Debora Florio Founder of Bio Fashion Lab and Remake Community Organizer - Seeing Ourselves, Welcoming Challenges and the Stories within the Clothes We Wear

Get it over human, but we learn from that thing. So why not? Yes, welcome challenge, welcome problems, welcome everything that hurts you Embrace it all honestly Hi team, and welcome to the sustainably LB podcast. I'm your host LB from a young age I've always been in awe of the natural world the fashion industry and what lies me on the bail It was an until recently that I was able to put these elements into context and begin to understand how it is all beautifully interconnected Now what I felt in my childhood this threat of connectedness and intrigue Was a calling to something far greater than I could have ever imagined Sustainably LB podcast brings all of those elements together and I'm so glad you're here Through this episode of sustainably LB I got a share space with Deborah Floreo founder of bio fashion lab and remake community organizer In Florence Italy remake is a nonprofit global advocacy organization that champions fair pay and climate justice and the fashion industry and Bio fashion lab is a beautiful creation of Debra's where bunch of shopping and education meet I am so excited to be able to share our conversation with you And I hope that you enjoyed this episode as much as I enjoyed making it So let's get to it Thank you so so much for sitting and holding space with me and I just I can't wait to dive into everything about What you do with bio fashion lab and remake and this this conversation is going to be so wonderful I am so honored that you're here. Thank you. Oh Thanks. Thanks. Thanks to you because as I as I said and you know, right? This is much well the honor is much all one of the percent and we are part of the same community so my dear. We're family So exactly I love that take on it. It's like the remake community is family and for those listening To the podcast they might know that I'm a remake ambassador, but that's how I connected with you and Let's let's start there like let's talk about how How the remake community is family and how both of us are finding our unique expression in place like within that beautiful global community because I mean it is it is global while it's out of Technically the Bay Area, right? Like it it's the it's fans the globe and I love that part about it So we have have been UK and Amsterdam so yeah, I'm going those were next though. So yeah, why not? I think a few ambassadors and in Paris So yes, it's global we had every Yes, and I love I love that this Technology as clunky as zoom can be and as weird as Social media and stuff is like it really like again the light in the dark. It's been able to Connect me to you in Italy, and I get to be inspired by like what you're doing in It's in Florence, right? Like Like what you're doing there and the interconnectedness of All of us like it doesn't seem like someone from the middle of the states I'm in Omaha, Nebraska would have anything in common with someone from Florence Italy, right? But like we do we love it So much. Yeah, yeah, that's why he's so powerful the the community Yes, and that's such a It's such a building block, but like The commonality of our beliefs is just It it's just feels like a drop in the bucket like how we all express compassion, I think is the most beautiful thing about the community we're all each others Champions and cheerleaders and we are a support for each other and that's actually How everything started as well for me because I mean, I think Remain gave me Everything in terms of like when I started and I think this is how Most of us started We were feeling kind of overwhelmed because as soon as you realize what's going on in this industry It's a lot. It's a lot to take honestly And especially for who was working or he's still working in the industry and Understanding that we were the first creating this Damage in a way in a certain way, so kind of like I felt really responsible because I was there and I didn't have a clue So I didn't know what to do and like how to take action and I felt Lonely with no powers had okay, and now what how to fix this and honestly I'm not the person that that like the word the the sentence that unfortunately is really common here in Italy that is It is what it is. No, I cannot accept things when I don't like them I have to try at least to fix them in a way or any any action and remake was there I mean with them I understood I was not alone. We are a community is true like we are together and we are these Huge we do this huge like action all together and really we are moving forward They would really we are making progress something that I thought it was impossible Because the fashion industry is it's gigantic. It's enormous and every year we have a news I mean we have more brands more fast fashion brand. I mean we know So it's like it's really overwhelming and and remakes give us I think the chance to Just to stick together to create this kind of army like a positive army to change things to make a difference And that for me was mind blowing and just because I felt this power next to me As I'm okay now. I can make my drink come true for real So if I'm opening something here in Florence if I have this project is just thanks to them Absolutely because without their support as a community I would have never risk it never never But I don't feel alone anymore since I started so it's like wow I have a family like oh my god wow, you know I have sisters all around the world as I oh yeah, oh yeah perfect and supportive you know because like I family Luckily or unlikely never really understood who I was Which value and beliefs I had or Yeah, like what really triggered in life or what I was looking for mainly Because maybe I was not sharing with them Or I was kind of lost myself Probably but even like then when I started having a clear idea of who I was and What I like my passion etc It was always really really complicated for them to understand and to accept it So it's like you feel lonely you feel like Okay, there is no one that really support me or understand actually for them it was I mean, I had the opposite that of a support unfortunately