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?).
Given my ever-expanding belly, shift dresses have become a wardrobe staple, and now that the air is crisp, it's time to transition those flowy dresses for fall. The trick to shift dresses for both the pregnant and non-pregnant is
proportion. This shift is a little too big for me in general, which is
comfy for my belly, but that means it needs a short, fitted jacket to
give it some definition, proportion and structure.
I picked up the one I'm wearing (and the jacket, actually) secondhand at Secondi. I used to belt every shift I own, nipping them in at the waist to create a waist, essentially. Now, I lose the belt and boom, prego dress.
It's been my preference to avoid almost all maternity wear, not just out of
vanity (I hate most of it!), but bc I think it's more eco-friendly to
continue to shop for items like the shift in this post that can be worn
pre-and post-pregnancy as well. That's also why Hatch Collection is so far the only mama-wear that has appealed to me-- highly recommend checking them out.
I can tell this little black moto jacket is going to be a key staple for
the final weeks of my pregnancy, but it could certainly be anyone's
fall go-to piece!
Last but not least, lest one of these photos fool you, my friends: I am very, very, pregnant.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Victoria Corkhill WEARING: Secondhand finds from Secondi.
WEARING: Hatch Blazer; Alternative Apparel shirt and DVF heels purchased secondhand from Secondi; conventional black pants. PHOTOGRAPHY: Victoria Corkhill.
Pregnant ladies (and pretty much any ladies who think they might want to be a Mom someday), rejoice in all that is Hatch:
Easy, on-trend, comfortable wardrobe staplesfor work and for playthat are designed to be worn before, during, and after pregnancy.
Shop the look, including a few secondhand shoes I dug up from theRealReal:
I was lucky enough to receive this beautiful blazer as a gift from a dear friend who turned me on to Hatch. Thank you so much, Kimmie! Above, you can see the real deal, i.e., what I actually wear to work all day: flats. I had the heels on for the District Closets event at Secondi, but for a typical day in the office, I ain't crazy, ya'll, I wear flats. :)
But let's get back to Hatch: they truly have created a robust collection of pieces that any woman would want to wear, pregnant or not. Add to that their commitment to domestic production, high quality, and supporting charities that benefit maternal health, and I think that what may seem at first to be a rather steep price tag begins to make a lot of sense. These are pieces you can invest in (or give as gifts) with confidence, ladies.
And get this: they have several items in their sale section right now that are perfect for fall and winter wear. Again, I kid you not, these are pieces that you will want to wear whether you are preggers or not. Below are seven seasonal staples including a cocoon coat, cocktail dresses, and a tuxedo blazer from Hatch that are all 50% off right now:
And, of course, I can't resist sharing a few more Hatch pieces I am in love with, but which aren't on sale (yet):
SUN DRESS is made with fair labor practices by LemLem; Handmade brass and enamel CUFF and EARRINGS by Dream Collective for Of a Kind. STUFFED ELEPHANT is fair trade by Indego Africa. Proud Mary raffia D'Orsay SHOES for Of a Kind are handmade by fair trade artisans in Morocco.
Founded around 660 BC as Byzantium, the city now known as Istanbul developed to become one of the most significant cities in history, serving for nearly sixteen centuries as the capital of four empires: the Roman Empire (330–395), the Byzantine Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). Its location along the Silk Road only added to the rich tapestry of cultures that converged to form what is today Europe's largest urban population (14.1 million) and the fifth largest city in the world.
In today's post, I invite you to join me on a visual (and shop-able!) journey through this frenetic and beautiful city, from its cool blue tiles to its saffron spices. I've gathered dozens of eco-friendly and ethical pieces from across the interwebs that remind me of the sights and sounds of Istanbul, and I think you'll find more than a few treasures you'll have to take home.
Vintage Turkish CARPETS and KILIMS, all available from Urban Outfitters
From the endless candied fruits and Turkish delights, to the colorful carpets, to the blue of the Bosphorous Sea, there is no shortage of beauty to behold in Istanbul, and this post can only contain a fraction of what I saw.
Wondering where all of the Turkish action is coming from? Catch up on my past adventures in Istanbul (and Ephesus!)over the last month HERE, HERE, and HERE.
WEARING: white cotton tunic and bucket bag secondhand from Secondi; hand-me-down linen shorts, handmade necklace by Pearl. Love. Jewelry; sunglasses by Serengeti; conventional sandals, similar ethically-made pair HERE and HERE.
Finally, an eco-friendly and ethical shoe company that consistently churns out on-trend, beautiful shoes each season. So many other companies I've come across pay close attention to materials, yet miss the mark when it comes to style, and that couldn't be farther from the truth when it comes to Coclico.
And guess what-- you can take 30% off any shoe on their web site now through August 3rd with code SUMMER30, and that includes fall boots. Is it too soon for fall ankle boots? I think not.
And just so we're clear on the details, here's the eco-friendly and ethical rundown on Coclico:
They use accredited tanneries with an emphasis on vegetable-tanned leathers.
Natural components such as wood, organic linens, recycled cork for internal platforms, recycled foam, non-chrome leather lining and lead free / nickel free hardware are prioritized.
Whenever possible, these components are sourced from regional
suppliers, close to the production facility in Mallorca, Spain, which is known for providing living wages, high safety standards, and
environmental reliability.
Coclico is also quite widely available on the interwebs-- you can snag a deal on a pair via Amazon, or take advantage of free shipping and free returns on Shopbop. Or just scroll on through more of my sale favorites below:
When sightseeing in summer (especially when prego), staying cool and comfortable is key, so I try to wear whites and and loose fabrics and always bring a fan. If you forget one, it's one of the best souvenirs you can pick up because you can never have too many-- throw one in each of your purses and in your glove compartment to be ready at all times.
The ruins of what was once one of Rome's largest cities were truly stunning, and I loved coming across block after block of ancient engravings in beautiful, hand-wrought fonts. It's dizzying to think that we were walking through an area that dates back to the 10th century BC and reached its Golden Age in the 1st century AD.
If you're considering a visit to Turkey or Istanbul, I strongly recommend a day trip to see this awe-inspiring slice of our world's shared history. With flights at $50 each way out of Istanbul and a train from the Izmir airport at Around $3 per person each way, it's well worth it and easy to do.
Get today's look ethically by shopping for light white cotton shirts at your favorite local consignment or thrift store, and snag a slouchy pair of cotton track pants while you're at it, or shop these made in the USA options from Shopbop and Nordstrom (with some made in Germany Birkinstocks thrown in):
If I had a few thousand dollars to spare, I would have a wardrobe (And living room! And kitchen!) stocked full of House of Hackney's whimsical prints. All of the products in this British line are made in England, and my latest daydream is hopping a plane to Heathrow and raiding their flagship store...
As you can see from past posts, I love all of their collections, but the summer holiday pieces have me drooling a little. From balmy palm prints to preppy espadrilles, I'm having trouble finding anything I don't covet.
If, like me, you have some restrictions on your spending, keep a close eye on ASOS and ASOS Green Room, who stock House of Hackney and, more importantly, their sale items from past seasons.
Lemlem, meaning "to bloom" in Amharic, was started by supermodel Liya Kebede as a way of providing Ethiopian weavers with economic independence. Each piece is designed in New York and made in Ethiopia using traditional artisanal weaving practices. The result is a vibrant collection of delicately handcrafted summer staple pieces.
Alert! There are a few shirts and shorts similar to the one I'm wearing that are on deep clearance at Net a Porter right now (50%-70% off in size medium and large):
