A SUSTAINABLE

WARDROBE
The basics to a fair and sustainable style!
SLOW
ECO
VEGAN
FAIR

By Stephanie van den Sigtenhorst

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“More than 80 billion pieces of

clothing are produced worldwide
each year. Of these pieces 75% will
end up at landfills.”

– Greenpeace 2016 -
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CONSCIOUS CONTENTS
What to expect:

“IT’S ALL IN THE NAME” on page 4

“HOW I STARTED” on page 9
“WHAT THE BIG BOYS DON’T TELL” on page 11
“BE A CONSCIOUS CONSUMER” on page 14
“SUSTAINABLE FABRICS” on page 19
“VEGAN FASHION” on page 27

“GIRLS”
“BRAND”
“EXTRA”
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IT’S ALL IN THE NAME

Slow, sustainable, ethical, fair fashion...
There are so many terms and angles
these days. What does it all mean?

SLOW FASHION ECO FASHION ETHICAL/ FAIR FASHION

= =
SPEED OF CONSUMPTION
We all know fast fashion, right?
We’re talking 52 collections
a year, new trends popping
up every collection and being
out of style in an instant. Fast
fashion makes sure you want
something new, because you
don’t have anything that’s
on trend. It makes you feel
outdated. Slow fashion is the
exact opposite. It’s all about
slowing down the process, from
production to getting rid of your
clothing. Timeless pieces are
key when we talk about slow
fashion.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Eco fashion has more to do
with the environment itself.
This refers to the impact the
garment has on our precious
planet and the carbon footprint
of the particular item. With eco
fashion you may be looking at
the material(s) and all resources
used in the process. The
quantity of water needed to
create the garment is also taken
into consideration. Eco fashion
is basically looking at the impact
all steps in the supply chain have
on the planet, and as you might
know there are quite a few
steps.
=
WORKING CONDITIONS
Ethical or fair fashion, is looking
into the fair treatment of
garment workers. You might
have heard that child labor is
still very much a thing in the
fashion industry. The working
conditions aren’t always great
for any of the garment workers.
Long hours and no days off isn’t
the exception for a salary far
under any credible living wage.
Ethical and fair fashion brands
care about the health and well-
being of all people involved in
the process. This comes down to
a fair salary, good health, rights
and safety standards.

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NOTE TO SELF
When you start figuring out how to create a sustainable
wardrobe, it’s important to consider your most important
values and take it from there for an easy start.

CIRCULAR FASHION VEGAN FASHION SUSTAINABLE FASHION

= =
WASTE AND FUTURE
ORIENTED
Circular fashion takes the whole
lifecycle of the garment into
consideration. Circular fashion
brands also care about the life of
a product after you’re done with
it. It closes the loop and ensures
minimal waste by an upcycling
program or recycling possibility.
=
ANIMAL WELFARE & OVERARCHING
CRUELTY-FREE TERM
This term is being used more The term that is used most
and more these days as the often is sustainable fashion. This
vegan population is growing. is an overarching term and the
Vegan fashion has to do with most general of them all. It’s the
animal welfare. It makes sure term I will use most throughout
no animal is being used and/or this E-book. Sustainable fashion
harmed throughout the process, takes all of the above terms in
which can be in the materials consideration, it can be used
as well as the dyes. Besides from a multitude of angles.
the well known fabrics; leather
and wool, there are other
materials made out of animals.
I will explain more about vegan
fashion further down this
E-book. I will also explain that
vegan fashion might not always
be as sustainable as you may
think, and why it is important
to consider your values, before
buying a sustainable product.

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“Call it eco fashion if you like,

but I think it’s just common sense.”

- Livia Firth -

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THIS IS ME
Stephanie van den Sigtenhorst

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BACKGROUND
You may know me from my sustainable lifestyle
platform LET’S TALK SLOW. I’m Stephanie, an
optimistic babe on a conscious mission. A few years
ago, I started my fashion career at the Amsterdam
Fashion Institute as an International Fashion and
Branding student, I learned about how important
sustainability was becoming in fashion. However, at
that time I was too impressed by brands, designs
and aesthetics. At first, I didn’t want to know
how bad the fashion industry really was for the
environment and looked the other way.

I now know, that I wasn’t the only one doing this.

After watching some shocking documentaries
such as The True Cost, it became clear to me that
change is much needed for our environment and
the well-being of others. I felt the need to make a
difference.

