We're so lucky to have such a strong and inspiring community of women that are trailblazers, leaders and role models in their respective fields.
This International Women's Day we asked our notable friends how IWD holds personal significance and how they integrate its principles of empowerment and gender equality into their daily life and work.
"International women’s day can serve as a great way to highlight the strides women have made in their respective industries, while also acknowledging and recommitting to advancing and correcting inequalities that still very much exist. As the executive producer of The Shift, amplifying women in sports, as well as issues that effect not just women but society as whole, is a part of our ethos, but also just our day to day practice in storytelling. I have an understanding of the roles in which media can play in representation and I don’t take that lightly with the national platform that I have. It is important that women see themselves represented so that they can continue to feel empowered while also pushing the envelope for all the things that we can achieve."
- Kayla Grey
"IWD holds personal significance for me because I am a woman in an industry that many women before me, had to fight hard to take up space in. This day is a reminder of the shoulders I stand on, the herstory that brought us to today. I am lucky to have had many strong female role models & mentors in my life and I strive to put the principles of empowerment and gender equality into action by seeking to pay that forward. Happy International Women's Day - may we continue to use our voices to fight for what we believe in, exercise the power of choice and stay loud."
- Meredith Shaw
"Every IWD, I find myself shocked at the stats. It's hard to comprehend that we're in 2024 and while women make up almost 50% of the workforce in North America, we still only account for 7% of CEO titles. We have a long way to go to claim those top positions and close the gender gap. I'm lucky that in my role as a PR agency president, we're fortunate to attract a disproportionate number of talented women into the communications field. But in my role in politics, there remains a pretty significant gap. This year, I launched the Beyond a Ballot podcast with my co-host Racheal Segal. The purpose of the podcast is to encourage women to get involved in politics. Getting involved is critical. Decisions are made every day that affect every aspect of our lives. The more women who are informed and advocate for the issues that matter to them, elect more women into public office and hold politicians accountable ensures that the things that matter most to us are top of mind to the chief decision makers in the country.
I also have two very big reasons to work hard to get more women into leadership - my twin daughters who are six years old. I want them to see from an early age, the possibilities of women serving in every type of position at the highest levels. We know that if they see it, they'll believe it is possible for them too. I can't think of a better reason to mark and to celebrate IWD."
- Amanda Alvaro
"For me, International Women's Day is a chance to reflect on how far we've come and acknowledge how much further we can go. It’s a reminder to have those big conversations with my children (especially my daughter) about the importance of gender parity and amplifying women's voices. It's an opportunity for all of us to reground in our commitment to a world where every woman can flourish.
While we break down the barriers holding women back, we also need to avoid creating internal barriers. In a world that likes saying "no" to women, we need to continue telling ourselves and one another "yes."
In my life and work, I strive to empower women to cultivate resilience, prioritize self-care, and claim agency over their lives. Being a woman in this world is hard enough; there’s no need to put additional pressure or restrictions on ourselves. Every woman deserves to thrive — not just survive — and to find that sweet(er) spot of inner alignment, fulfillment, and empowerment."
- Sonia Jhas
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It’s 2018, it’s the age of overnight shipping, immediate feedback, and less than 1 second internet page loading. Even though we appreciate speed in our life, as of recent, fast-fashion is out, while sustainable style is everything. How did the impulse society, the age of immediacy, come to appreciate and even demand ethical apparel?
What is Fast-Fashion?
Fast-Fashion is a term used by fashion retailers to describe inexpensive designs that move quickly from the catwalk to stores to meet new trends. As a result of this trend, the tradition of introducing new fashion lines on a seasonal basis is being challenged.
Fast fashion’s goal is to quickly produce an item that is both cost-efficient and responds to fast-shifting consumer demands. The assumption is that consumers want a high-fashion styled article of clothing at a low price.
The Problem with Fast Fashion
People don't keep clothes; the amount of clothing production needed to meet the new level of demand creates a wealth of both environmental and human rights issues.
Source: Newsweek
The Sustainable Solution.
