Interview: A More Sustainable Life
The eco-conscious journey of a fashion designer turned flower grower
Born and raised in Provence, I’ve always had nature as a part of my daily life. Growing up, we would always have a new adventure planned each weekend: whether it was a walk in the old villages of Luberon, a hike in the Forêt des Cèdres or a picnic in the Calanques. I definitely took it for granted, and only realized my chance once I moved to Chicago and lost that connection to nature.
But living in a big city doesn’t mean you give up caring about the environment or can’t live a sustainable life. There are things we can do daily to bring sustainability into our routine and reconnect with nature.
And that brings us to our guest today. My very best friend, Ingrid Choquet, flower grower and environmental activist.
We’ve known each other since high school, and while we’ve lived in different cities (and continents) for a while, we have kept our friendship very strong. Ingrid is who I turn to for many things in life, one of them being how I can reduce my footprint on the planet. She’s done a lot of research on the topic and made drastic changes in her life as a result.
Before we dive into this topic of sustainability, please tell us more about you.
Bonjour !
My name is Ingrid. I spent 10 years working in the fashion industry, for big names like Louis Vuitton, then for myself with my wedding dress company L’Amoureuse. I was at the same time a teacher in a fashion school. While doing so, I realized that this industry was way too damaging for the planet, and far from the vision I had for my life. The lack of consideration for the environment and the challenges to comply with eco-conscious practices didn’t align with my values. It didn’t make sense for me anymore to work in such a fast paced, careless environment. So I decided last year to change career and become a flower grower!
photo credit: Mélanie Briée
Wow. That’s a major change! How did you find this new path?
Well, I did a bit of soul searching before I got there. I knew I wanted to be closer to nature and to be in control of what I’d create. I thought about cuisine, patisserie… I was interested in edible flowers. Then one day, I met with a flower grower, and bam! our conversation sparked something: I knew I was meant to grow flowers and create my own source of creativity! I’ve just started the training, next will be to find a piece of land and start my flower-growing business. I can’t wait.
Where does your interest for the environment come from?
I’m a pretty highly sensitive person, I tend to be moved by the things that don’t work in the world. I’m not an activist per se but I like to have an active role when I can. The protection of our planet is one cause I feel like I can be an actor of change every day. So that’s what I try to do!
How did your eco-conscious journey begin?
Since fashion and food have always been passions of mine, I decided to start there. I’ve always liked buying vintage or designer pieces every now and then, and I would pair them with cheaper clothes from H&M or Zara. Then the tragedy of Rana Plaza happened in 2013, and it made me reconsider the way I shop for my clothes. I stopped buying from fast fashion chains, and instead I try to find fewer, more durable pieces that are made in France ethically. It’s more expensive but at least it’s aligned with my values.
As for food, I love eating well and cooking dishes that are tasty and healthy (most times!). I buy exclusively organic produce in local markets to eat fresh and seasonal. Only if I have an urgent craving for some biscuits or other processed food will I step into a supermarket. (It does happen sometimes… No one’s perfect!)
What other changes have you made to live a more sustainable life?
In all aspects of life, my goal is to reduce waste. “Consommer moins, mais mieux” is my mantra (consume less, but better). Because even something that is recyclable demands energy to recycle. So for example, when grocery shopping, I bring my own containers to buy nuts and cereals in bulk, as well as reusable bags for produce.
At home, I made my own cleaning supplies, based of white vinegar. Mix it with water and some essential oils — or even better, orange peels — and voilà, you are ready to clean your whole place! I’ve also experimented in the bathroom and made my own skincare products. You should try it, it’s fun! For beauty mask, for instance, I mix green clay powder with oil or floral water. Taking care of myself and the planet :)
Finally, I’m lucky to have recycling and compost services in my neighborhood in Paris, so I’ve been taking advantage of that for the past two years. Less waste in the landfills!
What advice would you give us to live a more sustainable life?
There are so many things we can do every day or habits we can change. I would say, start where you are and be kind with yourself in your sustainable journey! It takes time and commitment but it should be enjoyable too.
You can choose to tackle a room in your home, for example, the bathroom. How can you reduce the waste there? It can be ditching the cotton pads or makeup removal wipes, and choose reusable fabric squares instead. It can be trying solid soap and shampoo, or getting rid of your exfoliator if it has micro-beads scrubs (those are made of plastic and so bad for the environment!).
If you want to become more sustainable in the way you shop for your clothes, try to look up where your clothes come from, who made them and with what kind of materials. Ideally, your clothes were made close to where you buy them, ethically and with eco-friendly materials.
One last thing I’d suggest is to keep educating yourself and others on the topic. Read articles, talk with family and friends about your findings, and make small changes along the way!
Thanks for all these tips! As we wrap this interview, do you have any books, documentaries or Instagram accounts you’d recommend we checked out?
Absolutely. Here are my go-to:
Zero Waste by Bea Johnson
Conscious Fashion - Instagram account in French
The True Cost - documentary about the fashion industry
Kiss the Ground on Netflix - documentary about a simple solution to preserving the planet
Too Good to Go app to combat food waste - just launched in the US!
I hope this interview taught you something new and inspires you to turn a daily habit into a greener one.
At Best French Forever, we do our best to minimize our ecological footprint by using recycled and recyclable packaging, and by handpicking French products that have been made with the planet in mind. We know we’re not perfect, but we are always welcoming new ideas to be more earth-friendly.
If you’re looking for a special gift that is sustainable with a French touch, consider checking out our Gift Box Sets.