The Gift of Guerlain: Spa Luxury at Home
A definite way to end the year with a one-of-a-kind skincare experience.
co-written by Olivia Mcintosh
Inside of Hotel X Toronto, one of Toronto’s newest spaces infusing luxury into a wellness and entertainment-focused venue, you will find the Guerlain Spa. The space is known for its “artistic approach to beauty” and their all encompassing beauty treatments that bring a variety of self-care practices into one calming environment. Each treatment is customized by the guest, enabling you to fine-tune what will best suit your entire sensory system - away from the rush of the city and within the quiet walls of the spa.
The hotel itself overlooks the west end of Toronto’s distinct waterfront.
Also equipped with amenities including a members exclusive tennis court, spanning indoor and outdoor pools, a 24-hour gym, and exquisite rooms to hide away and relax in after a long day exploring the city, or for a well needed staycation.
Who would have thought we could still enjoy the best of self-care in Toronto at home. Coming out of a cold winter and planning our self-care splurges ahead of time is all part of our plan to end this year strong. Guerlain Spa has transformed some of their selected spa services into kits that will bring a piece of the luxurious spa into your home.
The Super Aqua Serum Kit
A derision of the Super Aqua sparkling glow treatment, a rejuvenating body polish driving exfoliation and full relaxation.
The Honey Holidays Kit
Honey being one of our favourite skin hydrating agents, is the theme of the luxe at home package using Guerlain’s own award-winning skincare line Abeille Royale.
The Discovery Ritual Kit
Infused with the benefits that orchids provide for our skin, as it boosts skin’s immunity and significantly reduces fine lines due to its magnesium, calcium and zinc properties.
A definite way to end the year with a one-of-a-kind skincare experience. Shop more of Guerlain Spa’s at-home offerings including more at-home kits, and gift cards to get ready for your next stay, here.
Crystal, Owner of jELN Discusses Operating a Natural Skincare Brand Rooted in Self-care.
Making the transition to running her company full-time, Crystal discusses her approach to infusing self-care into her natural skincare line.
We are always on a quest to discover companies, people, and products that have prioritized self-care as a driver in one’s personal wellness journey. Operating with the belief that self-care is an important step in our overall health, comes with the need to pay special attention to information shared, products released, and the way we lead our personal lives.
That’s why it was a pleasure to ask Crystal, owner of jELN, Toronto-based natural skincare line, all about her journey to running a brand that has not only improved her skin, but has been integrated into the way she approaches day to day self-care rituals. Furthermore, how she is getting this message across to her audience.
jELN Recharge Me Face Mask
What would you say the most rewarding part of owning an all-natural skincare brand is?
The most rewarding part of owning an all natural skin care brand is knowing exactly what is being applied to the skin. After countless hours of research and tests, the ingredients are no secret. jELN started as an idea and was brought to fruition. I’m proud to be able to say that I am a consumer of my own products to this day. It is rewarding to be able to say I overcame my skin issues with my own products. jELN has given me the ability to help others on their skincare journey and emphasize the importance of self care; the self care they deserve.
It's an amazing feeling to be able to tell my story. If I’ve helped even just one person thus far, it’s all worth it for me. Building a relationship with my customers is very important to me, therefore I try my best to be approachable and available for any questions and feedback.
Being a fairly new entrepreneur, what has been the biggest lifestyle change for you thus far?
The biggest lifestyle change for me thus far has been time management. Juggling a 9-5 full time office job while working on my business has definitely been the most challenging. There have been many sleepless nights and frustration to find balance. The business has become my main priority. However, I wouldn’t have it any other way. The day to day challenges of an entrepreneur has taught me to be resilient, productive and to keep consistent. At the moment, all jELN products are made from home which can be very time consuming. Prioritization is crucial in order to run efficiently and effectively. The more time I put in, the more the brand grows. I’ve also learned to find the power in rejections and being told no. Above everything, I feel in charge and more responsible for my future than I ever have. I am my own boss growing my business from the ground up. The process really puts into perspective how much back end work there is that the consumers don't see. Organization is key. The ball is in my court and it is a rewarding feeling to know that for all the work that I am putting in, thousands of individuals out there will be able to enjoy my products.
“Many times we get so busy that we forget to take care of our mind, body and soul. At jELN we want to stress that self care is just as important as the other life responsibilities”
How has being a creative director affected the development of your brand?
Being a creative director has really helped my visions come to life. I keep the five senses in mind when creating content for my customers. It’s important for consumers to see visuals that tell a story. We like to use real life scenarios and stories that consumers can relate to in their everyday lives. Through images and video, we are able to take our viewers on a journey as the brand develops and demonstrates how seamlessly jELN fits into the everyday self care routine.
We noticed a strong notion of self-care in your brand. Can you explain the importance of this motif in your brand and your life, and in what ways it shows up?
The importance of self-care is the force behind jELN because it encourages individuals to put themselves first. Many times we get so busy that we forget to take care of our mind, body and soul. At jELN we want to stress that self care is just as important as the other life responsibilities. It’s a care that everyone deserves. Loving yourself is learning to love and embrace every inch of you, flaws and all. Personal time is time well deserved and it is as simple as that. We support the notion that everyone should detach from their busy schedule at some point and indulge in some self care. Even if it's only for twenty minutes, jELN will help you do just that. Every moment counts.
What product would you recommend for a new JELN customer?
The Love body butter would be a great addition to any self care routine. It conveniently comes in a 2oz travel sized glass jar and full 8oz glass jar for at home use after a long day. Our body butter is meant for the areas of your body that you love. Love provides the ultimate moisture without the greasy feeling. Using raw butter and natural oils, Love is handcrafted to perfection to ensure a smooth and buttery application.
Each product at jELN is named after a calming force. Finding a soothing product is easy, from the Balance Toner infused with dried hibiscus and rose water, or the Rich facial moisturizer incorporating combinations of turmeric essential oil and dried lavender that offers a youthful glow.
Stay up to date with Crystal on her Instagram.
Shop jELN here.
A Discussion on Creative Workspaces and Fashion Illustration with Artist Siobhan Olivia
Now more than ever, the majority of us are working from home, and finding ways to do it effectively. Being an artist poses different constraints.
Working from home presents different realities for an artist. Whether you require optimal natural light, a painter's work area, or a practical room to account for messes (like when a woodworker cuts, or when a florist is pruning), a multi-functional space with systems in place will allow for a good work/life balance.
