Climb New Heights Barefoot

Shoes are an integral part of our daily outfits. They bring us to new heights and help us to explore the beauty that nature brings. One type of shoe that is making waves around the world at the moment is Barefoot shoes. Besides the countless health benefit from improving posture to naturally strengthening muscles, Barefoot shoes offer maximum sensory with their thin soles as if you are walking barefoot. It has been said that producing a pair of shoes can emit as much as 30 pounds of carbon dioxide and damage the environment from the use of eco-unfriendly materials. Perhaps, it is not too late to make a positive impact on the environment from our end by supporting shoes good for your feet and the future. Check out Jejune’s approved guide to stylish and eco-friendly barefoot shoes to explore new heights in your next adventure.

Smash Your Fitness Goals With Earth-Friendly Activewear

It seems like only recently that the fitness movement has become popular. In fact, it actually hit its full “craze” status in the 1980s. Compare to back then, there are now more options to keep good physical and mental health such as mountain climbing, SoulCycle, and dance workouts. To keep up with the ever changing world of fitness, a good athletic outfit is a must! So much so, that athletic wear is also becoming more of a staple for daily wear. As everyone is starting to incorporate athletic wear into their daily wear, there are a ton of options and possibilities to shop for, but only a handful of them is creating stylish and high-performance athletic wear whilst protecting people and the planet. Below, find Jejune’s guide to stylish and Earth-friendly athleisure to sport for your next workout.

Welcome Summer and Embrace Sustainability

It is everyone’s favorite and most popular season of the year — Summer! Enjoying the warm sunlight with an airy breeze grazing your skin softly or chilling in the outdoors with friends and lemonade in hand is most definitely something everyone has missed after almost two years of being homebound. As the environment is recovering after two years of stillness, why not continue this trend to make our Earth better by supporting some socially aware businesses? Jejune is more than excited to share with everyone a list of some lovely and stylish sustainable brands that we have put together to get you ready for the delightful warm season. Check them out below!

nordeen Design with Love to Welcome A New Chapter

Are you starting to plan your wedding again after the many postponements caused by Covid? Are you planning to have an outdoor wedding and are searching for a bridal gown with a subtle, creative twist? nordeen has you covered! They develop a range of effortlessly luxurious pieces, distinguished by natural environment-friendly materials and subtle yet unexpected details. Their most recent collection, Collection I, embodies ease for the outdoors and is inspired by the peacefulness of a Redwood forest. What’s more interesting is that nordeen prioritizes sustainability and all gowns are ethically sewn and knitted by skilled hands. Check out our interview with the founder of nordeen, Brenna Simmons, to learn more about their elegant wedding attire and the thought process behind making them.

MINIMALIST: New Approach to Sustainability

When you think about ethical fashion brands, the first thing that comes to mind is ethical practices and the use of sustainable materials. Minimalist takes it up a notch! The NYC-based designer and a proud mom of two children, Tamara Daydova, was motivated to build a purpose-driven sustainable fashion brand that rebels against the norm design and production processes. She founded the ethical luxury that adopted a circular business model, which aims to eliminate fashion’s landfill problem, as opposed to the take-make-waste linear production model practiced by most apparel companies these days. Definitely a wow factor! Besides designing for circularity, Minimalist really carries its name in that they keep the number of components in each garment as low as possible and only keep what is absolutely necessary to reduce environmental impact. Explore with Jejune how Minimalist contribute to the world of sustainability with their circular business model in our exclusive interview below.

Celebrating Pride: Support the Courageous LGBTQ+ Community

Let’s release the rainbow flags and douse ourselves in glitter, it is Pride! One of our favorite times of the year! While we are super excited to see so many big companies selling merchandise to commemorate it, we worry that not all of it is coming from the right place. Instead of going to one of the big companies (who will remain nameless), how about you show your support and influence a positive change to the community by supporting LGBTQ+-owned businesses!? Don’t know any LGBTQ+-owned brands? Jejune has you covered. We have compiled a list of some amazing stylish ethical LGBTQ+-owned businesses to to go full pride with. Check them out below!

Honoring Juneteenth: Celebrating Black-Owned Sustainable and Ethical Businesses

Juneteenth is in the works to become a national holiday in the USA! And, we at Jejune, couldn’t be more thrilled! Juneteenth is a day dedicated to celebrating the end of slavery in the United States, and we want to celebrate by supporting some amazing socially aware Black-owned businesses! You can impact a community and redistribute economic empowerment in choosing to shop and support Black-owned businesses on Juneteenth and every day. In honor of Juneteenth we have compiled a list of vegan, cruelty-free, ethical, and sustainable brands for you to check out!

