COVER - Alysia Reiner Is Sustainably Chic
When I first saw Fig from Orange Is The New Black (OITNB), I thought, wow, she is kinda a terrible person. Who knew the actress who plays her is the exact opposite!? Alysia Reiner is one of those people who does it all — the perfect example of a bad ass woman New Yorker. If she sees an issue, not only is she going to speak out about it, but she is going to take action! Being a star on one of the most progressive shows of our time period, OITNB only fueled the fire for her. She wanted to see more influential roles for women, so she started producing her own shows and movies — which makes sense, because she is also an ambassador for Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, which aims to help bring about more powerful and inclusive roles in the media.
On top of being a fierce feminist mom, Alysia is a huge environmentalist. Jejune had the pleasure to experience this first hand when we got the chance to shoot her in her own sustainable fashion line Livari. As a fashionista, Alysia realized a major problem in the fashion industry. There is not enough socially aware/sustainable/eco-friendly clothing that is glamorous. Most sustainable clothing is lovely, cozy, and earthy. However, when you want to do a photo shoot, walk the red carpet, or go out on the town, your options rapidly become much more limited. Ergo, we have Livari!
Please look further to see our 100% sustainable fashion editorial with the very chic Alysia Reiner, taking note of her two Livari dresses she looks incredible in, and read on to learn more about this dazzling power house of a woman!
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Foreword by Kira Bucca, Editor in Chief of Jejune Magazine. (Interview co-written with Hanna Yi.)
Where are you based?
NY, LA, and sometimes Fire Island.
What got you interested in acting?
I have no idea. It's a calling.
Congrats on the final season of Orange is the New Black! How do you feel?
There are no words for the huge range of emotions. The biggest feeling is GRATITUDE, for the opportunity to be part of this journey, to play this character, and to work with such talented amazing humans. Also, to be a part of this change - to be one of the first "streaming/binging" shows and make art as activism - I have soooo much gratitude!!
It’s funny, I always thought of your character, “Fig,” as not the nicest of people, but in the last season she was one of my favorite characters. First, she was hilarious! But she also really transformed into a very powerful good person who was tied into some very intense issues. How did it feel for you to take Fig to this new level?
It's such a gift to be able to play a character for seven years, to have writers who create such a complex human who grows and learns. But they kept the integrity of the character - she's not suddenly Mother Theresa, she's still Fig, but an enlightened Fig! It was awesome collaborating with the writers to bring this storyline to the screen.
The ICE detention storyline in the last season was very powerful. How did it feel to play the warden of this center?
It was so heartbreaking and challenging, because for Alysia this is not new news, but for Fig it was deeply eye opening and painful for us both.
Do you know how real-to-life OITNB was to these facilities?
It was very authentic, though our writers who visited many actual detention centers said on OITNB it was actually much cleaner and more sterile than in real life. Real detention centers are filthy and disease spreads fast. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/carolinapaiz/ice-detention-centers-orange-is-the-new-black
What was the hardest part about shooting these scenes?
The kids. When we shot the scene in the kids court room, after a few takes I started crying and I couldn’t stop. We had to stop production for a bit. Even though it was just actors on a set, the reality sunk in.
Knowing that this is just an increasing issue, what would you like to see change?
A new president?
Do you know what you would do if you were actually the warden of one of these facilities?
Wow, I have no idea. It would be my dream to free everyone, give them services to succeed, and give them each a check for $23,000, which is the amount of money it costs American tax payers to keep each person jailed in a facility for a month ($776.30 a day).
Let’s talk about another issue that Fig was very involved in on OITNB, the #metoo movement. Unlike what we normally see, this storyline was shown from the male’s perspective. Why do you think this was important to show?
OITNB has a reputation for showing multiple sides of characters in ways we don’t expect, and for creating complex nuanced people and situations. This is a perfect example.
Finally, the story line about Fig wanting to have a baby was very sweet, especially when she helped the detainee have an abortion. As a mother, how did it feel to go through this?
It was very emotional. And again, it was so rewarding to be able to share such truth and complexity.
I have to say, I think this final season of OITNB was one of the best seasons. OITNB always has blown me away with how well it handles the current issues, but this season had me crying the whole way through. What do you think are the most important takeaways from the show and season?
I would say if I had to pick a word it would be REDEMPTION. This year - and all the seasons, in a way - have been about how one wrong choice can have epic ramifications, some deeply unfair and unjust. And we are all capable of change. And growth. Even Fig.
OITNB has a lot going on, but you seem to gravitate to female empowering shows and movies, like Better Things, The Deuce, Equity, and Egg. What is it that attracts you to these roles?
For “Better Things" and “The Deuce," I was lucky to be cast. As the producer of “Egg” and “Equity," I got to choose the story I wanted to tell. In both films I wanted to empower women behind and in front of the camera, and to tell untold stories of women’s experiences, in one case on Wall Street, in the other as an artist. It's exciting to see the support for both of them. They went to the Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals, both got distribution, and both are on iTunes now. And EGG is 100% fresh on rotten tomatoes! https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/egg/id1445633247
Why do you think it is so important that the media is starting to show a new type of voice for women?
