Our world is in free-fall. People and small businesses are currently facing an unprecedented crisis that amongst all others, is hitting us, independent dreamers, small brands and bloggers hard. It’s no secret that our vegan, fair and sustainable fashion movement has already been struggling during normal, better days, and now while fighting to keep our heads above troubled water, we need your support now more than ever before. During these difficult times, we realize how much stronger we are, together, and in order to do my part, I gathered some ideas for actions YOU can take to help your favorite small, ethical businesses and a list of great initiatives helping garment workers and supporting the COVID-19 frontlines.
Spread Love, It’s Free!
Kindness rarely costs anything and it is one of the best things you can do, now and always. Offering help to people in your community and people who are struggling at the moment are things I already brought up in my previous article, and since our focus now is small businesses, you might be wondering how you can help even if you cannot afford to buy anything at the moment. Fortunately, it is easier than you think.
Use social media for good: guess what- following your favorite businesses/bloggers on social media, engaging with their content, leaving a nice comment, sliding into their DMs and sharing their brand with your friends and followers via stories, posts, Facebook groups or zoom parties are actions that might not cost anything, but have a massive impact. Whether you have 10 or 100,000 followers, you have the ability to spread love, be kind and make a change.
All Photography by the lovely Ksenia Poliak, Cruelty-Free & Vegan Makeup by my wonderful Paula Fay (Both Via Lumo Creative Studio) | bag: Nuuwaï x Style with a Smile, sweater: LANA Organic
Time to”show off”: Do you have a bread you bought at your local bakery? or maybe a nice pair of jeans you like? show them off, upload an Instagram story and tag your favorite brand- they would be so delighted to see you and your positive vibes 🙂 If you really have some content creators you like, re-share your favorite post from their account and write a short explanation about why you like following them 🙂
Leave a review: Purchased a nice vegan bag or a sweater from an ethical brand? Got to enjoy a yummy meal at a local vegan restaurant? it’s time for you to leave a review on google, on their Facebook page, on an app (like A Billion Veg or Happy Cow) and even directly on their website if it has the option to do so. Leaving a warm, personal, genuine review won’t only help other potential customers and the business, but also will make the owners smile. It’s also a good time to tell your favorite brand and bloggers about things you’d like to see from them in the future- I assure you we will appreciate it!
Help Garment Workers at Risk
As a result of the sudden, unplanned stop in manufacturing due to COVID-19, millions of garment makers, which are the most vulnerable, lowest-paid people in the fashion supply chain, lost their jobs and have no access to social or financial safety nets to help them survive. According to Fashion-Revolution, “In the global (fast) fashion industry, brands typically pay their suppliers weeks or even months after delivery, rather than upon order. This means that suppliers usually pay upfront for the materials or fibers used to make the products that the brand buys from them”. In response to the pandemic, many major fashion brands and retailers we all know are canceling orders and stopping payments for orders that have already been placed, even when the work has already been done, taking no responsibility for the impact this has on the people working in their supply chains, who are now in real danger.
What can we do? We cannot let these workers stand alone! Here are actions you can take (in just a few seconds) to show solidarity and act NOW!
1. Send a letter to fashion brands and demand that they will pay for orders they have already placed! This was made easier than ever as Fashion Revolution has created a letter template for us to send the emails directly to the brands from their website. Do it now!
2. Join REMAKE’s #PayUp campaign: Remake a nonprofit with a mission to turn fashion into a force for good. Together with Worker Rights Consortium and Clean Clothes Campaign, Remake is demanding brands to #PayUp for the orders they placed, calling for an Emergency COVID-19 Fund to be set up for garment makers with support from multilateral agencies, local governments, and brands. Take a picture with the #PayUp sign and don’t forget to sign the petition, here.
3. Donate to NGOs supporting garment makers that have lost their jobs. Fash Rev recommends giving money to AWAJ Foundation, The Garment Worker Centre and GoodWeave International (read more about them here).
Vote With Your Money
this isn’t just a motto, but a lifestyle! it would be totally irresponsible not to address the fact that money is tight at the moment, and some of us might not have the luxury to spend it, but if you do, or if you are in a need for something new, make sure you are conscious who you are voting for! Supporting your local or favorite brands is so important now! not only they will be so thankful (and perhaps, will even do a little dance,) but also it is your way to show your appreciation for them, what they do and stand for, allowing them a bit more breathing time and preventing them from closing down.
