Sustainable & Affordable. Let's compare! / Sustentable y accesible. Comparemos!

Options for EVERYONE.

A question I get asked often revolves around “the high prices of sustainable living”.

My response: it all depends on how willing you are to step outside the box!

Let’s focus on fashion today. Yes, prices for products made by brands that have both nature AND our people in mind (fair-trade) will be higher since they are paying higher wages and employee benefits, and use earth-friendly and nontoxic materials that most of the times are higher in quality or have a more detailed and lengthy production processes. This increases the cost of each piece made.

Here, I give you two options I apply to my lifestyle when it comes to sustainable fashion.

1) Second hand shopping. (The stepping outside the box part) Erase the idea from your mind that used clothes are trash. It is estimated that the average consumer throws away 70lbs of clothing EVERY YEAR. This is clothing that can be reused, repaired, gifted, donated or sold! Supporting second hand fashion is honestly one of the most sustainable actions we can take to reduce this unnecessary waste.

Look #1: Every time I got to GoodWill to donate clothes, I also choose to support them by buying used clothes or used books. This entire second hand look cost me less than $20. The vegan shoes were $4, the jumpsuit was $2 and the belt was a gift from Salve Bolivia (second hand store in Bolivia).

What to do with these “used” pieces? Once I get home, I wash them with nontoxic products, and clean their energy by burning copal or dried lavender from our garden- using the smoke they release to create circles around the clothes while I set my intention. Good as new!

Look #2: similar look but supports a fair-trade and sustainable brand that is redesigning the fashion industry: Etica Denim. They use 90% less water, 63% less energy, and 70% less chemicals than industry standards. Plus, their labels are made of plantable seed paper!

See? Earth-loving options for every lifestyle and budget!

Which one are you? How do you minimize your closets’ environmental footprint?

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Opciones para TODOS.

Una pregunta que me hacen a menudo gira en torno a “los altos precios de una vida sustentable”.

Mi respuesta: ¡todo depende de lo dispuestx que estés a dar un paso fuera de la caja!

Centrémonos en la moda. Sí, los precios de los productos fabricados por marcas que tienen en cuenta tanto a la naturaleza como a nuestra gente (comercio justo) serán más altos ya que están pagando salarios y beneficios más altos para los empleados y artesanos, y utilizan materiales ecológicos y no tóxicos que la mayoría de las veces son mejores en calidad o tienen procesos de producción más detallados y prolongados. Esto aumenta el costo de cada pieza fabricada.

Aquí les dejo dos opciones que aplico a mi estilo de vida cuando se trata de moda sustentable.

1) Compras de segunda mano. (La parte de salir de la caja) Borren de sus mentes la idea de que la ropa usada es basura. Se estima que el consumidor promedio bota más de 31kg de ropa CADA AÑO. ¡Esta es ropa que se puede reutilizar, reparar, regalar, donar o vender! Apoyar la moda de segunda mano es, sinceramente, una de las acciones más ecológicas que podemos tomar para reducir desperdicio innecesario.

Look # 1: Cada vez que llego a GoodWill para donar ropa, también elijo apoyarlos comprando ropa usada o libros usados. Todo este look de segunda mano me costó menos de $20. Los zapatos veganos costaban $4, el mono $2 y el cinturón fue un regalo de Salve Bolivia (tienda de segunda mano en Bolivia).

¿Qué hacer con estas piezas "usadas"? Una vez que llego a casa, los lavo con productos no tóxicos y limpio su energía quemando copal o lavanda seca de nuestro jardín. Uso el humo que liberan para crear círculos alrededor de la ropa mientras establezco mi intención. ¡Como nuevos!

Look # 2: look similar pero apoya una marca sustentable y de comercio justo que está rediseñando la industria de la moda: Etica Denim. Utilizan 90% menos de agua, 63% menos de energía y 70% menos de productos químicos que los estándares de la industria. Además, ¡sus etiquetas están hechas de papel de semillas plantable!

¿Ven? ¡Opciones eco-responsables para todos los estilos de vida y presupuestos!

¿Y ustedes? ¿Cómo minimizan la huella medioambiental de sus armarios?

Water wasted in one pair of jeans!/ Agua desperdiciada en un par de jeans!

Have you ever wondered how much water is needed and used to produce that pair of jeans you are rocking on the streets every week? To make it simple and visual, it’s gallons of water equivalent to what you would drink in 7 YEARS. Gone in just ONE pair of jeans! Add in the chemicals, energy usage, and water discharge and voila! We’ve exploited our resources and planet in minutes! Chemicals will be flowing through our rivers and poisoning nature, animals and your health, and we’ll have wasted enormous amounts of energy and water that can be saved.

Thankfully, companies are now starting to see the big picture and are coming up with solutions to this big mess. Tejidos Royo with its DryIndigo dyeing technique is one of them! This process uses 100% less water (no water), 89% less chemicals, 65% less energy and ZERO water discharge.

Their mission is to guide the textile industry towards a new era of sustainable practices through innovative solutions. "DryIndigo® is the heart of this strategy and is estimated to have saved over one million liters of water just over the last year dyeing denim."

