Cotton, which is beautifully soft to the touch, but also free of chemicals and toxic dyes, which is much better for the environment and humans alike. This is key to our little label, as we are all about inspiring fashion lovers to be more conscious about how their everyday choices can either positively, or negatively impact social and environmental outcomes.
Join the Fashion Revolution and shop with your values from 50 ethical and sustainable Australian designers here, or learn more about sticks + stone here.
The Fashion Advocate x
