What does it mean to truly step into your own story?

For Episode 4 of Power of Swapping Season 2, we sit down with Ratna — TEDx speaker, facilitator, and personal branding coach who helps individuals uncover their inner gem and show up fully in their lives and work.

Ratna’s journey hasn’t been linear. From navigating imposter syndrome and burnout to redefining success on her own terms, her work today is deeply rooted in lived experience—empowering others to design a life that feels aligned, intentional, and true.

She is also a long-time member of our community, having been swapping since 2017. Someone who reminds us that the way we dress, just like the way we live, can be a reflection of who we are becoming.

In this conversation, we explore identity, self-worth, and how fashion can be part of reclaiming your voice—not just your style.

POWER OF SWAPPING — Season 2, Episode 3 🎙️

This week on the podcast, we sit down with Durva Simone Bose — branding and content strategist, photographer, and a thoughtful voice in the ethical fashion space.

Durva comes from a background in fashion and textiles, and over the years she has worked closely with sustainable brands, helping them shape stories and visual narratives that communicate their mission with clarity and intention. Her work has been featured in publications such as Tatler Asia and The Straits Times, where she continues to highlight the connection between our clothes, our choices, and the environment.

But beyond her professional work, Durva has also been part of our swapping community for four years now. Someone who approaches style with curiosity and intention, and who embodies the spirit of conscious fashion in a very natural way.

In this conversation, we talk about storytelling in sustainability, the evolving relationship between style and values, and how fashion can remain expressive while becoming more mindful.

A thoughtful exchange with someone who truly walks the talk.

🎧 Episode 3 is now live. Come listen in.

POWER OF SWAPPING — Season 2, Episode 12 🎙️

Some stories are extra special — and Amber’s is one of them.

Amber first walked into The Fashion Pulpit at just 14, volunteering during her school holidays. What started as curiosity quickly grew into commitment — she became a regular swapper from our early Liang Court days, and eventually, one of the strongest voices of circular fashion within her own community.

Inspired by what she learned and lived at TFP, Amber went on to co-found her school’s very first Green Council, leading sustainability efforts on the ground and championing change among her peers. Her leadership, together with her team, earned the school the WWF Eco-School Green Flag — the highest recognition awarded.

Today, Amber isn’t just part of our story — she’s an ambassador who truly walks the talk, carrying circular fashion values into her school, her style, and her everyday choices. Watching her grow alongside TFP reminds us why community, mentorship, and lived action matter so much.

Tune in to hear Amber’s journey — from volunteer to changemaker — and how fashion became a powerful tool for impact. 🎙️✨

POWER OF SWAPPING — Season 2, Episode 1 🎙️For our very first episode back, we’re deeply honoured to be joined by Dr. Sun Sun Lim.Dr Sun Sun is a Lee Kong Chian Professor of Communication and Technology and Vice President (Partnerships and Engagement) at Singapore Management University. She’s a prolific scholar, a public servant, a thought leader on technology, ethics and social inclusion—and someone whose work constantly reminds us to centre humanity in the systems we build.But beyond her titles and accolades, she’s also been part of our swapping community for over 4 years. A familiar face at The Fashion Pulpit. Someone who walks the talk. Someone whose personal style reflects care, intention, and a deep commitment to sustainability.In this conversation, we explore how our relationship with fashion mirrors the way we engage with technology, progress, and consumption. We talk about slowing down, making conscious choices, and how individual actions—when done with intention—can shape a more ethical and hopeful future.This episode sets the tone for Season 2: quietly reflective, honest, and human.We’re so excited for you to listen. And even more grateful to start this season with someone who truly embodies the values we care about.

Full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZMr83kOTuZd7zFbM44mm-iMobuIT1AXbAEcfAcbcYDY/edit?usp=sharing

TIMESTAMPS

Examining disposal habits (01:25)

Where is “away”? (05:55)

Textile-to-textile recycling technology severely lacking (12:32)

Next steps (18:24)

Download the report here: https://bit.ly/iow_report_2022

Article on the ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ policy and why it’s insufficient in tackling textile waste by Stella Hartyanto: https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/extended-producer-responsibility-textiles/

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Sources mentioned

Straits Times article on Salvation Army collection points https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/salvation-army-sees-spike-in-donations-amid-festive-season-appeals-for-items-in-good-condition

Dead White Man’s Clothes https://atmos.earth/ghana-kantamanto-clothing-waste-problem/

Trend mania V   ox article https://www.vox.com/the-goods/23065462/trends-death-subcultures-style

