Runway to Better Way

Fashion sense?

If we’re talking the latest fads and runway sensations,

I’m pretty sure I don’t have it …

But a sense of style?

Up for debate, right? (Well, I think I have a sense of style.)

From leather to lace

(and a collection of the cutest aprons in between),

I love dodging the dress code

and indulging in a wardrobe that suits my whims,

whatever that may be (I just spent the last two days sewing clothes for myself).

When it comes to clothing criteria,

there is one that stands the test of time:

wanting what you wear to do no harm, meaning:

• No sweatshop labor
• No harsh chemical pollutants
• No cruelty
• No destructive manufacturing procedures

Of course, no one can put all these standards together all the time in all garments just yet, but I found a fabulous online marketplace that is aiming to come close.

Dubbed a hub of “do-gooder shopping,” Fashioning Change is dedicated to creating shopping experiences that offer fashionable eco-friendly and ethical alternatives to popular name brands.

You Might As Well Live

The problem with common go-to brands, says Fashioning Change founder Adriana Herrara, is that they often

lack transparency in their supply chains and have yet to adopt authentic practices that protect the Earth and human rights.

 

Fashioning Change makes it easy to find better options with “Wear This, Not That,” a web-based app that compares name-brand items with ethical alternatives that are similarly styled and priced, allowing shoppers to quickly weigh the pros and cons. The more you use the Fashioning Change marketplace, the more it tailors results to your individual style and shopping preferences. (Be prepared to answer questions about WHO you aspire to dress like. My choices ranged from Michelle Obama to Jennifer Aniston.)

 

On-The-Go Adventurist

And, if you make a purchase from a featured “Wear This, Not That” look, the company will donate one percent to organizations working on human rights issues within the fashion industry.

“We have a large number of amazing brands coming to Fashioning Change wanting to be part of our platform, and we are always seeking the next and best up-and-coming designers out there, but we have really high standards,” product coordinator Kestrel Jenkins told Ecouterre. “Our brands have to meet these five criteria: they must be stylish; must be quality; must protect your health, the Earth, and human rights. If a brand doesn’t meet just one of those criteria, they don’t make the cut.”

The bottom line?

You can have your style,

and start having your conscience, too.

(I got on their website and purchased a black dolman knit top. It was a fun shopping experience. Fix yourself a cup of tea and check it out. I pretended that I was shopping in the future and this is how ALL shopping is done. A fashion-conscious girl can dream, can’t she?)