Meet Hadleigh Swarts

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hadleigh Swarts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hadleigh, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
The arts have always been an integral part of all I do from how I see the world to how I operate and the work I do. The arts are intertwined in everything which is something that I have a particular vested interest in. I especially find inspiration in artists that use their work as a medium to deliver a message on pertinent issues whether that be socially, politically, or culturally. I knew I wanted to create a platform that was focused on social impact but that had a nuanced approach to the visual aspect and user experience. Having an editorial platform that is focused on something such as environmental issues allows for more breath from the viewer and in turn ideally more interest in the larger conversation no matter where you are on your climate awareness journey. Being a creative opens up doors to create new pathways for connection on topics that have a deep influence on society and culture.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
A few years ago, I started tuning in to more collective thinking and better understanding the meaning of social responsibility. This is the driver of my ethos. Whether we like it or not, our actions have a ripple effect on those around us and even those not near us at all. In a world that is hyper-focused on instant gratification and micro-trends, this is especially heightened. Ultimately, enough was enough. I changed my shopping habits by investing in items that would last me longer, had little or ideally no plastic, and zeroed in on brands that were transparent in their values. The Unwash consolidates this and makes the process of finding sustainable, trustworthy brands more accessible. Recently I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with many of the brands featured on The Unwash. The mission of The Unwash is to give power to the impact you can make which culminated with these partnerships. We partnered with Julie, August, and Saie Beauty to energize prospective voters and discuss climate issues and reproductive rights that are on the ballot. This is something that excites me the most and am most proud of as it’s a full circle moment to why I started this project.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I started pulling together inspiration for The Unwash a few years ago, I knew I wanted to work with a team that understood and believed in what I wanted to create. LA-based design studio Nice People and Amber Asay were able to make something beautiful with my vision. We worked together for a year on creating exactly what I envisioned and collaborating with a women-led team made for a meaningful process. They saw my initial vision and turned it into something tangible which led to the creation of a platform that has such a unique user experience for those wanting to dive into the world of sustainability.

Website: theunwash.com

Instagram: @theunwash

Image Credits
KaSandra Mitchell & Nice People