Conscious Home & Fashion
Curating our lifestyle is one of the easiest and most fulfilling ways to be in harmony with the earth and our community.
From food to clothing to travel to furniture, there are always choices we can make that reduce our impact, and support small businesses and makers that carry our same values.
For years, I’ve been educated and inspired by my friend Amanda Hearst and her approach to sustainable fashion. Amanda is the Founder of Maison de Mode, an ethical luxury fashion company, and often writes and speaks about the impact of our fashion choices. How we dress ourselves has always been tied to expression and how we show up in front of others. Shifting my patterns to shop mindfully and responsibly for clothing has not only made my endeavors more fun and my style more affordable, but it’s also made me feel more comfortable with myself.
I found that I when I would succumb to the marketing of a trend, my purchased stemmed from insecurities and wanting to “fit in”. I would end up feeling insecure wearing the “cool” pieces that I’d overpaid for or picked up from fast-fashion sites, and would only wear it a few times. It didn’t feel like an expression of myself as much as a result of outside influences.
When I started to curate my closet with my values of sustainability and ethics at the core, I began to feel more fully expressed in what I was wearing. I now invest in new, timeless pieces from sustainable fashion brands (ranging from Amur to Gabriella Hearst), and the rest I supplement from consignment, such as The RealReal and Poshmark (tips below).
About four years ago, I invested in my first home renovation project. The space turned out beautiful (hoping to have some photographs taken in the coming months). I’d always admired interior spaces prior to this, and had even overseen the design of my Venture Firm’s office space (below and HERE!) , but I’d never invested in a project personally.
Slow Ventures, Jackson Square, San Francisco
Photos courtesy of Studio Plow
Embarking on this interior design journey (with my girl Brit at Studio Plow) meant really looking at my values as a consumer, just as I had adopted in fashion.
I became ruthless in scouring online resources–from Craigslist to Nextdoor–for finds that matched my aesthetic and the floor plan. I scoured Antique stores and consignment, researched furniture companies that hold sustainability in their values, and worked with local makers on special pieces.
Being gentler on the planet and being gentler on your wallet are often interconnected. Buying previously loved items is typically less expensive and more unique than what you’ll find online, and extending the lifespan of these pieces reduces unnecessary waste. Then, you’re also able to invest more in the pieces you truly love.
With that, below are a few tips I’ve picked up:
Shop Local: support your community and reduce CO2
When you buy anything new, it comes with the territory that the piece has environmental issues stemming from shipping and logistics. Production is scattered all around the world, with fabrics being sourced from one place, manufacturing based in another, shipping and receiving in another.
There’s no solution that we can consumers have for this problem, except to shop local as much as we can. (1) We are putting money into our neighbors pockets to recirculate within out community. (2) these places usually purchase items in bulk, so that minimizes shipping.
Vintage & second-hand shopping
Extending and giving new life to a piece is always the most sustainable option, especially if you’re still sourcing locally. This is true for fashion and furniture. Here are some sources:
Furniture:
Your Local Resources: Craigslist, Nextdoor, and Facebook Market
Rarely do I travel to a location without typing “Thonet” into these search bars. All of the chairs at my home are thrifted from this type of behavior, and most all of them are original and under $30 each. Some quick tips:
Hit the view bar, and choose “picture”, that way you don’t need to click into each link.
If you know the designer (such as Thonet, above) you can still probably find a little deal, but if the seller knows the designer then they likely know the value of the piece. But if you type in different search terms (“teak”, “mid century”, “bentwood”) you’re more likely to end up with the bigger deals
Etsy: The best source for RUGS. My personal searches are for Kilim and Anatolian rugs. I covet Lauren Liess and found a rug almost exactly the same as hers, for $300.
Chairish & First Dibs: I haven’t bought items from here–yet. But wow, do they have incredible pieces. I could scroll for days.
Local antique stores. Vintage shopping is an art in itself. My go-to search here is for unique glassware. I’ve found a full collection of gorgeous crystal coupes for $5/piece. The teacup game at antique stores is also unmatched.
Clothing:
The Real Real: I always search Ulla Johnson, Isabelle Marant, Amur, Rachel Comey, Doen, and Jesse Kamm to scope classics for a good deal. I also love searching for the basics, jeans and T’s, which end up being a fraction of the cost.
Poshmark: I haven’t bought here yet, but I’ve sold on here. And wow, the feedback from buyers is so heartwarming! Hearing that someone has been “searching for these shoes” (that I’d worn 2x and kind of forgot about) for months, it was just amazing. I’m sure that having them made her feel so confident. There’s a lot of power in recycling our pieces!
Quality:
Always remember to check the quality of the items–durability and longevity keep clothes in your closets and furniture in your home.
If you’re looking to make an investment in clothing and want to do it online, check out Maison de Mode. Carrying lines such as Amour Vert, Amur, Lingua Franca, and so many more, Maison de Mode is committed to luxury, ethical fashion. Their founders also work behind the scenes with bigger designers to consult on their sustainability strategy. So by supporting Maison de Mode, you’re supporting their ability to proliferate the movement throughout fashion designers.