Travel Diaries: Neonyt Ethical Fashion Week Berlin

My journey to Berlin begun at 2 am, in a super early flight to a place that has always felt like home to me- There’s something in Berlin that I just cannot put in words: a feeling of warmth, even when it is so cold outside; good, positive atmosphere; incredible, open-minded people; beautiful architecture (and the fact my favourite chocolate in the world is available there)- made me feel like I belong there- and when I arrived, it felt like I’ve never really left.

SO, you might be wondering what led me to Berlin again- and it is an even more exciting thing than just a regular visit. I was invited there by VEPSI and Neonyt to their “VEPSI x NEONYT experience” and take part of two incredible panels with six other (absolutely INCREDIBLE AND INSPIRING) bloggers- Holly from Leotie Lovely, Gabrielle Koster, Nina Botzen, Francesca from Ethical Unicorn, Céline from Iznowgood and Chloé from The Green Monki. But before diving into this dreamy experience, let me tell you a bit more about Neonyt and VEPSI.

Neo. Nytt. What is Neonyt?

Neonyt is a global fashion hub for future and sustainable fashion talking place in Kraftwerk Berlin. The name Neonyt is derived from the Ancient Greek word “neo” (which means new and revolutionary in English) and the Scandinavian word “nytt” (which also means new).  With its hub concept, Neonyt combines business, inspiration, knowledge, fun, and community – in a neo-new way.  What will you find in Neonyt? well, a lot: There are so many conferences, a fare filled with epic sustainable brands, influencer & blogger event called “Prepeek” (that I took part in), networking events and of course the Neonyt Party and fashion show.

About VEPSI

VEPSI was founded by two incredible ladies: Eilean and Leslie. Eilean, who used to work for the United Nations, is Passionate, lovely lady who has a passion for fashion (blogs). She decided to launch VEPSI back in 2015 and started with pop-up sales, bringing together ethical influencers and brands, and after three years of successful pop-ups she decided to uncover her true entrepreneurial spirit, quit the UN and create the start-up VEPSI together with (sassy) Leslie – a warm, funny and smart lady (with a passion for wine) who has been working as an Art Director in the corporate and luxury sector and was, like Eilean, always a fashion passionate This is how the new VEPSI was born: A agency-marketplace for ethical brands only, supported by fashion impact ambassadors (aka influencers) all over the world. The marketplace will be launched in April and focus mostly on sustainable brands of developing countries.

VEPSI x NEONYT

“We are convinced that sustainable influencers are those who will exploit the power of social media by contributing to concrete changes. This is why we decided to take impact ambassadors to events like fashion weeks and give them a platform where they can show that they are experts, change makers, activists that promote more than just sustainable fashion brands – they promote a new, holistic mindset to sustainability. We always look for #VEPSIambassadors who want to take part in these events and use their power for good”, Said Eilean and Leslie.

{The coat I was wearing during this trip is the Lina coat by a vegan, Canadian brand named NOIZE. It kept me warm and happy during this whole trip, and I couldn’t be more happy with it- it is so so beautiful too! you can use the code stylewithasmile for 15% off all NOIZE website}

Watch Our VEPSI X NEONYT Experience

Day 1: Arrival in Berlin, snow and VEPSI family

I arrived in beautiful, sunny (yet freezing) Berlin at 9:30 am and the first thing I did was to buy myself some coffee, and if you know me- you know I never really drink coffee, unless I’m really (REALLY) tired. I was the first one to arrive and had a whole morning to explore Berlin. If you read my Travel Diaries to Berlin last year you know I wasn’t able to arrive at the Reichstag, but this time, I did it (yet didn’t enter inside, because, as I explained before, there’s a need to reserve a place upon arrival).

I met the lovely Michele and we had so much fun together- it started snowing (and it was the first time that I actually saw snow falling from the sky, oh my!) and since I was super hungry, we stopped by at one of my favourite restaurants in the city- SOY. Francesca joined us and from there we headed to Berlin Hauptbahnhof to meet VEPSI the rest of the girls. After hugging and chatting, we arrived at the lovely apartment we were staying in for a nice dinner that Leslie made and went to sleep after this very long day.

(we stayed in BENSIMON APARTMENTS and I highly recommend this place, it was really amazing! You can click here to book it via Booking.com).

Day 2:The Change of Fashion is Now- Neonyt DAY 1

We started our morning in an EPIC vegan restaurant named Geh Veg-it is like no other restaurant I’ve ever been to, as it is super unique and artistic in every way possible. Each of the dishes looked like a piece of art and tasted so great, it was such a lovely breakfast experience that I’d highly recommend anyone to try.

