Where Does It Come From? How our ’stuff’ impacts people and planet

Episode 41 Bringing Natural Dyes to the Mainstream with Amber Fry and Hamza Zaidi

🎧 Where Does It Come From? Podcast: Exploring Natural Dyes with Amber Fry and Hamza Zaidi! 🎧

In this episode, Jo Salter—your host and founder of the sustainable fashion social enterprise Where Does It Come From?—is joined by two experts in the world of natural dyes, Amber Fry and Hamza Zaidi, for a fascinating discussion on the growing movement to return to nature for our colours and fabrics.

Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:

🌿 What are natural dyes? – We’ll break down the history and importance of using dyes derived from plants, minerals, and other natural sources. These dyes have been used for centuries to create stunning, vibrant colours—without the harmful chemicals that synthetic dyes introduce into our environment.

🎨 How are natural dyes made and used? – Amber Fry, a designer, natural dyer, and eco-innovator, shares insights from her work cultivating a natural dye, food, and fibre garden on her Kent allotment. She discusses how she draws inspiration from nature each year to create sustainable plant-based dyes and consults for industries looking to reduce their environmental footprint. 

🌍 Natural dyes in industry – Hamza Zaidi represents AMA Herbal, the global leader in manufacturing eco-friendly, extract-based natural dyes for the textile industry. Since 1996, AMA Herbal has been pioneering environmentally sound dyeing solutions with their motto: "Colouring the world naturally". Hamza will take us through the research and development journey that has made AMA Herbal the go-to supplier for businesses looking to shift towards sustainable practices, and how their products promote a healthier planet.

🛠️ How can businesses and individuals start using natural dyes? – We’ll discuss practical steps that both companies and individuals can take to incorporate natural dyes into their operations and everyday lives. This is a crucial conversation for those who are passionate about ethical fashion and environmental responsibility. If you're interested in reducing your impact on the planet through more conscious consumer choices, this episode is packed with valuable tips and insights.

Join us for a deep dive into the vibrant world of natural dyes, and learn how we can all make a difference through thoughtful, planet-first design!

🎥 Watch the full video of this episode on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

👉 Follow our guests:

• Amber Fry on Instagram: @amberfrycreative
• AMA Herbal at www.amaherbal.com

👉 Stay updated with Where Does It Come From? at https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk 

• Visit us on YouTube

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#NaturalDyes #SustainableFashion #EthicalFashion #PlantBasedDyes #EcoFriendlyTextiles #AmberFry #AMAHerbal #WhereDoesItComeFrom #EcoInnovation #CircularEconomy #ConsciousConsumer #ZeroWasteFashion #SustainableLiving

Episode 40 Haircare that's Kind2 You AND the Planet - with Sue Campbell

Welcome to episode 40 of the Where Does It Come From? podcast.

 

In this episode your host, Jo Salter, founder of ethical clothing social enterprise Where Does It Come From? chats with Sue Campbell.  Sue is the founder of Kind2, creating haircare that brings you great hair with zero plastic.  Your dog can also benefit - there's a doggy shampoo bar available too!

 

Kind2 creates multi-award winning, high performing solid shampoo and conditioner bars.  The bars are formulated with premium plant based ingredients for shiny, healthy hair.  They're also vegan, palm free and pH balanced making use of natural fragrances and colours.

 

You can try Kind2 for yourself with the code WHERE15 https://kind2.me/discount/WHERE15 for a 15% discount on bars and sets (not applicable to subscriptions).

 

Links from this episode:

 

https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

https://kind2.me/blogs/kind2/shampoo-is-80-water

https://kind2.me/blogs/kind2/is-there-silicone-in-your-shampoo

https://kind2.me/blogs/kind2/palm-oil-in-shampoo

 

Please like and rate the Where Does It Come From? podcast on your favourite platform - this will help us reach more people and spread the word! 

 

#plasticfree #haircare #ethicalhair #dogshampoo #palmoilfree #vegan #planetfriendly #podcast #sustainable 

Episode 39 - The Nettle Dress with Allan Brown (part 2)

'The Nettle Dress' is a film documenting 7 years of Allan Brown's journey foraging for nettles, designing, spinning, weaving and finally sewing a dress made entirely of nettles.

