#38 - EMILY RASTAS - Finding Confidence with Sustainable Fashion

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🚀 In this episode of the Planet MEW Podcast, I sit down with Emily Rastas, a sustainable fashion designer from Geelong, Australia. We explore what actually is sustainable fashion and discuss whether it’s more of a government issue rather than a consumer one. We also explore fashion as a form of self-expression and how to find confidence with clothes.

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Transcript

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85% of clothing bought in Australia this year will end up in landfill there's so many like layers and elements of like you know that it's like, what the fuck do I buy that in I think there's so many different ways that sustainability can look. It's really up to the individual. And I guess the bank account. I don't judge the consumers because it shouldn't be their responsibility in the first place. I think the biggest barrier is that we need laws and legislations we're living in an economic crisis. fashion is about failing publicly that a lot of people maybe think that fashion is really superficial. And to me, it is absolutely not fashion is the most empowering thing. why is it that a lot of female creative outlet, for example, our hair, our makeup, clothes why, they, like, just charge, just like in vain? Like just because we wear our art, no, this is power. It's not vanity, it's power. maybe that's why like Oh, The reason that I got into fashion is because I had such low self-confidence. I really didn't like myself for a long time. And I think oh shops teach you style what market. Is. Killing? So. It's like someone selling like this yarn for like $10. And it's like, says so in the fashion industry they can also be a lot of cattiness and they can be a lot of competition. If we all banded together There's no reason for us to compete against each other. So today's guest on the podcast is Emily Ross. And Emily is a local fashion designer from Geelong who really specialises in sustainable fashion. And so in this episode of podcast, we really talk about like what is sustainable fashion like? How can we make more effort to be conscious of that? At the same time, we acknowledge that we think this should be more of a business problem or like a government problem than a consumer problem. But this conversation took an unexpected turn when we started talking about just fashion in general, and like what that means to us and how you can find your confidence and power through that. So I really, really enjoyed this conversation. Before we get into it, I just want to give an update on the previous episode with Nick again. I spoke to him today and he told me that since the podcast episode launched, he received close to 200 messages from people telling him that either they understood or the podcast helped them. And yeah, that was just like, so great. Yeah. And he's also had a people reach out to him with the potential of doing it. So that's really, really exciting. Also the amount of downloads or streams that I've had from that episode is right now it's just over 800, which is crazy. Like, to me, that knocked my socks off because the solo episode that I've been doing by myself, I've been getting like on average about 30 with my highs before the episode, with Nick getting to like 76. Obviously those ones, I was really just doing that for myself. I didn't have any video. So yeah, it was really trying to grow that much until now. But to jump from that to like more than ten times my previous, that's before me. So it's just crazy and I'm so grateful for that. It's really validating. In saying that, like, this is the last episode that like you say, that I feel myself in my own set. And that's because, to be honest, is kind of a complete show. Like, you know, it's a lot of work for one person. Like, I'm setting up the set and there's so much that goes into that. I'm basically doing the job of like five people. So like, you know, lighting is a lot to learn. And what do your engineering and video tography and, yeah, it's a lot. So actually like this episode with Emily, I didn't realise until five minutes the camera shut off. So after that, like when I filmed the one with Nick's actually filmed this one. First, I set up these devices behind every camera like mirrors so that while I was sitting there, like, trying to do the interview, I could, like, check the cameras and say that, like, each camera was still on. Turns out my iPhone was overheating. So, you know, that's I'm going to shoot it from now on. But I'm trying to find that. So honestly, the best way that, like, you guys can help me grow and be able to like, find the podcast is to subscribe. And it's kind of annoying or people always ask, but it really does help because the goal is if I can get a thousand subscribers, then I can monetise the podcast on YouTube. So, right now I'm at 45 subscribers on YouTube. So that's the goal. Yeah. Or if you don't want to do that, even just watching it helps. But yeah. Anyway, enjoy this episode with Emily. Spanish to Me. Podcast is the journey of discovery. So today we're going to talk about sustainable fashion. So maybe give a little bit of an overview of like what you do. yeah. So I am Amy from Amy Pelly Design, and I do quite a lot of things, but sustainable fashion and costume design are my main things. And empowering people through clothing. So whether that be costume or clothing. That's my main kind of thing. And sustainability is the core of my practice. I also delve into special effects, makeup and installation, and sustainability is also really, like prevalent there too. Okay. Cool. Yeah I think I really want to hit today. Like what is sustainable fashion. Because I feel like a lot of people don't actually understand, like what is fast fashion and how they contributing to it. But first off, I want to go through my outfits. Yes. Absolutely. Okay, so I'll start with my shoes. These, actually fake cuties that I got from the up shop, I wouldn't have. I just go and buy, a fake brand from, you know, one of those resellers. But I found these at the op shop, and they might at my size, they actually say grouchy because they're not real cuties. This skirt I got from a vintage shop on the Sunshine Coast. The top I got from an up shop in Geelong. The cardigan I also got from an up shop in Geelong and I shortened it to make it fit, but I also had a hole in it, so I cut the hole out and my watch I have had for 14 years. I was my 15th birthday present. All of my rings, as small brands as, the charms on my necklace and the bag I made. I made it for a dress up party. It was a stuffed animal that I got from the op shop, and I pulled the stuffing out, and I added the back straps. Yeah, I made a little a kind of, special effects grade silicone. that's so good. I