Listen to part one of Naomi's podcast: Starting an ethical handbag retailer
Listen to part three of Naomi's podcast: The trend of ethical consumerism
Naomi on the difficulties of being an ethical consumer...
“The more people find good quality out there the more they’ll want to buy it. But it’s difficult because you can walk down a high street and you’ve got endless different shops to choose from, whereas with ethical fashion you’ve got to root it out.
“This is sometimes harder for people who do want to buy ethical products, they can feel defeated by where they live because maybe their high street doesn’t have anything.”
On how online business can help ethical companies...
“Online is very good, it’s about a third of our sales. There are some really fantastic ethical superstores, there’s Eco Chic Collection, Essential Online, Fashion Conscience.
“These are brilliant websites because you’ve got the selection you’d have on a high street but all in one place and all ethical. The only downside I think is people can’t touch and feel the products, so it’s a bit of a gamble on their behalf, however it’s been working really well for me.”
Ethical Fashion Forum is fantastic and has a huge forum I think they have about 3,000 plus members from all over the world
On fair trade and ethical regulations...
“There isn’t really a stamp that you can get for yourself, not like fair-trade coffee and the fair-trade logo. They do it for a cotton but it’s more for foodstuffs because they have a very short production chain.
“With a bag there are untold amounts of people going in and working on my bags, from silk weavers to canvas workers and then the people who put it all together. It’s very hard to officiate on that because you can’t be in control of all these different people, all ploughing into one thing. However, I do abide by all the ETI base codes and follow all the good practice rules.”
On who to turn to for ethical advice...
“Ethical Fashion Forum is fantastic and they can give you loads of advice on ethical policies, etc. There’s a huge forum I think they have about 3,000 plus members from all over the world.
“The website includes people that will sell your end product, people that will make your product and design it from anywhere you wish to choose so it’s a really good resource.
“I got my first corporate job through somebody I met on Ethical Fashion Forum, I’ve met endless people who have been a real help to me and a lot of people that I can sell my bags through, so it really is invaluable.
“There are not too many people you can turn to in ethical fashion. That is changing and changing quite rapidly, but they're the one hub point I found. If you email them and ask them any question they will be as helpful as they can in pointing you in the right direction.”
Listen to part one of Naomi's podcast: Starting an ethical handbag retailer
Listen to part three of Naomi's podcast: The trend of ethical consumerism
