vol. 3
breaking up with emotional shopping
Read full article here.
Read the rest of Isabella’s piece here.
rising threads: the next generation of fashion
A look into 6 up & coming designers in the world of sustainable fashion.
maria f del pozo
Designer: Maria F del Pozo
Brand: De Mafé Swim
Creations: I design fun and bright sustainable swimwear made from REPREVE (a fiber made out of recycled plastic)
Biggest Inspiration: My biggest inspiration would have to be the people I work with, all of the collaborators really help in all of the inspiration for each collection.
“Sustainability to me means making responsible and conscious choices that help reduce the negative impact on the planet. At De Mafé Swim we not only use recycled fibers for our swimwear but also have all our hangtags and postcards made in 100% recycled stock paper and our shipping bags and personal packaging bags are biodegradable.”
emily bracey
“Sustainability isn’t just about loving the planet and being kind to mother earth, it’s deeper than that. It’s also making the most out of what you have. Whether it be repurposing an old set of curtains into a dress or making sure you use the last bit of thread on the spool, sustainability should be daily habits that just become second nature to us.”
elly abels
Designer: Elly Abels
Creations: Recycled fashion for every occasion! I love to design a little bit of everything from comfy quilted hoodies to elegant eveningwear fashions.
Biggest Inspiration: My biggest inspiration is Zero Waste Daniel. This brand focuses on zero-waste design to create unique & abstract pieces using the tiniest scraps or dead stock materials. He has dressed various celebrities and drag queens for red carpet events and I dream of doing the same one day!
“To me, sustainability is finding solutions to waste to continue to create. Sustainability in fashion is another way of saying fashion made in an ethical and ecologically-friendly manner. Sustainability gives respect to the environment and the surrounding community, from the workers to the people who wear it. With innovative ideas of new eco-friendly textile ideas or diminishing waste with recycled fashion, sustainable fashion is able to grow and flourish.”
lisa husberg
Designer: Lisa Husberg
Brand: LOKA.HAUS
Creations: I design sustainable luxury apparel, jewelry, skincare, and perfume. Everything created utilizes high-quality natural or recycled materials utilizing transparent processes.
Biggest Inspiration: Our biggest inspiration is the intersection of luxury and responsibility. We are driven by the belief that fashion can be a force for positive change, marrying opulence with sustainability, ethics, and community impact.
“Sustainability is more than just a buzzword; it's a way of life. It's about crafting a future where our choices today do not compromise the well-being of tomorrow. Sustainability at LOKA.HAUS is an unwavering commitment to ethical production, small-batch manufacturing, and giving back to our community. It's about transparency in our practices, ensuring that every product embodies our dedication to responsible, eco-conscious craftsmanship. Sustainability is our guiding principle, the thread that weaves through every facet of our brand, and a promise to our planet and its people.”
esther glen
Designer: Esther Glen
Creations: I design Handpainted print designs inspired my nature.
Biggest Inspiration: I am a huge lover of nature and would cite the natural world as my biggest inspiration. I see beauty all around me. From delicate blooms and botanicals, to towering trees, iridescent insects, and birds in flight, I have always used my work as a way to communicate the world and its beauty, as seen through my eyes.
“Sustainability is absolutely key to my brand ethos. As a lover of nature, it is vitally important to me that my work has as little a negative impact on the earth as possible. Therefore I strive to use thrifted materials wherever possible, for base fabrics, trimmings and embellishments. I also currently hand produce all of my products, and minimise wastage wherever possible. I wish for my designs to express love for the earth, and also to be loved and treasured by those who choose them.”
jada taylor
“Sustainability is everything to Mixd, we love to create beauty and not waste for the planet. A Mixd piece can live in your closet for a lifetime with our quality and craft. We are a zero waste brand, every scrap is turned into scrunchies, woven into dog beds, and pillow fillings.”
purpose, manifestation, and oprah
We got into all things purpose and manifestation with Emmy-Award Winning Journalist Traci Mitchell. Here’s a sneak peak of our Q&A with Traci where she talks about interviewing Oprah. Watch the whole video as a Club Dressd Member and take notes on all of Traci’s wisdom.
