About

Bonjour and Welcome!

About

My name is Chloé (she/her).

I grew up in a volcanic region of France, surrounded by basalt landscapes, open horizons, and shifting weather. It’s a place that quietly shaped how I move through the world — drawn to wide spaces, physical effort, and paying attention to what’s often overlooked.

I left home at seventeen and have been moving ever since — living, studying, and traveling across different countries before eventually landing in the high desert of Central Oregon. The terrain feels familiar in a different language: dry air, expansive skies, and a pace that invites both solitude and community.

I share this life with Octave, and much of what I create takes shape in conversation, collaboration, and the everyday rhythms we build together.

Language & Digital Work

Alongside this space, I’ve spent nearly two decades working with language — as a translator, terminologist, and editor across international institutions and global media.

I work primarily from English and Spanish into French, supporting projects that range from international law and public health to film and television localization. My work has included collaborations with organizations like the United Nations, World Health Organization, and International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as ongoing work in media and entertainment.

At its core, this work is about clarity — understanding nuance, structure, and how meaning moves across contexts.

More recently, that same attention has expanded into digital spaces.

Through Gather Studio, I offer digital presence audits and hands-on support for artists, makers, and small businesses. The focus is simple: helping people bring clarity and consistency to their websites and social media so their online presence feels aligned, sustainable, and easy to maintain.

It’s a natural extension of the same work — paying attention to how things are communicated, how they’re experienced, and how they come together as a whole.

Conscious by Chloé Sustainable Lifestyle Blog Logo

Conscious by Chloé

I started this blog in 2015 as a creative outlet — a place to document my search for happiness and experiment with more intentional ways of living.

Over time, it has evolved.

What began as a personal exploration of zero waste and mindful consumption has expanded into something broader: a space to think about systems, community, and how we live — practically and imperfectly — within the constraints of the world around us.

I don’t believe in doing everything perfectly. But I do believe in paying attention.

Here, you’ll find a mix of:

• garment upcycling, knitting, and DIY projects

• reflections on sustainability and low-waste living

• notes from the high desert and the Pacific Northwest

• outdoor experiences — from gravel rides to splitboarding days

The common thread is curiosity — and a desire to build a life that feels both lighter and more connected.

Right now, I’m:

• learning backcountry travel and avalanche safety

• spending more time splitboarding in the Cascades

• riding gravel and finding new ways to move through this landscape

• experimenting with garment reconstruction and textile techniques

• thinking more deeply about reuse systems and collective approaches to waste

I’m especially drawn to spaces that center learning and access — like Goldilocks GRVL and Cascade Slaydies — where outdoor culture feels more inclusive, skill-sharing is encouraged, and community is part of the experience.

Community Work

A lot of my work happens beyond this website.

Reuse & Systems Change

I’m currently involved in regional efforts to transition Central Oregon away from single-use serviceware through a reusable systems initiative led by the Environmental Center.

This work brings together local governments, businesses, and community members to rethink how reuse can function at scale — from dishware to takeout systems. It’s less about individual swaps and more about building infrastructure that makes reuse the default.

Seed to Table

As Social Media Manager for Seed to Table Oregon, a nonprofit farm in Sisters, I share stories from the field — from seed trays and soil prep to food access and education programs. The work sits at the intersection of agriculture, community, and local food systems.

SFF Presents

I’ve worked as Zero Waste Lead for Sisters Folk Festival and Big Ponderoo, designing and implementing waste reduction systems, training volunteers, and helping shift large-scale events toward more sustainable practices.

Zero Waste Central Oregon (Bend, Sisters)

Zero Waste Communities

In Portland, I built and led Zero Waste PDX, a community of over 4,000 members. I co-organized the first Portland Zero Waste Conference (2018), created an interactive eco-map, and wrote a free Zero Waste City Guide.

After relocating to Central Oregon, I started Zero Waste Bend and Zero Waste Sisters, along with a regional guide connecting locals to practical, everyday resources.

Over time, my focus has shifted from individual lifestyle changes to collective systems — how communities organize, share resources, and build more resilient ways of living.

Conscious by Chloé Zero Waste Amazon Shop

The Shop

The shop is a small, evolving collection of things I actually use — and keep using.

It started as part of my zero-waste journey, but over time my perspective has shifted. I’m less interested in finding the “perfect” sustainable product, and more in choosing things that are well-made, repairable, and designed to stay.

You’ll find a mix of everyday essentials, clothing, tools for making, and digital resources — all selected because they’ve earned a place in my life in some way.

This space isn’t about buying more. It’s here as a resource — a place to discover alternatives, support thoughtful makers, and make more intentional choices when something new is needed.

You can also explore my reading lists, secondhand closet, and other curated spaces that extend this approach to consumption.

Zero Waste Shopping Kit by Conscious by Chloé

Where to Start

If you’re new to this space, it can feel like a lot. It doesn’t have to be.

Here are a few approachable entry points:

Into clothing and style?

Chloé of Conscious by Chloé at The Sustainable Fashion Forum during Design Week PDX in Portland Oregon
Credits: Candace Molatore/The Sustainable Fashion Forum

Selected Press & Contributions

Talks & Videos

Podcasts

ITWs, Features, & Contributions

  • Refinery 29 - April 2022
  • Real Simple - August 2019
  • 16 Women & You (Magazine ITW) - January 2019
  • Here and There Collective - November 2018
  • The Good Trade (Week of Outfits) - February 2018
  • Ecocult - March 2017
  • Model 4 Green Living - March 2017
  • Billabong Europe (Escape to Oregon) - October 2016
  • Selva Beat (Portland City Guide) - August 2016

FAQ

  • Who designs your blog?

Octave.

  • Who takes your photos?

Mostly Octave and me; with occasional images from Unsplash.

  • What camera do you use?

Sony Alpha 7C with a 50mm F1.8 lens.

  • How do you edit photos?

Lightroom and Photoshop.

  • How can I support your work?

Sign up for my newsletter, share the blog with friends, shop mindfully via my affiliate links (at no extra cost to you), read this blog post.

I’m so grateful for your support — it keeps Conscious by Chloé ad-free!

Contact

General inquiries

I love hearing from readers and do my best to reply whenever I can. If you have a question or just want to say hi, contact me here.

Let's connect

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