Plus, they have launched their One Million Liters initiative to bring 1 million liters of water to social projects proposed by YOU! Yes! You can NOMINATE your favorite social project for Tejidos Royo to support by clicking here. Go tell us which cause you are passionate about! Go go! ♻️💦 #1millionliters #DryIndigo #FabricswithValues #JoinTheSustainableDenimRevolution

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Alguna vez te has preguntado cuánta agua se necesita y usa para producir ese par de jeans que usas cada semana? Para hacerlo simple y visual, son galones de agua equivalentes a lo que beberías en 7 AÑOS. Todo en UN solo par de jeans! Agreguemos los productos químicos, el uso de energía y la descarga de agua y listo! Hemos explotado nuestros recursos y nuestro planeta en minutos! Los químicos fluirán a través de nuestros ríos y envenenarán a la naturaleza, los animales y tu salud, y habremos desperdiciado enormes cantidades de energía y agua.

Afortunadamente, las compañías ahora están comenzando a ver el panorama general y están buscando soluciones para este gran desastre. Tejidos Royo con su técnica de tinte DryIndigo es una de ellas! Este proceso utiliza 100% menos agua (cero agua), 89% menos químicos, 65% menos energía y 0 desperdicio de agua.

Su misión es guiar a la industria de textiles hacia una nueva era de prácticas sostenibles a través de soluciones innovadoras. "DryIndigo® es el corazón de esta estrategia y se estima que ahorró más de un millón de litros de agua durante el último año".

Además, han lanzado su iniciativa One Million Liters para llevar 1 millón de litros de agua a los proyectos sociales propuestos por TI! ¡Sí! Puedes NOMINAR a tu proyecto social favorito para que Tejidos Royo lo apoye haciendo clic aquí. Ve y cuéntanos qué organización sin fines de lucro te apasiona! ♻️💦

(sponsored by Tejidos Royo)

Dry Indigo Teijdo Royo Waterthruskin



Care Labels. Why are they important?/ Etiquetas. Por qué son importantes?

Here’s something we haven’t talked about before: Care labels! You’ve probably heard me mention, many times in the past, the importance of reading fashion and product labels but I never truly paid too much attention to care labels! A care label, in case you didn’t know, is that label you find stitched to the inside of your t-shirt, pillow case, dress, carpet, etc. Almost every product has an inside label that tells us how to care for that particular product. Why should we pay attention to this exactly? 

 1) They help us know what fibers and materials were used to make the product. Look for the fibers first to make sure they are biodegradable and not synthetic. Choosing natural and biodegradable fibers over synthetic ones, is not only a lifestyle choice but is also a real game-changer to the environment!

2) The laundry symbols on a care label guide us on how to wash the clothes correctly. If you follow the instruction, you can effectively extend the lifetime of that product and reduce your waste production and water usage during laundry.

Reading a care label is the most important action you should take and this action makes you a more responsible consumer, therefore, I’ve partnered with TENCEL™ to share this info with you. TENCEL™ branded fibers are one of the most sustainable, ethical and eco fibers in the world right now. They are made from wood pulp and are 100% biodegradable and compostable! The beauty about these fibers is that they can be used for the production of pretty much anything! I have a set of pjs, a t-shirt, a blanket and pillow covers made of TENCEL™ fibers. The best part? They are absolutely breathable and soft as silk!

Below is an example of the care label of my t-shirt that is made from TENCEL™ fibers. It shows the fiber used, Lyocell, and how to take care of the t-shirt. You don’t understand the meaning of different laundry symbols? Well, I found this really helpful guide online that explains how to read and understand them. 

To learn more about TENCEL™ branded fibers, click here. To join me and TENCEL™ in their #MakeItFeelRight and #ReadTheCareLabel movement, click here!

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Aquí les comparto algo de lo que no hemos hablado antes: etiquetas de cuidado! Probablemente me hayan escuchado mencionar, muchas veces antes, la importancia de leer las etiquetas, pero nunca presté demasiada atención a las etiquetas de cuidado! Una etiqueta de cuidado, en caso de que no sepan, es esa etiqueta que encuentra costurada en el interior de una camiseta, funda de almohada, vestido, alfombra, etc. Casi todos los productos tienen una etiqueta interior que nos dice cómo cuidar de ese producto en particular. ¿Por qué debemos prestar atención a esto exactamente?

1) Nos ayudan a saber qué fibras y materiales se usaron para hacer el producto. Primero, busca las fibras para asegurarte de que sean biodegradables y no sintéticas. Elegir fibras naturales y biodegradables en lugar de sintéticas, no solo es una opción de estilo de vida, sino que también es un verdadero cambio para el medio ambiente!

2) Los símbolos de lavado en una etiqueta de cuidado nos guían para saber como lavar la ropa correctamente. Si sigues las instrucciones, puedes extender la vida útil de ese producto y reducir la producción de desechos y el uso de agua durante el lavado.

Leer una etiqueta de cuidado es la acción más importante que debemos tomar y esta acción nos convierte en consumidores más responsables, por lo cual, me he asociado con TENCEL™ para compartir esta información con ustedes. Las fibras de TENCEL™ son una de las fibras más sostenibles, éticas y ecológicas del mundo en este momento. Están hechos de pulpa de árbol y son 100% biodegradables y compostables! La belleza de estas fibras es que pueden usarse para la producción de casi cualquier cosa! Tengo un conjunto de pijamas, una camiseta, una manta y fundas de almohada hechas de fibras TENCEL ™. ¿La mejor parte? ¡Son absolutamente suaves como la seda!

