Sustainable Splurge Alert: Trina Turk & Suno Sale

Suno is a line that grew from founder Max Osterweis' and designer Erin Beatty's idea that great fashion could sustain positive growth in developing countries. I found an interview in New York Magazine with their head of production, Nadiyah Bradshaw-Spencer, and I liked what she had to say about what "ethical" production means to her, and to Suno:

You said it's ethical. That's something we hear about often now.
All the time. Meaning how [the workers] are sitting. How it's not a sweatshop. There are fans in the room. There are ACs in the room. They're not sitting on top of one another. There's not water dripping on the walls, and slime, and people with their heads down. For Suno, "ethical" means I can sit, as head of production, at a sewing table and sew a garment and feel like I am comfortable. That's what it means for us.

It's refreshing to hear this kind of thinking, and I wish more fashion company employees could practice the simple act of treating others as they would like to be treated. Ethical fashion doesn't have to be complicated, and it begins with awareness and intent. Suno takes other steps as well, such as regular factory visits that build strong relationships, and hiring staff in-country whose job it is to ensure the quality of the work and the working conditions.

I'm kind of hypnotized by the highly structured, short-sleeved, high-low shirt above. I want to tuck it into high-waisted black skinny jeans and studded ankle boots, then hop on the motorcycle I would never ever own and drive into the sunset.

Up next are some affordable basics from Ms. Trina Turk.

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Trina Turk is having a HUGE 60% off sale right now, and I rounded up the the basic blacks that we all need to build into our wardrobe. We have a little black dress, a jumpsuit, a statement skirt, and conservative dress for work, and pajama-style track pants, and each piece is made in sunny California.

Below, I've put together a few more of the sale highlights for you to shop, and just FYI that easy jumpsuit is $91.

Sustainable Fall Selections from SNOBSWAP

SNOBSWAP is a an online space where customers can shop or swap.  Anytime you shop at your favorite online consignment site, you're making an eco-friendly choice to reuse and recycle, but in this round-up I'm highlighting a few of my SNOBSWAP favorites for fall that are not only second-hand, but "fair," so purchasing any of these items is basically like earning double eco-points. ;)

The boots, coat, bag and heels pictured are vegan and made by Stella McCartney, a company that makes extensive efforts to be eco-friendly and sustainable. Stella McCartney herself is a strict vegetarian that never uses leather or fur in her designs, but she also takes a more holistic approach, stating that "sustainability isn’t just one thing, it isn’t just organic cotton – it’s organic cotton, plus wind energy, plus not using PVC, plus thousands of other little steps that eventually make a more sustainable company." Her philosophy is reflected in the fact that all Stella McCartney stores, offices and studios in the UK are powered by wind energy that is provided by Ecotricity, a company that invests the money its customers spend on electricity into clean forms of power like wind.  Outside the UK, the brand uses renewable energy to power their stores and offices whenever possible.








I'm also pleased to share that the bodycon black dress is made by Proenza Schouler, the black lace dress is by Shoshanna, the gold sequin number is by Nanette Lepore, all of which manufacture most of their dresses in the good ole' USA. While it's certainly patriotic to buy goods that are made in America (you are supporting American jobs!), it also guarantees that your item isn't traveling overseas to get to you, and that the people who made it are being paid at least a minimum wage in a space that is regulated by U.S. safety codes. There are fewer and fewer designers who choose to keep their manufacturing processes stateside, and even those labels mix in some "imported" tags with the ones that say made in the USA, so I try to support the designers who are making an effort, like the ones above.

One of the best things you can do whenever you're shopping in a physical store is to politely ask the manager to direct you to any brands or items that are made in the USA, fair trade, or that incorporate sustainable materials. Even if they don't know, you've planted a seed by asking the question, and they might think twice about how they decide to stock the next season of inventory. I call it "activist shopping," and I encourage you to try it out.

Happy shopping!

Don't forget: you can shop all of my favorite, fair items 

in my new store section!