More Conversations About Conservation… Or, what happens when an eco-event forgets the eco part.
We were invited to a World Environment Day pop-up at the beautiful @experiencebasque. Live music, a clothes swap, select local vendors - including us. On paper, it sounded like everything a sustainable event should be.
And in many ways, it was lovely. The crowd was happy. The swap worked well. The band was wonderful. People came, they shopped, they connected.
But I left thinking.
Not because anyone did anything wrong. But because something was missing — quietly, almost imperceptibly. There were no conversations about conservation. No visible changes to how food was served or waste was handled. No mention of the day's theme, no call to action beyond the act of shopping itself.
It was a regular event with an eco-label on the invitation.
What we brought
My friend and I, @ragmatazz and @komoliniii, showed up with our own small commitments. We debuted a collaboration: hand-painted miniature clay pendants (air-dry clay, water-based glaze, no resin) paired with stitched necklaces made from thrifted gingham. Every material was chosen with care. Every piece was made slowly, without plastic, without hurry.
We weren't perfect. But we were trying.
And I realized, standing there between the clothes swap and the cover band, that trying is where it starts. But it can't be where it ends.
The question that stayed with me
How do we gather for World Environment Day without accidentally fueling the same consumption culture we're meant to be looking beyond?
A clothes swap is great. Handmade vendors are wonderful. Live music brings people together. None of that is the problem.
The problem is when those things happen in isolation, without structure, without education, without any operational change and we still call it an eco-event. The label becomes a decoration, not a commitment.
What could have been different
Small shifts could have changed everything.
A sign at the entrance explaining the day's theme. A five-minute shoutout from the stage about conservation. Reusable serveware instead of single-use. A vendor application that asked, even gently, about sustainable practices.
These aren't radical asks. They're just the difference between talking about sustainability and practicing it.
What now?
I'm not writing this to call anyone out. The organizers were kind. The venue was beautiful. The intention, I believe, was good.
But good intentions are just the first step. The next step is follow-through.
So here's my gentle nudge to all of us, not just this event. Let's hold businesses accountable for using their platforms to build awareness and create real change. Let's ask for more than vibes. Let's expect that an event celebrating the planet actually does something to protect it.
This event was a start. Let's keep asking for more.
Let's have more conversations about conservation.
Let's have more conscious consumption. More slow fashion. More community. More of businesses stepping up, not just showing up.
Because the planet doesn't need another shopping day with a green sticker.
It needs us to mean it.
🌱