Tru is now online!

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Hellooooo my friends!  It’s been awhile I know …I haven’t blogged in quite some time but that is all about to change and I have lots of things I want to write about.  I have been working hard to bring our collection to you right in the comfort of your own homes!  I am sooooo thrilled to announce the launch of our online store 🙂  Please check it out at www.truvogue.com when you get a moment.  We ship throughout North America and if anyone would like to purchase any items internationally please email info@truvogue.com and we will work something out.  Also, if you subscribe you will receive 10% off your first purchase!

This first collection is called ‘Essentials’ because it focuses on buildable staple pieces that every wardrobe needs. The fabric is super comfortable and breathable made out of the softest, eco-friendly modal fabric that feels like butter against the skin.   All the pieces from this collection were made ethically right here in Toronto, Canada!!  So shop local, shop ethical and care for the planet at the same time 🙂

How do you define Sustainable and Ethical Fashion??

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There are a lot of words being thrown around these days such as: ethical fashion, eco-fashion, sustainable fashion.  But what does it all mean?  It means different things to different people however I think Livia Firth nailed it in her article below when she broaches this subject.
Continue reading How do you define Sustainable and Ethical Fashion??

More Green Carpet Challenge luxury!!!

This is a drool worthy post. I absolutely adore Livia Firth and what she has done to bring awareness to the luxury fashion industry in regards to the environment and labour standards.  She started a consultancy company called eco-age which works with brands to build sustainability into their supply chain. Part of that is the Green Carpet Challenge in which she partners with luxury power houses to go above and beyond in the creation of a collection that meets her high standards. I have already posted about the gorgeous Gucci bags made of anti-deforestation leather in the Brazilian Amazon, now here are two more luxury designers that have partnered with the Green Carpet Challenge to create stunning pieces that shows the world that not only is sustainability possible it is crucial to the future of our planet and people.

Since high street stores like Zara and H&M get inspiration from luxury runways, my hope is that if luxury fashion puts sustainability at the forefront of their designs than the high street too will have to follow suit.

First up, as if there wasn’t enough to love about Sergio Rossi! He is embracing sustainability and debuted a capsule collection on Sept 3rd. These GORGEOUS stiletto shoes and bags are made out of the first EVER locally sourced organic silk from a family run mill in Italy and lead free swarovski crystals. Take a look:

also in black!

these are my favourite!…

Other notable sustainable features of these stunning shoes is the use of chrome-free leather finishing from Europe and nickel-free metals.

We move on to the stunning display of British-Turkish designer, Erdem Moralioglu, sustainable collection that launched during London’s Fashion Week this past September at The Wallace Collection.  The GCC has strict criteria in which the designers have to comply with which means the 12 designs were made from reused, surplus, or sustainably certified materials.  However, that didn’t ruffle his feathers as the designs are all very much in tune with Erdem’s feminine, luxury aesthetic.

As quoted in the Telegraph, “I was inspired by the Wallace Collection,” revealed the designer; “I loved the idea of creating a collection that had a really human hand to it.”

You can see in the pics below that each dress was displayed as a work of art..a canvas to be admired.

The Erdem Green Carpet Collection in partnership with Mercedes-Benz at ...

Gucci…doing it right!

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Luxury brands like Gucci, Prada and Dolce and Gabana are not without their own  scandals and controversy around sweatshops, the environment and challenging the “Made in Italy” label.  However Gucci seems to be on a mission to set things right!!

This ground breaking partnership between Gucci and Livia Firth’s Green Carpet Challenge, Rainforest Alliance and the National Wildlife Federation had sustainably produced the world’s first luxury bags made out of anti-deforestation leather from the Brazilian Amazon!! And how gorgeous they were!  With a passport included with the bag detailing complete traceability of the supply chain, these bags are a turning point in promoting a system  whereby companies and brands are held accountable for how their products are produced and ensuring it is not done in an unsustainable, environmentally and socially hazardous manner. Jenny Greenwell of Eco-Age points out “The bags have been tanned with environmentally safe vegetable dyes, and the ranches where the cows are brought up and slaughtered for meat are 100% deforestation free.”  Thank you Gucci for setting an example for other luxury brands….this goes to show that sustainability is luxurious!  This collection was released back in 2013 but I truly hope to see more of this in the future!

See the full article here:

http://eco-age.com/a-new-frontier-for-sustainble-style/

My new shoes have arrived!

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Most people that know me may find it odd that I’m getting excited over a pair of sneakers considering I don’t own that many…BUT these are not just any sneakers. These are organic, fair trade sneakers made from 100% natural rubber by a European company called Ethletic. A good take on converse with a social and environmental conscience.  Find out more about them at http://www.ethletic.com.

Fair Trade Finds…

My apologies as this post is very long overdue!! After visiting the Toronto Fair Trade Show a few weeks back, I’ve been very excited to report back on some of the new brands I had discovered there. There were two lines of jewellery in particular that I found had some really nice unique pieces.

The first was from UNIKATI, a beautiful summer piece that caught my eye because of the braided cord and neon yellow coloured glass beads in it which I thought was vibrant for summer! It is accented by hanging brass charms. It goes with so many things! Luckily they have an online store…I’m all about online shopping and these brands are worth bookmarking!  You can see it here and read about the artisans behind this piece of jewellery and explore their other pieces.  This particular piece was made by low-income women artisans in India, who are improving their lives through their work in a women’s cooperative that pays them a living wage, access to safe working conditions, health care and child care.

Here it is:

http://unikati.ca/products/sun-and-sky-necklace

The second is from a brand called UNA fashion. This line of jewellery focuses on organic and recycled materials and this particular piece I purchased is made out of reclaimed metal from landmines and unexploded ordinance that had been collected by local NGOs in Cambodia.  I love their jewellery pieces and especially what they stand for and how they have managed to turn a very negative situation into building lives for artisans. You can view it here:

http://www.unafashion.com/collections/jewelry/products/dagger-necklace

The prices are all reasonable as well!

For those of you looking for awesome fedora hats (men or women) or big summer glam hats for the ladies this is the place for you!  Don Juan Hats has great quality hand woven hats from Ecuador made from organic toquilla straw. I particularly liked this big brim hat for the ladies…great for the beach!

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/188433976/panama-hat-super-alon-white-don-juan?ref=shop_home_active_9

and this very cool fedora hat for men or women available in a variety of colours and patterns including classic off-white:

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/188006029/japon-lunares-black-fedora-panama-hat?ref=related-6

Until next time folks…happy shopping!

The True Cost

A moving documentary released on May 29th brings to the forefront the true cost of the fashion industry. It explores the depth of exploitation of its workers and the harsh impact on our environment.  The trailer alone is so impactful it will move you to tears.  Is this the only way?

John Oliver tells it like it is…

John Oliver is hilarious and in a fun but serious manner tries to open our eyes to the horrible impact of the fast fashion industry on garment workers.  He implores consumers to question the reason the prices of their garments are so cheap and urges brands such as H&M, GAP, Walmart and Children’s Place to have more accountability in their supply chains, as being unaware is not an excuse anymore.  Brands will only change if we find the social issue important enough and hold them accountable for it.