Ethical Fashion Exclusive: SA VA & Maleku
Photo credit: Maleku Jewelry
In honor of Earth Month, one of our favorite new indie shopping sites, GlobalFashionBrands, has launched an online pop-up store featuring “all things ethical.” The site connects savvy shoppers to independent fashion designers from around the globe and actually customizes the experience, acting as your personal shopper based on your style preferences. Cool, right? The GFB Eco Pop-Up Store will feature the latest and greatest in eco-fashion, but we’ve picked four of our faves to feature here—oh, and nabbed four $100 shopping sprees, to boot! (Boots not included.)
SA VA is a Philadelphia-based fashion powerhouse that’s as style-focused as it is socially conscious, emphasizing fair trade and eco-friendly materials in its flagship brick-and-mortar store and design studio, as well as its online outlets. What’s not to love about SA VA? Ninety percent of what they sell is made locally—at a living wage, natch—and each piece includes one or more elements of sustainability, whether it’s fair-trade, locally made, organic or recycled. Plus everything they produce is totally wearable, including soft, feminine tops and dresses, and locally produced organic denim.
Case in point? The silk Stevie Dress, which is hand dyed with non-toxic colors in a low-water process. With lots of drapey silhouettes and wrap-around designs, SA VA’s spring collection is full of perfect outfits for those grab-and-go kind of days when you’re feeling a little less tailored and a little more boho chic.
SA VA Stevie Dress ($179)
Of course, no outfit is complete without jewelry, but as we’ve blathered on about ad nauseum, metal mining just plain sucks. However, using recycled metals is pretty damn cool—it decreases the global demand for newly mined materials and increases our ability to splurge on irresistible glamour—and Maleku Jewelry is case in point. The brand utilizes recycled metals like silver, gold and semi-precious stones to create gorgeous, head-turning statement pieces. We’re totally in love with their chunky cuffs stacked with recycled metals and ethically sourced gems—definitely a conversation starter!
Maleku Recycled Silver and Green Turquoise Cuff ($348)
WEEK OF 8.8.11 ONE ECOSTILETTO SUBSCRIBER WILL WIN A $100 SHOPPING SPREE AT GLOBALFASHIONBRANDS.COM!
Alyson Campbell is a public relations entrepreneur specializing in lifestyle and fashion brands. She contributes to a slew of media outlets, including a regular NYC-column on the neighborhood news site NearSay. Alyson is the main contributor behind It’s All Very PR and the face of New York’s lifestyle publicity firm AMP3 PR.
