Fair Trade Summer Jumpsuit by Ace and Jig {Sustainable Summer Style}

WEARING: Ace & Jig jumpsuit; Pikolinos Masaii Project sandals; Mango Tree Bangle (sustainably wood), old belt. PHOTOGRAPHY: my obliging husband SCENE: beach house in Nag's Head

I've recently acquired some summer staples that I know I'll be wearing again and again this season, and the first one is this jumpsuit by Ace & Jig.  With soft cotton weaves made fairly in their small factory in India, Ace & Jig are masters of easy, breezy patterns and cuts.



Season after season, they churn out loosely cut, laid-back silhouettes that aspire to exist outside of current trends, made instead to be pieces that stay with you for life, and that's a goal that anyone who cares about the ethics behind fashion can get behind. Lucky for all of us, the brand has only grown in popularity with each passing year, are they are now on offer at retail heavy-hitters like Barney's, Shopbop, and Saks.



Although they are not fair trade certified, Ace and Jig's fabrics come by way of a small factory in India whose proprietor not only provides free health and child care to his workers, but also offers them organically grown produce that has been nurtured by the recycled rainwater collected on the roof of the building.



Don't be fooled by the appearance of a short trouser length on the models who wear this in the lookbook below-- I'm between 5'4'' and 5'5'' and had to belt it to achieve this length.



The quality of the fabric is representative of all of their weaves, which always keep to the design duo's signature stripe motif, and to their high quality standards. Remember this riff on chambray, for example? It's thick enough to wear in winter, but breathable enough to throw on for breezy beach days.



I love the open back for hot summer days, and love even more that even though the fabric is just slightly see-through, it's only a concern if you're out at night using flash photography. In other words, if you don't often experience paparazzi attacks, you have nothing the worry about re wardrobe malfunctions.

Shop this exact summer jumpsuit (in three colors), more Pikolinos sandals (made ethically in Spain), and a few more American-made onesie options below, using the arrows to scroll through:

Follow me on Pinterest for more fair trade, made in the USA, and otherwise sustainably-made summer options!

Top 10 Eco-friendly Clothing and Accessory Finds of 2013

Before we head into 2014, I'm excited to take a look back at some of the amazing, eco-friendly and made in the USA discoveries I have been lucky enough to make over the course of 2013.

Writing this blog has opened up my eyes to so many creative, talented designers who are using kind, thoughtful materials and treating their workers with respect and dignity. This post is by no means an exhaustive list of the the companies I want to highlight-- for example, I LOVE sustainable designers Ace and Jig and Heidi Merrick, but I could only pick ten favorites, and here they are:
 



#10 Bailey Hat Company for JCrew Fedora
JCrew has been doing more collaborations lately, mostly for men, but sometimes for us ladies, too. This hat is made here in the USA of 100% felt, which is a very eco-friendly, sturdy, recyclable fabric. Add to that the hats "packable" feature, and it's perfecto. This fedora (see how I styled it HERE) is on sale and available right now for a deep discount that makes it $47 with code SHOPHAPPY.

Be sure to try out JCrew's handy "made in the USA" search button functionality to find more collaborations that support American manufacturers and craftspeople. For some reason, you can only find this magical button after clicking on "Men" and looking in the left column under "shop by category"-- the same link is not available under "Women," perhaps because the Bailey hat is the only women's item that is made in the USA?

Dear JCrew: more collabs with artisans and American manufacturers, please! You can do it! 


#9 The Vera Wang Sheath Dress 
I was so pleased to learn that this Vera Wang dress was made here in the USA.  Sadly, it's seems very difficult to find dresses by Vera Wang that are made here. Most that I found when writing this post were made in China or otherwise, "imported," so even though I love this dress, it only ranks #9. See how I styled it HERE and HERE.

There is, however, an eco-friendly way to wear this and many other dresses like it, and that's by using Rent the Runway. It's a wonderful way to wear the perfect dress to a special event at a fraction of the cost, and then send it right back so that someone else can wear it, too!




#8 Kelly Wearstler
Kelly Wearstler was another refreshing made in the USA discovery. I love her design aesthetic, and of course I'd rather support someone who is still making some clothing and a good part of her jewelry stateside, so this Secondi find was very exciting. See how I styled this top HERE, and take 25% off of all of her sale items on Shopbop right now with code EXTRAOFF25.




#7 Teeki
I teamed up with  photographer Jason Hornick, surface designer Aaryn West,  and dancers from Capitol Movement to shoot and style these super-fun, colorful leggings. Teeki leggings are made in Los Angeles from recycled plastic bottles, if you can believe it, and the ones I'm wearing are super soft, stretchy, and confortable. Highly recommend. See how I styled them  HERE and HERE.




#6 Koral Jeans
This relatively new jeans company makes stretchy and comfy jeans. They don't make this color-blocked version anymore, but they have plenty of other fun options and the fit is great.  They are the jeans version of my Teeki leggings.

