HOT 5 - 4/8/22
HOT Friends,
Yay, April is finally here! And with it comes the true signs of spring - see the gorgeous tree above snapped in New York City's Gramercy Park neighborhood. April is also Earth Month with Earth Day happening on April 22nd. This year's theme is 'Invest In Our Planet' and we can certainly get behind that idea! One great way to invest is to live more sustainably which is something I'm trying really hard to do (and boy is it hard!). This week's HOT 5 will explore some ways to do just that:
1. A Great Guide To Sustainable Shopping
2. Handmade Sustainable Style From Africa
3. The HOT Pick -- Dress Up Dresses
4. The Best Of Clean Beauty
5. Why People Are Acting So Weird
1. A Great Guide To Sustainable Shopping
The good news from scientists this week about climate change is that we can actually do something to reverse it. The bad news is we don't have long to do it, it's now or never! It might seem like there's nothing we as individuals can really do to change the dire trajectory of things but we really don't have a choice. We must all do whatever we individually can. I found this article from NY Magazine's The Cut helpful because it does a great job of laying out the simple and fairly easy steps we can take to shop sustainably. I plan on checking out the always brilliant Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show this weekend where I can indulge my desire for new with a smaller impact. Why not join me?
2. Handmade Sustainable Style From Africa
Our most sustainable brand aside from all the vintage jewelry is probably the fabulous wearable art pieces from African Baroque Textile Jewelry. You might remember the story of how I met Colleen, the lovely founder of the brand in Cape Town 4 years ago. I was so taken with the handmade colorful pieces I had seen on Instagram that I tracked her down in the seaside village of Haut Bay and spent the day learning about her passion and creativity. Colleen’s dream is for the world to see and love the beads and respect the hands that create this unique jewelry using ancient traditional processes in an earth-friendly manner. These lightweight eye-catching pieces make great gifts and are particularly well suited for summertime dressing.
Just in -- our new collection from African Baroque Textile Jewelry!
When I discovered founder Colleen Brand's stunning creations made with African textiles like shweshwe and wax print mixed with exquisite African beads on Instagram in 2018, I knew I had to offer them to my lovely customers. How lucky I was to actually meet Colleen while on a trip to South Africa soon after that discovery. We spent a wonderful afternoon together in her atelier and I learned all about her unique handmade wearable artwork and her commitment to employing local women enabling them to supplement their income while working from home. This is our 3rd collection and we're so excited to make it available to you!
The beautiful Duo necklace features different contrasting African fabrics and easily pulls over the head to fit like a large collar. It’s eye catching and unique!
SOLOs can be worn solo or in multiples. Designed by Colleen Brand, each piece is totally unique and made from African fabrics and beads. 9” in diameter, pull over head to wear. Handcrafted in Cape Town, inspired by Africa, loved worldwide.
3. The HOT Pick -- Dress Up Dresses
Something you can always count on this time of year is a plethora of invites for weddings, openings, launches, and those any old excuse will do get-togethers! It's the perfect time to think about a new spring dress that you can feel confident will work for lots of different spring events. This week I chose 6 colorful pretty dresses that can work for a wide range of ages and body types, priced between $100 and $600. I specifically left out anything all black. Hey, it's springtime after all!
Photo by Drew Dizzy Graham on Unsplash
4. The Best Of Clean Beauty
You might ask what exactly is Clean Beauty? The answer is
"a clean beauty approach is one that involves seeking out recyclable and sustainable products and manufacturers that value minimizing their environmental impact, whether through using biodegradable materials that promote healthy soil or incorporating food waste into product formulas.”
Remember just because a company says it's clean or sustainable doesn't mean it actually is. I found this article from Refinery 29 to be helpful in understanding just how to think about beauty's impact on climate change. This list from Glamour is a great place to start in your search for the latest in "clean" beauty products.
5. Why People Are Acting So Weird
This doesn't have to do with climate change or sustainable shopping but it's a question on a lot of people's minds lately. I think it's been a topic of every social interaction I've had this past month! We are all questioning why people seem so incredibly angry about every little thing these days. Everyone from Will Smith to that woman on the line with me at Trader Joe's is spoiling for a fight. This article from the Atlantic attempts to break it down for us. In the meantime, I will try my best to answer to my better angel and not ram my basket into Miss Nasty at TJ's!
Have a very sustainable month!
Terry. xoxo