Initiatives in the Fair Fashion Industry Supporting COVID-19 Frontlines
Read & save lives: The amazing team of LUXIDERS Magazine started a fantastic solidarity campaign offering ALL of their digital magazines for €5 each. 100% of sales will go to Doctors Without Borders, so our sustainable community can help bring lifesaving medical care to people in need, together. By purchasing the LUXIDERS Digital Magazines, we can literally save lives, while enjoying some inspiring content to pass the time. who’s in?
Get yourself a Together Band: Together Band will be donating 100% of net proceeds from #TOGETHERBAND purchases to the TOGETHER FUND: 50% of the funds we raise will go to COVID-19 Response Funds; split equally between United Nations’ COVID-19 Solidarity Fund for WHO and Doctors without Borders. The other 50% of the funds will go to the life-changing programs addressing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals that are critical to our planet’s future. Don’t want a band? no worries, Donate directly to the Together Fund.
Wear a mask, save others, donate money: leading fair fashion brand ARMEDANGELS launched their new line of face masks fairly made from organic cotton. The masks won’t only allow you to protect others sustainably (and with style!) but would also help Doctors Without Borders, as 2 Euros from each sale will be donated directly to them.
Fair Fashion Solidarity: Initiatives Helping Fair Fashion Brands, Suppliers and Stores
Join #FairFashionSolidarity: this great initiative, founded by Lanius, Langer Chen, Avocado Store, and Loveco, is inviting us all to gather together, show solidarity and support the fair fashion movement during this hard time. I am totally in!
Get a CHARI T-shirt: DAWN DENIM, a brand which I’ve loved since first speaking with at NEONYT last July is now offering their “CHARI-T” beautiful, fair and organic cotton t-shirt with the Earth Flag printed on it. “The International Flag of Planet Earth” is a project by the Swedish designer Oskar Pernefeldt. It is the ultimate symbol of cohesion and is therefore particularly important and relatable at this time: on it, you will find seven rings that form a flower representing seven continents and life on Earth. The rings are linked to each other, which represents how everything on Earth is directly or indirectly connected. The blue field represents our oceans, and water, which is essential for life on Earth. “With this t-shirt, we want to help our friends through the corona crisis”, said Pia from DAWN DENIM. “100% of all profits are donated. 50% of the small, independent boutiques and stores that run DAWN and now fear for their existence, and 50% of an organic cotton farm that is threatened by the crisis”. We are all one, peeps!
NEONYT At Home: I, my friend Patrick and the NEONYT team have compiled a variety of infotainment offers giving you the lowdown from the sustainability sector and bringing a taste of NEONYT to your own four walls. To keep you occupied, we’ll be providing you with entertaining interviews with exhibitors from the show by made by your NEONYT ambassadors (hint hint- it’s me and Patrick!), as well as informative videos of the Fashionsustain panel discussions and fascinating podcasts of our community talks.
CHARI T DAWN DENIM ARMED ANGELS MASK NEONYT AT HOME
Are you a brand? consider joining Tip Me: if you could tip the person who made your clothes, would you? well, now you can! Tip me was founded to solve the problem of unfair supply chains. Their software is allowing brands to join their platform, allowing their customers to tip the people behind their clothes, accessories and even food, telling their story and creating an actual connection and the ability to thank them and better their lives. The whole team behind Tip Me is committed to this vision and the workers around the globe are the focus of their daily work. Working on eye-level, transparency and respect are among TIP ME’s core values!
Fair Fashion Brands to Support
Nuuwai: a Germany-based vegan, ethical and sustainable brand creating bags from apple waste. I actually launched a bag collection in collaboration with Nuuwai just a few weeks ago which donates 5% of sales to Freedom Farm Sanctuary, and we would appreciate your support, check it out here! (100% vegan, Ships internationally, use code “stayhome” for 15% off).
Beflamboyant: a Spanish vegan, ethical, sustainable and gender-neutral brand offering timeless, high-quality sneakers. Each pair sold is helping plant one tree! I live inside their sneakers and highly recommend them (100% vegan, ships internationally).
Loft & Daughter: ethical and sustainable jewelry and lifestyle brand for conscious fashion lovers! this slow living brand exists to create maximum social and economic uplift for disadvantaged artisan communities, with minimal environmental footprint. Can’t recommend them enough (100% vegan, ships internationally).
nuuwai bag Beflamboyant sneakers Loft & Daughter jewelery
Noomi Stockholm: vegan, cruelty-free, natural and sustainable skincare brand whose founder is a nurse! help her and support her brand while she’s standing in the front-lines saving lives <3 I love her serum so much, already finished my bottle! (100% cruelty-free & vegan, ships internationally)
Hexa: a Bangkok-based vegan brand specialized in creating stylish and comfortable shoes ethically and sustainably- I own three pairs from the brand and they are all comfy and chic! (100% vegan, ships internationally- click here!).