love how, like, about if it's, like, just Topshop and stuff and people have been surprised, Yeah, now, yeah. I can't go through mine. So today I've got my corduroy jeans. It's like the best. They fit me like love. I got them from The Upshot, That looks good on you. then I have the hat, which is Ralph Lauren, which isn't like technically the sustainable, but we're gonna go into, like, why it's still kind of. Okay, this jacket was made from a doona, which is one of mine from me clothing, and I'm going to start selling them soon, but they're going to be a bit more exclusive. And then, yeah, socks and shoes. They're not really sustainable. I didn't get them. Second-hand or anything. Yeah. But this bag I actually love as well, it's like. A it's definitely fake polo, but Amazing. like the whole got out. So Do you know what shoes are? One thing that it's like. Oh, by them, they're like. My entire wardrobe is sourced from op shops, vintage shops, small businesses or made by me shoes. I'm like, well, I've dealt with chronic pain. You need supportive shoes. Shoes wear and tear really easily. Like And it's hard to find your size. I can even. Yeah. the upshot of you like, okay, Yeah, yeah. Yes, yes. That's one thing that I'm like. I don't even feel guilty about buying. She's neat. Yeah, no. That's cool. I feel like, let's go into like, what is sustainable fashion? Yeah. I reckon it looks different for everyone. Like, you can be sustainable in that you'd only buy linen or bamboo or like, you know, natural fibres. But that's quite inaccessible for a lot of people. To me, saleable fashion is using what already exists and supporting small businesses that also, like a lot of the small businesses I support, also make things in really small batches or with reclaimed materials. Yeah, I'm kind of like I'm an artist. There's been times where I've been really poor and I love clothing and fashion, and I still want to, you know, delve into that whole expression of personality through clothing and set up shops. Times have been the only things that I could afford. And so that's really sustainable because you're taking things that other people have, you know, donated or things that might have been destined for landfill and kind of giving them new homes. I think there's so many different ways that sustainability can look. It's really up to the individual. And I guess the bank account. Yeah. I think oh shops are great when, when, like when you can feel your style shifting and you like well can't afford to go buy a whole new wardrobe. It's so good to play around and be like who am I like. Yeah, And I think oh shops teach you style Yeah. there's so many individual pieces that you can't find anywhere else. And even if they don't fit, you learn how to make them fit it or like you make your wardrobe work around them. And, I just, I just that they completely expand your idea of style, I think. And. I 100%. And when you find, like, that little bit of treasure in the shelf, like when you're going through all the racks and you're like, oh, yes, I particularly like colour and pattern. So I kind of just like go straight for them. Yeah. that's, I'm gonna say. How I feel about these jeans. Like I could, the quarterback would take a day because it's room tour. And no thing I should point on is like having just like basic sewing skills, like being able to, you know, him trousers Yeah. the abs, like, you know, shorten cardigans. a. Hundred percent. opens up the possibility of what you can wear, like, so much. Like he can say something and be like, okay, but if I caught that and I sorry, not Yeah. it could be my vision. And you know, it's creative, it's imaginative. And I think this is such a massive component of sustainable fashion the biggest problem with fast fashion is it ends up in landfill. a statistic today, from Chat Tate, so I haven't checked it, but I've said that like 85% of clothing bought in Australia this year will end up in landfill like within one year. like. I reckon that like I don't know the exact numbers of statistics, but I reckon it's pretty close. Like, I recently got an activation with two friends where one of the friends works at an op shop and we constantly talk about how much is donated to your shop, but it's actually sent to landfill because it's bad quality, or it's got a stain or a tear or a missing button. We saved three carloads of things that were destined for landfill in just like over a week of things that were donated to the Hope shop. Yeah I love watching your TikToks of just like these. Can't go to the upshot because it's got a stain. So let me watch me repair it. And it's so cool to see. I mean it's heartbreaking to see this something so small is like enough of these to go in. That's the other thing. People think that, like, you know, they throw their clothes away. Gross. The upshot of line. Like, no, no can't even go there. And then once you know it past that point, it ends up literally in the tier of like Yeah. in a lot of these clothings. I think people don't realise either is that a lot of them are actually made out of like polyester and stuff, which is actually petroleum, like plastic. are biodegradable. So Yeah. you know, that's one component of like sustainable fashion is if you can buy natural fibres that even if it doesn't end up in landfill eventually that it will break down. Like that's one thing you can think about. this, you know, you should try to avoid, like, polyester, like Yeah. nylon set, right? Like a Yeah. And They're also not good for your health either. Like of that now. yeah. but the microplastics Yeah. apparently the fashion industry is responsible way. Right. They shut down, 35% of microplastics in the ocean come from the textile industry. So, like. Yeah, from all the by-product of all the production and stuff. And it just so it's heartbreaking because the companies, the big companies like let's say Sheehan, for example. Oh, Allegedly that's a trigger. Like, for me, like, it's an entertainment now. Oh. Oh, yeah. another thing I'll go into. But like, just like they just want to sell something quickly Yep. it. They didn't give a fuck where it ends up afterwards. And Yeah. people like, you know what technically makes fast fashion? Fast fashion is like one the quality shit. going to losses if it's going to break. What are you Yeah this if it breaks, if you don't know how to fix zippers, Yeah. throw it away Yeah. and then like too, like it's trendy. So like, in three months when that trend changes, you don't want to wear that anymore. are 100%. And I definitely like that's a really good point. Like not judging because I bought from Shein when it was she inside like ten years ago when I was younger and I was living in Europe. I remember so vividly ordering a really big bundle of clothing. And then it was like all these winter coats and then still feeling really, really cold