Evolution Towards Stakeholder Capitalism - Miko Takama

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?

Staying Sheek In 2020 - 12 Sustainable Face Masks That Are A Breath Of Fresh Air

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!

Orenda Tribe Is Helping To Protect The Navajo Community

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.

Botanica Workshop Is Helping To Keep The U.S. Safe

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.

Elizabeth Cline, Benita Robledo, Rachael Wang, and Lauren Fay Fight For The Garment Workers

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.

Sustainability Runs In The Genes: Talks With Daniel Kahalani Of DNA Footwear

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.

Bloom Takes On The Algae Crisis

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.

ECOALF Is Making Clothes For The Future

There are very few fashion brands as dedicated to sustainability as ECOALF. In every step of the process, from production, manufacturing, fabrics, to packaging, ECOALF (and founder Javier Goyeneche) have carefully considered their impact on the environment. They even started a subsidiary non-profit organization called The Ecoalf Foundation. The Ecoalf Foundation’s main objective is to promote the recovery of waste in order to recycle it for their clothing and avoid its harmful impact on the environment. In layman’s terms, one of the things this incredible brand is doing is pulling plastic trash out of our oceans and turning it into beautiful fashion! They are doing this “Because there is no planet B”, which is also one of their collections. I’m totally obsessed with it. Please read more to learn about ECOALF, its founder, and their efforts towards sustainability.

Bianca Georgescu D-Cycles

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.

COVER - Alysia Reiner Is Sustainably Chic

Alysia Reiner is so much more than a warden in Orange Is The New Black, as a typical New Yorker, she does it all: influential actress, activist, producer, eco-momma, sustainable designer, feminist, and so much more! To learn more about her and she our 100% sustainable glamours cover editorial, please click here!

Article22 Will Blow Your Mind With Their Peacebomb Collection!

It is designers like Article22 that really make me thankful for starting Jejune, which lets me be aware of and share with the world these amazing people! Article22 goes to Laos and takes the old bomb scrapinal from the Vietnam war and, while working with the local artisans, turns it into beautiful jewelry. They then sell this jewelry and help the communities in Laos come back from the incredible amount of damage this war had on it’s people. What a beautiful idea. I don’t think I need to say more. To learn more about Article22 and Peacebomb, please read our exclusive interview here with founder Elizabeth Suda.

EDITORIAL - Got Jeans?

You may have guessed that Jejune is all about finding excuses to get creative with sustainable fashion! Check out our latest editorial, where we take an old classic and reworked it to have a modern feel! Vintage jeans!

Clothes Swap Parties for Fashion and Sustainability By Marina Buksov

When Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants meets Marie Kondo method, what do you get? I daresay this is one of those things where you get to eat your cake and have it too. I’m talking about cleaning out your closet and simultaneously getting new items for the newly-created space in your wardrobe. I introduce you to: clothes swapping parties with your friends.

Articles, zIssue16, zIssue 16Dr. Marina BuksovOctober 21, 2019sustainable fashion, sustainable, eco friendly, thrifty, community, friendship, fashion, womenComment

Sonica Sarna Design Is All The Buzz Words!

It is very important to buy from ethical designers, but how are these designers sustainable? Where do they get their fabrics? Who is making them? Well, the answer is companies, people, and amazing ethical manufacturers, like Sonica Sarna Design. Sonica works predominately with Indian women to make ethical/sustainable/eco-friendly/organic fabrics and clothing for designers all over the world. To learn more about Sonica Sarna Design, and her approach, please read Jejune’s exclusive interview here.

Wild Soul Project

With the start of NYC Fashion Week on us, it is exciting to see fashion brands who have social causes on the brain and clothing! When fashion makes environmentalism trendy you can have a movement that spreads like wildfires, but wildfires of good. The Wild Soul Project is trying to do just that. They wish to communicate the importance of our plant in an easy approachable way that can become sexy, not just terrifying. And they are doing that with slow fashion, sustainable fabrics, and giving back!

Y.Han Design Edges Up NYC

Youngeun brings her edgy South Korean style to New York City in a sustainable way. To learn more about her and her creative designs, please read our exclusive interview here.

Learning to Love My Visits with Auntie Flo - Reviewing Thinx

Getting your “time of the month” doesn’t have to be so bad anymore with the help of Thinx. Learn more about these sustainable, comfortable, and cute period panties here!

SWAC: Fashion, Reviewed, zIssue 9Kira BuccaApril 18, 2019sustainable, lingerie, panties, period, women, women's fashion, women's rights, review, sustainable fashionComment