Robert Meeder
Meet Robert Meeder, the Co-Founder of Selyn Textiles @selynfairtrade, a sustainable textile brand in Sri Lanka. With a global career in craft, design, and sustainability, he inspires students and consults with various organizations, companies, and governments to promote doing better by being better.
IRK: Tell us your “Why”
For the love of craft, people, and culture! Artisanal and indigenous craft is fundamentally the first objects our societies created, it’s part of our DNA, language, and identity. It is also a potential solution and approach to many of the problems our modern societies face eg. broken supply chains, lack of transparency and authenticity of productions but more importantly an approach to design that is far less impactful on our environment.
IRK: What are you most passionate about with respect to taking care of people and the planet?
I am most passionate about discovering and developing solutions and connecting the dots between communities, designers, and our environment. How one man’s waste can be another man’s textiles. Working within the textiles industry I believe we play a significant role in promoting sustainable practices and protecting the planet and people – we have to!
IRK: What are some conscious actions you implement in your daily life?
Beyond the obvious day-to-day actions that we should all be doing, I volunteer virtually and give as much of my time to support aspiring leaders around the world in their communities trying to make a difference. If I can help, mentor, raise funds or create awareness for those who are fighting the adverse effects of “developed” societies’ misgivings – that’s where you’ll find me!
IRK: What’s your hope for the future of the planet?
My hope for the future of the planet is that we will still have one! At this rate we know that we have to slow things down and find long-standing solutions and changes to our societies and habits – there is no Mars or Plant B for 99.99% of us, so why would we delude ourselves and destroy our environment for the 0.01% who will be able to leave? As a collective, we have the power to be the change needed to do good and be better!
What Sustainable Development Goal do you align with the most? https://sdgs.un.org/goals
