Posts Tagged: sustainable fashion

Interview with founder of ethical fashion company Proxy Apparel

Proxy Apparel is an ethical fashion company started in Boston that focuses on empowering and employing women through sweatshop-free workplaces.  Find out more through about this great company in my interview with Proxy Apparel founder HeatherJean:

What was the moment when it clicked for you that you would start a fashion brand to help women and the rural communities you were doing work in?

My light bulb moment happened when I was on a ride through the mountains of Peru. I witnessed women engaging in all aspects of the apparel supply chain – some were knitting, weaving, spinning wool, dying fabric – it was that moment that I realized there were a multitude of opportunities for job creation for women throughout the apparel supply chain.

Which countries do you source materials, apparel and talent from?

Currently we work with a worker-owned cooperative in North Carolina, and network of fair trade cooperatives in Guatemala. We also have partners in NIcaragua, Peru, and Argentina.

How did you start those relationships and how are they maintained, specifically with designers you work with from other countries?

I served in the Peace Corps in Honduras for a few years and had the opportunity to travel extensively within Latin America. During this time I met several artisan groups, many of which Proxy supports today. The cooperatives are well networked and connected to each other, so it was helpful in getting to know other groups as well. I also spoke with people that work for organizations that support economic development in these regions and made connections that way.

What is the most rewarding part about running Proxy Apparel?

The most rewarding aspect of Proxy is its social impact. I am so inspired by our cooperative partners, and proud to work with them to create and market Proxy goods. We’re supporting jobs! I also love the creative aspects of running Proxy – we have some great people on our team.

What is the most challenging part about running Proxy Apparel?

There is never enough time in the day to get everything done.  We’re really working to spread the word about our brand as well – it’s challenging to make noise for our online marketplace.  So please tweet, post and talk us up!

 

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Is swapping a trend or here to stay?

Have you heard of “swapping?”  Swapping has become really popular around the country in the past couple years with the recession, primarily around swapping clothes, but also extending out to furniture and even motorcycles!  The logistics of each swap meet event varies, but for a small entrance fee or sometimes no fee at all, you bring clothes that are in good condition but that you don’t want anymore.  Other people do the same, and you get to swap the clothes people brought in by “shopping” and taking them home with you!  The Swapaholics, founded here in Boston by two friends who love fashion, have been very busy the past couple years hosting events now all around the country.  You can watch some great interviews with them here about what happens at a clothes swap.

theswapaholics.com

Swap events are the ultimate in sustainable fashion.  So it’s clear how swap meets made a lot of sense when the recession hit and people needed to cut back.  These events have been a great way to still get that “retail therapy” fix we all need, but for little to no cost.  It’s become more accepted over these penny-pinching years to shop at consignment stores, repeat wearing your clothes more often, and attend these swap events.  But, as the economy starts to pick-up again and people’s discretionary income comes back, will people go back to the mall and skip over wearing other people’s clothes?  Or have these events introduced a brand new way of responsible shopping that is here to stay?

I think even if the recession is going away, people are still struggling to get by and it will take years to get back to where we were before it all went downhill.  With gas prices going up now due to the protests in North Africa, the cost of clothes and food are the next things to rise, so cutting back on the excesses of shopping will be here for awhile.  I do think for those people who are not so passionate about the consignment store way of shopping, they will be the first to go back to the traditional way of buying new clothes as soon as they have the money to spend.  But for people who have always been interested in sustainability, but just found out about responsible clothes shopping, swap events will be here despite the economy.

PS – What do you want to see more of on this blog? Let me know by voting here - thanks!

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sustainable fashion helps Haiti – Project Reconstruction

this year, indie magazine, VivaLaModa, shared the results of a great contest in sustainable fashion, called Project Reconstruction. for the project, 12 independent designers created a piece of clothing constructed from a men’s shirt.  the results were everything from a dress to pants.  the winning design was this super-cute romper:

the remaining designs are now available on eBay for auction for a really great purpose.  all proceeds will be donated to CARE – Emergency in Haiti, an organization that plans to stay in Haiti until 2015 to help rebuild homes, hospitals, etc.

so to purchase a one-of-a-kind design and help support a great cause in Haiti, bid for one of these items here now!

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3 emerging designers from around the world to watch

there are so many talented people from all around the world who are bringing unique designs to everyone thanks to the good ole internet.  here are 3 up and coming designers from different parts of the world who make t-shirts, shoes and jewelry definitely worth checking out.

Mademoiselle VG (Italy) - friends who design t-shirts with fun, feminine designs.

EXTRASEED (Addis Ababa) – cute eco-friendly shoes made from scrap fabric and leather that would otherwise be considered waste at garment factories and rubber from used car tires.

Tame (Canada) – really cool, bold jewelry.

