Be the change
you want to see in the World.
(Mahatma Ghandi)
Winner Observer Ethical Award 2011, category 'ethical blog'
The blog’s aim is to provide concise information, insights and facts about the fashion industry for an interested public, with the ultimate goal to seed knowledge as to why this industry must change and become more sustainable.
The fashion industry – from growing its fibres to discarding its waste – has one of the largest [negative] impacts onto the globe, second only to the agricultural/food industry. And hardly any other industry suffers equally from the doubtful reputation of leaving behind poverty and environmental chaos, essentially as a “way of life”. Human-rights breaches, pesticides, desertification, slave and child labour, droughts, lack of or poisoned ground water are just a few of the key words important in this context.
At the same time, there is no doubt that textiles and fabrics are important to us as human beings. Not only due to our need to dress up and cover our nudeness, but also because clothes in particular, bestow a sense of self-worth and self-imaging upon us.
With this in mind, this blog’s main aim is to critically look at the role and processes of the textile industry, and to celebrate the creativity of ideas that make a difference and bring about change.
Have a look at our service page to find out how the consultancy section of 白姫 – しらひめ – White Princess can help you, and do get in touch with us through the contact form, via Twitter (@PamelaRavasio), or Facebook.
雪女
Why 白姫?
白姫, pronounced she-ra-he-meh in Japanese, means translated ‘White Princess’. There are three reasons why this name was chosen, none of which however is conclusive. So, maybe, pick the one you like best:
- Since Pamela has lived in Japan for a number of years, a Japanese name seemed like … the most obvious thing. The Kanji characters for white and princess suggest ‘purity’ and ‘goodness’ – both important ideals when the main focus of this blog revolves around sustainability.
- There is a Japanese manga, created by Clamp, called 白姫抄 (she-rahe-meh-shoh), which is a modern variation of the Japanese tale 雪女 (you-ki-on-na = snow woman). The drawings in that manga have a rare subtlety one can fall in love with times and over again.
- 白姫 is also the name of a fighting angel’s character in yet another manga series, also by Clamp:
'Shirahime's style of fighting is graceful and powerful, and she defeats her opponents with great beauty and strength.'
Who is behind 白姫 – しらひめ – Shirahime?
Pamela Ravasio runs and maintains 白姫 – しらひめ – Shirahime in collaboration with a network of high qualified contributors. She is a Swiss/Italian dual citizen, residing primarily in London (UK).
Pamela’s passion for all things fabrics and textile craft products was ignited during primary school, and she learned to knit, sew, crochet, and do embroidery quite proficiently, thanks to – mostly – her grand-mothers. Teachers then made effectively away with this interest through streamlined educational methods (although, they probably cannot be blamed for it). Pamela then rediscovered her fascination in the course of travels through Asia and South America – and specifically in the years she lived in Japan.
She owns a whole collection of fabric samples she has acquired over years, among which her favourites are: two carrying cloths from Bolivia, various beautifully designed Japanese 風呂敷 (foo-ro-shki) and Obi offcuts.
Pamela is a global citizen with a background in both, the corporate as well as the not-for-profit sector. Presently, building on her expertise with market research and analysis in Asian and European countries, she supports ethical fashion SME to be successful in the heavily competitive market place. Pamela is a member of the advisory committee of the Foro Moda Ética Latino America [English: Ethical Fashion Forum Latin America], and also writes and speaks publicly on sustainability in the textile and apparel sector.
Pamela graduated from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Einstein’s Alma Mater) with a PhD in product usability, later acquired Temple University’s (Philadelphia/US, Tokyo Campus) post-graduate ‘NGO management’ certificate, and is the winner of the ‘Siemens Japan Award 2007′ for the best CSR proposal.
白姫 – しらひめ – Shirahime was short-listed in the UK for the 2011 Observer Ethical Awards in the category ‘blog’.
To complete the picture: Pamela is fluent in Spanish, French, German, English and Japanese. She currently still works on a part-time basis as a PR officer for Pachacuti, a UK company specialised in fair trade Panama hat, founded in 1992.
