Conscious Chatter With Kestrel Jenkins

In episode 111, Kestrel welcomes Aditi Mayer, the creative behind ADIMAY, to the show. Aditi explores the crossroads of artistic expression and social action on ADIMAY, and has a focus on style, sustainability, and social politics. "I think the way we look at sustainable fashion now - it's been a response. So, sustainable fashion exists because the industry is inherently broken, and we could argue that fast fashion has profited off the normalization of exploitation. As we go forward, I think if we work toward a more just industry, that's inherently going to change the definition of sustainability too. It's tied with change, it's tied with being critical about how the industry currently stands - so, that's a reflection of who we are as individuals, but also where we stand in larger systems."  -Aditi Mayer, founder of ADIMAY  In this episode, Aditi shares a bit of her personal backstory, and how she became interested in photography as a form of escapism, and then fused it with her interests in style and sustai

In episode 110, Kestrel welcomes Rafik Riad, the founder of the Buy Good Feel Good Expo, to the show. Canada's only show bringing together socially- and environmentally-driven businesses, Buy Good Feel Good aspires to make ethical consumption the norm, inspiring all businesses to operate for the common good. "Social enterprises so far are not playing the role they can play towards eradicating poverty, promoting social justice and advancing environmental stewardship. "  -Rafik Riad, founder of the Buy Good Feel Good Expo In this episode, Rafik shares a powerful story about how he got the opportunity to spend time in the garbage collector's community in Cairo, Egypt as a child. The impact this experience had on Rafik opened his eyes to social justice from an early age, and still influences the work he does today. With the slogan of "businesses that change the world", Rafik and his team are working to build the Buy Good Feel Good Expo into a space to truly help young socially conscious brands get access to bran

In episode 109, Kestrel welcomes actor and model Brooklyn Decker, and former ABC & CNN anchor Whitney Casey to show. The cofounders of FINERY, Brooklyn + Whitney have built the world’s first wardrobe operating system that reinvents how women view and interact with their closets, and style themselves. "Women will spend more money on their clothing than their education [in their lifetime]."  -Brooklyn Decker, cofounder of Finery In this episode, Brooklyn and Whitney share a bit about how they ended up building a company focused on fashion - turns out, for both of them, it wasn't really the fashion industry that drew them in. Instead, they were interested in helping women's lives become a bit easier. Additionally, Brooklyn and Whitney share some of their thoughts on where they hope to take Finery in the future. It looks like not only is helping women utilize what's in their closet a priority, but also, helping women find ways to put the clothes they aren't using back into the system. The below thoughts, ide

In episode 108, Kestrel welcomes two key players at G-Star RAW to the show - Adriana Galijasevic, their Denim and Sustainability Expert, as well as Frouke Bruinsma, corporate responsibility director at G-Star RAW. A condition for doing business at G-Star RAW today, sustainability has been formally built into the company's framework since 2006. "SUSTAINABILITY HAS BEEN A CONDITION FOR DOING BUSINESS AND IT'S A CONSTANT WORK IN PROGRESS, SO WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE NEXT SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION AND ALWAYS STRIVING TO SURPASS OUR LATEST SUSTAINABLE ACHIEVEMENTS."  -ADRIANA GALIJASEVIC, G-STAR RAW'S DENIM + SUSTAINABILITY EXPERT In this episode, Kestrel asks Adriana + Frouke to share their personal experience with sustainability, as well as the background story G-Star RAW has connected to sustainability. In 2012, G-Star RAW took their sustainable capsule and decided to expand that concept and apply it to their entire line. Since then, sustainability has been a condition for doing business and it's a constant

In episode 107, Kestrel welcomes Leah Kirpalani, a certified holistic health coach & the founder of Shop Good, to the show. An online platform as well as freestanding store in San Diego, Shop Good offers clean beauty products for the ultimate healthy lifestyle. "We absorb 65% of what we put on our body."  -Leah Kirpalani, founder of Shop Good In this episode, Leah shares stories from her past experiences with a chronic illness that led her into exploring holistic health and natural beauty products. She reminds us that everyone has a distinct body, and there's not one solution that will work well for us all.  Leah also shares some of her favorite wellness hacks - ways to bring mindfulness into your daily routine without having to add more things to your to-do list. The below thoughts, ideas + organizations were brought up in this chat: Leah's Basic Framework For A Healthy Lifestyle: 1) Simplify 2) Get Sleep 3) Drink A Ton Of Water 4) Move Your Body 5) Be Mindful About What Your Body Needs 6) What We Put

