I’ve never really given much thought to where the clothing and jewelry I put on my body come from until recently. Admittedly, my closet is jam-packed with impulse purchases, and every so often, I purge the space to make room for more stuff I don’t need. Sound familiar?
Think about this: Only 10-15% of the clothing we donate ends up in the secondhand market. In our country alone, TWENTY-ONE BILLION POUNDS of textile waste is sent to landfills every year.
We live in the days of bigger – better – faster – more, so it’s no surprise that “fast fashion” (low-priced clothing that is brought to market quickly and copies fashion trends created by luxury brands) has become increasingly popular among us. Stores like H&M, Zara and Forever21 provide their shoppers with affordable pieces that get manufactured faster than you can say “crappy customer service,” but at what expense is a meaningless, overstuffed closet to our planet and to us?
Fiber production – especially consistently buying clothing and treating it as if it’s disposable - has devastating effects on our planet. Also wreaking havoc on our Earth is the mining of metals and diamonds. (I won’t even get into the human rights issues that all of the previously mentioned pose, but Google search it all after you read this and prepare to have your mind blown.)
We put so much thought into what goes into our bodies; it’s crucial that we become more conscious about how we are dressing ourselves as well. Sustainability isn’t a trend … it’s a necessity. I could go on and on about the damage that’s being done (wastewater, pollution, toxic chemicals, etc.), but instead let’s focus on the positive here: the local disruptors that are determined to change the way we dress and accessorize.
Here are 3 Bergen County women we can be especially proud of:
Kimberly Berry Haisch of Saddle River started KBH Jewels, a modern luxury jewelry brand that uses only environmentally and socially conscious diamonds and metals, to set a new luxury tradition for our generation and the standard for generations to come. KBH’s unique diamonds are cultivated in greenhouses, not mined from the Earth, and are paired with reclaimed and recycled precious metals.
Everything the brand produces - from jewelry to packaging - is sourced from ethical, sustainable and reclaimed methods.
Why this matters: Purchasing ethically conscious jewelry helps eliminate the need to mine for natural resources. KBH Jewels is proud to be 100% conflict-free and sustainable.
Use code BergenMomsKBH20 for 20% off your purchase at KBH Jewels.
*Offer expires September 30, 2019*
Franklin Lakes resident, Yansi Fugel, has been in the fashion industry since … well, forever. Once the face of her own namesake label for 28 years, she has recently reemerged better than ever with a new line of custom made luxury “tux-she-do” separates designed expressly for women: Tux Couture. A huge advocate of women supporting each other and a self-proclaimed actual hugger of trees, Yansi’s pieces are sustainably made and thoughtfully designed to make women feel confident and beautiful.
Yansi’s goal is to get a tuxedo in every woman’s closet. All of her pieces are designed with wardrobe building in mind, are easy wear and easy care, and can take you from day-to-night / event-to-event / season-to-season with tiny tweaks. Tux Couture is proof that less is more.
Get a FREE PANT with every jacket purchased at Tux Couture.
Email yansi@tux-couture.com and mention Bergen County Moms to redeem.
*Offer expires September 30, 2019*
Deconstructed, reimagined and reconstructed by hand, Vintage Vibe Tribe specializes in upcycled vintage rock-inspired clothing and accessories for men and women. Vintage Vibe Tribe is the brainchild of Elmwood Park’s Laura Schueller, a self-taught sewer, who draws her inspiration from a love shared for authentic, vintage and nostalgic fashion.
Schueller uses recycled clothing and does her best to make a positive impact on the environment. Pieces are hand-selected for those seeking high quality and she prides herself on offering designs not easily found among other retailers. Vintage Vibe Tribe honors an item’s vintage roots while breathing new life into its design.
Use code STYLISHMAMA at checkout for 15% off your purchase at Vintage Vibe Tribe
*Offer expires September 22, 2019*
Liza Fonti, Owner of the lifestyle blog, Stylish Mama, offers women's fashion and beauty finds while sprinkling in some inspirational advice. Her personal motto is: "If you’re fortunate enough to know or acquire something good, spread the love”, Liza also manages social media and content creation for blogs, articles, websites, social media accounts and more through her other venture, Highlight Content.