Straight from the Source Ep 2: Jane Blacklock, Head of ESG, Passenger
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At Source Fashion, we’re always inspired by the people shaping what’s next for responsible fashion. That’s why we’ve launched Straight from the Source - a new series of candid, unscripted conversations filmed live at our July show, where we speak directly with the industry leaders challenging the future of ethical fashion.
From the Source Ep 2: Jane Blacklock, Head of ESG, Passenger
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Channel: Source Fashion
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Publish Date: October 28, 2025
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Core Theme: ESG in fashion, the myth of "eco-friendly" products, and the need for factory-level transparency.
Content Summary
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Definition of Ethical Fashion: For Jane, ethical fashion is fundamentally about the people who manufacture the products. Her background in responsible sourcing consultancy informs her view that the human element is the core of ESG [00:15].
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The Complexity of Change: She highlights that proving a brand is working differently than "conventional" ways is incredibly complex, a fact often misunderstood by the public [00:31].
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The "Eco-Friendly" Myth: Jane makes a strong statement that there is no such thing as eco-friendly fashion because all production has an impact. She suggests the best goal we can hope for is to be "eco-neutral" [01:20].
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Regulation vs. Innovation: She believes a mix of both is required. While regulation is now clearly necessary to move the industry, brands must continue to innovate and demonstrate new solutions [00:50].
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Transparency Issues: Jane notes that even when reading brand impact reports, there is often a "corporate filter" applied by legal or PR teams. This makes it difficult to identify which brands are truly being "warts and all" about their progress and failures [01:47].
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Advice for Professionals: She emphasizes the importance of physical site visits, stating, "Go to the factory... you can't know it if you can't see it and smell it and feel it" [01:37].
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One Major Change: If she could change one thing in the supply chain, she would focus on reducing the heat used in factories for processes like ironing and washing, instead utilizing atmospheric heat to lower energy consumption [02:54].
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Vision for the Future: She hopes fashion becomes "less impactful and more valuable," where more value is placed on every individual item produced [03:17].
Video Link: https://youtu.be/jY9D_fNijOE