Trend forecaster Li Edelkoort joins Kursty to discuss the anatomy of trends, the ecology of fashion, and the post-pandemic workplace. Reflecting on the state of the world, Li discusses how to redesign the modern workplace to respond to new and upcoming trends. She explores how the pandemic has made us more in tune with nature and the good things that have come of it. Throughout the discussion, Li shares nuggets of wisdom that show us how trends that haven’t yet made it to the main stage are currently being formed.

Li Edelkoort is a globally renowned trend forecaster and activist for fair, sustainable, and thoughtful fashion. She is the author of the Anti-Fashion Manifesto and a co-author of A Labour of Love. Recently, she founded the World Hope Forum.

“We don’t need that much infrastructure. We don’t need a desk for everybody. We don’t need to have isolation. We can live with lower temperatures. We don’t need to make it ice cold in the summer. There are so many things where you can win if you’re just clever. You just have to sit three days together and say imagine that we don’t have what we have now, what would we do?”- Li Edelkoort

[00:49] Who is Li Edelkoort?
[01:43] The Workplace Geeks Podcast
[02:28] More about Li’s impact on eco and fashion issues.
[04:22] Where do your clothes come from?
[07:40] The energy of immobile items and all the ideas that have shaped Li’s career.
[12:05] Getting clients that align with your values.
[14:28] Fashion has become old-fashioned - what does that mean?
[20:01] The disappearing joy of finding a new fashion piece.
[22:39] Would slavery have existed if cotton and sugar didn’t exist?
[25:57] How to predict trends before they happen.
[30:52] How the pandemic pushed us to live in a more seasonal way (winter hibernation).
[34:05] How organizations can adapt to post-pandemic realities.
[37:50] Why it’s profitable to be in smaller cities.
[39:39] A simpler way to think about money and managing resources.

4 Key Takeaways

1. We are rooted in the earth. Our clothes are made from plants that grow in the ground. Fashion grows from the earth. We need to ignite our consciousness of the connection between fashion and the environment.
2. Society has been overloaded with shopping. There is too much choice and that choice is overwhelming. In fact, the joy of finding a new fashion piece and celebrating when you purchase it and then go home with it is no longer as prevalent as it used to be. Editing and curating will become more important parts of fashion as mass production increases.
3. The 'Great Resignation' is a movement that has just amplified what was already in the air. This new trend may be an indicator that urban environments will become less populous as people move into rural areas. This may lead to the urbanisation of rural areas.
4. The pandemic has forced us to live in a way that’s more in tune with the seasons. Winter is for introspection, solitude, and hibernation. Summer and spring are for blooming into the world, exploration, and togetherness.

Links

Listen to Workplace Geeks: Podcast Web Page | Kursty’s Episode on Workplace Geeks

Books by William Morris: Amazon | Thrift Books

World Hope Forum: Website

Connect with Li Edelkoort: Website |