CHANGING THE FABRIC OF LIFE BY JANE MILBURN
Self-innovation is about being the best you can be . It involves making changes and taking risks .
With a working life based around family commitments , I understand now that I have been constantly selfinnovating and upcycling throughout my career . Beginning with an agricultural science degree , this work spans decades of rural reporting , writing and editing , communications and campaigning as well as 10 years in leadership roles with the Rural Press Club of Queensland .
Today I am the founder of Textile Beat and a sustainability consultant working with individuals , groups and governments to influence change in clothing culture , reduce our material footprint , and divert textile resources from landfill .
I have learned from experience that leadership is an action we take , not a position we hold . Our actions speak louder than words – and so do the clothes we wear .
Earlier this year when I met Japanese artisan Akiko Ike in Brisbane we had no language in common , yet the denim pinny I wore communicated our shared commitment to treasuring natural fibres .
As a result of that meeting , I travelled to Japan to learn about reviving textiles through boro stitching and absorb the SAORI weaving philosophy of celebrating imperfection and expressing ourselves through the garments we make .
Almost everything I wear is handmade or upcycled – not because I can ’ t afford new clothes , rather because I enjoy the creative , individual , mindful and sustainable process of reinvention .
Four years ago when our third ( and last ) child finished school , I went through a growth process by reflecting on and absorbing lessons from the past then looking forward to align values with work , knowledge and skills before setting off in this new career direction .
I came to understand my core values – which are authenticity , creativity , autonomy and purpose – through professional and personal development gained from the Australian Rural Leadership Program .
30 HONESTLY WOMAN MAGAZINE - SUBSCRIBE NOW