After graduating, this mindset brought me to

a sustainable womens wear fashion label from
the Netherlands where I got to learn about
sustainability in fashion. Working there helped me
in my own process towards building a conscious
wardrobe. I can already tell you, when you start
with one aspect, you slowly want to change your
whole lifestyle. This is definitely a good thing. It’s all
about conscious consumption these days.

Nowadays, I’m working on MY PLATFORM to spread

the conscious fashion message and to inspire as
many people as possible. I eat plant-based and try
to live a conscious lifestyle as much as I can. It’s
well balanced, as I know I can’t do everything right.
I change wherever I can, however sometimes it’s
okay to cheat a little, to keep things fun. As long as
you are conscious about your actions!
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HOW I STARTED
I’m not perfect you know.

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MY CONSCIOUS JOURNEY
Some of you already told me they were curious
about MY JOURNEY towards a sustainable
wardrobe. I can tell you it has not always been that
easy, but what really helped me is to get to know
why I’m doing this exactly. For me, creating a fair
wardrobe is mainly because of the pollution and the
slavery which still exists in the fashion industry.
What I did at first, was boycott all the fast fashion
stores. Both in my shopping routine and online. For
me it was just not an option anymore to go into
these chains that produces unethical garments. I
find it rather funny when I think about how much I
loved fast fashion stores 5 years ago and how much
I hate them now, it’s the complete opposite. I loved
walking into a fast fashion store, and now, I can’t
even deal with all the stimulus. I haven’t bought
anything in a fast fashion store for years now, and I
do not miss it at all!
What helped me the most, was not being ignorant
to news and negative messaging, and being curious
about new information. Honestly, my sustainable
fashion journey is not even close to an end. There
are so many new initiatives, organizations, ethical
brands, sustainable fabrics... I’m still learning every
day and this is what keeps it fun. A factor that you
should not forget about in this process. Keep it fun
at all times. Talk to people in store, who can tell
you more about how the garment is produced or
their way of working. Start the conversation. You
will learn more than you think. If they can’t tell you
anything about production, it says enough as well.
Please note that there is not one right way of
doing this, and that you sometimes have to make
compromises. Don’t be too hard on yourself. I try
to buy second hand first, as a second option I try
ethical brands, but if I can’t find it that way, I buy it
at a conventional store and that’s okay!
If a piece is really your style and you know that you
will wear it very often, the piece might be worth
purchasing. Even if the material may not seem that
sustainable or if it isn’t produced in a right way. I still
have so many items that weren’t sustainable when
I bought them a few years ago, however I still have
them today. I take good care of them and I know
that they will still be with me for a lifetime.
Please know that it is impossible to change your
wardrobe all at once. Take care of the pieces you
already own. Thoroughly think about if you need
more styles or if your actually okay with all the
items you have. If an item can’t be fixed anymore
than it’s time to replace it with a sustainable
garment.
It’s important to know why you want to create a
fair wardrobe. Decide on your values. Are you
completely into animal welfare? Then vegan fashion
might be an option for you. Or are you doing this
mainly for the environment? Go for eco fashion.
Decide on your most important angle and take it
from there for an easy start.
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WHAT THE BIG BOYS DON’T TELL

The bastards.

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“Fashion is the source of 10% of global

carbon emission, making it the second
dirtiest industry in the world.”

- The Fair Fashion Center 2016 -

Whenever you want to create a fairer wardrobe, it WATER

helps to know exactly why you want to do this.
Maybe not the most fun part of the journey, but
from experience I can tell that it can be quite tough
to pass by any fast fashion store if you can’t seem
to find a good reason not to go in. They deliver
instant gratification and a moment of happiness.
Indeed, just a moment of mindless happiness.
Water is a huge part of the problem. Did you know
it takes around 2700 liters of water to create just
one cotton t-shirt? That is as much as you would
drink in three years. The predictions are, that by
2030 the fashion industry’s water consumption will
grow by 50% to 118 billion cubic meters*. I don’t
even know how much this is...

You might know that the fashion industry is bad,
but how bad is it exactly? The fashion industry is a
complex system with a large supply chain. There
is a lot of pollution in multiple fields as there are
many steps involved in creating a garment. I will not
go too in-depth, but if you think about the whole
process of creating just one piece;from growing
and harvesting to the shipments to the warehouse,
then how is it even possible to create a T-shirt for
€4,95.
OTHER CRAP
Besides water, bleaches, acids, inks, dyes, heavy
metals, fertilizers and pesticides, a lot of other crap
is being used. Due to the enormous amounts, these
impactful materials causes cancer, infertility and
unsafe labor conditions for garment workers.
If our consumption continues this way, we will
need two planets by 2050 as existing resources are
exhausted**.

