That second-hand fake fleece full zipper jacket I picked up for $5 at a PTA thrift store is me being ethically and ecologically responsible, right?
It's used, so I didn't add to demand for new ones. It's synthetic, so no animals were harmed in its manufacture. And it was cheap, so I didn't need to go out and exploit the proletariat to earn gobs of money to afford it.
Well, there's still a not-so-teeny problem. One that today's guest explains with great clarity, urgency, inspiration, and love.
Jeff Scult is founder and CEO of One Golden Thread, a regenerative clothing company seeking to improve the fashion industry, contribute to restoring planetary health and harmony, and inspire the wearers and beholders of its garb to remember that we are precious, worthy, and wonderful beings.
Our conversation began by examining the harms “fast fashion” is doing to our world. For example, how many new pieces of clothing do you estimate are manufactured every year? Take a moment and say a number. I'll wait.
Now, was your number higher or lower than 60 billion? That's right — every 12 months, the fashion industry makes over 7 new articles of clothing for every human being on the planet.
What percentage of those items will we dispose of within 18 months, either into a landfill or an incinerator?
You'd better be sitting down for this one.
87% of those new clothes will be trash or ash within a year and a half.
That fake fleece I bought? I've had it for about a decade and a half, so I'm not responsible for any problems, right?
Well, not so fast. According to Jeff, about 97% of new clothes contain polyester, which is actually a plastic material derived from petroleum. And when polyester breaks down, it ends up as microplastic.
38% of the microplastics in the sea come from polyester clothing. Fish eat the plastic. We eat the fish. And just like that, we're part plastic ourselves. And there's no universe in which those materials do anything other than cause shit for our biology.
And here's the thing about my 15 year old jacket. Every time I wear it, it's sloughing off plastic into the air and soil. Every time I wash it, even more microplastics end up in the water supply.
And eventually it all leaches into the ocean, where it toxifies marine life and threatens the entire web of life.
Jeff and I then turned our attention to how One Golden Thread is turning the fashion industry on its head. I admit to being pretty jaded about commercial solutions to ecological and spiritual problems, but Jeff quickly turned me into a raving fan.
A fan of his vision of clothing that returns to the earth.
A fan of the idea that we own many fewer pieces of higher quality clothing.
A fan of his design esthetic.
And a fan of the “Humanifesto” that informs every aspect of the business, from planting 108 trees for every tree they harvest to make their clothes, to paying not just a living wage, but a “benevolent wage” to the employees who make the clothes.
I hope you'll be as moved and excited by Jeff's spirit as I've been. If you have the means to spearhead the fashion revolution and purchase an item or two from their online store or their Los Angeles or Miami locations, you can use this link to save yourself 11% and support this podcast through the affiliate commission Jeff will donate to the show.
Links
The Century of the Self documentary
Biet Simkin – meditation teacher
Looking for Transformational Change?
You know how when you discovered plant-based eating, you basically went, “Holy shit, how come the entire healthcare system isn't totally embracing this as one of the most powerful keys to disease prevention and reversal!”?
That's how I feel now about a psychological approach to transformational change called “Memory Reconsolidation.” Few psychologists have heard about it, and when they do hear the radical transformations it can bring about in a very short time, they're often skeptical to the point of disbelief.
But I've added Memory Reconsolidation work to my own coaching, and can attest to its amazing efficacy. So much so, that I'm devoting the next year to mastering it, studying with the best clinicians and teachers in the world, and then introducing it into health coaching through my trainings.
Right now, I want to triple my coaching practice to get more and more opportunities to do this work. And I'm lowering my fees – a lot – to make it easier for people to work with me.
If you're interested in working with me (and willing to commit to a minimum of 2 months), click the link below to open the form in a new browser tab and I'll get back to you within 3 business days.
Yes, I'm interested in Memory Reconsolidation Coaching.
You CAN Change Other People!
Well, that's what Peter Bregman and I claim in our provocative book of that title.
