Clare, After spending almost your entire career in the fashion industry as a contributing fashion editor for WSJ and British Vogue as well as for big style houses like Hermes and Calvin Klein, can you share with us what your motivation was to start Reluxe? Did you always know you wanted to start your own business and why now?
My love of fashion is why I got into it in the first place, but then my huge concern over the impact of the industry on the environment and how we consume fashion. I wanted to be part of a solution. I felt Resale sites started to reflect the fast fashion model, were overwhelmed with product, and had little to no curation. It was a case of sifting through pages and pages of black trousers.
I wanted Reluxe Fashion to be the antithesis of that. A curated selection of the best pieces as we have access to incredibly stylish women wardrobes from around the world and a brilliant community of women. It’s a true return to slow fashion. Still indulging our love of fashion and refreshed closets, but in more considered way
Caroline, you have spent your career dedicated to issues around sustainability, working both in the private sector helping manage investments towards positive environmental change and also serving as a Board Member for several nonprofits focused on the environment and climate change. What initially drew you to this work and how do you think the organizations you are involved with are having a positive impact?
Growing up in Bronxville, I was fortunate to spend summers on my mom’s family's ranch in California. Being so close to a wild, beautiful and working landscape made me realize how alarmingly quickly these are disappearing and inspired my work in conservation, “restorative agriculture” and environmental activism. Like Clare, I believe our movement must be visually appealing and, in the case of foods, delicious. Broadly speaking the environmental movement is making incredible progress in driving awareness and behavioral change, even if there’s a long road ahead.
Clare, we talked a little about how difficult it is for the fashion industry, consumers + brands alike to buy into the notion of sustainability and embrace reloved items as high fashion. There also seems to be a perverse incentive for companies who are ultimately accountable to and driven by a bottom line to embrace and incorporate these values. Have you begun to see a shift in the industry and what can we as consumers do to help?
Consumers can support companies that are committed to sustainability by choosing to purchase their products and services. Really stand back and take a look at where you are spending your money and what values that company/brand has. Avoid greenwashing and fast fashion - when you dig deep it is so scary what is happening here. Do not be fooled by the marketing.
Buy already loved clothing - preloved from Reluxe Fashion! We don’t need anymore clothes right now in the world - we are saturated. There’s no need to overhaul your consumer choices in one day, but as you start making one change, you’ll most likely find yourself making more and more. Slow down consumption and be more considered.
Caroline, you joined the board of Bedford 2030, a local nonprofit started to lead a community wide effort that results in an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2040. Can you talk a little about the organization’s progress towards that goal so far? What as a community are we doing exceptionally well and where are we failing?
Bedford2030 is an outstanding local climate organization that has put Bedford at the forefront of action in New York State and beyond. We have collaborated with the Town of Bedford to create a tangible roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and partnered with the community to sponsor many programs that are moving the needle. Surpassing the original 20% reduction target by 2020, we are now ambitiously targeting a 80% reduction by 2030. The board is currently conducting a formal mid-decade assessment of GHG progress so I can’t speak with numbers, but broadly speaking, engagement is showing improvement while adoption still requires further attention. What drew me to Bedford2030 is our lesser-known but equal objective of preserving natural resources. Living in an area blessed with natural beauty, wildlife, tree canopy and working lands + open spaces, it is critical that we steward this gift and not take for granted that it will still be here in the decades to come.
You are both mothers to young children, how do you each envision the world your own children will inherit? Is there a chance that in their lifetime some of the major forces of climate change will be addressed? If so, what will that take?
Clare: I am going to be optimistic and say that I really hope we will have turned a corner. We all know that it isn't going to happen overnight but I feel like more people are trying to do their bit to help. What we need now is for the big multinationals, the global businesses to make significant changes - that's when it will really trickle down and allow people to make conscious choices. A lot of people want to do more for the planet but the eco-friendly options aren't always affordable, we need to remove these barriers.
Caroline: I envision a world for our children that still has redwood trees, dirt roads, rhinos and educated and informed communities that act with integrity, take responsibility for their actions and continue to move forward. What will it take to get there? I have faith in human ingenuity and our ability to engineer technical solutions to the challenges we face. AI is putting us on the cusp of a complete transformation in our ability to address every conceivable problem (except for the problem of controlling AI… but that’s a different conversation). However, I am concerned that a narrow focus by the environmental movement on GHGs may lead us to neglect the preservation of living things. That's why I believe building back natural systems and prioritizing actions like preserving open space are amongst the most important things we as concerned environmentalists can focus on. And if we are reminded on a daily basis of the BEAUTY of our natural world, we won’t neglect it and can pass it on.
What are the number one or two things we as individuals can do to have a more positive impact on our environment? What about as a community?
Clare: Hard to name two things only - slow down our consumption, consider where you are spending your money. Stop using plastic! Buy preloved (from reluxefashion!) Get involved with your community and see what is going on - ask questions and think what skill set you have that could help or just volunteer. It is fun and so rewarding.
Caroline: Do more with less! Less packaging, less flying, less AC in the summer, less heat in the winter, less driving, less mowing, fewer chemicals, less food waste, less building, and definitely more trees…. all can make a significant and immediate impact.
Lightening Round:
Most cherished item of preloved clothing?
Clare: My Chanel bag my husband got me for one Christmas - the effort and thought that went into it was so kind.
Caroline: Every single article of kids clothes!! What a beautiful thing to see cute outfits travel down our line of kids and make their way to other homes! Oh. And the Temperley black and red dress that Clare just helped me find. She has the BEST taste. Check out Reluxe!
One individual you admire who you really think “gets” these issues and is having a positive impact on change?
Clare: I love what Livia Firth is doing with Eco Age and the Green Carpet Challenge. She started Eco Age at the real height of the fast fashion era and I definitely think her work is having an impact on how we shop - we have seen preloved fashion really take off in the last few years, more and more celebs are either re-wearing red carpet looks or going for vintage options and people are starting to pay more attention to the lifecycle of their clothes.
Caroline: First that come to mind are the Barber brothers- Dan and David, who are the geniuses behind Blue Hill at Stone Barns, where Dan has run the kitchen and David the business. They have revolutionized the food movement through an unflappable commitment to excellence and are rethinking ways that food choices can restore our living environment. Also here in Bedford we don’t need to look very far for inspiration!! There are so many environmental activists that live nearby (professors, non-profit leaders, business people) that it’s hard to call anyone out. We are fortunate to have a bipartisan climate action plan that Lee Roberts (Republican) initiated which Ellen Calves (Democrat) is stewarding on behalf of our town. I would also recommend looking at the work of Bedford neighbor Murray Fisher. His rewilding mantra is a great rallying cry. His initiatives, the Harbor School and Billion Oyster Project are watershed environmental restoration and educational achievements.
Most favorite spot in our area?
Clare: I love just going on walks around the area - every time I come here I feel I discover another amazing trail.
Caroline: Anywhere in the BRLA. What an extraordinary treasure! Especially those that intersect Ward Pound Ridge, the John Jay Homestead, Beaver Dam, Sunnyfield and … the amazing Piney Woods valley.
What would you do with one extra hour each day?
Clare: SLEEP honestly or just have complete quiet time!
Caroline: Take a nap! Or go on a trail run! Two extra hours would do the trick!