From Geh Veg, we headed to Neonyt for the first time, and you can only imagine the butterflies we have all felt before entering there- the excitement levels were so so high! Our day started with a tour in the Fare in which we got to meet some lovely brands (that you will hear more about in a few moments). Then we headed to the Prepeek area, in which we did a photoshoot, enjoyed a nice cup of tea and started our panel about Sustainable Influencer marketing

#Prepeek Panel: SUSTAINABLE INFLUENCER MARKETING- PRACTICES, POTENTIAL, PARADOXES

In this panel we discussed our journey into sustainable, ethical fashion, how we work with brands and what are our work ethics, what it means to be a sustainable “influencer” and if our activities are any different than “regular” influencers, how we deal with criticism regarding promoting consumption vs encouraging to buy less and more. It was a really interesting panel and I feel like it created such an important discussion regarding WORKING as a sustainable influencer and about the fact that it is part of our job is to show the alternatives to non-sustainable garments and items while telling our audience to only buy them if they actually need them. I mainly focused on sustainable, ethical, VEGAN fashion- a field that is often forgotten when it comes to sustainability.

After the panel, we headed to the screening of the Neonyt fashion show and party. I recognized some wonderful vegan brands on the runway and since all of us were super hungry we grabbed some nice vegan burgers, and the day has ended.

Day 3: NEONYT DAY 2- SDGs and Vegan Food Tour

Our day begun in Geh Veg (yes, again, as we all liked it a lot!) and headed to Neonyt- I spent most of the time talking with brands in the fare and got to meet some incredible people, and then it was time for our second panel about the SDGs of the UN!

#Prepeek Panel: FROM AWARENESS TO IMPACT. ARE INFLUENCERS THE NEW SDG AMBASSADORS?

In this panel, we discussed the SDGs of the United Nations with Kerry Bannigan, the Executive Producer of the SDG Media Zone, but first, let me explain a bit about what the SDGs actually are.
“The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it ís important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030”. (from SDGs website)

Before my flight to Berlin, I asked you four questions on Instagram stories regarding the SDGs – the results showed that most of you didn’t know what the SDGs are and that those goals aren’t discussed enough on social media.

During the panel, we explained how we perceive our role as “SUSTAINABLE influencers” (For me, it’s all about educating others!), about positive activism, if we actually feel like we have the power to influence
 people to change habits and rethink their choices and more. I feel like this panel was even more interesting than the first one as it really discussed what we do, why we do it and if we feel like it is effective.

Day 3: Saying Goodbye + Eploring Berlin

We started our last morning together with a nice breakfast – it was our time to enjoy each other and say goodbye, as most of the girls went back home right after. I had a full day to enjoy Berlin and explore as much as I possibly could, and had the best time of my life. I felt so happy, couldn’t stop smiling and felt so so alive- I really wished this trip wouldn’t end. I visited Alexanderplatz, Brandenburg Gate and the Room of Silence beside it- it was completely unplanned but this magical place is a must stop when coming to Berlin, in my eyes. It is a place to take pause, have a moment of contemplation and find yourself. A historic site to be at peace – with yourself and the world. The only decoration is an abstract woven rug, entitled “light that penetrates the darkness”.

After this long, fun day I stayed in Almodóvar Hotel, a vegan-friendly hotel that I’ll write more about on my next blog post, so stay tuned! I spent my night there, woke up at 5:30 am and headed to the airport for my flight back to Israel. On the way back I felt like it all way a dream, and cannot thank VEPSI and Neonyt for this amazing experience.

Some thoughts from Neonyt

+ Every change matters, no matter how small or big it might be

+ There are so many new innovative materials coming to the market, for example, Bananatex, coffee leather, stone leather, Fungus leather, grass leather, wood leather and glass leather.

+ There are always things to improve, evolve and change. Don’t be too hard on yourself as long as you keep moving!

+ Hardly any other industry in the world uses as much water as the fashion industry. 

Neonyt’s main subject this winter was water, the usage of water in the fashion industry, which is an essential part of the production of fashion, and showcasing new approaches to minimise water consumption and contamination caused by chemicals and microplastics.

+ Vegan fashion is evolving and many brands start replacing non-vegan materials with vegan ones, including non-vegan glue or tags- people start caring and brands do too. Don’t lose hope, the future is already here!

+ Social media has so much power, and using it for good really creates a change

+ Connection and communication are an essential key for change, and that’s why Neonyt is a perfect concept – bringing everyone together creates an opportunity to hear, exchange thoughts, think and share ideas and more.

+ As a blogger, meeting brands in real life was really valuable for me, as getting to meet people in real life is much more fun and helpful. Emails are a great tool, but nothing compares to meeting, talking and getting to know people behind the screen.

+ Plastic is horrible. Invest in good reusable items like a reusable bag, water bottle and reusable coffee mug, metal straw and a bamboo toothbrush- those small changes make a huge impact!

+ ONLY BUY WHEN YOU NEED SOMETHING. Don’t buy anything unless you love it, it fits you well and you’ll use it many times

+ Take care of the clothes you have, sustainable fashion is about using what you own, taking good care of all your belongings and repairing when needed, and not about wearing 100% ethical, sustainable brands.

+ Avoid products with microplastics in them, they kill the planet and the animals

+ the SDGs aren’t getting enough attention, and it is our duty to create this awareness.

