Good Form presents Sisters In Sustainability at Somerset House: Upgrade Yourself Fest
Are you building a conscious brand? In doing so have you discovered that you have new questions everyday?
In our experience helping clients we’ve found this to be pretty standard. No matter how much you think you’ve prepped to run the gamut of ups an downs launching and sustaining a purpose driven brand, there will always be the challenges you didn’t foresee.
Recently Good Form teamed up with Colechi to present a Sisters In Sustainability panel on ‘Building your Sustainable Brand’. And through a very transparent chat we divulged not only the challenges we’ve experienced building our own brands and working with clients, but in order to provide as many shortcuts and for our audience as we could - we also shared the solutions we came to along the way.
Keep reading for our pro tips and key recommendations coming out of the questions we were asked in the session:
Common challenges & how to overcome them
1. Expect the Unexpected — Especially in the Supply Chain
Start-ups often underestimate just how unpredictable supply chains can be. Even "sustainable" suppliers can have hidden issues.
Takeaway: Build flexibility into your timeline. Always have a Plan B (or C). Interrogate your suppliers for values and practices, not just certifications.
2. Labels, Storage & Regs: Know the Boring Stuff Early
Labeling laws, warehouse space, and logistics costs can sneak up on you.
Takeaway: Don’t skimp on legal or regulatory research. Use checklists. Talk to others in the field. Use your community. Ask questions - there will likely be somebody in your network that's already navigated the challenge.
3. Messaging & Certs: Clarity Over Complexity
You don’t need to have every certification.
Takeaway: Choose 1–2 certifications that truly align. Be radically clear and honest in your messaging that sits along side them in marketing to build trust with your audience.
Advice to Our Past Selves:
Don’t wait to be "ready" — just start.
Build your community early — they’ll become your biggest resource.
Protect your energy — pace is part of sustainability, too.
Top Considerations When Building a Purpose-Driven Brand (from Good Form's Work)
Clarity of Purpose: Be specific about your values and what problem you're solving.
Community : Your brand should be rooted in and accountable to a community.
Operational Integrity: Align backend systems with frontend messaging to avoid greenwashing.
Build Relationships Before You Need Them
The most meaningful connections often come from shared values, not just transactions. When you're asking for help, do think about what you can offer the person you're asking, think about every relationship as long term and to be nurtured over time as opposed to transactional and in the moment.
Sisters in Sustainability is a collective of women from the global majority, all working within the field of sustainability. From right to left: Emma Slade Edmondson, Author and Co-Founder of Good Form, Melissa Legarda, Founder of Virginutty, Co-Founder of Good Form and Conscious Travel Expert, and Piarve Wets Co-Founder of Colechi and Last Yarn.
From right to left: Tina Wetshi - Co-Founder of Colechi, Melissa Legarda and Emma Slade Edmondson following the Sisters In Sustainability talk at Upgrade Yourself Festival - Somerset House.