Fashion illustrator, Siobhan Olivia does a few exciting things in her west end Toronto loft. Being a watercolour artist and working for fine jewelry line Mejuri, we were curious to have a discussion on how she has navigated a work-from-home space. One that would lend itself to the various roles she switches to and from throughout the course of a day — including personal time. This, and some insight into Siobhan’s approach to fashion illustration and how florals find their way into her work.
Siobhan at home.
What qualities were you looking for in a home in Toronto?
I have always had my eyes on loft-style living ever since I can remember. My partner and I finally found the perfect space that has a multi-level floor plan and the openness we were looking for. The biggest plus side to our space is the tall floor to ceiling windows that pour in natural light! It really livens the space up.
As a visual artist how do you keep a fluid WFH space?
It is currently a work in progress. My art space is integrated into my work-from-home space for my job, which allows me to switch easily between both without having to move locations and to get things set up. This makes a huge difference when there is minimal effort involved!
Having home and work under one roof, the effortless flow and momentum while working especially for a creative task, can sometimes turn into a convoluted atmosphere. Kinfolk chatted with architects Delcy Morelos and Gabriel Sierra about what works for them in their home:
Accepting the inescapability of an artist’s never-ending work cycle, they also chose to integrate a workspace into their home: Gabriel has a room inside the apartment for smaller projects like drawing and model-making, and Delcy has a larger studio on the ground floor of the building for her projects. When they need a break, the artists journey out from the facade of their unassuming dark brick building for a walk in the vibrant city center. But they also enjoy spending a lot of time simply pondering and relaxing at home.
- Kinfolk
What bits of fashion inspire you the most when deciding on what to create next?
I gain a lot of inspiration from Instagram. I see which Jacquemus bags are trending, and all of the Diptyque candles in the background of images and I go from there. I enjoy the realness of IG content vs a fashion ad or editorial.
Art and Interiors by Siobhan Barrie, The Lorenzo Vase Set
What is your take on the popularity of florals in fashion? How does this seep into your work if at all?
Florals have always been one of my favourite subjects to paint, so incorporating them with fashion-related drawings comes super naturally. I love how they can be so messy in an illustration but still so pretty?
Has painting had any effect on your personal well-being before and especially now during a time of reclusion?
100%, and it has been really positive. Before, I never found the time to paint and to be creative. I would come home from work drained wanting to just relax, but I have found time in the mornings and evenings now that I’m home. I love to create during those in-between moments, and I often find myself sketching during my lunch hour! I finally started posting enough art which received lots of positive feedback, making me comfortable enough to launch my own website.
Lily Kwong Redefines Urban Living and Food Availability
Based in New York, the firm’s designs span America’s East and West Coasts, from the Glossier Seattle pop-up to a site-specific botanical installation in the bustling Grand Central Station.
By Stephanie Gao
Where can green spaces in cities be found? Parks, being the most obvious and common answer, allowing not much else to come to mind.
Enter Lily Kwong, a self-proclaimed urban edenist, landscape artist, and founder of Studio Lily Kwong—a landscape design firm founded with the mission of reconnecting people to nature.
Based in New York, the firm’s designs span America’s East and West Coasts, from the Glossier Seattle pop-up to a site-specific botanical installation in the bustling Grand Central Station.
Using plants as a design medium, Kwong believes it is essential for her as a young Chinese-American woman to “create more compassionate, equitable, and balanced places for us to live in” and bring “a new sense of space into the world.” In her own words, “if we change the way our cities are built, we can change who we are.”
Working in partnership with Maison St-Germain in June 2017, Kwong transformed a portion of the New York City High Line into an immersive, multidimensional experience. Guests were free to roam among green wall mazes arranged in the fashion of a 16th-century French labyrinth and a hanging installation of flowers modelled after rolling hills. Amongst the disorienting combination of blooms and neon lights, a modern dance performance by Mafalda Millies takes on a new life when coupled with St-Germain’s plant-based cocktails. Kwong notes that every design element—from the 13,000 carefully curated flowers to how the plant life would be recycled after the event—is meant to delight and inspire an awe for nature in celebration of the summer solstice. Kwong’s attention to the value of plants and their ecological impact is evident in all of her installations, as she always makes the conscious effort to steer away from plants that don’t support the native fauna in the area.
As a former model and cousin of designer Joseph Altuzarra, Kwong’s unique connection to fashion means she pays special attention to the materials, touch, feel, and energy of the space she is designing for. For her High Line installation, she walked through the High Line multiple times to get a feeling of how a visitor would move through the space, adjusting her design to prioritize the rhythms and paces of real human life.
During the height of the COVID pandemic in April, Kwong’s studio launched the Freedom Garden Initiative to address the issue of food insecurity in America. Kwong looked to history for inspiration, referencing the “Victory Gardens” that appeared during the 1918 influenza pandemic and continued during World War II. Vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens were planted in backyards, empty lots, and rooftops across cities, and from these 20 million gardens, an estimated 40% of the country’s fresh vegetables was produced in the early 1940s.
Kwong’s initiative re-purposed the original movement, doing away with the racist history of “Victory Gardens” and choosing to focusing instead on “freedom from a centralized food system, freedom from illness (both societal and physical), and freedom to reconnect with the land and ourselves.” Using social media as her primary tool of dissemination, the @freedom_gardens Instagram account as amassed nearly 7,000 followers and demonstrates how the community gardening initiative is picking up pace in the lockdown urban sphere. In the future, Kwong hopes to connect with local leaders and policymakers to make community gardens a normalcy in cities, though Kwong stresses the inclusivity of the initiative (a little pot and some soil, or even just water, is all you need!) and how her team is dedicated to “demystify” urban farming.
For those of you out there just starting your own gardens, www.freedom- gardens.com/ offers paid online lessons and consultations to those who need advice. 100% of proceeds are donated to Black-owned farms and organisations fighting for justice in the American food system. To Lily Kwong, humanity’s love for flowers is built into our DNA and having green spaces in our lives is a necessity. From inspiring better health, to enhancing a sense of belonging, and okay, increasing real estate values, the vital nature of greenery in urban centres is something Kwong continues to advocate for in not just her designs and projects, but also in her day to daylife.
You can find Kwong at Lily Kwong on Instagram for more gardening and relaxing green energy.
Buying Plants is Better With Guidance from Hilton Carter
Buying plants is seemingly a breeze, but the more you know, the longer the life of your fresh new greenery. Hilton Carter has learned the ropes and guides with how to style and fit nature seemingly into our personal spaces.
