Designer Bo Carter is Running for Fashion Revolution
The award-winning Yorkshire-based fashion designer, Bo Carter is currently training to run the gruelling Marathon de Sables in April 2020 – an incredible 250km across the Sahara desert in in seven days. She has chosen Fashion Revolution as one of two charities to fund raise for, along with animal charity Tower Hill Stables to reflect her dual passions for animal welfare and ethical fashion. Fashion Revolution caught up with Bo to see how she is finding time to run and manage her own brand.
FR: First of all, we are in awe that you are running the Marathon de Sables 250km across the Sahara desert over seven days! You will be totally self-sufficient, carrying everything you need to survive on your back in temperatures of over 50 degrees. Water will be rationed. How is the training going?
Bo: It is going ok, I suppose. The biggest challenge it’s fitting the running between jobs. Life gets so busy sometimes. So it is hard to find time to do all the runs I hoped to do before the race. I still got 24 weeks to go ad hoping to fit few more races in this time. Part of my training is to do at least one organised race per month, so far so good.
FR: Why did you take this challenge?
Bo: I need constant flow of challenges in my life, I admit this one is possibly the biggest so far.
It was my dear friend and face of Bo Carter, Jemima who did this race last year. When she mentioned to me that she has signed up for MdS I said to her: you are a crazy woman! But at the same time I started thinking about it and simply couldn’t get that thought out my head so the easiest way to put end to that thought was to enter race. Raising money for the charities means so much and this is great opportunity to do that.
FR: Thank you for making Fashion Revolution one of your charities! How did you first hear about Fashion Revolution?
Bo: It is my absolutely pleasure and honour.
I remember the exact day when I found out about Fashion Revolution for first time: I was in my shop, which I used to own back in 2013 when I came across the iconic hashtag #whomademyclothes.
I was frustrated and angry about what happened in Rana Plaza and that hashtag did made me think. I have been following work of Carry Somers and Orsola de Castro ever since and it is so incredibly amazing to see how big Fashion Revolution became and how powerful movement this is, so thank you.
FR: Do you consider yourself a fashion revolutionary?
Bo: I consider myself a human being who try really hard to make positive change in this world.
FR: Tell us about your fashion brand Bo Carter. When did you start it and what motivated you to start a brand? How has it evolved over time?
Bo: It all started by coincidence really. I am an accountant by trade but there was always creative part in me which needed to come out one way or other. In 2010 I entered Leeds Fashion Show hoping to be accepted as a runner or backstage helper, but I submitted some drawings by off chance and there I was accepted to Leeds Fashion Show. I had never really sewn anything other than a cushion so it was a big learning curve. In three months I had to transfer my 2D drawings into 3D clothes. I loved it, I hardly slept but it was such a good fun. After that show I had a year of travelling and taking part in many international shows, twice in the States, Iceland, Malta and few more. It was such a great fun, meeting new people and keeping learning. It was always about ethics and always about learning. It was a fascinating, exciting and scary journey. I love learning and reading books on ethical fashion was always my passion. Discovering Lucy Siegle, Pietra Rivoli, Safia Minney, Greta Eagan and many more were such a great lessons. I am learning every day and those inspiring people are huge part of what Bo Carter has become.
FR: What have you learnt from building your own brand?
Bo: It’s blooming hard work…but I love working so I suppose I am lucky 😉
I learned that sometimes the more you know the harder it is but at the same time I always want to learn and find out more. I have chosen not to become a big brand so I can keep control of everything we do. Staying true to our belief is the most important part and I will never change that.
FR: Who makes your clothes?
Bo: I make most of the clothes we sale. We do work with freelancers when needed.
FR: Do you have any tips on what to do about running clothes? All that polyester!
Bo: Rerun clothing is good. They sell pre-worn running gear. I came across the founder Dan Lawson on podcast and I love what they do. I myself buy a lot on eBay. all my running gear is second hand, it’s incredible how much of sport gear is wasted and pretty almost all of it is polyester 🙁
There is a good list here:
https://www.curiouslyconscious.com/2018/07/best-ethical-activewear-brands-uk.html/
but I myself pretty much always go for second hand.
FR: What are your three top tips to a more responsible relationship with our clothes.
Bo: Respect. Questioning. Kindness.
I feel if every consumer think about that when making clothing purchase we could make some changes…
FR: Do you have a favourite point from the Fashion Revolution manifesto and why?
Bo: I love it all, but that line always gets me: “We are world citizens. We are a movement and a community. We are you.”
You can read more of Bo’s story and support her here https://www.goldengiving.com/fundraising/boisrunning