Sneaky Panda: as the world’s first vegan, ethical and sustainable sneakers-store for men, Sneaky Panda is serving you with some of the most exclusive, luxurious sneakers from around the world! My personal favorite brand SP is carrying is NAT-2 which you will find on this list, too! (100% vegan, ships internationally).
Noomi HEXA Sneaky Panda (nat 2)
TAWAST: This slow, transparent Finland-based brand is creating ethical, sustainable, made-to-order timeless, quality, comfortable clothes and run by one talented, sweet girl called Milla Tawast, who does it all by herself. packaging. Tawast is donating 5% of sales to animal sanctuaries. You can get 10% off all TAWAST clothing using the code NOA10 🙂 You can watch my small video review here (100% vegan, ships internationally).
Minuit Sur Terre: a French vegan brand creating eco-conscious, ethically-made shoes for men and women. The brand isn’t only fully transparent about the materials and textiles used in their shoes but about their costs, too. (100% vegan, ships internationally)
Arsayo: this vegan family business is responsible for a cool, patented backpack which would probably be the comfiest and most secure one you’ll ever try.
TAWAST MINUIT SUR TERRE ARSAYO
Dan & Mez: a vegan, ethical and sustainable brand based in Austria creating timepieces and wallets from Pinatex– a vegan leather alternative made out of recycled pineapple leaves. Love their classic watch (100% vegan, ships internationally).
Fabrikk: when vegan fashion meets technology! Fabrikk UK is an innovative, vegan British brand focusing on high-quality, luxury cork goods and eco-fashion tech and LED lights inside their bags (100% vegan, ships internationally).
Mama Tierra: a non-profit organization working for and with indigenous people in their strive for self-determination. By commercializing ethnic accessories, Mama Tierra supports the financial independence of these women, allowing them to care for their children, families and themselves. (100% vegan, ships internationally).
DAN & MEZ FABRIKK MAMA TIERRA
Lana Organic: a fair, sustainable and organic fashion brand from Aachen, Germany. LANA offers a great selection of vegan designs of products that can be easily recognized with the PETA approved vegan sign + on the special vegan section of their website. (Vegan friendly, Ships within Germany).
Ferron: a vegan, smart, chic and compact bag brand based in the UK. For every bag sold, Ferron donates £10 to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust– As one of Africa’s oldest wildlife charities and a leading conservation organization! (100% vegan, ships internationally).
OSIER: this Amsterdam-based brand is combining the ethical, the timeless, and the beautiful to offer us luxurious, vegan leather bags. I personally recommend their beautiful JORDAAN bag (100% vegan, ships internationally).
LANA ORGANIC FERRON OSIER BAG
Sanikai: a Swiss, slow and responsible luxury clothing line creating the most unique pieces of art through their collections, using organic and recycled materials. I own a few pieces from them and adore the quality! (vegan-friendly, ships internationally)
Like a Bird: this innovative German brand is using new, innovative, upcycled materials such as rose petals, coffee, and soy protein to create a better fashion industry and planet for us all. I am the proud owner of a soy protein by Like a Bird and it is the softest thing I own! (100% vegan, shipping within Europe).
