We’re excited to list new sustainable fashion brand, Left Edit, as part of our eco club directory. Their bold prints, unique colorways, and structured silhouettes are a direct answer to the question, can sustainable fashion be expressive and aspirational?, offering the more creative conscious consumer a fashion-forward option. To help you get to know them, and why we chose to spread the word of their conscious fashion in our curated guide, we asked Left Edit founders Kestrel (who you might know from sustainable fashion podcast Conscious Chatter) and Holly what makes their brand so special. And, furthering their mission to make “responsibly bold” clothing that’s just as versatile as it is unique, they’ve started a series called Flip The Script, which you’ll see the latest of in the photos by Lucy Eagleson sprinkled throughout this post. (More here.)
When conceptualizing Left Edit, did particular Conscious Chatter conversations inspire you? Did any words from designers come to mind when faced with the challenge of starting a brand?Absolutely! As Holly and I were building out Left Edit, conversations I would have on the podcast would become resources for us, and a bit of a sounding board as well. At times, when we were grappling with what to do and how to make the “right decision” when there are so many directions to go, insight from my guests helped us feel more confident in starting with the best product we could make at the time, and being comfortable with knowing we could iterate along the way.
It’s easy to see how one might think sustainable style equates with minimal, no frills kinds of wardrobes, filled with colorless basics. What led you to pursue fashion less from a minimalist perspective, more from the idea that personal style is an expression, or extension of one’s self?
Both Holly and I come from a stylist perspective. We continued to feel as though we were being put into a box when we shopped our values.
While we definitely appreciate a simplistic approach to our lifestyles, the truth was we wanted more for our wardrobes. On a daily basis, our outfits spark conversation and connection—and that’s how we like it.
We want to encourage people like us to have fun and play with their looks. Providing others with a piece they can relate to and reflects their personality was our ultimate goal. If we can get women feeling more uniquely themselves, then we have completed our mission.
And how did you balance that with the need to keep each piece “essential”—that would maintain quality and its appeal season after season, beyond trends?
We tried to keep in mind our customer throughout the entire journey. She is bold and on the go with little time to plan outfits but wants to step out of the house looking put together. We created garments that had very structured silhouettes that could span many occasions. In addition, we created a color palette that would stand out and be unique to the sustainability space but also cross over seasons and trends. We created original prints that were more an artistic expression than a trendy print. It’s been a learning experience to understand what our customers resonate with and we are excited to iterate on these learnings as we grow.
What did you learn from the process of launching your brand via Kickstarter? It seems like such a high-pressure, yet ultimately empowering, experience.
We didn’t entire realize it until we were in it, but Kickstarter is definitely a high pressure experience. While we most likely wouldn’t do a Kickstarter in the future, the experience allowed us to basically learn from our shoppers in a quick 30-day trial. It allowed us to understand which styles were resonating the most, and we took the process as a massive learning experience.
If you could give one piece of advice or encouragement to someone exploring sustainable fashion for the first time, what would it be?
Ask questions, and don’t compromise your style. There are always ways to find sustainable alternatives to achieve your personal aesthetic.
Whether it’s thrifting, supporting smaller brands or reusing what you have, being sustainable shouldn’t ever mean sacrificing the look that makes you feel the most like you.
Your favorite sustainable fashion brands.
Kestrel: Whimsy + Row, Back Beat Rags, Christy Dawn
Holly: Kotn, Nisolo, Tradlands
Photos by Lucy Eagleson
[…] is bold and statement-making, but also versatile enough to pair well with the rest of your closet. Learn more here! Photo by Caitlyn […]