it's like no you have to do a normal job You know you have to be so my mom wanted for me to be the secretary of my father is in the well no Which kind of difference am I gonna make in this world being a secretary? I love my father, but nothing. Thank you. No way. No way So yeah, that was the power That remake had in my decision. I mean like you you touched on so many beautiful things like I mean for For example, you said like it's it's heavy this work that we do and going up against the behemoth that is The fashion industry not just fast fashion all of the fashion industry is Just shrouded in secrecy and largely deplorable like across the scope and so Feeling so helpless like that was such a like thing that I related to when you were speaking to like just not having The community or the tools and Community is so powerful and finding it through the remake community like the community within the community It's it. I mean, that's amazing and being seen. I really to that too like I love my family. They are wonderful, but for a long time. Yeah, I didn't feel seen either I'm like how do I describe what I'm feeling or what I'm doing when so much of the world doesn't Accept it or see it or doesn't want to see it or they just want you to like you know fall in line Like yeah, just be your dad's secretary. It's like no. I love my dad. That's great. That's a job for another Person not me like what am I going to like that's not going to fill your cup. That's not going to make you happy like all that at all what for what I have to do it for both because it's easy No, thank you. I do not like something that is easy. So that's Like no easy can be nice But like doing something because it's easy. It's just such a killer of creativity and of the soul and just Well, no, not in my DNA. I understood No, not at all. That is the key for me honestly. It's my oxygen. So I love that and like that that probably That probably feeds you to right like it like fine you put a wall up and like you just told me no Well, you know what I wanted to do it before but I wanted to do it even more now Because you will be not too. You do not believe I can make it You'll say I will I will Just added kindling to the fire. Thank you It's so exciting I found it's crazy, but it's exciting for me Like if I just look in my past like even like a few years ago or one year ago I was like OMG. I think I changed so much. It's not actually that I changed but Understand better myself and I had to deal with some Issue maybe that I had in terms of self-confidence or any kind of things and traumas etc so The process was was incredibly difficult for sure But beautiful beautiful. I couldn't couldn't have been different honestly. I think Even if it was really really hard But I'm glad I'm glad I did it and I'm pretty sure I mean it's gonna change still and the ball then the And I can just accept it honestly and just be amazed for whatever is gonna happen That is that's powerful like that is that's so so powerful to look back and say I mean you said it perfectly. You're like I changed, but I didn't really change I just became more of myself. I evolved more into who I naturally Was yeah, he didn't let's say I was hiding myself. I was keeping myself inside everything was just stuck inside And then slowly slowly I tried to unwrap it up like unwrap myself literally and And talk and share my opinion something that before I couldn't do it even if I have every had everything in my mind and everything inside and I was like Oh, I want to say this. I want to do this This urge of doing something and but I couldn't I couldn't So it was a really personal thanks was really personal thing I love that I think that's beautiful and like to know that We're not alone in those feelings, right like that's I love I love you sharing that part of the story too because I think that's really important to Know that we don't just like we don't just come to this space and and show up and it's like Yeah, I mean some people do and good for them. That's their journey But like very similar to you that has not been my journey. It has not been you know a space where I felt Like I could share and like you talked about as much knowledge and Impassion and love and compassion that you would even have You couldn't like get it out like there wasn't like the tools or the space or the platform or And that's when like that's when the real work begins and like you said like it's hard. Oh my god. Is it hard right? When you look back, you're like yep, I wouldn't have changed. I couldn't have changed anything Obviously, it's in the past but like I wouldn't have because all of that Kind of dark and messy stuff like once you love it and you see it and then you get to the other side and you're like, oh my god I understand Everything Yeah Like what how did oh how did Yeah, it's the even go back to like the old processing way of like thinking or doing you're like I can't do it And if you do you feel a key like yeah, it doesn't you'll get anymore. No But I really like the process is like I do not this like what I was before because it was still part of me that was me and The person I am today is just because of that person that was before so I'm just grateful for that and whatever happiness well with family work anything bad anyway. It's part of our past and process and it's you know, it's still an ingredient that makes Make us today, you know, it's it's is there is part of us So maybe without those things we wouldn't be indifferent. So so why not? I think that's beautiful too. Yeah, like not like accepting all the parts of yourself like your past you got you here So it wasn't like she wasn't bad or like she was just doing what she New and acting from like a survival mode or like whatever conditioning, but like to love the past version of yourself too. That's so That's such a good reminder for everybody like you have to you have to embrace all those parts of you Because they really do make you who you are and like I'm so new there So we're all gonna mess up Yeah, I'm a human, but we get we learn from that thing. So why not? Yes Welcome challenge welcome problems welcome everything that hurts you Embrace it all honestly As much as we can read or learn