Shop wisely. Do good!

Now, here’s a look you probably didn’t see coming. Sustainable, ethical and mission-driven head to toe! Let’s start with the shoes which might leave you speechless, and then we’ll go all the way up.

Shoes: biodegradable and compostable! They are made of organic cotton and corn by… (wait for it!)…Reebok! This is their new collection called “Things that grow”.

Skirt: made of recycled plastic bottles by Maggie Marilyn. This brand is ethical and made in New Zealand. They also use GOTS certified organic cotton.

T-shirt: made of bamboo and organic cotton by Storyteller. The purchase of each item in their website helps fund educational projects around the world! ps: they also have the most amazing keychains to collect personalized flags of each country you’ve visited. I have mine already :)

Head-tie: biodegradable and ethical. Made of flax fiber by Vegan Resort Wear.

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ESPAÑOL

Ahora, aquí hay un “look” de ropa que probablemente no se imaginaron. De pies a cabeza sostenible, ético y con una misión lindísima. Comencemos con los zapatos que los dejará sin palabras y luego subiremos producto por producto hacia arriba.

Zapatos: biodegradables y compostables! Están hechos de algodón orgánico y maíz por ... (¡esperen!) ... Reebok! Esta es su nueva colección llamada "Cosas que crecen".

Falda: hecha de botellas de plástico recicladas por Maggie Marilyn. Esta marca es ética y hecha en Nueva Zelanda. También utilizan algodón orgánico certificado por GOTS.

Camiseta: Hecha de bambú y algodón orgánico por Storyteller. La compra de cada artículo de su página web ayuda a financiar proyectos educativos en todo el mundo! ps: también tienen los llaveros más increíbles para recolectar banderas personalizadas de cada país que has visitado. Yo ya tengo el mio :)

Headband: biodegradable y ética. Hecho de fibra de lino por Vegan Resort Wear.

Pajama look gone ethical!

You've probably already seen that wearing pjs out of bed are in style. Well, what about comfy pants that give back that look like pjs? :p Here, once again, I'm wearing thoughtful fashion head-to-toe. 

Heels: They are made of apple leather (yes, 🍎). They are fair-trade and made of apple peels instead of real leather which makes them more breathable and cruelty-free, and organic cotton. Talk about transforming waste into draw-dropping fashion! By Veerah. 

Pants: They are made by B-Corp Sudara Goods and help empower victims of sex trafficking in India by providing them with the tools, education, and job opportunities to thrive.

Blouse: It's made of biodegradable fibers by Vegan Resort Wear. They also support animal rescue missions.

Earrings: they are handmade of glass beads by women in Colombia who are able to keep their traditions alive while getting a fair wage and humane working conditions because of MP Wears. Use code "waterthruskin" for discount.

Busy Busy Bee Green Mondays!

I've always loved fashion but it wasn't until I submerged myself in this conscious journey three years ago that I actually began to enjoy shopping. Before, it was more of an ego thing. I dressed to impress people I didn't like with fashion pieces I bought focusing mainly on the designer name behind them. Ethics and sustainability didn't play a role at all! Incredible how a human can take a 180, right? Today, every consumer choice I make on a daily basis revolves around being mindful and conscious of the consequences my actions may have on others and nature. That's the beauty of sustainable fashion. Every dollar spent supports brands that are protecting our planet and people, and helping heal the wounds our ancestors have created. Here are my favorite picks for today. Happy Monday!

Bodysuit by MiakodaNewYork: I have this bodysuit in every color. Literally! Black, nude, grey, white. Made from organic cotton and bamboo, and Miakoda provides the hands that make these products a fair wage and safe and human working conditions. 

Kimono by MiakodaNewYork: Beyond comfortable. You can wear it as a kimono or rope since it comes with a belt made of the same fabric. This fabric is the perfect combination of soy fiber (this is usually seen as waste in the food industry. It is the part of the soy bean that is not used to produce food), organic cotton and bamboo. 

Skirt by VeganResortWear: fair-trade and made with natural and vegan fibers! This skirt is beyond comfortable and light. Perfect for those hot summer days!

Booties by VerduraShoes: My newest OBSESSION! These booties are made from old fishing nets taken out of the ocean. Talk about recycling and upcycling at its best! They are also handmade in Italy! 

Eco Tote by WaterThruSkin: Limited Edition. Made from recycled NYC billboards and non-toxic dyes. It comes with a palo santo and a green aventurine crystal, and each purchase helps plant corals, restore our oceans and rehabilitate wild animals. 

Boho necklace: I bought this handmade beauty at an eco-friendly and organic nail salon and boutique in Miami. B-Livinn. 

Sustainable brands for the Summer!

Dressing sustainably is getting easier by the day! This look is charity-oriented, comfy, vegan, eco-friendly and chic. What's your excuse? Think about it! 

Skirt by Stormie Dreams: Sustainable maxi skirt made with reclaimed fabrics gathered from large companies that would have discarded them. Also, all the fabric that doesn't sell gets cut in to children's clothing and gets donated to nonprofits Stormie Dream works with. Use code wtrthrskn20 for discount.

Shoes by Turquise: fair-trade, vegan, charity-oriented and comfy. For each pair sold, Turquise donates 10% to different charities. To make the design even more fashionable, each pair comes with different pins. From smily faces to ice cream cones. I have both :). You can shop the shoes at Nomad Tribe (online or in Miami).