See how I styled them HERE and HERE, and take 25% off any pairs on sale at SHOPBOP with code EXTRAOFF25.



 

#5 Clover Canyon
I had no idea that trippy pattern players Clover Canyon made their clothing in the USA. Easily found at larger retailers like Nordstrom but just as likely to pop up in that local, fashion-forward boutique you just discovered, this a a great brand to depend on for some serious statement pieces if you're the adventurous type. See how I styled them HERE.





#4 Reformation
Reformation repurposes vintage and surplus materials to limited edition collections each season. Each collection is made locally in their own New York and Los Angeles studios and then sold directly to their own physical stores or online customers. The bag in the left photo is made from vintage fur coats and vintage leather, for example. The plaid shirt on the left is made from surplus fabric.

What I like about this line is their local production and the knowledge that each piece was created using fabrics that were already in existence--it's a lighter footprint than ordering new fabrics each season, and re-styling out of date garments is, of course, eco-fab. See how I styled my favorite pieces HERE and HERE.





#3 Amour Vert
Although this organic, chambray shirt dress was a recent purchase, I've been an admirer of Amour Vert for quite some time. They employ a zero-waste design philosophy and use only organic and sustainable fabrics along with low impact dyes to make their line in San Francisco. They check so many eco-friendly boxes that a purchase from Amour Vert is a no-brainer for any ethical fashion enthusiast.

Describing themselves as s Cali-cool meets Paris chic, they have casual dresses, party dresses, button down silk shirts, and even a few trousers to choose from.  What I love most is that each season, their designs only seem to get better and better. I loved their holiday line, and I strongly recommend checking it out.

See how I styled my newest Amour Vert purchase HERE.




#2 Pikolinos Sandals
Pikolinos sandlas are handmade in Spain using natural processes, and the particular pair I found are part of their fair trade "Masaii Project." More than 1,600 Maasai women embroider Pikolinos’s leather with their typical patterns, colors and designs. Once they are embroidered, the products are sent back to Spain, where the shoes and bags are finished and distributed. Each Maasai woman earns a fair wage for her embroidery work, and when a collection is finished, the community receives an extra payment recognizing the men's and children‘s collaboration and involvement.

All of their leathers contain casein, a protein found in milk that adheres to leather pores and produces greater shine. The leather is not covered with any type of resin nor protective plastic film. Additionally, at Pikolinos.com you'll find shoes with Cyclonatura, a 100% hypoallergenic, ecological and metal-free leather.

Brands that are dedicated to high quality craftsmanship and socially empowering collaborations get a big thumbs up in my book. And for the record: these are the most comfortable sandals I have ever owned. They are like butter, and never needed to be worn in. They feel so good to wear, in all the ways that count. See how I styled them HERE and HERE. 





#1 My Stella McCartney Ankle Boots
Like all of Stella McCartney's offerings, these shoes are vegan-friendly and made under ethical conditions. I found this pair second-hand at Secondi, but I always look for her sales because I like supporting a company that devotes so much thought to constantly improving the kindness and sustainabliliyy of its products. A browse through their sustainability policies and efforts is worth a few moments of your time.

These ankle boots rank #1 bc they are definitely some of my most-worn, well-loved shoes EVER. They were last seen all over this here blog (HERE with a cashmere sweaterdress, HERE, with some major floral graphic prints, and HERE with black, white and nude).

Do you have any favorite eco-friendly clothing or accessory finds that you'd like to share? Please do tell in the comments, or drop me a link on Facebook- I'd love to hear from you!
 


Shop picks from my 2013 favorites:

Traveling in Sustainable Style {Concordia Eco Resort, Saint John, USVI}

With temperatures dropping, the holidays looming, and neither of us having had a real vacation in more than a year, my husband and I decided to take a week-long jaunt to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Although we didn't intend to be quite so off-the-grid (my apologies for the week without a post!), it was really nice to unplug and slow down. The highlight of of trip was, easily, our stay at Concordia Eco Resort on Saint John.



We opted for the eco-tents, and were pleasantly surprised to find that we'd been upgraded to the newer "premium" tents, which were built higher up on the windier side of hill. Concordia's layout is similar to Aqua Wellness Resort in Nicaragua, in that each unit is built into the natural landscape and all walkways are raised, so as not to disturb the delicate eco-system beneath our feet. One of my New Year's Resolutions is to properly write up and share the amazing eco-ness that is Aqua, but for now, we'll stick to my most recent sustainable sojourn.



Each morning and evening, I stood (or sat, or generally lounged) on our balcony and looked out at this unbelievable, unobstructed view of the southeastern edge of Saint John. There's a rocky beach to the left, and just over to the right is the calm, crystal clear Salt Pond Bay, accessible via a 15 minute walk through a nature trail (or a quick drive, if preferred).

This stunning view is what you're paying for in Concordia's nightly rates, which might at first seem a little high for "eco tents,"  but I have to say our stay was worth every single penny.