A continuación les muestra un ejemplo de la etiqueta de cuidado de mi camiseta que está hecha de fibras TENCEL™. Muestra la fibra utilizada, Lyocell, y cómo cuidar la camiseta. ¿No entienden el significado de los diferentes símbolos de lavado? Entonces, también les comparto esta guía que encontré online que es realmente útil y explica cómo leer y comprender los símbolos.

Para obtener más información sobre las fibras de TENCEL™, hagan clic aquí. Para unirte a mí y a TENCEL ™ en su movimiento #MakeItFeelRight y #ReadTheCareLabel, haz clic aquí.

(Sponsored by TENCEL)

Sustainable Fashion List. You're welcome!/ Lista de marcas ecológicas. De nada!

I know how hard it can be to find sustainable, ethical, fair-trade, vegan and transparent fashion brands online so… I’ve been doing the research for you! For the past five years! :p Here are a few of the brands I use and adore. Eco chic! Heels and dresses. I will post another article with basics and jeans soon!

(ESPAÑOL)

Sé lo difícil que puede ser encontrar marcas de moda sostenibles, éticas, de comercio justo, veganas y transparentes, así que ... he estado investigando por ustedes! En los últimos cinco años! :p Estas son algunas de las marcas que uso y adoro. Eco chic! Tacones y vestidos. Pronto publicaré otro artículo con lo básico y jeans!

waterthruskin

CASUAL & FORMAL/ CASUAL Y FORMAL

1. Reformation

Values: Sustainable fabrics, recycled fabrics, carbon offsetting and fair-trade practices

Price range: $50 and up

Unique: maxi dresses, cocktail dresses, wedding dresses, casual too

 

2. Amour Vert

Values: Sustainable and biodegradable fabrics, free of pesticides, small scale production, partnership with American Forest to plant a tree with every purchase of an Amour Vert tee.

Price range: $50 and up

Unique: cute skirts, tops, blouses. Casual and elegant. Like eco Net-a-porter.

 

3. Sundays Designs

Values: Natural fibers, plastic-free packaging and small scale production

Price range: $80 and up

Unique: Linen pieces. Casual, boho, chic!

 

4.    Symbology Clothing

Values: Fair-trade, artisan made, handmade and natural dyes.

Price range: $50 and up

Unique: Boho-chic pieces, elegant dresses (cocktail and weddings)

  

5. Milo + Nicki

Values: Ethically designed, sustainable and biodegradable fabrics, plant-based dyes and GOTS certified.

Price range: $80 and up

 Unique: Pants made of banana fabric! Boho chic.

6. Naadam

Values: Sustainable and cruelty-free cashmere (animals are hand-combed and not sheared, and treated humanely as a way of life), non-toxic dyes,  clean energy-powered manufacturing and fair-trade practice (herders paid 50% more). They also have products with vegan silk (ahimsa silk)!

Price range: $50 and up

Unique: Eco cashmere dresses (my faves) combined with ahimsa silk. Elegant and casual!

7. Arizen

Values: Sustainable fabrics, non-toxic dyes and ethically made in Bali.

Price range: $80 and up

Unique: beautiful and elegant linen pants!

 

8. Jan N’ June

Values: Sustainable and organic materials, GOTS certified and fair-trade

Price range: $25 and up

Unique: EVERYTHING you need! For day-to-day, and out-and-about!

 

9. AMUR

Values: Sustainably sourced materials and natural fibers.

Price range: $100 and up

Unique: Elegant dresses. Wedding and cocktails.

 

10. Eileen Fisher

Values: Sustainable and organic fibers, fair-trade and Bluesign certified

Price range: $80 and up

Unique: Coats, casual and elegant

 

11. Maison de Mode

Values: Fair-trade, handmade, sustainable fabrics, vegan options

Price range: $100 and up

Unique: Eco luxury. Beautiful unique dresses, clutches, and jewels

 

SHOES/ ZAPATOS

1.  Cult of Coquette

Values: Fair-trade, vegan and cruelty-free

Price range: $100 and up

Unique: Lux pumps and heels. Like the vegan Christian Louboutin!

 

2.  Veerah

Values: Sustainable materials, cruelty-free, biodegradable (apple leather) and vegan

Price range: $100 and up

Unique: flats and heels. Apple leather heels!

 

3. Beyond Skin

Values: Recycled materials, ethically made, vegan and cruelty-free

Price range: $80 and up

Unique: Boots, heels, flats. Beautiful designs.

 

4.  Susi Studio

Values: Vegan, cruelty-free and fair-trade. Made with recycled materials.

Price range: $100 and up

Unique: Heels, flats, boots.  

5.    Huntd

Values: Fair-trade, ethically made, vegan and cruelty-free

Price range: $120 and up

Unique: High heel pumps

6.    Verdura Shoes

Values: Recycled materials (old fishing nets and cork), handmade,  plant-based dyes and vegan

Price range: $120 and up

Unique: boots made of old fishing nets

7. Matt & Nat

Values: vegan, cruelty-free, fair-trade and made with recycled plastic

Price: $50 and up 

Unique: Knee high boots!

HANDBAGS/ CARTERAS

1.    Ahimsa Collective

Values: Ethically made, natural and sustainable materials (pineapple leather and cork!), and vegan.

Price range: $70 and up

Unique: Clutches and bags made of pineapple leather (Piñatex)

 

2.  Souf

Values: Fair-trade, ethical and made with reclaimed materials (wood from 100 year old homes!)

Price range: $1000 and up

Unique: recycled wood clutches with crystals!

