ShowTellShare One Hundred and Ninety-One

Posted on May 1, 2013 by JGRuddock

Show: A collection of images and anecdotes from The Social Outfit Pilot…

Susan is doing some paid work experience with us at the pop-up shop at The Rocks as a part of our City of Sydney Community Grants… It’s *lovely* to have you involved, Susan. We hope you’re enjoying yourself and learning some new skills too!

Oboya also came down to The Rocks today to pay us a visit and hear more about our development. It’s wonderful to have our volunteer models from our November runway event keen to stay involved and very supportive of The Social Outfit‘s plans in Sydney… You *rock*, Oboya!

This is Shannon from ING Direct. Some recent, VERY *exciting* news is that ING Direct have provided us with a grant to support our ongoing work and full business plan. Thanks ever so much! We’re very pleased to have some incredibly supportive philanthropic funding as we begin our set up here in Sydney. Shannon and I had a wonderful time together; she’s so nice and interested in our work!

Here’s the talented artist, Nicole Barakat, who taught our second workshop series on eco-dyeing. And doesn’t she look so *splendid* in her The Social Studio necklace she purchased from our store?! Nicole is also going to teach another creative workshop series for us in mid-May, as part of a collaborative partnership with the Asylum Seeker’s Centre in Newtown. Hooray for the celebration of ethical art skills!

Here’s a participant at work with the eco-dyeing last week…

And some of the amazing, detailed, and highly-skilled work from a young man who took part in all the workshop days. He really enjoyed himself and we loved having interested people involved!

This is me decked out in The Social Studio from last Wednesday when I started getting sick…

And here I am, today (and a week later), finally on the improve. You can tell I’m getting better because I’m wearing *double-denim* AND The Social Studio… <3

What can I say? I simply *love* being around the gorgeous The Social Studio stock, and working hard with people to make The Social Outfit a reality in Sydney. Together, I reckon we can do this really well!

So if you haven’t had to a chance to pop by, but are interested in seeing what’s happening, then *please* come down to The Social Outfit‘s Pop-Up shop this Friday 3 May from 6pm, to say hello, have a glass of sparkling water or wine, and see our little shop, stocked with ethically-accredited clothing from our sisters based in Melbourne, The Social Studio (including some new stock, too!).

Shop 2.03, 140 George Street, The Rocks (the old MCA entrance)… Hope we see you there! xo

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Seventy-Eight

Posted on March 16, 2013 by JGRuddock

Share: You know, I often feel very lucky about the people I work with. It’s not just that I ask them time and time again to meet me, and help develop The Social Outfit with their great ideas and insights; it’s also then that I ask for a photo so I can show you all who’s involved. Photos, photos for everyone!

So here’s Paul Bide and myself having worked together this Friday. I met Paul recently through the School for Social Entrepreneurs and Social Ventures Australia connections. Paul is an ex-finance guy, and he’s being a champion by helping me with drafting The Social Outfit‘s ‘First 90 Day Plan’. There’s *a lot* of work involved, so I really appreciate the opportunity to work through the detail with someone like Paul, and hear his own suggestions. Nothing like a deadline with someone to encourage motivation! Eeeep!

Then here’s the *fabulous* group of Ajak, Kit and Chloe, who are working together on our City of Sydney pilot project:

We’re just securing some of the important big details, and then I’ll be able to announce all the *fun* we’re about have with it. And I’m hoping you’ll be a part of our plans too! More soon.

And now to some outfits…

Show: Friday…

Tell: Handmade necklaces and earrings, The Social Studio top, vintage dress from secondhand store in Tasmania, retail tights and sock, Fluevog shoes.

And this was Tuesday…

Tell: Tatty Devine bracelet as pendant, vintage Fiorucci vest from op shop, Oroton belt from op shop, The Social Studio silk skirt as dress, Jonathan Aston tights, Fluevog shoes.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Seventy-Three

Posted on February 27, 2013 by JGRuddock

Share: Time to keep moving! Three foundation grant applications all due very shortly (and there’s more we are working on too). This is me yesterday, juggling my university work, the grant applications, our other projects… and more. We’re heading into a busy time, and I’m so *pleased* to have the support of our many excellent volunteers at The Social Outfit helping me out. Everyone is really pitching in…

So back to work! To type out our dreams, and to fill in forms: all in the *hope* of making The Social Outfit a reality in Sydney… Please wish us luck as we give it a go! xo

Show:

Tell: Earrings from op shop, handmade necklaces, Saba t-shirt stolen from the First Hawaiian Officer, handmade skirt from op shop, retail tights and socks, Fluevog shoes on sale from Sole Devotion.