None of the eco-tents are air-conditioned, but as you can see, A/C was not necessary with the powerful winds that crossed from the rockier side of the island, only to be tamed by our little hill before they reached the calm waters of the Bay.



Each "tent" is really a small wooden cabin with a tented roof and zip-down, screened windows that give a near-panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. There's a gas stove, refrigerator, cookware, ample lighting, and a separate (private) bathroom with a solar-heated shower. In fact, each unit is powered by solar panels that sit just under the balcony (ours are shown below).



Beaches are my jam, so our first stop was Salt Pond Bay, which has excellent snorkeling and crystal clear water (as do pretty much all of the beaches and bays on Saint John, to be fair). The nature trail from the Concordia property was easy enough in flip-flops and takes you past some old ruins and ginormous cactus plants, which dot all parts of the island.



From the beach, there are further trails that take you past the local flora and fauna and out to yet another stunning, panoramic view of Saint John. 







On the way back down from our hike (along the Ram's Head Trail), we caught a glimpse of Concordia and Salt Pond Bay from afar.

*Please pardon my attire-- I go full-on Katie Perry/Beyoncé on vacation, and prefer not to wear pants unless absolutely, 100% necessary. Pants were not necessary for this hike. In my opinion.



I couldn't have wished for a better retreat from the hustle, bustle, and freezing rain/sleet/snow of DC in December. Nor, for that matter, could I have wished for a better dinner/beach cover-up/all-purpose vacay dress than this 100% organic cotton chambray number from eco-friendly label Amour Vert to wear while I lazed around the eco-resort.Just as an FYI, the dress I'm wearing is now deeply discounted to $52. Just sayin.

But seriously, you guys: THAT VIEW.

Photography throughout by Rachel Mlinarchik and her obliging husband. 

WEARING:  100% organic cotton chambray shirt dress by Amour Vert (made in the USA)
Tarte Glamazon Lipstick in Fierce 

Pikolinos sandals, which were beaded under fair trade conditions and made in Spain 

(similar HERE, last worn HERE)

My favorite Mango Tree fitted bangle, made from sustainably grown mango tree wood. 

*UPDATE: Take 20% off of all Amour Vert clothing at Modavanti from now (12/19) through Sunday (12/22/) with code AMOUR


Get the look (fairly):

New Feature: Shop My Fair Vanity

Hello and happy Wednesday! I'm pleased to share a new feature of My Fair Vanity with you, called Shop My Fair Vanity.

I spend a lot of time sifting through the interwebs, doggedly searching for eco-friendly fabulousness and harassing PR people to find out where and how the things I like are made. And geez, someone should benefit from all of that searching and brand stalking, right?

Above, you see what I intend to be an on ongoing collection of items that are beautiful and fair (meaning made in the USA, fair trade, organic, vegan, made using recycled or sustainable materials, etc.). I hope you like it, but if you don't, or if you think it would be more useful to you if only I did x, y, or z, please do tell me in the comments-- I'm eager to make this a space you can depend on for all of your fair fashion needs. :)

Happy shopping!

Leopard = Clutch {Eco-friendly Accessories}

I finally took my Love, Cortnie clutch out for a spin and I love it! I actually won it at a charity event hosted by Eden of Garden of Glam and Meaghan of District Sparkle to benefit Safer Shores, an organization that works to reduce trauma and promote healing for children who are victims of abuse. The event was a huge success and raised a lot of money for a very important cause, and I'm so proud of these two ladies for pulling it off.

I can report that my new leopard clutch is roomy enough to fit my wallet, phone, some lipstick, and my "real" camera (I use a Lumix GH3). If you're in the market for a mid-size clutch, there are sooo many to choose from, in colors and patterns that would suit a variety of styles and preferences.

I also want to highlight the story behind the necklace I am wearing. Due to a chance meeting in her local grocery store, the company owner now works alongside women in her community who are recovering from experiences of addiction, trafficking, and prostitution. Together they make each piece by hand. Check out Miriam Designs to see more.

• Dress is made in the USA by Heather (old); Similar made in the USA by Helmut: Helmut Lang HERE
• Clutch is handmade in the USA by Love, Cortnie
•  Shoes are fair trade and handmade by Pikolinos
•  Turquoise necklace is handmade in Tennesse by Miriam Designs

*This post has been submitted as part of IFB's Project #111

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White Out

I'm loving this beautiful weather and my summer whites, and clearly obsessed with my new Pikolinos sandals that I shared last week. I forgot to mention then that the nice girls at Nordstrom also made sure to send me home with a few Maasai-beaded bracelets from Pikolinos, too!

Here's how you can get the look fairly:

• Oversize tee shirt is by The Baand (just discovered this brand on instagram and it's SO COOL); made with organic cotton in Peru using responsible labor practices
• White jeans are made in the USA by JBrand
• Sandals are fair trade by Pikolinos

Photography and styling by Victoria Corkhill. 

Like My Fair Vanity? Like me on the facebooks

or Follow me @MyFairVanity

for fair news, sales, and adventures!