In episode 106, Kestrel welcomes Sarah Corbett, founder of the Craftivist Collective, to the show. An inclusive group of people committed to using thoughtful, beautiful crafted works to help themselves and encourage others be the positive change they wish to see in the world, the Craftivist Collective has built a global movement.  Sarah recently released a new book, called How To Be A Craftivist: The Art Of Gentle Protest. "It's about intriguing people in to open their hearts and minds about an issue, rather than forcing your opinion or preaching to people."  -Sarah Corbett, Founder of The Craftivist Collective In this episode, Sarah shares her thoughts on "the art of gentle protest" and how craftivism can be a powerful tool for her, being an introvert, as it allows her to maintain energy and stay activated. She is also careful to note that craft is not the answer to every activist's scenario, and that activism always comes first, with craft being one of the tools to utilize when it makes sense.  Kestrel and

In episode 105, Kestrel welcomes Steph Cordes, the Vice Chair of the Cordes Foundation, to the show. Having worked with Conde Nast and luxury fashion brands in the past, Steph now works to advance the Cordes Foundation's ethical fashion and sustainable supply chain initiatives.  "I think my biggest takeaway was that minimum wage isn't a living wage, because they [garment workers she met in Sri Lanka] technically are paid minimum wage but that's not a living wage. They aren't able to have enough money to invest that in their families or their children."  -Steph Cordes, Vice Chair of The Cordes Foundation In this episode, Steph shares more on how the Cordes Foundation believes that elevating the role of women is essential to building stronger economies and improving the quality of life for women, men, families and communities. She also shares some exceptionally powerful stories from the trips she has taken to meet with, and connect with women working in the garment industry around the world. For Steph, she see

In episode 104, Kestrel welcomes Margaux Rousseau, the Cofounder of WOOLN, to the show. A company that brings together talented New York grandmothers and curious shoppers, WOOLN has a supply chain of senior knitters in New York, who lovingly hand-knit each piece in their collection. "We have this community of older ladies who sometimes are a bit lonely, they usually stay home, and with WOOLN, they get together, they are part of a project, they have this feeling of belonging. You know, they are all very talented - what they do with their fingers is incredible."  -Margaux Rousseau, Cofounder of WOOLN In this episode, Margaux shares more of her story and what led her to have such a kindred alignment with knitting. When it comes to relaxation, she says, "it's even better than yoga for me."  Kestrel also asks Margaux about WOOLN's unique supply chain, from the animal welfare of the alpaca yarn from Peru, to "the grandmas" who knit their designs in New York City. For Margaux, it's all about looking at everyone inv

In episode 103, Kestrel welcomes Paul Allard, the Founder and President of impak Finance, to the show. With the use of fintech, impak Finance has the intention of helping develop a positive social impact economy. They successfully launched the impak Coin ICO last summer, which is the 1st legal cryptocurrency in North America. "We're in 2018 - the real economy should all be about the social impact economy - focusing on trying to solve environmental and social issues, while doing money."  -Paul Allard, Founder of impak Finance In this episode, Paul explains the different facets of impak Finance, and how their e-wallet, marketplace and impak coins work together toward a goal of supporting the growth of an economy that has a positive social impact.  Additionally, Kestrel asks Paul to dive deeper into blockchain technology, to help us understand more of how it works, and especially, how the technology has the potential to create greater transparency in supply chains.  The below thoughts, ideas + organizations wer

In episode 102, Kestrel welcomes Dominique Drakeford, the founder of Melanin & Sustainable Style, to the show. A platform that is bringing melanin to the forefront of sustainable fashion, beauty and living, MelaninASS is helping to give the ethical industry an authentic and culturally relevant voice.  "This whole community is about 'let's talk about what's wrong' - we talk about what's wrong from an environmental point of view, we talk about fast fashion and we point fingers at H&M and we do all this ... but let's look at ourselves and let's talk about some real issues that are wrong because honestly, sustainability is founded on culture - the essence of sustainability is rooted in culture and we don't talk about it."  -Dominique Drakeford, Founder of Melanin & Sustainable Style In this episode, Dominique shares a bit of her background and the eclectic experiences that have led her into the sustainable style conversation. Kestrel and Dominique also discuss the layers behind two notable articles w