Fast Company’s ‘Why ‘recycled’ clothes are so difficult to recycle’ https://www.fastcompany.com/90763958/why-recycled-clothes-are-so-hard-to-recycle?utm_source=pocket_mylist

BBC’s ‘Why clothes are so hard to recycle’ https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200710-why-clothes-are-so-hard-to-recycle

Difference between recycling, upcycling, downcycling and resaling https://ecocult.com/circular-fashion-recycle-upcycle-downcycle-resale-definition/

Atmos’ ‘From Attire to Ashes: Clothing Waste in the Atacama Desert’

https://atmos.earth/atacama-desert-chile-unwanted-clothing-waste/

The Atlantic’s ‘Seriously, What Are You Supposed to Do With Old Clothes?’

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/08/what-to-do-with-old-clothing-donation-waste/671043/

NTU press release https://www.ntu.edu.sg/docs/default-source/corporate-ntu/hub-news/ntu-singapore-and-rge-launch-sgd6-million-joint-research-centre-to-tackle-textile-waste.pdf?sfvrsn=d11821d6_1

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Find more information at rewearpodcast.carrd.co

Follow us on Instagram @thefashionpulpit

Produced by PodcastMate

Contact them at [email protected]

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1npKcVFRD35HxuCfCVRDzAYHZgqu8UHD7AVJuexa1cRI/edit?usp=sharing

TIMESTAMPS

TFP's update (1:20)

Inside Our Wardrobe study report (4:23)

Download the report here: https://bit.ly/iow_report_2022

Moving vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbFYYYU4rjg

Sources mentioned:

Stories Clothes Tell: Investigating Clothing as Objects of Love https://lcf-smc-show-21.co.uk/postgraduate/curation-theory-and-writing/stories-clothes-tell-investigating-clothing-as-objects-of-love

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Find more information at rewearpodcast.carrd.co 

The re:wear glossary: https://tinyurl.com/rewearglossarymobile | https://tinyurl.com/rewearglossarydesktop

Follow us on Instagram @thefashionpulpit

Send enquiries, feedback and constructive criticism to [email protected]

Produced by PodcastMate @podcastmate.co

Contact them at [email protected]

Rachel Tan (you might know her as @nocarrierpls or the Founder of Justo Justo), candidly speaks about her previous online personas/identities weaved into the way Justo Justo manifested into a clothing resale business. This episode (and the previous), sheds light on the emotional labour it takes when running a sustainable fashion business. Listen to Episode 6 for Chu’s journey with Shop Bettr, the first part of this 2-part series on local fashion businesses that are no longer in operation.

P/s: Please accompany your listening experience with the transcript (linked below!) for better comprehension of what’s been discussed.

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TIMESTAMPS

Intro (1:25)

Justo Justo’s timeline in retrospect (6:20)

The struggles running Justo Justo (10:05)

How Justo Justo was resisting the status quo of standard business practices (17:09)

The rising visibility of the local thrift culture (25:30)

Imminent systems change feels insurmountable (36:17)

What Justo Justo symbolises (54:14)

Conclusion (57:21)

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LINKS AND SOURCES MENTIONED

Aja Barber @ajabarber

Vogue article on Consumed by Aja Barber https://www.vogue.com/article/aja-barber-consumed

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Find more information at rewearpodcast.carrd.co (transcript, additional resources)

The re:wear glossary: https://tinyurl.com/rewearglossarymobile | https://tinyurl.com/rewearglossarydesktop

Watch the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXrd0ONQuPijPm5TF4qte1w

Follow us on Instagram @thefashionpulpit

Send enquiries, feedback and constructive criticism to [email protected]

Produced by PodcastMate @podcastmate.co

Contact them at [email protected]

Welcome to our first episode of 2022! In this episode and the next, we deep dive into the start and end of local sustainable fashion businesses with their founders. Chu Wong, our guest for this episode, discusses how she managed relationships with respective brand partners whilst juggling financial precariousness of a new brand. This, on top of reconciling with the business’ misalignment with her personal values and identity. This episode (and the next), sheds light on the emotional labour it takes when running a sustainable fashion business.