By: Stephanie Gao
A short scroll through any Pinterest interior design board will show you that plants-as-a-design- element is in major vogue right now. And for good reason too—the touch of plant life can brighten up any dull interior space. How to place plants inside your home in an artful manner and to ensure their continued survival can be an entire college course, as it’s not so simple as purchasing one and bringing it home.
If you are just getting started, look no further than plant and interior stylist Hilton Carter. An expert at bringing nature inside and making a space come alive.
The Baltimore born and raised designer, author, entrepreneur (trust us, you have to check out the Instagram of his rentable studio space @junglebythefalls), and plant educator not only offers online plant propagation classes on Airbnb, but also hosts the podcast “Journeys in Greenery with Hilton Carter”. In his podcast, Carter features a different guest for each monthly episode, wherein the creatives reveal the thought process behind how they select which plants to bring into their homes and how they became “plant parents”.
In addition to his own podcast, Carter has been the featured guest of many other podcasts, such as Bloom & Grow Radio, hosted by Maria Failla. In every podcast he is in, his passion for plants and their wellbeing infallibly shines through, and it is easy to see how much he enjoys sharing gardening as a lifestyle with others.
Here are ten tips and tricks we learned about styling plants, and a few things we learned about Carter himself too.
1. See your space as an art gallery—the things you bring into your home should have something to say.
2. Have a statement plant. This plant will set the tone for the rest of the room and should be your starting point. In his words, your guest’s “face has to be blown off” by your statement plant.
3. Decide on the type of vibe you’re setting…
4. … and then mix up your foliage. Look at the shape of the leaves and their colour. For example, a bird of paradise and fan palm together set what Carter refers to as a “jungle tone”, while ferns give more of a “forest vibe”.
5. Have a unified colour scheme. Carter is not into bright colours and prefers to keep things moodier, darker, and earth toned. He’s also really into “cradles”, a term he coined after designing glass and wood propagation vessels, and then covering an entire wall in his home with them #livingart
6. The planter is also a piece of art. As the “shoes” of the plant, it is a key part of how everything comes together. Carter recommends going to flea markets and thrift stores for inexpensive and unconventional options. Go for things that aren’t meant to be pots and planters, like a quiche dish from Ikea, if you want some inspiration from the master himself.
7. Always consider the type of light in your space before bringing a plant home. Don’t move your plants from shady areas to lighter areas too much.
8. Plant care varies a whole lot depending on where you live. It’s not a one-size-fits-all game here, as different climates require different solutions.
9. That being said: the best place to learn is from either Google or people who work in nurseries (good ones, of course). Never be afraid to reach out and ask questions!
10. Being a plant parent is about quality over quantity. Be mindful of your plants. If something happens, it’s always you. Do your homework and really know what plants you are getting.
For more plant design inspiration, be sure to check out @hiltoncarter on Instagram. If you can’t get enough of his gorgeous content online, his books “Wild at Home: How to Style and Care for Beautiful Plants” and “Wild Interiors: Beautiful Plants in Beautiful Spaces” are must-haves for your coffee table.
Reviewing GISOU Honey-Infused Hair Oil
Guest Editor Paige Lorenze has points worth noting about the highly-acclaimed GISOU honey-infused hair oil.
The story of GISOU roots itself in a product that was bound to happen.
Negin Mirsalehi, whose mother was a hairstylist and whose father was a beekeeper, fell into the world of hair care. Curious about the enchanting bottles that hold golden liquid processed with honey directly from the Mirsalehi bee garden, we sought out to test its most notable product, the multi-use GISOU honey-infused hair oil.
Firstly, meet Paige Lorenze our Guest Editor! It was important for us to review and discuss products that we didn’t only love, but could stand by as proof that they work well. Paige’s critical eye and understanding to the worlds of design and self-care (in addition to her natural connection with the world of flora) meant a perfect partnership. We got her GISOU as soon as we could.
“Overall, I’d buy it again and again. ”
Paige Lorenze at home.
We were curious to find out why, so FYI, here are the benefits of honey on the hair:
Honey enhances the hair follicles directly because it is an emollient (considered to be a natural conditioner). This also means it can actually wake up resting hair follicles to promote brand new growth.
Honey will restore shine in your hair which occurs as a result of too much sun exposure, increased pollution and overall dryer hair strands.
Honey, being a humectant with high sugar levels, seals in dampness, which actually anticipates hair fall and reinforces strong strands.
“I felt a difference in the moisture level of my hair, As a platinum blonde (with dry hair) feeling the difference instantly and having the shine and softness hold up was something I hadn’t experienced with other high-end oils.”
In addition to Paige, we were able to test this on 4C hair as well, where the review held up the same. The way GISOU seals moisture and makes strands more and more manageable overtime was true for the full spectrum of hair types. In a world where consumerism is at its height, it is crucial for us to highlight products that are fully inclusive in who benefits from them. Also, the versatility of a product is hugely important in our buying decisions.
“I love putting it in my hair as a mask. I don’t find it greasy, I also put it on my hairline (some of you might not want to do this) but it looked so nice.”
Placing the hair oil closer to the hairline is beneficial when keeping in mind our mentioned point about honeys benefits to our hair follicles in particular. Paige mentions her lack of finding a hair oil that hydrates and also smells good. Considering the best of both worlds (soft and good smelling tresses), we are sure to keep this one on our counters and in our regimens.
Have you tried GISOU? Stay tuned for more product stories featuring Paige.
How Constructs of Nature Influence Ma Yansong’s Architecture
Chinese architect Ma Yansong recognises the need for organic fluidity within the modern city.
By Stephanie Gao
As city-dwellers, how do we combat the mental fatigue of being immersed in high stress, productivity-focused environments?
Going out for a walk within our concrete jungle can offer little reprieve, as contemporary city-planning and architecture reflects our obsession with maximization and utility. Our lives are laid out on grids, but as humans we instinctively seek out the haphazard pops of green that can be found in parks and houseplants. Among our steel and concrete world, nature acts as reinvigorating force.
Chinese architect Ma Yansong recognises the need for organic fluidity within the modern city—a soulless complex populated by glass curtain walls and van der Rohe silhouettes that have come to define cosmopolitan skylines.
The Eastern affinity for landscape is to see architecture as one with natural elements, like stones and water, while the Western focuses on how nature can be subjugated by human will. Ma’s design philosophy sees the environment as a crucial medium on which an architectural experience is created; there must be harmony between the natural landscape, the urban complex, and the spiritual and emotional needs of its users. Ma is ever respectful of nature’s entropy and favours hand sketches over computer renders, for its randomness and emotional evocativeness.