SOURCE:* GLOBAL FASHION AGENDA - PULSE OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY ** WWF REPORT 12
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“Fast fashion isn’t free.

Someone, somewhere
is paying.”

- Lucy Siegle -

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BE A CONSCIOUS CONSUMER
What you can do.

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THE BEST OPTIONS

Before buying new.

SECOND HAND
The best option when it comes to sustainable for instance! After a year you can decide if you

fashion, is to make sure there aren’t any new would like to switch to a new pair of jeans.

resources used to create the garment. You can do

this by buying second hand, vintage, or pre-loved SWAP PARTY

clothing. This is fun, especially when you’re doing this with

your girls. A get together with your besties and a

Whether this is online, in a vintage shop or on a clothing party in one. Bring any styles you don’t

second hand market;it’s all good. With second hand like or want to get rid of (5 -10 pieces). Ask your

shopping, you’re not encouraging brands to make friends to do the same. Bring all items together and

new and more clothing. Also, you’ll be finding gems swap items. Your trash might be another woman’s

that no one else has, which I personally find the treasure. The only thing that might be a little hard

best part about second hand shopping. The second to arrange is a date these days, but I’m sure you will

hand clothing you buy will get a new life and will not manage to arrange one once you’ve said the word

end up in developing country landfills. This is what Prosecco.

we call a win-win-win situation.

ANOTHER LOOK

CLOTHING ON LOAN Okay sounds silly I know. But sometimes it’s good to

Did you know you can loan or lease clothing? look at your wardrobe in another way or let a friend

What? Yes! It’s perfect when you like to have have a look at your wardrobe. Maybe you can

your options. In Amsterdam there is a clothing combine two items and create a totally different

library called “Lena’s Library”, but here are more look for instance. Also, right after your closet

initiatives like this in bigger cities or online. A well- cleaning activity, you know exactly what you have,

known example is Rent The Runway in the US. Very however most of the time we are wearing the same

sustainable, very fun and perfect if you like to have styles over and over again.

your options or when you need something for a

one-time event. Leasing is also an option. For €
7,50 a month you can lease a Jeans at Mud Jeans

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“Buy less,
choose well,
make it last.”

- Vivienne Westwood -

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SUSTAINABLE SHOPPING
How do you know?

CHEKING IN
Knowing if a brand is fair or ethical is sometimes garment is made of and do your (online) research

hard to decide based upon the garment itself. You first! You can either check on the brands’ website

might think a garment is sustainable because the if they state something about sustainability or

item is pretty expensive, from a designer and/ transparency on production, or you can check for

or it seems to be of a good quality. Unfortunately instance the app “Good On You” and read what

it doesn’t always work that way. People often ask they think about the brand. There is always the

me if clothing items are sustainable when it’s a little possibility to reach out to the brand too.

higher in price. With a lot of brands, you’re actually

only paying a bit more because of the brand name, HANG TAG

marketing, free shipping or packaging. What you can do to check if brands are working in a
fair way or with sustainable principles is to check the

You might think a brand is very sustainable when hang tag. Often you can already find some basic

it looks clean and minimal or when it makes use information on there. If this is not the case, then it

of plants in their retail locations, but be aware of is best to look at the care label.

brands that might be greenwashing you. With

greenwashing, brands are using their marketing, CARE LABEL

advertising and PR to look “green”. They are The care label is a very important part of a

creating a perception as if the brand is making use sustainable wardrobe and it’s often simply forgotten.

of environmental practices. This is what we call Ironically, it’s the first thing I look at when a piece

cheating, and this happens more often than you of clothing catches my eye, even before I check

think. the hang tag to look at the price. Not only is this
the place to find out if a sustainable fabric is being

Sustainable brands are proud of what they are used, but you can also see how it should be washed

achieving and they definitely would like to show for instance. If hand wash is not your thing, than

that they are doing good. There are two things this might be pretty important! In this label, brands

that you can easily check in store and online will also print the certification of the fabric (if

to see if something is ethically produced or is applicable) or the certification of the brand.

environmentally friendly. Check what material the

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5 RULES TO LIVE BY

APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE

What we buy, or not buy, is the most important part of our journey.
It’s all about appreciating the items you really love.

START SLOW
Take it easy. Small steps are a perfect way of doing this.

NO (MORE) IMPULSE BUYING

Is the #1 thing to do. Think about the style you like, do you still want
to have it after a few days, months? Is the answer yes? It might be
a perfect match, but just let it rest for a while. Think why before you
buy!