The best way to ensure a supply of sustainable clothing, is by demanding it. More people have been voting with their dollar and demanding that the fashion industry provide transparency around their clothing production and practices. These are a few questions to ask about your clothing:
The Luxury of Local.
In 2018, people want to inquire about clothing production and feel at ease knowing how their fabrics are being made. When we bring This is J pajamas and accessories to the One of a Kind Show, we’re always thrilled about the genuine curiosity that people express around the material and production. We proudly produce and manufacture locally in Canada. Our customers know that the clothing they’re buying is both eco-conscious and made in a worker-friendly environment.
Why We Chose Bamboo Fiber.
We strive to utilize the most environmentally friendly fabrics and processes available to us, while maintaining a superior quality product. Over the last 5 years we have settled on a Bamboo/Spandex blend that retains its softness and color while wicking away moisture from your skin and keeping you comfortable.
Advantages of Bamboo Fabric:
Advancements in the processing technology of Bamboo has created purpose built water treatment facilities to ensure that the water used in processing the raw bamboo is free of chemicals. This is a closed loop system that makes the harvesting and processing of the raw bamboo into a closed loop system with minimal waste and less chemical run off.
How to Ditch “Waste Couture” and be Clothing Conscious.
How do you buy clothes? In an important journal article titled Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry, Liz Claudio states: “Consumer awareness about the fate of clothing through its life cycle may be the best hope for sustainability in the fashion industry.” The change starts with your choices around clothing. Here are a few considerations that can improve your sustainable style:
Learn More About Bamboo.
Get more information about the bamboo fabrics we use to create the beautiful This is J pajamas and accessories. Check out the Bamboo Fabrics Page here >>
Sources:
When we first began our clothing brand This is J, we embarked on a mission to find the most comfortable, yet conscious fabric, that people would love to wear. There are a lot of harmful fabrics out there that not only irritate sensitive skin, but damage the environment. We did our research to discover what people were wearing and stumbled upon some destabilizing truths about clothes, convenience, and environmental consciousness.
People were wearing high-impact materials because they are durable and long-lasting (yet incredibly damaging). What was our solution? We had to find better fabric. Organic fibers and natural fibers have entered the market at full speed to remedy this fashion-fiasco. Bamboo fabric has been gaining increasing attention, for good reason. Bamboo is a cozy yet conscious fabric that grabbed our attention for these five reasons.
You think you know soft until you feel bamboo fiber fabric. When we went hunting for the ultimate fabric for cozy pajamas we landed on bamboo. Not only is bamboo ideal for sensitive skin, it’s twice as soft as cotton blends. Our bamboo is blended with spandex to balance the softness and stretch that makes garments fit just right.
Bamboo textiles are inherently anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, odour resistant and durable. Whether you’re breaking a sweat during the day or overheated in the evening, the fabric has the ability to literally wick away moisture. Perspiration doesn’t get trapped between fabric and the skin. The result is a dry for comfort touch.
As a Canadian-based brand we wanted to find a fabric that could withstand the hottest summer nights and the chilliest winter mornings. Bamboo fabrics are designed with insulating properties, meaning our Jammers stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Bamboo fabrics are well ventilated with larger pores between fibers that allow for an easy transmission of moisture and heat.
Bamboo is a super-fiber. It’s one of the fastest growing plants on earth, it requires less water to grow and be harvested, it minimizes CO2, it requires no pesticides to grow, and it’s biodegradable. We were nearly sold on bamboo as our choice fabric, but the sustainable benefits really sealed the deal.
We realized that people were turning to the polyester options of the world because they didn’t have the time to dry clean every week and hand wash every weekend. We spent a number of years experimenting with the fabric content to achieve an unbelievably soft feel and be maintained easily by our customer by just throwing it in the washer and dryer.
If you’ve been on the hunt for lifestyle changes that are mutually beneficial for you and the planet, start with bamboo blends. The clothing industry is the second largest polluter in the world – second only to oil. This doesn’t mean we have to stop buying and wearing clothing; it means we need to change the way we buy and wear clothing.
Learn more about Bamboo Fabric here >>
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