 

3. Matt & Nat

Values: vegan, cruelty-free, fair-trade and made with recycled plastic

Price: $50 and up 

Unique: clutches for all type of ocassions

 

4. Banda Bags

Values: Handmade, recycled materials and fair-trade, empowering women in Indonesia

Price range: $200 and up

Unique: The most gorgeous and colorful weekender and travel bags. Boho chic.

 

5. HFS Collective

Values: Fair-trade, sustainable and recycled materials, and vegan

Price range: $98 and up

Unique: belt bags, water bottle bags, clutches 

6. Bottletop

Values: Ethically made, sustainably sourced and empowers artisans. Made of recycled can tabs. Gives back! (NOT vegan. A few bags have leather tag and strings)

Price range: $180 and up!

Unique: clutches made of recycled can tabs

 

Compostable sunglasses! / Gafas compostables!

Here’s some powerful information you might have not paid too much attention to before. Sunglasses. We all have them, use them, and love them. Some of us have dozen different ones, others buy a pair right after losing one (which could even be every other week!), and most people throw away sunnies without thinking about their afterlife. Reality is, almost all sunglasses are made of plastic- a petroleum based material that takes hundreds to thousands of years to decompose. It harms nature, our animals, our oceans, and our future. You’ve seen the news! The detrimental consequences of plastic products are finally being revealed worldwide, but none of this matters if YOU don’t do something about it! Get informed and become a wiser consumer! Even with little steps as simple as choosing the brand of your sunglasses consciously. It counts! Why? Because 100 million eyewear frames are sold every year resulting in about 20,000,000 lbs of plastic (product AND packaging) destined for our landfills. How about that for irritating numbers? Now, here’s some positivity to sweeten the frustrating sensation of the plastic industry: there are incredible brands reshaping the world with their products, missions and practices! Pela is one of them! You have probably already heard of Pela’s biodegradable iphone cases, right? Well, they have now added biodegradable and compostable sunglasses to their earth-loving portfolio! These sunnies are made of flax straw and cellulose acetate derived from cotton and wood, and verified to be 100% biodegradable (based on ISO standards). In other words, once your sunglasses have reached the end of their life, simply pop out the lenses to recycle them, and throw the frame into your compost. Or, you can also send your sunnies back to Pela in order for them to clean them up and give them to someone in need, or turn them into new products, or even compost them through our Pela 360 program.

Have you checked them out already? :) Head to Pela for more!

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ESPAÑOL

Aquí les comparto información poderosa a la que quizás no le hayan prestado demasiada atención antes. Gafas de sol. Todos las tenemos, las usamos, y las amamos. Algunos de nosotros tenemos una docena de diferentes tipos de ellas, otros compran un par justo después de perder uno (¡lo que podría ser cada dos semanas!), Y la mayoría de las personas se deshacen de ellas sin pensar en su futura vida. La realidad es que casi todas las gafas de sol están hechas de plástico, un material a base de petróleo que tarda cientos o miles de años en descomponerse. Daña la naturaleza, nuestros animales, nuestros océanos y nuestro futuro. ¡Lo han visto en las noticias! Las consecuencias perjudiciales de los productos de plásticos finalmente se están revelando en todo el mundo, pero nada de esto importa si TÚ no haces algo al respecto! Infórmate y conviértete en consumidor más sabio! Incluso con pequeños pasos tan simples como elegir la marca de tus gafas de sol conscientemente. ¡Sí, cuenta! ¿Por qué? Por que 100 millones de gafas se venden cada año, lo que da como resultado a aproximadamente 20,000,000 libras de plástico (producto y paquete) destinados a nuestros vertederos. ¿Qué tal esto para los números irritantes? Ahora, aquí hay algo positivo para endulzar la sensación frustrante de la industria del plástico: Hay marcas increíbles que están cambiando el mundo con sus productos, misiones y prácticas! ¡Pela es una de ellas! Probablemente ya hayas oído hablar de los covers biodegradables de Pela para los celulares, verdad? Bueno, ahora han sacado gafas de sol biodegradables y compostables! Estas gafas de sol están hechas de paja de lino y acetato de celulosa derivados del algodón y la madera, y verificadas que son 100% biodegradables (según los estándares ISO). En otras palabras, una vez que tus gafas de sol hayan llegado al final de su vida, simplemente saca los lentes para reciclarlos y pon el marco en tu compostaje. O también puedes enviar tus gafas de sol a Pela para que las limpien y se las den a alguien que las necesite, o los conviertan en nuevos productos, o incluso las composten a través de su programa Pela 360.

¿Ya las han chequeado? :) Vayan a Pela.

In Partnership with Pela.

Eco won't kill your vibe! / Ser eco no arruinará tu vibra!

When I talk about sustainable fashion with friends, or even total strangers, the words I hear usually revolve around:

-is not cool

-is not sexy

-is not luxurious enough

-is only for hippies

-there are no options

I hope this post, and all the ones I’ve been sharing change your mindset. Sustainable and ethical fashion can be ANYTHING you choose to make of it. I choose to make it boho-chic, comfy, story-telling and fun. Always! Here’s one more look I’m proud to rock.

Boots: they are made of recycled and vegan materials such as recycled PU, recycled resin (for shoe bottoms), post consumer cardboard, and faux suede made of recycled plastic by Beyond Skin. Their production is also ethical and located in Spain.

