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It's Mailbag Time!!
From wrinkly leather to a 'lost online' slow fashion maker who finds comfort in our little pod, we catch up over a virtual mailbag of lovely comms that some of our surprisingly loyal listeners have penned.We loved recording this one so tell us some stories and we’ll do more!!! Wish we had a Locked Bag address but sadly it’s just the same boring old email…For your convenience, below are links to the old episodes our listeners refer to. (May we recommend, madames, that you also check out the Oleg Cassini episode while on a trip down Archive Lane? It is one of Jo’s all-time faves.)Why do we care so much about our weddings?Is it unethical to profit from op-shop bargains?Ali and Jo’s sustainable fashion dictionary cornerFashionable Fandoms Email any questions or comments and please use the codeword ‘Acorn’ in the subject line (we’ll explain later…)Email: [email protected]’d love a review on Apple PodcastsAnd follow us here..instagram.com/questioningfashionpodcastinstagram.com/jogambaleinstagram.com/alidibleytiktok.com/@bellstreet This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questioningfashion.substack.com
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28:07
Overproduction: Could fashion's "dirty secret" give someone a clean start?
Regular listeners would know that we at QF are avid op shoppers. We like nothing more than to rifle through $1 baskets of stale smelling Lycra at our local Noffs in the hope of finding an original Donna Karan bodysuit.But that’s because we have the choice. We have the leisure time, the energy and even the funds to cover those pesky op shop inflations..For those one in eight adult Australians who live below the poverty line, and for women in shelters who have escaped domestic violence, choice of any kind is a luxury, and actually so is being gifted the chance of a fresh start with a carefully curated wardrobe of never worn - never sold clothes courtesy of Thread Together.Just a few years ago Burberry was famously caught burning its excess stock for fear it’d end up in the hands of the poor (if you’re British you’ll know how ironic this is, given the chav check and the old adage that style can’t be bought, but that’s another story for another episode) ..Impressive, then, that Thread Together has managed to successfully convince 2,000 fashion brands to be less mean (and toxic) about their unsold stock. Overproduction to the tune of 30 per cent is the norm now. According to Thread Together CEO Anthony Chesler, for our planet’s eight billion people there are now $100 billion units of clothing being produced annually. No wonder the TT warehouse is so vast.We opened this can of wriggling worms after a tour of the place last year with the man himself…… and while we’re none the wiser about overproduction, we wholeheartedly concede that Thread Together is a great service making the best of a bad situation. Find out about teambuilding and volunteer opportunities here.Remember to email any questions or comments and please use the codeword ‘Acorn’ in the subject line (we’ll explain later lol…)Email: [email protected]’d love a review on Apple PodcastsAnd follow us here..instagram.com/questioningfashionpodcastinstagram.com/jogambaleinstagram.com/alidibleytiktok.com/@bellstreet This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questioningfashion.substack.com
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35:52
Live podcast: Is there such a thing as an Unsustainable Clothes Swap?
Thanks to the gorgeous Theresa Winters of some place in Illinois, but no thanks to the misbehaving sound equipment at the venue, we had the best time recording this episode live in front of an audience in Sydney last week.In the lead up to a clothes swap organised at the same venue (the Green Living Centre) the following week, Ali and Jo discuss the potential issues of what should be a sustainable solution to fashion waste/overconsumption. After hosting public versions for various councils, they found that too many participants were using clothes swaps as ‘dumps’, as many do with op shop (thrift store) doorsteps.Along with special guest Theresa, clothes swapping “pro” and advocate, Ali and Jo look at ways we can be more mindful when it comes to swaps and - even beyond that - their default ‘Retail Therapy’ behaviour.IMPORTANT: If you’re a slow or circular fashion store in Sydney and would like to have us host a live pod, panel, ‘sip n style’, industry meet-up or other event, we’re usually happy to collaborate. Email your idea to [email protected] as usual, please email any questions or comments to the same address, using the codeword ‘Acorn’ in the subject line (we’ll explain later…)Meanwhile, check out Theresa Winters’ awesome ‘experiential publication’ The Plus Ones for some of “Earth’s best experiences” in your local hood. (Hoping we’ll get on there soon!)We’d love a review on Apple PodcastsAnd follow us here..instagram.com/questioningfashionpodcastinstagram.com/jogambaleinstagram.com/alidibleytiktok.com/@bellstreet This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questioningfashion.substack.com
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22:49
Why did Ali really close her business?
How the hell are you all? We’re so sorry for the radio silence. I hope you know we never stopped thinking about you. The fact is, we haven’t had an awful lot of head space since October, when Ali decided to shut up shop. Why did she do it? It was literally the best vintage dress hire shop in the southern hemisphere and had so many fans and regular customers. As any small business owner with a shopfront knows, it’s never as simple as that.So listen to the story, as recorded in Jo’s daughter’s newly built cubby house (a temporary replacement for our Bell Street studio). Mentioned in this episode…UsefulBox Sewing SchoolSlogue workshops and DirectoryCasablanca EkoluvFashion Alta ModaJust a reminder, as mentioned in the pod, the next few episodes will be from our ‘vault’, starting with an interview with Thread Together’s Anthony Chesler. The organisation diverts an annual 700+ tonnes of unsold new fashion from landfill to help people below the poverty line. We get the lowdown and address the (overproduction) elephant in the room.We’re also dedicating an episode to you, the listeners, as we open the mailbox and answer some of your burning fashion questions. Speaking of which, email any questions or comments and please use the codeword ‘Acorn’ in the subject line (we’ll explain later…)Email: [email protected]’d love a review on Apple Podcasts And follow us here..instagram.com/questioningfashionpodcastinstagram.com/jogambaleinstagram.com/alidibleytiktok.com/@bellstreet This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questioningfashion.substack.com
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38:06
A tale of two trips: Ali and Jo in Europe
So it turned out Ali and Jo were visiting Europe at the same time! And since even family holidays bring up questions of fashion for these girls, they figured they’d stay in touch via voice notes (quirkily posing here as answer machine messages for your audio pleasure).What happened next? Christian Lacroix, for one. 80s silver ruffles at Portabello Rd, for another. The Case of the Missing Pile of Favourite Clothes. Veja in-store repairs in Paris. Humana charity stores in Barcelona and Berlin. Not to mention the sticky willies, ginger spotted dick and BIBA! Have you had any amazing finds at overseas op shops or vintage stores?Email us: [email protected] social media accounts:instagram.com/questioningfashionpodcastinstagram.com/jogambaleinstagram.com/bellstreettiktok.com/@bellstreet This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questioningfashion.substack.com
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36:02