In episode 101, Kestrel welcomes trailblazing print textile designer Becky Earley to the show. A designer, researcher, educator and facilitator for circular textiles, Becky is also a key part of the research consortium work for Mistra Future Fashion, as well as the UE Horizon 2020 project Trash2Cash. "The job and role of the designer is changing radically - you're not just bringing a product to the shop floor anymore - you have to know so much more now about what will happen next."  -Becky Earley, Circular Design Expert In this episode, Becky takes us back to some of the history and evolution of her work, including her early "upcycling" projects before the word had even been established. She highlights how she believes the designer plays a unique role moving into the future and how circular design concepts are part of that shift.  Additionally, Becky shares thoughts on how moving forward, she anticipates that the user will have more control and knowledge around the speed of the things in their wardrobe. So,

In episode 100, Kestrel welcomes Nadine Farag, the writer behind One Who Dresses, to the show. A website where she slowly explores the question of 'what is style,' One Who Dresses is a digital space dedicated to understanding the intricacies of personal style. Nadine is also known for her sustainable fashion writing for Man Repeller. "Personal style is an extension of our being. It's another way to understand and articulate who we are in the world."  -Nadine Farag of One Who Dresses Throughout this episode, Nadine explores her transition from thinking about sustainability to the art of dressing when it comes to understanding our fashion sense. She also walks us through some of the discoveries she has made about personal style along the way. For Nadine, she believes we're all on this journey of trying to understand who we are and to articulate that to the world around us, and personal style is an extension of who we are, which allows us to enhance that. Kestrel and Nadine also talk about the way they both use

In episode 99, Kestrel welcomes Shobha Philips, the CEO and founder of Proclaim, to the show. An ethically-made and inclusively-designed bra collection, Proclaim is expanding the definition of nude by celebrating real women. "I think that lingerie should be marketed to the women that wear it - celebrating women's bodies of all types, all skin colors, letting women see themselves represented in these images, and feel like they are included and that they are beautiful."  -Shobha Philips, CEO + Founder of Proclaim Throughout this episode, Shobha shares insight on the narrow definition of the color nude, and how she's redefining it with Proclaim. In a past blog post, Shobha wrote: “What started as an annoyance about the color nude turned into something much bigger. It turned into the opportunity to revolutionize an industry. Proclaim is a love letter to women who demand change rather than settling for the status quo.” Kestrel asks if there are other layers of the lingerie industry that are expired or need to be 

In episode 98, Kestrel welcomes Janet Wu and Erin Wold, the cofounders of SilkRoll, to the show. The ultimate community to trade and discover high quality fashion from style-mates around the world without spending an extra penny, SilkRoll's vision is to build the world’s largest shared closet. "The way that the resale space works is that our clothes depreciate really fast in second hand ... the minute you buy something from the retail store, pop the tag, wear it once, and the next day you try to put it on a second hand site to sell it, it's going to be worth less than 50% of what you paid for it."  -Janet Wu, cofounder + CEO of SilkRoll Throughout this episode, Janet and Erin provide insight into why they decided to build their business, using digital currency instead of dollars as their primary currency. And, they explain why they believe SilkRoll has large potential for scalability. Additionally, Kestrel asks Janet and Erin to share their thoughts on the state of fashion, and where they see the sharing eco

In episode 97, Kestrel welcomes Kelly Wang Shanahan, the founder of The Ziran, to the show. A Los Angeles-based label which offers a new line of luxury silks, The Ziran's mission is to weave tradition into the modern world, leading a new generation to live the Ziran way: natural, spontaneous, and free. "Fashion is important and it's not only a physical reflection of how you perceive yourself, but also how you want to be perceived. Otherwise we would walk out of the house naked every day. So, every time you put on a piece of clothing, you're making a choice and there aren't a lot of things other than eating food that you choose to do every single day."  -Kelly, founder of The Ziran Throughout this episode, Kelly shares insight into the cultural history connected to xiang yun sha silk, and the extensive process behind its creation. Kestrel and Kelly also discuss the pros and cons of manufacturing in Los Angeles, and the challenges that come with building a new luxury label.  The below thoughts, ideas + organiz

