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Joanne is a sustainability advocate with a degree in Fashion Design and Environmental Science. Growing up around the fast fashion industry in Los Angeles, she wanted her environment-loving values to align with her actions. Joanne is on a journey of changing her consumption and consumerism habits; acknowledging what they are, while minimizing her shopping, meat intake, and plastic usage.

What does ‘sustainability’ mean to you?
Sustainability is doing my best so we can all continue to live on this Earth. I think of the recycling symbol and how everything comes back in full circle. The Earth has a special place in my heart and I don’t want to see her die –– it’s the only home we have.

What initially sparked your interest in sustainability?
When I was a student pursuing my B.S. in Environmental Science at UC Davis, the dining hall would put sustainability facts on the napkin holders that said, “this napkin was made from recycled tissues,” or “the dining hall composts 96% food waste.” The classes and my college environment [UC Davis] definitely nurtured my awareness.

Why did you decide to pursue studies in Sustainable Fashion?
My senior year of college, I asked myself the question most graduates ask, “What am I going to do with my life?” It was my dad who introduced me to the idea of going to fashion school. My family works in the fast fashion industry and I always wished the process was more sustainable. I want to bring back sustainable values and ideas to help make the [fashion] industry more eco-conscious.

Has studying fashion affected your view on what it means to be sustainable?
At Parsons, there is a zero waste class where students make full garments without cutting any fabric. Garment cutting creates at least 3% of textile waste. However, when you use the whole fabric or knit, you lose nothing and there is no waste. It made me think of other things too, like the materials we use for clothes. Most of our clothes are made with plastic materials [polyester/rayons], and when a piece of clothing gets thrown away, the plastic will live forever in landfills. There are better alternatives with organic cotton or organic wool.

There’s also the fact that people will buy something and then never wear it. It never gets to be loved and that’s so wasteful. When I buy clothes now, I think 3 years from now, would I still love it and wear it? If the answer is “no,” I don’t buy it.

I am also more aware of ethically-made clothes where workers are paid better wages and work in better, safer environments. It gives me better peace of mind when I know what I’m putting on my body.  

“I want to bring back sustainable values and ideas to help make the [fashion] industry more eco-conscious.”

What’s one interesting thing you learned from working in the fashion industry?
I worked at a men’s clothing company where clothes are customized based on your personal body measurements, similar to bespoke. A thing about clothes is that when brands make them, oftentimes they have a specific body type in mind and yours may not match their target customer. But there are so many different body types in the world, some clothes are bought and are never worn because they don’t fit right. It’s such a waste. With custom-made clothes, they are guaranteed to fit better and are commonly made with better quality materials.

Why don’t you think there is a higher demand for consciously made clothing?
When my cousin’s sweater brand [@dreamersbydebut] launched an eco-friendly line, she put out a survey asking people about their demand to buy it. The results came back and most responses were along the lines of, “We would buy it if it was more affordable and easily accessible.” For people to care, you have to make it convenient for them in terms of cost and how fast they can get it. It’s unfortunate that sustainable brands are more expensive. How can someone afford a basic $50 organic t-shirt? It’s a constant struggle because most are not able to spend so much when there are other living expenses to think about.

Are there alternatives to fast fashion?
I follow three rules when it comes to shopping: (1) wear what I have (2) thrift shop (3) purchase from sustainable or B Corps certified brands. One thing this experience has taught me is to be more conscious about what I buy –– it took me a year before I bought my first pair of shoes from Allbird Shoes, but I love them and get so many compliments.

We’ve heard of Allbird Shoes! Do you follow other eco-conscious fashion companies?
I love Reformation, who gears towards accenting femininity by using recycled fabrics, but their clothes are so expensive. There’s also Everlane, who are completely transparent about where their clothes are made and the real cost of a t-shirt including fair labor. But the best solution is to go thrifting and maybe with some luck, secondhand Reformation or Everlane.

What’s your take on being a conscious consumer when it comes to fashion?
Greenwashing is very real and there are companies who are not completely truthful about their practices or the materials they use. Yet, they market themselves as eco-friendly. As a result, people are misinformed, which makes it harder to make better choices. Before you buy something, keep a curious mind: do your research, find the facts, keep asking questions, and get to know the process behind the brand’s practices. “Good on You” App or web extension is a helpful tool to use.

“I try to be conscious of my purchases…but sometimes you just have to live life, so if I really want cheese, I’ll indulge and eat cheese! Life’s too short to restrict happiness.”

How do you personally incorporate sustainability in your everyday life?
I try to bring lunch to work everyday or bring my metal container to eat the catered lunch. I try to find a shop at farmers’ markets to get local produce with less carbon footprint or use my “Life without Plastic” cloth bags and stick to the outskirts of the supermarkets, where there’s fresh produce. Once I bought bread at Whole Foods and used my reusable cloth bag. It saves money and it can be healthier! When I eat out, I’ll opt for vegetarian dishes. I love food so it’s a constant struggle [haha], but I try to do it for the Earth.

