Valerie McPhail
MSMU Class of 2015

(1/2019) Without fail, the New Year excites an optimism for fresh starts, dreams and hope for change. Holding onto the anticipation for all the magic the month of January could bring, we’re pulled into the opposite direction by the cold winter carried in from December. Grounding us to turn to oversized knits and turtleneck sweaters, a juxtaposition between the spacious hope kindling in our hearts and minds to the sense of hibernation offered by winter fashion forces us to consider the impact of our shopping habits.

In the world of fashion, what is more cozying and stabilizing than to return to a sweater? The 2.0 of dressing in 2019 could be a retreat to that what leads us to live our best lives: a fashion-forward focused resolution, tied to minimalist attention and care towards lessening our carbon footprint on the planet.

The biggest struggle of my journey to discovering my personal style continues as a heart set search for a particular in-the-moment item — a dress I need for a birthday party Saturday night, or a work event on Wednesday, a comfortable sweater for Monday morning. After a troublesome season of searching, I’ve found conclusion: less is more.

The fewer coats, blouses or dresses I own, the greater impact on a wardrobe and over our environment than to capitalize on fast fashion needs urged in the moment. Finding the brands that support your lifestyle needs will also greatly alleviate the search involved in shopping. There are brands that are committed to practicing ethical processes to care and support Mother Earth, and they too offer the coziest sweaters.

Everlane

After a denim pop-up in downtown NYC convinced me to leave with a purchase of a pair of boyfriend cut, navy-washed pair of jeans at $68 dollars, a year and a half ago, I have ever-since been convinced of Everlane. The San Francisco brand built in 2010, it continues to thrive on a business model built on transparency and sustainability – scaling the production pricing of their classic pieces and empowering ethical factories with the best fabrics to create denim, bags, shoes and cashmere sweaters.

The cherry on top to their ethical approach to fashion is their affordable prices and simplistic design. Everlane leads the pack of sustainable fashion brands as it offers accessibility to pronounced pieces including an assortment of designs from their 100% Cashmere Collection, Cotton and concise variety of wool and alpaca styles. Environmental riots and demands for change should be a cause every person can relate and engage with. Everlane is allowing the greater public to join their mission – simple and affordable fashions with ethical approach.

Reformation

Also knows by its brand followers as "Ref," the cool girl eco-missioned label from Los Angeles California has caused a riffle among the fashion scene since it’s start in 2009. Beloved for their silky, girly and predominantly flirtatious dresses, the brand has a great offering of vintage denim, politically charged graphic t-shirts and cozy pullovers worth every investment.

This celebrity favored label, adored by the likes of Rihanna, Karly Kloss, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez, Reformation is far from the flashy stores experienced on Broadway or 5th Avenue. Rather, the brand has three stores tucked in quaint spaces in the shopping districts of downtown New York City. This presence says a lot about its cool factor. Not only are their pullovers my favorite find, I steal both a solid black and grey from my twin sister’s belongings; their sweaters are also classically designed and created for modern-day design.

A cable knit cardigan given the name " Annie Sweater", mostly made of recycled cotton, the cutesy " Daisy Sweater," made of viscose and linen, designed in a cropped cut and animated hearts printed across the chest are two of many sweater styles Reformation sells under the umbrella of sustainability. Practices that include educating the customer of their materials used in production, their mission to demand of fashion healthier production practices and to strategically push for e-commence sales over retail visits. Reformation is a powerhouse to be supported, and the underdog of the future of fashion.

Entireworld

Considerably the best marriage between fashion and sustainability discovered to date, I was introduced to Entireworld through my Instagram feed and quickly arrived to the understanding that this brand is silently gaining a large community of social media influencers and attention because of mission and building blocks. Find Entireworld on Instagram and discover the universe behind it’s place in fashion, to understand the "entireworld is the stuff you live in." Click through their website and explore a novel approach to shopping and brand knowledge – the brands "About" section is linked to a YouTube video where founder Scott Sternberg, previous founder of Band of Outsiders before closing in 2015. Three years later Sternberg opens a current experimental project, Entireworld, that seeks to dig deeper into fashion and its purpose to the coexisting, interactive world we live in.

Shopabable on social media and e-commerce, the brand implements popular forms of communication to the business of fashion, my first introduction to the brand was when I discovered their Dark Navy Crew Neck and read raving customer comments on its comfort. Tech is not is not the only sustainability Entireworld is committed to, scroll through the selling product on their website – the entireworld.com – to find organic cotton tops and recycled cotton pullovers and sweatpants. As the label’s journey to exploring a new approach to fashion has just begun, Entireworld has predetermined a sustainable demand of fashion.

The purpose of a sweater changes when ethical and sustainable perspectives join its conversation on design. The ideal new years resolution to fashion involves a challenge to consider new approaches to fashion, that will influence our lives and the plant we live on. This is the bigger perspective, a hope for change, while reasonably retreating to the staple designs that keep us warm and cozy in the winter months. Everlane, Reformation and Entireworld are brands leading a new path to fashion without compromising our needs.

When the demand ethical practices in fashion, this will lead to a more meaningful understanding of fashion. I dare to consider, and demand a greater responsibility to fashion and my relationship with it – over the superficial thoughts on how clothing is valued by label and how it fits on my body. Cheers to a 2019 and fashion-forward new resolution this year!