If any dress can get you more questions of ‘WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?!’ - it’d be this one! Every time I’ve stepped out of the house in this sweet number, the Mario-inspired pockets have grabbed everyone’s attention. & bonus points - it’s also been an excellent piece for breastfeeding with the front buttons.

Shop the look:

Mustard Flower Pocket Dress, IKKIVI by Yogi $97
Probably the cutest dress I own, this IKKIVI piece {by designer Yogi} is made from handwoven organically dyed cotton. The pixel lotus motifs {from your favorite 90s Mario} are hand embroidered and have a unique touch to this quarter-sleeve-button-down-shift-like design. Quality is seen through and through; the hands that created the fabric have been doing so for a long time. The Yogi focuses their sustainable collection on reviving raw fiber and indigenous textiles. Their Spring/Summer 2018 Collection, ‘Life in Technicolor,’ contrasts the 90s, 8-bit pixelated video games with natural cotton and old weaving techniques. It’s the coolest balance to see the local and digital worlds combined.

IKKIVI is a curated online clothing store dedicated to slow fashion and Indian designers. See all the collections, here.

{sandals for day}

Double Strapped Sandal in Green, October Jaipur $66

{boots for rain}

Minimalist Olive Ankle Boot, Alice + Whittles $96

This Fair OOTD has certainly made me want to take out my Mario Kart again :P How about you?

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Agaati. We only ever add brands & products we truly believe in. Thank you for supporting the brands who are making the world a better place!

AGAATI

There have been a few conscious brands I’ve come across that have been perfect for cocktail parties or other social occasions. When viewers have asked me where they should buy their dresses for a wedding or work event, I haven’t been able to give them many suggestions until now. AGAATI is the very brand I’ve been looking for!

{but, of course, you could always wear these pieces anywhere!}

Three Reasons to Love AGAATI

Beautiful, yet sustainable, designs. Truly unique, AGAATI designs are thoughtfully produced with a zero-waste philosophy. The makers are trained to reduce {& recycle/upcycle} waste while pattern making, cutting and sewing. They make it a point to have as little waste as possible, and with what they do have, they think of creative ways to reuse. Also, AGAATI uses natural fibers and non-toxic dyes for their pieces. Biodegradable fibers like cotton, silk and wool are among the most popular design choices, and handwoven textiles are used for at least half of them. 

Artisan Made. The designer for AGAATI, Saloni Shrestha, works closely with all the makers- from the weavers to the pattern makers to the tailors. Being in person for the entire process and with each maker, AGAATI is able to ensure everything is up to their standards and quality is checked from step to step. With a fashion design degree from Parsons, Shrestha has over 7 years of experience designing women’s ready-to-wear inspired by nature, culture & people. 

Women Empowerment. With 75 million people working in the clothing industry worldwide, 80% are women ages 18-24. With extremely low wages, many of these women are also subjected to dangerous work environments and harassment. AGAATI is actively going out into communities and working to improve these women's lives. They traveled to Nepal last year to work with the nonprofit Maheela, which rescues women from domestic violence. Together, they will create woven shawls for the Fall. Another nonprofit, Aatmiya, has expert hand-knitters and will be making luxurious knitted alpaca sweaters. Plus, their company is full of women leading change! 

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What I’m Wearing

Multilayered Summer Ruffled Top: I am, no doubt, a lover of ruffles. Ever since I was a little girl, I felt ruffles made me feel feminine and sweet. This silk organza top flutters elegantly with every step! 

Cropped Cotton Jumpsuit: A jumpsuit with pockets?! Yes, to that! I love to see more jumpsuits worn at events instead of the usual short cocktail dress. They even added a lovely touch on the sleeve with upcycled silk and cotton {plus, the entire piece is made from dead stock cotton!}. 

Embroidered Bird Dress: Probably one of the most beautiful dresses I’ve ever worn, this silk dress features hand embroidered birds that are sure to make you feel as if you are a part of a fairy tale. There is so much magic and love to this piece! 