DEDICATION IS KEY
I know, the big boys have the persuasiveness to allure you. I also
know that you’re capable of shopping ethically. Dedication is just the
thing we need here.

30 WEARS
Do you think you will wear an item over a 30 times? Then you’re
definitely allowed to buy it.

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SUSTAINABLE FABRICS
What to go for!

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Finding out what fabric is being used is one of the RECYCLED

things you can easily look at when you’re looking
for sustainable fashion. Just go directly to the care
label in store or the specifics/ details section on the
product page online and look for natural materials.
You can really make a difference here due to the
amounts of pesticides and water used to create the
fabric.
Besides these fabrics made of new resources you
can look for recycled materials as for instance
Denim and Cotton. This is often a blend as recycled
fibres are less strong. I would not go for recycled
PET bottles or plastics due to microfibres, however
for swim wear (Econyl) and raincoats, recycled PET is
the better alternative.

THE MOST SUSTAINABLE FABRICS Did you know that 100% fabrics are easier to
(Organic) Hemp decompose and recycle?
(Organic) Linen
Tencel® Lyocell LEATHER
Organic Cotton The leather production process is a thirsty one;a
Lenzing® Modal lot of toxic chemicals and dyes are being used.
Jute When you look for leather, go for vegetable tanned
Bamboo leather. Even betterif you buy second hand. Most
Organic Wool importantly, keep leather items to a minimum and
EcoVero handle them with care.

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WATCH OUT FOR

Dirty denim.

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DIRTY DENIM
How much water is used to make a jeans?
Approximately 8000 Liters!* WAIT WHAT? Yes,
that’s exactly what I thought when I heard this
shocking number for the first time. This is equivalent
to taking a shower (6 min) for approximately 200
days.

Denim is a serious polluter. Looking around me in

The Netherlands, you see how many people wear
denim. Thereforee these shocking numbers are
having even more impact on me. 1,8 billion jeans are
produced globally every year. Just 1% of these are
manufactured with sustainability in mind.*

Denim is such a huge polluter not only due to the

large amount of water used, but also due to the
amount of pesticides, heavy metals, synthetic
dyes, chemicals and bleaching agents involved in
production. Almost 2 KG of chemicals* are used
to produce one pair of jeans the conventional way.
Therefore buying denim second hand is the best
option, but there are new alternatives as well.

There are a few brands that do good by using no

pesticides, make use of recycled material, and who
use innovation to create multiple “washings” with
for example lasers. Examples of these brands are
ARMEDANGELS, Mud Jeans, Reformation and Boyish
Jeans.

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WATCH OUT FOR

Suffocating synthetics.

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SUFFOCATING SYNTHETICS
Skip petroleum-based synthetics such as polyester,
acrylic and nylon as much as possible. With this I
also mean recycled polyesters! Why? Easy, it’s not
biodegradable. We’re destroying the world with
these fibres and it truly gets to me.

Synthetic fabrics are mainly used as it is a cheap

alternative to natural fibres. Over the last few
decades, a lot of cheap, poor quality polyester
garments came on to the market, which are easily
thrown out by the consumer.

Next to the decomposing process, the production

process stinks! There are a lot of chemicals,
synthetic substances and dyes needed to create
these fabrics, which are very harmful to the
environment. The worst thing is that they are
released by the factories in countries such as China,
Indonesia and Bangladesh. Unfortunately, there
are no clear restrictions and regulations in these
countries.

SWIM WEAR
There are a few items, that can be hard to find
without synthetic materials. Take swim wear. If
you’re not into the crochet fabric, go for Econyl.
This fabric is made of recycled PET and fishing nets.
It’s not perfect as there are still a lot of chemicals
needed, but it is definitely a better option as a
limited amount of new resources are used!

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DON’T RELEASE THOSE MICROF*CKERS

Experts say that by 2050 there will be more plastic depends on a healthy ocean and therefore we need

in the sea than fish. Did you know that you’re to take action here. If you would still like to wear

contributing to this? We are all polluting the oceans the synthetic garments you own and you would like

by washing our polyester and nylon tops! This, to wash them after, than use a ‘Guppy Bag’! You

apparently, is the biggest source of micro plastics can put your garments in this bag and it will save

in our oceans.* Every time we wash a synthetic up microfibres and makes sure these will not be

top, hundreds-of-thousands of microfibres are released and end up in our waters. However please

released, which pollute our waters, our food chain note that this bag will not catch all microfibres.

and in turn us! These micro plastics have even been Especially fibres of cheap synthetics, as these will

found in our own bodies! Yikes. be too small to catch.

