Jacynth Bassett
on why Ageism is Never in Style in the Fashion Industry
No woman is invisible or irrelevant, so why should fashion be age-oriented?
Jacynth Bassett is the one who leads the way in calling out ageism and changing the narrative.
She has always been a fashionista, something that was rooted in her teenage years when accompanied her mother shopping. That’s when she noticed how frustrating it was for older women to find clothes that reflected their sense of style. Only the boring and unflattering designs were targeting them. How must it be to feel peripheral in the eyes of the Fashion Industry, largely due to your age?
“My principle is that if I, at 31, wouldn’t feel stylish wearing an outfit, then why should someone older? She might style the item differently, but she shouldn’t only have ‘second-best’ clothing available to her. That’s why I select labels that have a unique, often playful, point of view.”
The seed was planted: Jacynth decided to launch a blog for women offering style tips, inspiration, and interviews with dynamic women discussing age prejudice within the Fashion Industry. The positive response from readers echoing the same sentiments led her to create The Bias Cut - the first age-inclusive independent fashion online boutique.
From creating viral age-positive/anti-ageism campaigns, including #ILookMyAge, to creating the first collection of free editorial stock imagery of 50+ women to improve representation, she became a leading campaigner and advocate for eradicating ageism and pioneering age inclusivity.
Named by Global Health Ageing an ‘Ageism-Fighting Trailblazer’ and one of Evening Standard’s 22 Londoners Changing the World, Jacynth is one of the most exciting visionaries and disruptors around ageing. Her award-winning global movement, campaign & community Ageism Is Never In Style ® is significantly impacting and changing the way fashion - and society - views ageing. And isn't it what we all want?
Discover Jacynth Bassett’s answers for Inspirators and remember that “style should be fun and a reflection of who you are on the inside”!
Thank you, Jacynth, for being an Ageism-Fighting Trailblazer!
#INSPIRATORS QUESTIONNAIRE
Name: Jacynth Bassett
Company / Institution: The Bias Cut & Ageism Is Never In Style ®
Title: Founder & CEO
Website: www.thebiascut.com
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacynth-bassett-b3872aba/
Country of origin: UK
Country you currently live in: UK
Your personal definition of Regeneration: Being adaptable, inclusive and always agile!
Main business challenge you face: Sometimes being too ahead of the curve!
Main driver that keeps you going: The pursuit of making a positive difference.
The trait you are most proud of in yourself: Being a positive troublemaker!
The trait you most value in others: Integrity.
Passions & little things that bring you joy: Dance, delicious food, and great company!
The #inspirators who determined you to take the regenerative path:
Caryn Franklin
Ashton Applewhite
Natalie Massenet
A hint or starting point for companies or professionals that are taking the first steps in the regeneration journey: Lay down your values and principles as your roots, and let everything – your aims and your strategy grow directly from there.
Most used and abused clichés in sustainability that bother you: That sustainability is only about the environment. People and inclusivity are at the core of sustainability!
An honest piece of advice for young people who lose hope: This is a wave. Don’t fight it! Just ride it! Be kind to yourself, and you’ll get through it. You’re not alone!
Books that had a great impact on you: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Must-reads for any regenerative professional: There’s no specific, definitive book I would recommend as everyone has different needs, values and issues to address. I would simply encourage broadening your thinking and perspective by absorbing as much potentially relevant information and thought leadership as possible.
Movies or Documentaries you would watch all over again:
Everything. Everywhere. All At Once.
Blogs / Websites / Podcasts you visit frequently: Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Drapers, Industry.Fashion, The Guardian - for trends, thought leadership and current events. But again, I generally encourage not limiting yourself. Seek out culture, innovative thinking and inspirational creativity in different places and arenas, and absorb as much as possible.
Music that makes you (and your heart) sing: Old school Britney!
Places you travelled to that left a mark on you: That’s a difficult one! I’ve been very fortunate to have travelled a lot since a young age and every place I’ve visited has been impactful. But particularly special places were Botswana, Tokyo, India, Los Angeles, and New Zealand where I have family.
Global Regenerative Voices you recommend us to follow:
Stacy London
Ruby Hammer
Dr Hannah Swift
Kris Foster
Tribeni Chougule
Stephane O’Dell
Dara Goldberg
Trends in Regeneration we should keep an eye on: Age-inclusivity!
Age is, finally, becoming recognized and brought into the DEI conversation. With our population ageing, this important issue is only going to grow and become even more relevant and topical.
Best places for business networking (online or offline): A coffee shop!
Events we should attend: Any that appeal and seem interesting! I’m a big believer in the value of networking, and some of the best events can be the ones you least expect!
Associations, business clubs, tribes you belong to – and why:
I attended an all-girls school aged 4-18, and then Murray Edwards, one of Cambridge University’s all-female colleges. So I’m particularly passionate about both educating young women and women supporting women throughout their lives. As such, I’m a Governor for one of the GDST schools and am on the alumnae network committee for Murray Edwards. I’m also a member of the F:Entrepreneur group for female entrepreneurs. I’ve struggled to find business networks/groups that feel authentic and the right fit, but F:Entrepreneur is a group of really supportive, down-to-earth, genuine women.
I also recently joined the Silver Marketing Association – a global network that specializes in marketing for over 50s.
And of course, the Ageism Is Never In Style® 135k+ community is my main ‘tribe’!
Sustainable Development or Regeneration courses, trainings, or certifications that really teach us how to have an impact: Cambridge Institute For Sustainability – they have a great series of courses. I was on one of their first and it really got me to reevaluate what sustainability means and looks like and re-understand it from a holistic perspective.
Reasons to feel optimistic about our future in 2030: The desire, thirst and demand held by so many to support one other and drive positive change.
Reasons to feel pessimistic about our future in 2030: The nature and reality of politics today.
Regenerative Leadership qualities much needed today: Resilience, empathy and courage.
The #inspirator you are endorsing for a future edition of the newsletter is: Ashton Applewhite
The quote that inspires you:
“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” (Coco Chanel)
Your own quote that will inspire us:
