Ashlee Uren (BA, LLB)
I have been writing on issues of sustainability and ethical fashion since 2013. As a practising lawyer specialising in international trade, investment, environment and human rights, I bring a deep, real-world understanding of the legal, business and governance frameworks that regulate global supply chains and environmental practices. I combine my technical legal training with a strong interest in social justice and over five years of experience of working in the not-for-profit sector at Global Citizen and the World Health Organization to offer pragmatic solutions and analyses on how governments, corporations and individuals can engage with global challenges. You can also find me contributing at Good On You.
My personal journey into a more sustainable lifestyle began in 2012. I was on a fast fashion treadmill but never felt particularly fulfilled or stylished. I prioritised quantity over quality and had countless items, yet constantly felt that I didn’t have anything to wear.
Separately, I was working for the anti-poverty not-for-profit organisation Global Citizen and was being confronted by the cold, hard truth that my purchasing practices were harming the very same vulnerable poverty-affected people I was purporting to help through my career. I knew something had to change if I was going to live a life that was consistent with my values and so, very reluctantly, I started to shop ethically.
Not too long after, I developed a passionate love for ethical fashion with the realisation that buying from companies that help, not hinder, the progress of the people that make their products is one of the easiest – and most stylish – ways to do good in everyday life. There was also a bunch of unexpected benefits from shopping more slowly, ethically and consciously. Trying to live an ethical lifestyle has brought so much joy and contentment into my life – not to mention a much stronger sense of personal style.
My relationship to sustainability has evolved over time. While my initial motivation for shopping ethically was labour issues and ethical production, I soon also became concerned with the environmental impact of consumption. This led to a growing interest in low waste, and, relatedly, buying less (or as the Sustainable Development Goals refers to it, ‘responsible consumption’). Simultaneously, the growth of the ethical fashion and lifestyle industry since 2013 has been incredibly exciting but comes with its own set of challenges, not limited to greenwashing. I’m continuing to explore these issues to find answers that resonate with me personally – and sharing them in the hope that you find something useful too.
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