Yes we know, there’s been another accidental hiatus, but we just planned, recorded, edited and published a whole episode in one afternoon, so things are looking up.

In this episode, we catch up on Ali’s recent embroidery work, including her response to a 19th-century wedding fan for an upcoming exhibition in Dunedin. We talk about fashion as art and fashion you just want to make for the joy of it.

Jo shares what she’s been learning through Slogue’s Flip Fashion Forever workshops: that fashion becomes more powerful when young people experience it as something they do, not just something they buy.

We also get into the messy middle of sustainable fashion — why blaming consumers doesn’t work, why “just buy secondhand” is too simple, and why fashion literacy might be one of the missing pieces. What is quality? How do we recognise fabric, fibre, weave and construction? And why does it matter?

Plus: Devil Wears Prada 2, small businesses closing, sewing as social dopamine, emerging designers, and Ali’s excellent explainer on the difference between silk and satin.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questioningfashion.substack.com