What is Ethical Fashion?/ Qué es la Moda Ética?

“No blood. No sweat. No tears.” This should be the mission statement of every single fashion brand but we are sadly not there yet. The reality is truly heartbreaking and I hope this post opens your eyes and minds to the power you have as consumers, influencers, and humans. This week is Fashion Revolution, and an opportunity for you to become informed and start asking the right questions. The fashion industry is not only the second most polluting industry after oil, but it’s also one of the most unethical ones. Especially when it comes to fast fashion and the big stores that mass produce clothing paying the hands that make every piece below minimum wage. We are talking about paying young women and men less than $2 per day to work in inhumane, unstable and unhealthy factories for hours! This is why @fash_rev began six years ago. Right after an entire building with garment factories collapsed in Bangladesh killing 1138 workers. The good news? YOU CAN STOP THIS. Start by reading labels. Support the right brands. Ask companies for transparency. If their website doesn’t show their practices, or where the products are coming from, ask them. Email them. DO something! Stop being a robot who adds products in a cart without analyzing the impact of each. We can’t afford to play blind anymore. Every dollar you spend sets a demand in motion and companies listen to numbers, so show them what’s real. Become wiser. More mindful. Reuse your closet as much as possible, fall back in love with old pieces, swap with friends, and when shopping...shop WISELY! Choose sustainable and ethical brands that care about their workers’ wellbeing as well as the materials they are using. Look for biodegradable, nontoxic, plantbased dyes, organic, fair-trade. Watch films with powerful information (Two I recommend are The True Cost and River Blue). Make the connection so innocent people and our planet don’t suffer for a $9 t-shirt you will probably wear once or twice.

Here are a few infographics with mind-opening information. I’ve also partnered with some incredible influencers to provide you with a guide to what Conscious Fashion is all about! Read it, digest it, share it. Together, we can heal what’s broken. Including a broken system and politics.

With conscious love,

Valeria.

Conscious Guide

Fashion Revolution Transparency Index

The True Cost

River Blue

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ESPAÑOL
"Sin sangre. Sin sudor. Sin lágrimas ”. Esta debería ser la declaración de la misión de todas las marcas de moda, pero lamentablemente todavía no hemos llegado a este punto. La realidad es verdaderamente desgarradora y espero que esta publicación abra sus ojos y mente al poder que tienen como consumidores, personas influyentes y seres humanos. Esta semana es Fashion Revolution, y una oportunidad para que ustedes se informen y comiencen a hacer las preguntas correctas. La industria de la moda no solo es la segunda industria más contaminante después del petróleo, sino que también es una de las menos éticas. Especialmente cuando se trata de moda rápida y las grandes tiendas que producen ropa en masas pagando a las manos que hacen que cada pieza salarios mínimos. Estamos hablando de pagarles a mujeres y hombres jóvenes menos de $2 por día para trabajar en fábricas inhumanas, inestables e insalubres durante horas! Es por esto que @fash_rev comenzó hace seis años. Justo después de que un edificio entero con fábricas de ropa se derrumbara en Bangladesh, donde murieron 1138 trabajadores. Las buenas noticias? USTEDES PUEDEN PARAR ESTO. Comiencen leyendo las etiquetas. Apoyen a las marcas correctas. Pregunten a las empresas por su transparencia. Si su sitio web no muestra sus prácticas, o de dónde provienen los productos, pregúntenles. Envíenles un correo electrónico. Hagan algo! Dejen de ser robots que agregan productos en un carrito sin analizar el impacto de cada uno. Ya no podemos darnos el lujo de jugar a ciegas. Cada dólar que gastamos pone una demanda en movimiento y las compañías escuchan los números, así que mostremos lo que es real. Seamos más sabios. Más atentos. Reutilicemos tanto como sea posible, volviéndonos a enamorar de piezas viejas. Intercambiemos con amigos y, cuando vayamos de compras ... compremos conscientemente! Eligiendo marcas sostenibles y éticas que se preocupen por el bienestar de sus trabajadores, así como por los materiales que están usando. Elijan ropa con materiales biodegradables, no tóxicos, a base de plantas, orgánicos, de comercio justo. Vean películas con información poderosa (dos que recomiendo son The True Cost y River Blue). Hagan la conexión para que las personas inocentes y nuestro planeta no sufran por una camiseta de $9 que probablemente usarán una o dos veces. Aquí les dejo algunas infografías con información importante. También me he asociado con personas influyentes increíbles para proporcionarles una guía sobre Moda Consciente! Léanla, digiéranla, compártanla. Juntos, podemos curar lo que está roto. Incluyendo un sistema roto y la política.