In episode 96, Kestrel welcomes Hannah Davis, the founder of BANGS shoes, to the show. A footwear company with a social mission and a partnership with Kiva, BANGS believes that "your adventure can help others find theirs". "I want to provide people opportunities vs things."  -Hannah of Bangs Shoes Throughout this episode, Hannah shares more insight into her experience manufacturing abroad, and the realities about where it's possible to actually produce vulcanized shoes. In addition, she expands further on BANGS Shoes' partnership with Kiva, and the way the nonprofit allows companies like BANGS to do good while at the same time, building out their business. The below thoughts, ideas + organizations were brought up in this chat: VF Corporation, company Hannah's business partner worked with in the past (VF Corporation houses brands like Vans, Timberland and more) Kiva, BANGS' nonprofit partner Microfinance: "the idea of giving someone a loan in small quantities" Dan Pallotta's The Way We Think About Charity Is

In episode 94, Kestrel welcomes Anna Lisa Grieve, the co-creator of Recess City, to the show. A lifestyle and travel blog, Recess City is a project by Anna Lisa and her husband Porter. Since September 2017, they have been traveling the world, living in hotels and showcasing ethical fashion brands along the way. "People suddenly realized that their food came from somewhere and that it mattered how it was made, and I think the same thing is happening in the world of fashion now. And, people are not just looking at clothing as a thing but understanding that there is a person behind it."  -Anna Lisa of Recess City Throughout this episode, Anna Lisa shares more on how she got into blogging, and how it has evolved into a business + lifestyle her her and her husband Porter. Also, Kestrel + Anna Lisa discuss the complexities when it comes to defining what "ethical fashion" means. Stay tuned for later in the show when Anna Lisa rounds up some of her favorite ethical fashion brands of the moment.  The below thoughts,

In episode 94, Kestrel welcomes Suzanne Lewis, the founder & designer of Zanni to the show. By reinventing the classic little black dress, Zanni uses technical performance fabrics and manufactures in Los Angeles to create what they call, "dresses for whatever."  "As much as people made fun of the athleisure trend when it came out, I think what we're seeing is that everyone wants to be comfortable, and people want balance. They don't want to have to have one outfit for each activity of the day - they want to have an outfit that works with them."  -Suzanne Lewis, Founder & Designer of Zanni Throughout this episode, Kestrel and Suzanne discuss where performance fabrics fit into the fashion industry today. Suzanne shares what determined her fabric choice for her dresses, and more on what polyamide elastanes are comprised of. Suzanne opens up about the difficulty in finding the best feeling fabric for her dresses, and how while she wants to bring recycled poly options into her pieces down the line, she ha

In episode 93, Kestrel welcomes Eileen Mockus, the CEO of Coyuchi, and Margot Lyons, Coyuchi’s Sustainability + Production Manager to the show. A home textile company that is committed to using minimally processed organic & natural fibers, Coyuchi also has a human commitment to the hands that touch each product.   "We do sense that the customer is looking for newness, and this allows them to have that newness but at the same time, gives us the ability to take that product back and do something else with it."  -Eileen Mockus, CEO of Coyuchi on Coyuchi For Life Throughout this episode, Kestrel explores Coyuchi's evolving business model with Eileen and Margot. They also focus on the complexities of finding organic linen, and how Coyuchi discovered a small group of farmers in Europe who are growing organic flax, and using it as a rotational crop. Apparently, the organic flax regenerates their fields for the organic food crops that are their primary source of income.  Additionally, Kestrel, Eileen and Margot

In episode 92, Kestrel welcomes Lyn Slater, the woman behind Accidental Icon, to the show. A cultural influencer, professor, model, writer, content creator and speaker, Lyn has been featured in Women’s Wear Daily, Refinery29, WhoWhatWear, and more. She shares the true story of how she got the name Accidental Icon, and how it wasn't as much of an accidental story as the press has led us to think. "She is the woman who ... does not consume garments, she lives her life in them and dresses honestly."  -Lyn Slater, Accidental Icon Throughout this episode, Kestrel and Lyn discuss ideas around whether or not fashion and consumption innately have to go hand-in-hand. Lyn shares her distinct thoughts on personal style or "no style", and how she's always been interested in the connection between dressing and identity. Additionally, Lyn outlines how she has always used fashion in what she calls a "performative way" to express her identity at any given time in the world. For Lyn, she has never let her education get stagn