The best tips for working in sustainable fashion from those who already do

Rounding out 2024 with the career advice gathered from across the Owning It interviews this year.

“Every small action counts. Whether it's advocating for policy changes, promoting sustainable practices within a company, or influencing consumer behaviour, each effort contributes to a larger, collective impact. Embrace the journey with patience and persistence, knowing that even the smallest steps towards sustainability can lead to significant change over time.” - Dounia Wone, Chief Impact Officer at Vestiaire Collective.

You’re never done learning and there are no perfect solutions; best practice isn’t a static thing.” Sarah Kent, Chief Sustainability Correspondent at The Business of Fashion.

“Resilience and grounding yourself are key. Every so often a wave of ‘the challenges are too big, too many, too overwhelming’ comes and I remember I am just one person working for collective wellbeing, adding to the momentum of hundreds of thousands of others working in this space. You can only do so much. There is no one person who is going to solve it all. All of the unique parts we play and energy we give it add up.” - Kellie Dalton, Head of Regeneration at House of Hackney.

“Everyone has a different entry point to sustainability, a different motivation, a different ideal for change and – most importantly – a different theory about the best way to bring about that change. It’s only in the past few years that I’ve realised that’s a good thing, and that we need a diversity in approaches from ecoterrorism to ESG reporting – each has a role to play.” - Monica Buchan-Ng, Head of Knowledge Exchange, Centre for Sustainable Fashion.

“[Sustainable fashion] is a community of people who want you to succeed… we will all help each other and you will meet some fabulous and inspiring people. If I'd known that I would have started a lot sooner!” - Tiffanie Darke, author, editor, retailer and advocate.

“Sustainability is a vast area, requiring businesses to radically rethink their approach. However, as much as you might want to address every concern immediately, this wouldn’t be achievable all at once. Instead, look at where you can create material impact and affect the greatest change.” - Rosie Wollacott Phillips, Head of Sustainability at Mulberry.

“Be aware of who is and is not around you and how they are supported. Share your knowledge, share it with people from communities who have been excluded, pass on work and speaking opportunities, pass on contacts. There’s enough to go around for everyone and there will continue to be with all the new legislation that's coming. We are all in this together and everyone can play a part if they want. Individualism will only slow us down.” - Kellie Dalton, Head of Regeneration at House of Hackney.

“I wish someone had told me to embrace the discomfort of standing out. When you challenge systems and advocate for change, you’ll often feel like the only one in the room asking the hard questions. That’s not a bad thing—it’s necessary… If you’re passionate about creating a more equitable and sustainable world, lean into your unique voice. Don’t wait for permission to lead; start where you are, and the impact will follow.” - a sneak peek from Lisa Maynard-Atem, entrepreneur, campaigner and advocate, who will be featured in a full Owning It interview next month.

In the meantime, you can read all of the rest of the Owning It career interviews here, or check out the most recent three as listed below…