Conscious Guide

Fashion Revolution Transparency Index

The True Cost

River Blue

Cruelty-free & Sustainable Cashmere is finally here!/ Lana Ecológica y Libre de Crueldad!

It’s EARTH MONTH! This means I will be promoting sustainable and ethical brands now more than ever in the hopes that you connect with them and choose to support their world-changing missions. Starting with Naadam, a sustainable and ethical fashion brand I’m beyond proud to partner with to bring this HUGE ECO GIVEAWAY for you! As I’ve shared with you before, I haven’t worn cashmere or any other type of wool in years because of the cruel animal practices behind the industry (animals having their tails cut off, left with wounds open, bleeding to death, etc) but Naadam is reshaping this! Naadam is the first ethical and cruelty-free cashmere brand in the market! How are they doing it right? Beautifully and mindfully! All animals are hand-combed (not sheared!) and are cared for and treated humanely as a WAY OF LIFE, not merely a practice. They also pay their herders 50% more and…. (wait for it!)…. use ahimsa silk! This is silk that has been produced by waiting for the silkworms to hatch from their cocoons and later boiling the empty cocoons rather than the boiling the live silkworms, like ordinary silk methods. Naadam also uses clean energy-powered manufacturing, non-toxic dyes, and is rolling out biodegradable plastic bags. This is the only cashmere brand that is Cradle to Cradle certified for their high standards focused on protecting the earth and basic human rights. As if all this weren’t incredible enough, Naadam also makes sure the goats get veterinary care on a yearly basis to prevent harmful diseases, and constantly looks for ways of offsetting their CO2 emissions.

Their line is gorgeous, warm and comfortable, and there are a few pieces I adore so much I’ve been wearing on a weekly basis! Below are the photos of my favorite styles, AND…. the details for this $4,500 GIVEAWAY featuring some of my favorite brands! The sustainable kind!

ECO Giveaway:

Naadam and I have partnered with @the_citizenry, @reformation, @tataharperskincare, @avocadomattress, and @packagefreeshop to gift a lucky soul over $4,500 in products to help you live your best eco-friendly life!

The winner will receive:

- $500 Gift Card from @naadam.co

- $500 Gift Card from @reformation

- Avocado Green Mattress of any size and Two Green Pillows from @avocadomattress

- $250 Gift Card from @packagefreeshop

- A personalized skincare consultation for a customized regimen up to $500 from @tataharperskincare

- $500 Gift Card from @the_citizenry

To participate, click here. The details are in the landing page!

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(ESPAÑOL)

Es el mes de la madre tierra, lo que significa que estaré compartiendo marcas ecológicas y éticas ahora más que nunca! Comenzando con Naadam, una marca de moda ética y sostenible de la cual estoy super orgullosa de asociarme. Como he compartido con ustedes antes, no he usado cashmere ni ningún otro tipo de lana en años debido a las crueldad hacia los animales detrás de esta industria (animales que les cortan las colas, dejan con heridas abiertas y desangrándose, etc.) pero Naadam está remodelando eso! Esta es la primera marca de cashmere ética y libre de crueldad! ¿Cómo lo están haciendo? Maravillosamente y conscientemente! Todos los animales se peinan a mano (no los rapan/rasuran/cortan!) y se cuidan y tratan humanamente como un manera DE VIDA, no simplemente una práctica. También pagan a sus pastores 50% más que el mercado …. (¡esperen!)…. usan seda ahimsa! Esta es seda vegana y pacífica que se produce esperando a que los gusanos de seda salgan de sus capullos, e hirviendo los capullos vacíos en lugar de hervirlos con los gusanos adentro y vivos, como hacen en los métodos de seda comunes. @naadam.cotambién utiliza energía limpia, tintes no tóxicos, y está lanzando bolsas de plástico biodegradables! Esta es la única marca de cashmere que tiene la certificación Cradle to Cradle por sus altos estándares centrados en la protección de la tierra y los derechos humanos. Otras practicas que me encantan de Naadam, se aseguran que todos los animales sean vistos por veterinarios anualmente para prevenir enfermedades, y buscan constantemente nuevas maneras de compensar sus emisiones de CO2!

