Dear Friend,
I'd like to use this newsletter as a medium to promote the movement myself and my company, Balanced Fashion strongly stand for - conscious consumerism.
My message is:
Simply don't purchase any gifts for anyone this Holiday Season.
Society and the media tell us we need to buy new things every season. We are also told to spend money on presents to show people around us we "care". But I'm inviting you to question that. Do we really need to buy more things just because it's a holiday season and we're not buying those things just for ourselves? I don't think so, in fact, it feels absurd to me. And if you agree - then, please, talk about it, make it public, post a story on social media. Use hashtag #balancedfashionmovement and I will repost your stories on my Instagram pages.
Let me be super clear about it: I'm saying to give no attention to the people in your life who you usually gift something during the Holidays, but you DON'T HAVE TO BUY them stuff. There are plenty of ways to show people how much you care about them, without jumping on the bandwagon of over-hyped consumerism during this highest shopping season in retail by far. I've worked in retail business for long enough to experience the whopping increase in sales in the months of November, December (and as a result, increase in returns in the end of December & January) - and it felt incredibly unhealthy and unsustainable to see so much stuff being bought. I'm inviting you to be creative this year, go beyond DIY. Don't give things, give experiences. Give your time and full, authentic and undivided attention, which can be way more valuable than any gift. Take them out to lunch or a tea and have a conversation you've never had before that helps you connect on a deeper, more meaningful level. Take them to a dance class, a jazz concert, a weird theater play, or simply walk in the park and create fun stories together. And don't forget to explain why you are choosing to do that instead of buying something for them as a gift for the Holidays. Experience of authentic connection and a great time together last so much longer and make a beautiful ripple effect in their families and communities. The more people start practicing conscious consumption, the faster we will see the change in our industry.
I've posted this YouTube/IGTV video on this past Black Friday speaking about conscious consumerism during the superficially created times of discounts and deals and will continue developing this topic further in 2019 and beyond.
Also wanted to share that I'm so grateful to my friend David Nebinski for featuring me in his Portfolio Career Podcast - where he interviews people who are building a dynamic, fulfilling, and resilient career and consciously create their own reality. Listen to his interview with me to get to know who I am and what I do beyond Balanced Fashion. Feel free to reach out to me if you are interested in finding out more about some of the topics I talk about in this podcast.
For our next Balanced Fashion event in January, we are collaborating with Jessica Couch, a fit technology expert at Luxor + Finch on an event focused on fit technology for sustainable fashion. Get your ticket now and use the discount code BFFriends50off for a 50% off an early bird price!
TOP NEWS:
Sustainability & Ethics
- UN to form alliance to make fashion more sustainable - FashionUnited
- Stella McCartney announces open source sustainability initiative and UN partnership - The Current Daily
- Trending: Regenerative Sourcing, Circular Models Revamping Fashion - Sustainable Brands
- The State of Fashion 2019: A year of awakening - McKinsey
- Worn out: is fast fashion more sustainable than we think? - The Guardian
- For retailers and brands, sustainability needs good tech - Forbes
- Opinion: The problem with transparency in fashion - Glossy
- Fashion's sustainability crisis is becoming critical, we need Government intervention - Telegraph
- Could fast fashion be headed for the same future as single-use plastic? - Retail Insight Network
- Can the ‘broken’ fashion industry be fixed? - BBC
- Next season’s must-have isn’t a handbag, it’s a conscience - i-D
Business & Technology
- Farfetch launches visual search feature as luxury plays digital catch-up - Glossy
- How indie brands are using pre-orders and waitlists for market research - Glossy
- Black Friday took one third of sales from smartphones - FashionUnited
- Is price the sole determiner of luxury? - Glossy
- Kering to end Yoox partnership, take control of e-commerce by 2020 - Business of Fashion
- Wearables are pivoting from fitness to wellness - Glossy
- Greats’ Ryan Babenzien: ‘Direct-to-consumer is the only way to launch a brand’ - Glossy
- Payless Opened a Fake Luxury Store With $600 Shoes - Fortune
TOP EVENTS:
Monday, Dec. 10th
5 – 8pm Ship-n-shop Holiday Party
We're having a holiday happy hour tomorrow/Monday to celebrate the season and our company rebrand to SAME BUT DIFFERENT. As our Thursday Finest redirect says, we’ve always been same but different, but now it’s actually our name. Grab a drink, some apps and check out some luxurious Merino wool beanies, balaclavas, ties and sweaters. Sip-n-shop for some thoughtful, personal gifts.Price: Free RSVP: humans@wearesamebutdifferent.com Location: 325b W Broadway (Across from Soho Grand)