 

The film has been released widely in the UK and beyond during 2023 to awards and positive reviews, including:

 

'An exquisite, inspiring film' Sir Mark Rylance

'One of the best cinema surprises of 2023' Film Review Daily

'Lyrical and moving, like a fairytale' Wendy Ide, The Guardian

 

In this episode your podcast host Jo Salter, founder of ethical clothing enterprise Where Does It Come From?, chats with Allan about his journey creating the nettle dress, documenting his story through his friend and film maker Dylan Howitt, and his thoughts on the way the film has been received.

 

This episode is the second part of a two part discussion with Allan.  You can listen to the first half of the discussion in episode 38 'Grow your own clothes with Allan Brown'.

 

Links:

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

The Nettle Dress Film - https://linktr.ee/nettledressfilm

Allan Brown on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hedgerow.couture/

#thenettledress #nettledress #forage #ethicalfashion #regenerativefashion #localfibre #nettle #moviestar #movie #sustainablefashion #community 

Episode 38 - Grow Your Own Clothes with Allan Brown (part 1)

Welcome to episode 38 of the Where Does It Come From? Podcast. I’m Jo Salter, your podcast host, and founder of ethical clothing brand Where Does It Come From?

In this episode I'm chatting with Allan Brown, a local and natural fibre enthusiast based in Brighton, and star of the film 'The Nettle Dress' which has been showing in cinemas around the UK and beyond.

Join me in this the first half of our two-part dialogue as we explore Allan's journey from artist to crafter as he discovered the power of growing and harvesting different fibres as well as dyes, and food from the earth itself.

Follow Allan's story in local fabric production, from the soil to the skills of artisanal craftsmanship, encompassing the entire lifecycle of fabric creation, from cultivation and harvest to weaving and dyeing.

In this episode, Allan shares his thoughts and experiences, shedding light on the interconnections between land, labour, and legacy. His journey serves as a testament to the boundless potential of regenerative practices in fostering resilience and abundance within our communities.

The second half of our conversation, in which we explore the creation of the Nettle Dress and the film of the same name, will be shared in the next episode.

Links:

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

The Nettle Dress Film - https://linktr.ee/nettledressfilm

Allan Brown on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hedgerow.couture/

 

#nettledress #localfibres #flax #hemp #wool #nettle #allotment #growyourown #thepowerofsoil #localproduction #nettlefabric

Episode 37 Creating the UK's first 100% recycled sock brand - Socko with Emma Mathews

Welcome to the latest episode of the Where Does It Come From? podcast! In this episode, your host Jo Salter, founder of the ethical textiles brand Where Does It Come From?, sits down with Emma Mathews, the pioneering mind behind Socko, the UK's first 100% recycled sock brand.

Join Jo and Emma as they embark on a fascinating journey into the world of sustainable  entrepreneurship and textiles. Learn about Emma's innovative approach to creating socks from recycled materials, and the challenges and triumphs she encountered along the way.

Discover the inspiration behind Socko's mission to reduce waste and promote environmental sustainability in the fashion industry - not only through socks but also through running repair workshops and supplying darning materials with each pair of socks. Gain valuable insights into the process of building a brand that prioritizes ethics and sustainability without compromising on style or quality.

Don't miss this engaging conversation that explores the intersection of fashion, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. 

Links:

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

Socko - https://www.socko.shop

 

Episode 36 Delivering Regenerative Textiles for Business with Vanessa Barker

Join host Jo Salter on this enlightening episode of "Where Does It Come From?" as she sits down with Vanessa Barker, founder of Papillon Bleu, to explore the fascinating world of regenerative textiles. Vanessa shares her journey into sustainable fashion and the mission behind Papillon Bleu—a platform dedicated to promoting regenerative textiles and ethical fashion practices.

Discover the meaning of regenerative textiles and why they're crucial for transforming the fashion industry's environmental impact.  Listen in to ethical textiles pioneer Vanessa as she shares her journey from creating clothes at her kitchen table to running a business providing ethical textiles to business clients.