Nat-2: from roses and vegan currywurst to coffee and stones, this mega-innovative is creating sneakers from the most unique materials and is responsible for a long list of awesome vegan and sustainable innovations. I am a top fan of this brand and own a pair of their stunning rose sneakers 🙂 (vegan-friendly, ships internationally)
MOS Subscription box: want to build an ethical, vegan and sustainable capsule wardrobe and don’t have the time? MOS will do the job for you! Check out their amazing service (100% vegan, ships internationally)
SANIKAI LIKE A BIRD NAT 2 MOS
Jan n June: this Hamburg-based label loves making sustainable fashion super cool, fun and refreshing! If you like young, minimal, chic and current styles and cuts, that’s the way to go (100% vegan, ships in Europe)
Lovjoi: fair fashion brand Lovjoi offers clothing, intimates, and denim made mainly from organic cotton and Tencel I own a few of their garments and can’t stop wearing their denim (100% vegan, ships in Europe)
Noumenon: This Amsterdam-based vegan e-shop offers its own designs alongside other wonderful designers from around the world. I can’t wait to receive my parcel from them! (100% vegan, ships internationally)
MUD Jeans: this amazing and innovative brand is making new jeans out of old ones! As part of the circular economy movement, all MUD jeans denim are recycled and recyclable, and the brand also offers rental services (100% vegan, ships within EU)
JAN N JUNE SKIRT AND SWEATER LOVJOI DRESS NOUMENON MUD JEANS
FRAMIORE: this slow, small Ukrainian brand transforms traditional clothing from disappearing cultures into fashionable, modern ones. Some call them ‘anthropological fashion’ for that. I one a pair of pants and a top by the brand, both made of 100% Tencel, and I am beyond impressed by the cuts, stitching, and luxurious quality (vegan-friendly, ships internationally)
AKIND: an ethical and sustainable brand creating fine jewelry from recycled gold and lab-grown diamonds with transparent and honest pricing (100% vegan, ships internationally)
Avesu: Berlin-based vegan, ethical and sustainable store offering shoes, bags and belts for men and women. They also have an online store and I really like the selection of brands (100% vegan, ships internationally)
Framiore AKIND AVESU BOOTS
PHB Beauty: A UK-based, 100% vegan, cruelty-free and natural skincare and beauty brand- I really enjoy the quality of their products and already ordered myself a stock of their wonderful face moisturizer. This small family business is donating 20% of sales to charity! (100% cruelty-free and vegan, ships internationally)
NAE Vegan Shoes: a vegan, ethical and sustainable shoe brand based in Lisbon, Portugal. The brand was born under the belief of No Animal Exploitation and is aiming “to create fair and animal-friendly shoes, respecting the environment and without human exploitation”. I love my boots by the brand! (100% vegan, Use code NOASWS10 to get 10% off all Nae’s website– ships internationally)
Lamour Est Bleu: a one-woman-run, Berlin-based brand that only produces capsule collections with small quantities in Germany! I love my Love Always shirt by the brand! (100% vegan, ships within Europe)
PHB BEAUTY NAE VEGAN SHOES LAMOUR EST BLEU SHIRT
Underprotection: Denmark-based ethical and sustainable underwear and lounge-wear brand that is vegan-friendly, too! I won lingerie and a cute pajama from them and love the quality (vegan-friendly, ship within europe)
Poetique Paris: French design, classic biker jackets and wonderful vegan leather and suede options. I own a biker jacket from them and it is one of my most worn items in my closet! (100% vegan, ships internationally)
Ipsilon: this Paris-based brand believes that as we express our gratitude and love for each other, we change the world around us! with funky designs made out of organic cotton and ECONYL, you will find fun and positive messages on each of the brand’s items. (100% vegan, ships internationally)
Colibri Vegan Bags: high-end handmade vegan bags with Parisian, timeless vibes. I own my Colibri Vesper bag for along time and it will always be a favorite thanks to the remarkable craft (100% vegan, ships internationally)
COLIBRI BAG UNDERPROTECTION DRESS IPSILON POETIQUE JACKET
Green Spirits: a vegan, ethical and sustainable shop for cool t-shirts, sweatshirts and accessories that help you spread the sustainable message with style (100% vegan, ships internationally)
Mahla clothing: a conscious clothing brand based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their relaxed street style and chic, nordic vibe me fall in love. (100% vegan, ships internationally)
Moodular by EDEN: MOODULAR is a vegan luxury bag like no other that transforms along with your LIFE. With it’s detachable & adjustable straps, the possibilities to wear a MOODULAR are endless! It is vegan, ethically handmade in Italy and stunning! (100% vegan, ships internationally)
ID-EIGHT: this Italian brand is creating sneakers out of innovative, recycled vegan materials- you will find apple, grape and pineapple waste in their stunning lux shoes!
Dopper: this Amsterdam-based bottle brand made it to the list of my favorite brands a long time ago. Their bottles serve me on a daily basis and I am a huge fan of their design and ethos!
Green Spirits Mahla Clothing Moodular ID EIGHT Dopper
I hope you enjoyed reading this post and found it helpful! let me know about your ways to help out in the comments.
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All Photography by the lovely Ksenia Poliak, Cruelty-Free & Vegan Makeup by my wonderful Paula Fay (Both Via Lumo Creative Studio)
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Until next time,
Noa
*This post is not sponsored. there are some affiliate links or codes in this post. All the opinions shared are mine. To read about my work ethics, visit my ethics page.