Introducing the 2021 Green Warriors

Running low on inspiration because of the global pandemic? Feeling like nothing’s changing and the world’s against you? Waiting for a sign that doing the work is worth it? This is it. We are beyond thrilled to announce 35 phenomenal individuals who are in the business of saving the world, from all corners of it. But before that—what is the Green Warriors list, and what does it celebrate? Well, the Green Warriors list is packed full of people from all walks of life. Social media activists, to NGO founders. DJs to architects. Humans working at the international level, to those working at the community, local level. And certainly, the issues our Green Warriors care about cross all aspects of sustainability and touch every part of our lives. Sustainability, of course, is no longer just about saving the planet, as we’ve all learned over the past year.

Meet the panel of judges for the first ever Marie Claire Sustainability Awards

You might have heard that we’re hosting our first ever Marie Claire UK Sustainability Awards this July. Simply put, it’s the best way we thought we could shout about the brands that are actually doing good and making a difference in our crucially eco-conscious world. We’ve got over 60 categories to judge, from best carbon footprint initiative, to best supply chain initiative, to best sustainable packaging and many more. It’s going to be tough, but luckily, we’ve lined up a panel of sustainability pros, eco-warriors and advisors to help award the brands that, in short, are the best in the business. So, without further ado, meet our stellar line up of judges – we’ve got over 35 of the best global experts, thought leaders and activists on-hand to do the digging on which businesses are genuinely doing their bit.

8 AAPI Activists & Creators You Should Pay Attention To

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. In a time where eight in 10 Asian Americans say that violence against them is rising, it’s especially important to honor the accomplishments of our communities. While we at YR Media recognize that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are not a monolith by any means, there’s also value in celebrating young AAPI influencers using their platforms to bring about change in their communities. So here’s a list we’ve compiled of AAPI creators making waves in all sorts of areas from art to politics.

4 new-age content creators on how they use their influence towards a better tomorrow

“Whether journalism, blogging, or influencing, I’ve always seen my role as a storyteller who helps synthesise and deliver knowledge. My work in each domain informs one another; the core of my work will always explore the intersections of social and environmental justice as seen through the fashion industry. So for instance, my work as a sustainable fashion blogger equips me to speak on topics of sustainability from a personalised perspective. However, as a journalist, I’m able to de-centre myself and look at issues from a systemic perspective."

It’s Been 8 Years Since Rana Plaza & Things Are Actually Worse For Asian Factory Workers

While Rana Plaza certainly wasn’t the first garment industry catastrophe — just months prior, also in Bangladesh, the Tazreen Fashions factory fire resulted in the deaths of over 100 people  —  it was the deadliest, garnering global attention and galvanizing a slew of grassroots, citizen-fueled movements calling for widespread labor rights reform, improved health and safety regulations, and consumer awareness. “This was an avoidable disaster that speaks volumes about how life is valued in the face of this [fashion system] that’s predicated on speed and scale at all costs,” says Aditi Mayer, a sustainable fashion blogger and labor rights activist. The dehumanizing and lethal effect of fashion’s culture of disposability and consumer appetite for constant newness became impossible to ignore. But how much progress has really been made since then?

Get To Know Photojournalist and Sustainable Style Activist Aditi Mayer

With an avid group of followers and brands taking notice of her unique voice, Los Angeles-based photojournalist and sustainable style activist Aditi Mayer is pushing the dial when it comes to the dialogue around the environmental and ethical impacts of the fashion industry. With a focus on decolonization, garment workers’ rights and consuming less, not just better, Mayer — who counts Canadian brand Poppy Barley as one of her favourites — is a force to be reckoned with. Read on to learn more about how she grew a passion for photography into a life of purpose.

‘Bad apples have been exposed’: Can a fairer fashion industry emerge from crisis?

Sustainable fashion campaigners reflect on the past year in fashion to mark Earth Day. Mayer shares, ‘The narrative around what it means to be a conscious consumer has changed. The labour element of the sustainable fashion conversation has historically been niche but, beyond the bubble of sustainable fashion, it has become more front and centre this year. There has been a shift in the collective consciousness of consumers about what actually goes on in the industry and the disposability of garment worker life. And there has definitely been a change in the culture of accountability, driven by social media and consumers. But, from a policy perspective, I feel the industry has yet to catch up in terms of having the mechanisms to ensure this exploitation doesn’t exist."

A new generation of activists are changing how we think about sustainability

Even sustainable fashion has had a wake-up call. Aditi Mayer, an ethical fashion blogger based in Los Angeles, regularly unpicks the effects of colonisation – for example, anti-blackness in the South Asian diaspora. She educates more than 50,000 followers about environmental and social threats; most recently, the danger posed by the Indian government’s three new farming laws, as well as their anti-democratic treatment of peaceful protesters. The overarching message is that conscious consumers must embrace a more holistic model for sustainable success and, fortunately for them, this generation comes armed with tool kits.