Micro plastics and micro fibres are so small, they The best solution? No more synthetics. Go for all

are almost invisible. The world’s ecosystem natural fibres.

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CERTIFICATIONS YOU NEED TO KNOW

GOTS - GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD
GOTS is worldwide the most important organic textile standard. This is often
used for organic cotton.

SA8000
The SA8000 is a standard for good working conditions.

OEKO-TEX
With Oeko-Tex, garments are tested for harmful substances on end material or
product. However, harmful substances are allowed to be used in the process.
This certification doesn’t look at organic resources and working conditions.

EU ECO LABEL
The EU Eco Label is similar to Oeko-tex but a little stricter. This certification
doesn’t look at organic resources and working conditions.

FAIR WEAR FOUNDATION

Independent organization that works on improving working conditions.

B CORP
Businesses that balance purpose and profit.

C2C CERTIFIED™
The Cradle to Cradle program specifies criteria in five distinct categories:
Material Health, Material Reutilization, Renewable Energy and Carbon
Management, Water Stewardship and Social Fairness.

PETA-APPROVED VEGAN
This logo is created by the organisation Peta and ensures there are no animals
harmed or involved in the making of the product.

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VEGAN FASHION
Animal welfare.

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DON’T GET TRICKED

There is a very important thing you need to take
into consideration. Vegan fashion, isn’t necessary
sustainable. Moreover, it’s often not environmentally
friendly at all as synthetic materials are being called
‘vegan’ to make it more attractive. It’s being used as
a marketing tool far too often.

Some synthetic materials claim they are animal

friendly. However, these are still impacting our
oceans through releasing chemicals into the waters
surrounding the factories, killing flora and fauna
as well as releasing microfibres. Therefore, these
fabrics may not be quite as animal friendly as they
promise.

In the brand list you will find beautiful sustainable

brands that sell beautiful vegan options!

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WHAT YOU NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR

Items, materials and other things you need to take
into consideration when you go for vegan fashion:

Bones are sometimes used for buttons, finishings,

and glue. Nowadays synthetic glues are used more
often.

Animals might be used for clothing pigments. Look

for brands that make use of natural plant-based
dyes.

Looking for leather and exotic skins, 2nd hand is the

best option. Watch out with synthetic alternatives.

Silk is made from a caterpillars’ cocoons. Look

for Peace/ Ahimsa silk if you want to go for real
silk. With conventional silk, the caterpillars can not
end their lifecycles and are killed for creating silk.
Peace silk ensures the caterpillar transforms into
a butterfly first. If you’re looking for a sustainable
vegan alternative you can look for Tencel® or
Lyocell, which are super soft fabrics. You’ll not be
disappointed.

Down and feathers can be replaced by recycled

polyester. This is for instance being used as filling
for coats, but again please be aware of microfibres.

There are different types of woolen items shearling

(lamb), cashmere (goat), angora (rabbit) or wool
(sheep). When you go for wool, always make sure
it’s certified, organic or recycled. Vegan alternative?
Go for knits made of organic cotton! You see these
more and more.

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VEGAN AND THE ENVIRONMENT

NO-LEATHER BAGS AND SHOES
Something to take into consideration with vegan leather is that the
fabrics are often made of petroleum-based materials. Vegan leather
bags are usually made of PU (polyurethane) or PVC (Polyvinyl
chloride). Because these are usually manufactured from fossil fuels,
they take a long time to break down. PVC is named by Greenpeace
“single most environmentally damaging type of plastic”. PU is a
better alternative than PVC, however still has its impact.

FRUIT LEATHER
There is a lot of innovation going on in the textile industry. Producers
and brands are looking for leather alternatives as f.i. Pinatex, a
fabric made from pineapple, or leather made from apples. These
alternative fabrics still need to be mixed with PU. The most
sustainable option isn’t there yet, however I feel producers are reallly
close. We might need to wait for a couple more months/ years for
the ultimate sustainable vegan and sustainable “leather” bag.

VEGAN
and eco-friendly fabrics
The best fabrics to go for are Organic Hemp, Organic Linen, Tencel®
Lyocell, Modal, EcoVero, Bamboo and Organic Cotton.