from others the the best teachers they experience So it as as beautiful and as challenging as that is you know, there's no There's no light without the dark. There's no it's the ying and ying situation and It's the beauty of the beauty of life and I love how The community and I think this is such a powerful thing about community and why we should embrace Community wherever we find it is that like through the remake community right you were empowered and did you did you found The bio fashion lab like because of this support like because of this there's renewed I guess like life source or like becoming more of yourself did how did We want to phrase this like because I'm so I'm so inspired and I'm so cute up like oh, I love it um Like how did you come to Build on these inspirations, you know where have these inspirations in these community like where does it take in you? So in reality so bio fashion lab it's I think it's a project that I maybe started around 30 years ago and I'm 33 It's like I'm just Let's say put in the dots In like whatever is really important for me in life So I create this you know is it is like a cake So one ingredient plus one ingredient plus another ingredient and then bio fashion lab came out and is everything that for me is really important valid and It's sometimes I think it's like it's a necessity not only for me Uh, it's the only thing I can do in life 100% And after working for so many years for I mean on the other side of fashion, let's say and working for others um, I just Understood the value of working for yourself when I like not working for yourself But like really follow your dream if bio fashion lab does not exist I mean if it was already there in the world bio fashion lab maybe I would have applied to work for them But does not exist yet Not not exactly as it is and not where where I am now in Florence So I had to create it you know Easy Like okay Do whatever you want yes, I do whatever you want I want this this and this equal bio fashion lab. So here we go And support for remake it was like I mean through remake I understood as well what I like and which one is my my my passion and So that's why was really really important and like education is gonna be a big part of the store too of the space So and I didn't know before and I didn't know How powerful powerful is for me To share content with someone to share like Yeah, let's say information and everything that is related to the hidden side of fashion I mean, I just like doing it is it's it's something that I realize I have an inside you know and then when you have something inside It comes out quite well, let's say so it's like it's powerful for them And it's powerful for you. So it's like just successful So so yeah, and I honestly didn't have a clue that I I had this passion for Let's say teaching is not teaching is more like let's say coaching I don't like the word teach. I'm not the teacher not at all not not at all But yeah through them I understood this educational part and Because they have great tool then it was just Easier for sure and then again thanks to damn I understood the importance of a community And these actually is what I was already doing all my all my life that means I'm a kind of like empathetic person. I have a lot of empathy for for people And this is not something that I mean I I don't know I study or it's something that I had it my father had has the same So I'm I'm the same as this man So I understood that I it was a kind of a powerful tool too Because everyone like around me was just there um Looking for support help Uh someone to talk with but I'm talking about strangers as well not friends But like just random people. So I always had this kind of um, I don't know like people Wanted something you know wanting something like Liking at least like you know, I don't want to say my company was not my company Um, but for example, I'm gonna make some examples so you can understand better Um, you know, I stay for I work in the fashion industry in the retail Um, it was a retail manager for kind of eight years and like area manager blah blah was all around Europe So and often I was in these stores and from The stuff but until the customers it was all the time like you could see people just coming in the store just to talk and just to Share their life for issues problems anything you can you can imagine so I was always like Attracting, you know, these uh these people for x reason they Need to I don't know they were bored at all. I have no idea, but they just needed to come there Bring a coffee and then talk so I always then I mean and they didn't know at the time I mean I I could not understand what's going on or if I could use that No, that power is not a power, but like that kind of skill. How can I say it's a skill whatever it is I mean through remake I understood that that's actually What it is and is like creating a community. It's It's because like we we are compassionate, you know, we are we're human now. We connect each other Um, so I just understood that I could do the same In a space here in a in a physical space because I had an experience here as well in Florence I I managed for one one year while I was doing the master um a little store And uh and it was crazy the amount of people that were just Coming just to talk and see there no shopping just talk and okay, we need to do something here because if people need this Why I cannot offer something for them, you know, it's okay. Let's have a bigger space A solve farm so yes, why not So I don't know it's a powerful thing in terms of it's It's powerful for them. It's powerful for me. So it's like it's a sharing Emotions and and connections and that it's an exchange of everything you can imagine Uh, it's compassion is understanding each other is be there for someone And this is community and this yeah, it's like belonging to something belonging to Or maybe together But all of that is I mean there were so many gems and all of that like You saying that bio fashion lab was, you know, 30 years old like you knew As a child like you knew We don't know because we can't conceptualize that Right Actually, no, but once we get older, we're like oh my gosh These things have been inside of