Conscious Fashion Collective

🎢 As if this year hasn't been enough of a rollercoaster, this past week has *really* thrown me for a loop. What's next for tariffs remains a mystery, but if they did hold to the full extent, what could that mean for sustainable fashion? 📉 Sharing my takes on the good, the bad, and the ugly below. ⤵️ I look forward to reading any of your takes or thoughts in the comments too. You'll also find a roundup of additional reading to dive deeper. ***** 📧 For more sustainable fashion content & resources like this, join 8K founders & professionals who subscribe to the Conscious Fashion Collective newsletter — sign-up is up in my profile!

🏡 You're invited to the Conscious Fashion Collective Membership's first-ever Open House! 💚 This event is your opportunity to see how the CFC Membership can provide the visibility, educational resources, connection, and tools you need to thrive in your sustainable fashion career & business. ✨ See you on April 29: https://lu.ma/042lk569

💬 We spoke with CFC Member Meredith Noles, about her knitwear design consultancy and how she combines years of industry expertise with a passion for crafting dynamic knitwear designs and tailored strategies that elevate fashion brands' assortments and storytelling. 🔗 Learn more about Meredith and why storytelling is so important for ethical design via the full Conscious Fashion Collective Member Spotlight: https://lnkd.in/ejzsPKD8

🧵 "The era of fashion designer as fashion dictator is over — it's about a conversation with your customer." - Zoe Hong It was such a joy to learn from fashion designer, illustrator, teacher, and author Zoe Hong this morning inside the Conscious Fashion Collective Membership! Zoe shared how fashion brands can expand in a — environmentally and financially — sustainable way ➡️ "The best way to grow is to listen to your customer and make what *they* are looking for." The importance of focus as a designer ➡️ "Many designers want to show off their potential in design so they make too much and too wide of a variety, but that's not what works today. You want to be known for doing ONE thing really well, and build a reputation off of that." And the value of sticking to your essence as a designer or fashion brand ➡️ "What are the things that are important to you? It's not just about the aesthetics, but the values of your clothes too. Your brand's essence is more about an attitude towards dressing than a specific aesthetic." ✨ There was so much more that I could share but the key takeaway I had from Zoe is that "sustainable design" is as much about *intentionality* as it is utilizing more sustainable materials and processes. ***** For more... 🎥 If you're a CFC Member, the full recording will be uploaded to your Session Library. 📚 For everyone, go check out Zoe's new book — I'll drop the info in the comments!

💬 We spoke with CFC Member Meredith Noles, about her knitwear design consultancy and how her services empower brands to expand into knitwear or refine their current offerings through a comprehensive client-centered approach. 🔗 Learn more about Meredith and the power of creating “future heirlooms” via the full Conscious Fashion Collective Member Spotlight: https://lnkd.in/ejzsPKD8

What does sustainability mean for your business and career? Let’s explore how to put it into action during April. Check out the events we have coming up inside the Conscious Fashion Collective Membership! Learn more about how to join us: https://lnkd.in/eaMMkHF7 #consciousfashion #sustainablefashion #fashionevent #slowfashion

