Conscious Chatter - podcast cover

Conscious Chatter

Kestrel Jenkinsconsciouschatter.com
The first global sustainable fashion podcast, Conscious Chatter opens the door to conversations about our clothing + the layers of stories, meaning and potential impact connected to what we wear. Hosted by Kestrel Jenkins, Conscious Chatter tackles nuanced topics that intersect with sustainability, fashion, systems of oppression, health, and wellbeing through a curiosity-driven lens. Through deep dive monthly themes, the focus is on making the conversation more circular.
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Episodes

S04 Episode 181 | ELIZABETH CLINE + THE CONSCIOUS CLOSET

In episode 181, Kestrel welcomes New York-based author, journalist, and expert on consumer culture, fast fashion, sustainability and labor rights, Elizabeth Cline, back to the show. You may already know of Elizabeth from her widely read book, Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion ; and she recently released a follow-up book called The Conscious Closet: A Revolutionary Guide to Looking Good While Doing Good. “The book in a lot of ways is very informed by moving away from fast fas...

Oct 24, 201942 minSeason 4Ep. 181

S04 Episode 180 | HUSTON TEXTILE COMPANY + BRINGING MANUFACTURING BACK TO AMERICA

In episode 180, Kestrel welcomes Kat + Ryan Huston. the cofounders of Huston Textile Company, to the show. With a focus on making high quality, small-batch cloth, Huston Textile Company uses vintage American-made machines in their manufacturing process. “The main concept for me, at least as a kid, that I took away was — you can’t expect to have a manufacturing job in the U.S. if you’re constantly buying things that are manufactured outside of the U.S.” - Ryan Huston, Cofounder of Huston Textile ...

Oct 17, 201937 minSeason 4Ep. 180

S04 Episode 179 | FAIR TRADE USA + SHOPPER RECOGNITION OF THE LABEL TODAY

In episode 179, Kestrel welcomes Maya Spaul Johnson, the Vice President of Apparel and Home Goods at Fair Trade USA, to the show. Certifying and promoting fair trade products, Fair Trade USA enables sustainable development and community empowerment by cultivating a more equitable global trade model that benefits farmers, workers, fishermen, consumers, industry, and the earth. “I joined Fair Trade in 2004 — like 7% of people knew what Fair Trade was in the surveys we would do and the marketing te...

Oct 10, 201935 minSeason 4Ep. 179

S04 Episode 178 | LOLI + ZERO WASTE BEAUTY FROM FOOD WASTE

In episode 178, Kestrel welcomes Tina Hedges, the founder of LOLI Beauty, to the show. Short for “Living Organic Loving Ingredients,” LOLI is the first ZERO Waste beauty brand that is completely waterless and uses food grade reusable containers and compostable plastic to package their products. “I had a crisis of consciousness. I said to myself, wow — for 15 years, in the big corporate beauty world, my whole job was to come up with ideas of products, develop them, position them, and convince you...

Sep 29, 201941 minSeason 4Ep. 178

S04 Episode 177 | NEW YORK TIMES STYLE + SUSTAINABILITY WITH ELIZABETH PATON

In episode 177, Kestrel welcomes Elizabeth Paton, a reporter for The New York Times Styles section, to the show. Covering the fashion and luxury sectors in Europe, Lizzie’s writing focuses on business, tech and sustainability, along with Fashion Week coverage from London, Milan and Paris. “For me, it’s about being fair in my reporting, but it’s also about not being afraid of blowback from a brand for writing the truth.” - Elizabeth Paton, Reporter For New York Times Style On this week’s show, Li...

Sep 19, 201935 minSeason 4Ep. 177

S04 Episode 176 | ANACT TOWELS + THE POWER OF HEMP

In episode 176, Kestrel welcomes Brianna Kilcullen, a sustainability and supply chain expert + the founder of ANACT, to the show. A brand new sustainable towel company, ANACT is all about taking simple acts to make an impact. “I chose hemp because it has these natural performance features that don’t need any manipulation with putting a chemical or a treatment or a finish on it. And so it made sense to me to use earth’s natural resources to solve these problems.” - Brianna Kilcullen, Founder of A...

Sep 12, 201944 minSeason 4Ep. 176

S04 Episode 175 | ELIZA SLOANE JEWELRY, SCALING AS A MAKER + ULTIMATE CREATIVE FREEDOM

In episode 175, Kestrel welcomes Sloane, the founder and makers behind Eliza Sloane Jewelry, to the show. Handcrafting jewelry for over 7 years, and collecting crystals and sea glass for over 20, Sloane is a master maker, and creates all of her cast pieces for Eliza Sloane Jewelry from recycled metals. “I just think that not boxing ourselves in or pigeon-holing ourselves too much — that’s just what ultimate creative freedom is.” - Sloane, Founder + Maker Behind Eliza Sloane Jewelry On this week’...