me all along like the empathy and we're not told that empathy I think empathy is kind of a superpower to be able to feel I mean you have to know how to use it because it can get very overwhelming right but we able to feel other people's Other other people's feelings and to be able to connect to them that way and to Know even as a child that you wanted to create something That didn't that didn't really have a name or didn't exist before you kind of like birthed it into the into the world and that is That I don't think we realize how Challenging it is a to create something to create things because that's so challenging She really are it is kind of like a birthing process like to you know have it at stage one and then go to like actually like It's actually a thing in real life now I don't think we give ourselves enough credit especially When those things kind of go against The grain of society the grain of you know late stage capitalism like being able to Pull that out of you and use literally all of your strengths all of those things that we were told like weren't strengths like You know, do you don't have to be compassionate? Fuck everybody else. No No, the the community is like no, that's what that's the best part Like that's the best part of being a part of this world is to be a part of things So I I commend you. I think it's so amazing and I know A little bit about about what you do at at and through bio fashion lab but kind of take us on Unlike maybe what a normal day looks like or how you set it up or what is how you best want to describe what you do with bio fashion Okay, so first of all about your fashion lab is a space that it's going to open in September Yeah So Renovation part of the space That's a lot anyway, but it's beautiful and exciting and the same time um So in reality bio fashion lab is really like a space where Conscious shopping and education meets in in the same space something that I I wish it was there already like 10 years ago because maybe I wouldn't have started working in fast fashion, but that's another chapter uh, so and the the shopping part let's say the the conscious shopping part it means that We give the chance for people to swap clothes. We're talking about second-hand clothes already So people they can swap or they can rent And then that is a corner dedicated to the promotion of emergent designer Uh, but like really small collections handmade no-mass production um Not locally made mainly It's because like they are international let's say But the story behind any emergent designer that is going to be in bio fashion lab are Amazing stories are just incredible and So the reason why there is this concept for a emergent designer and for and and the the second hand is just because life for me What was important is not the the the item itself I always go behind the people and then and That what matters for me and the story of of the garment so in the second hand part in the second hand clothes The garment are going to have something called a emotional label So it's a QR code that is going to tell an event or the memory or a memory that happened with that with the garment Because it's a person that comes in the store with a bag full of clothes that are not clothes, but are memories and stories And they are going to share whatever happened with the top with the dress etc I have a top myself Uh, that is all from a woman They she bought it for the honeymoon We're talking about more than 45 years ago And anything anything as as a as a story anything there is an any I mean even like when you go I don't know when you meet someone You go on a date or whatever it's it's an event and this just Trapped in the item so these people except for giving me those clothes. They are going to share as well Their story and their story is going to be in this in this label Same things is going to happen for the emergent designer that they're going to Show through the label all the process Uh the person that was making the garments and their inspiration and who they are and why they wanted to open this brand And why they wanted to launch this brand So again the story of the people behind it's what matter for me and what I think actually can Change as well the way we consume and we dispose Because the the when I say conscious shopping is like I don't want to See a person coming side the store as a credit card as they taught me for more than eight years Because everyone in the store is not a person is you have to just look at their wallet And which one is their potential? How much money they can spend and then do the cross selling selling blah blah blah blah I don't want that. I do not care about their money. I don't care if they buy or they do not buy But if they do it they have to do it for a purpose and the reason and they have to care for that and they And they do not have to dispose the item because I'm gonna take it back as well Once they are done with that or once is destroyed. So I think Could really change our mindset at least and not of everyone of course Not everyone cares about it. It's fine But yeah, I think it's it's it's important and coming from Unfortunately a kind of addiction with shopping I'm the first that don't want a person that just come and To the weekly shopping and then leave and then again and then again and then again So I will be the first stopping them for sure again. It's not a matter of money. It's not it's not I do not care about the money. I'm sorry. I mean no No, not at all. So yeah, it is the part of Of the shopping but then there is another huge part that is the education part Because in the same space we are gonna house courses and events workshop Anything related to the hidden side let's say not so hidden anymore of fashion. So the social and the and the environmental impact of this industry and Yeah workshop like repair like for repairing Mending invisible mending or any kind of like creative workshop we can imagine is gonna be there too So it's it's a lot and Another thing that is gonna be there just to let's say prevent that people are just coming to do their like compulsive shopping is an exposition so inside the store in between the rail with clothes etc we are gonna have pictures of the