because they actually weren't really good quality. And I really love the kind of line that you act with the knowledge that you have at the time. And back then I had no idea, like sustainability was something that we briefly touched on in high school, but it wasn't really big, fast fashion wasn't also as big back then as it is now. And it wasn't until I entered right back six years ago and I couldn't work for six months. And then I went through all of my money, and then it got to a point where I wanted to create again. So I started going to shops, and then I realised how much existed, and I had this kind of light bulb moment where I was like, I actually can't go back to purchasing new fabric or going to Westfield and buying things because I know how much exists. So I act with the knowledge that I have at the time. Back then I didn't know. Now my mission is actually to educate people on what is existing in our world, what we can do about it, and how we can like, repair and reimagine the clothing that we already have. And that is so abundant in all of the Second-hand stores around the world. Yeah, I think that's a great point because that's something I was hoping to touch on today as well, is when I've, like started doing new clothing. So for those who don't know me, clothing was my business where I was selling jackets, I upcycled from sleeping bags and journeys mainly, and same thing. I actually didn't know that much until I started writing. I might write a blog in like what is sustainable fashion? I mean, I was like, fuck, I don't know any of this. like really crazy. But what I started to realise is that, like, I mean, I don't judge the consumers because it shouldn't be their responsibility in the first place. you know, really be allowed for companies to produce such high quality. And if you got people who are like, you know, they don't have a lot of money So whatever. They also like, have enough shit to worry about, you know what I mean? Like, they've Yep. kids. They're rising. I don't know anyone with seven kids these days, but you know what I'm saying? Like, they got enough shit to worry about that. They're like, I just don't. Can't be bothered feeling shame for, like, what? I'm buying them, what I'm wearing. Yeah. thing I realise is that I don't think it should even be something that they even have to think about. It should just be the same with food. about this is healthy, you know. It should just be healthy food. That's a word. A lot of aid that's like, you know, sustainable clothing is all we're allowed to make Yeah. And so I don't really judge the consumer. But then there is also like the argument of like, well, you know, grassroots like if more people cared like about sustainability than like, you know, the big brands would be forced to shift. I think a lot of people do care about it, and more people are starting to care about it as well. Like I was really affirmed recently when I went to a symposium with the National Wool Museum and Deakin University, and I met all these scientists that are working on these sustainable fibres, and this program where they actually pulverised it's kind of textile waste and make it into pigment, which can be turned into paint. So it's like a circular life and like there's so many people that are working towards it. I think the biggest barrier is that we need laws and legislations and, you know, these companies need to be held accountable, the ones that just real off millions of garments per year. It's not the consumer's fault because we're living in an economic crisis. They make it so accessible. People can't really afford to just go and spend like $200 on a linen shed. They're going to buy the $4 shirt from Kmart. that's the thing like I definitely there definitely is a price difference when it comes to I mean think about because my jacket's right though. Two But they were handmade in Australia like Australian Labour. yeah I. to a point where I was only making like $30 a So I had to. Then I was like, well, I had to put the price up. I put up to 300. There was no market for them. Nobody bought them. So it was like this weird middle ground where it's like people just can't afford to buy a sustainable. Sometimes I think that's something I want to touch on, is that if you're in a position, let's say you have like multiple properties, you should be supporting small businesses. Oh yeah. because it actually does. Like abundance does breed generosity. Sorry. The charity does bring abundance Yeah. Like you literally put that back into like Australian economy. It will come back around. Yeah. thing I noticed is that I was selling like plus beanies that were made out of plastic bottles Amazing. yeah, it's called out. So basically they get the plastic bottles, they melt them down and then, you know, that's like petroleum, which is what, polyester is made out of. So they, you know, spin it and remake it like the beanies. You can't even tell. It just feels like normal fabric. But it was like I was calling around like some of the, like, plastic recycle plants, like in Victoria and stuff like that being like, hey, would this be an option for you guys to do? I wouldn't even get responses like it's just so far off the to provide something like that in Australia. It's like we could be later in the world where we're exporting to other countries, like yeah, to think seriously. So, so many wasted opportunities and just, I think small oh yeah, as well, to be honest. Like I remember I saw in Queensland there's a company that had figured out how to take the cotton and the polyester apart and make pellets from each. And I like thinking of ways to reuse all of the fibres. And they're only working with hotels in like upcycling bedsheets and things for now, because they just don't have the capacity to go out for all of the waste of clothing that exists in the world. But they're halted because there's no spinning facilities in Australia like we live in Geelong. Geelong used to be like wool capital, and now there's not even a single spinning kind of manufacturer here. It's all offshore now, which how ideal would it be if that was brought back to Australia? And I think that there's people trying to make that happen. Yeah. Because I think sometimes like the biggest thing is one of the worst things about like how lack of sustainability is like one, it's just disrespectful to the Yeah. by extension the feminine, you could argue, Yeah that's it's topic for another day. I think and also I just like having absolutely no regard for like three, five generations down the line, Yeah. reckon in like 5 or 7 generations down the line, I reckon it's going to be the absolute no more to just only reuse things Yeah. never reproduce things because they're going to be like these arseholes from seven generations ago. Just dumped us with this shit. Find Yeah. trash into treasure. And I reckon that'll be the