If all else fails, I’ll look for recyclable/cardboard containers –– so you know, the product’s life cycle doesn’t have to end there, in one use. I carry around my own reusable utensils and straws so I never have an excuse to use plastic ones.

What do you find to be the most challenging part of living sustainably?
Overall, I try to be conscious of my purchases. It’s not always easy though and sometimes I feel restricted. When I need work clothes, I’m not sure where to go. But you know, sometimes you just have to live life, so if I really want cheese, I’ll indulge and eat cheese! Life’s too short to restrict happiness.

“Trying to be more sustainable is something everybody can work on. It’s not a competition and one person can’t do it all. With all the destruction that is happening in the world, if I can do something to offset it, then that is worth it to me.”

What’s a misconception people have about sustainability?
The journey doesn’t have to be perfect. At the end of the day, doing something is better than doing nothing. I really believe little things add up and will make a difference.

What keeps you motivated to stay in the fight for a more sustainable world?
I think of the gorgeous places and national parks in the world. They are so beautiful and one of a kind –– I can’t bear to take that away. There is only one Earth and we need to protect this special place. I constantly have this image of landfills in my head. We produce and consume so much, one day we will suck up all the Earth’s resources. Trying to be more sustainable is something everybody can work on. It’s not a competition and one person can’t do it all. With all the destruction that is happening in the world, if I can do something to offset it, then that is worth it to me.

Any last words?
Composting is a lot easier than most people want to believe. The perk is that you’ll create less waste so there will be fewer trips to take out the trash. If you’re worried about the smell, leave your compost in the freezer. It’s also very important to meet and be surrounded by like-minded people. Sometimes you may feel alone, but you’re not. Also, don’t push your beliefs onto others.

Follow Joanne and her fashion adventures @joann.eco or joannedkim.com.

Read more about our Zero Hour Story: What’s It All About series.

*This interview was modified for the purpose of the series.

For a number of years, Tamara worked in the outdoor environmental education field teaching youngsters to love, care for, and protect the environment. Today, she currently works as a geologist at an environmental consulting firm. Always happy to expose others to the outdoors, she took us on our first backpacking trip in the Sierra Nevada where she taught us the importance of knowledge and caring for the outdoors. Tamara is a kid at heart and always inspires us to take on greater adventures.

What sparked your interest in the environment?
I’ve had an interest in the environment from a very young age. In the days before the internet, we had catalogs called Scholastic Books, and I remember flipping through the pages when 50 Things Kids Can Do To Save The Earth caught my eyes. I remember thinking, “I want that! I want to save the Earth!” But the tips ended up being things like putting a brick in your toilet, and I thought, “that’s not saving the Earth…” As a kid, I wanted to fix everything and it took me a long time to realize little actions add up to a lot.

How did your involvement in the environment grow?
The first time I went camping was during a geology trip in college. In that class, I met a friend who worked for the outdoor recreation program at UCLA. She took me under her wing and taught me a lot about the outdoors, like how to pee and how to navigate being outside. I tagged along on a couple of her trips and she helped me get into the outdoors that way. Between my Junior and Senior year, I had a friend who worked for the concessionaire at Yosemite National Park and suggested I do the same. So I applied, got the job, and packed my car to go live in Yosemite for the summer. I worked at the tour desk and it was a life-changing transition in my life. I knew that this was what has been missing –– I’ve never figured it out until then. Soon after, I got into backpacking and climbing and that’s how it happened.

What is your perspective on sustainability?
The environment and sustainability are definitely connected. As humans of the planet, we are not always attuned with the impact of our daily lives and how that impacts the world. Sustainability can be an overwhelming concept for people. Part of it is people think, “I’m just one person, what can I do?” So they experience a sort of paralysis and end up not doing anything.

“Spending time in beautiful places makes me appreciate the natural world. I feel more connected to the environment because I’m in it and I see it.”

Can you talk about small actions you do to try and live more sustainably?
A lot of these are popular now, but I’ll bring my own grocery bags to the store, limit my plastic usage, and cut down on waste. Being a conscious consumer is a large part of living more sustainably too. The economy is driven by money and where I put my money determines what will get produced [because money is power]. Sometimes it’s difficult; we are raised on the idea of capitalism where buying “stuff” is cheap and convenient. We can go on Amazon, purchase something, it’ll show up at our door, and we’ll get a rush of happiness in our brains. I think it’s good to ask ourselves, “Do I really need this?” when shopping.

Do you have tips on being a more conscious consumer?
A resource I like to use is the Better World Shopping Guide. It’s a pocket guidebook that outlines companies and gives them each an A through F rating based on different criteria, like “how a company treats their employees” or “if a company gives charitable donations to the environment.” Ultimately, I want to use my money to support companies who do good things. But it’s not always easy because to be a conscious consumer, I have to put a lot of thought and energy in purchasing an item. Sometimes I just need to get through life and not have to spend hours [at the grocery store] deciding if my bread is the most sustainable brand.