Fashinnovation - A Global Network for Sustainable Change in Fashion

While there is a lot to be said about the ethos of instant gratification when it comes to shopping for the latest trends, we are also living in a time when consumers also want to shop guilt-free and responsibly. Many people are on the search for brands that are fashionable, sustainable, ethical, and of great quality. Consumers want companies and brands that align with their values. The only problem —How do you find these brands? The process takes time, research, as well as a little more patience than adding something to your Amazon cart. Enter Fashinnovation. Founded by Jordana and Marcelo Guimaraes, Fashinnovation is a platform created to help consumers find the sustainable brands of the future. As a growing and global network, Fashinnovation is paving the way for making positive changes to the world of fashion and technology.

Beyond helping you shop more responsibly and create the guilt-free closet of your dreams, Fashinnovation is (as you probably guessed from its name) a platform for innovation. Fashion, like all other businesses, is experiencing an immediate and urgent demand for innovation in all business models. Jordana and Marcelo bring together community voices to challenge the industry to do better and to dream of future that is more viable, inclusive, and sustainable. Through panels, conferences, and content creation, Fashinnovation is able build a diverse community of like-minded individuals in intersecting industries, allowing for industry professionals and the public to see exciting new ideas and trends in innovating production and creating more transparent supply chains. Ready to join the conversation? We were too! In our exclusive interview with co-founder Jordana Guimaraes, she explains her goals for Fashinnovation, tells us all about new brands they are partnering with, and how to become a more responsible fashion consumer. Continue reading our interview with Jordana below!

LOCI- The Vegan Footwear Brand Built on Positivity

I don’t know about you, but as sustainable clothing continues to gain traction, I need some environmentally conscious kicks to stay on trend! Climate change has proven to be a global calamity. No doubt about that. The planet continues to suffer from the consequences of depleting natural resources. Since that is the case, why not splurge on quality —and may I add snazzy— 100% premium vegan sneakers? Enter LOCI: The sustainable footwear brand perfect for any lifestyle. LOCI’s methods of embodying their mission of eco-friendly sneakers is nothing short of innovative. LOCI prides themselves on being a vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainable shoe brand. They keep you stylish and sustainable by creating their products with various type of non-animal leathers and recycled materials. Jejune spoke with Emmanuel Eribo, the co-founder of LOCI, and touched on LOCI’s mission, future ventures, and their partnership with Nikki Reed. To learn more about LOCI and their contribution to the world of sustainability, please read our exclusive interview below.

Cal Mosack Finds The Right Fit With Nic Tailor

When Cal Mosack established the brand Nic Tailor for men’s undergarments, he did it with the goal of creating a piece of clothing that would take practicality to the next level with comfort and inclusivity, with the need to raise awareness for men's body positivity in mind. Cal Mosack’s mission with Nic Tailor is not out to sell unique underwear, but to send out an urgent message concerning body positivity and men’s mental health. Mosack sat down with Jejune to talk about his vision for Nic Tailor, the brand’s partnership with the Prostate Cancer Foundation and a certain Twilight actor, and the harmful stigma surrounding prostate cancer. To know more about Cal Mosack and Nic Tailor, please read below.

Dan & Méz Exudes Luxury & Sustainability

After Daniele Madonia and Clemens Kholbacher randomly met each other by chance at a local bar in their hometown of Austria, their passion for veganism and fair fashion inspired them to create, Dan & Méz. Dan & Méz offer chic and timeless watches that are 100% sustainable and vegan. Dan and Méz challenges the status quo and tackle the unethical policies of the leather industry. Their products have also been featured in GQ, InStyle, and Ecocult. Daniele and Clemens are determined to change the whole leather industry and establish vegan & eco friendly leather as the new norm. Check out our interview with Daniele and Clemens for a deeper understanding of the brand, the inspirations behind it, and what they hope to achieve with Dan & Méz.

Holiday Gift Guide - Top 6 Sustainable Brands to Light Up Your Stockings

What in the world is better than holiday shopping? Buying gifts for your loved ones is a quintessential holiday experience. Especially in this day and age, holiday shopping brings joy and a sense of comfort. But this season is your turn to give back not only to your families, but also to the environment. It is imperative to shop sustainably to reduce waste, make a positive impact on people, and a positive impact on the planet. We have compiled a list of vegan, cruelty-free, ethical, and sustainable brands for you to check out! Each brand mentioned below contains an all exclusive Jejune holiday promotional code. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Please read further, and add these brands to your shopping list this holiday season.

Women's Health & Sustainability? Hello Nyssa!

I maybe a little ways off from having a child, but I’m 100% woman, and I know the struggles and pain of having a period. So, I was very curious to learn more when I found out about the women owned and run postpartum comfort underwear business Nyssa, who also helps with period pain. Like many women, I experience pretty severe pain for a few days a month. I have learned a few ways to manage it: work out more and wear period underwear, but the pain still comes. So, this month I got the pleasure to experiment with Nyssa’s underwear. I tried their Nyssa VieWear Underwear, which comes with an ice/heat pack and a pocket built into the underwear for it! While you still have to find a way to deal with the period itself, I have to say walking around with a heat pack on my back, certainly made me a lot happier this month. Also, as an added bonus, these are great for athletes who are prone to hurting themselves.. I may or may not know a little something about that. To learn more about this super empowering company, please read our exclusive interview below.