Skirt: made by one of my favorite brands. Reformation. Every piece is not only fair-trade but also made with materials that are kind to your health and our planet, like recycled fabrics, tencel (eucalyptus fiber), organic cotton, linen and others. They are also one of the few fashion brands that has been Carbon Neutral since 2015!

Sweater: cruelty-free, sustainable, ethical. Naadam is reshaping the cashmere industry! All their 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. 

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ESPAÑOL

Cuando hablo de moda sostenible con amigos, o incluso con extraños, las palabras que escucho generalmente giran en torno a:

-no es cool

-no es sexy

-no es lo suficientemente lujoso

-es solo para hippies

-no hay opciones

Espero que esta publicación, y todas las que he estado compartiendo, cambien tu forma de pensar. La moda sostenible y ética puede ser CUALQUIER COSA que elijas crear de ella. Yo elijo hacerla boho-chic, cómoda, llena de historias, y divertida. ¡Siempre! Aquí hay una tenida más que estoy orgullosa de compartir.

Botas: están hechas de materiales reciclados y veganos como plástico reciclado, resina reciclada, carton de post consumo y PU reciclado por Beyond Skin. Su producción también es ética y localizada en España.

Falda: confeccionada por una de mis marcas favoritas. Reformation. Cada pieza no solo es de comercio justo, sino que también está hecha con materiales que respetan nuestra salud y planeta, como telas recicladas, tencel (fibra de eucalipto), algodón orgánico, lino y otros. También es una de las pocas marcas de moda que ha sido Carbono Neutral desde el 2015!

Chompa/suéter: libre de crueldad, ecológico, ético. Naadam esta remoldeando la industria del cashmere! Todos sus 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 también 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.

Tommy Hilfiger's eco jean collection!/ La linea de jeans eco de Tommy

In my ideal world, everyone would swap clothes, buy second hand or reuse as much as possible. But reality is, we are not there. Most people still support fast fashion and non-sustainable brands because they are convenient. Therefore, when I hear that big brands like Tommy Hilfiger are reshaping their missions to have our planet and people in mind, I smile. These brands are the trendsetters and if they go green and ethical, other companies will follow. They have the power to reshape the second most polluting and cruel industry in the world (fashion), while we set that change in motion with our demand. The products we buy, the brands we support, and the lifestyles we lead. We ask for sustainable and ethical, they listen. That’s how we move. How we grow. How we change. Reshaping our present and future.
I’m proud to announce that Tommy Hilfiger will launch their first 100% recycled denim collection made of recycled cotton, recycled plastic bottles (for the stitches), and even recycled logo patches. All using 70% less water (95% of the water gets recycled and reused) and chemicals, vegetable dyes, no stones (no stone washing), and producing less CO2 emissions and waste. And regarding fair-trade practices (truly important when it comes to....everything!), Tommy is one of the companies owned by PVH that joined the “Accord on Fire and Building Safety” in Bangladesh to stop further tragedies and create a culture of health and safety in the factories. They also partnered with “Fashion For Good” last year to focus on transparent social and environmental innovations. Their recycled denim jeans and jackets are coming to stores this spring, and their organic cotton tees and a “Better Cotton Initiative” line is in stores already! All you have to do is read the labels!

I got a first sneak peek of the entire process in their Amsterdam Denim Lab and even got to customize my own @waterthruskin jacket. Lifestyle with a conscience, world. Always! That’s my type of progress.

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ESPAÑOL

En mi mundo ideal, todos intercambiarían ropa, comprarían de segunda mano o reutilizarían lo más posible. Pero la realidad es que no estamos ahí. La mayoría de las personas siguen apoyando a la industria de “fast fashion” y a marcas no sostenibles porque son convenientes. Por eso, cuando escucho que marcas grandes como Tommy Hilfiger están cambiando sus misiones para tener a nuestro planeta y gente en mente, sonrío. Estas marcas son las crean tendencias y si ellas se vuelven ecológicas y éticas, otras empresas las seguirán. Tienen el poder de reformar la segunda industria más contaminante y cruel del mundo (la moda), mientras nosotros ponemos en marcha ese cambio con nuestra demanda. Los productos que compramos, las marcas que apoyamos y los estilos de vida que construimos. Nosotros pedimos sustentable y ético, ellos escuchan. Así nos movemos. Así crecemos. Así cambiamos. Remodelando nuestro presente y futuro.
Me enorgullece anunciar que Tommy Hilfiger lanzará su primera colección de jeans 100% reciclados hechos de algodón reciclado, botellas de plástico recicladas (para la costura) e incluso parches de logo reciclados. Todos utilizando un 70% menos de agua (el 95% del agua se recicla y se reutiliza) y productos químicos, tintes vegetales, 0 piedras (sin lavado de piedras) y produciendo menos emisiones de CO2 y desechos. Y con respecto a las prácticas de comercio justo (realmente importante cuando se trata de moda y todo comercio!), Tommy es una de las compañías de PVH que se unió al "Acuerdo sobre la seguridad contra incendios y construcciones de edificios" en Bangladesh para detener más tragedias y crear una cultura de salud y seguridad en las fábricas de ropa. También se asociaron con "Fashion For Good" el año pasado para enfocarse en innovaciones sociales y ambientales transparentes. Sus jeans y chaquetas 100% recicladas llegarán a las tiendas esta primavera, y sus camisetas de algodón orgánico y la línea "Better Cotton Initiative" ya están en las tiendas! Todo lo que tienen que hacer es leer las etiquetas!