Necklace by 31Bits: It is made with recycled paper and vegetable glue by women in Uganda. 31Bits created programs in Africa to educate and empower women, and help them rise above poverty.

Sunnies by Wuudz: I've talked about this brand before, as well. The sunglasses are made with bamboo, wood and plantbased acetate, and the box they come in is eco-friendly and has the following encrypted  at the front: "Avanza con los pies en la tierra y la mirada en el infinito" which translates to something like: "Grow with your feet on the ground and your sight on infinity". Handmade and fair-trade too!

Vegan heels with a twist!

I want to share a really cool shoe brand with you today: Veerah. The reason why I get excited about this brand is because the heels are not only made with cruelty-free and vegan materials, but also with a plant-based memory foam interior that provides arch, heel and ball support. The shoes also have an anti-friction pillow in the back, organic cotton lining on top of the memory foam, and an antimicrobial plant-based cushion for breathability and comfort. For all my female babes, it doesn't get better than this! These heels are like the vegan Ironman of the shoe industry! Did I mention they also come in the most beautiful box made with soy ink (free of toxic materials) that makes it easier for the ink to be remove during the recycling process? Or.. you can also keep the box and use it to store things. Like I did! In case you're wondering, Veerah means "warrior" in Sanskrit, and this wonderful brand is a female-run B Corp (which means Veerah defines their goals based on positive impacts on society, community and the environment) and gives back to our world big time through their 1-10-100 project.

I paired these Veerah heels with Jeans from Gap's sustainable line. (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 about it here). 

The top, I bought 4 years ago at Urban Outfitters and still wear it. Reuse and recycle, peeps!

Beachy Sustainable Style!

Nothing like ocean tangled hair to set the mood for an outfit! Beachy and comfortable from head to toe with a huge touch of sustainability. <3 These brands have me completely head-over-heels! What do you guys think?

Shirt dress by Guadalupe Design. Fair-trade and hand-made empowering artisans in India. 

Vegan sandals by Melissa Shoes. Recycled plastic shoes reusing 99% of water and waste and unsold stock from previous collections.

Bohemian Tote by GuadalupeDesign. Handmade, fair-trade, AND VEGAN! Yes!! The straps are made with vegan leather! And look at those neon colors combined with beads and patterned fabrics! This baby made me smile nonstop while in Bahamas. Seriously!

Photos captured by Christine Michelle Photography.

Conscious style in the Bahamas!

Happy Friday, guys! It's been a while since I last posted on the blog. July has been a little hectic with this Bahamas trip to promote an eco-friendly hotel (will be on the blog this weekend), and Swim Week currently taking place in Miami. Can you believe there are 5 sustainable and fair-trade brands hitting the runways during Swim Week?! I'll be covering the events on my social media channels and will share every detail with you on the blog next week! Thus, make sure you're following me on snapchat (waterthruskin) and IG (@waterthruskin) to stay up to date with everything. In the meantime, let's talk about this look. Head-to-toe fashion with a purpose! Another example that change is in the little steps and those steps can look fabulous!  

Beyond Skin Floral Espadrilles: Perfect for summer! These vegan flats are handmade in Spain from recycled PU and plant-based top coats. Their linings are also 100% recycled with vegetable coating. My favorite espadrilles ever!

Grey dress by Alternative Apparel: Super comfortable and can be worn with anything! It's made from natural fibers using processes that have nature and humanity in mind. You can get yours at Nomad Tribe in Miami and online. Use code WTS15 for a 15%discount! 

Sunnies by Westward Leaning: made from natural materials benefiting different charities.

Panama Hat by Artesano: helps build homes for people in need in Ecuador.

Photos captured by Christine Michelle. 

Around Town with a Conscience!

Today, I'm all about this girly Sunday look but, of course, I had to add the jean jacket wrapped around my waist to sprinkle the style with some bohemian chillness. :p

All brands are vegan, eco-friendly and charity-loving!! See below for details. Happy blissful Sunday, babes!!

Melissa Vegan Flats: Yes!! Another beautifully designed pair of Melissa shoes! I don't think I'll ever get tired of talking about and promoting this brand. Every design is made from recycled plastic and, as I mentioned in a September post, Melissa also reuses 99% of water and waste and recycles overstock models from old collections and uses that same plastic for new designs. Plus, every pair of shoes smells like CANDYYY!!! :D

Harveys Eco-friendly Cross-body Sophia Bag: This bag!!! This was one of the first models I received from Harveys over 1.5 years ago and it's just so impeccably designed that I doubt it will ever go out of style. Its details are flawless and the color goes well with any outfit: jeans, skirt, dress, shorts. In case you guys haven't heard of Harveys yet, this is a brand created by husband and wife in California using recycled car seatbelts (exterior) and recycled plastic bottles (interior lining).  Use code: Waterthruskin for 10% discount!! <3 

Symbology Fair-trade Skirt: A line that combines fashion with giving back. Each one-of-a-kind piece is handmade in Asia and helps empower women across the globe. The goal of Symbology is to merge old traditions into the modern fashion world while employing marginalized artisans and connecting women worldwide. You can shop this skirt and more planet-loving products at Nomad Tribe in Miami. One of the stores I adore!!!

Photos captured by Christine Michelle Photography.

NYFW Style- Animals Are Not Fabric

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.

Photos by Christine Michelle Photography.