Su linea es hermosa y cómoda! Abajo les comparto unas fotos de mis prendas favoritas las cuales uso casi todas las semanas! Y hoy, les tenemos una sorpresa!! Un sorteo ecológico de $4,500 de marcas eco que AMO!! Una personita con mucha suerte ganará los siguientes productos:

SORTEO ECO:

-$500 en ropa de Naadam

-$500 en un gift card de @the_citizenry

-$500 en un gift card de @reformation

-Una consulta de @tataharperskincare más $500 en productos

-Colchón ecológico de cualquier tamaño y dos almohadas orgánicas de @avocadomattress

-$250 en un gift card de @packagefreeshop

Para participar, haz click aquí! Los detalles están en la pagina web de Naadam.

Happy Earth Day! #GoGreen 101 Tips!

“What can I do?”. “Que puedo hacer yo?”. These are questions I get asked every day! "What can I do to fix, save and protect our planet?" "How can I, as a single individual, make a difference if millions of others are not doing it?" Well, I’m here to tell you (and show you) how easy, important, fun and beautiful it is to incorporate consciousness into your lifestyle. Four years ago, these words never crossed my mind! I used to order 3 to-go coffees per day to stay awake in the corporate world without thinking about the waste I was creating on a daily basis. Over 1000 cups per year to be exact! (Do the math). And don’t even get me started on my plastic bottle consumption! I lost count. I was one more human caught in my own world, not paying attention to anything going on outside of it, until the day I woke up and began looking at life with a different lens. I started reading more about sustainability, watched many films, and understood that every action I take can either continue to exploit our home or can help heal it. Easy steps and little shifts in routines and mindsets that CAN have a positive and healing impact on our planet. Think about these facts for a second:

• We, globally, use and discard 1 million plastic bottles PER MINUTE. 91% of this is NOT recycled.
• In the US only, we use and discard half a BILLION plastic straws per day! This is plastic that takes over 400 years to decompose. Plastic that always finds its way into our oceans; killing and poisoning sacred animals needed for our survival and to keep our oceans healthy. Why are our oceans so important? Simple. They absorb 93% of the CO2 emissions we produce, making our oceans our main protector against global warming.

Now, what can YOU do to protect your home? Our mother. Here are some simple steps  I apply on a daily basis, and so can you:

1) Carry a reusable water bottle and coffee mug and say no to plastic ones. The ones I use are in this photo. You can buy your entire "Go Green 101" kit here. 

2) Carry reusable utensils and a straw, and a cotton tote in your bag. 

3) Support sustainable fashion, and fabrics that are organic and biodegradable. Some brands you see here which I love are: 

• Monkey Sunglasses: Biodegradable sunnies made of cotton fibers and recycled materials, supporting a non-profit that protects orangutans. The sunnies in this photo are by MonkeyGlasses.
• Bohempia: They make comfy t-shirts and shoes from hemp. Hemp is a biodegradable, sustainable, and antibacterial natural material. The tees in this photo are by Bohempia. 
• Miakoda NY: an ethical and fair-trade fashion brand using bamboo, soy and organic cotton fabrics. The bodysuit I'm wearing in this photo is by Miakoda.
• To find more sustainable brands, click here.

4) Reuse and get creative! The jean jacket you see here, I’ve owned for over 7 years. Styled it and painted it myself instead of throwing it away. The skirt I’m wearing, is a tablecloth transformed into a skirt! I had unused tablecloths from Bali and India in my closet for over two years, so...I took them to my seamstress and asked her to give life to a skirt and a pair of pants from those unused fabrics! 

