Since 1970, we in Britain have suffered a 57% drop in farmland birds, a 27% drop in woodland birds, and a whopping 95% decrease in wintering waterbirds. Worldwide, experts speculate that one in eight bird species are at risk of extinction, and 40 percent of the world’s 11,000 bird species are declining. These chilling facts means it is more important than ever to seize this moment and live as sustainably as possible, or suffer the consequences later. Our current environmental problems are why sustainability is both a principle and a practice here at Lily Adele.

Since birds - my muses, my subject matter- are a part of the natural world, I feel it would be hypocritical of me to engage in practices that were unsustainable and unethical. This is why the method I use to make my bird pieces is as eco-friendly as possible: I use luxury fabric samples that would have otherwise end up in landfill and upcycle them into the designs. Not only is it a lovely way of making art - a rendering of the mundane and everyday into the magical - but it also reduces my carbon footprint. I’m forever indebted to birds, and this is just a small way of returning the favour. In a sense, I take, and so I must give back. 

Similarly, I make my prints with a company called The Print Space that’s 100%, end-to-end carbon neutral. They use suppliers of renewable energy where they can, and offset emissions when they can’t; for instance, by investing in a Rajastan wind power project. I’m proud to work with The Print Space because their services mean my supply chain is less harmful for the planet. If every artist could use and adapt these methods then we could all make our industry a slightly greener place.