Sep 06, 201941 minSeason 4Ep. 175

S04 Episode 174 | TONLÉ, ZERO WASTE + MAKING IN CAMBODIA

In episode 174, Kestrel welcomes Rachel Faller, the founder of Tonlé, as well as Sreyoun, the General Manager of Tonlé’s production operations in Cambodia, to the show. A zero waste, ethical fashion brand, Tonlé is on a big mission, to reduce waste generated by larger factories and change the way business is done in the fashion industry. “Lots of people define zero waste in different ways, and for us, it’s basically about reducing the waste that’s already being created in the fashion industry, a...

Aug 31, 201934 minSeason 4Ep. 174

S04 Episode 173 | FRANK AND OAK + LISTENING TO SHOPPERS TO DRIVE CREATION

In episode 173, Kestrel welcomes Ethan Song, the cofounder of Frank and Oak, to the show. Inspired by ethical and sustainable thinking and with an eye to the future, Frank And Oak has set out to create clothing that is made for good living. “So I think that for us, the idea is actually to create a deeper relationship with our customers, and make sure that we really understand them before we create something.” On this week’s show, Ethan shares more on how his entrepreneurial dreams led him to the...

Aug 21, 201927 minSeason 4Ep. 173

S04 Episode 172 | NOBLE CARRIAGE + HOW SUSTAINABLE SHIFTS CAN START WITH MOMS

In episode 172, Kestrel welcomes Jen Long, the CEO and Creative Director of Noble Carriage, to the show. A thoughtfully curated store, Noble Carriage offers a collection of organic & sustainably made baby goods. “I think as a new mom, you’re told that you need to buy all of these things — that you need all of these things to make raising your child easier or just to survive, and I don’t believe that. I think you need fewer, better things.” -Jen Long, CEO of Noble Carriage On this week’s show...

Aug 05, 201928 minSeason 4Ep. 172

S04 Episode 171 | THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FASHION + WHY WE WEAR WHAT WE WEAR

In episode 171, Kestrel welcomes Anabel Maldonado, the founder of The Psychology of Fashion™, to the show. A platform that explores why we wear what we wear, and the relationships between emotions, personality and aesthetic, The Psychology of Fashion™ also examines current issues in the fashion industry through the lens of psychology. “You know, if we get away from this sort of like trends just because, buy it because all these people have it — if we think about who we are, why we like what we l...

Aug 01, 201937 minSeason 4Ep. 171

S04 Episode 170 | SOURCERY THE LABEL AND SILK YOU CAN MACHINE WASH + DRY

In episode 170, Kestrel welcomes Nicole Rattner, the founder of Sourcery The Label, to the show. A brand focused on cleaning up fashion with beautifully designed, naturally sourced garments, Sourcery is known for their Innovative Machine Washable silk. “I think it’s important that we start to offer the customer, the consumer, something that works for her too, and invite her into this world of sustainability through better functionality. So, for me, a washable silk kind of did both of those thing...

Jul 24, 201931 minSeason 4Ep. 170

S04 Episode 169 | TRIARCHY ON SUSTAINABLE DENIM, MINDFULNESS + BALANCE

In episode 169, Kestrel welcomes Adam Taubenfligel, the designer + creative director at Triarchy, to the show. An LA-based sustainable denim brand, Triarchy has a focus on conserving water, and reducing the massive consumption that is typically used to make jeans. “We’re trying to be as sustainable as possible, but then, if we bring something to market that’s not giving you those things you love about the jeans that hold you in and do all this stuff, then they won’t sell, and then you’re not run...

Jul 16, 201943 minSeason 4Ep. 169

S04 Episode 168 | THREDUP + THE MASSIVE RISE OF RESALE

In episode 168, Kestrel welcomes Erin Wallace, the brand director at thredUp, to the show. The world’s largest tech-powered resale marketplace, ThredUp ’s platform gives you the chance to buy and sell high-quality secondhand clothes. “I mean if everyone in the U.S. bought just 1 item used instead of new this year, it would save around 6 billion pounds of carbon emissions, which is the equivalent of taking half a million cars off the road for an entire year.” -Erin Wallace, Brand Director at thre...

