Meet Antik Batik: Super Sparkly Upscale Boho

I have to confesss that until I saw Antik Batik over on ethical fashion retailer Shop Accompany, I had no idea they were considered to be an ethical fashion brand. But lucky for all of us fair fashion lovers, they are.

Founder Gabriella Cortese created the company with the hope of preserving the artisanal embroidering, printing and hand-weaving techniques she saw in her travels, meaning that each Antik Batik piece is handmade by artisans who are expert in their craft.  From what I understand, the brand was a pioneer in its ethical approach, working with qualified artisans in Indonesia, in Peru and then in India in order to manufacture entirely handmade clothes and accessories as far back as 15 years ago, long before it made sense to brag about such a thing.

To me, these are the kind of standout, truly special pieces you could hold onto and pass along to your daughters and their daughters, not to mention the fact that their insouciant sparkle is perfect for the upcoming holiday season (is it too soon to say that?).

Here are a few more pieces I'm coveting:

AHALIFE is Totally Clutch

I discovered ahalife when I was putting together my Christmas gift guides, and I found it to be an excellent resource for any genre of gift giving I was focusing on. From the beautifully designed cookies to sustainable watches to fancy, locally-made condoms (yuuuup!), it's become a go-to retail site for many of my ethical shopping and blogging needs, so of course I had to share it with you  ASAP!

Ahalife positions itself as part of "global community of conscious consumers" within "a generation that is shifting away from disposable goods and moving towards objects of quality, craftsmanship and meaning." Lovin' it.

The only problem I have with the site is that there isn't quite enough information in the descriptions about the products and how they are made, at least not enough for us "conscious" folks. Here, I've shown you a collection of clutches for which I could verify that they were handmade, made in the USA, had a social impact, etc., but there were many more I would have included if I were able to divine those important details.

It makes sense that the details aren't always there, though, becuase AHALife doesn't have an eco-focus, but instead aims to "empower designers, artisans and innovators to thrive online" in a world dominated by larger corporations. Much like Of a Kind, part of their appeal is their razor sharp curation. In the case of ahalife, that audience is made up of well-traveled, fashion-forward lovers of luxe, whereas the Of a Kind customer might be more laid back, and perhaps skew younger.

The similarities to Of a Kind don't stop there, though, since ahalife is also about promoting smaller, independent businesses, and capitalizing on the emotional connection customers can make with a product when they know something about who has made it, or how, or better yet, why. Their celeb-studded list of "curators" doesn't hurt either, and includes heavy hitters like Iris Apfel and Tim Gunn.

Scroll through the clutches below to see a few of my fair favorites. These little bags are priced from $35 all the way up to $945, which is a (sort of) a reasonable pricepoint considering the skill, artistry, and labor that went into a few of these babies.

But ahalife isn't just clutches-- it just happens that their clutch collection happens is ahhh-mazing.  Below are a few more of my favorite non-clutch items (at more affordable price points):

You're Invited: Fair Trade Textile Trunk Show

I was recently invited to check out a trunk show this Wednesday hosted by an organization called Legacies of War and textile artist Carol Cassidy, and you're invited, too! 

The show is from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on September 25, with a reception and artist's talk at 6:00 p.m. Location: 2019 Q Street NW, Washington, DC.

Legacies of War is the only US based organization dedicated to raising awareness about the history of the Vietnam War-era bombing of Laos and advocating for the clearance of the hundreds of tons of our deadly unexploded ordnance (UXO) that litters Laos. 

At the trunk show, you'll be able to purchase one of-a-kind pieces by Lao artisans working under fair trade conditions and designed by renowned textile artist Carol Cassidy, who will be there to discuss her wares. Since the 1990s, Carol Cassidy and Lao Textiles have helped to reestablish the livelihood of many rural women ravaged by the Vietnam war and the leftover unexploded bombs.

If you can't join us for the trunk show tomorrow, you can still see a large body of Carol's work at the Textile Museum through October 13 as part of an exhibit called Out of Southeast Asia: Art That Sustains.

The best part: Carol Cassidy is donating 40% of the trunk show proceeds to Legacies of War.

Scarves by Carol Cassidy, photographed in the Textile Museum gift shop.

7 Reasons You Should Never Miss a Local Festival, or, Happy Belated Adams Morgan Day!

Reason #1 
It's nice to walk around outside.

Reason #2 
You can buy a painting of your pretty city made by a member of your pretty city.



Reason #3
Some local artisans do not have web sites. You have to go to their physical stores or their booths to look at, try on and buy their cool stuff. For example, I got a ring made out of a key, but I can't give you a link showing how to buy it.



Reason #4
Kettle corn, cotton candy, and drink containers made of large, tropical fruits.



Reason #5
An enterprising young man could write you a poem on his typewriter if you give him a few dollars. In your city, someone may juggle, or eat fire, or sing you a song. Just like that!



Reason #6
You might see a beautiful painting that inspires you to take up needlepoint.  Ms. Jaime Langhoff's artwork blew my mind and lucky for you, dear reader, she is on Etsy...and she upcycles!






Reason #7
You are a lovely person and many people would like to meet you. Go forth, shop local and be Fair.

Psst...want more Fair Vanity? Follow me over on Bloglovin'

Wednesday Wants: Fair Interiors

• Bench made of recycled silk.
• Sitting Stones. South African textile designer Ronel Jordaan set up a women's workshop in Gauteng- Johannesburg-where her personally trained artisans transform interlocking fibers, made from 100% merino wool, into these freeform oversized "stone" floor cushions.
• Bed is made in the U.S. by an artisan woodworker on a platform base sourced from vintage reclaimed Douglas fir.

Welcome to the key elements of my imaginary vacation home on the coast of...wherever. As long as there's a coast, I'm happy.