"being a proud feminist I'm grateful for the strong, pioneering women who have paved a path for my generation by fighting for equality and giving us a voice." |
Mrinalini
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Most people call me Mini, but my formal name is Mrinalini, which is a Sanskrit word meaning Lotus, or stem of the Lotus. I love both my names, and it's just coincidence that Mini seems like it could be a shortened form of Mrinalini.
I have had a long and varied professional career in all sorts of fields from Hospitality to Finance to the Public sector and Non-Profit. In terms of personality, I would say I'm a late bloomer, as I was well into my 30s before I gained true self-confidence in terms of my opinions, values and skills, although I was lucky to have an innate sense of self-worth that helped me through the tough times. I am certainly no shrinking violet any longer! I am passionate and vocal about my beliefs and principles and am a proud feminist. |
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I am also strongly pro-science, trying in my small way, to educate people in my circle about the problematic trend of anti-intellectualism and pseudo-scientific conspiracy theories that is infesting our world at the moment.
Despite choosing not to have children myself, I am fiercely protective of my friends who are mothers, and defend their right to choose how to bring up their children (as long as it doesn't include not vaccinating them!), making sure they know they can come to me for honest conversations without any judgement when they feel the need.
I love travelling to new places and make sure I take the time to explore a destination rather than just ticking it off a list. My wonderful husband is much the same, and we have had many delightful trips together, and in fact have just returned to Melbourne after spending 3 years living and travelling in Japan. My hobbies include snorkelling, reading, hiking, and watching movies and concerts.
Despite choosing not to have children myself, I am fiercely protective of my friends who are mothers, and defend their right to choose how to bring up their children (as long as it doesn't include not vaccinating them!), making sure they know they can come to me for honest conversations without any judgement when they feel the need.
I love travelling to new places and make sure I take the time to explore a destination rather than just ticking it off a list. My wonderful husband is much the same, and we have had many delightful trips together, and in fact have just returned to Melbourne after spending 3 years living and travelling in Japan. My hobbies include snorkelling, reading, hiking, and watching movies and concerts.
SENSE OF STYLEGrowing up, many of my favourite clothes were either hand-me-downs from my older cousin, or hand-made by family or friends and I loved them all.
As an adult, the outfit I recall most fondly is perhaps a halter-neck blue-green dress I wore for my 30th birthday. It was the most daring dress I had ever worn at that point, since I was incredibly self-conscious back then. Sadly, it was stolen not long after when some thieves grabbed my bag and keys and raided my apartment! My sense of style has of course evolved over the years. My taste is more eclectic now and has changed from a preference of muted colours to brighter ones with bold prints. My wardrobe has a range of prints, colours and fabrics, and I love them all. "I hate monotonous outfits and love wearing styles and combinations I haven't tried before." It has taken me a long time to be comfortable with my body, and it probably wasn't until my late 30s that I truly started embracing my curves and appreciating my body for what it can do, rather than what it looks like. Now in my mid-40s, I am more adventurous and focus on trying out different fits and styles of clothes, rather than trying to hide my hips and bum!
Comfort is paramount though, and I don't bother with fashion trends. I buy and wear what takes my fancy, not what is supposed to be "in". I do not get rid of clothes based on trends either; I still have many pieces that are years old, but as long as they still fit me well, I will continue to wear them. |
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CHOOSING ETHICAL FASHIONEthical fashion to me, is defined by its impact (on those involved in the making and distribution) and sustainability. Impact means that the supply chain process is ethically managed, with contributors being paid a living wage and being compensated fairly for their work.
Sustainability, on the other hand, doesn't automatically mean "Organic", although that is a bandwagon that many companies are jumping on without understanding what the label actually means. Organic cotton, for instance, is quite often more resource-intensive, less sustainable and more expensive than conventionally grown cotton, while also using pesticides. This doesn't mean the "organic" is automatically "bad", but it does mean that it isn't automatically "good" either; it really depends on the actual farming and production practices used. It is critical that sustainability and environmentally-conscious initiatives do not turn their back on science and technology if they are to benefit more of the world's population and not just the rich nations, which is why I tend to stay away from products with the "organic cotton" label, unless there is additional information available to indicate how that cotton is grown and sourced. |
It is also important to note that supporting ethical fashion is a luxury that many people cannot afford. I choose to do so now, because at this stage of my life, I can afford to pay more for my clothes and take the time to research and support small business and social enterprises that produce/sell ethically produced fashion. What I really need to aim for is to buy fewer clothes and less frequently, but I am working on that!
Images: Russell (Mini's husband) and Mieko (Mini's friend) for the Ginny & Jude Women Project