Jul 09, 201930 minSeason 4Ep. 168

S04 Episode 167 | THE LOVE IS PROJECT + PAYING IT FORWARD

In episode 167, Kestrel welcomes Chrissie Lam, the founder of the Love Is Project, to the show. Connecting people around the world through a universal message of LOVE, the Love Is Project empowers artisan communities through an ethical supply chain. “There’s sometimes a lot of negative media and portrayals of people, and I wanted to show the positivity and humanize people. And I think the word love is very universal and it connects people.” -Chrissie Lam, Founder of Love Is Project On this week’...

Jul 02, 201924 minSeason 4Ep. 167

S04 Episode 166 | MARIELLE ELIZABETH + SLOW FASHION FOR ALL

In episode 166, Kestrel welcomes Marielle Elizabeth, a body positive blogger, writer, photographer + self-proclaimed social media monster, to the show. A standout Instagrammer, Marielle is also known for her #slowfashionforall hashtag and blog Something Copper. “The conversation of ethical fashion already comes from a place of immense privilege, and if we are not making space for everyone, we are failing.” -Marielle Elizabeth, Founder of Something Copper On this week’s show, Marielle shares more...

Jun 25, 201949 minSeason 4Ep. 166

S04 Episode 165 | PACT + GROWING COTTON BETTER, WITHOUT THE GROSS STUFF

In episode 165, Kestrel welcomes Brendan Synnott, the CEO of Pact Apparel, to the show. Offering head-to-toe basics, Pact believes in crafting clothing differently: sustainable materials, kindness toward humans and the softest clothing you’ll want on every layer. “If I wanted to change everything in my wardrobe — if I just changed everything to organic cotton, how much more is that really going to cost me? And it turns out it’s not that much, and what impact does that make.” -Brendan Synnott, CE...

Jun 20, 201930 minSeason 4Ep. 165

S04 Episode 164 | MADE TRADE + ETHICALLY ELEVATED GOODS FOR DESIGN LOVERS

In episode 164, Kestrel welcomes Cayley Pater, the founder of Made Trade, to the show. An online marketplace, Made Trade curates artfully-designed, ethically-sourced goods that put people and our planet first, and they are on a mission to become the ultimate destination for conscious consumers who love design. “We love to shoot on bright, fun colors and to celebrate diversity in that way. Color is a big part of cultural representation.” -Cayley Pater, Founder of Made Trade On this week’s show, C...

Jun 12, 201942 minSeason 4Ep. 164

S04 Episode 163 | ALICE ALEXANDER + INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL BODIES

In episode 163, Kestrel welcomes Mary Alice Duff, the founder of Alice Alexander, to the show. A size-inclusive, ethically and sustainably made womenswear brand, Alice Alexander is on a mission to radically change the fashion industry to one that is inclusive of ALL BODIES and is respectful of people and the planet. “It’s still the vision and our mission — when someone is shopping on our website, that they feel seen. And to not get the feeling that I got when I went shopping before I had my own ...

Jun 05, 201943 minSeason 4Ep. 163

S04 Episode 162 | SARAH SPELLINGS OF THE CUT ON GOING FAST FASHION FREE

In episode 162, Kestrel welcomes Sarah Spellings, a fashion writer for New York Magazine’s The Cut. Having been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered and CBS New York, among others, Sarah’s recent writing about sustainable fashion and going fast fashion free in 2018 has generated an array of interest. “A lot of my friends were like, ‘you’re no fun to shop with anymore.’ And she was like, ok, it’s the end of the year — basically, are you going to be fun again? And I was like ‘no, it’s a lifesty...

May 29, 201937 minSeason 4Ep. 162

S04 Episode 161 | THE SUSTAINABLE FASHION FORUM + BUILDING COMMUNITY

In episode 161, Kestrel welcomes Brittany Sierra, the founder of the Sustainable Fashion Forum, to the show. A PR and marketing strategist by trade, Brittany has a deep passion for creating community and building connections, and she just recently produced the 3rd annual Sustainable Fashion Forum in Portland. “You know, when I created the event, it wasn’t as me, this expert, who knew so much and wanted to share it with everyone. It was more of me wanting to create a place where if you’re interes...

May 21, 201932 minSeason 4Ep. 161

S04 Episode 160 | NATHALIA JMAGNATHALIA JMAG ON MADE TO ORDER + MORE

In episode 160, Kestrel welcomes Nathalia JMag, the designer behind her eponymous label, to the show. Nathalia is a luminary at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and was part of Project Runway Season 15. In addition to running her made-to-order brand Nathalia JMag , she is currently finishing her Masters degree at RISD in Nature Culture and Sustainability. “Overall, fashion needs to be more inclusive, but because we’re doing sustainable fashion, we should be ahead of the game. Like we’re alrea...