PLEASE NOTE: CLAIMING THAT AN ITEM IS VEGAN, DOESN’T

NECESSARILY MEAN IT’S SUSTAINABLE!!
A polyester top from any fast fashion brand can be very vegan, yet
not so sustainable. Don’t go there, and with there I don’t mean fast
fashion stores. I mean using polyester and other synthetic materials!
It is a thread for animals as well as our own bodies due to the harmful
microfibres.

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GIRLS
GIRLS
GIRLS

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THERESA
Founder of OSIER
So tell me, how did your vegan fashion journey get
started?
My personal journey started about 5 years ago
when I was watching the documentary Earthlings.
As soon as I watched that movie on Netflix,
everything changed for me. I was completely
shocked on how our food is generated and how we
get natural resources as silk, leather and wool. I
pretty much went vegan overnight as I didn’t wanted
to contribute to this suffering and eveything I had
seen in the documentary. I started out with food
and quickly transitioned into cruelty-free make-
up and vegan fashion. I thought there was a lack
of nice, stylish vegan fashion options out there. At
the moment things are changing and the industry
looks a lot better. There is a great number of vegan
options out there. A few years ago, the landscape
looked a little different. At this time I founded Osier
(2017) while I was still working fulltime. It took me
about 1,5 years to find the right supplier, to design
and test the bags, create prototypes, the website
and all these kinds of things. That’s how we started.
Why is producing vegan bags important to you?
I think it’s important to show that there are plenty
of options out there, that do not contribute to
the suffering of animals and that can be ethical
sustainable and fashionable at the same time.
Once you have a lot of choice and variety people
do have a lot of options to pick from. It’s more
approachable and attainable for consumers to live
a low impact lifestyle. This goes for everything.
We see this in the vegan food market already.
There is such a big variety in restaurants, cafe’s,
vegan cheeses, which is great! You can see that
once you reach a critical mass, and you have a lot
of people that can shift their lifestyle effortlessly
it’s an unstoppable movement and it gets into the
mainstream. That’s exactly what we want to do with
Osier.
We want to create timeless, beautiful, ethical,
durable pieces that are vegan, that don’t look
“vegan” or old-fashioned. It shows the world that
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you don’t have to sacrifice looking stylish and feeling

good and expressing yourself in a fashionable manner
when you choose ethical fashion.

Can you tell me a bit about how your beautiful bags

are being created, and what challenge you face when
producing in a sustainable and vegan way?
OSIER was born in Amsterdam - our head office is
here, our team is based here and all designs we create
are born and developed here. When creating new
designs we look at our current capsule collection and
add pieces that will add to the portfolio. From the the
design process to the making of our accessories and the
entire supply chain, sustainability is our biggest driver in
the entire process. It starts with the design: we create
chic and timeless pieces that are designed to outlive
fast fashion trends and that way are timeless staple
pieces. We strive to create wardrobe essentials that are
the perfect every day companion for our customers.

From the design and technical drawing process, we

create first prototypes and send these to our factory
in Bucharest. The atelier we work with has a lot of
expertise that helps us tweak and perfectionize the
designs. Each prototype then gets tested and worn by
our team for an extensive amount of time so that we
can experience what it’s like to wear this design in every
day life. Once we’re satisfied with it, the bags go into
production.

One of the challenges we face as a slow-fashion labels

are the high minimum order quantities that can be
required by suppliers.

You’re vegan and love fashion. Do you have some

great tips for other fashion lovers?
Sezanne, Mireia Playa, Noumenon and I love exploring
vintage boutiques and second hand markets for unique
pieces