📖 How can storytelling help sustainable fashion brands build deeper, more authentic customer relationships and connect clothing wearers to makers? It’s a big question — and one that yesterday's Conscious Fashion Collective Membership panel unpacked with insights from Pushpika Freitas of MarketPlace: Handwork of India, Saloni Shrestha of AGAATI, and Marinés Medina of April Knit Studio, moderated by Stella Hertantyo. 📝 Here were 3 of my takeaways from the panel how storytelling in fashion can deepen trust, convey impact, and connect customers to the people behind our clothes. 1️⃣ Storytelling is a Responsibility, Not Just a Strategy Ethical storytelling centers dignity and consent. It’s not about crafting a narrative for artisans — it’s about amplifying stories *with* them, in a way that honors their humanity and respects their privacy. Fair fashion brands can spotlight artisans' creativity, cultural knowledge, and journeys, while being mindful of not romanticizing hardship. 2️⃣ Don't Underestimate the Power of Visual Storytelling And you can lean into visual storytelling even before you have a full collection to launch or professional photography ready to go. Customers are craving realness more than polish — sharing sketches you didn’t use, imperfect photos, or a peek into your decision-making process (moodboards, materials, etc) can bring your community on the journey. 3️⃣ Customers Are on a Journey, Too Brand storytelling can help guide your community — not by preaching, but by inspiring curiosity, offering education, and celebrating the shared values that brought them to your brand in the first place. And small brands have a deep connection advantage. When you know your makers and your customers, you can tell richer stories than a corporation ever could. Your closeness is your superpower. ✨ As Mari said: “It’s not just slow fashion, it’s soul fashion.” In a noisy world of greenwashing, emotional connection and storytelling are what can set slow fashion brands apart. Which of these insights spoke to you the most? How are you implementing storytelling in brand communications? ********** CFC Members can unlock the full recording of this panel! Learn more about membership here: https://lnkd.in/g-jttEue

🎨 Whether you're a fashion student, job seeker or designer leading an emerging brand check out these 5 opportunities for different experience levels + career goals in sustainable fashion: 🧵 Apply: Summer Internships at Vinted in areas like Partnerships, Creative Innovation, Ethics & Compliance, Influencer Marketing, Operations, Product, and Research. 👗 Join: Submit an application with Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago to showcase your work in a community-centered event — from a fashion show or community market to a panel discussion or workshop 👒 Apply: Are you a skilled digital marketer? Apply for MarketPlace: Handwork of India’s open (remote!) role for a Web and Digital Marketing Manager. 👚 Apply: for Copenhagen Fashion Week NEWTALENT program; Emerging Nordic designers with fewer than 5 years of experience with their brand can apply for the talent support scheme. 🧣 Get Support: The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)/Vogue Fashion Fund is looking for their 2025 finalists! Apply if you are a designer with primary place of business in the US that has been operating for a minimum of 2 years. ♻️ Stay in the loop on more opportunities like these by subscribing to the free Conscious Fashion Collective Newsletter. Comment NEWSLETTER for the sign-up link!

A big part of the sustainable fashion movement is showing people that when we buy clothes, we are not just buying cut-and-sewn fabric — we are investing in the stories, values, and lives of the people who make our garments. Strong storytelling can shape consumer behavior and build brand loyalty. 💭 Join us for an insightful member-led panel discussion this Thursday on the power of storytelling to engage consumers in sustainable fashion. 🧶 WE’LL BE DISCUSSING: - The importance of consumer education in sustainable brand building - How to craft compelling narratives that highlight your sustainability efforts and connect with conscious consumers. - The ethics of storytelling and how to share authentic stories - Strategies for leveraging storytelling across various platforms 🗣️ PANELISTS: -Saloni Shrestha, Founder and Creative Director of AGAATI and AGAATI Foundation, & co-founder of Atelier Salvie -Marinés Medina, Knitwear Design Consultant & Founder of April Knit Studio -Pushppika Freitas, Founder of SHARE and MarketPlace: Handwork of India in Evanston. Member of the Fair Trade Federation and Chicago Fair Trade CFC Members: find the details in your membership portal! Not a member? Learn more about how to join us: https://lnkd.in/eaMMkHF7 #fairtradefashion #fairfashion #consciousfashion #slowfashion #ethicalfashion 

💫 When you're building a values-driven business & career, it can feel like you're figuring it all out on your own — searching for the right strategies, connections, and next steps. That’s exactly why we created the CFC Membership: a space where sustainable fashion founders and professionals can learn, grow, and connect with people who *get it*. But don’t just take our word for it — swipe through for what our members have to say! ✨ Inside the membership, you’ll find: 💚 A supportive, values-aligned community 📣 Visibility + networking opportunities 🧵 Resources, expert insights & real industry guidance 🌱 A place to grow (without the overwhelm) Applications close Sunday! More details will be in the comments If you're ready to stop spinning your wheels and start making real progress, we hope to connect with you in there soon. ⚡️