Some of the Best Vegan-Friendly Brands in Neonyt

Rehats

(vegan brand)

Rehats is a Berlin-based brand creating hats and caps made from reclaimed workwear and coffee bags.”After a hard day on shift, ordinary workwear finds its way back to life and to a new profession- as extraordinary headwear. Every year, millions of work clothes are thrown away, simply because their designated life cycle is over”, Stefan, the co-owner of the brand, said. Their hats are strictly handmade through traditional hatmaking craftsmanship by 3rd generation family business. Stefan told me about their journey to creating upcycled, chic, fashionable hats and how important it is to him that his brand won’t make any compromises regarding animal welfare, the environment, and people. That’s why their brand is 100% vegan and pays attention to every single detail: even the lining of their bags is made from left-over cotton that is being transformed in headwear.

TearOJoy

(vegan brand)

When I saw Tearojoy I thought the meaning was “Tears of joy”, but in fact, it cames from Tear och (and) joy. “It represents all the bad things we have done to animals and the environment. However, it is our hope that all these cruelty and deterioration will come to an end, and only tears of joy remain” said Ting, co-owner of the brand. This Swedish vegan brand chose four endangered species to represent the brand’s story and the materials used to create the collection, including cork, recycled paper, and recycled denim. I really liked their paper tote, which is super lightweight and durable. “paper leather can be washed up to 200 times without losing quality” said Manqi, co-owner.

nuuwai

(vegan brand)

nuuwaï is a German, vegan, innovative brand creating bags from APPLES! yes, I know, this is absolutely incredible: apple leather is one of the newest vegan leather alternatives out there and seeing it in real life is something I was waiting for. Svenja Detto, the founder of nuuwai, who’s been a vegan for several years was searching for a sustainable alternative to conventional vegan bags for a while, and found about „APPLESKIN“. At this moment there was no other brand using this kind of material and that’s when she started planning and developing her wonderful, colorful collection. I really enjoyed the attention Svenja put into her bags, that ate not only beautiful, minimal and chic but also very practical!

Nat-2 Footwear

(vegan-friendly brand)

When innovation meets quality: Nat-2 is an innovative artistic footwear brand based in Munich, Germany. The owner of the brand, Sebastian Thies, is representing the 6th generation of shoemaking, as the brand was founded back in 1856. The brand isn’t 100% vegan, however, it is one of the most innovative vegan-friendly brands out there, creating sneakers from real, sustainable recycled COFFEE, MUSHROOM, GRASS, FUNGUS, STONES, WOOD, AND GLASS (!). This is the one booth in which I was really, really mind-blown. As a vegan blogger and journalist I’ve covered so many innovative, vegan leather alternatives, but little did I know about those amazing, innovative surprises (and if you are wondering- yes, the coffee sneakers actually smelled like coffee!).

Artelusa

(vegan brand)

CORK IN EVERY SHAPE AND FORM: Artelusa is a Portugal-based brand who manufactures handmade fashion bags and accessorize, office supplies, and decorative items from high-quality Portuguese cork. they work with all kinds of cork: from highly sophisticated paper cork, through a soft and pliable sheet of wallets and hats, to the virgin cork, handmade in unique pieces where we can still find the rough shape of the bark of cork oak. Their brand is offering cork products as I have never seen before, for example, business cards, notebooks and even bow ties or umbrellas (oh, this umbrella was so chic!). The owners of the brand were so nice, passionate and helpful and even gave me a nice cork wallet that I now use all the time! All their products are carefully and ethically made in Portugal, making the whole manufacturing process way more sustainable. Being a cork-lover in heart, this brand really caught my attention.

Aatise

(vegan-friendly brand)

Aatise is a sustainable, ethical brand based in France, creating custom clothing for men and women. “It all began with an idea: the desire to create a line of clothing that is distinguished by its style and its audacity, but above all by its commitments and values. In order to free ourselves from globalized production methods and consumption patterns, to choose the models you really want to wear, to buy original, perhaps also unusual dresses, to promote know-how that guarantees the best quality, responsible production, and natural materials – and above all to eliminate the stock of unsold parts! That’s the best thing we can do!” said the Heide, Co-owner of Aatise.

Organic Socks of Sweden

(Vegan-friendly brand)

I met the CEO and founder of Organic Socks of Sweden,
Mudassar- such a great, positive guy who has a mission to contribute to a better world. His socks fairly produced, non-toxic, high-quality socks made with naturally grown cotton. The socks are designed in Sweden and manufactured according to Global Organic Textile Standard-GOTS. Every purchase allows Organic Socks of Sweden to donate one percent of sales towards the empowerment of poor families and girl’s education in rural Pakistan.

I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to be part of the VEPSI x Neonyt experience- it will forever be remembered and cherished in my heart. Through this experience, I had the opportunity to meet incredible people, learn, explore, laugh, seek inspiration and LIVE my dreams. I hope you enjoyed reading this post and taking part in this experience. Feel free to check my Instagram highlights about this experience (and the recap).

see you soon!

Noa

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