Category: Fashion

With businesses across the United States requiring masks for entry, the face mask has gone from a temporary necessity to a “must-have” fashion accessory.

But for those who care about the environment (and what they are putting over their mouth and nose,) an equally important question is: “How eco-friendly are these face masks?”

Unfortunately for eco-minded consumers, the fashion industry does not have the best track record when it comes to environmentally friendly business practices. As Morgan McFall-Johnson explains in an article for Business Insider, “The fashion industry produces 10% of all humanity’s carbon emissions, is the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply, and pollutes the oceans with microplastics.”

In short — everything from the production methods to the fabric choices have an impact on the planet. So before putting hard-earned money toward a product that is bad for the environment, forward-thinking shoppers are deleting those cheap disposable masks from their shopping carts and looking at high-fashion, eco-friendly alternatives.

An Eco-Friendly Fashion Statement

Los Angeles based designer Jillian Ann, who has been on the forefront of what she calls “ethical eco-luxury fashion” for the better part of the last decade, has produced a new face mask line called ALTA-RED. It features a variety of fashionable face covering options made from eco-friendly fabrics like silk and modal.

“It is so important to me that people realize the impact their fashion choices have on the planet,” the designer says. “Even cotton garments can be made from crops that are fertilized with toxic chemicals. Those chemicals go into the soil and the run-off water, too.”

Most of the masks in the ALTA-RED collection are made from a special type of fabric called Lenzing Modal. This cotton alternative is manufactured using the more sustainable beech tree (a plant that is similar to bamboo) in a process where 95% of the chemicals used are able to be recycled.

“The Lenzing Modal fabric makes the masks so much more comfortable,” says Ann, “and, most importantly, breathable.”

The fabric is also known for its ability to retain its quality after multiple washes, unlike alternatives made from cotton or polyester which (besides being harsher on the environment) are known to fade and fray.

Going beyond the fabric itself is also the manufacturing of the garments. Big brands like Walmart, J.C. Penney, and H&M have come under fire in recent years for running alleged “sweatshops” where workers are treated poorly and environmental regulations are practically non-existent.

In an exposé for The Guardian, investigative journalist Tansy Hoskins writes, “Investigators for the Changing Markets Foundation visited 10 manufacturing sites in China, India, and Indonesia, and found severe environmental damage including water pollution from untreated contaminated waste, and air pollution.”

At ALTA-RED, tailors are paid above the industry standard rates and the company practices eco-friendly manufacturing.

“We are always looking for new ways to reduce our carbon footprint and optimize our best practices,” says Clayton Beck, the on-site Production Supervisor for the company. “We love the planet and we love our people.”

See all of the ALTA-RED mask options at www.ALTA-RED.com

Eco-friendly face masks — Sources

– H&M, Zara and Marks & Spencer linked to polluting viscose factories in Asia by Tansy Hoskins
– The fashion industry emits more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined. Here are the biggest ways it impacts the planet. by Morgan McFall-Johnsen

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©How Life Works 2020

The Two Suns gown designed by Jillian Ann for RITUAL, her eco-luxury fashion house focused on ethical treatment of workers and environmentally friendly production methods.

Seen here in Paris, the “Two Suns Gown” is available by custom order only and comes at a couture price tag of $18,000 USD.

Photographs courtesy of Clayton Beck Creative.

Learn more at www.RITUAL.fashion

Jewelry connoisseur Natasha Bayt and photographer Clayton Beck collaborate on another stunning photo series featuring designer jewelry from around the world and custom couture designs.

Shot on location at Pyramid Lake in Nevada with permission from the Native American Tribal Council.

Photography: Clayton Beck
Jewelry: Natasha’s World Jewelry selections from UNOde50
Models: Samantha Tolkien, Gina Tarantino, Molly Beth Bryant
Makeup: Gina Tarantino
Additional Styling: The Melting Pot World Emporium

One of the things we love most about jewelry is the many different ways it can impact people’s lives.

Sometimes it is the heart warming memories that come with putting on the first pair of earrings a loved one gave you as a child. Other times it is the radiant joy of wearing that bracelet you treated yourself to as a souvenir of a happy adventure. And then there is the incomparable confidence that comes with clasping on your favorite necklace as you prepare to face the day ahead.

There are few things in this world that can evoke so many different emotions and tell so many different stories.

Photo by: Clayton Beck Creative
Natasha is wearing an Isha Elafi necklace from Bali and UNOde50 rings, bracelet, and earrings from Spain.

