Amanda Grogor-Rushforth

Sustainable fashion | TEDx Speaker | Ocean Advocate

Webisode 4

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Ocean Advocacy Meets Ethical Fashion

Summary:

In this episode of ZÁY SHEEN Webisodes, Tafreed speaks with ocean advocate and sustainable fashion champion Amanda Rushforth about how our clothing choices connect directly to marine health. Amanda shares how growing up by the sea in Saudi Arabia led her to lifelong beach cleanups and eventually to her work with Azraq, a UAE-based marine conservation NGO that tackles issues like microplastics, coral restoration, mangrove planting, and corporate ESG engagement. She explains the hidden impact of synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon, how washing our clothes sheds microplastics into the ocean, and what real solutions look like, from choosing natural fibers and secondhand fashion to supporting brands that are transparent about their supply chain, pay, and production volume. Together, they unpack greenwashing, the dangers of overproduction and returns, and why renting, swapping, and buying less are powerful tools. Amanda emphasizes that consumers “vote with their money” every time they shop, while Tafreed shares how ZÁY SHEEN evolved into an ethical, biodegradable, tree-planting brand rooted in fairness for both people and planet. The conversation ends with a call to action to educate ourselves, support truly sustainable brands, and turn awareness into local community impact.

Ocean Advocacy Meets Ethical Fashion:

A Conversation With Amanda Rushforth

What if the clothes in your wardrobe were quietly affecting the health of our oceans?
In a recent episode of ZÁY SHEEN Webisodes, Tafreed sat down with Amanda Rushforth – ocean advocate, TEDx speaker, and board member of Azraq, a marine conservation society based in the UAE- to discuss how plastic, fashion, and personal choices collide at the shoreline.

This blog walks through that conversation and turns it into practical steps you can use in your own life.

Growing Up With the Ocean

Amanda’s story starts on the coast of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where she grew up by the Red Sea. As a child, she spent weekends on raw, undeveloped beaches. The water was beautiful, the coastline wild, but there was one constant detail:

Even at seven or eight years old, she remembers asking:

Beach cleanups became a regular part of family life. Years later, when she moved to Dubai, another coastal city, the problem had not disappeared. It had simply changed form.

Instead of mostly big bottles and visible trash, the coastline began to show a more silent threat:

Microplastics.

Those tiny pieces are now everywhere, from beaches to the deepest parts of the ocean.

From Coastlines To Conservation: Azraq

Amanda now serves on the board of Azraq, a marine conservation NGO in the UAE that focuses on the entire marine ecosystem, not just what we see on the sand.

Azraq works across several pillars:

Azraq is government-approved, which means they can accept CSR funding and partner with corporations who want to meet ESG goals by planting mangroves, supporting coral restoration, and investing in real, local impact.

The Hidden Link Between Fashion and Ocean Health

Most people know about plastic bottles and bags in the ocean. Far fewer realize that their leggings, fleeces, and fast fashion tops are also part of the problem.

Amanda breaks it down very clearly:

Even if we recycle bottles and avoid plastic straws, our laundry alone can continue feeding plastic into the marine ecosystem.

On top of that, the fashion industry has:

Denim is one powerful example. Jeans start as white cotton. To achieve that classic blue shade, they undergo multiple dye baths, acid washes, and chemical treatments. If the factory is not using a closed-loop water system, those chemicals end up downstream, poisoning communities and ecosystems.

Plastic Is Not Just Evil – It Is About Purpose

Amanda is very clear: plastic is not the enemy by itself. It is about how and where we use it.

Plastic can be genuinely useful when:

The problem is not that plastic exists. The problem is that we use it for things that could easily be made from natural fibers, and then we dispose of it carelessly on a large scale.

Slow Fashion, Secondhand First

So how does Amanda personally balance style, quality, and sustainability?

Two simple rules guide her wardrobe:

She also pays attention to materials:

Greenwashing: How To Spot It

Greenwashing is everywhere in fashion. Amanda describes it as:

When brands look green without changing what really matters.

Some red flags:

No transparency about:

She suggests you:

Know your fibers
Natural vs synthetic
Read the label
Is it fully natural, a blend, or mostly plastic?
Look for specificity
Country of production, certifications, and small batch production
Ask questions
Truly sustainable or slow brands are usually happy to answer
If a brand avoids clear answers, that is a sign in itself

And a key truth that often gets missed:

Recycled synthetic fabric often cannot be recycled again.

So a “recycled polyester” item may still end up in a landfill at the end of its life.

The Power Of Renting, Swapping, And Buying Less

Throughout the conversation, one big message comes back again and again:

We already have enough clothes.

There are enough garments on this planet to dress several future generations, yet production keeps increasing.

Some better options:

Clothing rental
Perfect for events, weddings, or outfits you know you will only wear once or twice.
Clothes swapping
Share with friends, family, or local swap events. You get a “new” outfit without buying anything new.
Thrifting and resale platforms
Extend the life of existing garments instead of feeding demand for new ones.
Shopping your own wardrobe first
Before you buy, open your closet and really look. Most of us already have what we need.

ZÁY SHEEN’s Perspective: Elegance With Ethics

In the episode, Tafreed also shares how ZÁY SHEEN evolved from a small clothing venture into a fully ethical and sustainable brand.

Key points he highlights:

ZÁY SHEEN is also involved in tree planting in partnership with NYC Parks, aiming to plant thousands of trees to support urban green spaces and improve air quality for local communities.

How You Can Influence The Future Of Fashion

Amanda says it in one simple, powerful line:

You vote with your money.

Every purchase is a vote for the kind of industry you want to exist.

Here is how you can start today:

How You Can Influence The Future Of Fashion

Ocean advocacy and ethical fashion are not two separate worlds. They are deeply connected.

The polyester top you buy, the jeans you wash, the clothes you throw away all show up somewhere, often in someone else’s river, community, or coastline.

Through voices like Amanda Rushforth and platforms like ZÁY SHEEN Webisodes, we are reminded that sustainability is not just a trend. It is a responsibility and an opportunity.

Every choice you make is a quiet ripple. Enough ripples become a wave.

Ready to dive deeper?
Watch the full episode “Ocean Advocacy Meets Ethical Fashion: A Conversation with Amanda Rushforth” on YouTube and keep this conversation going in your own life.