In his work Huangshan Mountain Village, the contours of the apartment towers are based on the contours of the existing mountains, making each building a different size, shape, and height. His apartments do not sit on top of the mountains, rather they extend it.
Huanshan Mountain Village
Ma is a former apprentice of the renowned Zaha Hadid and the founder of MAD Architects, a firm whose designs can be seen in Canada’s very own Mississauga. Located on Absolute Avenue, the Absolute World condominiums are affectionately nicknamed the “Marilyn Monroe” towers for their sensual curvaceousness. Ma drew inspiration from nature when considering the residential skyscrapers’ sunshine and wind dynamics, envisioning manmade objects as conduits for natural forces that can create comfort in the everyday lives of residents. Ever cognizant of the one-of-a-kind quality of natural objects, Ma insisted on the necessity of two separate designs for the two towers so that the pair are not mechanical copies of one another, but two unique and independent forms in constant interaction.
Ma has always been a proponent of Chinese rocket scientist Qian Xuesen’s concept of the “Shanshui City”, a city that mixes the natural with the artificial in a dramatic way to elicit an emotional response and increase spiritual comfort. Chaoyang Park Plaza, in Ma’s home city of Beijing, is a 10-building complex that resembles a series of mountains and valleys within a classical Chinese landscape painting, also known as a Shan shui painting. It is another one of his designs that feature elegant, sloping curves in sharp contrast with its blocky surroundings. The complex is situated on the edge of Chaoyang Park and invites the park to expand into the city, instead of delineating a border within which nature is confined.
In our highly structured cosmopolitan lives, perhaps it is up to the very buildings we are surrounded and confined by to bring the flowing spirit and soul of nature back into our lives.
The Various Methods and Benefits of Armoatherapy
It was popular before, but now more than ever, aromatherapy proves to be a leading choice in personal wellness.
By Mrinalini Sundar Images Endlesslyloveclub
The by-products of our current world, such as anxiety and all of its associates, have become a more prominent reality. We’ve learned that there are several tips and tricks one can do to manage this collective feeling. One proven method is the use of essential oils for aromatherapy.
In a report published on Hopkins Medicine, Harpreet Gujral, Program Director of integrative medicine at Sibley Memorial Hospital mentions that,
“Even if essential oils just boost your mood, it can make a positive impact on your health and well-being.”
Besides having effects on our state of mind, these essential oils can also keep insomnia at bay, boost energy, and help focus during difficult times. Most importantly, aromatherapy is a step towards a self-care routine that is passive and effective.
DoTERRA, a popular name in the essential oils market, has reported an increase in purchases. Public Relations Director Kevin Wilson speaks with The Daily Universe and touches upon how consumers are looking for products that "keep their hands and living areas clean, strengthen their immune systems, manage stress, and remain calm during uncertain times. They want to remain positive and reduce stress during these challenging times."
The Purify Oil consisting of lemon peel, tea tree leaf, cilantro and herb oils is a best seller that purifies and freshens the surrounding air. For those who want a good long night's sleep, the Serenity Restful Complex with lavender goodness and natural plant extracts eases insomnia. Perhaps the most suitable for our current times, is the Frankincense Oil. The specific oils from this unique lavender blend helps support healthy cellular functions, immune systems and nervous functions. As a by-product, a peaceful, reminiscent aroma will takes presidence in the room.
Essential oils in the form of aromatherapy can be used in combination with necklaces, bracelets, and chains that absorb, then release onto your skin throughout the course of the day. The option of body oils and aroma sticks make the entire experience of aromatherapy more functional, multi-faceted, and enjoyable.
Aerin Lauder shows her love for flowers in her latest collection with LoveShackFancy
We can smell the Wild Geraniums from a mile away. Discover the various products to boast this indescribable scent.
By Mrinalini Sundar
If you swoon at the scent of a rose, then you will fall in love with the refreshing new scent at AERIN - Wild Geranium. The aromatic experience features notes of geranium, orange flower, and rose centifolia, so in other words, a romantic bouquet of flowers.
“Wild Geranium is happiness. It’s a colorful, whimsical escape to a field brimming with wildflowers. A fresh cut Geranium note and a sparkling touch of Pink Pepper and Winter Lemon lead you into a maze of enchanting florals. Dewy Narcisse mingles with Orange Flower Petals, White Peony, Rose Centifolia, Tuberose Absolute, and warm Benzoin.”
The AERIN and LoveShackFancy duo also created a hair mist, a lip gloss in a soft pink shade, along with scrunchies, headbands, and dresses keeping in mind their love for flowers. Highlighting the hair mist in particular, the subtle fragrance of freshly cut Geranium mingled with a sparkling touch of Pink Pepper and Winter lemon leaves hair hydrated and softened to the touch.
In an interview for Vogue, Aerin mentions,
“I grew up loving Geraniums. My mom actually used to give them out as party favours for my birthdays.”
The Geranium originated in South Africa where 250 variations of the species still grow. The flower has since held great meaning for various European countries by being a recognisable symbol of their homeland, and is a common floral to be found in living room table tops and kitchen counters. Furthermore, the leaves grown on Geranium floral plants are edible, thus making it a unique and aesthetic additive in a culinary environment. Aerin expands their floral infused products beyond the Wild Geranium, as the brand also develops Rose De Grasse - a fusion of a 100 petalled rose centifolia that were handpicked in Grasse, France.
Florals are a huge part of Aerin Lauder and her products that range across a number of categories. Explore her fluid line of home, fashion and beauty that all boast seamless floral integrations here.
Our Highly Effective Quarantine Face Mask
We created an insanely effective face mask right in our kitchens, and couldn’t keep the secret to ourselves.
Using ingredients that we have in our home can create an effective face mask. Knowing all that goes into our skincare products is hard, in addition to many new agents that we are not familiar with.
To give our skin a natural detox, this face mask contains very few ingredients, and is beneficial as an exfoliant while achieving a natural glow.
All you’ll need is baking soda, honey, olive oil, lemon and brown sugar.
1 tsp of lemon
1 tsp of olive oil
1 tbsp of honey
1 tsp of brown sugar
1 tbsp of baking soda
Melt the honey for 10 seconds in the microwave, then add the olive oil and baking soda and stir together. Continue to add the rest of the ingredients while leaving the brown sugar until last to prevent it from breaking down too much.
