Welcome to our weekly column, Botanica World, in which we interview our favorite creative women about inspiration, sustainability, business, and social distancing for public health.  

The objective of this series is to bring some positive content to the social media space. 

Artists and creators have always persevered and thrived even in times of adversity, and we wanted to check in with our community to share experiences- we are all in this together.

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Kristine Claghorn, Creative Producer

Claggie, Los Angeles

Claggie.com

@claggie

In this article: Kristine wears Renata Top in Natural and Robi Shorts in Natural.

 

 

 

Where have you found inspiration in 2020?

2020 has been a trying year so far, and it’s only April. We’ve had wildfires, earthquakes, a pandemic… all while having upsetting governmental leadership. Although there are some days when it feels overwhelming, I am constantly inspired by those that use hardships to invigorate positive change. There’s not a whole lot we can do to control the situation, but we can control our reactions to them. 

During our time in quarantine, my friends and I have been communicating a lot about this. It’s been a huge reminder of how much they inspire me. I’ve also been reading Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl and it feels incredibly timely. 

 

What does sustainability mean to you or your business?  What systems have you implemented to prioritize sustainability?

Living sustainably is a huge part of my life. Starting Cabin Vintage was a huge step in me moving away from full time jobs where I was being paid to market brands that don’t focus on being climate positive. I’m a huge supporter in buying things secondhand when you can and I love thrifting more than just about anything. Cabin Vintage has helped me spread awareness that wearing secondhand/vintage clothing is something anyone with any style of can do. 

I stopped buying brand new clothing (for the most part) in November of 2018 and it has been very freeing for me. I’m a lot less susceptible to impulse buys, especially with trends shown on social. The fashion industry is a huge polluter and giving something that already exists a longer life is a positive step to take to contribute less to your overall carbon footprint. 

 

 

Who are the women in your community that inspire you? Do you have a mentor?

My best friend Mickayla is a nurse currently working the frontlines with Covid-19 patients. I admire her bravery and selflessness. 

My mom is also such an inspiration to me. She’s been teaching me ways to live sustainably way before it was in the spotlight. I remember she bought be beeswax food wraps in 2011… and it took me awhile to realize what I could do with them. She always stays up to date with current events and tries her best to live in a way that helps the planet. 

My grandma is another huge inspiration. She’s in her mid-eighties and she has such an open mind. My grandparents and parents have always taught me to be kind and accepting of others. It’s helped me a lot in my life. Empathy is key!

I’m also inspired by brands that work hard to incorporate sustainability practices into their process. I know it takes a lot of time, patience and money to do. Here’s a list of a handful:

Fibers & Florals

Whimsy & Row

Mixed Business

Botanica Workshop

Pair Up

 

 

What has been your biggest challenge in your career? How did you approach it?

My biggest challenge was jumping into my own projects. The stability of a full time job was hard to leave behind. I got “lucky” and was laid off from a failing start-up in July of 2019, so I was forced to start to do my own thing.

I recommend to anyone that taking time to figure out passion projects is really important if it’s something you’re able to do. 

 

 

Society is facing an unprecedented situation with the effects of COVID-19.  What have you been doing to stay grounded and mindful during these times? Do you maybe have a recipe or favorite pastime to share while we are all at home?

I’ve been having to remind myself that we’re doing through something crazy right now that it’s ok to rest. I’m not good at staying still, so I’ve been taking this time to try to be better at that. Meditation and and reading books helps me. Communicating with family and friends has also been important. 

My favorite comforting recipe so far has been this recipe for Baked Oatmeal: 

 

 

Peanut Butter Cacao Baked Oatmeal

INGREDIENTS

2 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 tablespoon ground flaxseed (or one egg)

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 cups milk of choice (I used almond)

1/2 cup apple sauce (or one ripe banana, I just had the apple sauce I made the other day on hand)

1/4 cup maple syrup

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1 tablespoon melted coconut oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 handful of dark chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375

2. Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper

3. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together until well blended.

4. Pour mixture into baking dish.

5. Sprinkle a little cinnamon and chocolate chips on top. I also added hemp seeds.

6. Bake for 30 minutes. 

7. Remove from oven and let it sit for a few minutes before serving.

8. Serve topped with a drizzle of peanut butter and a little maple syrup. 

 

Thanks to Kristine Claghorn for contributing to Botanica World!

If you enjoyed this interview, please consider donating to the following charity that she has selected:

The charity The Open Medicine Foundation is near and dear to my heart. My brother has been suffering with ME/CFS since he was 15 and there is not a whole lot of funding for research. 

There are so many people fighting this chronic complex disease and I’d love for there to be actual funding to help find a root cause + cure. There have been upticks in cases of this after pandemics as well, so I think it’s a great time to help them raise funds.