Lottie Woods was in her early twenties when she was sent, alone, to meet a powerful buyer for a high street fashion brand in Guangzhou, China.

They went out for a drink. The next morning, they had a meeting. In this interview with Olly, she recounts what happened in between.

Along the way, she reveals the pressures of designing garments for the ‘fast fashion’ sector, the challenges of raising ethical standards, and the fallout from one fateful evening in a country she didn’t know, in a language she couldn’t speak.

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Lottie is now a freelance designer, working with ethical brands, and blogs about slow fashion and sustainable awareness at intotheeco.com

If YOU have a story you would like to share on the show, do what Lottie did - head to our website, modernmann.co.uk, and click ‘Feedback’.

And, if you have been affected by this conversation - know that there is always someone you can talk to in confidence. A good place to start is Safeline [https://www.safeline.org.uk/].

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Meanwhile, in this month’s Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart takes his first awkward steps into the world of videogame development. 

Is a month long enough for him to develop a story that’s ‘credible, coherent and dramatically meaningful’? Has the opportunity afforded by a sprained ankle and a third month of lockdown given him enough time to to make a genuinely playable 2D platformer? (Spoiler: yes. If you head to our website, you can PLAY THE MAC VERSION NOW!).

Thanks to ‘sprite’ designer Mr Gordo, Unity’s ‘Global Head of Evangelism Content’ Mike Geig, and online videos from Brakeys and Code Monkey for helping Ollie on his journey.

If YOU would like to challenge Ollie to try out a trend in a future edition of the show, head to our website now and click ‘Feedback’.

The Zeitgeist is remote-recorded on fabulous Yeti X microphones provided by our sponsors, Blue Microphones. Get yours here: https://www.blue-designs.co.uk/products/yeti-x/?utm_campaign=BL_FY21Q1-WILD-Blue_OPX_EN-UK&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_content=Post

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Elsewhere, in this month’s Foxhole, Alix Fox has advice on Zoom-based dating, ‘Buddha machines’, lockdown libidos and low-effort BDSM for those who fancy an X-rated session but need to catch some ZZZzzzs.

Such enquiries this month led her to consult professional Dominants Master Dominic and Moira Mona, and also the advice issued by the Faculty for Sexual and Reproductive Health for those using Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives, like coils and implants, during the Covid crisis.

If YOU have a question of sex you’d like to chuck Alix’s way, visit our website, and fill out the form on the ‘Feedback’ page. You can remain anonymous if you like.

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Our record of the month is ‘Begin Again’, by Mercury-nominated songwriter Nick Mulvey. It’s part of an EP of the same name, released on June 5th. You can find a Spotify playlist of every song we’ve ever featured on our website, modernmann.co.uk.

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In these uncertain times, it is YOUR SUPPORT of this show that makes it possible for us to still make you a fresh new podcast each month - please DONATE if you can. Just click ‘Beer Money’ on our website.

Wanna be a Mannbassador? Buy us a beer, or leave us a review on Apple Podcasts - and then send us an email to tell us about yourself. Links on our website.

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Stay safe, keep well, and we’ll see you with something new on July 1st!

Host: Olly Mann. Producer: Matt Hill. Contributors: Ollie Peart, Alix Fox, Lottie Woods, Nick Mulvey. Theme Music: Django Django. Graphic Design: Jenny Mann Design. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2020.

modernmann.co.uk

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