NYFW Style- Animals Are Not Fabric

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I'm sure you're all up to date with what's happening in NY right now. One of the world's biggest Fashion weeks! Lately, I've been seeing more and more eco, fair-trade and cruelty-free designers introducing their lines during NYFW which has me jumping in happiness and even considering being part of it next year. (I've always hesitated about it because of the designers' massive use of fur, leather and non fair-trade fabrics). But until then, I thought I should share with you guys what I would probably wear to the shows. :p Something that makes a statement while also being extremely kind to our planet. Vegan, eco and charity-oriented fashion. I hope you babes like it!

Let's start with the most eye-catching fashion piece of the entire outfit: The faux fur vest!!! Philanthropy's motto says it all: "Apparel with a Purpose. Fashion with a Mission". This brand is raising the bar for all fur companies out there. No only is this conscious team designing and creating the most fashionable faux fur coats and faux leather jackets but they also donate 10% of their net proceeds to pedriatic cancer research and animal welfare. No brainer here guys!! PS: If you live in Miami, you can find some of their jackets at one of my favorite stores with a HUGE heart "Nomad Tribe".

"Animals Are Not Fabric" Tee: LOVE this brand. Designed by Jessica Schlueter (TheTreeKisser) and with 10% of all sales being donated to the Love Infinitely Project Animal Fund- an organization Jessica serves as Director of. All her designs make a powerful statement and raise awareness with every step you take on the streets while rocking your look. 

Harveys Crossbody Bag: You've heard me talk about this brand about 100 times already. In my defense, they deserve that and much more! This brand represents the word "eco-friendly' at its finest. Every single one of its products is entirely made from car seat belts and with a recycled plastic bottle interior lining. Talk about Fashion & a Conscience! The bag that I'm wearing can be used as a crossbody bag, handbag or a backpack. Yes!! It's all that in one beautiful eco design!

Vegan leather heels: I don't know about you guys but it's been super hard for me to find stylish vegan heels. Specially high heels! The only brand I've discovered that designs faux leather and faux suede heels is Lulu's. Here's the tricky part though. I haven't been able to find any information on where they make their shoes or if they are fair-trade. So, the choice to get them or not is up to each of you. I have two pairs of Lulu's and will use them until I find a brand that is cruelty-free AND fair-trade. (Might even have to design a line myself!!!)

Gap Eco Jeans: Yes!! Gap is taking new initiatives to reduce water use and pollution and is part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition where companies are evaluated on material types, products, facilities and processes based on a range of environmental and product design choices. They are also planning to add measures for labor and social standards. Read more here.

 



Magazine Look with Kindness

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Clothing...This topic is so controversial, it's insane! If you guys have watched the documentary I suggested a while ago, "True Cost", you know exactly what I'm talking about. The clothing industry has gone from creating items we need and use on a daily basis to designing products we crave...we want...we MUST have. It's not about our need anymore but about the status, the look and keeping up to date with fashion trends. Our demand for these products has increased to such a dramatic extend that companies are going beyond their ways to reduce their costs, be more competitive and price-appealing while also increasing their profit. Here's the trick though. Even though those price reductions make us feel like we won the lottery whenever we find $5 tees or $18 jeans at our favorite stores, those cheap items are hurting the hands that stitched them. Tremendously! We've all heard about companies outsourcing and looking for cheap labor in places like Bangladesh but something we don't know, because companies will never put in on their labels, is what goes behind closed walls. The human and environmental impacts of fashion. People in Bangladesh get paid less than $2 per day and work in unbearable and inhumane conditions to make those cheap tees and jeans come to life. Not to mention that buildings have collapsed or burned to the ground killing hundreds of people who worked for fashion companies. Fortunately, new brands are coming to the market and have a little more than profit in mind. They are designing the most beautiful, eco-friendly, vegan and fair trade products I've ever seen or shopped as a fashion-lover. As time goes by, I'll write more and more about these brands and promote them every week on the blog just because...they are worth promoting. They are taking the firsts steps to help heal our world. The second step is on us. So what are you guys waiting for? :)

ps: I wore this outfit for a Magazine fashion article. Can't wait to share more details with you once it comes out!

-Kimono by BohoHunter. Made by artisans in Colombia. You can find it at one of my favorite stores in Miami. This store promotes handmade, fair trade and charity-oriented fashion garments. Shop it online too!

-Flower carved boots by Melissa. Recycled plastic. The Brazilian brand “Melissa” focuses on designing shoes that have the environment in mind by reducing water and waste pollution, using recycled plastic, and reusing unsold shoes from previous collections. 

-Boho necklace by Yvera. Handmade in Bolivia. 

-Jeans by Gap. In case you haven't heard, Gap is taking new initiatives to reduce water use and pollution and is part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition where companies are evaluated on material types, products, facilities and processes based on a range of environmental and product design choices. Retailers also plan to add measures for labor and social standards. Read more here.