normal just reusing things I mean I hope so I, I was recently teaching an incursion at a school and this girl was like, oh, do you ever get sick of the sewing machine? And I was like, no, this is a luxury. Can you imagine what it was like before sewing machines were invented and how long it took to hand stitch all these comments? That's why they placed so much priority on repairing things. Yeah. And my kind of take on it at the moment is I, as a small business owner, I obviously want people to purchase for me and support the work. Got to a point recently where I was like, I actually don't think that I need to make more clothing. I can't even justify it right now because I'm like, so much clothing actually already exists in the world. I've made enough. I will still make things for like, I'm a costume designer, well, so I'll still make things for productions and for commissions, but I don't want to make stock anymore. I don't want to make things to sell. I want to encourage people to repair what they've already got. So as simple as I've got this project where I make roof fabric band aids and it's like when you get a stain or a tear in your clothing, pop a aid on it, rather than throwing it in the piano or giving it to an op shop, which the op shops will also just put it in the bin. And I think my take on it at the moment is encouraging people to reimagine what they've got and make what is already existing in their wardrobe last longer and give it a longer life, because there's so many layers to sustainability, and you and I can't tackle all of them, you know? And no one really can unless they're a billionaire. I think if everyone's doing their little bit personally, I think that my pot I've been really empowered with education recently. I've been teaching sustainable fashion workshops for the past three years, and I'm now stopping in-person workshops, and I'm just going on an online platform, and I, I'm really, really passionate about teaching people and empowering people, even if it's just like a this is how you thread a needle, this is how you like fix how. I didn't realise that people didn't know how to do that. Like my best friend came over a couple months ago and he was like, can you teach me how to sew on a button? I was like, what do you mean you don't know how to sew on a button just because it's second nature to me doesn't mean it's second nature to the rest of the population. So, yeah, I think it sustainability person maybe has very little nation. I am really trying to empower and educate at the moment. Know, that's great. And something I want to expand on is something you said that there's like there's so many elements to sustainability because, to like, touch on today again, is like, I kind of want to run through some of the different like ways that clothes can be sustainable, like why they can't be so like, you know, one thing to consider is like the crops themselves. Like, how much water do those crop series cotton uses like 88% less water than like conventional cotton and. Yeah, like even like, okay, what pesticides are being used like. And how does that affect like the way it's like when it goes into the waterways and like the dyes, like how toxic the dyes And then all the transport and all the production, like the CO2, I think it's like 8 to 10% of this carbon emissions globally from textile like industry. So yeah. Yeah, there's so many like layers and elements of like you know that it's like, what the fuck do I buy that in Yeah I think you can't do everything right. No no one could do everything right. That disadvantaged me when I went to this, sustainable fibre symposium, one of the speakers was saying that he thought the future of the textile industry was less colour. And I actually audibly gasped like my friend to see next to me. And they both started laughing because I was like. Oh, we basically he's look at everything. The colour. Yeah, that's not a vibe. But I mean, I do understand it and I have this book Fashionable Selby I discovered it when I was 18, when I was living in Vienna. I actually I love this book so much. I gave it to my friend and then I was still thinking about it all of these years later. And I reported a couple, years ago because I just love it so much. And there's an artist in there. I cannot remember the name of her, but maybe there's some way we can link this. She makes dyes out of squid ink and, like, like all of these wild things that I'm like, I didn't know that you could do that. And they're a lot less vibrant than, you know what I'm wearing. But I would be happy to sacrifice for that for the planet. You know, Well I want to say there on that like there are some things where I'm like maybe it's okay sometimes like for example, well this is just my point of view. So I just share it. But for example like the most important thing for me with fashion is the vision. vision in my head, I need to execute that, you know, if I can't find at the option or something, I'll even make it. Or if I can't make it, I'll buy a brand new, for Yeah. merino and I couldn't find one. I was looking for options for a few months, so I'm like, I can't find I'm going to buy one, Yeah. source, right? I'm so. There's there's. Certain times where I'm like, I'm not gonna like, the vision's gonna be more important to me than environmental environmentalism, Yeah. and that's just me. But, like, I feel like for me, environmentalism is like, it's all my purpose. It's more like the way I care about equality. Yeah. and you like, you know, keep moving, I guess. 100%. Yeah. Yeah I, I think also if you make yourself 100% anything particularly sustainable for sustainability, it's actually going to become more of a burden than anything. Like, I mean, I, I'm the same. There's, there's things that I've bought new because it's been a necessity and it's like, oh, well, there's going to come a point where it is easier to buy a brand new thing rather than spend, you know, ten hours going to different shops trying to find that one particular thing. