September 2024

Welcome to our September edition of Onlii Spotlight.??

This month, we look at the close relationships that exist between our behaviour, society and environment, and the ways people and organisations are re-establishing connections. Partnerships and collaborations may be the most powerful sources of innovation we have; these stories show how they can contribute to a fairer and more balanced exchange between each other and our planet.? ?

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Shining a light on incredible women.?

In 1995, Sahar Hashemi OBE co-founded Coffee Republic , bringing an espresso-powered coffee bar empire to the UK three years before the arrival of Starbucks. Despite her personal success, Sahar believed that "People feel that women don't make great entrepreneurs". Frustrated with the disparity of gender-representation in the innovation space, Sahar started a new style of shopping platform called BUY WOMEN BUILT ; curating and showcasing the best British women-built brands to address the ￡200bn industry gender gap.?

Covering a selective range across food, drink, health, beauty, fashion and lifestyle, Sahar has created a celebratory space which amplifies the awareness of female founders through a lens of deep respect, while providing much-needed diversity in the landscape of commerce.?

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Tune in to the climate forecast.?

Checking the weather forecast is part of our daily lives, and something we have come to rely on. But what would it look like if we took the changing climate into account as part of our morning update and used it to not only decide if we needed a brolly, but how we should behave??

Journalist Audrey Cerdan has been responsible for transitioning the traditional weather report into a climate-focused context through the successful 'Journal Météo-Climat' French broadcast. Collaborations between news presenters and climate scientists have resulted in new methods of visualising and communicating the complex story in ways that frame atmospheric changes around our personal lives.

We also spotted a brilliant visualisation exercise run by NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration , which has allowed them to map the flow of carbon through our weather systems. This allows for a more wholistic perspective on climate change, and will hopefully encourage people to start embracing their role in helping reverse this issue.

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Who made your clothes??

The answer to this question is complex. But one simple idea from Berlin-based 'Human Touch' starts to piece the story of textile production back together, re-evaluating human involvement throughout the entire supply chain. Designer Juliet Seger has introduced a unique paint-sewing technique which imprints dye from the hands of labourers onto the surface of each made-to-order piece , tracing the physical journey of a garment and reconnecting the human who made the piece with the one who wears it.?

This philosophy of connection (and sustainability) applies to other areas of the brand.? By repurposing undervalued stock, with a focus on natural and regenerated fibres, they create stunning low-impact styles; relying on their striking black and white limitations to generate a strong identity while educating through authentic storytelling.?

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We don't have all the answers. But we love sharing what we’ve learned so far with other businesses. Visit our website to find out more about us, and get in touch.

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