Kelly Okamura

Buying bargains for change: An interview with Bargain Jody

KRO2 — Sat, 11 Feb 2017 23:29:36 +0000

In Part One of Buying Bargains, Kelly Okamura talks with Jody Steinhauer (or Bargain Jody as she's fondly called).

They discuss the difference btween bargains and discounts, and how bargain shopping has changed from needs to fast fashion. They speak about making purchases that add value, helping people with real needs, and social corporate responsibility.

Project Winter Survival is an initiative by Engage and Change to fund 10,000 Survival Kits for the homeless and less fortunate.

This is Goodergoods' second Valentine's Day show -- listen to their first Valentine's edition - "Love and Passion."

Dress like a woman in a Red Chick Year

KRO2 — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 00:29:39 +0000

dresslikeawoman_complete.mp3

In this first episode of the Red Fire Chicken lunar year, Kelly Okamura reacts to the news reported by Axios that the female White House staff dress code is "Dress like women."*

She shared her findings from the days after the news broke, and offers advice on dressing in the year ahead that is defined as a female metal year based on ancient Chinse atrological forecasts. Here'a a link to one web resource that describes why much of 2017 is a chicken, not rooster year.

http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2017.htm

Check out the #dresslikeawoman for portraits of what women wear in the Chinese year 4714.

*Note on DJT -- Kelly supports an online action to not refer to Donald Trump by name to not contribute to his online popularity.

Wearing pink

KRO2 — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 20:03:27 +0000

gGoods podcast-Wearing Pink, Kelly Okamura 2017

Celebrating the Women's March, and fashion choices that will continue to send a visible message that feminism matters.

Kelly dons hot pink ski pants to go downtown to the Toronto Offsite Design Symposium and the Made By Feminist market to show support for the feminist cause in her own fashion.

And she encourages others to don a pussycat hat, offering easy instructions to keep your head warm and wear your headwear with pride -- even after the snow melts.

Click here for the PussyHat Project.

Full disclosure buying

KRO2 — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 22:07:01 +0000

Full Disclosure Buying. Artist: Kelly Okamura 2017

Kelly Okamura goes on a final shop at Honest Ed's. She passes on bargains and owns up to buying an artificial tree. And despite public resolve to stick to a budget she admits to going into the new year with shopper debt. But, in her own fashion, Kelly did manage to ahieve her daughter's holiday wish.

She invites listeners to share their most memorable bargain buy from Honest Ed's to start a new conversation about shopping for bargains, and sends new year's wishes to all who buy stuff.

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Image: M. Hansen

Dressing for the tree

KRO2 — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 02:01:06 +0000

Dressing For The Tree

Kelly Okamura is cash strapped for Christmas shopping and questions whether it's worth going into debt over present buying for loved ones.

While drawing on the Gift of the Magi parable, she ignores loving advise to not buy gifts. She has kids to buy for and goes on-line to stretch her meagre dollars. And her hunt for bargains is being tracked. And so is her debt but she shares her round-about way to give without breaking her budget.

Focusing on the spirit of the season, she wraps a present that didn't cost a dime and finds Christmas joy in dressing the holiday tree.

'The Accidental Chef' recounts cooking for all and with love. Available on amazon.ca

Photo: 2016 Tree lighting, Riverdale Park, Toronto

Red, black and click on Black Friday

KRO2 — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 19:40:28 +0000

red_black_and_click.mp3

Are Canadians buying into this hyped-up American shopping tradition of thanks-giving?

Kelly R. Okamura, the KRO, is thinking red, black and click while shopping during Black Friday and beyond Cyber Monday. The financial terms of Red and Black equate to debt and business profit respectively, and she finds shoppers are buying online. Whether online or in-line, consumers' belief in bargains are putting many into debt.

Following an apparel workshop for learning about equity, she takes a group of students Black Friday shopping at a charity thrift store, and gains salvation for her shopper soul.

