After a career as Textile designer, Upstream Studio founder Nathalie Vandevoorde looked for a more authentic way to be creative. She found it in jewelry design and in making natural soaps.To her, these two creative processes are part of the same philosophy. She strives for durability, upgrading simplicity and the joy of creating.
“In everything I make, I’m wondering how I can make it as simple and as fair as possible. You then almost automatically end up with a sustainable product.”
Sustainability and Slow Fashion
At Upstream Studio we are very aware of the impact our modern lifestyle has on our environment. Mass production and disposable plastics are a huge problem. We firmly believe that slow fashion is the only way forward. Recycling is an integral part of our design process. We try to minimize wasting our raw materials. Polymer chips, a waste product, are reused for new pieces. We do the same with our soap shavings. We boil these again to form the basis for our floating soap.
“One of the biggest challenges you face as a soap maker is the use of palm oil.
Palm oil is essentially a very beautiful and valuable product, but if it is not produced sustainably, with care for biodiversity and people, it creates a huge problem. Our rampant consumption has completely unbalanced production, with disastrous consequences for the environment.
But there is also good news. As Palm oil is a fantastic product, yet often a disaster for the environment, As Palm Done Right is 100% organic, deforestation-free, supports biodiversity and is fair and social, I am very happy to announce that from now on I will partner wtih Palm Done Right.
Palm can be grown for good, bringing benefits to:
Together, we can influence change for: