Conversations with Friends ~ Jo Linehan

Hi! My name is Jo. I'm a sustainability journalist and run a furniture resale platform called GAFF Shop. I am obsessed with fashion, beauty, wellness, food, and nature but enjoying all of these things in a mindful, sustainable way. If I'm not at my desk, I'm out walking with my dog Harley, in a pilates class or trying out a new coffee spot. 

Living in the city is a constant source of inspiration for me. I love going out for a meal, visiting a hotel, or browsing shops. I find so much inspiration in others' creativity. I follow a few content creators who don't necessarily do what I do but watching them be as skilled as they are inspires me too. 

Yes! Harley is our staffie; we've had her for over two years. We fostered from an amazing centre called Claddagh Rescue that specialises in staffies and Pitbulls. She's this pint-sized ball of muscle and love and affection. She's so friendly and gentle. We are entirely in love with her, and she's changed my life. My morning walk with her is one of my favourite parts of the day. 

I love giving advice, even when I'm not asked - it's the Virgo in me! My advice is to follow your own path instead of the prescribed one many of us feel we have to adhere to. There is so much social pressure to have certain things by a certain age and to follow tradition. The beautiful thing about our generation is that we have the freedom to choose to live in whatever way we want. It's not always easy, but carving out your own path is the only way to go. My mam always says, "This isn't the dress rehearsal - this is your life, so make sure you're living fully and enjoying it," I always try to remember that. 

There are a few! Burrow Beach, near Sutton, is my idea of paradise. Sunrise there, on the deserted strand, is my idea of heaven. Killiney Hill is up there with my favourites, especially if I have time to climb the hill and dip in the sea while I’m there. Of course, Mallow in Cork, where I'm from, is always number one. Eating whatever my mam has just cooked at home by the fire is unbeatable.  

Right now, one of the world's biggest challenges is unmanageable quantities of fast fashion that pollute the environment and keep women in slave labour around the world. It's a complex issue that many consumers (myself included) haven't been aware of. I have loads of content explaining why buying less fast fashion is one of the most powerful things we can do as individuals to help people and the planet 

Lots of the sustainable reading resources can be heavy and difficult to digest. If you want to learn more, there are some excellent accounts on social worth following - Duo Ireland, Fionnuala Moran, and Kelli Dalton - all of whom offer fantastic inspiration and insight into living a more low-impact life. The Business of Fashion has a great weekly email that rounds up sustainability news from the week, and I have a sustainability colum in The Sunday Times weekend each week that breaks down lots of topics! 

Is it OK to mention my own?!

If you're interested in learning about cruelty-free skincare, how to ditch fast fashion and to live more consciously, I host a podcast called Futurist that covers all of the above and loads more. 

I adore protea, but I love them all. I have flower tattoos on my arm and shoulders and would love more.  

I love to split up larger bunches into smaller arrangements and dot them around the home. It's a luxury to have fresh flowers in the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and bedroom - I like to enjoy them everywhere. I trim the stems and change the water regularly - it means I get weeks out of a bunch. And with sustainability in mind, I also love to keep dried flowers.