5) Suport zero-waste brands. One I adore is Hungry Harvest. They recover fruits and veggies that were rejected by big grocery stores based on their aesthetics, and deliver them to your door for a small fee. Reducing waste, creating jobs, helping farmers, and feeding people worldwide! Organic options available! Use code "waterthruskin" for discount.

6) Support eco-friendly hotels when you travel and offset your CO2 emissions by donating to Climate Care. This is what I do every time. They calculate your CO2 emissions per trip and tell you how much you need to donate to projects that are protecting and healing nature. 

7) Go vegan! I know. So hard! I used to love meat too! It's in my culture. I'm a latina who was raised eating meat and chicken on a daily basis. 7+ years ago I went pescatarian, later vegetarian and then vegan and never looked back. I've been vegan for 3+ years now and love it! As long as you make sure you are getting your daily dose of nutrients and vitamins from superfoods, alongside a healthy diet, you will thrive as a vegan while saving 1,100 gallons of water, 45 pounds of gran, 30 ft2 of forested land, 20 pounds of CO2 equivalent, and 1 animal's life EVERY SINGLE DAY!

8) Inspire others by example! Never forcing. Never criticizing. Never judging. Let your pure light and uplifting energy draw those around you to want to learn more about what you are doing differently. ;) 

Ready to make a difference? It's easier than you think! A non-profit I've partnered with is Sachamama. You can find a lot of information about sustainability on their website. They educate students and families about the importance of protecting mother nature and the devastating effects of global warming. Their site is both in Spanish AND English. Just hit the button on the top right corner to change the language.  

A piece of my story & an eco-friendly mattress!

I have a little story to share with and it all starts with a new eco-friendly mattress. Some might understand, others might judge but truth is, this story is part of my personal and entrepreneurial journey and I’m actually very proud of it! Those that have been following me since I created this blog and @waterthruskin 3.5 years ago, know what I’ve been through to get to where I am today. For those that just joined us, here’s a little summary. I went from being a successful but very frustrated and depressed private banker to leaving it all to become a conscious lifestyle blogger and travel the world writing about eco-friendly hotels, sustainable fashion, genuine happiness and holistic healing. To achieve this dream of mine, I had to step out of my comfort zone, take risks and along the way...I lost it all! I hit many (much-needed!) rock-bottoms, jumped from home to home and ended up sleeping in my mom’s couch for months until the hard work and struggle paid off and I was able to get my own place. Part of my transition involved learning how to detach from all my material attachments and understand that abundance is only good when we use it to create positive change. (There’s a big difference between abundance and greediness! Confusing the two is what pushes us to get lost in ego.) So, for the past two years, I’ve spent and invested my earnings as a blogger and entrepreneur in a wise and conscious way. Including my apartment which I decorated in an eco-friendly way. Every detail and product in here is either vintage, recycled, reused, fairtrade or a gift. I honestly think I decorated this 600sf place with an $800 budget! The biggest issue was my mattress. I wanted an eco and vegan one that did not release toxins while I slept nor had wool inside (like most organic mattresses). Prices for mattresses like that range from $1500-$4000! So I told myself I would get mine once I achieved the things that needed to be done first. Entrepreneurial things, mostly. Building two ethical business that are now giving their first fruits and flowers! Every penny I made during the past two years went to trademarks, lawyers, documents, websites, platforms, and building a strong foundation for my dreams. This is the behind-the-scenes you guys normally don’t get to see, and one I truly want to share with you so you realize that we can never judge a book by its cover because there's always a story behind it. Always! Influencers, bloggers, entrepreneurs. Anyone taking their passions and work seriously go through experiences like these. It's not all perfect like some people show on social media. We have ups and downs and struggles, too. It's part of being human and amazing, if you ask me! I never became a victim of my story, instead, I found my strength in it. So, my point here. I’ve slept on an inflatable mattress -with a thin cotton mattress on top I received as a gift from friends when I first moved here- for the past year!! To be honest, it felt like an upgrade from my mom’s couch and my body actually liked it! (I sleep like a baby on hard mattresses/surfaces) Until today! Today we celebrate because I gifted myself my first eco-friendly mattress! Nope, no fancy shoes or bags like I would’ve bought myself years ago. But a real earth-friendly mattress! This- besides my two companies, Co-Founder and the amazing Miami and Barcelona team I’m working with- is an accomplishment I’m very proud of. So yes! Today we celebrate! Because I’m finally looking at the world and life with a completely different lens!