What we really mean is, you can help the people around you make behavioral changes in their own best interests. If you think you're powerless to help people change, it's because you've been going about it the wrong way.
Discover our straightforward, replicable process here: You Can Change Other People.
Audiobook: Use the Weight to Lose the Weight
Listen to Josh LaJaunie and me narrate our latest audiobook, about how to start moving when you're obese.
It's $10, and Josh and I split it evenly 🙂
Tip Jar
This podcast is not underwritten by advertising, so I can experience complete editorial autonomy without worrying about pissing off the person paying the bills. Instead, I pay the bills, with your help. It's free for those who can't afford to pay, and supported by those who can. You can contribute to the growth and improvement of the podcast by clicking the “Support on Patreon” or “Donate” buttons on the right to help out.
Music
The Plant Yourself Podcast theme music, “Dance of Peace (Sabali Don),” is generously provided by Will Ridenour, a kora player from North Carolina who has trained with top Senegalese musicians.
It can be found on his first CD, titled Will Ridenour.
You can learn about Will, listen to more tracks, and buy music on his website, WillRidenour.com.
Gratitudes
Thanks to Plant Yourself podcast patrons – Kim Harrison – Lynn McLellan – Brittany Porter – Dominic Marro – Barbara Whitney – Tammy Black – Amy Good – Amanda Hatherly – Mary Jane Wheeler – Ellen Kennelly – Melissa Cobb – Rachel Behrens – Tina Scharf – Tina Ahern – Jen Vilkinofsky – David Byczek – Michele X – Elspeth Feldman – Leah Stolar – Allan Kristensen – Colleen Peck – Michele Landry – Jozina – Sara Durkacs – Kelly Cameron – Janet Selby – Claire Adams – Tom Fronczak – Jeannette Benham – Gila Lacerte – David Donohue – Blair Seibert – Doron Avizov – Gio and Carolyn Argentati – Jodi Friesner – Mischa Rosen – Michael Worobiec – AvIvA Lael – Alicia Lemus – Val Linnemann – Nick Harper – Bandana Chawla – Molly Levine – The Inscrutable Harry R – Susan Laverty the Panda Vegan – Craig Covic – Adam Scharf – Karen Bury – Heather Morgan – Nigel Davies – Marian Blum – Teresa Kopel – Julian Watkins – Brid O'Connell – Shannon Herschman – Linda Ayotte – Holm Hedegaard – Isa Tousignant – Connie Haneline – Erin Greer – Alicia Davis – Heather O'Connor – Carollynne Jensen – Sheri Orlekoski of Plant Powered for Health – Karen Smith – Scott Mirani – Karen and Joe Crabtree – Kirby Burton – Theresa Carrell – Kevin Macaulay – Elizabeth Rothschild – Ann Jesse – Sheryl Dwyer – Jenny Hazelton – Peter W Evans – Dennis Bird – Darby Kelly – Lori Fanney – Linnea Lundquist – Emily Iaconelli – Levi Wallach – Rosamonde McAtee – Dan Pokorney – Stephen Leinin – Patty DeMartino – Mike and Donna Kartz – Deanne Bishop – Bilberry Elf – Marjorie Lewis – Tricia Adams – Nancy Sheldon – Lindsey Bashore – Gunn Marit Hagen – Tracey Gulledge – Lara Hedin – Meg from Mamasezz – Stacey Stokes – Ben Savage – Michael K – David Hughes -Coni Rodgers – Claire England – Sally Robertson – Parham Ganchi – Amy Dailey – Brian Tourville – Mark Jeffrey Johnson – Josie Dempsey – Caryn Schmitt – Pamela Hayden – Emily Perryman – Allison Corbett – Richard Stone – Lauren Vaught of Edible Musings – Erin Hastey – Sean Owens – Sagar Naik – Erika Piedra – Danielle Roberts – Michael Leuchten – Sarah Johnson – Katharine Floyd – Meryl Fury – for your generous support of the podcast.
Disclosure
This post may contain amazon affiliate links. I may receive compensation from your actions on such links. It don't cost you a dime, tho.