We used a lemon-infused olive oil for our mask. This is an effective option as it will carry a more fluid, even amount of highly concentrated freshly pressed lemon in high quantity. With that, this mask can only be used once a week and left on the skin for 10 minutes max with this amount lemon extract. It resulted in a highly effective mask at stripping away all dead skin and leaving skin extremely radiant - so we recommend this route for our skin mask lovers.
Baking soda is a safe product for skin use as it is a natural compound which is extracted from specific minerals. It boasts as a powerful exfoliant that carries various bleaching agents, also known to slightly shrinks the size of pores; crucial when preventing the build-up of bacteria and dirt.
Brown sugar is an ingredient we now look for when buying new face masks, so it was a no-brainer to incorporate it into our own. The abrasiveness of brown sugar grains in particular cleans away dry and dead skin cells, making skin smoother and more radiant, and is also one of the few ingredients we can trust as a skin polisher. Brown sugar leaves skin with a delicious smell - similar to some of the other ingredients we’ve combined.
In addition to its other skin perfecting agents, honey allows for the mask to be applied evenly and effectively to the skin. The antioxidant compounds help to fight premature signs of aging while also uncloging pores and preventing bacteria. After left on the skin for just a few minutes, you will be left with a soft-to-the-touch glow that lasts for days.
Lemon is an ingredient in this face mask that makes it a more ‘serious’ topical for your face. While there are some side effects that can occur if products with lemon are used too frequently especially with sun exposure, its skin purifying compounds make it a magical ingredient in this mask. Lemon is particularly good for those with dry skin and cases of eczema as it is said to alleviate skin patches brought about by dry skin cells. Lemon can also aid in the development of collagen levels as Vitamin C helps to prevent free radicals which damage collagen cells. This mask can be made without the lemon and still product amazing results while being gentle enough for daily use. If you decide to include lemon, we recommend this as a weekly mask.
If you attempt this mask - show us the process or your radiant skin afterwards by tagging us on Instagram!
Spring Topics | The Art of Curation with Sasha Mei
Talks on creating universes that reflect us with Sasha Mei. An approach to curation with purely ourselves in mind.
Curators are free to play in a space where the core understanding is to make sense of how they envision a certain tactile object or tangible thought. When these thoughts and objects are placed into sequence, a never-ending story is told, and that story is a direct reflection of the curator and their world, or the world as they envision it.
We began to think deeper about this after our interview with creator Sasha Mei.
We were lucky enough to have Sasha’s insight on topics that have been sensationalized since our digital world is now more than ever, a space for commodity. In addition, we relate many quotes and ideas from Filmmaker, Philanthropist and Futurist Jason Silva to the idea of formulating separate ideas and visions in our minds, and presenting them to the world as new perceived realities.
“Creativity and insight almost always involve an experience of acute pattern recognition: the eureka moment in which we perceive the interconnection between disparate concepts or ideas to reveal something new.”
The act of curation on Sasha’s feed intrigued us to find out more about what inspires her posts in relation to her perception of the interconnectedness of her differing interests.
“I’m happy to be a content-maker as well as a curator. Which means I am happy to be a presenter of amazing things. ”
2P: What are two main things you consider when curating your feed?
S: Always before posting, I question whether the content is a reflection of me. Am I posting something just for the sake of it? If so, my audience is smart and they recognize that - they won’t engage as much with it.
What do you think initially gained you momentum on Instagram?
This is difficult to answer because I really don’t think Instagram is about following. I’ll say my creative momentum came after I graduated from university. I was free from student life, I moved back and forth from cities, and I started to curate a life for myself. That’s when I started documenting more enthusiastically, and I guess people liked what I was creating!
How did you choose the niches that you stay focused on?
I don’t think I chose them consciously. My style is based on people who inspire me and the sweet little digital community I’ve fostered over the past year.
Do you see curation take form in any parts of your life aside from social media?
My bedroom for sure. I’m working on the rest of my apartment!
What advice do you have for someone who can’t figure out how to choose their direction and to stick to it?
I still don’t know what to do with my life. I work three jobs and I love the hustle. The best advice I’ve received is to always be open to learning, and just be honest. Own up to your mistakes - people will respect you for being truthful. Don’t think you have to be the best of the best right away. I’ll be honest, I’ve just started my career. It was hard not to feel like I had everything under control, and I’m learning every day that it’s okay to learn from others. It’s wonderful.
What are a couple of ways you make various categories (fashion, beauty, interiors/art) to all look cohesive despite their differing fields?
In French they call it a fil rouge - what is the red thread that connects everything together? It’s simple, and goes back to what I was saying before. Be honest. If you like things that vary across categories, then your personality is a fil rouge.
Spring Topics | The Art of Curation with White Sage
This week we interview mood board blogger White Sage about how to curate a feed to inspire an audience of engaged followers.
The act of curation becomes magic when an interior designer is given a quaint corner. We’ve seen this magic placed in a cohesive visual on the soothing and carefully attended Instagram page White Sage, ran by mood board aficionado Xanthea.
Through the careful integration of interiors, sculptures, precisely focused fashion images and juxtaposed furniture and artworks, Xanthea now inspires an audience who is searching for that perfect quaint corner, and more so, a space full of intent and inspiration.
To understand how these design-focused pages are thought out from beginning to end, we questioned Xanthea about her ultimate direction and inspiration for White Sage. Be sure to read the introduction to Week 1 of our Spring Topics series ‘The Art of Curation’.
What made you want to start an Instagram page based on the idea of a mood board?
I’d admired other mood board accounts and when telling a friend one day they said, “you could do that!” I started White Sage in my first year of design school. My course focused more on the construct of “interior design” rather than the aesthetics of it. White Sage was an outlet for me to put aesthetics out and then focus on making messy things in my real life explorations. I was already in love with the work of Art Director Carlota Guerrero and then Solange released ‘A Seat at the Table’. I was infatuated with the vibe she’d created sonically and visually and its consistency spanning different mediums. While White Sage is an Instagram page, I feel it gives me clarity when expressing myself in other forms.
Solange - ‘A Seat at the Table’ live performance.
Did you go into White Sage with a strict theme, or did you let that develop over time?
It kind of developed over time! I’d began loving that Summery warm seaside vibe and as I got deeper into my studies I learned about more sculptors and designers. My focus went more onto posting about them and soothing spaces.
Do you feel a tug at your willpower when curating on Instagram, and if so, how do you stay inside the lines?