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TIMESTAMPS

Intro (0:41)

Shop Bettr’s journey from start to end (6:57)

The dissonance- running a sustainable fashion business (10:52)

The difficult decision of closing down the business (16:33)

Does a ‘sustainable fashion business’ exist? (18:44)

Shop Bettr symbolises a support network (25:24)

How can we fix a flawed system? (30:40)

Conclusion (37:48)

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCE

For The Wild podcast Episode 265 on Healing the Fashion Industrial Complex https://forthewild.world/listen/shamira-covington-on-healing-the-fashion-industrial-complex-265

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Connect with Chu:

Instagram @xchuw

Website https://www.chuwong.com/

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Find more information at rewearpodcast.carrd.co (transcript, additional resources)

The re:wear glossary: https://tinyurl.com/rewearglossarymobile | https://tinyurl.com/rewearglossarydesktop

Watch the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXrd0ONQuPijPm5TF4qte1w

Follow us on Instagram @thefashionpulpit

Send enquiries, feedback and constructive criticism to [email protected]

Produced by PodcastMate @podcastmate.co

Contact them at [email protected]

I had a really good time speaking to Esther in this episode, chatting about our personal experiences and relationships with consumption and ways of relating to wear and clothing. It was a very refreshing conversation, and I think, an accurate representation of how I see and relate to the work that I do. This episode is special because I think there isn’t a specific call to action. I hope we just sit in these thoughts and let them ferment before we start thinking about our relationship with clothes. I hope you enjoy this raw, honest and open conversation between 2 clothes wearers, one that doesn’t have definitions or answers—only our perspective of the world through how we see and reimagine it.

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Intro (0:43)

The relationship with ‘Wear’ (5:29)

‘Smallness’ v.s. ‘Bigness’ (12:43)

The ‘Wear We Are’ Telegram channel (18:07)

The ‘Wear We Live’ directory for local small and secondhand businesses (25:20)

Working and healing through ‘fashion’ personally and collectively (37:58)

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LINKS & SOURCES MENTIONED

Esther’s blog post, ‘small is beautiful: https://raah.blog/2021/07/05/small-is-beautiful/

Wear We Live https://wearwelive.space/

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Connect with Esther:

Instagram @wear__we__are

Wear We Live @wearwelive.sg

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Find more information at rewearpodcast.carrd.co (transcript, additional resources)

The re:wear glossary: https://tinyurl.com/rewearglossarymobile | https://tinyurl.com/rewearglossarydesktop

Watch the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXrd0ONQuPijPm5TF4qte1w

Follow us on Instagram @thefashionpulpit

Send enquiries, feedback and constructive criticism to [email protected]

Produced by PodcastMate @podcastmate.co

Contact them at [email protected]

This episode is one of many living questions. We question the fervent need to define ‘Singapore Fashion’ and discuss how we can participate in the system beyond wear, ownership and consumption. Weiqi emphasises the need for industry-level introspection and discourse in order for our local industry to recognise that its ongoing practices and ways of working are unsustainable. Singapore Fashion needs accountability, not definitions.

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Intro (0:43)

What is fashion? (7:58)

Can we define Singapore fashion? (11:22)

The potential of fashion as a medium that everyone participates in (19:45)

How care can be embellished in everyday wear (22:20)

The relationship between Fashion Media and its readers (28:50)

Seeing Fashion in different spaces outside of consumption (33:02)

Singapore Fashion needs industry-level introspection (49:48)

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LINKS & SOURCES MENTIONED

Vogue SG street style article: https://vogue.sg/lasalle-college-of-the-arts-fashion-students-street-style-singapore/

HerWorld article: https://www.herworld.com/fashion/singapore-really-fashion-capital-or-just-shopping-one/

Prestige article: https://www.prestigeonline.com/sg/style/fashion/singapore-designers-change-fashion-industry/

Weiqi’s articles:

Performing Femininity: Aprons, Capes and School Uniforms https://www.asianfilmarchive.org/performing-femininity-aprons-capes-and-school-uniforms/

Meet the Singaporean designers changing the way we dress, design and age https://vogue.sg/singapore-adaptive-fashion-werable-will-and-well-claudia-poh-elisa-lim/

Queering Through Dress: ‘Dress/Address’ at Grey Projects https://www.fashionandmarket.net/news-and-reviews/queering-through-dress-dressaddress-at-grey-projects

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Connect with Weiqi:

Instagram @coqillage

Work & Research @fashionondisplay

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Find more information at rewearpodcast.carrd.co (transcript, additional resources)

The re:wear glossary: https://tinyurl.com/rewearglossarymobile | https://tinyurl.com/rewearglossarydesktop

Watch the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXrd0ONQuPijPm5TF4qte1w

Follow us on Instagram @thefashionpulpit

Send enquiries, feedback and constructive criticism to [email protected]

Produced by PodcastMate @podcastmate.co

Contact them at [email protected]