What has been the most challenging part of living a more sustainable lifestyle?
I think picking and choosing what you want to focus on can be challenging. My own philosophy is to eat in moderation and not waste food. I’ll eat my leftovers and freeze food that is about to go bad –– sometimes due to poor planning I throw away food that has expired and that makes me very sad. I’m not a vegetarian, but I do this “reduced meat diet” that I’ve sort of made up and have done for several years. I don’t cook meat at home and will only eat meat when I am out, when others cook for me, or if I have people over and they want something like chicken.  

Has being in the outdoors affected your views on the environment?
Spending time in beautiful places makes me appreciate the natural world. I feel more connected to the environment because I’m in it and I see it. It’s hard to not want to protect the Earth after being exposed to it. There are not many wild places left in the world.

Has this perspective made you more aware when you’re in the outdoors?
When I’m hiking and camping, I follow the Leave No Trace Principles. These are ground rules to follow so you’re not trampling over flowers or sensitive areas, taking things from the environment back home, or leaving your own waste improperly. Human waste is a big problem. For example, after the summer season in Yosemite, when millions of visitors leave, there is litter everywhere. If one person is thinking, “I’ll just drop this gum wrapper here,” and then everyone else thinks the same, at the end of the summer the park is a trash haven. It goes to show that if one person drops one thing it really adds up. It’s important to do our part as an individual.

“There needs to be a balance of both knowledge and caring to have a positive impact. And it’s not just for the environment, it can be applied to anything.”

Having worked in the outdoor industry, you’re knowledgeable in caring for the natural world. Can you tell us a story about how you applied that knowledge when you’re in the outdoors?
I recently camped in Utah and we didn’t have toilets. When we needed to poo, we couldn’t dig a hole in the ground because we would ruin the living soil. Utah has these living soils called Cryptobiotic soil, an organism that lives on top of the soil and takes hundreds of years to grow. They’re important to the ecosystem and when disturbed can take decades to grow back. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of our surroundings. If we go off trail –– even if we dig a hole to poo, we’re essentially hurting the ecosystem. Instead, we had a groover to do our business. To mask the smell, we added kitty litter and then one lucky person will have to take care of the box. I know it sounds gross to some people, but we love the land and we want to protect it, so we do this. When I go camping in the winter, I would bring brown paper lunch bags filled with kitty litter to poo in. These would be thrown in a paint bucket that was strapped to sleigh and be hauled out when we left. We called it the “poo sled”. I haven’t had to haul one out … yet.

What would you say to someone who doesn’t think they can make a difference?
One of the quotes we used to share with students is, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has,” (by Margaret Mead). Thinking back to when America had all this wild land –– people saw it as endless and abundant land to exploit, so they mined minerals and cut down trees. When people realized they were diminishing our resources, a small group of people decided to set aside some of these lands to preserve them and that idea grew into the National Park system. Don’t doubt that small changes add up.

Any last words?
At my first outdoor education job, we followed a motto to teach knowledge and caring. It’s one thing to be educated about the environment, but if you don’t care, you won’t implement the knowledge. The flip side is, we have people who care, but they don’t have the knowledge to apply it. For example, when people feed squirrels in a national park, they are coming from a good place and had no intention of hurting the animal. But feeding a squirrel can do more harm than good; the squirrel will become dependent on human food and be more aggressive in seeking it. There needs to be a balance of both knowledge and caring to have a positive impact. And it’s not just for the environment, it can be applied to anything.

Read more about our Zero Hour Story: What’s It All About series.

*This interview was modified for the purpose of the series.

According to dictionary.com, “zero hour” is (1) a time at which an unusually significant or notable event is scheduled to take place and (2) a time when a vital decision or decisive change must be made.

We’re excited to announce, Zero Hour Story, a new story series where we share our community’s thoughts on the green movement, living sustainably, and traveling consciously. For the series, we chatted with our closest friends and families to share stories of real and relatable lives. After all, you don’t have to be wealthy, work in the environmental industry, or be an avid activist to make a difference. You just have to care and act with effort. Try, and try again. We hope Zero Hour Story serves as a guide for those who feel a responsibility and want to do something about it, but aren’t sure how to get started.

But why the name zero hour?

Silently taking action in our own lives was no longer enough. We want to bring awareness to those inside and outside our circle. In the past, we were shy about bringing up environmental issues or speaking up when we needed to because it made people uncomfortable. But we want to change our attitudes and perspectives on that. While we’ll never push any of our beliefs onto others –– that’s never fun or effective –– it’s time we made a change in the way we approach the things that are important to us. And this planet is important. It’s not just about having a few people making huge impacts, the Earth needs more people making small, but consistent impacts in their everyday lives. Everyone that has been a part of this series embodies this and we can’t wait to share their stories with you. We hope each story excites you and inspires you to take positive action for the environment.

If any of this sounds interesting to you, feel free to subscribe to our website to be the first to hear about the Zero Hour Story series. Have questions or know someone you think we should interview? Email us at tinycaravan@gmail.com, we’d love to chat.

Thank you for taking the time to read about something that is important to us. Talk to you soon!

Cheers,
Jennifer and Vivian