In case you wonder, the mattress I got is by Essentia and is made with pure, non-toxic, sustainable and organic materials. Memory foam made from natural and renewable tree sap, soothing essential oils used instead of petroleum, organic cotton and plant extracts used instead of wool. Everything I use on a daily basis and stand for, in a comfy fair-trade mattress! 

I'm also wearing ethical and earth-friendly jeans made with organic cotton, providing fair working conditions and wages to the hands that make them by MonkeeGenes. Fair-trade sneakers made with natural and renewable tree rubber, organic cotton and plant based dyes by ZShoesOrganic. (Use code "Waterthruskin" for discount!) And fair-trade earrings empowering artisans in Colombia by MPWears. #liveconsciously

Conscious Holiday Shopping Guide

The Holidays are here. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas discounts, etc. Sales and low prices meant to catch our attention and push us to shop more than our wallets, home space, and planet can handle. So, this Holiday season, choose to shop wisely. Consciously. Being aware of every dollar you are spending and every brand you are choosing to support. How do you do this? Easy. Ask yourself the following questions before swiping that card or emptying your wallet:

1.     Do I really need it?

2.     Could I do something better with that money? How about adding it to my travel fund?

3.     If I really need it, will I use it more than once?

4.     If not, is it biodegradable? (whatever we throw in the trash- be it clothing or toys- will sit in there for years! If it’s plastic 400+ years, if it’s textiles 30+ years)

5.     Is it ethical? Does the brand or product have our planet and people in mind? Look for labels such as: fair-trade, eco-friendly, sustainable, biodegradable.

6.     Is it vegan? Yes, this word applies to more than food. Clothing, makeup, inks, can also carry animal bi-products as ingredients. Reading labels is always a must!

7.     (The last one and my favorite one!) What’s the story behind it? How does it give back? Will I enjoy sharing its story? Or, will the person I gift it to enjoy it too?

Simple questions that can reshape our mindsets a little and have a positive impact on our planet. With that being said, here are some brands you might want to check out! I also included discount codes for you. :)  You’re welcome! And Happy Conscious Holidays!

All of these brands carry products that are fair-trade, eco-friendly, vegan and fashionable!

YOGA

For my yogis, these are my favorite brands:

1. Satva Living: each piece is fair-trade (meaning that the hands that made them were paid a fair wage and provided with humane working conditions) and made with organic cotton, recycled plastic, plantbased dyes. Use code "WTS30" for 30% off!

2. PortdeBras: each set is made with natural fibers and empowers women in Venezuela.

YOGA MATS & PROPS

3. I love Gurus: mats and shoes made with cork (renewable resource) and natural tree rubber. They plant trees for each purchase

4. Jade Yoga: made from natural tree rubber (renewable resource) and plants trees for each purchase.

5. Yoloha Yoga: made from cork and recycled tires. They also have yoga props, water bottles and yoga wheels with gorgeous designs!

CLOTHING

6. XCVI: each piece is fair-trade (WRAP certified) and the dyes used do not contain harmful chemicals (RoHS compliant). Use code “waterthruskin” for discount.

7. VeganResortWear: each piece is fair-trade and made with natural fibers and vegan materials! Beautiful tops, skirts and jumpsuits for all beach and wanderluster babes! Use code "waterthruskin" for 25% off. 

8. Ni Beach Wear: each piece is handmade, handpainted and supports dog shelters and Puerto Rico. Use code “waterthruskin10” for 10% discount.

9. Miakoda NYC: each piece is fair-trade, made in the US with natural fibers (bamboo, soy, organic cotton) and extremely comfortable!