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indie clothing designer: alena hennessy

indie clothing designer, alena hennessy, is an artist who designs tees, scarves, totes, and prints. she is inspired by simplicity, stillness and a sense of little things relating to one another and you can definitely see that sense of calmness and softness in her clothes. plus a lot of her items are made of eco-friendly, organic materials!  please read more about alena hennessy in my interview with her below.

How did you get started creating your clothing line?

I have been a working visual artist for quite some time and started dabbling in prints and wanted to transfer that to clothing. It turned out to be an easy transition.

What three words would you use to describe your current collection?

Minimal, soft, sensual.

What do you think makes your designs different?

The balance of femininity with simplicity along with the fact that the prints on my designs are hand-drawn as I am firstly an artist and an illustrator.

What do you see in the future for your collection?

Keep continuing with eco-friendly wares as well as evolving with themes. I have been thinking of incorporating eastern feminine deities lately and taking some steps out in new directions with the line quality.

Why should people buy clothes from an independent designer over a mass-market store?

For so many reasons… supporting a working designer versus a mass-market store which may not hold ethical or environmental standards too high seems obvious to me. Also, it makes the purchase more personable and memorable because of the quality of supporting that designer and their individual vision.

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wishing i was in chicago: Lara Miller queen of hearts sale this sunday

sustainable indie clothing designer, Lara Miller, is having a fun sale this sunday in chicago at 931 w cornelia ave (entrance will be through the alley behind cornelia ave, in between sheffield and halsted).  this queen of hearts themed sale sounds like a lot of fun!  either pull a card, roll the dice, or pick your poison for a chance to win an additional discount:

pick your poison: purchase 3 items or more and choose any one item at 10% off.
roll the dice: get between 3-12% off your entire purchase. even better, roll snakes eyes and get 20% off your entire purchase!
pull a card: get between 2-10% off your entire purchase. pull a queen of hearts and get 20% off your entire purchase! (sorry, ace, jack and king don’t mean a thing).
custom orders are brand new and are often one-of-a-kind so they will be full price, but they’re joining in on the fun and the sale games will apply to your custom orders too!

check it out if you’re in chicago, good luck, and let me know what you get!  and if you’re not in chicago, you can still buy Lara Miller’s perfect-for-any-occassion clothes in her online shop.

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san francisco independent designers

this week i’ll be out on the west coast for work, where i’ll hopefully be able to enjoy some sun and napa valley wine! there are a lot of talented san francisco independent designers that i’ve read about online, which makes me excited to see the style and maybe bring some of it back to the east coast.  here are 3 unique san francisco designers to give you a taste of the creativity from the city:

Christopher Collins started out in the luxury fashion industry making evening wear.  in 2008, he launched his own line of ready-to-wear designs inspired by his background of luxury, high-quality and femininity.

there aren’t many independent shoe designers, so i was excited to find Form & Fauna.  what makes these stylish shoes so great is that they are sturdy for everyday life and they are made of sustainable materials.

for a completely girly outfit, browse through Alyssa Nicole‘s spring collection.  it is very pretty in pink!

for more on san francisco fashion, check out sfindiefashion.com

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365 days of sustainability for charity

it doesn’t seem like it’s been a full year since i first heard about the uniform project, but as of may 1, it’s complete! if you haven’t heard about it, check out the video below or this great interview from modcloth.com with Sheena, the woman who wore the same LBD for 365 days in a row and raised enough money to send 221 kids in India to school. can you imagine wearing the same dress for a full year?  Sheena definitely did a great job getting creative with it through the seasons!

Uniform Project Picture Book from The Uniform Project on Vimeo.

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independent ethical clothing line: Nixxi

Nixxi is an independent ethical clothing line that carefully picks fabrics that are from fibers not treated from pesticides and works with a local production company to make sure the work environment is fair for employees.  on top of all that, the clothes from Nixxi work for any woman’s wardrobe.  they are versatile, comfortable, and work great as part of a layered outfit.  find out more from Jada-Lee, the designer behind Nixxi in this interview with the clothing menu.

How did you get started creating your clothing line?

I’ve always had an attraction to details and lines, both artistically and practically.  Combined with my love for fashion, designing clothing was a natural fit for me. I started by taking existing pieces and revamping them and then from there, I began designing original styles to sell at the local market. I co-created a previous line for three years and then started Nixxi independently in 2007.

What three words would you use to describe your current collection?

edgy, organic, flirty

What do you think makes your designs different?

Nixxi’s aesthetic is mixing contrasts: draped silhouettes with structured lines; soft knits with textured wovens; taking contemporary shapes and refining them into versatile classic designs.

What do you see in the future for your collection?

Textile prints, accessories, and artist collaborations.

Why should people buy clothes from an independent designer over a mass-market store?

Mass-produced styles can sometimes lack a certain essence and quality. When I buy something from an independent designer, I treasure it so much more knowing that it is unique and that their heart was put into creating it.

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