I do! Sometimes I’ll post something, look at it beside other posts and decide to delete it. I know there are different phone apps to help visualise the overall mood of it - but my approach is quite impulsive. When I see something I like, I post it. I do consult with my partner on whether a post actually fits a ‘White Sage’ aesthetic or not. However, I’m a sucker for cute cat posts. During this strange time I’ve found it important to post lighter images of cute animals and dreamy outdoor settings to distract viewers from their indoor situations.
What do you think is important in curating an Instagram as it directly relates to gaining a following?
You can create your own sort of world on an Instagram profile. That’s what viewers will subscribe to. I didn’t create White Sage with gaining followers in mind, but seeing businesses use the platform, it’s a huge opportunity to communicate a brands ethos and gain potential clients. It’s a really exciting thing!
How did you go about choosing your niches to focus on, and how many do you think one should have?
Each niche is an interest I have, then communicated through my aesthetic. I love interiors, animals, yoga and fashion. I couldn’t stick to one strict niche as I’m fascinated by the crossovers and how one thing can inspire or influence another. I think by having a few, it brings you out of just being one sort of an Instagram profile. I don’t mind being associated with interior design as it is the forefront of my life.
Can you share a specific guideline you have when deciding on content for White Sage?
I try to post more minimal, white photos between fuller posts. Some spaces or images are too exciting not to post so I work to dilute it’s intensity then on my profile. I do love images of unmade beds so I’m aware to not only post those! If an image has yellows to it, I’ll balance it next to blues.
Stay tuned for our next interview with Sasha Mei, and keep up to date with the Spring Topics series on Instagram.
SPRING TOPICS | Introduction to the Art of Curation
The first week of our new series ‘Spring Topics’, discusses curation as it existed before, and during the age of social media.
To create within the boundaries you have formulated in your mind, and displaying those boundaries visually and creatively is called curation, and it has existed since Ancient Rome.
The Gallery of the History of Ancient Painting in the Hermitage, c. 1800s
The word crystallised in the 20th century with its meaning in relation to ‘taking care’ of artworks in a museum setting. After watching Ted Talk with highly acclaimed museum curator ‘Hans Ulrich Obrist’, he explains how the expansion of what is considered to be art intrinsically expanded what the practice of ‘curation’ relates to.
“It is much much more than filling a space with objects, it has to do with filtering, it has to do with enabling, it has to do with synthesizing, with framing, also with remembering. ”
Though we as interpretive viewers receive a final product that looks seemingly effortless, these ensembles of ‘things ‘ goes through a set of personal and external parcels during the creators process of visualization. Hans also mentions his belief in the fact that curation means we as humans are constantly trembling, meaning we are always ready to receive new experience and to incorporate them within oursleves without losing ourselves. This visual of curation emphasizes the importance of different elements comprising one art piece.
It can be daunting to think about hitting the reset button on your social media. Many of us will find ourselves in new jobs with new titles, or with different passions and want to adjust how we previously posted on our profiles. Yet, a sense of nostalgia remains and doing the social media ‘gut’ can be tough. Even if you want to pursue a more curated feed to better showcase your current self and to increase your leads, curation is an art practice, and is more intrinsically prominent in creative, left-brain individuals. Nonetheless, this term has been said to highly influence our visibility online regardless of your field. Those who have found a way to intertwine all their interests into a cohesive tableau keep viewers around longer and gain more followers as a result of trust. This trust is built easier as these profiles have displayed content with more intent, and more to read between the lines.
Now considered one of the most overused words of modern time, we debunk what it really means to be a curator and how it has taken on a new life form. We are all natural born curators. We must choose what does and doesn’t fit in our spaces, and in a grander scheme of things, in our lives. It is natural to curate. Now with the word being used as a describer and marketing tool of pretty much anything put together, we intend to revisit the traditional modes of curation, whilst examining new-age curators and their approach to interpreting various pieces of art as one tableau.
Stay tuned this week as we interview bloggers Sasha Mei and White Sage about their approach to curation.
Of All Time: Quarantine Playlists from Influential Toronto Females
Quarantine is better with a good playlist, so we needed some help from some of Toronto’s favourite girls.
It didn’t take long for us to realize that Quarantine will be handled much better with music to take us through all of the moods we will experience.
Most of us are feeling reminiscent and nostalgic, which can lead to peaceful moments of slowing down and reflecting. We were adamant on finding out what is on the ‘Best Of’ playlists of some of our favourite Toronto girls who come from different spaces, thus bringing different vibes. Whether a smooth beat R&B comforts you in all the right ways, or if you are someone who likes to keep up the pace with energetic dance tracks- these selections will spark a cord in you.
listen to the full thing in Spotify.
Tara Leigh Rose
Co - Founder at Counter Culture Agency
Frank Ocean - Chanel | The Beach Boys - Wouldn’t It Be Nice | Lewis Capaldi - Someone You Loved | Paradis - Toi et Moi | Lewis Ofman - Je Pense a Toi | Cigarettes After Sex - Each Time You Fall in Love | Tom Odell - Another Love | Emotional Oranges - Just Like You | Khalid - Better | Daniel Ceasar - Best Part
“Music is important to me because it allows me to sit in my feelings, and it’s so wonderful how a stranger can put words together and create music that resonates with my soul.”
Sarah Caamano
Model
Feeling Good - Nina Simone | Fly Me To The Moon - Bobby Womack | Too Fast - Sonder | A Fool For You - Ray Charles | Violet - Daniel Ceaser | A Natural Woman - Aretha Franklin | Callaita - Bad Bunny | At Last - Etta James | Strangers in the Night - Frank Sinatra | La Cancion - J Balvin + Bad Bunny
“Music - I’m moved by it and inspired by it. I’m able to express what words cannot. It is my favourite form of love language.”
Carly Cuisia
Dance Teacher
Come Thru - Drake | Sugar - Brockhampton | Come Thru - Summer Walk (ft. Usher) | Hard Place - H.E.R | Normal Girl - SZA | Fior Di Latte - Phoenix | I Want You - Kings Of Leon | Stay Ready - Jhene Aiko, Kendrick Lamar | Shootin’ Shots - Trey Songz, Ty Dolla Sign, Tory Lanez | Wildest Dreams - Brandy
“My four year old daughter calls my choice of music “slow motion”, which I interpret as her telling me music selection is chill.”
Bella Tonan
Partnerships at 437
Jhene Aiko - None Of Your Concern | Burna Boy - On the Low | Jorja Smith - Be Honest | SZA - Love Galore | Jhene Aiko - Bed Peace | Snoh Aalegra - Woah | PartyNextDoor + Drake - Come and See Me | Danileigh + Chris Brown - Easy | Davido - Fall | Stormzy - Own It
“I love music I can dance to. Car karaoke to feel good to. ”
Listen to all of the tracks with this Spotify Playlist 🤍.