As we step into this new year we invite you to find jewelry that calls out to you, uplifts you, and empowers you. Come into Natasha’s World Jewelry and let us help you find that perfect piece, whether it is for the dance floor or the board room. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Thank you to the wonderful photographer Mr. Clayton Beck (of Clayton Beck Creative) for helping to capture the powerful elegance of these beautiful pieces from UNOde50 and Isha Elafi. Something we love about both of these designers is their ability to make wearable art that radiates beauty and confidence. Whether you are stepping out on the town for a night out or walking into a conference room for serious negotiations, this jewelry evokes confidence as well as beauty.

We have many more beautiful pieces from both of these designers and more amazing artisan creators from around the globe at Natasha’s World Jewelry. Stop by today and let us help you find the perfect piece for you!

Find these and more at Natasha’sWorldJewelry.com!

Reduce Harm. Increase Benefit.

A blueprint for the new age of Conscious Capitalism: Ethical, Eco Friendly  and HARM-LESS  by Jillian Ann of RITUAL

Natural and eco friendly materials
RITUAL uses natural and eco friendly materials whenever possible not only because they feel luxurious and comfortable, but also because of the reduced global impact they have on the planet.

For our fabric garments, we use Lenzing Modal, a sustainable, carbon neutral fabric. Lenzing modal is made from Beechwood trees where up to 95% of processing chemicals are recovered during production. Beechwood grows extremely fast and requires much less water than even other eco-fabrics such as organic cotton and bamboo. The trees are harvested sustainably and environmental impact is offset with solar power and other techniques in the factory.

Lenzing also employs a unique process whereby the color is embedded directly in the fiber matrix. Resources, such as water and energy, are spared when producing fabrics. Tests prove that processing Lenzing Modal® COLOR requires up to 80% less energy and saves up to 75% of water (in jet dyeing)* in comparison to standard fibers. This is incredible because, in even the most eco-friendly fabrics, the dying process can be extremely toxic. 

For our leather garments, We use goat and sheep leather that is the bi-product of the meat industry in Java, where goats are a staple part of the diet. This means the animals were killed for food and the leftover skin was turned into a beautiful jacket instead of being wasted. This feels better to us than using rabbit or other exotic animals that were killed exclusively for their hide or fur. While some might argue that leather alternatives may be more ecological, we feel that using petroleum-based materials such as fake fur and pleather (which are not natural or comfortable and will fall apart and live forever in a landfill) is far worse due to the overall state of our planet and particularly our dependence on petroleum. 

Long life cycle/ short death cycle

When we speak of the life cycle of the product we mean the entire process from inception to disposal. This can be the manufacturing process of the product, the transportation and delivery of the product and the life it has with the owner of the product before it must be discarded or disposed of. The death cycle is the length of time it takes for that product to decompose and return to a natural state integrated back into the eco-system.

In our current corporate culture, most fashion products have an extremely short life cycle and a death cycle of eternity which, from an outside perspective, must look like an insane, horrific joke. From the poor construction caused by underpaid and overworked tailors kept to an inhumane production schedule, to using the cheapest, plastic (petroleum) based materials that fall apart quickly but never biodegrade, we are reaching an epidemic of consume/dispose which will/is leaving our planet ravaged and toxic and its peoples trapped in a cycle of virtual slave labor.  

Its time for a new perspective on the value of the products we consume.Fashion is not cheap. Just because it was cheap to buy in the first world, does not mean there isn’t a true cost hidden in its production.  From the cost of the virtual slave labor to the damage done to third world environments, if we don’t pay, someone else surely is. 

Our solution is to find the most durable, natural materials which have all the strength to last a lifetime of wear but will return to the earth when finally laid to rest.  By following these guidelines of the longest life cycle as possible and the shortest death cycle as possible, the choices we make in terms of quality and material become very, very clear. We work with our artisanal tailors to focus on quality over quantity and make each garment with the utmost care to last and last. We offer a lifetime guarantee on all leather garments to extend the life of the garment as long as possible.

One of the ways we are reducing the waste associated with our company is by offering a zero waste exchange policy for all customers. If you are finished wearing one of our designs and it is still in good condition we will buy it back fro a percentage of store credit and resell the garment at a reduced rate to someone who will love it again.

Fair, living wages
Today’s garment workers are living in extreme poverty never making enough to survive but forced to continue due to lack of alternatives. We all deserve an honest living doing something we care about and are proud of wherever we live in the world. We are committed to paying a fair, living wage and treating our tailors with respect. Constructing garments is an art form and these people are artists. They deserve our respect and honor for creating the beautiful things that we get to wear.

People over profits
Ritual is committed to doing no harm to people. Our workers must be safe. Our customers must be safe in our garments. Our neighbors must be protected. No amount of profit is worth causing harm to the very people we profess to serve. The point of business MUST be to make a difference for the good of all. We have high hopes for the future and are constantly looking for ways to expand and crystalize our commitment to being HARM-LESS .

Learn more at www.RITUAL.fashion