Tuesday, December 11th
6:30 - 9 pm Beyond Conscious Consumerism Panel
You are invited to join a discussion that will dive into the upsides and downsides of conscious consumerism - and the actions we can all take to push an ethical and sustainable agenda further than ever before. From transparent supply chains and empowering women to self care and political activism we will explore ways to take our ideals and turn them into effective change. Panelists: Henriette Ernst, Founder & Chief Creative Officer, ROUND + SQUARE; Gemma Lewis, gemmagambee.com; Danni Washington, TV Host and Co-Founder of Big Blue & You. Moderator: Faye Lessler, Editor, Sustaining Life. Price: $20 Location: Young & Able, 277 Berry Street, Brooklyn
Wednesday, December 12th
6:30 pm Design Thinking Workshop
Gain practical experience & skills in UX Design. Price: Free Location: Flatiron School, 11 Broadway, #260
Thursday, December 13th
6:30 - 8:30 pm Meet the Owners Pt. 1
This panel discussion hosted by OWNERS women-led pop-up shop will dive into everything that goes on behind the scenes of an independent, eco-friendly, and ethical fashion brand. Featuring five female designers and brand owners, we will touch on their experience as entrepreneurs, creative women, and passionate contributors to the movement for a more sustainable future. Hear about what inspires them, how they decide what materials and factories to work with, what it takes to run a small business, and how their work intersects with some of the biggest issues of our time. Shop sustainable designs at an exclusive 15% discount. Price: $10 Location: Refinery Hotel, 63 West 38th Street
Tuesday, December 18th
10am - 12 pm Bespokify : Digital Block Library Demo
For emerging designers and existing designers, technical designers and pattern makers, a new technology is emerging allowing for digital block library creation and MTM design. Bespokify uses measurements (taken by hand, phone or 3D body scans) to create custom pattern pieces. Bespokify also produces a tech pack, cutting file and other assets needed to go into production. This tool could be the future of design and sustainability saving designer time and money. Join us for a webinar based demo of Bespokify and Q&A. We will also be open to answer questions about individual brands, production and design practices and suggestions. Price: Free Location: Webinar
6:30 - 7 pm How to Embrace Sustainable Fashion
Sustainability is now woven into the fabric of how the most innovative and successful companies operate, and the fashion industry is no exception. Join this monthly sustainability workshop to discuss sustainable fashion innovations, the companies driving the movement, the circular economy and how you can contribute as a conscious consumer. Price: Free Location: The RealReal, 80 Wooster Street
Wednesday, December 19th
6:30 - 8:30 pm Meet the Owners Pt. 2
This panel discussion hosted by OWNERS women-led pop-up shop will dive into everything that goes on behind the scenes of an independent, eco-friendly, and ethical fashion brand. Featuring five female designers and brand owners, we will touch on their experience as entrepreneurs, creative women, and passionate contributors to the movement for a more sustainable future. Hear about what inspires them, how they decide what materials and factories to work with, what it takes to run a small business, and how their work intersects with some of the biggest issues of our time. Shop sustainable designs at an exclusive 15% discount. Price: $10 Location: Refinery Hotel, 63 West 38th Street
Thursday, December 20th
7 - 8:30 pm Fashion Addicts Anonymous
Fashion Addicts Anonymous are community-led forums where as a group we have a chance to share about sustainability, sustainable fashion, our experiences and feelings towards the topic, questions we have and solutions and actions we can take to push the movement forward. Price: Free Location: Think Coffee, 248 Mercer Street
Thursday, January 10th
6:00 - 9:00pm Fit Tech and Sustainability in Fashion: Balanced Fashion event in collaboration with Luxor + Finch
Balanced Fashion event = MUST GO! (not biased at all.. :)) More details are coming soon! Price: $20 ($10 Early Bird + use discount BFFriends50off for 50% off) Location: TBC
Monday, January 14th
7 pm #SustainingSustainable: Fund your (ad)Venture by SewEthico
Sustaining your sustainable brand is tough, and sometimes it can feel like it's impossible for you. Join us for an evening with Danielle Josephs, Investment Officer at Closed Loop Partners, to talk about all things VC and Funding! We're going to cover why VC may or may not be right for you, how to find great investors, who you should consider working with (and why!), how to prep for your first few meetings, what to expect when you're making your first pitch deck, and more. PLUS we're going to do a live critique of a designer's pitch deck RIGHT THERE on the spot, so you'll see what's good, what to avoid, and learn how to build an awesome deck of your own. Price: $20 Location: The Arlo NoMad, 11 E 31st St
Tuesday, February 12th
7 - 10 pm Adalinda Sustainable Fashion Show
A showcase of Designers Committed to Social Progression and Environmental Awareness through Fashion. Price: $20 Location: Garment District, 35 West 38th Street
COOL FINDS:
Stay Inspired,