The Fresh Lotus Dream Cream is the Perfect Valentines Day Gift - To Yourself.
Let the day of love lead to more days of self-love.
Signing up for a night of pampering is not the same without a product like the new Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream.
A Fresh best-seller.
We wanted to present the perfect gift that you owe to yourself. The idea of self-care is embedded in the Fresh DNA, shown in their tactics for extracting and formulating ingredients from living, active flowers in the utmost sustainable practices.
You will find, on the Ten Mile Creek in Georgia, USA on a lotus farm, a mobile lab where florals are examined and extracted directly on the grounds which they grew. Curating this process in the same area since the planting of the lotus seed, ensures a fresh and sustainable version of skincare.
“lightweight, whipped moisturizer ”
The Floral Components:
Chamomile Flower: Intermixed to enhance calming effects.
Super Lotus: A combination of lotus juice extraction and the parts of the grounded root and leaves, for a final super lotus combination.
A Touch of Fruit:
Peach Leaf Extract: Helps the skin look refreshed and de-stressed overnight.
Not like we need an excuse, but Valentine’s Day, whether for yourself or your other, is the perfect time to invest in a cream geared to enhance your beauty sleep. Let the day of love lead to more days of self-love 🖤.
“I truly believe lotus holds the secrets to aging positively—the plant itself can live for a thousand years!”
And as if we needed more proof, 97% of users based off of a 60 person study said their skin felt nourished and smooth by morning after just one night. 98% said their skins elasticity and bounce improved after 4 weeks.
xx
How Flowers Became the DNA of DIOR Beauty
Hosted in France, the Loire Valley is home to the Rose de Granville, a species that is cultivated to be twice as powerful as a rose grown under different conditions.
The benefits of florals on our well-being span far beyond how they improve our moods.
We see DIOR Beauty as a leader in regards to incorporating florals into formulas of some of the most luxurious products known to the beauty industry. The fragrance house of DIOR dates back to 1947, and since, we have seen a development in both their makeup and skincare formulas that have been created with the science behind flower-power.
A letter from Dior:
At Dior, skincare is all about excellence, led by Christian Dior’s passion for feminine beauty. Sensitive to nature, the couturier nurtured an unconditional love for flowers. Today more than ever, flowers inspire Dior Science and are at the heart of the scientific research led by Dior researchers. In 1992, Dior moved into ethnobotany, thus perpetuating a kind heof natural and credible affiliation with the couturier’s love of quality materials and highly developed skills. A team comprising over 250 researchers, biologists and formulators; scientific advances recognised by several patents; rare flowers cultivated in 8 ‘Dior Gardens’ and a rich palette of over 3,000 raw materials...
- Dior.com
The florals are organically grown, and are hosted in highly controlled spaces that have entire ecosystems dedicated to their ideal growing conditions. After the cultvation, the product is developed in a space of over 250 ethnobotanists and chemists inside of what Dior calls, ‘The Rose Lab.’
This allows each plant to develop the precious molecules needed for extraction. “Once extracted, these powerful active molecules make flowers the real jewels in the crown of Dior skincare”, says Dior, and we see this come to life with some of our favourite products like the ‘Dior Prestige: La Crème’, or ‘La Micro-Huile De Rose skin supplement.’
Hosted in France, the Loire Valley is home to the Rose de Granville, a species that is cultivated to be twice as powerful as a rose grown under different conditions. They are gathered twice a year at the end of spring and beginning of summer, which are crucial times that require carefulness and precision. Every gesture lends to the final product when picking these roses. The conditions are without fertilizers, meaning the product has been curated organically from the very cultivation of the ingredients to the last phase of development.
Dior continues to make new innovative technologies in their forumulas due to their robust team and nurtured ecosystems.
Now knowing the exquisite details put into these skincare staples, what will your next DIOR Beauty purchase be?
Adut Akech’s Approach to a Meaningful Wardrobe in 6 Outfits
When she is not on the runway for Chanel or Versace, she’s crafting her own runway in cities around the world.
Fashion’s finest members, such as top model Adut Akech, are rarely seen in clothes that are unexpressive in some way. This idea behind street style and how it defines personality is what drives these women to craft effortless looks for the everyday, that ultimately reflect who they are.
This means the whole process of acquiring clothes is different as well.
As we continue to grow in the vein of sustainable shopping habits we explore additional ways to minimize our impact, in addition to the best route which is shopping from brands with sustainable practices. Methods like, curating your closet of few pieces that work in a variety of instances and that hold up quality to last, are also ways to shop less and appreciate more. All of these variations of thoughtful shopping, help the unifying goal of lessening the ecological footprint of the fashion industry.
One of our ways to shift the way we shop for clothing, is to take notes from Adut. When she is not on the runway for Chanel or Versace, she’s crafting her own runway in cities around the world.
Statement Pieces in Practical Fabrics
We have discovered that this skirt is in fact Adut’s mothers. Appreciating vintage and styling it so that it looks none other than a skirt off of a current runway, brings meaning to this outfit, and surely contributes to the unifying goal.
2. A Fantastic Holiday Dress
This can be a great tradition to start that will have an impact in a variety of ways. Instead of cringing every time you want to buy a gorgeous holiday dress that you will likely wear once, vow to re-sell it each year and buy a new one. If you keep this tradition going, you are continuously giving clothes another life cycle and keeping your wardrobe fresh at the same time.
3. The Timeless Blazer + Denim Combo
What was most important here was the perfect fit of both pieces. Investing in tailoring pieces like denim and blazers, that get worn frequently for years, will increase longevity and the overall look.
4. Practical Co-ordinates
Adut sticks to a classic tailored suit when wearing two-piece sets. The styling options can be endless for the right pieces. When separated, the garments take on a new life.
5. Fall Pieces in Summer Colours
What is interesting to the eye, is what we don’t expect to see. The masses are quick to opt for those fall colours that we see in our favourite sweaters and jackets, but a more authentic approach is these pieces in unexpected palettes.
6. High-Waisted Dress Pants
You can truly ask any lady who has had the pleasure of acquiring a pair of dress pants that fit them just right. These pieces make their way into your outfits multiple times a week, and offer a gorgeous silhouette if the high-waist hits at the perfect spot.
Share in the comments below your favourite places to acquire similar pieces!
Keep up with the fashion model life of Adut Akech on her instagram.
Bye for now!
