Making changes in these kinder times

One of the newest fashion trends
 is not a color or style but the concept of sustainable and ethical clothing.
The textile industry is wreaking havoc on the environment between the processes
 to make clothing and the waste when it is discarded. In addition, there are questionable
 labor issues involved. Both brands and consumers have taken a much-needed
interest in the creation of sustainable clothes. Good Housekeeping's Textile Lab worked
 with environmental consultants to help explain the dilemma and what we should look
 for in supporting the environment and fair trade practices.

Sustainable fashion takes into account the "life-cycle  of a garment from design,
sourcing, production and everything affected it, from the environment to the workers,
their communities and finally the consumer." The issues in the fashion industry run
from our water supply, hazardous chemicals in the dyes and finishes and the workers
they affect, agriculture- using more organic products/fibers that don't use pesticides
and require less water. Addressing the problem once the products are created include-
short life-cycle of clothing and waste. Stores and designers are constantly launching
new seasons and new trends and consumers are consistently updating their wardrobes.
We don't need MORE. We need well-made designs that last. Consignment and thrift
stores also help in recycling our clothes to others. A number of brands are dealing with
a way to avoid so much waste by using recycled products in creating new garments-
like polyester made from recycled water bottles. I've mentioned Girlfriend Collective
here before that makes amazing activewear from water bottles and even suggests you
return your used leggings to them to recycle to new and gives you a credit on new ones.
 http://rwrd.io/f7bmce3
Ethical practices and fair wages are part of this equation for sustainable fashion,as well.




 Sustainable fashion doesn't have to be expensive. Recommerce is a new trend.
Sites like thred-up, Poshmark, Vestiaire, e-Bay, the RealReal and Refashioner
will buy, sell or consign your clothes and give you a great place to shop, too.
Rent the Runway takes another approach in recycling clothes to save the
environment, your closet and your pocketbook.

Here's a list of some brands brands who are creating sustainable fashion and some
 links to explore opportunities to support this trend. In these crazy, uncertain times
 of COVID-19 we need to re-evaluate our priorities and make responsible choices
for ourselves and the planet and the workers in countries who make our textiles
but lack our  resources.

Levis                                    Reformation                 Pattagonia
Everlane                              Able                              People Tree
Pact                                     Vera Bradley                Boden
Eileen Fisher                      Athleta                          Allbirds

https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing
https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/what-to-wear/g22788319/sustainable-fashion-brands-to-buy-from-now/
https://www.thetrendspotter.net/sustainable-clothing-brands/

Last but not least, the brand that plays a large part in my life, Carlisle-etcetera has
 joined the sustainable fashion bandwagon with a new collection. From the fabrics to
 the manufacturing, we are closing the loop in an environmentally friendly garment life
 cycle. The emphasis is on sustainable, timeless design that will never go out of style,
combined with quality details and the use of sustainable materials. Recycled or "green"
polyester is used in 49% of all apparel produced made from clear plastic water bottles
that are purified, chipped, heated and then spun into yarns. Lyocell is another well
employed material. It is harvested from the eucalyptus tree using  95% less water than
 the production of other fabrics. The factory in Vietnam minimizes waste, water and the
 energy footprint and is highly rated for the ethical treatment of employees, the quality
 of workconditions and work/life balance provided. To learn more and see more of the
collection-go to        https://elizabethkurz.etcetera.com/sustainablestyle/

Bits and Pieces in the time of Coronavirus

Take advantage of the extra time you have to MASK and

I don't mean the kind you may have started wearing-

    

but the kind that should be part of your weekly skin care routine.

Masks date back to 18th century and have come a long way to produce

solid results for your skin, whether you are looking to hydrate, diminish

fine lines, tighten, tone, exfoliate or glow more- there's a mask for that!

There's more ways to apply masks than ever before. You can even apply 

sleeping masks without worrying about washing it off and wake up more

hydrated. "Masks are designed to deliver high concentrations of active ingre-

dients to your skin,giving it a boost when it needs it, says Dr. Zeichner 

director of Cosmetic Research at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC.
For an easy DIY mask for glowing skin, try-

Combine one egg yolk, one tablespoon of honey, and one tablespoon of olive oil 
 with half a cup of oatmeal.
Stir well, then apply it to your face for 15-20 minutes.
Rinse with lukewarm water (make sure your drain is cool with oatmeal!)
 then tone and moisturize.

For the best overnight masks for hydration, both Laneige Water Sleeping Mask
 (Sephora) and Olay Overnight Luminous Gel Mask are highly recommended.
Many skincare and beauty sites are having sales now. You might want to check out-
Dermstore, Beauty.com, BeautifiedYou.com ,Beautycounter.com and Glossier.com
for a variety of clean masks for different areas of concern.


For over seven years, I have been clicking on one website everyday. It's an easy way
to make a difference.The Breast Cancer site sends me a daily reminder to click,
to help fund mammograms for women in need. It is a cause close to my heart. When
you click at their site their sponsors fund mammograms and research for breast cancer.
 In this time of Coronavirus, you can make additional clicks daily to help fund COVID-19
relief efforts. Check this out for the easiest way ever to do some good-https://thebreastcancersite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/

Talk about Making a difference- I have to brag about my good friend Iris, who is so
smart and creative, especially in these times. Check out this link to see what she did to
help others. https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2020/04/09/she-wanted-to-help-so-she-turned-yarmulkes-into-face-masks/?trk_msg=K4VQGRDQ4V6KJ870CGD84N6D64&trk_contact=IQJ



