Back when I was a fashion student, it seemed like everything I loved was taboo: under 5’9? ‘You should stick to all black to look taller.’ Curvy physique? ‘Make sure you don’t wear horizontal stripes! Think fashion should be ethical?’ *insert evil Disney villain laughter*.
Studying and working in the fashion industry kind’a took its toll on me… I started to question the things I thought were right and I began to feel like an outsider. My take on the life cycle of fashion was so different than the people around me. Not that we didn’t all drool over gorgeous designs, lust after things we couldn’t afford and study photography so we could learn to “Do it like Avedon,” we definitely had all those things in common. It was when you peeled back that glossy curtain of “HIGH FASHION” where we started to part way. Child labour, fair living wages, the use of leather and fur; these were all extremely important topics to me. And often when brought up, the reaction of many in the fashion industry is “oh… yes, it’s kinda bad, but let’s not talk about that.”
Well why the hell not??
Have your cake and eat it too: Skeptical about trading in your Louis or Chloe? Find luxury fabrics and designer details in cruelty free brands like Angela Roi
It’s 2017 (at the time of writing this) and we shouldn’t even have to talk about things like “Hm, should fashion be ethical?” Cruelty Free fashion, in my opinion, should already be well established and common practice, not some “fringe” alternative to the mainstream.
But the conversation is coming up more frequently. And I am definitely thrilled about that! Cruelty free and vegan fashion, food and beauty items are becoming more in-demand than ever before. Here at The Purist Life, I could not be more excited to share with you some of the brands who are breaking the mould.
My Go-To Work bag: The Angela Roi Sunday Tote II has quickly become my favourite work bag. It’s very functional and chic enough to bring to the office.
Angela Roi is an ethical luxury handbag line focused on fair worker wages and alternatives to animal skins. They use premium EPUL, a man-made alternative to leather, in all their bags and make regular donations to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.) These bags are definitely made to last and have beautiful finishing details.
And one last thing: you can totally wear horizontal stripes if you are curvy. Do your thing!