I started my career in retail at the age of 16, working as a shop assistant at a shoe store in my hometown of Wellington. Going on to study after high school wasn't something I felt very definitive about, so instead I went full-time on the shop floor and never looked back. This included some time at Max actually!

I recall having the 'entrepreneurial itch' from an early age, reading the likes of 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' by Robert Kiyosaki as a teenager. After many self-pep talks and almost a decade on the frontline and behind the scenes at head office, I decided it was time to take the leap and start my own business. My first startup, SeekStock, was a platform that captured feedback from retail staff about product demand, filtering it in real-time to head office teams for more agile and accurate decision making. Come to think of it, Barkers was actually an early adopter of the software! After a lot of trial and error, successes, covid, and learnings (no failure around here), I had my sights set on venture #2, All Things Considered.

My ALLTC co-founder John Holt and I met somewhat randomly over coffee, where he shared his vision to showcase the impact statements of every company listed publicly on the stock exchange. As a hard-core environmentalist, I was SOLD on the idea of bringing transparency to the purpose (or lack thereof) of businesses for the benefit of consumers, and I knew instantly that fashion would be the perfect starting point. It didn't take much more than "The fashion industry emits more carbon than aviation and maritime shipping combined", for John to be onboard (he's a hobby pilot).

We saw the demand for a dedicated and fully transparent platform for consumers to share their desire for industry change, while equally celebrating the brands slaying their sustainability. Consumers that are fired up about the impacts of the fashion industry are already emailing brands directly or tagging them on social media to express their concerns, so our votes are purely an extension of this behaviour. (Only our votes can't be ignored, censored, or deleted like emails and comments.)

Consumer feedback and sentiment are important not only for brands to understand how they are being perceived publicly regarding their sustainability, but also to raise the bar on the fashion industry as a whole, with gentle nudges (downvotes) to the brands with room to improve and do better by our people and planet. Our collective voice will drive change.

In order to vote on All Things Considered, users need to create an account to ensure all votes are genuine. Typically, voters are very intentional about their choices, opting to support or encourage brands they have personal experience with or an interest in learning more about their sustainability - so it's not just a free-for-all. We also feature the certifications, standards, initiatives, and innovations that exist in the industry, along with the brands they're aligned with, to help better educate consumers on every area of the industry.

Yes, we've had a number of brands reach out to us and the response has been really positive! Naturally, with a new and unfamiliar platform (especially one with a voting element that could be seen as controversial), a small handful of brands have expressed some apprehension. We don't necessarily think this apprehension is a bad thing, as feeling discomfort can often indicate that something needs to change. We want to ensure that our overall mission is clear though, and that's to raise the overall standards of the fashion industry collectively.

The feedback we receive often is that it's hard to tell how big or small a brand actually is, and that smaller brands shouldn't be compared directly to big-box retailers. We couldn't agree more, and we're actively working on segmenting brands according to their size and scale of production to ensure there is context behind any comparisons. We find that most considered shoppers want sustainability to be black and white - to be told which brand is 'good' and which is 'bad'. But the reality is that it's just not that simple due to the complex nature of the fashion industry's supply chains, and we encourage consumers to dig a little deeper themselves.

While there is no expectation from consumers of sustainability perfection, what they will get behind is genuine progress. Brands that are transparent about what they're doing well while taking ownership of the areas that need work, will foster trust with consumers and maintain brand integrity. Ultimately, our key message to brands is to ensure they are telling their authentic story about their sustainability efforts, no matter the stage or how small the changes may seem - as consumers are watching and researching intently.

I was recommended a book in my early twenties called 'The Four Agreements' by Don Miguel Ruiz, which is essentially a hand guide on how to live a life free from internal suffering (deep, I know). The Four Agreements are: Be impeccable with your word, Don’t make assumptions, Don’t take things personally, and Always do your best.

I realised that I was placing far too much importance on other people's opinions and that I wasn't living life completely for myself. This book really helped me declutter the mental noise, and channel that energy towards achieving my own goals and living a life that feels right for me.

Want to learn more about All Things Considered? Head over to www.alltc.co and have a look for yourself!