Window shopping and wearing toilet paper

KRO2 — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 05:50:09 +0000

gG podcast: Window Shopping and Wearing Toilet Paper

Post U.S. election, did you shop for solace or retreat from the stores? GooderGoods host Kelly Okamura did both.

And, a lecture about leveraging new "ex-information" design thinking based on a recent Toronto lecture by Kenya Hara of the Hara Design Institute.

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Windbreakers: A chilling coat tale

KRO2 — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 21:43:34 +0000

Windbreakers - A Chilling Coat Tale

KRO gets dressed for Halloween and recalls two chilling tales about a common jacket, the windbreaker.

Linking an iconic coat design in Final Home and the recent Gord Downie project, Secret Path features Jeff Lemire's haunting images of Chaney Wenjack walking home dressed in a thin windbreaker.

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'River Blue' connects consumption choices with impact

KRO2 — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 21:36:30 +0000

River Blue - A conversation with the filmakers

KRO's review on the documentary film, River Blue.

A conversation with River Blue filmmakers on their new film that connects consumption choices with the impact upstream. A big film that offers uplifiting human solutions that can be supported with purchasing dollars.

Vancouver premiere is October 1, plus October 4 screening.

For more info on River Blue click here and learn about their conscious consumption hub in progress.

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Supporting textile workers globally

KRO2 — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 20:46:39 +0000

gG podcast:Honouring textile workers

Not Made in Canada has new value for consumers' purchasing considerations.

See where your charitable textile dontaions end up; watch Meghna Gupta's documentary, Unravel (2012): Unravel

Ask brands where your garment was produce, and if the factory is WRAP certified.

Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP)

Look for the "Made In Green" label on future fit products -- OEKO-Tex- Made in Green

Blue jean blues: A closer look at a back-to-school basic

KRO2 — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 04:04:20 +0000

gG podcast: Blue Jean Blues

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A closer look at a back-to-school basic.

For a workwear original, cheap denim has a high cost for those who can least afford the health and environmental damage.

Links for:

Just Approved- Denim

http://projectjust.com/justapproved_denim/

If Your Jeans Are Cheaper Than This, You've got a Problem by Alden Wicker

Real world runway

KRO2 — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 02:18:02 +0000

Real world runway

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Two Toronto events that turns the idea of fashion on its head, with gooder goods host Kelly Okamura:

The cancellation of Toronto Fashion Week by a international entertainment company provides an opportunity to create a new platform for Toronto and Canadian fashion that is inclusive.

Citizen Intervention

KRO2 — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 17:29:27 +0000

Citizen Intervention #17

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Kelly tackles textile waste in a citizen led, 100in1DayTO intervention.

She overcomes mounds of textiles and does battle with a heavy metal dumpster for a small win for flourishing fashion.

Changing the way we connect with our consumption.

If you're not naked, and buying, listen in.

Waste Wanted

KRO2 — Tue, 24 May 2016 14:43:02 +0000

#16- Waste Wanted

Today's show features an interview with textile Waste expert, Sabine Weber, with her thoughts on how all of us can do better with new thinking about our old threads. An opportunity to be gooder by diverting textile waste that is often not thought about from landfill. Listen in and share new insights on this wicked modern ecological problem.

This has become a burning issue for municipalities to business plus charities, and requires new thinking by all of us who consume.

Here's the link to CBC's reporting by Havard Gould on the issue.

Dress as a fashion revolutionary

KRO2 — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 21:04:22 +0000

#15 Dress as a Fashion Revolutionary

Making a public fashion statement to face the world as a fashion revolutionist.

#WhoMadeMyClothes - Looking at clothes inside out, showing labels

Getting dressed for Wear The Justice theatrical red carpet screening

Parkhurst - Made in China

Lacoste for Blackberry - Designed in France, Made in Peru

Moschino - Made in Italy?

Hue - Made in Korea

Garden Rose: vintage - Switzerland

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