Conscious Chatter With Kestrel Jenkins

In episode 122, Kestrel welcomes Anita Vandyke, the author of A Zero Waste Life: in thirty days, to the show. A rocket scientist, blogger, and current student of medicine, Anita is passionate about inspiring others to be every day activists by making small, individual steps to reduce their waste. "Zero waste living to me means reducing your waste, but also at the same time, it means not wasting away your life - so, not wasting your time, your energy, and finding purpose in your life."  -Anita Vandyke, Author of A Zero Waste Life  In this episode, Anita shares more on her path toward a more zero waste life, how she wasn't always a minimalist, and how she gradually evolved from her past maximalist lifestyle. Additionally, Anita shares some really digestible, accessible tips to help us think about reducing waste while traveling and beyond. For her, there isn't one specific way to work toward a more zero waste lifestyle, which is why she built a tiered system that offers options for you, depending on what's goin

In episode 121, Kestrel welcomes Rebecca van Bergen, the founder and executive director of Nest, to the show. A nonprofit that is building a new handworker economy, Nest is dedicated to generating global workforce inclusivity, improving women's wellbeing beyond factories, and preserving cultural traditions. "Most consumers are completely unaware of this, but production is leaving the 4 wall factory. Anywhere between 20-60% of current garment manufacturing leaves the factory at some point, whether it's sewing a sole on a shoe or doing embroidery or finish work - to homeworkers that were completely invisible."  -Rebecca van Bergen, founder + executive director of Nest In this episode, Rebecca shares more on her journey, and how she originally came to the craft sector from a social work lens, with an interest in helping women around the world. Craft is the second largest employer of women in emerging markets, and for Rebecca - handmade needs to be more accessible to businesses and customers. Additionally, Rebec

In episode 120, Kestrel welcomes Jessica Kelly, the founder of Thr3efold, to the show. A platform that helps connect brands to ethical factories around the world, Thr3efold also hosts Deadstock District, a private portal to sell your fabric liability and source dead stock. "I keep digging deeper because sometimes people will be like, 'oh well, this brand doesn't talk about their factories so we should question their ethics' - maybe, but maybe not. It doesn't necessarily mean there's something that they're hiding."  -Jessica Kelly, founder of Thr3efold In this episode, Jessica shares more on her journey into the fashion industry, and how she was inspired to self teach herself as much as she could about the sustainable and ethical fashion industry. Additionally, Kestrel asks Jessica to expand on a blog post she wrote about transparency and whether or not it's actually the answer to a more ethical fashion industry. Here's a quote from that blog post: “Does publishing your factories make you more sustainable? Th

In episode 119, Kestrel welcomes José Teunissen, the Dean of the School of Design and Technology at London College of Fashion, and a Professor of Fashion Theory, to the show. José is also the curator of State Of Fashion 2018 | searching for the new luxury, an exhibition that recently opened in Arnhem, Netherlands, and runs through July 22nd, 2018. "Primarily, I also think this time period will be - it's a paradigm shift, probably a big paradigm shift - maybe it's only the start of it, but I think we are definitely in a period where we start to redefine what fashion is."  -José Teunissen, Curator of State Of Fashion 2018 In this episode, José shares more context on her past experiences with fashion, and how she became intrigued with fashion theory at an early age through exploring the way fashion can reflect a snapshot of culture in different time periods.  Additionally, José explains the approach to this year's State Of Fashion event, and how she and her team wanted to "search for the new luxury" to uncover

In episode 118, Kestrel welcomes Rebecca Burgess, the founder of Fibershed, to the show. A globally recognized project, Fibershed is working to address and educate the public on the environmental, economic and social benefits of de-centralizing the textile supply chain. "What are we doing? What is our consumption doing to other people's cultures?"  -Rebecca Burgess, founder of Fibershed  In this episode, Rebecca shares more on her exceptional and unexpected path into working in the textile industry. For her, it all started with agriculture, and a happenstance loom that happened to exist at her former university. For Rebecca, she has continued to uncover and discover so many more intricacies of the textile system through her curiosity and drive to consistently ask more questions. Throughout this chat, Rebecca also shares more in depth information on the power that farmers and ranchers hold today to turn around the health of our soil, while becoming climate change heroes. The below thoughts, ideas + organizati

In episode 117, Kestrel welcomes Juan Diego Gerscovich, the cofounder of Industry of All Nations, to the show. A design and development office that was founded in 2010, IOAN has a commitment to rethink methods of production for consumer goods. "Every maker that we work with, we want to give them the chance, to let them express - via the product - their life."  -Juan Diego Gerscovich, cofounder of IOAN  In this episode, Juan shares insight into his early years, growing up in Argentina with parents in the fashion industry. He also talks about how from a young age, he had a powerful interest in the origin of things, and a curiosity connected to where things come from. While Juan originally studies architecture, he eventually realized that garments and consumer goods allowed him to create things that were more accessible to people, and that allowed him to develop a more intimate connection. Kestrel and Juan further explore this idea that products have their own identity - sparked by the below quote from IOAN's w