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Where to Purchase

You can find their entire collection online - here - & since all their pieces are Limited Edition, you probably won’t bump into someone wearing the same thing ;)
 

Want to win a hand-painted luxe silk scarf from one of their talented Tibetan artisans? From now until the start of their Indiegogo campaign in September, sign up here to be entered in their drawing. 

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sustainable ootd

One of my favorite ways to cover up is with a beautifully printed wrap. Especially in Florida, it’s too hot to wear a sweater for half the year. These wraps are just the right weight and are lovely additions to your basics. Plus, many of them come in stunning prints - like this one from Tamga Designs…

Shop the Look:

Lia Wrap in Solo, Tamga Designs $65

Made from one of my favorite fabrics, Micro TENCEL, the Lia can double as a duster and a robe. It’s lightweight and luxurious {move over silk!}. The print is hand drawn by their print designer and printed at their fabric mill using GOTS / Bluesign certified dyes. I love how Tamga Designs breaks down how you save on resources by purchasing one of their pieces. This garment saves 12 liters of water, avoids 3kg of CO2 emissions, and saves 2kWh of energy. Ethics is a crucial part of this brand; you can find all their information on transparency and materials here.

Camden Dress, Kestan $125

Morgan Sandals in Licorice, Oka-B $40

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Devi Arts Collective. We only ever add brands & products we truly believe in. Thank you for supporting the brands who are making the world a better place!

Devi Arts Collective

Every once in a while, I like to wear a statement piece, but for the most part, I like my jewelry neutral, dainty, and simple. I almost want to feel like I’m not wearing any because my first instinct is to take it off. I don’t find comfort in having fingers full of big, chunky rings or necklaces getting caught on everything I pass by. I feel like Bayoush Mengesha, the jewelry designer from Devi Arts Collective, knows exactly what I want. She takes it even a step further and makes sure the jewelry, along with the other items in the shop, is empowering others and supporting sustainable livelihoods, too! 

Why I Love Devi Arts Collective

Aesthetic: This one might be very obvious, but the aesthetic of this jewelry collection is lovely. It is meant to be worn every day with anything you have in your closet. Simplicity is what your capsule wardrobe is calling for! When designing, Bayoush is inspired by her Ethiopian heritage, where she has learned beauty dances between the simple and the complex. She is also inspired by the natural world and uses texturing and manipulation techniques to mimic nature. You can easily see this portrayed in some of the materials she chooses, like birch bark and feathers. 

Sustainable Sourcing: What’s super interesting about this jewelry collection is the choice of materials. Bayoush personally sources all the stones from artisans in India and the silver & gold from a responsible jeweler company. The gemstones come from a 3rd generation lapidary family who have been cutting, shaping, and polishing gems in Rajasthan for years. The recycled sterling silver and 14k gold-filled wire come from a company that takes scrap pieces from artisans and creates new materials for designers like Bayoush. 

You are empowering the Maker {& supplier!}: I’ve always loved supporting small independent designers. There is so much love {blood, sweat, and tears, too!} that goes into creating an accessory or piece of jewelry for someone to wear. It’s lovely knowing exactly where your jewelry was made, and for all of these little lovelies, they were made in Bayoush’s studio in Vancouver. If you are a British Columbian resident, this is an excellent brand for you to support - #shoplocal! Besides the beautiful jewelry line, Devi Arts Collective also has a range of hand-woven and organic hand-dyed wristlets made by a small weaving community in Guatemala.

What I’m Wearing

Orbit Ring in 14kt Gold: Handmade by Devi Arts Collective designer Bayoush in Vancouver with recycled 14kt gold-filled wire. Works well as a stacking ring {especially with the Flat Ball Silver Stacking Ring I have paired with it} or beautiful by itself! 

Cleopatra Necklace: Also handmade by Bayoush with recycled sterling silver and Iolite stone forged, cut, shaped and polished by lapidaries in India. You can also choose moonstone, labradorite, emerald, and ruby for gemstones. 

Where to Purchase

You can find the entire collection in their online shop - here - as well as in this list of stockists in British Columbia.