Episode description

The topic of ethical fashion is in the media this week because the annual Ethical Fashion Guide has been released. But can fashion ever be ethical?

My guest on this week’s Sense-making in a Changing World podcast is Shannon Lohr – a leader in the ethical fashion world.

Shannon’s career is defined by her efforts to change the fashion industry, promoting a sustainable approach focused on local production, quality materials and timeless designs. She believes how we dress ourselves is connected to the health of the planet.

“There is no such thing as perfectly sustainable fashion. Anytime you're making something new, it's going to have an impact,” Shannon says. “It doesn't matter if you make your clothing with organic cotton if landfill is still overflowing with clothing. The real problem is the culture and marketing system that the fast fashion industry uses which tells consumers: buy a dress, wear it that night, throw it to the back of your closet and never wear it again or put it in the trash. That’s what creates an inherently unsustainable fashion industry.” 

Shannon is the founder and director of Factory45 – an online business school that helps sustainable fashion entrepreneurs consider fashion design and manufacturing in a closed loop way. That means considering the life cycle of a garment beyond its immediate use and what the customer will do with it when they’re done wearing it.

She’s also a strong advocate for increasing supply chain transparency through sourcing, localisation and storytelling. She’s been named a thought leader for the future of fashion and was nominated as a “Woman of Note” by the Wall Street Journal.

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