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Dena
Founder of NOUMENON
You have been Vegan for years, can you tell me a
bit more on why you started a vegan lifestyle?
Before I became a vegan I was a vegetarian for
seven years. For my hormonal health issues I had
to reduce dairy, which is why I started this lifestyle.
Once on this lifestyle, I realised that eating plant-
based was also better for the environment, which
made me stick to it. It made sense to me on so
many levels, for me it was not just some sort of
trend. I really enjoy all aspects of this lifestyle.
You’re producing beautiful, sustainable vegan
fashion. Can you tell me why this is so important?
I think it is not necessary today to use any animal
products, because there are so many great and
innovative fabric alternatives out there, which are
cruelty- free. The fabric developments in this area
are improving rapidly. Besides the usual plant-based
fabrics such as linen, lyocell, organic cotton, ramie,
there’s now also pine apple leather, apple leather,
mushroom leather and coconut wood for buttons
and other trimmings.
You really care for your products. What challenges
do you face when producing in a sustainable and
vegan way?
The biggest challenge is the market. The market
demands ethical, sustainable and vegan fashion.
But the consumers are not always prepared to pay
the extra price. We have a lot of fans, who ask
for garments for free. And this is not very good
for our growth as a business. There is still a lack of
knowledge/understanding how much a garment
actually costs. Stores require high mark- ups,
sustainable fabrics are much more expensive than
conventional fabrics and the factory employees also
need to be paid a fair amount.
You’re a real fashionista. Do you want to share
some of your favourite brands right now?
First of all, I love vintage. My favourite brands are;
Reformation, Collection & Co, Hvisk, Veja, Kings
of Indigo, Cossac, Embassy of Bricks and Logs and
Stella McCartney.
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NOA
Founder of STYLE WITH A SMILE
Lovely Noa, when exactly did you became vegan ?
I became vegan for ethical reasons almost seven
years ago now, after watching a film called
“Earthlings”. It wasn’t an easy film to watch, but
it really changed my life and made me become
vegan immediately. In the past, I was a social
activist for animal rights for two years. I took part in
demonstrations, presentations, marches and even
helped my friends build a sanctuary farm. In 2016,
in order to make a difference in the world in a way
that I absolutely love, I started my blog, Style with
a Smile, and use it to spread the vegan message
in a positive, approachable way (with a smile!),
encouraging people to live more consciously. I
strive to inspire a social change, and the feedback
it receives suggests some changes do occur. Even
small changes by other people can make a huge
difference for animals and our planet.
When I started, I had nothing to do with either
the fair trade or sustainable aspects of fashion. I
evolved and grew, as did my blog. in 2018, After
watching the great documentary “The True Cost”,
I’ve changed overnight. Ever since that day, Style
with a Smile became an ethical and sustainable
blog, in addition to a vegan one. I’ve been
educating myself and others about the importance
of sustainability and human rights in the fashion
industry and encouraging others to choose better
every single day: for the animals, for the people
and for planet earth.
You recently launched a vegan bag line with
Nuuwai, can you tell me a bit about this collection
and what makes it so special?
The capsule collection I launched with Nuuwaï is one
of the most exciting things I’ve done not only in
my career but in my whole life. NUUWAÏ X STYLE
WITH A SMILE was born out of true friendship and
love for animals, people, and the planet. Me and
Svenja, Founder of Nuuwaï, are very close friends
and this collection actually started as a joke: One
day during our conversations we laughed and said
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we should create a capsule collection together, and

7 months later, with a lot of hard work, this joke
became a reality and we couldn’t be happier.

While designing our collection I had one thing in

mind: I wanted my bags to be practical, unique,
fashionable and meaningful. That’s why the designs
we chose are timeless yet fun and colorful, have
clean lines and a new, innovative smooth apple
leather. I knew I wanted three bags: one small, one
medium, and one large, that would allow any woman
to find a perfect bag for every occasion: from a
day at the office and stroll in Berlin to a night out
in Tel Aviv. It took us a few months to finalize the
designs and a few attempts to make them the best
bags we could possibly come up with. But apart
from designing beautifully-looking bags, we wanted
them to have a beautiful impact.

When Svenja visited me for the third time last

September, I took her to the Freedom Farm
Sanctuary, a place that I love & support for years
now and we got to meet its animals, volunteers, and
founders. This farm is the happiest place on earth.
It is a safe haven for the survivors of the animal
agriculture industry and animal testing industry that
strives to create consciousness in the way humans
view the earth, animals and themselves.

Above all, it is an educational, judgment-free place:

no matter who you are and what you’re eating,
you’re welcome to visit, experience, ask and learn.
The farm aspires to highlight the similarities between
humans and animals, demonstrating that just like us,
all animals experience feelings of love, pain, fear,
and boredom. They each have a unique personality,

NUUWAI x STYLE WITH A SMILE CAMPAIGN 37

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just like us, and want to live full, free lives – just like
us.

But, unlike cats or dogs, we often don’t think of farm

animals as having feelings or personalities. We even
created a separate vocabulary that masks the pain
and suffering of animals: cows become ‘beef’, pigs
become ‘pork’ and dead flesh is ‘meat’, for example.
This kind of brainwashing is undone pretty quickly
at Freedom Farm Sanctuary. Both I and Svenja love
their mission and work which is why we will donate
5% of all sales to Freedom Farm Sanctuary, and
every single bag we designed is named after one of
the farm’s wonderful residents

