Lesa Wilson is the definition of a triple threat. A trained pageant queen, literally, American Idol contestant, and a now reoccurring face on the new CW show Starrgirl, Wilson can be defined as more than accomplished. Having spent decades of her life focused on her work, she decided to turn her focus on working to save the planet. She uses her platform to bring awareness to climate change and educating others on the importance of keeping Mother Nature happy. Please read our exclusive interview here to learn more about how Lesa Wilson encourages going green!
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The fashion industry is the largest culprit of global capitalism and exploitation. Although the public is increasingly aware of sustainability issues, there’s been an attitude-behaviour gap between consumers “wanting to do good” and “purchasing sustainable products”. But, we’ve been through a lot this year — wildfire in Australia, global pandemic, Black Lives Matter. People are taking actions to fight for human rights, environmentalism, and climate change. Can we finally close the gap? Is this the year of evolution towards Stakeholder Capitalism?
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Fashion is in a weird place these days, with people leaving their homes less than ever, and many designers still in flux, but there is one way we can still make a huge fashion statement, and do a bit of good with it: a mask!
Soo many amazing brands are coming out with super cute masks these days that it is actually hard to decide which to go with! So, we tried to make your job a little easier. We found 12 great designers who are producing not only fashionable masks, but they are sustainable/give back in some away.
As always, it is important that we look amazing while we save the world. Remember, not all superheroes wear capes, but they do all wear masks!
It is well known that natural occurring phenomenon bound by the confines of nature exists within the scope of divinity and omnipotence. Nature is mystifying, powerful, yet fragile. It serves to inspire and enlighten; it helps grapple with mortality in a system of reciprocity rooted in life and death — the circle of life.
Laguna Beach based artist, Mikayla Gierut explores natural oceanic and seaside geographical theme using epoxy resin. It is a direct nod to her coastal upbringing and environmental science background. She creates one of a kind cheeseboards using renewable materials such as ethically sourced wood, diverting almost all studio waste from the landfills via reutilization, and using a non-toxic, no VOC, natural based/food safe resin. Please read our exclusive interview here to learn more about Mikayla Gierut and her art.
The Diné (Navajo) community, along with many other indigenous communities, have suffered greatly due to Covid-19. In fact, the Navajo Nation actually surpassed New York State for the highest infection rate in the US. Yet, they are seeing less help than most areas! Devastated to see her community suffering, indigenous fashion designer, Amy Yeung, founder of Orenda Tribe, has been working non-stop partnering with Outdoor Voices and NDN Collective to bring aid, food, water, masks, PPE, supplies, and awareness to these populations in need. Jejune had the pleasure to do an Instagram Live interview with Amy, which can be seen here (Part 1 and Part 2), but we at Jejune wanted to highlight some of the takeaways here.
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If you tuned in last week on Art & Social Activism’s Instagram Live for their online socially aware art and fashion festival, which Jejune was honored to be apart of, you would have gotten a chance to meet the lovely Misa Miyagawa, designer and owner of sustainable fashion brand Botanica Workshop. I got the pleasure to ask her about how Botanica Workshop is weathering COVID-19, and how she is taking the opportunity to change directions, for a little bit, to focus on making zero waste masks for the population and essential workers.
If you didn’t, you missed out on seeing our beautiful faces, but you are lucky, because Misa was kind enough to answer her questions here as well. Please read further to learn more about Botanica Workshop and how they are making the world a little safer right now.
We are talking a lot about how fashion brands are being affected by COVID-19, but what of their workers? Factories around the globe have been closed down and orders are being cancelled and unpaid for. If garment workers are still working it is to make masks, and they are often not given PPE. What can be done? How can we help? Learn more here.
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When I had the pleasure of meeting Daniel Kahalani, earlier this year at Coterie, I was thrilled to see his booth filled to the brim with a neat, colorful assortment of trainers that resemble a hybrid cross between Vans and Keds. However, most intriguing, was a sign with the image of a shoe and a plastic bottle, emblazoned atop read the text, “This Was A Bottle.”
Daniel is charismatic, knowledgeable, and, most importantly, passionate in his work. He excitedly spoke to us about DNA Footwear and their new sustainable collection “This Was A Bottle.” From up-cycled textiles, including plastic bottles, ethical manufacturing, recycled packaging, and much more, DNA Footwear is a product of love, pride, and hope for the future of ingenuity regardless of profession or industry. Please read here to learn more about DNA Footwear.
We all know by now that the fashion at large has, and remains, a continuous threat to our ecosystem. Carbon emissions, non-biodegradable polyesters, factory wastewater runoffs, etc., are just a few of the many issues plaguing the industry.
Our neglect of nature is rapidly changing our environment for the worse. Many lake waters across the U.S. are suffering from high levels of toxic algae, both to humans and wildlife.
This is where Bloom comes in, combating algae and creating sustainable footwear and shoe foams from bioplastic material derived from algae. Bloom is working to solve the algae crisis and restore the environment.
Please click here to learn about Bloom and their work.
Plastic can easily be seen as a strong contender for the most blatant and obnoxious source of waste and hazard to our environment and wildlife. Despite this, plastic is still a common mainstay in our society because of its multifaceted practicality. According to the UN, today we produce about 300 million metric tons of plastic waste every year. Researchers estimate that more than 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced since the early 1950s. About 60% of that plastic has ended up in either a landfill or the natural environment. Plastic lids produce an estimate of over 20,000 tons of waste each year.
Unocup is actively facing the battle against plastic in the form of a small foldable paper cup and does away with the lid. Unocups origami-like design enables the cup to serve dual functions as a cup and lid. In addition, the lifecycle of the Unocup from production to waste is fully sustainable. Please click here to learn about Unocup from our exclusive interview with its founders: Tom Chan and Kaanur Papo.
Transfixed in her own realm, Romanian designer, Bianca Georgescu challenges common sense, creativity, and design. Her specialization is within handcrafted footwear and accessories using traditional materials, such as leathers and suedes, often finished with Georgesu flair — incorporating intricate embroidery, semiprecious stones, and a myriad of other unconventional elements.
Georgesu's most recent collection, D-Cycled, is an intimate shared duty towards sustainability between consumer and designer. D-Cycled is about zero-waste and sustainable fashion. The denim heavy collection sources premium discarded and consumer sourced denim to create new, original, and fully sustainable designs. Please read the Jejune exclusive interview here to learn more about Bianca Georgescu and her work.
Renee is a lifelong animal lover and nature enthusiast, who uses her beautiful face for good, working as an eco/sustainability fashion model (represented by Wilhelmina) and blogger. Jejune had the pleasure to photograph and learn more about her.
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Coclico is located in Soho, New York. The shoe brand is sustainable and maintains a modern and fashionable look.
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Check out Study NY, which is a sustainable brand located in Brooklyn. We have an outfit from them featured on Renee Peters, who has a blog: http://www.model4greenliving.com
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