F*ck fast fashion. That's what I really think. And if you’ve landed here, chances are you feel the same way and you're doing something about it by starting your own fashion brand.

You’re trying to build something meaningful. Something that reflects your values. Something that makes the world a better place.

But maybe you also feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and bamboozled by the business side of things. Maybe you don't know how to keep going without selling out your values or losing yourself.

Take a deep breath. You’ve landed here for a reason and things are going to get a heck of a lot easier from here on out. 

Because I’ve been in the trenches, a few times, and I know what it's like. I know what it's like to desperately want to change the world, but feel so helpless because the problems are so big. I know what it feels like to work 14 hour days and flop into bed at night so drained and so empty but so full of determination at the same time to keep pushing. I know what it's like to struggle, to be broke, to not be able to pay my own rent.

Damn, it is hard doing something good for the world. I feel you. And we might not know each other yet, but I think we're going to be friends you and I.

And I want to share a little bit about my journey to help you understand why I'm so passionate about helping you with yours.

I started my first circular fashion label when I was 18, and by 22, I was running my own fashion events and PR company for independent fashion brands. A few years later, I launched Australia’s first online store exclusively for Australian-made brands, and in 2014, I founded The Fashion Advocate.

It started as a blog, grew to become a print magazine, then it evolved into a movement for ethical and sustainable living. It had become one of the largest online stores for ethical and sustainable fashion. We hosted three of the country’s largest sustainable fashion runways, opened two of the most beautiful ethical fashion stores in Melbourne, and partnered with some of the most innovative designers in the industry. When 2020 shook things up, we even launched Australia’s first biodegradable, plastic-free and elastic-free organic cotton face masks.

Since then, I've won 18 awards for the impact I've had with The Fashion Advocate, but beyond the numbers and accolades, what I’m most proud of is how I've pushed the conversation forward.

It's never been about 'just selling products'. It's always been about doing better. About advocating for a better way of doing fashion. We were leading change when the rest of the industry hadn’t quite caught up to sustainability.

And now, after 10 years of running The Fashion Advocate, I have learned a lot, some of it the hard way, but every lesson brought me closer to understanding what really makes a brand thrive.

When I became a mother, my vision expanded. I wasn’t just building a business anymore, I was shaping a future for the next generation. And that’s when I knew it was time to evolve again.

Because a snake that doesn't shed it's skin, dies.

So, In 2022, I rebranded and relaunched The Fashion Advocate, stepping into a new role as a mentor, a coach, an educator, a skill-sharer.

Now, I’m focused on giving back and sharing everything I’ve learned along the way through my courses and mentoring programs to help other ethical, sustainable, and purpose-driven fashion brands succeed.

Because together, we can shape the future of fashion for the better.

- Claire Goldsworthy, Founder, The Fashion Advocate.

But what do I actually do?

I’m a slow fashion business mentor and strategist. I'm a sustainable fashion cheer squad girly. I'm a creative thinker and problem solver. I'm a listener and a do-er.

I help ethical, sustainable, circular, slow and handmade fashion brands grow in way that works for them, around life, with or without kids, with or without money, and without compromising their values or their wellbeing.

I specialise in coaching creative, purpose-led fashion founders who want to build a brand that feels good and does good.

My work sits at the intersection of practical business strategy and human-centred leadership. Because I didn't start my business to learn how to 'optimise my sales funnels' or 'master my conversion rates' and I doubt you did either.

You started your brand because you care. About people. About the planet. About changing the way things are done in fashion.

You’re a designer, a maker, a storyteller. Not a salesperson. Not a digital marketer. Not a numbers person. And that’s okay.

That’s why I’m here, to help you make sense of the business side and make things easy so you can do more of what you love and stress less. So you can find more joy and ditch the juggle. So you can wake up everyday and love what you do, instead of constantly question if the blood, sweat and tears are all worth it.

Because you are not the problem. The system is.

You’ve been trying to build a purpose-driven brand in a world that rewards fast, cheap, disposable fashion. Of course it’s hard. But hard doesn’t mean impossible. In my house, when one of my daughters is struggling with something and they say, 'I can't do it', the only word I meet them with is, 'Yet'. 

And I'll say the same to you. If you feel like what you're doing isn't working, it's just not working yet.

With the right support, the right systems, and the right strategy, you can grow a business that is profitable, impactful, and aligned. You can grow without burnout, without relying on ads, and without losing the heart of why you started in the first place.

If you're ready to grow, reach out. I'm ready to help you.

Claire x