CONSCIOUS CONVERSATION

WORDS Kia Dirkson PHOTOS Supplied

A conscious conversation has been a long time coming in the world of fashion and loyal locals, Ballantynes, are helping to pave the way. At the centre of this conversation is sustainability. It is essential to understand that the decisions we make when shopping have a more significant impact than the price we pay at the till.

Ballantynes hosted a powerful panel of entrepreneurs and female founders: Juliette Hogan, Brianne West of Ethique, Emma Wallace of Kowtow, and Maggie Marilyn. These four are some of New Zealand’s top designers and businesswomen who are at the forefront of changing the way we look at brands. This inspiring quartet encourages progress, not perfection and actively seek engaging opportunities like this to discuss, encourage, and teach about sustainable practices within the fashion and beauty world.

The discussion was guided confidently by Ballantynes’ own buying manager Megan McKee and Vanessa MacRae, the marketing manager.

The vegan fare was on offer to a host of guests that included some of Christchurch’s most stylish folk who have a keen interest in understanding how we stay true to a sustainability stance in today’s modern world of fast fashion.

Kowtow managing director Emma Wallace says having a long-established relationship with Fairtrade and creating a deep devotion to advocating for better trading conditions is what set the brand apart in its early days. Founded in 2006 by Gosia Piatek, Kowtow is a label committed to creating positive change. The brand makes a conscious decision to only use renewable and sustainable fibres as well as employing ethical manufacturing – as guided by their mantra of preserving the planet and protecting the people that inhabit it.

Brianne West is the brains behind Ethique, and as one of the finalists for NZ Young Entrepreneur of the year in 2019, she serves as the voice for global beauty awareness. She devotes her brand to the science behind the products we use and packs her products with only the necessary ingredients and a strict no packaging policy. Having established Ethique over eight years ago, she encourages the knowledge-hungry new generation to seek out the realities of the products we use. Damage Control Shampoo Bar, her first product, is still a best-seller today.

Maggie Marilyn represents the younger generation as they strive to be more conscious about their shopping choices. She hails from Kerikeri, and her small-town roots have given her the fortitude to maintain manufacturing right here in Aotearoa; thanks to which she keeps a direct relationship with everyone in her supply chain. Launching her brand straight out of design school, the famed Net-a-Porter picked up her line and established it as the first New Zealand company sold through the online retailer.

Juliette Hogan finished her design studies at Parsons in New York City and moved on to establish her eponymous brand in 2004. It sits today as one of New Zealand’s most successful boutique designers – creating timeless, everyday luxury pieces. The hugely talented Louise Cuckow oversees Hogan’s unique designs which use the likes of recycled wool coating and end-of-line fabrics which would typically fall to the cutting room floor. As an active member of MindfulNZ, which promotes long-term sustainable growth through responsible business practises, Juliette believes, “In this day and age, sustainability is just common sense. We can’t afford to behave any other way.”