SaintVegann: Intertwining Veganism & Sustainable Fashion

At 23 years old, Karissa Birthwritght is the owner of SaintVegann. What was once a platform for bringing awareness to veganism and living a healthy lifestyle, has grown to also offer hand-bleached merchandise. SaintVegann’s ongoing collection, SV Ups (SaintVegann Upcycling) are 100% upcycled and 50% of the proceeds are donated to Black Vision Collective. Since starting her business, Karissa has done 4 collections, collaborated with local and national companies, donated over $3000, and sold over 500 pieces. At a time when sustainability issues and climate change is the biggest threat to our Earth, SaintVegann is taking steps to bring awareness to a sustainable lifestyle. Check out our interview with the owner of SaintVegann.

INKAMODA Invites Us To Reconnect With The Nature

Imagine a fashion brand that produces soft, comfortable, and elegant pieces while producing responsibly. As consumers, we want to imagine this but we also must consider how our purchases will affect the environment and workers and this question: "Who makes the clothing we wear every day and in what conditions?”

INKAMODA answers this question with transparency and an empowering vision. The Peruvian brand offers ethical and sustainable pieces that are designed with ancient techniques, reflecting the soul of Inca culture. They use unique Alpaca fiber (which promotes sustainable agriculture in the Andes) for their soft, warm, and breathable pieces. In our interview with Vari Garcia, the brand’s founder and designer, we talk about INKAMODA’s current campaign for empowering Andean communities and women creators, as well as the challenges of sustainability in business. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about INKAMODA.

Save The Duck Is Raising The Bar For Sustainable Fashion

Save the Duck has a direct mission that you can probably guess from their company name. That’s right: save the duck. Their products are 100% animal free and cruelty free. Turning away from the typical down coat for winter wear, the Italian company provides sustainable and cozy alternatives to help you survive the winter. Their platform is devoted to not only keeping their customers safe from the cold, but to maintaining a respect for the environment and animals throughout every level of garment production. In 2019 Save The Duck was PETA’S ‘Company of the Year’ and were the first Italian fashion brand to obtain B Corp Certification, a certification reserved for the best performers in social and sustainability issues. From its origins until today, Save The Duck has always built bonds and collaborations with successful companies committed to making our planet a better place. In partnership with ACBC, Save The Duck just developed a new eco-friendly sneaker for everyday wear. Like their clothing, the sneakers encourage respect for the space around us and are a reminder of the intentional steps (both figurative and literal) that fashion brands and consumers can take to preserve our environment. We asked Save The Duck to give us an in-depth explanation of their unique approach to sustainable fashion and the technology they are using to create a more sustainable world. Please dive into our full exclusive interview here.

NYFW Highlighted The Importance And Creativity Of Face Masks

Prior to an untraditional New York Fashion Week, I had one expectation: how much of face masks will we be seeing? On the one hand, including them as part of a collection would mean embracing the new normal. As we’ve gotten used to wearing masks 24/7, we’ve become more comfortable with experimenting with them. They have the potential to become more than a safety requirement - they can become a fashion staple, a creative (and profitable) outlet. If face masks can and have become part of fashion’s visual language, designers can use their creative willpower to make something unique, beautiful and empowering out of a commonplace accessory, wrongly deemed limiting rather than promising, stylish, fun.

Important Conversations And Love Letters To NYC At NYFW 2020

In true NYC fashion, the program of NYFW told a story of adaptability, a sense of intentional change fueled by creators and storytellers that is beyond what is “on-trend.” Piece by piece and show by show, NYFW of September 2020 demonstrated the fashion industry’s potential to tell a powerful story through the collective modes of words, visuals, and action. What happened in this year’s digital programming is a reflection of several aspects of the beloved “City of Dreams” and how both individuals and communities are dreaming and enacting a better future through pertinent conversations and inspiring messages.

Fashion Has To Face Its Future

Like many of the Fashion weeks, New York went entirely digital this season. Designers presented their collections and shows online through live and pre-recorded media. NYFW was centered around fashion’s global reach and responsibility, and every trend represented the future for brands and retailers. Designers and houses had to reflect on what is most important and find creative solutions to stay relevant without spending infinite amounts of money on traditional shows. This alone has helped the environment drastically.

Upcycling Fashion with REFASH

Behind the glitz and glamour of the fashion industry lies pollution, manmade greenhouse gas emissions and water waste. The fashion industry is one of the leading factors of climate change. The overwhelming pollution caused by fast fashion has affected various environments, but brands such as REFASH are putting their foot down and calling for change. REFASH is an online fashion brand that focuses on sustainable clothing. Their up-cycled pieces are changing the way consumers shop and they are ultimately working hard to reverse the negative effects of fast fashion. Read our exclusive interview with REFASH here.