About Recycling Alternative: 1989. Before blue boxes were a common part of curb side behaviour, there was Louise Schwarz, bombing around in her hatchback. Galvanized by Vancouvers garbage problem, Louise and a partner created a trash-busting company to help offices recycle their paper.
What has been a milestone? We are proud of our many community collaborations with groups such as LOCO, farmers markets and local festivals. Personally, I was awarded the Woman of Distinction in 2012 and recently received the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal.
As a business owner and employer, what are some values you believe in? Collaboration, inclusive employment, and building relationships with other local business to create a hardy and robust local economy
How can readers get involved? Ask the question Where is the away in thrown away? Or look into community initiatives such as Food Scraps Drop Spot and Vancouver Biodiesel Coop.
What is the City of Vancouver doing well? Trying hard to prioritize a path towards creating a greener city.
What can the City of Vancouver still do better? Collaborate with existing community models and solutions already on the ground that are working well; build on those and help broaden the communications and engagement to citizens wanting to do the right thing.
Why did you join LOCO and how has it benefited you? We believe local is beautiful by localizing our economy we create a prosperous, healthy and sustainable community; collaborating and partnering with other local businesses builds a really solid local foundation for an economy that is enriching, engaging, makes great business sense and feels like the right thing to do.
Why were you excited to take part in this feature? I love the idea of repurposing items and using reclaimed materials.
Tell us about your photo buddy, Kim? Kim has a great track record of doing innovative design around re-purposing and reclaiming. I originally met her when we were both on the board of Our Social Fabric a Vancouver textile-recycling non-profit.
Give a green tip: Start to see your relationship with garbage and waste as a reflection of your values.
Whats next? Working on some collaborative models for bringing local recyclers together on closed-loop recycling and recovery. We think theres a great opportunity to create green jobs.
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About Kdon: Kdon began in model, designer, Project Runway finalist and textile recycler Kim Cathers change-making brain 15 years ago, and has seen iterations as a Gastown storefront, home, then home-studio operation since. After selling re-styled clothing at festivals and markets for a time, she went on to graduate from the prestigious Blanche Macdonald Centre of Design in 2005 with the Innovative Design Award. You can see the world through her eyes during her second crack at the 68 lb Challenge 30 womens looks created from 68 lbs of mens suits and sweaters from Value Village. (Sixty-eight pounds is the average weight of clothing discarded by each North American every year). The video from her 2012 challenge can be seen here.
What are some challenges youve faced? One of the largest road blocks is the ability to produce many of the same garment over and over. Sometimes I will only have 10 or so metres of a fabric and sometimes as little as 2 metres, so once that color is sold its gone. This also creates exclusivity with my line, so my clients are assured that if they do buy from me, they will be wearing one of only a few which is really exciting!
Why were you excited to take part in this feature? I thought it was a great idea to get a bunch of eco people together for a fun article like this, to showcase all the different sides of being green!
What is green design? Green design can be anything from fabric choices, materials, where things are produced, keeping track of wastage, participating in the carbon footprint movement, recycling in studio/office, and many others.
As a business owner, what are some decisions you think have played a role in your success? The reason I have achieved what I have so far is because I listen to my inner voice, regardless of other peoples negativity or doubt. I design and do what feels true and right to me, and no matter the adversity.
Why do you participate in EFW? I have been participating in EFW since the first show season and in my opinion they are doing so many things well; from designer support and promotion, advertising, production, media, professionalism and all this in the name of the environment!
Who is another green leader in your mind? I think this article has a great collection of green leaders in it but I would also like to mention Our Social Fabric, a non profit organization that I cofounded in 2009. I am no longer an active board member, but the organization collects unused, unwanted textiles and sells them to designers, crafters, costumers and basically anyone who wants to attend their monthly sale! Ten per cent of the profits from sales of my last 68lb challenge collection will be going straight to them.
Tell us about your photo buddy, Louise Schwarz: Louise is awesome! What else can you say... She is a leader in the eco movement in Vancouver. She is a role model to entrenprenuers. She has been nominated and won awards for her outstanding work. She is a fireball of woman and a force not to be reckoned with an absolute gem!
EFW show time: Apr. 22, 8:30pm, Robson Square Ice Rink
Facebook | Twitter | KimCathers.com
Enter to win a pair of passes to Eco Fashion Week. Access to all shows, cocktail lounge and designer showroom included.
You can follow style reporter Kelsey Klassen on Twitter @kelseyklassen