You can purchase Traci’s book, Stirring the Pot, HERE.
deep dive with daniella rosa
Founder of AIEA Golf, Daniella Rosa started her career in the auction industry and now is about to launch her own fashion line as well as a membership program that focuses on female empowerment in the golf community.
Rosa has taken an innovative approach to the traditional world of golf. Her goal is to redefine the golfing experience by integrating fashion, technology, and a sense of community into the male-dominated sport.
what brought you to the fashion industry?
July 2021 I had an “aha" moment that launched the idea for my brand. I was in Colorado with my family on a vacation, and we were going to play golf. We decided to check out the golf club pro shop and I wanted to find a golf shirt that I liked with the word Telluride (the town where we were) on it so I could take it home with me. True to form, I could not find one thing I like in the women's section - as a golfer of over 20 years, I've continuously faced the same problem: all women's golf apparel options are the same. Same traditional cuts, patterns, lengths - nothing fits correctly to a woman's figure and the patterns feel like they're from 1998, and not in a cute vintage-y way. So I went to the kids section just to look and found this little girl's shirt with a tie-dye pattern, mesh sleeves, and a mock neck collar. I held it up and thought “If this was in my size, I'd buy this right now". Right then, I had a really powerful moment where it felt like everything in my life at that point came together! Long story short, I thought - why don't I take a stab at creating ‘cool' golf apparel that I'll actually love and wear. I know the golf world well, I am my own target market, and I've had the entrepreneurial bug in me for a while. Six months later I quit my job in a career I had been in for 10 years, and I've been building AIEA full-time ever since!
who or what is your biggest inspiration?
Cliche but it's true, my parents! I was fortunate to grow up in a household of parents with an entrepreneurial spirit. My dad taught me how to hustle and the benefits of a slow burn, my mom taught me that I can always reinvent myself no matter where, when, or why.
what challenges have you faced along your journey? how did you overcome them?
Omg ... I have faced A MILLION challenges. Starting a business in the fashion (and golf) world has come with an incredibly steep learning curve. When I started this journey in Jan 2022, I knew basically nothing about what goes into producing a clothing line. So I dove into a 6 month "fashion brand 101" course that helped guide me and build general steps for what I needed to do in order to bring my designs and brand to life. From logo design, trademarking, working with agents, accounting, tech packs, fabric sourcing, and finding manufacturers that will take low MOQs, I've basically been through it all over the past 18 months. A lot of people will give you a lot of advice, and I've had to learn how to seek out advice and guidance from those who have truly been in this position as both an entrepreneur and in the fashion industry. I feel like I'm still constantly overcoming challenges - but it's important that I just put one foot in front of the other each day and try not to control the process!
What advice do you have for someone looking to start their own fashion business?
Find mentors, be clear on your vision, be ready to spend more money and time than originally anticipated to execute this vision, and know that every day will feel like you're getting hit from all different angles - just get up each day and keep going, because it's 100% worth it!
do you have any tips for growth?
When it comes to social media, if you're patient, consistent and true to your brand vision, something will eventually hit. I went from 650 IG followers to over 4000 basically overnight because I had one reel go viral. But that didn't happen until almost one year after I launched my social media pages.
what does sustainable fashion mean to you?
My goal is to eventually have all of my clothing produced with eco-conscious, performance materials. This was actually my idea from day one but has been difficult due to high cost and limited availability of more eco-friendly fabrics. It's something I am definitely working towards. It's also important for me that the community I'm building is sustainable as well. What I mean is that it's driven by the people. There's a big opportunity to bring women (and men) of all golf skill levels together in a fun, non-intimidating way. The social side of the golf world is getting bigger each day, and everyone can be a part of it no matter if you're a pro on the course or simply like driving the golf cart only. The sustainable fashion side of things is only one part of the bigger picture for me - there's a need for a next gen golf environment that can be inclusive and "sustainable" in its own way.
how do you run your brand sustainably?
Right now, I produce low quantities of my products to try and keep any waste or unsold items low. I also produce one of my t-shirts with lyocell fabric - a breathable/moisture-wicking fabric made from eucalyptus pulp.
do you have any last advice to our readers looking for inspiration to start their own journeys?
Just keep going.