 

Links:

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

Papillon Bleu - https://www.papillonbleu.com

Raddis Cotton - https://www.raddiscotton.com

 

 

Episode 35 - Balancing Acts: Navigating CSR, PR and Greenwashing with Sangeeta Waldron

In this episode of the Where Does It Come From? podcast, your host Jo Salter, founder of ethical textiles brand Where Does It Come From?, engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Sangeeta Waldron, an accomplished and multi-award-winning Public Relations professional. Jo, recently shortlisted as a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, brings well over a decade of experience running her own business dedicated to transparency, ethics, and sustainability.

Join Jo and Sangeeta as they dive into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Public Relations (PR), exploring the delicate balance between authenticity and perception. Sangeeta, named in Commetric’s Top 100 of the PR Influencer Index, shares insights from her extensive career, working with diverse organisations and sectors to strengthen their brands through strategic CSR and sustainability initiatives.

Learn about Sangeeta's impactful contributions, from being a contributing global editor for the India CSR Network to her role as a board member for Together UK Foundation. Delve into her latest book, Corporate Social Responsibility Is Not Public Relations, which challenges conventional notions and earned her a spot as a Business Book Awards finalist in 2022.

🔊 Tune in for an enlightening conversation that transcends the realms of CSR and PR, offering valuable insights for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone passionate about creating positive change in the world.

Links: 

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

Serendipidy PR - https://www.serendipidypr.co.uk

 

#greenwashing #publicrelations #csr #sustainability #responsiblebusiness #responsiblegovernment

 

Episode 34 - Co-creating a Brand - Sanja Stories Regenerative Denim Jeans

Welcome back to the Where Does It Come From? podcast after our summer break. In this special episode, we're diving into an exciting project that brings together five passionate individuals to create something truly unique – Sanja Stories, a regenerative jeans brand.

Over the past year, as part of the Ecosystem Incubator, we've poured our time, energy, expertise, and creativity into crafting Sanja Stories' regenerative denim jeans. These aren't just any jeans; they're designed to transcend size, age, and gender, with adjustability at their core. No harmful chemicals, dyes, or prints here – just raw, organic cotton grown from indigenous seeds.

But here's where it gets really interesting. When you join our community and embrace the stories behind your jeans, you get to personalize them. We're talking natural dye workshops, print workshops, and patches – all to help you create a unique, personalized narrative with your jeans. These stories grow with each wearer, evolving and adapting as they're passed on, again and again, until one day, the jeans naturally return to the earth, leaving no harm to the soil or air.

In this podcast episode, you'll hear from the core Sanja Stories co-creation team, including:

• Jo Salter – Your podcast host, Founder/CEO of Where Does It Come From?, and Director of Khadi London.
• Rachel Sheila Kan – Founder of the Ecosystem Incubator, Circular Earth, and a Writer and Teacher.
• Kishore Shah – Founder of Khadi London, Social Change Activist, Writer, and Consultant.
• Abhishek Jain – Founder of Mishika Crafts, a textiles social enterprise in Jaipur, India, and a member of the Khadi London team.
• Claudia Coveyduck – A Garment technologist with two decades of experience in the industry and founder of the Sample Studio.

Special thanks go out to Jo Burston for her original 3D rendering of the Sanja Stories jeans and to Fonny Bunjamin for helping us envision the exciting 3D possibilities that will support Sanja Stories users in their customization journey.

For more details, visit our website at sanjastories.com and follow us on social media @sanjastoriesdenim.

Explore the links below to learn more about our collaborators:

• Where Does It Come From?
• Ecosystem Incubator
• Khadi London
• Sample Studio
• Circular Earth

Join us in this journey of sustainable fashion and regenerative denim with Sanja Stories. Together, we're weaving a tapestry of organic, circular, and timeless stories. #organicjeans #regenerativedenim #sanjastories #circular #sustainablefashion #podcast

Episode 33 - From Paddles to Poop: A Kayaker’s Climate Change Journey around Greenland - with Mike Keen

Welcome to the Where Does It Come From? Podcast, hosted by Jo Salter, founder of Where Does It Come From? – a social enterprise dedicated to kind clothes that tell tales. Where Does It Come From? believes in the power of transparency and ethical sourcing, ensuring that every garment has a unique story behind it, connecting consumers with the people and processes involved in its creation.

