We’re just over two months since launching Sustainably, Yours: Conversations on creating sustainable homes and wardrobes for the imperfect consumer. At the onset of this project, my co-host Cailey and I questioned whether we could persuade anyone to donate their time to join our podcast. However, as we’ve reached out to our “dream” guests, they have consistently responded with an enthusiastic yes. In the six interviews we’ve conducted with experts, we have found our frustrations regarding the lack of resources for making sustainable design choices echoed in our guests’ responses. Repeatedly, our guests shed light on the environmental impact of various industries, emphasizing the considerable time, research, and dedication required to select products that mitigate these impacts. Cailey and I hope these interviews make that work a bit easier for you.
In the past month, we talked with Columbia University professor Diana Trushell, who decoded some common sustainability buzzwords and revealed corporate greenwashing tactics. Next, we interviewed Kat Dey, President and Co-founder of sustainable bedding company Ettitude on the impact of the textile industry and how their innovative bamboo technology takes a different approach. Lastly, Cailey and I grabbed some coffee and settled in for a chat about defining your style in order to make longer lasting purchases. With over 4.2 thousand impressions on Spotify, it seems these topics are resonating with others. What should we tackle next? We’d love to hear from you at sustainablyyourspodcast@gmail.com or on our Instagram @sustainablyyourspod.
Ep. 3: Decoding Sustainability Buzzwords with Columbia Professor Diana Trushell
In this episode, our esteemed guest architect and professor Diana Trushel brings a rich background in both design and academia. As an assistant professor at Parsons and lecturer at Columbia University, Diana’s work has been featured in notable publications like Architectural Record and The Wall Street Journal. Her approach to sustainability is data-driven, focusing on how buildings, businesses, and communities can incorporate sustainable practices.
During our conversation, Diana enlightens us on how to discern authentic sustainability initiatives from marketing tactics. If you see a company claiming “circular” practices with no real evidence to back it up, “Immediately no,” Diana says. The full episode includes definitions for terms like “circular,” as well as Diana’s tips on how to tell if a company is truly practicing what they preach.
She emphasizes the importance of value and intentionality in both our personal style and interior design choices. By identifying what we truly value, we can make more sustainable decisions that lead to longer-lasting purchases and less consumption.
Diana also highlights the influence of fossil fuel interests on recycling efforts, especially for plastics. Derived from petrochemicals, plastic provides a diversified income stream for the fossil fuel industry as the world increasingly transitions to renewable energy sources. Because of this – goods created from recycled plastic aren’t always as sustainable as they seem. Diana emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between “post-consumer” plastic and plastic that was never used. If a company doesn’t specify “post-consumer,” the recycled plastic might come from unused bottles rather than actual waste.
Ep. 4: Sleeping Soundly: Sustainable Bedding with Ettitude
Kat Day, the co-founder and president of the sustainable bedding company Ettitude, shed light on the detrimental impact of the textile industry, which stands as the second largest polluter after oil. She emphasized the industry’s significant consumption of freshwater, as well as its contribution to CO2 emissions and landfill waste. Moreover, Kat pointed out the release of microplastics from synthetic fabrics in the washing machine and the ethical concerns surrounding labor practices.
Focusing on cotton, Kat underscored that it is considered the dirtiest plant due to its heavy reliance on pesticides. Despite cotton being a natural fiber, it is associated with human rights violations including child labor. While natural fibers like cotton are biodegradable and renewable, they still require extensive land and water resources for production. This complexity underscores that natural does not always equate to problem-free.
Ettitude uses bamboo as their fabric feedstock for several compelling benefits. First, it grows rapidly—up to three feet per day. Second, bamboo requires few or no pesticides and fertilizers, making it an environmentally-friendly choice. Third, bamboo has a high potential for carbon sequestration due to the speed at which it grows.
Ettitude has developed a proprietary technology called Clean Bamboo, which utilizes a Lyocell method to transform bamboo into fiber without the use of toxic chemicals. This results in a fabric that is not only more durable but also offers enhanced cooling and breathability compared to traditional bamboo fabrics.
Ep. 5: Defining your Style with JG & Cailey
In our latest episode of Sustainably Yours, we unpack the intricate relationship between defining personal style and making sustainable lifestyle choices. By understanding our preferences, we can make more intentional purchases, reducing the impulse to follow fleeting trends.
For this episode, I dust off my journalism skills to interview Cailey about how she leads her interior design clients to understand their home decor style based on their wardrobe. I offer myself up as an example. I’ve always felt torn between mid-century modern and traditional aesthetics. Cailey explains that truly timeless style combines your favorite elements from multiple eras, and provides some tips on how to meld the two styles together. She shares some tips on how to investigate your tastes, finding the themes that become your defining style pillars.
Cailey also shares tips on how to create vision boards filled with items similar to those you own in order to get new insight on styling your items. She also outlines a trick for using the Notes app on iPhones for building outfits. By taking a quick photo of an outfit you love and using the iPhone’s feature to copy just your silhouette, you can paste it into the Notes app. This creates a visual outfit diary, making it easier to recreate favorite looks without the need to buy new items.
Julia-Grace and Cailey met at a mutual friend’s wedding and quickly bonded over their shared love for interior design and a desire to make sustainable style accessible, rather than a luxury. As the owner and principal designer of an interior design studio in addition to a degree in fashion merchandising, Cailey brings the industry know-how of the style space. With a masters in environmental science and policy (and a proud resident of Enumclaw), Julia-Grace works as a sustainability consultant while pursuing her love for design through DIY home renovations. As co-hosts, they bring the worlds of design and sustainability together to explore style with purpose.
Keep up with Sustainably, Yours: Follow the podcast on Spotify by searching Sustainably, Yours and on Instagram @sustainablyyourspod.