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's actually something I want to talk about as well is speaking of source. So this hat, for example, the reason why I wanted to like, talk about this is because like Ralph Lauren obviously obviously designer brands. Not stupid design. I like Gucci but like good quality. Right. And that's something that I really look for like and that's one way actually you can shop sustainably is to make sure that the clothing that you're buying is high quality, Yeah. the, because one of the components of fast fashion is the quality. So it ends up in the buying Yeah. But if you buy something with high quality, it'll last. Yeah. closing my wardrobe that are over a decade old I. And that's another thing you should look for like timelessness. Yes. timeless and I do and like my wardrobe. I say like a collection that I'm constantly adding to Yeah like the clothes I know how to dress my body type by know, I don't care about styles, I care about what reflects me. Yeah. And I keep that in my wardrobe, hopefully forever. Yeah. hat it was, I think it was originally 160. I think I go to on sale for about 80 Nice. Anything cool? Yeah. So I was like, I got it for 80. And I'm like, I honestly think I'll still have this in 20 Yeah. And so I think that's one element of sustainable fashion people to understand. I think they think that like the designer labels, if I like fast fashion, like Gucci and Louis Vuitton like they're actually like some of the slowest fashion you can get. Yeah. Are in saying that, they don't actually really seem to care about sustainability, because I've heard that some of them will, like, burn their autumns off to like, take on out of style rather Yeah. you know, the peasants like be Okay. Yeah. So yeah, there's a few things to consider with that. And like, what I'll always do as well. This is like my little shopping tip is I love a sauce because I have a lot of designer brands, like, like the eye sauce design range but they have a lot of designer brands, like brands like Ralph Lauren inside the head of like a Ralph Lauren jumper that was like $500. They always have really good sales. say yeah. for 20 and then it'll be like 30% off that I don't get it for like 300. Then Yeah. Yes. how many like shitty like 50 jump$50 jump is what I buy. Yeah. last the time of that $300 one. Oh 100%. that's how I like to think about it. Yeah. No I, I, I definitely agree like supporting these big brands that have really high quality. Thank you. Yeah I agree with that. Yeah. Yeah. Most single mothers. Oh my. I had an I, I had a thought and I went for. This really I thought that was just my little nyree spicy bread. I know, like, I didn't use that, like. I guess like. One, like another thing to touch on is like, so let's go through like what the more sustainable clothing is, time. second-hand. Right. Like that's probably the best thing you can do. I think. So, yeah. I, like I said earlier, it's so dependent on, you know, your bank balance and your approach to things. Probably the most sustainable is actually repairing what you've already got. But then fashion is also such a self-expression. The reason that I got into fashion is because I had such low self-confidence. I was thinking about this the other day, actually. I was a teenager as that series Ugly Betty came out and she had glasses and braces. I had classes, embraces, and I convinced myself that I was Ugly Betty. Yeah, it was it was not a good time being a teenager in like 2000 and like early 20 tens like that was we were just bombarded with all of these skinny models from the 90s, all these magazines saying all these things about weight loss and that, like Ugly Betty, like, I really didn't like myself for a long time. And there was this moment where I discovered clothing and I discovered this sense of confidence that, like, actually, nothing else could bring me. And I think that also something else to mention is that a lot of people maybe think that fashion is really superficial. And to me, it is absolutely not like fashion is the most empowering thing. Today I was dealing with some body dysmorphia. I'm feeling a bit hormonal and I wasn't liking the way my body was looking today, so I had to try on quite a few different outfits until I felt confident. I actually know I will. I will be late if I don't feel confident, like I will stay and try on all of the things in my wardrobe until I feel good. And I've had this conversation with a few I need to like. And some people like. I know that I dress very colourfully and very loud, but I forget what I'm wearing the second I leave the house. If I feel good, like get dressed and accessorise and do my makeup, and to a point where I can look at myself in the mirror and I'm like, yeah, I feel good. I think I look good. I then go out, can I leave my day without even I go without even remembering what I'm wearing. I was travelling last year and I was walking around with one of my friends, and I remember I was wearing like this very loud outfit and she was like, Emily, do you notice those people looking at you? And I was like, now what are you talking about? Like, I just don't even clock it because I feel good and that's the most important thing for me. So I encourage people to experiment with their wardrobe and, you know, wear whatever makes them feel good. I think as a costume and clothing person, I have the capacity to be maybe the most judgemental person ever. But I could look at someone that's like the complete opposite aesthetic and style to me. Like, I love what you're wearing. Yes you do. You like if I can see someone's personality shining through their clothing. Oh my God, it excites me. Yeah. And I think as well I know exactly what you mean when you say, like when you wear wearing the wrong outfit, you can feel it all day. Yes. quote which is like fashion is about failing publicly some days, right? Yeah. doesn't go. You get up at the next time you're like, you know what? That didn't work. And it has to be Yes. Yes. it and I've go like, I like set outfits in my head where I'm like, that's 100% A+ outfit done. yeah, back and wear that outfit 100 yeah, I'm an outfit repeater up a weird like six times in one week, Yep. I've owned the same shirt like five times in the past two weeks because it makes me feel good at the moment. And like, I there's always like, when you're in that, like, flow and you feel good, Yeah. always other women who will, like, love your outfit Yes. older ladies too. Yeah. And you just like. Yes. Like I love that Yeah. love around. And I love what you say as well about how there's so much judgement sometimes around like, fashion being almost like a vanity. there's something that I've been thinking about a lot. Is that why is it that a lot of female creative outlet, for example, our hair, our makeup, clothes and nails, why, they, like, just charge, just like in vain? Yeah. Just because we wear our art, Yeah. know what I mean? And it's just like. do you know what is the hottest thing when guys wear nail polish and accessorise and get into their femininity like a man in pink? yeah. I think that's for me. Like I've got a bit of mask energy though. Yeah. like I love a guy like I've always got crushes on like fucking gay guys and drag queens. And I think it's because I love it when a guy is like, yeah, like in braces, who's famous for yeah, like that would be like overlap and match and it's like, yeah, but it's so rare to find like Dennis Rodman. Oh my god. Because he's still like Alpha in a wedding dress. Like, I actually don't. was like. In the 90s. He's a basketball player. Yeah. In And he was doing that in the 90s. the he was playing with Michael Jordan and it was him and Pippen. Those three them that