In this episode, Jo sits down with Mike Keen, an adventurous chef, kayaker, and explorer, who is currently embarking on an extraordinary journey. Mike's mission? Kayaking an astounding 3000km from the southern to the northern tip of Greenland, all in the name of raising awareness about climate change.

But Mike's journey goes beyond the physical challenge. He is actively participating in scientific experiments that involve collecting marine animal feces to study microplastics. Additionally, he's exploring the impact of a traditional Greenlandic diet on his own gut health. Along the way, Mike is supporting two charities through generous donations.

This episode delves into the motivations behind Mike's daring expedition, the challenges he faces, and the important discoveries he has made so far. From the breathtaking landscapes of Greenland to the urgent need for action on climate change, Jo and Mike engage in a thought-provoking conversation that inspires listeners to reflect on the state of our planet.

Furthermore, Mike is generously sponsored by a range of organizations, and he expresses his gratitude for their support. He also extends an invitation to adventure companies to consider joining as a key sponsor, furthering the impact of his journey.

Join Jo Salter, founder of Where Does It Come From?, and Mike Keen on this remarkable episode of the Where Does It Come From? Podcast, as they shed light on climate change, microplastics, gut health, and the power of adventure in making a difference.

 

Links:  

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

Mike Keen - https://mikekeen.co

Mike Keen on Instagram - https://www.instragram.com/mikekeencooks

Contribute to Mike's charity fundraiser - https://www.mightycause.com/story/Mikekayak

Mike's sponsors - https://www.mikekeen.co/#Greenland-Expedition

You can also watch the video of this podcast (with stunning Greenlandic views!) on our Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUXM5kflEMW4uvrw3YcXjTg

 

#ClimateChangeAwareness

#KayakingAdventure

#GreenlandExpedition

#MicroplasticsResearch

#GutHealth

#SustainabilityJourney

#AdventureForACause

#EthicalExploration

#TransparencyMatters

#KindClothes

#EnvironmentalAction

#RaiseAwareness

#OutdoorExploration

#AdventureSponsorship

#MakingADifference

Episode 32 - A Dive Into Doughnut Economics With Erinch Sahan

Welcome to the Where Does It Come From? podcast where podcast host and social enterprise founder Jo Salter chats with a wide range of guests who are focused on creating positive change.  Jo founded ethical clothing business Where Does It Come From? in 2013 to create kind clothes that tell tales.  She is also a director of Khadi London, a regenerative textiles knowledge hub.

In this episode we are discussing economic models and specifically Doughnut Economics.  It's now recognised widely that economic models that focus on continual growth without considering needs of society or the environment are insufficient.  The Doughnut Economics model, created by Professor Kate Raworth, is a visual framework for development within these planetary and social boundaries.  It is now being adopted as a more '21st Century' approach to development.

In this episode of the Where Does It Come From? podcast host Jo Salter talks with Erinch Sahan, the business and enterprise lead at Doughnut Economics Action Lab. Previously, he was the chief executive of the World Fair Trade Organization and has spent 7 years at Oxfam working in campaigns and programmes. Erinch has also worked at Procter & Gamble as a market strategy manager, established a furniture business and worked for Australia's aid programme. Erinch is a board member of the Social Enterprise World Forum, a fellow at the Post Growth Institute and teaches sustainable value chains at Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. He holds degrees in finance and law, and an honorary doctorate from Oxford Brookes University.

Please do rate and follow this podcast on your preferred platform and share this episode with your friends, this all helps us reach more people!  Thank you.

 

Links:

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) - https://doughnuteconomics.org/

#doughnuteconomics #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #podcast #economics #21stcenturyeconomics #sustainabledevelopment #regenerativesystems #climateemergency #climatecrisis #ethicalbusiness #socialenterprise #fairtrade