May 10, 201935 minSeason 4Ep. 160

S04 Episode 159 | POSITIVE LUXURY + THE BUTTERFLY MARK

In episode 159, Kestrel welcomes Diana Verde Nieto, the cofounder + CEO of Positive Luxury, to the show. Positive Luxury connects consumers that care with brands that care through their Butterfly Mark, which provides transparency of a brand's commitments to sustainability. Brands part of the Positive Luxury community include Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Gabriela Hearst, LVMH, and more. “Sustainability for a long time has been something that runs vertically on the business, so like th...

May 02, 201925 minSeason 4Ep. 159

S04 Episode 158 | BOYISH ON DOING BETTER DENIM

In episode 158, Kestrel welcomes Jordan Nodarse, the founder and Creative Director of Boyish Jeans, to the show. While Jordan recently founded Boyish in 2018, he’s been around the denim scene for years — having been behind the launch of Reformation’s first denim collection, as well as Revolve’s GRLFRND denim. “I always tell people — it’s all about progress, not perfection. You’re never going to be 100% sustainable. Even when you feel like you’re 100% sustainable, you can always be more efficient...

Apr 24, 201945 minSeason 4Ep. 158

S04 Episode 157 | REMAKE + MADE IN MEXICO

In episode 157, the first show of Season 4, Kestrel welcomes Ayesha Barenblat, the founder of Remake, back to the show, along with Sajida Silva, a student at California College of the Arts, and one of the future designers who was chosen to join Remake for their Made In Mexico trip. A non-profit that believes that fashion can be a force for good, Remake makes the invisible women who power the fashion industry visible through firsthand documentary footage and stories. “That’s the thing, you know —...

Apr 17, 201953 minSeason 4Ep. 157

S03 Episode 156 | CAN SUSTAINABLE BE DAPPER?

In episode 156, Kestrel welcomes Garik Himebaugh, the founder at Eco-Stylist, to the show. An online marketplace for eco-conscious and ethically made men’s clothing, Eco-Stylist was founded to search for an answer to the question, “can sustainable be dapper?” “I think you can create a really great outfit with ethical and sustainable options only, and then the options just keep getting better — so that’s an inspiring and positive trend as well.” -Garik Himebaugh In this week’s show, Garik shares ...

Mar 27, 201934 minSeason 3Ep. 156

S03 Episode 155 | INFLUENCER JAYDE ARCHIVES ON PROUD OUTFIT REPEATING

In episode 155, Kestrel welcomes Jayde Scukovic, the creative and influencer behind Jayde Archives, to the show. Originally from Australia, Jayde is now based in Switzerland, and she shares travel diaries, light packing guides, and eco living ideas through her blog + Instagram Jayde Archives . She’s also a self-proclaimed #ProudOutfitRepeater and capsule wardrobe addict. “The less I have, the more I cherish those individual items, and I really love that relationship I’m forming with my wardrobe ...

Mar 21, 201930 minSeason 3Ep. 155

S03 Episode 154 | MOHINDERS + HEIRLOOM LEATHER TRADITIONS

In episode 154, Kestrel welcomes Kristen Morabito, the Creative Director of Mohinders, to the show. A small business based in San Francisco + India, Mohinders uses an heirloom process to make their traditionally-tanned leather shoes, and invests in equity and collaboration. “I think one of the key markers of modern, factory chromium tanning is that you can tan a hide of leather in 1 day, and this process that is used in India that the shoemakers engage with takes about 30 days. And it’s just a l...

Mar 13, 201932 minSeason 3Ep. 154

S03 Episode 153 | ELEVATED LAYERS + BALANCING WASTE IN THE INFLUENCER ERA

In episode 153, Kestrel welcomes Roxy Ortiz, the founder of Elevated Layers, to the show. A community that combats the textile waste epidemic, Elevated Layers offers cost-effective and ethical solutions that benefit influencers and high-end fashion designers. “Most of these young creators just don’t have access or they can’t afford it or they’re going into debt just to stay relevant on social media. There’s all these hidden problems that I needed to solve, and bring to the surface.” -Roxy Ortiz,...

Mar 07, 201940 minSeason 3Ep. 153

S03 Episode 152 | REWILDER + SALVAGING INDUSTRIAL TRASH FOR DESIGN

In episode 152, Kestrel welcomes Jenny Silbert, the founder of Rewilder, to the show. An LA-based brand, Rewilder is focused on the following tenants: salvage materials, local production, zero waste, good design, ethical production and high quality. “I have always been interested in upcycling, like from the time I was a kid it was something that I would do. My parents would be driving and I would be like ‘stop the car! I need to pick up that chair or I need to pick up that table that was on the ...

Feb 21, 201937 minSeason 3Ep. 152
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