While you are Spring Cleaning or cleaning out of COVID-19 boredom, don't
forget your make-up drawer. It's a good time to give your brushes a shampoo-
and that's what works well to clean them. As mentioned earlier, so many beauty sites
are having sales,you might even want to replace them. (Seriously, when was the last
time you bought new make-up brushes) Sharpen all your pencils while you have extra
 time. Go through your cosmetics and get rid of the things you never use anymore and
 have been hanging around too long. I think most of us have the stuff we use everyday,
the ones for more glam occasions and too much extra. One of the lessons of this
Coronavirus time is less is more! If you have sensitive eyes, dump the old mascaras and
 shadows. When this is all over you can go treat yourself to a makeover and get a fresh
look for the new times.
                                             

And....if you are looking for a little diversion, take a look at the bright and beautiful
new Etcetera collections for spring and summer online. Or give me a call and we can
have a virtual shopping appointment :)   https://elizabethkurz.etcetera.com/

Fashion, Beauty and COVID-19

The affect that COVID-19 has had on our world is so profound and almost surreal. Our health, our communities, our lifestyles and the economy have all been threatened. Many industries are suffering during these times. The fashion and retail industry has been hit hard, but some brands and companies are finding ways to help. It’s inspiring to hear that so many are joining the fight against the COVID-19 crisis.
                                                

Louis Vuitton has repurposed several of their workshops or ateliers across France to produce thousands of non-surgical face masks to provide protective gear to healthcare workers.

                                        

The Kate Spade New York Foundation will donate $100,000 to their partner Crisis Text Line, a program providing counseling and emotional support to doctors and nurses as they confront with the ongoing effects of the pandemic.Kate Spade's parent company, Tapestry, is also donating $2 million to the NYC Department of Small Business Services to provide support to small businesses in New York City affected by COVID-19. 

MIchael Kors  ( the brand, and the designer himself and his CEO)  will donate $2 million towards the COVID-19 relief efforts at  NYU Langone Hospitals and NY-Presbyterian Hospital. It will continue to provide financial assistance to a longtime NYC non-profit partner that provides meals to people living with severe illnesses, who are particularly vulnerable during this crisis and funds to A Common Threadthe CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund for COVID-19 relief providing financial assistance to small businesses n the fashion industry.

Chanel has pledged to produce over 50,000 face masks and gowns for healthcare workers, police, and other essential workers in France. The fashion house is also contributing €1.2 to French emergency services.

Gucci is providing 1,100,000 surgical masks and 55,000 medical overalls. It also plans on donating to crowdfunding campaigns that are supporting relief efforts, including the Italian Civil Protection Department and the World Health Organizations's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.       

 Ralph Lauren has pledged $10 million to coronavirus relief efforts, the biggest donation by a luxury company thus far. The funds will go to the WHO's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, the Emergency Assistance Foundation, and its Pink Pony Fund, which supports a network of cancer institutions. It is also starting production on 250,000 face masks and 25,000 isolation gowns for health care workers. Additionally, the firm gifted an undisclosed amount to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund to help fashion designers hit by the economic downturn.

Prada is financing the ICUs of three new hospitals in Milan. The Italian company has also reconfigured its factory in Perugia to produce 110,000 masks and 80,000 medical garments that were  delivered to Tuscan hospitals on April 6.

Donatella and Allegra Versace have pledged €200,000 to the ICU at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, with an additional $400,000 coming from the company. The brand will also donate $100,000 to Camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana for its efforts to bring ventilators and medical equipment to hospitals in Italy. In February, Versace donated ¥1 million to the Chinese Red Cross Foundation.

Tory Burch has partnered with United Healthcare Workers East to provide $5 million worth of products, scrubs, belts, and sneakers—to health care professionals. It is also donating 3,000 yards of fabric that will be made into face masks and hospital gowns for the Catholic Health Services of Long Island. In addition, the Tory Burch Foundation is collaborating with United States Chamber of Commerce on a free webinar on April 16 that will provide information on navigating debt relief and using its social media platforms and website to offer information on debt relief and step-by-step guides to apply for funding. 

Through MAC Cosmetic's Viva Glam campaign, the beauty giant will distribute $10 million to 250 local organizations across the globe supporting COVID-19 relief efforts. "The Viva Glam efforts are  made possible by the continuous support of the MAC community and those who purchase a Viva Glam lipstick, of which 100 percent of the proceeds goes towards these agencies."

Estee Lauder donated a $2 million grant to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières to support its efforts in countries that lack substantial resources to combat the coronavirus. It also announced the reopening of a factory in Melville, New York, which will start producing hydroalcoholic gel, to produce hand sanitizer for high-need groups and populations, including front-line medical staff.

Through the Tiffany& Co. Foundation, the jewelry company has pledged $1 million to organizations supporting COVID-19 relief, with $750,000 going to the WHO's Solidarity Response Fund and $250,000 to the New York Community Trust’s NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund.

Bulgari with its fragrance partner is producing 100,000 santizer bottles
for Italy and donated large funds to an Italian hospital working on a vaccine,

The Della Valle family, founders of Tod's S.p.A., donated funds to the Dipartimento della Protezione Civile to distribute  €5 million to the families of health professionals who lost their lives in the fight against the coronavirus. 

Hermes, the French luxury brand is donating €20 million to public hospitals in Paris, along with 31,000 masks and 30 tons of hand sanitizer and produced in its factories.

So many other designers, brands, retailers have also donated hundreds of 
thousands, in some cases millions of dollars to COVID-19 efforts locally and globally,  to hospitals, the WHO 's Solidarity Relief Fund, No KID Hungry and Feeding America . They are making or sourcing patient gowns, medical grade masks, scrubs and hydroalcoholic gels.

To find out more about who is trying to help make a difference in the fashion,
beauty  and retail industries google Fashion and COVID-19 or checkout
Vogue, Harpers Bazaar or Elle.com.