Have you ever splurged on clothes you only wore once? Fast fashion is designed to tempt us, but it comes at a cost—to both our wallets and the environment. In this episode, host Sarah Stancombe chats with Dr. Patsy Perry, an expert in sustainable fashion, about how to make smarter, more mindful style choices.

Dr. Patsy Perry is a Reader in Fashion Marketing at the Manchester Fashion Institute, with a PhD focused on corporate social responsibility in fashion supply chains. She has published extensively, served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, and shared her expertise across global media and academic conferences.

In this conversation, Dr. Patsy Perry explains how small changes—like buying fewer but higher-quality pieces, repairing old clothes, or shopping second-hand—can make a big difference. Together, she and Sarah explore practical ways to reduce textile waste, embrace clothing swaps, and reconnect with repair traditions that keep garments in use longer.

They also dive into the psychology behind fast fashion—how marketing, trends, and social media fuel our urge to buy more, and how awareness can help us break the cycle. By shifting focus from quantity to quality, we can find more joy and creativity in how we dress, while spending less in the long run.

Dr. Patsy Perry’s passion and insight make this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to balance style, savings, and sustainability in a fast-fashion world.

Follow Dr. Patsy Perry’s work:

Manchester Fashion Institute Staff Profile: https://fashioninstitute.mmu.ac.uk/our-staff/dr-patsy-perry/

Connect with Dr. Patsy Perry on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dr-patsy-perry-18358614

Resources mentioned by Dr. Patsy Perry in the episode:

Website for Sophie Benson’s book “Sustainable Wardrobe”: https://sophiebenson.com/book/

Documentary: The True Cost: https://truecostmovie.com/

Dr. Patsy Perry’s short form articles:
The Conversation - The Environmental Costs of Fast Fashion: https://theconversation.com/read-this-before-you-go-sales-shopping-the-environmental-costs-of-fast-fashion-88373and

The Conversation - Online Returns May End Up in Landfill:

https://theconversation.com/fast-fashion-why-your-online-returns-may-end-up-in-landfill-and-what-can-be-done-about-it-188090

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