“Consumerism is not evil, it’s just uninformed,” says Arielle Crawford, the founder of namesake label Arielle, which is designed, developed and produced entirely in New York City. Committed to the use of sustainable textiles, domestic manufacturing, consumer education and zero-waste packaging, Crawford’s “essentialist” approach to designing her women’s wear line of luxurious closet basics “rewrites the modern narrative of cheap, fast and disposable,” she says. “By refining our relationship to our daily essentials, we access our actual values,” Crawford told WWD. Crawford’s collections are plastic-free, and the designer sourced biodegradable, organic and natural fibers for her sumptuous fall collection that includes smart minimalist pieces and an enviable winter white trenchcoat made of organic hemp and wild silk.
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But consumerism can be informed. DoneGood, an online shopping platform described as “The Amazon of social good,” said Americans give $400 billion to charities annually, but spend $130 trillion on everyday items. Its mission is to help consumers discover brands they can “feel good” about supporting. For the holiday season, the site is of particular interest for supporters of the conscious consumer movement seeking social impact brands and other “unique” forms of activism, such as sunglasses made from recycled ocean plastic or scarves that help secure jobs, fair wages and positive working environments for artisans worldwide.
And it’s a “thoughtful approach to creation” that lies in the heart of sustainable, ethical fashion, according to the organizers of Owners, a pop-up that will feature 20 women-owned brands in the ethical and sustainable space. Owners will launch its first holiday monthlong pop-up on Saturday at the Refinery Hotel in New York, offering hand selected brands that underscore achievements in aesthetic, value-based and creative work. “We have brought together a group of independently owned brands, representing a new generation of designers who take a more thoughtful approach to creating,” noting that its brands are “committed to creating a fashion industry that is more beneficial to the planet as well as the people who make and wear our pieces.” The pop-up aims to shift the way people shop, organizers said, as “consumers are opting more and more to support independent designers who share their values.” Participating designers include Aurorei, Combine de Filles, Fabric and Steel, Oil and Water, Vavvoune and Yuun.
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