Tuve un primer vistazo de todo el proceso en el Denim Lab en Amsterdam e incluso personalicé mi propia chaqueta @waterthruskin. Estilo de vida con conciencia, mundo lindo. ¡Siempre! Ese es mi tipo de progreso.

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.

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LALF making World Elephant Day happier!

Just in time for World Elephant Day, here's a brand I'm beyond excited to share with you!

LALF (Love Animals Love Fashion) is an ethical, sustainable and vegan fashion brand that creates beautiful and comfortable tees made of organic cotton and natural dyes without the use of chemicals and toxic pesticides, which are poison to our health and planet. Are you smiling already? Then... get ready to smile even bigger! For each product you purchase from their limited edition collection, LALF donates 25% to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and their mission to rescue and protect elephants and rhinos in Africa. How about that for World Elephant Day?! Go check them out! They launched today and you can browse their entire collection on their website!

The tee I'm wearing is the IVY and it came in the most adorable and eco-friendly box, which can be reused or recycled! The box was made with recycled materials and it reads LOVE ANIMALS LOVE FASHION.

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ESPAÑOL

Para celebrar este Domingo y el día mundial de los elefantes, les quiero compartir esta marca divina, ecológica y ética! 

LALF (Love Animals Love Fashion) es una marca de ropa sostenible, vegana y ética que crea franelas/poleras/tees de algodón orgánico con colorantes naturales y sin el uso de pesticidas ni químicos que son tóxicos para nuestra salud y planeta. Ya están sonriendo? Bueno, prepárense para sonreír mucho más! Por cada producto que compren de su edición limitada, LALF donará 25% a la fundación David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust cuya misión se enfoca en rescatar y proteger a elefantes y rinocerontes en Africa. Qué les parece esta noticia tan linda para alegrarnos este Domingo y día mundial de los elefantes?! Vayan a espiar los productos de LALF! Hoy lanzaron la marca y todo esta en su website!

La polera que estoy usando es "IVY" y vino en una cajita hermosa que puede ser rehusada o reciclada. La caja fue hecha de materiales reciclados y muestra el logo y motto de LALF "LOVE ANIMALS LOVE FASHION". 

Clay, Fishing nets & Tourmaline into Products!

Clay, fishing nets, tourmaline. What do all these have in common? I’m using them! I wore this look to a sustainability public speaking event last week and everyone liked it so much, I just had to share the deets! So, here goes...

The skirt is handmade by artisans in Africa who bring ancient traditions to life in each product, like dying this skirt and creating shapes with clay! By Akoma 1260.

The booties are handmade in Italy and made from old fishing nets and cork by Verdura Shoes.

The blouse is fairtrade and made with organic cotton by Jan n June.

And my coffee mug is handmade with ceramic and tourmaline- a crystal that releases negative ions when in contact with heat alkalinizing and purifying my coffee/tea/matcha! By Live Vessel.
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Barro, redes de pesca, turmalina. Qué tienen todos estos en común? Los estoy usando! Usé este look para un evento de sostenibilidad la semana pasada y les gustó tanto a todos, que decidí compartir los detalles con ustedes! Aquí van:

La falda de Akoma 1260 está hecha a mano por artesanos en África que dan vida a tradiciones ancestrales en cada producto, como teñir esta falda y crear formas con barro!

Las botas de Verdura Shoes son hechas a mano en Italia de redes de pesca viejas y corcho.

La blusa de Jan n June es de comercio justo y está hecha de algodón orgánico.

Y mi taza de café de Live Vessel está hecha a mano con cerámica y turmalina- un cristal que libera iones negativos cuando está en contacto con el calor alcalinizando y purificando mi café / té / matcha! 

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Sustainable Summer! Verano Ecológico!

I haven't posted about sustainable and ethical fashion in a while, but now we are back with this ethical Summer dress and my instant reaction every time I hear "Robarte un Beso" on the radio! :p

This dress is by St Roche, a fashion brand committed to growing sustainably while preserving our planet and empowering artisans. They work with eco-friendly and natural fibers and GOTS organic cotton wherever possible. You can also shop this dress on MaisonDeMode's website. This is like the Net-A-Porter of green fashion! One of my favorite sites!

Earrings are handmade and fair-trade by MP Wears. MP Wears work with artisans in Colombia and gives them the tools and opportunities needed to bring old traditions to life in beautiful jewelry pieces. 

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ESPAÑOL

Hace tiempo que no publico sobre moda sostenible y ética, pero ahora sí estamos de vuelta con este vestido ético de verano y mi reacción instantánea cada vez que escucho "Robarte un Beso" en la radio! :p

Este vestido es de St Roche, una marca de moda comprometida con el crecimiento sustentable mientras preservan nuestro planeta y se apoyan a artesanos. Trabajan con fibras ecológicas y naturales y algodón orgánico GOTS siempre que sea posible. También pueden comprar este vestido en la pagina web de MaisonDeMode. Es es como Net-A-Porter de moda ética y ecológica! Uno de mis sitios favoritos!

Los aros son hechos a mano y de comercio justo por MP Wears. MP Wears trabaja con artesanos en Colombia y les brinda las herramientas y oportunidades necesarias para dar vida a sus tradiciones viejas y transformarlas en hermosas joyas.

 

 

Ethical, Sustainable, Boho & Cute!

