Composed by Adeline Chandra / Images courtesy of Britt's List
Britt's List and us? - we go way back to the the early years of RŪPAHAUS. I still vividly remember the delight when the RŪPA team found the article Brittanie Dreghorn wrote about us, and to be honest, the pride we felt about representing slow fashion in our hometown is truly heartwarming. It's been a few years since then and she is still a great friend and support to us.
In amidst of Brittanie's busy schedule (one you usually have when you're an #AustralianMade fashion advocate, the Australian go to guide for ethical and sustainable fashion!) and the arrival of little Daisy, we had the opportunity to sit down with Britt to talk about what it means to be a slow fashion advocate and also be a part of her newborn shoots (which we are absolutely smitten with!).
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what makes you interesting!
Hi, I’m Britt. I’m a small business owner and a fashion blogger. I’m also a partner and a sister and a daughter and a new mum!
I’m from Mackay in central Queensland but have been living in Brisbane for 7+ years now. I studied abroad in France during my degree and spent time in India volunteering and teaching yoga. I like to master things quickly and then move onto the next thing – so I’m often throwing myself into new business ventures or hobbies. I consider myself an activist in my own ways.
What do you do, and what do you love about your work?
I’m the founder and editor of sustainable fashion publication Britt’s List, co-founder and director of a marketing agency in Brisbane - The Content Division, and a new mum! I get energy from ‘doing’ so I really thrive on having multiple things on the go. I love my work team and the type of work we do. So it’s all great.
What does being an ethical & sustainable advocate mean to you, and what motivated or inspired you to do the work that you do?
Britt’s List started out as a hobby project but quickly turned into a sustainable business venture due to the uptake and interest in sustainable and ethical fashion in Australia. I really wanted to help connect conscious consumers / shoppers with local brands making genuine efforts in sustainability so I’m stoked it’s turned out to be as successful as it is. I constantly have brands thanking me for sending customers their way and shoppers thanking me for helping them find these brands.
What part of ethical and sustainable fashion interest you the most?
I would say I’m most interested in fashion that considers and values people throughout the supply chain. I think we all need to consider our purchases a lot more and the impact they have on people + planet + animals. The more we value our clothes, the more we’ll value the people who made them and the resources that went into them.
As one of Australia's most prominent sustainable fashion bloggers, what was the most noticeable change when you adopted the slow lifestyle?
In relation to clothes in particular, I noticed that I valued my clothes more when I thought more about the purchases and generally spent more on each item. But I do consider my impact in all areas and am often burdened with the knowing of the human and environmental impact of all my purchases – from coffee to furniture and everything in between. I make changes to lower my impact but not in any way dramatic - i.e. I don’t have an electric vehicle or solar on my house and I don’t compost. But we choose an electricity provider that funds renewable energy generation and we buy food from local farmers and social enterprises, and make efforts to reduce waste.
What does tradition and culture mean to you?
Tradition and culture are incredibly important to respecting people and their identities. Whether its artisanal techniques, religious ceremonies or a history associated with a certain industry, it helps people to feel valued and respected. From a fashion perspective, it’s an opportunity to convey a rich history while providing a way to make a living. It also makes things interesting. Western culture can be a fantastic melting pot of diversity but for the most part it’s extremely bland. We need to encourage all peoples’ traditions to ensure that we can see different perspectives and value people + planet + animals.
What is your favourite RŪPAHAUS piece?
All of the dresses are beautiful but I’m currently loving wearing the Mads dress in Pomelo. It’s a lovely breathable fabric coming into Spring and has full length buttons - perfect for breastfeeding my little one on the go.
"I love the emphasis on the people who make the RŪPAHAUS clothes and throughout the supply chain. I also love the use of natural fibres – they’re great for the planet but they’re also just so lovely to wear!" - Brittanie Dreghorn, 2021
Lastly, what's your rhythm of life? and do you have a daily mantra or ritual?
I love routine and having a baby has really cemented that for me – mostly as a survival method. Daily walks in nature, cuddle time with my bub and plenty of time to ‘work’ is all really important to me maintaining physical and mental health. But I also know how to switch off and activate self-care mode. An ideal daily ritual would be walk + coffee + yoga + work + diarying + a good night’s sleep – but at the moment it’s an abridged version of that.
Curious to know more about our sustainably sourced natural materials, learn more here or better yet ask us about it in the comment below!
Shop the look! Find Britt's List favourites here!