ShowTellShare Seventy-Nine

Posted on July 11, 2012 by JGRuddock

Show: Right, we’ve got a social enterprise to *build* and develop… so thank *goodness* today I have some earrings with a useful metaphor to help with the work! Read on…

Tell: Tatty Devine earrings, necklace from op shop, Tatty Devine necklace (backwards in the shot – I didn’t notice!), ‘Lorax Original. A Division of Lady Carol’ dress from op shop, Esprit skivvy fro op shop, Saba belt stolen from the First Hawaiian Officer, Happy Socks, Fluevogs.

Share: Today I’m also introducing another important person from The Sydney Outfit.

The Sydney Outfit are the group of people helping me develop our version of The Social Studio model here. You met Antonia a few weeks ago, and here is another member, David Hardie. He’s a *gem* and here’s why:

Over a 30 year career, David has worked in government, nonprofit and philanthropy organisations, most recently at the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation and The Myer Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund. David also has extensive volunteer experience in diverse roles, including telephone counselling, refugee settlement assistance and youth mentoring. From 2008 to 2010 he helped establish and manage a successful education support program for school students from a refugee background. He is also the Founder and Director of the Slingsby Foundation.

Plus, David is a *lovely* bloke I’ve had the benefit (and pleasure) of working with on many projects for about four years now. He’s thoughtful, a straight-talker and very willing to take on a challenge. Perfect!

And just to end today’s post, a close up of my dress label. How I *love* this name. You say it out loud, and it just sounds rad. Kind of makes me want to say ‘A Division of Lady Jackie’ at the end of everything i say! xo

ShowTellShare Seventy-One

Posted on June 25, 2012 by JGRuddock

Show:

Tell: Glasses from Japan, Esprit skivvy from op shop, ‘Yukari Tamato’ for Sildoll (Japan) scarf from op shop, The Social Studio cardigan/jacket, Katies skirt from op shop, stockings from Myer, Fluevogs.

Share: If all goes to plan on an ‘average’ day, I can get this whole web-posting process down to about an hour, even less if I’m super lucky. And then, some days everything just takes FOREVER. This is one of those days. I’ve been in Melbourne – and you would think I could have had my photo in front of a million *fun* things – but because I was running from one thing to another, I couldn’t stop for a photo. Never quite caught a break. And then I get home and loading photos isn’t working properly (…bloody Internetz…). Thing is, it’s actually like a metaphor for trying to set up a social enterprise start-up. Sometimes, some days, the plan just doesn’t work. It doesn’t necessarily mean everything has gone to shit… just maybe that it’s best to wait for another day to re-strategise and re-align. (That said, I will make sure I at least try and post something. Deliver at least on one part if I can; even if it’s small – and with no links working…)

Thankfully, too, I have a bit of a *zen* motif on today despite the difficulty: my new The Social Studio bright red cardigan / jacket. If anything helps to keep me focussing on what counts – it’s knowing my belief in The Social Studio and what it does. I *like* keeping my purpose front and centre: doing good in a fashion. xo

ShowTellShare Fifty-Six

Posted on May 31, 2012 by JGRuddock

Show:

Tell: Photios Bros vintage earrings, Sussan skivvy from op shop, Zzitto shirt from op shop, Sportscraft belt, skirt from op shop, Uniqlo leggings from Japan, Fluevogs.

Share: Today I met with Sophie Bartho who is the founder of the 1$ Day campaign. Sophie and I have been meeting up over the past few weeks to talk through the challenges and successes of starting new ventures which have a *social good* at their core. Spending quality time with Sophie is great, and by talking with her, I am reminded of how we can each learn from one another when we’re open to it. I certainly know that come Wednesday 25 July this year, I’ll be donating to her charity.

And in fashion related matters, this shirt is another *hilarious* example of 1980s fashion thinking: just check out the oversize nature of this shirt – it’s almost like a kimono / robe – and yet it’s labelled a size 10! Go figure. Then again, the colour-pop action this top achieves can’t be questioned… and it even has sequins on the back, around a stiletto. Priceless.