I get the allure of fast fashion. With rent, groceries, gas, and living getting more and more expensive, it’s a great dopamine hit to score a whole new wardrobe for under $100. (Look cute, feel cute, right?) But it demonstrates an incredible amount of privilege that we can enjoy these prices while ignoring the nasty (a.k.a. sweatshop) elephant in the room. Most people don’t actively research why these brands are bad—what they’re doing and how that’s actually affecting consumers as a whole. ... Read More
Sustainable Fashion 101
What is Lotus Silk? Spotlight on a Rare Natural Silk
Have you heard of lotus silk? I'll admit I hadn't until I chatted with Angelica of Terrai, a new sustainable lifestyle goods company who works with South-East Asian artisans to transform natural materials into coveted products like the silk scrunchies below. Turns out, it's a pretty incredible vegan silk made from the stems of lotus flowers, which are used throughout Cambodia where their product is made. They take the discarded stems of those flowers and turn them into beautiful goods in a ... Read More
Your Guide To Vegan Leather… That’s Actually Sustainable
Why is it that when a tall, dark, and handsome stranger is introduced in a romance novel they’re always described as smelling like leather? Sure, society’s taught us to associate the animal-byproduct with luxury and masculinity, but even if you know it's not all that, you might wonder if leather alternatives are actually sustainable. Truth is that innovators in the industry have been working hard to come up with a handful of alternative sources for leather, and they're a lot better than they ... Read More
5 Times Shein has Copied Designs from Independent Fashion Brands
It's wild to think of Shein's journey toward global fast fashion empire over the years. Last year, it was the #1 shopping app in the US (ugh). I was in college during the golden age of lifestyle blogs, ie over ten years ago, and the brand was one of the first I remember sending products to influencers (AKA fashion bloggers, not necessarily those on Instagram) for placement in their style posts. Even before I really educated myself on fast fashion's impact, I felt pretty icky about it. It didn't ... Read More
A Beginner’s Guide To Shopping More Sustainably
I know how alluring sites like SheIn and BooHoo can be, especially when you see influencers doing huge clothing hauls with each item priced at a fraction of what they would be in most stores. But while you may save a few bucks up front, these companies cost you more in the long run with their cheap fabrics and shoddy craftsmanship. They also cost the environment via the carbon footprint of such unsustainable fast fashion practices. While those are the most obvious offenders, with greenwashing ... Read More
South Elevation: Why I Started My Own Sustainable Fashion Brand
The following piece is a guest post by Judith Henriquez, founder of forthcoming sustainable fashion brand South Elevation—launching this fall. The brand specializes in contemporary plus-size fashion for women while being kind to the environment. Read on to hear Judith’s entrepreneurial journey to launch a sustainable fashion brand. xx Angela Four years ago, if someone had told me that I’d be starting my own fashion brand I would’ve laughed in disbelief. I always dreamed of having my own ... Read More
