Words: Alexandra Mozgovaya

“There is enough on earth for everybody’s need, but not for everyone’s greed.” (Gandhi)

Today’s consumer society instills into us that being considered interesting and enviable in the eyes of others can only be achieved if we buy new products: clothes, gadgets, accessories, handbags, you name it. On repeat and on repeat. Many more pairs of fancy shoes and dresses for various ensembles to promote on social media than we actually need, although we always desire plenty. But these six green fashion names prove that fashion and cautious attitude towards the world can be combined, which as a result leaves space for more meaningful activities, lifestyle inspiration and positive energy. Focusing our attention on getting rid of the importance of material things removes dependency from clothes and teaches us to appreciate something bigger than simply a wardrobe full of fancy garments.

These six bloggers, pioneering a movement that celebrates a more meaningful approach to fashion and living, are a true inspiration and role models to us, gearing forward precious change in rethinking consumerism.

1. Agnes Muljadi (artsyagnes.com)

Agnes is a ballerina, who became vegan 2 years ago and discovered the world of sustainability for herself, including what to wear and how to decorate her home. Her blog is an up-to-date resource about slow living and different collaborations with a variety of eco-brands. It’s an online journal of a daily lifestyle consisting of ballet, veganism and love for sustainability.

Agnes says:

“I love doing Ethical OOTDs (Outfit Of The Day) where I put together a head to toe look featuring all vegan, all sustainable, all cruelty-free and all fairtrade brands. I love reading messages from people who are interested in building a more sustainable closet, but they just don't know how to start. It's important for us to reach out to people, give them ideas and show them that you can still look fashionable without harming animals or the environment.”

Agnes’s advice to our readers:

"I think a good place to start is for all of us to continue to ask what is it we're voting for every time we spend money on food, fashion, furniture, or anything really. For me, I've always wanted to support brands and businesses that are making an effort to protect the people, animals and the longevity of our planet."

2. Nataly Elbaz Bjorklund (literallynataly.com)

Nataly Elbaz Bjorklund, Literallynataly.com, 2017. — *Nataly Elbaz Bjorklund, Literallynataly.com, 2017.*

Nataly is a blogger who creates awareness on sustainablity issues, introducing slow fashion and eco-lifestyle brands. She was born in Tel Aviv, raised in Bangkok, then moved to London, and now lives in Oxford. She started her sustainable lifestyle blog last spring, although it had been at the back of her mind from when she was writing her MA thesis about sustainability in the fashion industry a few years back. The moment of change came after the realization that Nataly had developed a habit of shopping as often as every week, spending money on things that she really didn't need and never used.

On the blog, Nataly focuses on raising awareness about sustainability issues and introducing slow fashion brands. She also works together with ethical brands to promote and introduce a conscious lifestyle to those who might not normally consider issues of social justice and sustainability. “I want to show people that you don’t need to compromise on a beautiful product by shopping sustainably” – Nataly says.

Nataly’s advice to our readers:

"Cherish the things that you already own. I found that once I began to live a more conscious lifestyle, I noticed so many things in my home which I had previously bought and remained brand new, unopened, and with tags still on. Try to make do with those things before you go out to purchase new ones. To me the beginning to a more sustainable life was that mental switch."

3. Joan La (www.acupofjoan.com)

The blog with the catchy name A Cup of Joan focuses on showcasing vegan fashion that is both ethical and sustainable. It also features inspiring features on personal experiences about travel and other hot eco topics: veganism, animal rights and environmental issues all covered.

Joan has started sustainable lifestyle from simple practices of change: from using less plastic to limiting water use and preventing waste. She started paying more attention to a conscious lifestyle a year and half ago, and is gearing forward at a fast pace of raising awareness among others. She learned how detrimental and harmful the effect of fashion industry is to our environment, so changing some simple habits and beliefs, like attitude to shopping as a top priority, brought along more awareness about the importance of a waste-free, sustainable life.

Joan says:

"I love collaborating with brands that promote sustainability and ethics, and I hope to continue on doing so on a much larger scale. I haven't put out major projects as of late, however there are a few in the works where I will dive more deeply into promoting an eco-lifestyle, so stay tuned!"

Joan’s advice to our readers:

"The best way to begin living more consciously every day is to start with the small stuff. Even little things day to day can have a large impact over time. Bring reusable bags to the grocery store, carry around refillable bottles, thrift more, and consume less or little to no meat."

4. Valeria Hinojosa (www.waterthruskin.com)

*Valeria Hinojosa, WaterThruSkin.com, 2017.*

Valeria has created her inspirational blog WaterThruSkin that discovers and explores a world of mindfulness, sustainability, nature-loving, adventures, and kindness. She believes that perfoming the right everyday routines can transform into great changes.

She talks about conscious shopping and shows eco-friendly travel opportunities, adventures with animals in the wild, a plant-based diet, sustainable fashion, and yoga.

Valeria found herself empty and devastating, trying to reach salary, “status”, and the VIP perks, and one day she decided to completely change succes-oriented lifestyle. Her progress as a certified yoga teacher and vegan chef, travelling and doing what she love – the little secrets of her happiness.

Valeria says:

"I fully understand that life is all about finding the right balance, making time for yourself and the things you love, and about making conscious decisions that have a positive impact on someone other than yourself. Life should be inspiring, and being an inspiration is magic!"

5. Lee Vosburgh (http://www.stylebee.ca/)

Style Bee is all about fashion: stylish decisions, simplifying and putting together classy outfits. Lee is a designer who works in Ontario, so when reading her blog you can believe in her tips and the life and wardrobe hacks she shows.

She explores personal style putting accent on timeless clothes, shares independent brands and inspires to make conscious, thought-through choices when we go shopping.

Lee says:

"I think unique style is a combination of keeping things simple, comfortable and classic. I try to focus my budget on pieces for both my closet and home that I will be able to enjoy for years to come with smatterings of fun, unique items that set a look apart."

6. Jessica English Lass (www.englishlassinla.com)

*Jessica English Lass, Englislassinla.com, 2017.*

Jessica moved to the U.S. not so long ago and she combines her sustainable lifestyle attitude with discovering a new culture and a new country. So, on English Lass in LA you can find not only fashion decisions, but also an exciting life experience tale.

As fashion lover Jessica one day decided to make more conscious steps starting to purchase differently: preferring slow garments to fast, mass-produced items. That was the start of her slow fashion lifestyle. She also writes about brands and different interesting products that promote a timeless concept.

Jessica says:

While exploring my new home I try to lead a sustainable lifestyle. Having worked in fashion for eight years I can’t deny my love for clothing.However, over the last few years, I’ve started to try to and only purchase ethically made garments and to support the buy local movement.

Being a sustainable role model is not so hard! Let's follow and make our lives better.

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