by Jackie Corlett | Mar 14, 2023 | #HandmadeResolution, #zerocarbon, #zerowaste, About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Global Perspectives on Sustainability, Handwoven Fabrics, sustainable fabrics, Top Tips for Buyers, Uncategorized
Reflecting on International Women’s Day, what a fabulous opportunity to honour the women before us, who’ve sacrificially laid the truly sustainable foundations for where we are today. They are the encouragement for us to keep moving forward, together with...
by Jackie Corlett | Nov 10, 2022 | #zerocarbon, #zerowaste, About Our Artisans, Global Perspectives on Sustainability, Justice & Equality, Sustainable Products, Top Tips for Buyers, Uncategorized
#SlowGiving is a relatively new # on the sustainability scene, yet together we can make it take off! Thankfully giving fair trade gifts has never been easier. Eco-conscious people keen to live out their sustainability values, can choose from many alternative gift...
by Jackie Corlett | Sep 26, 2022 | #zerocarbon, #zerowaste, About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Handwoven Fabrics, Sustainable Products, Uncategorized
Sustainable solutions will always be brilliant ideas. Sometimes they percolate and emerge slowly. Other times it’s a ‘Eureka!’ moment … maybe even in the bath surrounded by sustainable bubbles! Either way, you’ve no idea just when and how...
by Jackie Corlett | Sep 21, 2022 | #HandmadeResolution, #zerocarbon, #zerowaste, About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Handwoven Fabrics, Sustainable Products, Uncategorized
Think about this. Your next sustainable fashion collection, or eco-friendly interior project, launched with beautiful zero waste, zero carbon fabric. Sounds good right? Then consider this. With GRS certified recycled yarn these handwoven fabrics are certified fair...
by Jackie Corlett | Feb 7, 2022 | #zerocarbon, #zerowaste, About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Global Perspectives on Sustainability, Handwoven Fabrics, Sustainable Products, Uncategorized
Sustainable fashion is championed by conscious designers, ethical brands, and an increasing number of us who want it. We’re concerned about who makes our clothes, and how our planet is impacted in the process. What a privilege and honour then, for Motif Handmade...
by Jackie Corlett | Sep 13, 2021 | #HandmadeResolution, #zerocarbon, #zerowaste, About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Justice & Equality, Sustainable Products, Uncategorized
The dynamic young women you met here last week, are embracing the new as trend seasons start to change. Gorgeous recycled sari ribbon and soft natural cotton fabric are familiar materials. But a designer’s creativity for sustainable fabrics knows no end! So how...
by Jackie Corlett | Sep 6, 2021 | #HandmadeResolution, #zerowaste, About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Justice & Equality, Sustainable Products, Uncategorized
Sustainable fabrics and slow fashion are still seen mostly as Women’s Work, and some baggage comes with that – especially in these days of shared responsibility at home and work! But, there is work happening in this realm we can hold onto with pride....
by Jackie Corlett | Jul 10, 2020 | #HandmadeResolution, #zerocarbon, #zerowaste, About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Global Perspectives on Sustainability, Sustainable Products, Uncategorized
Fair trade, handmade goods are not just beautiful, they’re vital. Why? Because at their core each one offers a sustainable and ethical solution for both people and our planet. As this global pandemic inexorably moves on through the nation of Bangladesh an...
by Jackie Corlett | Jun 16, 2020 | About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Justice & Equality, Uncategorized
Reflecting on these last weeks is hard and necessary work. Many of us who live with a just do the right thing philosophy are seeing that although it’s a healthy mindset to have, there are times our ethical choices need exercising, stretching, so we really do do...
by Jackie Corlett | Apr 26, 2020 | #ManualRevolution, #TheManualRevolution, #zerocarbon, #zerowaste, About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Global Perspectives on Sustainability, Sustainable Products, Uncategorized
Aaaaaand drum roll pllllease … For our grand finale I’m proud to introduce one wonderful sustainable fashion designer Emily Harris of Mrs Emily! Emily has taken our #zerowaste, near #zerocarbon fabric and played with it … making such beautiful...
by Jackie Corlett | Apr 25, 2020 | #ManualRevolution, #TheManualRevolution, #zerocarbon, #zerowaste, About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Global Perspectives on Sustainability, Sustainable Products, Uncategorized
Some sewists may hesitate to work with handwoven fabrics – but I never met a sewist yet without a love for experiments! And what do you have to loose? By meeting your own home and clothing needs with a sewing machine, scissors and thread you’re already a...
by Jackie Corlett | Apr 24, 2020 | #ManualRevolution, About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Global Perspectives on Sustainability, Sustainable Products, Uncategorized
Today 24th April seven years ago in 2013, we woke to news of the worst factory accident in the fashion industry ever. Ultimately the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory claimed 1,134 lives and injured over 2,500 more. Fashion Revolution Week was born out of...
by Jackie Corlett | Apr 24, 2020 | #TheManualRevolution, About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Global Perspectives on Sustainability, Sustainable Products, Uncategorized
If you thought Steps 1-3 of an eco-friendly fabric involved a lot of people – just wait for this one! At this point the yarn for the weft is wound on the bobbin and ready to weave. BUT the warp is still on spools and has a long way to go before getting to the...
by Jackie Corlett | Apr 23, 2020 | #TheManualRevolution, About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Global Perspectives on Sustainability, Sustainable Products, Uncategorized
It’s a beautiful thing that Earth Day falls in Fashion Revolution Week. The worst excesses of the Industrial Revolution are seen in the fashion industry. Human rights abuses and environmental disasters were common then and now, 250 years later, how much has...
by Jackie Corlett | Apr 21, 2020 | #TheManualRevolution, About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Global Perspectives on Sustainability, Sustainable Products, Uncategorized
With the Fashion Revolution Week falling in the midst of a global lockdown many creative alternatives to public demonstrations and gatherings are emerging. See below for what we’re up to at Chicago Fair Trade. At Motif we’re keen to get you up to speed on...
by Jackie Corlett | Apr 21, 2020 | #TheManualRevolution, About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Global Perspectives on Sustainability, Sustainable Products, Uncategorized
On 24th April 2013 the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed killing over 1,100 people and leaving over 2,500 badly injured. Since then the reality of ‘fast-fashion’ has become headline news and movements the world over are pressing harder and...
by Jackie Corlett | Nov 6, 2019 | About Our Artisans, Bangladesh, Global Perspectives on Sustainability, Sustainable Products
We’re all trying to get there … many of us anyway, each looking for ways to be more eco-friendly, make more sustainable choices and choose the smallest carbon footprint. It’s imperative that we consider these daily choices because as our...
by Jackie Corlett | Mar 29, 2019 | About Our Artisans, Global Perspectives on Sustainability, Sustainable Products, Uncategorized
In Bangladesh and elsewhere, sustainable design starts when artisans and designers work together on exciting solutions, often stretching the use of materials and skills into totally new products … even when both may sometimes wonder, “What is s/he...
