Unreal Times

Fast fashion and overconsumption are two big issues that have plagued the fashion industry for years. We are joined by the incredible Dana Thomas, she shares her expertise and unique insight as a journalist and consumer on the fast fashion crisis.

Is fashion rental the future? Shanya thinks so. Shanya is the co-founder of Rntr, an all-in-one platform and logistics solutions for brands and retailers to offer a rental service directly to their consumers. Hear her take on the rental market and how Rntr will help to create a more sustainable fashion industry.

Joined by Emma Håkansson, this episode discusses the ways in which we can create a kinder world for all beings. Emma's work within the Animal Rights realm is truly inspiring, she has dedicated her life and career to veganism and finding equality for animals and she is here to tell us all about It.

Joined by Alice Gras, a brilliant entrepreneur who saw a gap in the Parisian market, trusted her instinct and established her amazing co-working fashion space Hall Couture. Marketed as Fashion Residence for creators and craftsmen, this innovative concept and offering is a creatives dream. Providing a dynamic space that residents can call their own and immerse themselves in their craft.

Joined by Anna Salewski, CEO of FashionTech Startup, Scroble, we chat about removing limitations and closing the gap between online and offline shopping. Scroble is Anna's clever invention that aims to deliver a united, sustainable and wholistic retail experience to the customer.

Piñatex is changing the world one pineapple at a time. Pinatex, from the company Ananas Anam is a sustainable fibre made from pineapple leaf waste and used as a leather alternative. Pinatex is truly transforming the leather landscape, and we are chatting with creator and founder of the company Dr. Carmen Hijosa on all things sustainable fashion and alternative fibres.

Circular Fashion is a concept that at times feels impossible to achieve. The Fashion industry has for so long existed with their unsustainable, damaging, and ineffective practices. The Australian Circular Fashion Conference is an initiative founded by Camille Reed that is creating conversation to help us head in the right direction. There is no perfect solution right now, but the ACFC is working to enable the connections needed to create meaningful and productive sustainable fashion practices.

World Animal Protection has dedicated the last 55 years to fighting against the exploitation of animals. Through education and clever campaigning they continue to push for a world free from animal cruelty and suffering. Hear from Ben Pearson Head of Campaigns at World Animal Protection about his work towards creating a world where animals and humans can live in harmony.

We love the concept of accessible luxury. Providing customers with high quality products that are reasonably priced can be a rarity is the Fashion industry, but fellow small Aussie business, Pacifico Optical is doing this perfectly. Hear from founder Alain, on how he established the brand, the impact the global health crisis has had on his 2020 plans and what’s next for the brand.

When culture and fashion come together, they can create the most incredible and meaningful art. One brand who has united the two is Australian brand Magpie Goose. Magpie Goose’s mission is twofold, to create opportunities for non-Indigenous people to connect with Aboriginal art, culture, and stories through fashion. But also, to generate new economic opportunities for Aboriginal people living in remote Australia. We are speaking to co-founder Maggie about the incredible role they are playing in educating Australians on indigenous culture and putting out some stunning fashion designs at the same time.

Unreal Fur has partnered with the A/C Collective Showroom for over 3 years and have loved every minute it. They have helped us expand our brand in the US market and we have built a strong and successful partnership and friendship. We spoke with Andrea Hamilton a few weeks back after she tested positive for the Coronavirus in Los Angeles, USA. She talks on her experience with the virus, the chaos in the United States surrounding Covid-19 and how she balanced business family and her health.

You can get a degree in Fashion & Sustainability, thanks to Collarts (The Australian College of the Arts). This episode we are joined by Sal Edwards, program coordinator of the course. This first of its kind higher education course is a step in the right direction when it come’s to educating our leaders of tomorrow and truly creating change.

Joined by photographer and friend Jesper Hede,this episode explores ideas of personal experience prompting enlightened perspective and a desire to educate and create change. Jesper has an amazing story surrounding his fist-hand experience with fur-farming to a now committed stance on veganism and ethical practices.

The concept of AI and all artificially generated data can be a hard one to grasp. Technology is rapidly advancing, and we believe in embracing change or you will get left behind. Blockchain and Cryptocurrency specialist, Romi Kumar, joins us to talk tech and discuss the future of merging expert data systems and fashion.

Desserto, the brand bringing us sustainable plant based vegan leather made from Cactus. We talk to Co-founder Marte Cázarez about his innovative and full circle approach to fashion and fiber manufacturing and the power that alternate fibres can have on a wide range of industries.

The PR industry has experienced tremendous change in recent years, with traditional practices becoming obsolete, replaced by the new shiny influencer bubble and the world of content creation. This episode we speak with Kate Bedrick from US creative agency, BLK. Talking all things modern PR, influencer marketing & going digital.

Finance in Fashion has come a long way over time, and that in part is thanks to corporations like Hildun. The corp works to sustain the growth and expansion of their clients, with a particular focus on emerging fashion brands.In this episode we are talking to CEO Gary Wassner and Executive Vice President Josh Kapelman from Hildun about their take on the business related do’s and don’ts of the Covid-19 era and beyond.

All industries should strive to be better, and Better Packaging Co is the company showing companies the way. This episode we are joined by the founders Rebecca and Kate to discuss their full circle approach to sustainable packaging and beyond. *We apologize for the minor audio defects on this episode attributed to remote recording.

Joined by Julia Daviy, we are discussing the latest innovation in fashion, 3D Printing. Julia is an inventor, designer, environmentalist and 3D printing pioneer. She is changing the world with her zero-waste, environmentally friendly digital designs.

Joined by the lovely Melissa Singer, National Fashion Editor for the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age, we delve deep into the complexities of the retail landscape. Hear her take on slowing down the world of fashion, the emergence of a more conscious consumer and more.

Joined by Simon Lock from ORDRE Virtual Showroom we learn about all the ways in which he and his team are reinventing the business of fashion. New technologies drive change, and the digital revolution is well and truly upon us, so it’s time to embrace it.

PJ Smith, Director of Fashion Policy at the Humane Society joins us this episode. PJ does so much for animal welfare in fashion. We celebrate his successes, and discuss the importance surrounding education and relationship building when it comes to pushing towards a cruelty-free future in fashion and his role within these complexities.

Worldwide, we are all feeling the impact from Covid-19, on our businesses, lives and future. It's Important to remember that in times like these, positivity and optimism are what can help get us through. Chatting with Hillary France from Brand Assembly, we hear her take on getting through this trying time together, all while staying apart.

This episode we had the pleasure to speak with Nina Paley, an an American cartoonist, animator and free culture activist. We discuss women's empowerment, the complicated nature of the copyright industry and the liberation that free culture can bring.

Talking all things Australian small business, vegan fashion and conscious consumption, this episode we are joined by the incredible Cathryn Wills from the vegan brand, Sans Beast. Hear her take on what current world events could mean for fashion and how brands like ours can help inspire change.

In this episode, we are joined by Dan O'Connell from BrandLab, the innovative company streamlining wholesale fashion buying by digitising it. Can you imagine a world where fashion’s future is virtual? Well, it’s closer than you might think.

On this episode of Unreal Times we are joined by Emily Rice from PETA to chat about the complicated relationship between man and animal. Covid-19 is inextricably linked to animals, so we ask ourselves, after all this is over, can we go back to normal? Or was normal the problem?

In the premier episode, host Neomi Amit is joined by Unreal Fur's Managing Director Amir Shani to discuss why the Australian faux-fur brand has decided to launch this topically charged podcast and to shed some light on the company's current situation during the confusing time that is the Covid-19 era.