were like really? Oh I think this is right for my best. Friend Yeah. So you can look really famous. Yeah. like really good basketball is in the one team. yeah, he he was like Dennis Rodman. He would just like shave his head. Died all different colours. He was a bit of both for me when I would do that with What a legend. Yeah. And then he would just wear female clothes all the time. And he was like, Madonna wanted him. He married Carmen Electra, like. Yeah. So Damn. So like that is like, yeah. And I have it like, I feel like my type is like bisexual Yeah. Yeah. There's so much power in it though I like it. A lot of the things about like he said about like the fashion industry and like the scene is fine, but it's just like, no, this is power. It's not vanity, it's power. maybe that's why like Oh, embracing our power, embracing our beauty. Oh my gosh. we're not meant to know we're hot you know Yeah. then we're hard to control. So that's another conversation. But That is out of the conversation. And I, you know. It's actually yeah. The older I get, the more I'm like. It's rare to find people who we've talked about this like genuinely happy for you like Yeah. Yeah yeah. But I also think like so in the fashion industry they can also be a lot of cattiness and they can be a lot of competition. And as someone that makes clothes and also does paintings, I'm like, there's f walls in this world for us all to feel. There are enough bodies in this world for us all to dress. If we all banded together and just told everyone how great it is to dress up and how like how much dope I mean you get from having art on your wall that brings you joy. There's no reason for us to compete against each other. Like there's literally more than enough people for us to sell our work to you. I just I can't really comprehend that trying to bring other people down, like when I, when everyone around me, we thing like if someone in your team or your friendship group is winning, you can learn from what they do, Yes. all have different perspectives Yeah. like you can all. Yeah, it's more like if you say it is a team mentality. Yes. And I when I get opportunities, if there's an opportunity for me in a conversation to uplift someone else, I will always throw in another name. I will always uplift. I just can't comprehend that. Like that's also maybe a barrier for people, for the fashion industry. Like it can be really scary. I studied fashion for six months. I dropped out because I moved to Europe, but I also I didn't feel like I belonged in that industry like I was. I only had my first fashion collection this year at 29 years old, because I was actually terrified of the fashion industry. Yeah, I don't even I don't follow the trends that are follow the catwalks. I will admire things that pop up on my feet and like, you know, always empower people. But like a little part of me that's from that world and I get it. that's so cool because I feel like you're going your own path would be paving the way for different people. exactly like you? Because I'm sure there's so many like. I surely. Yeah, yeah. I've realised recently that there's not many unique experiences like they're all quite universal experiences. Just like there's so many people that will experience what you've experienced in a different way or a different kind of for like, you know. Every lesson has like, and. Yeah. you can say from somebody from perspective, the same lesson Yeah. totally get. You think that. Yeah, that's interesting. What were you what were you thinking about? Done? Because I think, like if I've experienced something, surely thousands of other people have also experienced it. But in their version. You know, And like, I think that's the good thing about social media and stuff. Like you can look at social media both ways. to have blah blah. I've actually found it really good in lots of ways, because I found belonging. I found community at the end of the people in the world. We'd freak aliens out there who Yeah, make me, make us feel less alone. Like one of us. Yeah. Yeah. But yeah. And I think as well, like, you can now, in this day and age, you don't need to be part of a scene. You can literally create your own scene and a community can build around you, Oh yeah. that's another thing that's quite hard to do, is to put yourself out there and be there, you know, revealing your soul in its most vulnerable form. So It is. scary. But I think anyone who's seeking advice on that, so just do it. Yeah. Oh 100%. yourself. You're going to yeah yourself. It's going to be hard and scary and shit. But that's the path of an artist, I think. it is. And I actually very recently, maybe in like the last 48 hours have actually felt so much affirmation and empowerment from the context I'm moving. And I have been sharing a lot of my life, you know, online. And I've had so many people message me and be like, I've been following on your journey, like all of these people that I have just been showing up online, because I'm trying to educate and empower and build my brand, and I've just been doing it without really knowing or acknowledging if people are seeing me and if people are, you know, following on it and I think someone said it to me, it's because, you know, you realise how much you love someone when they die. And a lot of people are like, oh, am leaving too long. I realise how much I love her. And so I'm getting all these beautiful affirmations and it's like people are definitely there and definitely listening and watching and, they might just take one thing that you've said and that could change their perspective on something, and it's a really cool thing. I really do like that. Yeah. feel what you mean, because, yeah, sometimes I'll be posting things or whatever and like, no one replies, I don't care. do to do it just for me, and block out the noise. But sometimes I'll get a message from someone saying, hey, this really actually like resonated with me and helped me Yeah. whatever. And and I would be like, oh, I thought you didn't like me. Yeah I like. That. Yeah. really validating. My psyche actually told me because, like, I've had a problem or it's just presuming, like the world, I don't belong here, the world hates me kind and it's a lot of my mind putting my art out there has been an act of defiance. Like, I in your judge me and hate me, I'm going to do it anyway. Yeah. And then my sock was like, people don't even really think that much about you like that. Like what you should do is every time someone gives you, like a positive affirmation, like a message like that is to just like, screenshot it and put it in a folder. Yeah. anytime you feeling that way, you can go through it and be like, this Yeah, a meta story. Like, yeah, yeah. yeah. That's a really good thing to do. I've recently been writing little affirmations that I've gotten because there's so much imposter syndrome