10. Les Sublimes: each piece is fair-trade, made with natural fibers that produce less water, air, and soil pollution, GOTS certified cotton, and provide a month of feminine products and reproductive education to girls in Africa. Deliveries are also CO2 neutral using Colissimo and also by bicycle in Paris.  Use code “waterthruskin10” for 10Euros off your first purchase.

11. StormieDreams: each piece is made from reclaimed fabrics gathered from large companies that would have discarded them. Also, all designs that don't sell get cut into children's clothing and donated to nonprofits Stormie Dream works with! Use code "wtrthrskn20" for discount.

10. The Onikas: each piece is fair-trade, handmade and blockprinted (antique technique in India where artisans use wood block stamps to print on fabrics) empowering artisans in India and Ecuador.

INTIMATES

11. Chakra Intimates: Have you been looking for ethical and sexy lingerie? Well, look no further! These bras and panties are fair-trade, and made with natural and sustainable fabrics and ethically-sourced crystals meant to transfer the earth’s energy to us when in touch with our skins, helping keep our chakras in balance! Use code "VALE" for a 10% discount!

SWIMWEAR

12. EcoPeace Swim: each swim piece is fair-trade, made in the US, eco-friendly and beautiful! They use natural and recycled fabrics and non-toxic dyes.

ACCESSORIES

13. WaterThruskin Tote: My favorite ever! I use it every day. It is made from old billboards and non-toxic ink. Each bag comes with a palo santo and green aventurine crystal, and gives back to different non-profits. Use code "WTSTRIBE"for discount!

14. Big Bubble Bags: each piece is fair-trade and made with recycled bubble wrap!

15. Matt&Nat: vegan leather bags made with recycled plastic interior lining!

16. Harveys: fair-trade bags and totes made from car seatbelts and recycled plastic interior lining!

JEWELRY

17. 31 Bits: each piece is made with recycled paper and vegetable dyes and glue, and empowers women in Uganda!

18. The Fifth Element: each piece is handmade and sustainable. I adore the mandala rings and the animal spirit cards handpaited by Sarah, the Founder!

19. Lian & Mez: If you are tired of the leather strap watches, these will be your new buddies! Luxury watches made with pineapple leather straps! Fair-trade, sustainable, and beyond gorgeous!

20. Krystle Knight: crystals crystals crystals. The only language I know J This brand is fair-trade and handmade with ethically sourced crystals. Rings, earrings, necklaces. You name it!

21. 4Ocean: made of recycled plastic bottles taken out of the ocean. Your purchase supports ocean clean-ups. 200,000+ pounds of trash taken out already! 

HOME & SUBSCRIPTION BOXES

22. Globe In: monthly subscription boxes and products that share a story. Each product is handmade, fair-trade, ecofriendly and empowers artisans worldwide! Use code "Waterthru" for $10 off your first order. 

23. Live Vessel: For my coffee/tea lovers, I discovered the eco and fair-trade coffee mug of my dreams!!! It's handmade from ceramic (cadmium and lead free) and is enriched with white tourmaline (Brazilian crystal) that releases beneficial infrared rays and negative ions when subject to heat. This purifies and alkalinizes the drink in your mug! Thus, higher pH! Their designs are beautiful too! Go check them out and use code "waterthruskin15" for a discount!

Podcast about Sustainable Fashion with AWEAR &...

A few weeks ago I was invited by AWEAR to be part of a podcast about conscious fashion alongside two amazing fashion bloggers: Jennifer of Sustainable Siren and Natalie of Sustainably Chic. During our discussion we covered several questions about sustainable fashion, blogging as a career, issues we face as conscious bloggers, our stories and so much more! I feel incredibly honored to have been asked to participate in this podcast and can't wait for you guys to listen to it and hopefully find answers to any doubts you may have. xx

PS: I hope you guys enjoy my "Spanglish" as much as I did!! First time I do something like this and my nerves sort of got the best of me! :D

The link to the podcast on iTunes: bit.ly/ConsciousChatter

The link to the episode: http://awearworld.com/podcast/2016/7/16/s01-episode-21-conscious-blogging

The link to Conscious Chatter podcast: http://awearworld.com/consciouschatter/