Life and lessons learned under a stand of redwoods
As an editor and blogger on sustainable fashion, people often ask me questions like, “Are you eco?”
I should probably respond with a simple “yes” but the reality is that I try my best.
A person’s aim should be educating oneself on the issues and improving from what one learns. For example once you understand the affects of conventional cotton production on the environment – from the vast amounts of water and energy used to the chemicals involved – then you can make a well-informed decision as to whether you’d like to buy the cotton tee from Zara or the organic cotton tee (sans the chemicals of regular cotton production) from Anvil.
Maybe you do choose the Zara tee – but at least you had the information to make a decision. I personally do try to opt for organic textiles whenever possible and I support brands like Bodkin, CrOp, and Chinti & Parker who consider their environmental impact when they produce their collections. That said, I still wear leather (a textile who’s production methods are highly toxic) and, yes, I own a few tees from Zara. But, as I said before, it’s not about being 100% eco, green, ethical, or whatever you want to call it, it’s about trying your best.
As an aspiring designer, I am definitely trying my best – looking at sites like Source4Style to find materials that best represent what I am creatively trying to express. My inspiration for the line has largely been through travel. But the travel that is most meaningful to me is the time that I spend in my family house in Northern California. Our house is nestled in the middle of 100 foot-tall Redwoods right next to a river fed from snow-capped Mount Shasta. It’s a true testament to my family’s love of nature – and one that stays with me wherever I go. The woods, the river, the huge aqua-blue lake…it is in the middle of nowhere and yet simultaneously surrounded by everything. It is in these moments – beneath a stand of redwoods, swimming the cool waters of the lake - that encourage me to continually try my best. With that in mind I hope that I can one day create clothing that honors nature and encourages others to do the same. ♥