Showing all voices is important in media, particularly a variety of women’s voices. As Geena Davis says, "if she can see it she can be it," which is why I'm an ambassador for GDIM (https://seejane.org/).
In reference to “Equity," women in the finance world have it very hard. Why did you decide to tell that story?
It was a story that had never been told and that shocked me. We had never seen women on film in this world except wives, secretaries and mistresses. The only exception is possibly “Working Girl” - a classic, but it's been decades and you never actually saw her working much!
In reference to “Egg," being a mom in this day and age feels almost impossible, with all the work demands and still having to manage the family. I think a lot of women can relate to the idea of getting or wanting a surrogate. Why do you think this story is so important to share?
I'm deeply interested in exploring the role structure of families. Even as we shatter our ideas of gender, we still have deeply antiquated views of parenthood and how we define the words mother and father. I wanted to explode those ideas, and make people think deeply about this subject, and why not make it funny while we were at it?
You advocate for women in more ways than just on the screen. Can you please tell us a little bit about Time’s Up and Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and your work with these organizations?
It's about awareness, education and strategic action. With both organizations, we make people aware of problems like the inequalities for women in media (GDIM) and their work lives (TU); educate them as to what is happening in relation to the history and current situation; and we then give them ways to take action.
Jejune is super excited to have had the chance to shoot you in some of your dresses from your female empowering sustainable fashion line, Livari. Can you tell us about this eco-fashion initiative and your inspirations behind it?
It was like a dare. We wanted to see if it was possible to create a truly sustainable, zero waste, circular fashion collection. I saw it as a way to educate people about waste in fashion in a fun, innovative, joyful but impactful way.
Where does the name Livari come from?
Liv is my daughter, Ari is the son of one of my partners. :)
Why is it so important to think about sustainability when it comes to fashion?
North America alone sends 9.5 MILLION TONS of clothing to landfills each YEAR. That’s around 72 lbs per person. Most clothing on the planet wastes extraordinary amounts of water and is made using manufacturing chemicals and dyes, etc., that are harmful to the environment and people. And much of the clothing on the planet is made by people - sometimes children - making far below minimum wage and they are treated very unfairly. It's hard to look at these things. It hurts. Our hope with LIVARI was to help people look at what's possible not doing these things. When you buy an item from LIVARI, you know what you're getting, and it's beautiful, and our hope is that it's something you keep forever and share the story.
We love your ‘women are the backbone of society’ t-shirts. Can you tell us a little bit about this design?
This T-shirt design was by award winning artist Hodaya Louis, and is based on a mural in “Egg" which you can see if you rent or buy the movie. The shirt was printed ethically in Brooklyn. The T itself made by Road 22, who hires formerly incarcerated women, providing them with a steady income and valuable skills that will help them break through employment roadblocks. Each LIVARI shirt also supported the non-profit Cool Effect, helping fund a world-class carbon reduction project in Bagepalli, India. Each T retired one ton of carbon pollution on the purchaser’s behalf!
How do you manage to sustain a sustainable closet, especially given the glam of Hollywood?
I buy very very little. I borrow a lot of runway samples from designers I love, and my new favorite is the WARDROBE app: http://wearwardrobe.co/ - it's like Rent the Runway meets airBnB - it’s so sustainable and awesome!
As a strong environmentalist, what are some steps people can take now to better take care of the environment and help prevent climate change?
I'm a huge believer in the little things. I always carry a travel mug for coffee and one for water and my own silverware, straw and napkin - do you know how many disposables I save a year?! The biggest thing is awareness, like watching your own waste, be it food waste (Americans throw away 40% of the food they buy) to clothing (the average American trashes 72 lbs of clothing a year) etc. Consciousness is everything. Think about every toilet flush, every time you turn down a plastic bag, every time you turn off the lights...what if we ALL DID THAT?!
What advice do you have for women wanting to break into the entertainment or creative industry?
My motto is “don’t wait, create!” Don’t wait for permission or a chance or connections or a job or any excuse - just go make shit.
What is your motto in life?
I have a lot! "DON'T WAIT, CREATE" is one. "MAKE A DIFFERENCE, HAVE FUN" was my Dad's motto, so that's another good one. "AS IS" is tattooed on my hand, meaning accepting everything, loving it all, including me, just as is. And a new one I just learned: "EVERYTHING IS RIGHT ABOUT YOU."
To learn more about the amazing Alysia Reiner and all she does please follow her via the below platforms:
Website: www.alysiareiner.com
My closet on Wardrobe: http://wearwardrobe.co//users/2405
LIVARI: https://www.livariclothing.com/
Instagram: @alysiareiner
Twitter: @alysiareiner
Pinterest: @alysiareiner
Team Credits:
Photographer: Kira Bucca
Stylist: Dash Armstrong
Makeup: Viktorija Bowers at Celestine Agency
Hair: Damian Monzillo at Celestine Agency
Manicurist: Monique Cleckley
Stylist Assistant: Sean Dustin
Photo Assistant: Tam Nguyen