In episode 116, Kestrel welcomes Mara Hoffman back to the show, for an update on where the company is - when it comes to sustainability - almost 2 years later. The first time Mara came to the show (in episode 18), the company was just beginning to shift Mara Hoffman over toward a more sustainable direction. In this chat, we get a chance to understand the evolution of the company over the last couple years, in their efforts to tackle their supply chain and fabrications, with a sustainability lens. "I've been saying 'survival of the kindest' right now - this idea that people that aren't doing good things for the planet or for humanity or for any living beings (the planet as a whole), should be voted off the island."  -Mara Hoffman, President & Creative Director of Mara Hoffman   In this episode, Mara shares her thoughts on how far her company has come since they decided to move toward a more sustainable direction. Additionally, Mara shares some of the challenges they encounter regularly since the adjustmen

In episode 115, Kestrel welcomes Tomide Awe, the founder of Olori, to the show. A handbag line that incorporates traditional African textiles into modern designs, Olori was built with an intention to help women become actively involved in solving women-interest issues, especially with regard to education.  "It's not about just donating money - we are not a charity organization, this is not a charitable affair for us. We are on a mission to build this network of future empowered women, and we wanted to ensure that the girls feel the full effect of every dollar that we spend."  -Tomide Awe, Founder of Olori   In this episode, Tomide shares more about her journey, and how growing up in Nigeria helped her realize the impact an education can have on women's lives. According to UNESCO, a girl in Nigeria has a 73% chance of not going to school. For Tomide, her mom helped to ensure she was able to get an education, and now she has multiple degrees. She wants to pay that forward to help give other young girls the opp

In episode 114, Kestrel welcomes Emily Katz, the founder of Modern Macrame, to the show. An artist, designer, business owner, and teacher, Emily also just released her new book Modern Macrame, which showcases 33 stylish projects for your handmade home.  "For the most part, if you're interested in craft and you have some knowledge of it, it's pretty easy to pick up. And, I think that because there's this low entry, it creates a lot of relaxation for people. In this hectic world that we live in where everything is at the speed of light and we're all accessible all the time, I think that macrame has this beautiful tactile quality that you can bring into your home."  -Emily Katz, Founder + Author of Modern Macrame In this episode, Emily shares her unique journey into macrame, and how while she was always interested in making things (from fiber art to clothing to embroidery), she didn't actually learn how to macrame until she was in her 30s. For Emily, learning to do macrame was part of a powerful reconnection wi

In episode 113, Kestrel welcomes Lawrence Lenihan, the CEO of Resonance, to the show. A venture operating company, Resonance partners with brands to enable them to build a fashion business that is as beautiful as their creative vision. "WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE RETHINKING. THIS WHOLE INDUSTRY WAS BUILT ON THE IDEA THAT YOU MAKE MANY - LOTS AND LOTS - BIG RUNS ... WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING COMPLETELY THE OPPOSITE. RATHER THAN HAVING FEWER STYLES OVER MORE AND MORE UNITS, OUR WHOLE ARCHITECTURE IS: HOW DO WE MAKE ONE UNIT AS EFFICIENTLY AS A THOUSAND?"  -LAWRENCE LENIHAN, FOUNDER OF RESONANCE  In this episode, Kestrel asks Lawrence to talk more about how Resonance intends to fuse the worlds of art and commerce, when so often they tend to resist each other. For Resonance, it's about bringing business and art together, but allowing art to be the driving force. Lawrence shares more about how fast Resonance can move their brand partners' designs from inception to customer doorstep - in less than nine days. Kestrel and

In episode 112, Kestrel welcomes Sarah Holley Gonzales, the owner + creator of neo•thread, to the show. An Albuquerque-based brand, neo•thread is dedicated to transforming discarded clothing into fresh, one-of-a-kind pieces.  "It was actually my Dad that taught me how to sew when I was little. And, even greater than how to work a machine, he taught me how to find beauty in the resources available - specifically, things that people would discard."  -Sarah Holley Gonzales, founder of neo•thread In this episode, Sarah shares more about what inspired her to build neo•thread, and how she took the leap from a "real job" to pursuing her dream job. Also, Sarah tells a powerful story about how her Dad taught her to sew + be resourceful as a child, and how that has influenced the way she values used things. While neo•thread's branding approach is that "cool girls care," it was surprising to learn that Sarah's shoppers aren't generally sustainably or ethically minded when they make their first purchase with her. For th

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