Do you have some favorite brands or brands that

you think everyone should know?
OMG, THERE ARE SO MANY, it is really hard for me
to choose! Apart from Nuuwaï, which is obviously
a favorite, I really admire NAT-2, which is not a
fully vegan brand but it is super vegan-friendly and
responsible for some of the most amazing vegan
innovations out there, Hexa and Beflamboyant,
for their comfy and stylish vegan shoes, Colibri,
for the luxurious vegan designs, Lana Organic, for
their lovely, sustainable vegan-friendly clothing
range, Lovjoi and JAN N JUNE for some super-cool
sustainable fashion, Loft and Daughter for their
beautiful, meaningful jewelry supporting artisans in
Jaipur, India, Icycle, for their minimalistic, circular
eyewear empowering local communities in India
while giving back to their community and non-profit
Mama Tierra for their beautiful vegan bags and
message. If you want to find out about some more
favorites, you should check out my blog!

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BRAND
LIST

TO GET YOU STARTED

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YOU NEED LESS PRODUCTS

THAN YOU THINK. CONSUMING
LESS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
AND SUSTAINABLE LESSON.

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SUSTAINABLE FASHION
Ethical, fair and vegan.

NOUMENON

JUNGLEFOLK

JAN ‘N JUNE

COSSAC

Looking for more brands? Check out MY WEBSITE!

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SUSTAINABLE SHOES
Ethical, fair and vegan.

WOMSH

YATAY

BEYOND SKIN

COLLECTION & CO

Looking for more brands? Check out MY WEBSITE!

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SUSTAINABLE DENIM
Ethical, fair and vegan.

ARMEDANGELS

MUD JEANS

KINGS OF INDIGO

BOYISH

Looking for more brands? Check out MY WEBSITE!

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SUSTAINABLE BAGS
Ethical, fair and vegan.

NUUWAI

OSIER

MISTER MIARA

ANGELA ROI

Looking for more brands? Check out MY WEBSITE!

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SUSTAINABLE SWIMWEAR
Ethical, fair and vegan.

NATASHA TONIC

BAIIA LABEL

INDIGO LUNA

WOODLIKE OCEAN

Looking for more brands? Check out MY WEBSITE!

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EXTRA
INSPI-
RATION

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@LETSTALKSLOW
Follow my conscious journey on Instagram

If you would like to learn more about

sustainable brands, and get inspired to live
more consciously, than follow my journey on
Instagram. There are exciting projects coming
up, which I would love for you to see!

Come and JOIN ME on a conscious journey!

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DOCUMENTARIES
ON SUSTAINABLE FASHION

THE TRUE COST

by Andrew Morgan

RIVER BLUE
by David McIlvride and Roger WIlliams

THE POSITIVE CHAIN OF CHANGE

by Chanel Trapman

UNRAVEL
by Meghna Gupta

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PODCASTS
ON SUSTAINABLE FASHION

CONSCIOUS CHATTER
by Kestrel Jenkins

WARDROBE CRISIS
by Clare Press

GREEN DREAMER PODCAST

by Kamea Chayne

SPIRIT OF 608
By Lorraine Sanders, great for business owners

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ORGANISATION
ON SUSTAINABLE FASHION

FASHION
REVOLUTION

THE ORGANISATION #WHOMADEMYCLOTHES

Fashion Revolution is a global movement
calling for greater transparency, sustainability
and ethics in the fashion industry.
They want to unite the fashion industry and
ignite a revolution to radically change the
way our clothes are sourced, produced and
purchased, so that what the world wears is
being made in a safe, clean and fair way.
Every year around April 24th, they organise
Fashion Revolution Week. On the anniversary
of the Rana Plaza disaster, which killed 1,138
people and injured many more in 2013. They
encourage millions of people to ask brands
#whomademyclothes and demand greater
transparency in the fashion
supply chain.

Find more information and join the movement:

WWW.FASHIONREVOLUTION.ORG & @FASH_REV
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LET’S SHOW ‘EM WHO’S THE BOSS!

I truly hope this E-book has inspired you to have a look at your
own consumption, and that it will help you in making your wardrobe
more sustainable!

Please keep in mind that everyones journey is different and there is not
one right way of doing it. I loved telling it from my perspective and this
will hopefully inspire you, along with the insights from other like-minded
people and initiatives.

As I already said, my conscious journey is not even close to an end. You’re

more than welcome to follow my journey on Instagram @LETSTALKSLOW
or via WWW.LETSTALKSLOW.COM.

Love,

Stephanie van den Sigtenhorst

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THANK
Y OU !

COPYRIGHT © 2019 BY STEPHANIE VAN DEN SIGTENHORST

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.