Fashion. It's the second most polluting industry after oil. Did you know that? Or that through fast fashion, the hands that make your clothes get paid less than $2 each day? Or that we produce 4 lbs of waste every day? Or that old (non biodegradable) clothing pieces are part of these piles of trash that sit on landfills for years? These, and many more, are the reasons why I opted for a sustainable and fair-trade closet four years ago. Finding new conscious brands has become a part of my routine, and there's honestly nothing that makes me happier than discovering brands like Arizen. This one-of-a-kind brand designs beautiful and comfortable clothing pieces using sustainable fabrics and nontoxic dyes. Some of the earth-friendly fabrics they use are made of wood pulp, tree cellulose, flax, cotton and others. Arizen also works with artisans in Bali, empowering them through fair wages, humane working conditions, and fair work opportunities. And, as if all this weren't wonderful enough, Arizen will also blow your mind with their packaging. Each clothing piece comes in a biodegradable and compostable "plastic" bag made of cassava! They had me at hello. Seriously! Below are my favorite pieces and styles. 

Pants

Shorts

Top

 

 

Nature-filled Walls & Eco Brands I adore!

The wall that reminds me of my solo trip to the Amazon and how I told everyone that asked “Yes, me Jane. I know, latina Jane. Nope, no Tarzan. Just Jane. But you can call me Valeria.” 😂🌿 I’m working on posting every little detail of the 4 days I spent in the Amazon, by myself, sleeping in an eco-friendly treehouse 80ft above ground, powered by the sun, in the middle of the jungle, with howling monkeys and singing frogs and lots of mosquitoes and me defying every fear and enjoying every single second of it! It’s coming!

 In the meantime, I leave you guys with this wall and a head-to-toe sustainable and fair-trade look! Proof that nature makes everything look better!

T-shirt: GOTS certified organic cotton t-shirt that reads “Infinite Love & Gratitude” (my daily mantra) by Ipsilon Paris.

Skirt: made of reclaimed fabrics gathered from large companies that would have discarded them by Stormie Dreams. Also, all designs that don't sell get cut into children's clothing and donated to nonprofits Stormie Dream works with.

Shoes: Black sneakers made of organic cotton, plant-based dyes and renewable tree rubber by Z Shoes Organic. Use code "waterthruskin" for discount. 

Earrings: Handmade and empower women in Colombia by MP Wears. Use code "waterthruskin" for discount. 

Bag: A backpack- I’m absolutely in love with- made of vegan waxed canvas, organic cotton and recycled plastic bottles by LiveLikeAnAce.

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.

Sustainable Wedding Dress!

For all those thinking there are no sustainable options for elegant dresses, think again! This is the dress I wore to my friend's wedding in Peru. It is made of recycled fabric reducing our negative footprint in the world, by Reformation. I also wore a fair-trade clutch by Hubbiel, and handmade and fair-trade earrings by MP Wears.

To read about the hotel we stayed at during the wedding, click here

Comfy...Chic...Kind.

Here's another sustainable outfit for all my conscious souls. Comfortable, vegan, ethically made and planet-friendly with a sexy twist! Even the reusable coffee cup! :)

Pants: fair-trade and made with organic cotton and natural dyes by Monkee Genes. Their motto is all about "No slave labour, no child labour, no blood, no sweat, no tears.’

Open-back Top: fair-trade and made with natural fibers by VeganResortWear,

Heels: Vegan leather heels I’ve rocked for over two years by Cult Of Coquette. No, vegan leather is not eco-friendly since it's made of PVC. I didn't know this years ago. Now that I do, I've chosen to wear and reuse these heels as much as possible instead of sending them to our landfills. 

Earrings: fair-trade and handmade by artisans in Colombia by MPWears. They also help empower women and keep old traditions alive. 

Reusable coffee cup: made of wheat. No plastic. No guilt! Sustainable and fair-trade. I bought it at Whole Foods. 

 

 

Labels: Sustainable Fashion

This is not just a photo of my chicken legs or sustainable sneakers but a post for you to stop and read! Today, I’m answering all the questions I’ve received about vegan and sustainable fashion starting with "Vegan leather".

No, vegan leather does not mean the product you are buying is eco-friendly nor earth-friendly. Vegan leather (unless it is made from pineapples, apples, bananas, mushrooms, natural tree rubber, cork or any other natural material that is biodegradable) is usually made of PVC, polyurethane and textile-polymer composite microfibres. In plain English: plastic, petroleum and lots of CO2 emissions! Please don’t panic nor blame yourself if you’ve bought “vegan leather” products. I’m sure you did it with animals and nature in mind. I know I did! Messing up and learning are both part of life, guys. The important thing is what we do with the new lessons and knowledge the universe is sending our way! If you have a closet full of “vegan leather” (aka plastic) products, REUSE them. Many times. Until they break. And then, get them fixed and keep using them! And, when you go shopping, read labels. Ask about the products you are purchasing and wearing. Where do they come from. What’s their story. What are they made of. If you are still willing to buy plastic shoes, choose brands that make shoes from recycled plastic and support their practices of reducing waste, water and CO2 emissions.

Other labels or words to look for:

1) Ethical or fair-trade: Does the brand or product have our planet and people in mind? This means that the hands that made your product were paid a fair wage and provided with humane and healthy working conditions, health insurance, and fair opportunities. (Watch "The True Cost" film to learn more)

2) Sustainably sourced: In fashion, this usually applies to fibers. Organic cotton, bamboo, soy, peace silk. This label tells us these raw materials were harvested and processed in a sustainable way. Another label you may see is “Rainforest Alliance Certified”. This means the company making the products was audited and granted this seal because of their eco-friendly and fair-trade practices and their efforts to protect people and our rainforests, reducing our global deforestation crisis.

