I had so much fun meeting Rue Vincent and chatting about her brand Label by Three, a collaboration with her two sisters. Label By Three is based on a belief in three pillars that guide their design decisions- minimalism, sustainability, and versatility. In this episode, we chat with Rue about the meaning behind the brand philosophy and how to bring mindfulness into our clothing choices. Rue and her sisters were not designers before starting the brand, so they had to learn everything from scratch...
Jul 17, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In this episode, I had the joy of speaking with Theresa Akua Fenn, the designer and founder behind Akua's Boutique which sells colorful handmade bags made out of raffia, a sustainable fiber made from palm leaves. We had so much fun discussing the entire process of creating one of her handbags from the hand-drawn design to sourcing the palm leaves, natural dying, weaving, and more. Theresa works closely with incredible women artisans in Madagascar, Africa and the bags sold in America help to supp...
Jul 02, 2021•24 min
In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dorothy Jonus, the reseller and stylist behind Salty Girlz Closet. Dorothy shares her incredible journey from working in luxury fashion and self-identifying as a "shopaholic" to discovering the freedoms and joy of secondhand fashion. Now she "eats, lives, and breathes" sustainable fashion. She finds thrill in the hunt for new products, the low prices for high-end luxury brands, and the opportunities to style others. In addition to her personal...
Jun 20, 2021•24 min
In this episode, we talk to Jessica Zaneis from SoulCare in Surplus about a really unique area of fashion - military uniforms! Inspired by her own family's military history and the retired uniforms hanging in her father's closet, Jes began repurposing military uniforms into messenger bags, shrapnels, and vests. Jes is fiercely protective of the environment and passionate about sustainability. We learn more from Jes about the ins-and-outs of creating an original upcycled design and the trajectory...
Jun 04, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 9
What a pleasure to interview AZSAA's own VP of Marketing and eco-wellness blogger Adriana Bachmann. In this episode, we explore the connection between sustainability and spirituality as Adriana shares about her personal journey of healing, mental health, and green self-care practices like eco-therapy! Adriana is such a compassionate spiritual soul and it comes through in both her blog entries and the wisdom she shares during the interview. We discuss some of her individual blog posts such as the...
May 18, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this episode, we are joined by Eartha Hubbell who is the owner of Revari, an online sustainable fashion boutique. She is also one of our dedicated board members, serving as the AZSAA secretary! Eartha has been passionate about ethical fashion for a long-time. As a former fashion industry professional, she was exposed to the poor conditions experienced by garment workers in factories and this didn't sit right with her values. From there, she began a journey to shop more environmentally sustain...
May 06, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Hello listeners! You are in for a real treat in this episode where we interview Karen Lukacs, a self-proclaimed "designer-maker" known for her gorgeous one-of-a kind jean jackets made from reclaimed textiles. Her brand purpose is about more than just designing clothing; each garment aims to educate and tell a story about the harmful realities of our current fashion industry. In this episode, we learn more from Karen about her philosophy around mindful consumption and what she has learned from he...
Apr 18, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In this episode, we are joined by sisters CJ and Laurie, the founders of sustainable lingerie company Activ Intimates, inspired by and made for women of all ages to feel sexy! This female-powered business was founded on the idea of creating body positive sustainable lingerie that can help women feel and look their best. In this conversation, we talk about how clothing can truly be a source of empowerment. Laurie and Madeline both get intimate and share some stories about their own experience wit...
Apr 02, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In this episode, we talk to Jenny Melissa Rodriguez, jewelry designer and owner of Pure Life Jewelry! Our conversation feels fun and free just like the companies' namesake, the Cost Rican phrase pura vida (pure life) which also happens to be Jenny's life motto! This concept means living a simple life connected to nature and those most important to us, which implies having a healthy balance amongst the material world and the spiritual world. In this episode, we talk about the environmental and so...
Mar 23, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Hello listeners! We are thrilled to have Erin Donaghy, upcycled lingerie designer from Applause Lingerie here with us today. In this episode, Erin and I talk about her creative methods for repurposing garments, natural dying with tea staining, and the immense value of choosing custom-made lingerie! From design to packaging, Erin is always thinking about ways to limit her resource-use and environmental impact. Although a small business owner, Erin likes to make a big impression! Her business is a...
Mar 08, 2021•41 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this episode, we are joined by sustainable fashion designer Laura Tanzer, the creative behind Laura Tanzer Designs. Nestled comfortably in the Historic Railroad District of Tucson, you will find Laura's Atelier where she designs, manufactures, and sells sustainable clothing based on body geometry and made to fit for the modern women who likes a little artistic flair! Laura's designs are made from natural fiber and sustainably sourced textiles and she is surrounded by a team of fairly paid sea...
Feb 21, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 2
We are overjoyed to launch the very first episode of Growing Together, a podcast powered by the community of Arizona Sustainable Apparel Association where we talk all things sustainable fashion from ethical labor to eco-dying with some of the most dedicated and creative minds here in Arizona. Today we are joined by our guest Rhonda LaBatt, owner of Redemption Market and co-host Illiana Mata, the VP of AZSAA. In this episode, Rhonda talks about her journey to starting her ethical boutique Redempt...
Feb 04, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 1
