Conscious Chatter With Kestrel Jenkins

In episode 53, our first episode of Season 2, Kestrel connect with natural dye guru Kathy Hattori. As the founder of Botanical Colors, Kathy works to bring natural dyeing processes to larger scale production facilities, and also collaborates with designers on small batch dye projects. In this chat, Kathy breaks down the big differences between conventional and natural dyes, and the scaleability of the latter. Also, Kestrel and Kathy talk about "brilliance of dyes," and how this can be interpreted differently, depending on your relationship with color and its meaning. Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) are the chemicals that Kathy mentioned have extremely harmful effects. Research has shown that - when washed - NPEs are released from clothing and in turn, discharged into our waterways, where they turn into the even more toxic and hormone-disrupting chemical nonylphenol (NP). More on Greenpeace's Detox program here >

In this week's episode, Kestrel has the chance to welcome on one of her notable "Instagram-turned-real-life" connections: Whitney Bauck, an assistant editor at Fashionista. On her personal blog, Unwrinkling, Whitney explores the intersection of fashion, faith and ethics.  In this chat, Whitney shares insight on what led her into the ethical fashion conversation. It's interesting to hear how she has embraced her role at Fashionista not only to write about style, but also to bring ethics, supply chains and transparency into the conversation, when relevant. Kestrel & Whitney discuss the idea of digital whistleblowers and whether digital activism can actually make an impact.  Below, are some of the super cool brands Whitney mentioned she's currently loving: + Uniform + Tara + Vaquera This week's episode was sponsored by Pathways For Promise, a new recruitment initiative at AUW (Asian University for Women) which identifies talented women among current garment factory workers and provides them with the academic

Episode 51 | YOUTH FASHION SUMMIT + THE NEXT GENERATION

Episode 50 | THINK DIRTY + THE SEARCH FOR CLEAN BEAUTY

Episode 49 | FABSCRAP + REUSING TEXTILE WASTE

Episode 48 | PANAH + MADE IN AFRICA

Episode 47 | TIMO RISSANEN + ZERO WASTE DESIGN

Episode 46 | THREAD CARAVAN + ARTISAN ADVENTURES

Episode 45 | JASMIN MALIK CHUA, ECOUTERRE + AN INSIDER'S PERSPECTIVE

Episode 44 | ANDREW MORGAN + THE TRUE COST

Episode 43 | SOKO, VIRTUAL SUPPLY CHAINS + CONNECTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Episode 42 | SUSTAINABILITY IN THE FASHION CURRICULUM

Episode 41 | HODA KATEBI + FASHION ACTIVISM

Episode 40 | MARCI ZAROFF + FARM TO CLOSET

Episode 39 | YOUTUBE, COMPASSION FASHION + INFLUENCE

Episode 38 | EXPEDITION 196, PEACE + SUSTAINABILITY VIA TRAVEL

Episode 37 | PUSHING THE SUSTAINABLE FASHION CONVERSATION

Episode 36 | SPIRIT OF 608, TECH + THE FUTURE OF FASHION

Episode 35 | FASHIONKIND, LUXURY + SUSTAINABILITY

Episode 34 | STELA 9 + CULTURAL PRESERVATION