Welcome to the Fellowship 500 Rachel!

[Ethical Fashion Forum]

We'd like to introduce one of our new Fellows! Rachel from Funky Jewellery & Bags has recently joined the Fellowship 500, our new collaboration with pioneering innovators in sustainable fashion. She is understandably busy in the run up to Christmas, but we caught up with her to ask about her new Fellowship & find out why she was so determined to make her business a sustainable one. 

Why did you decide to apply for an Ethical Fashion Forum Fellowship?

I Strongly believe in ethical fashion and assume that we cannot continue to produce and create fashion without any consideration for the aftermath. Learning about & creating ethical fashion can be a daunting prospect, but the EFF is incredibly useful for meeting like minded people. I can exchange experiences about setting up and making ethical business work; the more we pool our understanding, the more we can help each other to grow. Also, having access to the SOURCE Database is great as it helps me to take an active part in changing the world of fashion.

About me

I have a background in publishing and decided to set my own business, leading the way in promoting & selling ethical fashion accessories. This came about because I have strong feelings about the amount of clothes and accessories sold on the high street and I worry about what happens to the unsold items after each season.

If you think about it just for a minute, how long can we continue to pile up mountains of unwanted clothes, which cant even be given to charity because they just tear off too easily and the fabric can’t be recycled? I feel that these practices are unsustainable in the future and so I only work with suppliers who make long-lasting products in a sustainable and ethical way.

The idea that ethical fashion is unfashionable (the hemp & potato sack days!) is long gone. Today ethical fashion is fun and colourful and by buying ethically not only do we give something back, we also promote ways to dispose of our unwanted items. I am strong believer in ethical fashion and want to take an active part into educating people about moving away from the fast-fashion model.

Like what you read? Support Rachel's mission by visiting her store here: Funky Jewellery & Bags or view her SOURCE Database profile.