NIKKI BATROUNEY

Name: Nikki Batrouney

Occupation: Co-Founder at BLAEK Store / Virtual Assistant / Project Manager Extraordinaire 

Age: 34

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Where were you born? What is your heritage?

I was born in Melbourne, Victoria. I'm Italian, both my parents are from Calabria. 

Tell us a little bit about what you do?

I work full time as a Virtual Assistant and also Co-Own BLAEK Store, the first responsible retail store in Australia. At BLAEK we are all about helping you choose better products that are not only better for the planet but also better for you and will save you money in the long run. We've taken the guesswork out for you by only working with the best of the best brands to bring you the most responsible alternatives to clothes and everyday essentials. 

What does the Fashion Revolution movement mean to you personally?

The Fashion Revolution movement for me is all about giving a voice to those in the industry that make our clothes, those who have been silenced for so many years. We are providing a platform for those who have been impacted by our consumption habits over time, Fashion Revolution gives us the opportunity to educate the world on the truth behind the cost of making a garment and shed light on the devastating impact the industry has on people and the planet. 

This year's Fashion Revolution theme is all about fashion, money, power - do you think the fashion industry has a positive or negative impact on international power dynamics? Why? 

I think the fashion industry has a negative impact on international power dynamics. All the big fashion houses, especially the fast fashion brands are all in competition with one another to be the cheapest and on the pulse of new styles and trends, they drive sales and boost economies, but not in a good way. The fashion industry has influenced consumers to think they need to be constantly changing their style which increases demand. This results in the trade of non-renewables, like fossil fuels, which are used to create fabrics like Polyester. This heavily impacts the way countries and governments interact with one another. All it takes is for one big fashion house or fast fashion company to lead by example, make changes and start the ripple effect of a more responsible and environmentally conscious business model. Imagine if Chanel created their next season using the same fabrics and reworked styles from the previous season and didn't use any new fabrics. The moment the fashion industry starts cleaning up its act the international power dynamics will become more positive as the trades will shift from non-renewables to renewables. 

How do you think we could harness the fashion industry to have a fairer and more balanced global economy? 

To get the fashion industry to make real change it's up to us as consumers to vote with our wallet. It's up to us to stop supporting fast fashion brands and to demand more transparency with all aspects of the production process. If we can force the fashion industry to make these changes through our choices the results would be a fairer and more balanced global economy. The fashion industry has a huge impact on both people and planet and I think this is something a lot of consumers don't realise! 

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What do you normally wear every day?

On a normal day I will usually wear fairtrade organic cotton jeans or a handmade linen skirt with an organic cotton tee or tank with some slides made from recycled tyres. 

What is your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

My favourite piece in my wardrobe is my handmade linen skirt, I wear it multiple times a week. It's so versatile! 

Do you have any favourite sustainable brands, or favourite second-hand shops?

My favourite sustainable brands are Lois Hazel, Nudie Jeans and Mighty Good Basics 💓

Do you have a style icon?

I don't really have a style icon, my style changes everyday depending on my mood. However, I love Lara Worthington and Marianna from Smythsisters.