Meet Amisha Ghadiali of The Think Act Vote Campaign

The term multi-tasking woman was made for Amisha Ghadiali who channels her considerable energies into a plethora of creative projects for positive change. She works variously as a designer, a campaigner, an entrepreneur and a writer. Her journey has taken an exciting path from working in politics and international development through to becoming associate director of the Ethical Fashion Forum and creating her own jewellery line called Amisha.Elegance.Rebellion.

For Amisha ethical fashion is the area which brings all her interests together: human rights, environmental protection and political action. In the run up to the 2010 UK elections Amisha created the Think Act Vote campaign which put these topics together in one message "What's the Future You Choose?". Think Act Vote combines fashion, art, music, photography, design to inspire us to think more positively about the future and how the decisions we make every day shape our world.

Amisha has been recognised for her change making work this year by being selected for both the Leadership Advance Programme as a Leader for Diversity in Cultural Industries and as a member of Courvoisier The Future 500 network. She talks to Change Makers about her passion for people and nature, the challenges of juggling multiple projects and the terrible accidents that reshaped her life.

For those in the UK - Leonora Oppenheim will be interviewing Amisha Ghadiali about her work in ethical fashion at the Vintage at Goodwood festival on Saturday 14th August.

Planet Green: How did you get into this line of work?
Amisha Ghadiali: As a child I had a strong sense of empathy and struggled to understand the unfairness of the world. So mine has been a journey working out how we can live in a more connected and optimistic world. I've had a couple of serious accidents along the way, including a dramatic bus crash and being driven over by a pick up truck. Each time something like this happened to me, it gave me a chance to re-evaluate and change my approach.

PG: When did the green bug strike?
AG: I had a very green childhood, growing up on a farm, milking cows, helping to deliver lambs and feeling part of the beauty of the natural world. In my adult life my focus has been on humans, until a few years ago when I realised the extent of the damage that not understanding the connection between nature and people was doing to our planet.

PG: Who is your green hero?
AG: I think it would have to be all those people that really live a sustainable life, that don't
over consume. There are so many inspiring people in the world whose lifestyle is simple and who put the environment first as a reflex. These people often are incredibly community focused at the same time.

PG: What is your ultimate green goal?
AG: To change the way people think about 'green', to inspire people to understand that the planet is part of us, and to want to protect, nurture and enjoy the beauty of it. In a way that is fun, cool and sexy, where people can't help but want to be part of it.

PG: What is your motivation?
AG: I don't know where it comes from. It is like a fire inside that keeps me going, although there are days when it feels like the flame is dwindling. I feel very fortunate to be in a position to be able to do something positive for the world, and I just wouldn't feel comfortable doing something that wasn't.

PG: What is most important to you, ecologically speaking?
AG: I think it is impossible to separate the five elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space) as the balance of all of them is vital. Though the one that I can't stop thinking about at the moment is water. The ocean covers 72% of our planet, and creates over half of the oxygen that we breathe, without it, there would be no life on earth. It drives our weather systems, and flows energy and nutrients around the world. It baffles me that we are polluting the ocean with our waste and oil.

PG: What is the most challenging part of your job?
AG: Juggling the workload, having nobody to tell you it's time to go home or take a break, and those moments when you realise how far away many people are when it comes to green thinking.

PG: What is the most rewarding?
AG: Getting up everyday and knowing that you are working on something that is not only fun, but is doing something positive and inspiring others.

PG: Of the people you have worked with, who impresses you most?
AG: Through working at the Hub, I got to know many people who impressed me with their imagination, and determination to make the world a better place. The Hub was founded over five years ago by Jonathan Robinson and friends. As a workspace and network for people working to create a better world it has made social entrepreneurship a fun profession. I can't imagine London, or in fact the world, without it.

PG: What green thing do you do everyday?
AG: I have got my approach to my wardrobe down now, working in fashion I have to pay
attention to this. There is so much great sustainable fashion out there, but the point is not to buy a whole new wardrobe. Instead try to work with what you have. I've put a limit on how many new things I can buy a year, always from ethical/eco designers. I mix this up with things I have had for years and when I am bored I get creative.

PG: What do you wish you could do?
AG: Live that totally sustainable life. I am not there yet, but I am changing my lifestyle constantly to be really proud of being green.

PG: What is your biggest eco-sin?
AG: Flying, probably because it is the one that I am not sure I could give up... my family and close friends live on the other side of the world, so I take two return long haul trips a year and they bring so much joy into my life.

PG: If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
AG: To change the way people think so that we can stop talking about 'green' and have it be an act of common sense in everyone's (individuals, government and businesses) mind to live a sustainable lifestyle, to the point where everybody all over the world works together to protect this.

PG: What is your best green advice?
AG: Think, Act, Vote. The vote refers to what you endorse in this world; on what you spend your money, time and energy. If we all just thought about things a bit more and were more mindful of our actions and our choices, we couldn't help but create a better world.

More on Ethical Fashion in the UK:
4 New Designers to Watch at London Fashion Week
London Fashion Week - 3 Outstanding Talents at Estethica
London Fashion Week launches with Ethical Catwalk Shows and a Sustainable Clothing Action Plan
London Fashion Week: Ciel SS09 is Bold with Beautiful Prints
Clever Patterns Cut Waste Out Of Fashion
London Fashion Week: Accessories

Change Makers is series of interviews with people famous and obscure who are creating a more sustainable world through their work. Meet more Change Makers here.