3) Non-toxic: This applies to the dyes used to make your colorful t-shirt, skirt, jean, dress, etc. Always look for plant-based alternatives. In other words, products that have been dyed with colors made from plants, flowers, clay, and other natural materials. Aka: non-toxic to our earth AND your health! (Whatever you put on your skin is absorbed by your body, travels through your blood system and feeds your cells!) “RoHs certified” also falls within this category, and means the colors used did not contain any hazardous nor harmful substances.

4) Cruelty-free: This means no animals were harmed in the process of making the product. No fur, no leather, no animal torture. 

These are just a few labels and very important ones. I’ll keep sharing more with you in my next posts, always making sure I don’t give you an information overload or freak you guys out. It’s all in the daily baby steps. Remember that!

Ps: Two sustainable shoe brands I adore are Verdura Shoes and Z Shoes Organic. 

Verdura shoes are made from recycled fishing nets, natural cork and plant based dyes. They are also fair-trade and handmade in Italy. I have their beige booties and LOVED.

Z Shoes Organic sneakers are comfy, fair-trade and made with natural and renewable rubber (extracted from Amazonian trees by making tiny cuts to their outer layers. No killing trees here!) for the shoes’ soles, and organic cotton fabric dyed with plantbased colors. No plastic here AT ALL!  To get your Z Shoes Organic, use code “waterthruskin” for $10 off! 

Go-getter Friday Ethical Look

Here's another look I've been dying to share with you, and another example that dressing with- and supporting- eco-friendly and ethical brands is easier than we think! Remember that we, as consumers, have a great power. WE get to set the demand and, with every dollar we spend, we get to shape the way companies do business. That simple. Our purchasing power can make a difference if we choose to shop consciously and support the right brands!

Dress by StormieDreams: Fair-trade, eco, and made with reclaimed fabrics gathered from large companies that would have discarded them. Also, all unsold designs get cut into children's clothing and donated to nonprofits Stormie Dream works with! Use code wtrthrskn20 for discount.

Vegan Glads by FreePeople: FREE PEOPLE! Yes, Free People has partnered with Peta to come up with vegan designs that are to die for! Go check them out!

Basket Bag by VeganResortWear: Handmade, fair-trade and made with vegan leather straps. 

Earrings by MP Jewelry: Fair-trade and handmade by women in Colombia. It is the perfect combination of Colombian and Indian traditions. It is also a 2-1 earring set with emerald studs!

Sustainable Bohemian Style

As you guys may have already seen on my Instagram feed or my blog, I'm all about that bohemian vibe! Like... if I could walk barefoot 24/7, I would be that happiest soul alive. Seriously! But, I'm also a social entrepreneur who is always on the go, which is the perfect opportunity for me to find ethical bohemian brands and give them with a "ready for everything" twist. This look is probably one of my all-time favorites. Eco-friendly, vegan, fair-trade, charity-oriented and sustainable. Doing good is as easy as choosing the brands you shop and support wisely! 

Skirt by Stormie Dreams: This is a sustainable maxi skirt made with 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! I have this skirt in black and peach, and love them! Light, eco, fair-trade, comfortable, sexy and beautiful. Use code wtrthrskn20 for discount.

Vegan Leather Gladiators: I've had these babies for over 3 years now and keep rocking them as if they were new. They are made with vegan leather by....wait for it.... FREE PEOPLE! Yes, Free People is coming up with vegan designs that are to die for! Go check them out!

Vegan Leather Backpack by OceansEnd: Designed in Hawaii and made with vegan leather. I received this backpack a few days ago and have been wearing it every single day! It is light, kind, ethical, gorgeous, and big enough to carry my daily essentials!

Crystal Necklaces by Joanne Stone: Besides ethical and sustainable fashion, crystals are another passion of mine, and there's nothing that makes me happier than being able to carry them 24/7 as jewels! For this look, I layered three different necklaces made by Joanne stone with raw crystals, gold, and a cotton cord. I'm wearing the following crystals with their healing purposes:

1) mini-kunzite: awakens the heart to unconditional love. Encourages self-expression and creativity, and has the power to connect intuition, intellect and inspiration. 

2) light smokey quartz: relieves stress and negative emotions, and promotes pragmatic thoughts.

 3) clear quartz point: most powerful healer and energy amplifier. It cleanses the soul deeply and protects from negative energy. 

Sexy Fair-trade Summer Outfit!

Here's another look you ladies might enjoy! I wore this one during my trip to Puerto Rico, as well! It is comfortable, light, bohemian, fair-trade, and just the right amount of spicy. :)

Guadalupe Maxi Skirt: fair-trade and made by artisans in India. This means the hands that made it were paid a fair wage and worked in humane conditions. 

Nomad Tribe Top: fair-trade and made in Peru with natural fabrics and recycled water. Again, the hands that made this beautiful top were paid a fair wage and worked in humane conditions. By supporting this brand you are helping preserve the traditions and secure a bright future for artisans in Peru. This is a top you can style in different ways! I used a size small. 

MP Earrings: Fair-trade and handmade by women in Colombia. It is the perfect combination of Colombian and Indian traditions.