that comes with being a creative and someone that puts themselves out on line. And I've had so many moments where people have just like these little interactions where people like, oh, I love what you do, or lots, lots of different things. And I'm like, what? Really? Like I made that impact on you. It's cool. Hopefully we can make an impact on some people with these conversation. Yeah. Yeah. No, I think that's really cool. And I think that's like a good way to go about it when you're really just following the inspiration, the art Yeah. and not because you can so easily get caught up in trying to provide to other people what they want. Yeah. But something about that is just off centre, an off alignment. it feels a bit hollow. It's best way I can describe it, but learning to just like, really just be like, I'm going to do this regardless. You know? I think that's where the innovation comes. Yeah. comes. Yeah. And maybe we discussed like you and I, we like I feel like we know who we are, but we also worked pretty hard to get, and in the creative and sustainable realm, like, kind of combining them together. I don't want to encourage people to go in and say, I need to find out what my personality is. So I need to go by all of these things and try them all. Like I think if I were to if someone was at the beginning of their fashion journey and they was like, yeah, that industry is really scary. But I also want to express myself through clothing. I would say, go make Pinterest board, like find out what other people are wearing that resonate with you, and then go to the up shop. This is going to be so like 90s kind of me. But remember the movie Wild Child in that scene where, like, the four of them go to the vintage shop and they're like trying on all the things. Yes, yes. Like have a wild child moment. Go with your friends to the shop, go try lots of things on, experiment within the consciousness of like, I don't want to add to the consumption kind of trend, but I want to find out who I am. And like, okay, I look at some influencers you really love, see what things you like about that style to find out what works for your body too. And like you were saying before, those really simple sewing skills, I'll me, I'm going to make videos of how you can do those things. Little plug Literally like and you can get a sewing shein so cheaply nowadays they everywhere Yeah. Yeah. and then yeah just learning basic things like take this or Yeah. pin this like that. Actually you get a really great, really great YouTube or something, Yeah. And I think it's such a shame. No, one thing is that the options are getting expensive now. Like, you used to go there for 30 bucks and get like half a new wardrobe, and now it's like you're lucky to get four items with that. Yeah. what market. Is. Killing? Yeah, Belmont market. yeah. like a loose change market. So you can just get so much cheap for like $2 True. Yeah, yeah. People are just wanting to offload their stuff. Before they take it to the off shelves Yeah. like so highly recommend the Bella market. So. It's like someone selling like this yarn for like $10. And it's like, says Yeah. Yeah, you can dream. because I've been conflicted. I'm like. Whatever. But she in second hand, like, I don't want to because of the quality, but I'm like, there was one jump. I was like, that's actually really cool. And I was looking for something just like it, but I just don't know. Yeah, I mean, it's totally up to the individual. If it's something that you like, this is actually going to bring me a lot of joy to wear it. Absolutely. I, I think I just have like a personal vendetta against it. Like I physically recoil every time I see that logo. There was one time I bought it. And. Yeah. It's like some traumatic year. Yeah. I remember so vividly. It was like a year ago. I found this beautiful dress at the shop and I didn't even think about it. I just kind of grabbed it and I couldn't see anything on the back tag. I was like, oh, this is potentially handmade, potentially vintage. Didn't care just grabbed it off the rack, took it straight to the register. And then I got home and I found a little Shane's. I, like, tag on the inside, and I was like. And I gave it back to the up shop. I didn't want it in my possession to show you how like I totally respect that because I, I can't say I wouldn't be the same. does show you how your prejudice can seeping. We've just literally had a brand label because I think a lot of the thing as well is that a lot of people like shops in Australia, like small businesses, sometimes just import basically the same shit. And then just sell it with their label There was one place in Melbourne, I'm not going to say the name of the business because I'm never not that person. But there was one shop as a teenager I loved it and then realised that all of this stuff was on chain and I was like that and I was like, they were near Hosier Lane, like that really amazing part of Melbourne, the boutique part. It's like I might have some small businesses, but then they were also selling these beautiful dresses that you could get on chain for like $10 for, like, and they were selling for like 150. And I was like, that's horrible. I think series. Because obviously with the rise of tamer and stuff, I think people are realising that like they can skip the middleman and go straight to this employer Yeah. fraction of the price. I think that's going to do a couple things for Australia. I think a lot of small businesses are going to shut down because of that. But then at the same time, I'm a bit like, well, maybe you shouldn't be charging $150 for like a $10 Yeah. know, you can't really blame people for that. Yeah. actually think it might be a great time for designers because that's something you can't get on Shan or Yeah. Timaru. So like you can charge kind of whatever you want. Yeah. like. Yeah, The other thing with Shane and Team Me that we have not discussed is the fact that they do steal from designers like That I have seen that and that Yeah. That's one thing I could never do. Yeah. I've never buy something like that. Yeah. Like knowingly, even if it even it, the brand is like $2,000 and I can't afford that. This is no excuse. It's honestly disgusting. Like that is like yeah, I agree, I wouldn't necessarily judge another person for wearing it, but it's also kind of like you're not just it's not just about price, like you're stealing someone's art. Yeah, Yeah, I don't know, something about that is like really bad. Yeah, yeah, Yeah. I feel so sorry for all of the graphic designers that come up with these beautiful prints and then see them on TV watching it. It will be very disheartening. I think that I am maybe safe from it because I make so much patchwork stuff. What? I just jinxed myself that, I like if that happened to me part of me would be like you know what, take it because I've