rana plaza collapse and And other picture from dazzling actor that she's a The coordinator of the union in Bangladesh German work German workers solidarity. Yeah And as well the poems of Alison Alison Morse that are some poems dedicated to the To the rana plaza collapse are beautiful poems and and I'm gonna do An exhibition there in in the same space where clothes are just for People to understand why this happened. Why does biofacial a bit exist and why we should be more aware and conscious about our About our shopping and yeah, and any decision actually we make anything That is Yeah, thank you I am so Like I got emotional watch like hearing each other. That's how it I mean, I felt so we were How we connected because the remake? Your program there's there's tons of us and we're all wonderful, but you and I were both on a swap I don't want to call it panel or it it wasn't there were a few of us who've hosted swaps like you and I But it was really more of like an open conversation But the piece that drew me so much to you was that that tag like the stories of the clothing That we wear like the stress that I have on right now I I went to this concert like it was last year. I didn't want I didn't want to go it was hot I wasn't feeling it whatever and I was like, you know I told my friend I would go I love this band. It's gonna be you know, it'll be fine And I'm so happy I went because I had such a wonderful time and especially after you know these These pandemic times I mean, we're still in it, but kind of being able to like go to music and venues again like it was so Oblifting and I it was so thankful that I like got out of my own head and was like, okay, just go like what you're gonna get sweaty Okay, who cares, you know like what like what's stopping you from going and doing this thing and like that memory Like you said like that's in this dress now and every time I put it on I think of that and I think it's so sweet to have that storytelling piece in the clothing and I do think that that will like reframe and retrain To like how we look at clothes like they're not they're not disposable And it's not just a piece of fabric. It's not There is someone making it Huh from the designer designing it till everything we know from the raw material until the sewing, cutting sewing and etc etc etc the process is huge A hundred of people touch your clothes before they arrive in the store So many and how many are risking their life for this? Why do I have To dispose them first of all or to don't care about them or how can I How I can I cannot stop thinking about them. It's like It's it's part of this t-shirt. It's part of anything I'm wearing. They are there Is there is there is there it's like I'm I'm sorry, but like once you know How you can just cancel the thing like you know delete in your brain. It's no I don't know it just know me for sure. It's no me Yeah, I mean it's it's I like to try to meet people where they're at and I think so many people don't know that every single step of making a garment Is human operated like we get so focused from AI or like like oh, you know, it's like a car assembly line There's these machines mm-hmm. There are machines that cut garments, but they are wielded by human hands like there are You know lab processes around fake dies, but like people are doing the dying like they're there isn't There's such a disconnect. You know people are running their hands Touching your garment sewing it, you know, it's not it's not a machine and even on a more heavy level I guess like it's their energy like they're they are putting themselves into the garment too, but by touching it like we can measure energy That's just science and like it. It's transferable. So when you get a garment like that has a bunch of other people Their intention and you know, they're either fear if they're working in you know a factory where they're exploited An underpid and you know all these ex-wisey things that we do to these garment workers women largely in the global south that put their lives at risk every day for a t-shirt like That's in your clothes like How you have you're gonna have a designer feature in biolab with the small batch collections and they too are gonna say like This is how you know, I source this material or I worked with this artist in that made this fabric or pattern or like just the Intentionality and the love and the care and the literal energy that goes into making those garments. I think it's such We just don't think about it, but it's just because like The retail because okay like as a consumer you you are You go in a store you buy the things except and that's all right But so it should be the store already that educate you and they explain to you the process right So never existed. It's not there yet So how am I supposed as a consumer to know what that is behind? It's impossible Or I should be an expert like a professor someone that really studied the thing or I'm someone in The industry or I have no clue and no time to discover Because our life is packed is like we work and then I mean we have our life blah blah blah Everyone is as is on Strabels etc Like who has really the time to understand everything's going on around us. It's impossible. It's impossible for us too And unfortunately is in every industry like from the food technology. I mean everything is a lot And I understand but like I don't I mean consumers have never had the fall for me But if there is a way to let's say teach them or at least share information. Let's do it. Let's start and then they can make their own choice Yeah, you never like and you never know who is going to be inspired by what you're doing To and and like you said you're like no one has the time to sift through All of the greenwashing essentially to be like, okay, are they really are they really doing what they say they're doing Or is it a marketing ploy to just Create more waste Yeah, it's a lot and they understand I understand. I mean, so we cannot blame them absolutely never never Yeah, but I mean you touched on it earlier. It's like when you know better Yeah, you better you know them but yeah, yeah, definitely definitely that's what happened to me at least Yeah, and then I said okay, let's