I’m Claire: fiercely feminist; beer drinker; bookworm; style seeker; shoe obsessive; and (terrible) amateur photographer.
When I was about 20, I bought a pair of [Product] Red X Converse trainers (from which a percentage of profits were donated to projects combating the spread of HIV/AIDS and malaria). It was my first exposure to the idea of being an ‘ethical consumer’.
And, to my naive young self, it was mind-blowing. The idea that I had power as a consumer – and that I could use that power to ‘do good’ – was the most exciting concept I’d ever come across.
Fast forward more than a decade, and my understanding of ethical trade and responsible business is, thankfully, now somewhat more nuanced. And yet one thing hasn’t changed, I constantly remind myself of those famous words from Anna Lappé: “Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want”.
How, then, should one spend one’s hard-earned moolah (or what’s left of it after paying London rents!) and be a responsible human being at the same time?
The considerations seem never-ending, and the solutions often contradictory or confusing. That’s why I’ve found myself constantly asking questions.
And always seeking answers.
If you’re a curious consumer, come join me.
Claire x
Insta: @what.claire.wears
P.S. My credentials (in case anyone is asking):
- Experienced professional in: social auditing of supply chains; economic development; business development for responsible businesses
- SA8000 Qualified Auditor
- LLM International Human Rights Law
- Thesis: Considering International Legal Accountability of Multinational Corporations in Global Value Chains: A Case Study of the Rana Plaza Disaster
- BA International Relations
The Ethical Question 