THE FALL 2019 BAG EDIT
The options have only grown for a perfect fall bag that will go with any outfit choice.
We have drawn an end to fashion week, which means it is the beginning of new fall wardrobe additions.
An exciting direction that our favourite brands have chosen to take this fall, are unpredictable colour palettes that feel progressive in the world of luxury handbags. Our motto is simple when it comes to these important purchases. Keep the shape classic and the colour adaptable. With that, don’t let those rules confine you from taking risks. If the piece makes you excited, you will wear it better.
Chloé
The C Mini Bag
Our favourite colours as follows:
SHOP THE REST AT CHLOÉ
Celine
The Sac Belt Micro
SHOP THE REST AT CELINE
Gucci
Small Snakeskin Leather Bag
SHOP THE REST AT GUCCI
DIOR
Saddle
SHOP THE REST AT DIOR
Loewe
Hammock Small Drawstring Bag
SHOP THE REST AT LOEWE
Allow your fall accessory purchases to be guided by the notion of risk-taking. Step outside of your colour palette by going for a piece that will play up simple, approachable fall looks.
An introduction to self-love, thanks to Mejuri.
Take a company like luxury jewelry brand Mejuri. Their lifestyle approach allows them to explore topics like self-care.
Before drawing my own interpretations, I wanted to see what the web had to say.
The articles I found online resisted to plunge deeper into a real overview of why the idea of self-love shifted from a negative to a positive trait as time went on.
Captured at Mejuri’s ‘Self Love Panel’ in Toronto, Canada.
The stories that surfaced on my google search merely revealed the academic giants to bring forth validated research about the entire world of well-being. After I clicked through mimicked checklists on how to start feeling better or interpretations that fell flat of research other than a one-off study that didn’t use very many participants, I decided it was time to read beyond the articles that used key trending words to appear at the top of my search.
The first wave of psychologists to find interest and coin defining terms in this discipline, all touch upon similar ideas that are still being practiced today. The career of William James was particularly interesting, a psychologist and philosopher, who was the first to offer a psychology course in the United States. Born in 1842, his writings that covered topics such as a two-stage model for free will and his theory of emotion, resulted in William James to be considered one of the most influential philosophers of the nineteenth century - being labeled, the ‘Father of American Psychology’.
New economic and social structures are being built, meaning that our methods of wellness shift and grow to fit our contemporary surroundings.
Take a company like luxury jewelry brand Mejuri.
The night of Mejuri’s Self-Love Panel in Toronto, Canada.
A lifestyle approach to their brand, has allowed Mejuri to explore topics like self-care, and other practices embedded in the world of well-being. On a Monday night in Toronto, the Mejuri studio filled with a humming group of Toronto creatives and wellness enthusiasts, ready to listen in on a panel featuring three women who have started business in Toronto, keeping their companies (and their own lives) fluid with methods of self-love.
From left to right
Aila Morin - Mejuri Marketin Manager / Mary Young / Michelle Siman
The takeaway? That self-love is something we all must figure out for ourselves, but together as a group.
Different perspectives on morning routines, therapy verse self-healing methods, diets and workloads offered a number of structures one can build for themselves that works for their unique life and goals. What all the women had in common was the passionate quest to share what they have figured out with others. The passion and eagerness to compare best practices and share inspiration was a moment that held great value for everyone.
The event was in the spirt of Mejuri’s new, delicate-in-scent soy candle.
While not only being a destination for fine jewelry and lifestyle add-ons, this brand seeks to infuse real life connections with their consumers on a personal level of self-care.
We’re excited to see what Mejuri has in store next.
Reformation's Strategy for Being Leaders in Sustainable Fashion
Shopping for sustainable clothing has proven to be a challenge not only because of the incremented prices, but simply the lack of options for the consumer who wants to do well for the environment- and their aesthetic.
Thankfully one of the most down-to-earth Founders in the fashion industry frequently does interviews and sits on panels, speaking about the journey of her clothing line, Reformation. Yael Aflalo paints a picture of the sustainable clothing scene as a place which can be perceived as a sort of “granola” area. There is nothing fun and sexy happening in these designs. It was immediately apparent in Yael’s seriousness and poise, yet playfulness and humbleness when speaking about Ref, that she was on a mission to change this.
Reformation CEO Yael Aflalo.
Shopping for sustainable clothing has proven to be a challenge not only because of the incremented prices, but simply the lack of options for the consumer who wants to do well for the environment- and their aesthetic. Many world-renowned fashion houses have been weary of their pasts, a past which has led the fashion industry to having the third largest ecological footprint on the planet. With information like this, lambskin and fur just don’t sound as luxurious. New, millennial-targeted apparel brands have seized this opportunity to change the scope of what it means to look good and do good. It thankfully doesn’t have anything to do with poor working conditions, environmentally toxic garment-making processes, and the harming of other life forms.
Tash Dress - $118.00 Shop here
“Being naked is the #1 most sustainable option, we’re #2. ”
The cleverness in Reformations copy has ultimately changed how their clothing is perceived, which is now fit for a princess (as seen on Meghan Markle). The sexy and witty approach to talking with a consumer has broken down a barrier of whatever disconnect a potential buyer could have experienced, for the reasons of a cliché message or off-target branding. But of course, the copy couldn’t alone sell clothes that weren’t of mass appeal, in the most niche way.
Reformation has made everyone want to shop sustainably, and interestingly enough, not solely because it will be helping the environment. The clothes are delicate and are made to be suitable for a wide range of instances. The dresses always present a timeless shape and a feminine print or complimenting colour. It’s the type of garments you will see on girls ranging in skin tone and body type. There’s something about the delicacy in the garments that would attract any type of woman. Moving beyond the craftsmanship of the clothing, Ref models are stripped back and have been styled to look as natural as possible. This decision pairs seamlessly with the ethos of the brand and the look of the clothes. By having each component of the companies mission, vision, creative direction, and business model compliment one another, the chances of Reformation resonating with a global audience is an obvious and well-deserved result. Furthermore, the brand shares how much water each garment saves via its sustainable production practices; an element very few brands can include as information for their audience.
“There really should be a sustainable fashion brand that appeals to fashionable consumers, but there isn’t. I think I can do it.”
9 years ago Yael launched Reformation after being exposed to poor working conditions in China while being a freelance designer for major clothing brands, and 9 years later, Reformation is a pioneer for creating exquisite clothing with a miniscule ecological footprint. This page on their website is all the proof you need: https://www.thereformation.com/pages/sustainable-practices