change this Sorry eight years, but there is still time to make things better. So let's do it Yeah, there's always time to make things better and yeah, it does seem Insurmountable as just an individual, but I I believe our actions, you know They may believe they make a difference and they're building blocks and even though it took you or even myself to get like years To get to where we are there was always that like seed planted and then just things just kind of like they built upon One another to get to where we are and that can happen in other people To not that they have to create what we've created in the sustainable fashion space That's not that that's not necessary, but just like the seed and the changing or like the pivoting or even the disruption of the industry because We're so much more powerful together I love it you just keep on disrupting The industry like the narrative like no, I don't care about the money. Yeah, I need to live and eat but it's not about This it's not about the money. It's about the Compassion. It's about the love respects Yeah, we are human beings come on profit. What what is gonna change profit in my life? I mean of course a sustainable business needs to sustain itself fine fair enough Amazing There are millions of way how to make money millions but not using people and Just like to push them behind because your rent and your expenses are paid by them. No, no, no. I'm sorry. No I'm gonna do the opposite no the less the buy the battery is for me It's I mean you're so right others. There's so many ways seriously and business models should start changing That are because it's true. There are so many way to make the the the money and yes guys yes and yeah, but again pushing like People to buy or this linear business model so you buy and then dispose It's it's it's vintage now guys. Let's move forward. It doesn't work. We realize let's change it Yep, like it and it hasn't it hasn't even taken that long to see that it doesn't work right like the rise of fast fashion Has been over the last maybe like 30 35 years It hasn't taken that long to be like all right. This is absolutely disgusting Like it didn't take us that long to get there you know 30 years isn't really that long of a amount of time at all And I yeah, no, I love that you're that you're Putting putting a dent in like you I just picture like this this pipe. That's like oh, it's like water You know like endless supply of money for people who really no longer need it and you're like oh just like dense Just like messing up the flow No More friends That's great. That's I mean that's beautiful and like we said earlier this work is so It's beautiful and beautifully challenging because I love how you brought that into the mix too like having that challenge fuels kind of the fire But how do you stay like how do you stay grounded when When it gets heavy and you get to a point where You it feels it feels like too much. How do you kind of come back to your center? It's probably evolves daily like what you need to refresh So refresh But honestly, I mean it happens of course a lot especially like lately for this project But honestly, I think myself is all the time the key and it's something I had to accept because I'm the key of myself is like I'm the real engine Of everything that happened in my in my life and whatever like whatever happened and anytime I felt like overwhelmed or Thinking okay, this is this is not happening or sad because maybe something didn't go how I I wanted to etc For me I am my medicine Think talking to myself is my medicine. It's I am my I don't want to say it sounds it sounds weird But unfortunately guys I had to learn because That's my past and when you are kind of like alone for Many many many years of not one life And You have to learn that like you have you that's all and that's enough I love that answer. Hey, I talk to myself and I Yeah, I'm and then I mean I'm I'm a positive person so anytime something doesn't work I just give to myself an explanation say okay, it Is no working for a reason But because something battery is coming and I'm pretty sure this is it's true So it's like I never see a negative thing Even though like I can have maybe I don't know like one day they say oh nothing is working wow But then like already in the evening or the day after I'm I'm already okay there is no it's truly It needs to be like that because then you realize that something else was there waiting for you and blah blah blah That if the things that didn't happen would have happened then you would have missed a great opportunity after And all my life was like this so I'm I'm pretty I'm pretty positive And again, yeah, I just talk to myself all this time I think that's I think that's underrated talking to yourself my Grammy would always say You know if you're talking to yourself you're getting good answers like That's how you get good answers. It was like that's exactly that's exactly it like how you Communicate with your with yourself and like your higher self to a certain level right But be able to like talk things out And maybe this is because I'm an air sign in astrology, but like that Helps me so much to clear like my mental clutter is to just like Yes to no one to myself like maybe the catalyst thing I'm sure you could write a very interesting Hey, we're just like to get it out or I think that's such a good I think that's such a good takeaway for people because people They don't talk to themselves and like you like you said like you have to have you and the most Some of the most beautiful conversations and the hard conversations happen when you when you talk to you when you kind of address like your own bullshit or your own feelings or Even on a greater scale like the love that you have when you're like it's okay for me to love this much Like to love my community to love the play. It's okay for me to care this much, you know And I think that's beautiful advice like that's Yeah, but again, I don't know if If this is me or this is I mean, it is again a part of the process I had um, I don't know if I was born this way or not. This is something. I don't know Or maybe again, it's just because I'm a copper corn. I don't know We work both