In this episode, we are joined by sustainable fashion designer Laura Tanzer, the creative behind Laura Tanzer Designs. Nestled comfortably in the Historic Railroad District of Tucson, you will find Laura's Atelier where she designs, manufactures, and sells sustainable clothing based on body geometry and made to fit for the modern women who likes a little artistic flair! Laura's designs are made from natural fiber and sustainably sourced textiles and she is surrounded by a team of fairly paid seamstresses who help bring her designs to life. A self-proclaimed, "clothing engineer," Laura is also a scholar of sustainability having completed an MBA with an emphasis in environmental management and her PhD in Natural Resources. In today's conversation, we talk to Laura about the environmental impacts of the fashion industry, designing for zero-waste, and her infamous "Frammento" garment made from post-production textile remnants! Laura's business is inspired by the motto "do no harm and use only what you need" and through hearing her story we learn about all the creative ways she minimizes environmental impact in her manufacturing.

Laura also teaches a series of sewing workshops and DIY sewing kits helping others to cultivate their inner artisan! Learn more about her workshops at www.LearnCraftSew.com or instagram @LearnCraftSew and shop sustainable clothing at lauratanzerdesigns.com.

We are overjoyed to launch the very first episode of Growing Together, a podcast powered by the community of Arizona Sustainable Apparel Association where we talk all things sustainable fashion from ethical labor to eco-dying with some of the most dedicated and creative minds here in Arizona. 

Today we are joined by our guest Rhonda LaBatt, owner of Redemption Market and co-host Illiana Mata, the VP of AZSAA. In this episode, Rhonda talks about her journey to starting her ethical boutique Redemption Market where she curates ethically made clothing and home goods. We also talk about what it truly means to treat garment workers and artisans well and discuss the concept of dignified work. Rhonda has gained so much knowledge through connecting directly with sustainable brands and she shares several beautiful stories about the meaning and message behind the products she carries in her boutique. 

We hope you enjoy learning from Rhonda as much as Illiana and I sure did! 

Learn more, shop ethically, and connect with Rhonda at redemptionmarket.com.