got unlimited ideas Yeah. That's flattering. Now I know I'm leading the way. So Yeah, true. like try to see it. But it would be when someone disrespects you like that, like, you know, you can't just, you know, shift your mindset. I think that that hurt, that hurt. But like, you know, I would that's how I would try and am. you have any of the stuff stolen from you, trying to say it is like you're laid in the way, Yeah. they can't, they can't tap into what you can tapping. Yeah. K, trust in that. Maybe I don't know. Oh 100%. There's also the other thing of like I feel really scared of get scammed shopping on one of these websites. They feel scammy. I tried to buy something. Yeah. couldn't. It was like shout front really even find what I wanted anywhere else. I couldn't get past the fucking spinning wheel best. I tried my fucking best for like 45 minutes. I'm going through all this shit. I just let me buy the shelf, like. And, yeah, that's what feels scary to me. Okay. Yeah. yeah. And, they know what they're doing though. I feel like they're mixing almost like, gambling or online gaming with shopping Yeah. hits and stuff, which is quite smart. But, That's what social media does too. Like there is cooperation. They know what they're doing and they really know what they're doing. Yeah. Which is interesting. Yeah. Is there anything else you want to touch on this question? I think so I think we've touched on quite a how are we doing for you? actually glad that we touched on just fashion in general as well. Yeah. some of our philosophies behind style and things like that. And like the why we do what we do because confidence is the biggest thing, to be honest for me. What about you. In terms of. Fashion? honestly, nothing. Really is ready for me to wear something that scares me. Yeah, but. then I just weigh more to see. When I'm home alone, I notice, like, oh, we wear it like a backwards t shirt with a tiara. And I'll be like, oh, I better change before I go to the shop. I'm like, why am I scared? But like, I think in general like that. Yeah. Exactly. I think where it's like crazy. And you said shopping it is I, I would be more mortified to be seen in public in like, trackies and like, beats like that is my literal nightmare. I don't even own a boots like I. I couldn't, I could not. Trade. I was like, we I thought. Yeah, they're cool ones I'm selling them in Crime Village and someone was like, what are you talking about? This is. No, I was on the. Slopes and I was saying like. Oh, it's like a, like a hoodie the the house. And she was like, this is crazy. What are you talking about? In the house is like the. Do you know what love? Did you long, like, honestly, no shade. But I'm moving to Berlin. And the day that I decided to move to Berlin, I was driving back through the CBD and I saw someone wearing a hoodie. And in the next corner, I saw a guy just wearing, like, shorts, no shoes, no shit. And I was like. Okay, out of here. Like, sometimes this. The problem with Geelong is that, like, I wear something crazy down the street. You're going to get some double glances. like, sometimes I would love to go to somewhere like New York and just be anonymous, Yes. be inspired by what the by what they're wearing, Oh, 100% like. Yeah. It is hard to, I feel. It. Is a. Oh, yeah. You push guys out of the box a bit. Yeah. I have a, not an immediate family member, but like a family member that she has told me very aggressively that I'm not normal. And people that are normal type where things like what I wear. And the first time she said it, I was really upset. I was like, I was hurt. And then the second time she said it, I was like, do you know what? It's okay because I wouldn't have what you are either. Yeah, that's the thing. Sometimes you just like, do you have to oh, they live in a lockdown. Yeah, I achieve my dreams. Yeah. Something I would wear. Yeah. I have to think like. Exactly. It's all about self-expression. Yeah. And yeah. Like when you, you know express yourself, you give other people permission to do the same yeah. Yeah like. Yeah. And if more people did that what a beautiful world. You know if we were everyone was just barely and publicly whole time. Yeah. just I just can't even imagine how much more exciting it would be to Yeah. Like, yeah, I remember future I'm, I when I was growing up, they were all so cool. And they all have these individual personalities and styles like, let's hope that future actually is a bit of the future. That. I reckon if we, if all of us designers just like, get together, we're like, hey guys, this is really cool. Jump on, jump on this. And that would be maybe game changer. it. Depends on the state of safety in the world, dad about this recently. And we think we talk about how I think about the fashion from like the 50s. Never say think about the fashion from the 20s. if I say, what do you think about the fashion the 30s and the 40s? Nothing really specific comes to mind because was a war during that time. Like frame. What is symbolic is. Like, yeah. It's because when you go into something like that, you don't have the freedom to express yourself creatively, right? Yeah. And so I think in terms of the future, what I'm really interested to see is like, if we can have a shift in consciousness Yeah. and like, you know, have more safety because we're getting along more and things like that, Yeah. that it could be really, really great. And we have more self-expression. It just explodes and keeps accelerating. Yeah. Or if we go the other way, see it reduce. Maybe the. Yeah. I feel like. How do you and your podcast. never know how to end. On a know how I'm going to end them on my personal Yeah. I'm going to be like please subscribe if you say because the children need me. Yeah. Which is like a joke. How have we ever now but now in a two person one, I don't know, I'd be like. Thanks for coming Yeah. How do you how do people find you? That's a great way to end, I Oh, yeah. Kimmy Pelly design. Am I p ally? I did a little story the other day being, like. What makes audio storytelling? I think you. Yeah, there's a lot to say on TikTok and Instagram. You can email me Emily at Amy Pelly Design. Yeah. services you offer. Well, you're about to move. Sorry. Yeah. Well, I, I'm I'm a multi-disciplinary creative. I will work on commissions. I work on projects whole educate. I'm. I like to do all of the things. I don't like to do the same thing for too long because I get a bit bored. I like to change it up all the time. So, Yeah. Cool. I resonate with that. Yeah. I guess if anybody buys, if you can just like give me followers and. Hit you up, I feel cold and. contact me through any of social medias soon, I'll have some, looking after my, like my socials. So I actually get all the messages. Yeah, but right now I do still check them. They still message me. Yeah. it up. So thanks for tuning in. Okay.