things, right? It's I'm I'm cussing myself. I'm on the cusp of Aquarius and capricorn so I I get that again A lot. I mean this world would not go around without capricorns. Let me tell you like that is that is a fact The art of it forever You want something done. You want a capricorn on your side for sure Oh do you know? Well, that's just saying what's real, you know Well maybe like my friend and whenever like no my friend, the like people when they discover you have a capricorn all mg Your capricorn What's wrong with capricorn now When did I do wrong to you Well, and yeah, and it matters the people that you have that you surround yourself with because you You know take on their energy or there has to be that Mutual exchange of caring compassion. Otherwise, like what are we doing? Yeah, yeah, yeah Right, we can be really hard on ourselves as is we don't need someone else bringing that bringing that to the table. No, thank you You I wish you well. Goodbye Exactly. No, no, no, no, that's the luck. I do not need you With all the love in the world Please go away. Uh, yeah, when he's too much, just too much It is and like lovingly releasing people is a thing that I don't think that we think of often either like you don't have to cut someone out of your life and be all dramatic about it and all of this drama nonsense. You can just say like I I don't like I love you, but no Well exactly exactly. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Sorry. Next job We're not supposed to get along with everybody all the time like we're not No, no, no, no one does So it's okay, fine. Let's accept that It's totally okay. We forget that too. We want to be liked so badly that We forget that not everybody's for us But it's okay. It's totally okay Like everyone has everyone has a place and you know, we evolve and change and some people evolve out of your life and it's totally totally okay. Yes, I agree. I agree. That's a good reminder to cut ties when you need to but do it in the Hopefully least dramatic way possible. Yes, exactly. Absolutely. I'm so We've done like all these TV shows with the with the drama. I'm like, oh my heavens. Oh my stars. Why? What is happening? No, no drama. I mean we have so many I don't want to say probably the word problems about like issues in life and I mean Around us in in the word so that's We can avoid easily that the small drama I agree. Yeah, the little dramas and like no, I don't know. I'm focusing something more constructive and worth it Yeah, instead of like looking for the problems like looking for the solution Absolutely, absolutely. Yes, all the time I'm focusing that energy There like think of what we could do with all of that like drama. I don't want to say low vibe. I mean, but it is a lower vibration like all that if you shifted because it's kind of It's all energy, right? So if you just turn it and be like I'm gonna no longer look for these problems They're not mine anyway. I want to look for solutions like to be solution-based. Oh, man. We could do so much Absolutely, absolutely. It's an incredible power Mm-hmm. It is and it's just it's just changing your focus and it's rewiring and like like we've been talking about this whole time It's not exactly easy work, but it like when you get through it That it feels so like it feels so good to like you know, and even like pat yourself on the back for like those versions of you Back to what we were really talking about in the beginning those versions of you that got you here Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely. See see see it's It's so powerful. It's just amazing. I mean and I'm gonna say it's I don't want to say it's like it's a way to Make things happen, you know, it's like if If you you just look at the other side like to the problem And never thinking about the solution. What is gonna change? The problem is still there You are gonna have a bad mood all the time and nothing changed Again, is the sentence it is what it is. No, it is not No, if I don't like it, I change it if there is a problem. I fix it done It's not easy fine But it's gonna happen sooner or later in a way or in another one. This is life We have to live at the best way possible Be miserable and just thinking on oh my god. This happened to me blah blah blah blah. This could have happened etc For what are we wasting this time and just look in front of you and never back never back Or just like look back and just be proud of yourself or whoever you become became so That's all I mean, that's That's beautiful. I guess it's a beautifully simplistic like it I mean it obviously takes the work by creating moving moving forward and using If people are in those kind of despair moments and stuff like using those moments and those feelings as like you will Like just to add like Alchemizing grief or sadness into something that like you can do about it like what you said when you were Starting bio fashion lab it you're like I wanted this to exist before and and I and I truly really it I was like I wanted something like what I'm doing to exist I wanted to find this person who was doing this thing that I could like learn from or that I could print it You know like I wanted I wanted it really what I wanted was to not have to do all the work right like I wanted this to be A little bit simpler knowing full well That I was going to have to create it because it didn't exist like that and sometimes I'll reflect and be like Damn at the amount of time that I wasted looking for the mentor when it was really myself But then again, I also believe in the timing of things. So like I I personally had to get to the place where I felt comfortable enough To be the thing I needed for myself Absolutely absolutely Yes, I mean it's always full circle and I love that you're like, you know what? See a need fill a need that's what I worked and then when I worked in the restaurant industry that was like the main thing It's like see a need fill a need and I love the restaurant industry for teaching me so many things But that one in particular, right? It's like all right. Well if you if there's something that is needed I just have to do it yourself and you know what? It'll probably be hard But the reward is so much greater than the risk No doubt always But yet I can let you know in September when I open the door and I think I'm gonna cry But hours, I think I think you should put it out Everything that happened in these 33 years It's it's beautiful like I think it's gonna be so wonderful and including images of Rana Plaza like that Those are jarring and that makes you think differently and I think like I want you Experiencing all those emotions and saying that you are going to out loud is so beautiful too because like you should like I would be happy crying. I mean I happy cried when I launched the podcast. I get emotional after every interview because I feel so Seen and fulfilled and I love talking to people because I find everybody so inspiring like half the time like I do this for me And I think I say that on every single episode, but I really do because I love the connection and I am so inspired by By everybody. I mean what you're doing is phenomenal and I hope things like like That spread right like even if someone has a pre-loved story Be like all right, maybe include like a swap area I just I keep on going back to those tags. I think they're so beautiful about including that That story because the garments tell stories and all of us have these beautiful intricate lives that like That should be seen and these little and these little moments, you know Connected, you know, we create an attachment with the garment and with the person before And exactly what I start having as soon as I discover whatever that is behind the the fashion. I always had a kind of Feeling or attachment for anyone even if I don't know them unfortunately, but anyone that really was Creating the garments. So yeah, a virtual event for the remake community Oh To be the protagonist there like no doubt no doubt Well, I'm gonna be looking forward to that If I can't be there in person, then I'm gonna choose the next best thing or you're gonna be there projected in a wall Energy well, okay before I let you go. What is the one thing that us as individuals Can do to kind of disrupt this system the fashion industry? What's the It's the one takeaway that you would leave people even though we've just left a million nuggets in this conversation What's one that you want to highlight before I let you go? So For the fashion industry you mean? Yes I think I'm gonna disappoint you there. No, I'm kidding. It's not really related to the fashion industry if not to one step before let's say and is Let's try to understand us and to talk more about With us and understand deeply who we are what we are doing our dreams believes in value and if really We are doing anything that make us How happy satisfied or we're doing the opposites and then we go shopping to fill fall the cup Full fill. Yes, I think that was the word To fill it up the gap that we have because as I said that's exactly how Morales I started kind of understanding what that is behind and And when I understood That I I had a kind of an addiction I just had to understand who I was why I had this feelings and what I was looking And life and why I was not happy enough and et cetera, et cetera, et cetera so mainly I really want to Advise people to deeply Analyze themselves To understand if You're happy enough Let's say happy. I mean, okay. It's it's a happiness. I think it's a temporary thing But like if they are satisfied, you know and fulfill that et cetera With whatever they have and then let's talk about fashion, but before anything Let's see who we are and where we want to go in life Which one is our goal? What really trigger us? So let's start from us first of all and then if you really need to go shopping Let's uh think about the connection with people and uh, and of course the planet et cetera and then Made the right decision and in that respecting others mainly Because in the meantime you are learning respecting yourself That didn't disappoint at all Not with a little bit that was Beautiful because yeah, it does start it starts with you and the conversation that you're having with you and how you Are feeling about You because at the end of the day you've already said like you have you you have to have your back you You you came here alone like we'll leave alone like we we are what we have of course There's beautiful community and stuff like that but the relationship to ourselves has been so push decide that I like that you brought up just kind of that remembering like re-remembering That's even a word like that like they who you really are like at your core and like you said connecting to your values And if these things that we do and the stories that we tell ourselves and the In the shopping as therapy Therapy you should just go to therapy. I love my therapist like don't like don't use these things as substitutes exactly exactly Yes, yeah, mainly because we know that all the issue of the fed of the fashion industry is over consumption and over production So before arrived to this point. I mean, and why this point exists is just because we consume too much and why we consume too much is because we have some issue inside so That's why for me ourself is the first point is the starting point I I could not agree more. I have loved absolutely every second of this conversation that brought I am so grateful and honored and Thank you so much for just sharing this space with me today Thanks to you honestly. Thanks to you and because you're an amazing host Thank you. Well, you are extremely easy to host Well, there was it was really really I'm grateful. I'm really grateful that I could share with you this part Not the usual not the usual interview I would say I I loved the space to like play and explore all the interconnectedness. So thank you so much Thanks to you Has always thank you for being here Deborah is clearly a light right? I mean it was such a light and inspiration to chat with her You can find Deborah and bio fashion lab on instagram At Deborah underscore florio and bio fashion lab all one word All of this is linked down in the show notes for you If you are digging this content and this podcast The best way to support me and the show is to like subscribe and leave a kind review Otherwise, remember your team together. We will unlock this Bye