#BoMaLiving / environmentally-conscious

Sustainable Style Series: Mate the Label

If there’s anything that we hope you know about us, it’s our dedication to sustainable fashion. We strive to continue finding the best in ethical brands for you, but we also want to take time to celebrate the incredible brands that we are lucky enough to partner with. So now that we are in the new year, we decided to start a new series to highlight how our favorite brands are focusing on creating the cleanest, most sustainable styles for you, starting with MATE The Label.

You’ve heard some of the horrendous statistics before — the fashion industry is the second-largest contributor to pollution in the world, just after oil. It contributes a whopping 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. And even more upsetting, 24% of insecticides and 11% of pesticides are produced through cotton farming. And beyond the global impact, there are also direct health concerns, like the more than 8,000 synthetic chemicals used in producing clothing. That’s where MATE The Label comes in.

This Los Angeles-based clean fashion label makes it easy for you to find chic essentials that you can trust. Everything is made out of certified organic, non-toxic fabrics, and this isn’t just an empty claim. They only use GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cotton, which is the highest standard in the world. In the interest of full transparency and education, they even have a page dedicated to all of the fabrics that they use, so you can know exactly what you’re putting on your body.

Let’s bring it back to a large, global scale and toss in a phrase that we all know so well … carbon footprint. And the fact that MATE keeps theirs as small as possible. Based in LA, they keep every part of their production chain right in LA, and better than that, all of the warehouses are within 10 miles of each other. That’s right. Cutting, sewing, dyeing, shipping, you name it, and it all happens right there, and it happens up to fair trade standards to top it all off.

Mate The Label

This is the part of your clothing’s journey where you come in. After you purchase all of your favorites, they package them up with care in 100% recycled materials (and are working on creating a 100% compostable plastic bag as well). They are also in the process of creating a program where you can return your well-loved MATE goodies so that they can be turned into new products.

This female-founded fashion label is also predominately female operated, which is just one more reason why we are so glad to have them as part of our team and to bring their stunning styles to you. Keep an eye out for the newest MATE products and stay tuned to learn about more of our favorite sustainable fashion brands and comment below to share with us why you love shopping sustainably!

Taking Things Beyond Sustainability

In the world of fashion, “sustainable” is a term that’s tossed around about as loosely as “trendy” or “unique,” and we’re usually left wondering what it really means. That’s not to say that sustainability is a concept to be taken lightly since the earth needs our protection more than ever. To make your ethical and environmentally conscious shopping even easier, we decided it was time to toss out sustainability as a basic label and explain to you exactly how our favorite brands are doing their part to help the planet and the people who live here.

Moon Water Co.

Moon Water Co. is a line that was created by an aunt and niece team who wanted to turn their passion into a global mission. They work with artisans around the world to bring gorgeous handmade designs to you. By working directly with those who are creating the products, they are able to ensure both safe working conditions and fair pay. By adding these eye-catching bags and accessories to your wardrobe, you can feel good knowing that each purchase directly impacts the lives of those who created them.

Quincy Mae

Every mama knows that when it comes to your little ones, you won’t compromise on quality, which is why we are thrilled to carry the sweetest baby clothing from Quincy Mae. It doesn’t matter if it’s a simple accessory like the long-sleeve baby dress and ribbed leggings, each item is made from certified organic cotton. This means that not only will it be safe for baby’s sensitive skin, it’ll also keep them as cuddly as can be.

Little Shop of Oils

We will be the first to admit that we take self-care very seriously around here, but also if you aren’t treating yourself to the very best, what’s the point? And when it comes to your skin and mental health, it's vital to go as pure as you can. Little Shop of Oils makes this easy by giving us organic body products that are made in small batches in California, so you can self-care Sunday easily knowing that you are keeping the earth (and your skin) protected. If you want to create an entire routine to keep your life in balance, start things off with the Aura Cleanse Soap, add three or four drops of the organic cold-pressed Prickly Pear Anti-Aging Serumto your face, and then keep your calm all day with the Anxiety Sucks essential oil blend (our personal favorite).

Anxiety Sucks gemstone-infused essential oil blend for anxiety from Little Shop of Oils

Boyish Jeans

When your go-to outfit is always centered around your favorite jeans, why not make them eco-friendly jeans (that also have the perfect fit every time — we aren’t joking). In case you never looked into it too much, the average pair of jeans takes 1,800 gallons of water to make, and that’s not even taking into account the harsh chemicals that are used (and then dumped back into the environment at the end of the process). That’s where Boyish comes in to save the world. Besides using ⅓ the amount of water (that they then recycle), they don’t use any harsh chemicals, they use recycled cotton and other deadstock/vintage fabrics, and to top it all off, they give one-percent of their annual profits to organizations they believe in. Now that we’ve covered the basics of what makes Boyish stand apart, we can’t ignore the fact that they're also focused on the highest quality and the best fit, whether you want a pair you can wear every single day, like The Zachary high-waisted skinny jeans, or you’re looking for some statement denim, like The Toby high-waisted distressed boyfriend jeans.

How to Have an Earth-Friendly Easter

Holidays are no exception to being environmentally conscious – learn how to reduce your carbon footprint this Easter! Here are some tips to help you celebrate the green way.

1. Easter baskets are only used once a year – think about it!

Plastic Easter baskets are usually petroleum based, which means that money and resources are wasted from production to purchase. Swap that plastic basket out for a ceramic pot, eco sand bucket, or reusable tote.

Re-use woven baskets if you don’t already (the same goes for plastic eggs!). Woven Easter baskets can be stored in a cool, dry place like the garage, attic, or closet.

2. Skip the preservatives and high fructose corn syrup by opting for organic treats. You can either purchase from eco-friendly companies or make your own!

Lots of organic candies can be found on Amazon. Some good brands include Newman’s Organics, Green & Blacks, Theo, and Black Forest Organic.

Click here to purchase organic gummies!

If you’re feeling creative, try making your own candy. That way, you can control the amount of sugar and cut out dyes and other unnecessary additives for good. This could turn into a fun activity for your littles as well.

Click here for an organic treat DIY!

3. Replace plastic Easter grass with shreds of 100% recycled paper. That annoying plastic grass often ends up clogging landfills. Make the change and go for Easter grass made from paper that’s been recycled.

Click here to grab some in time for Easter!

Another option would be to grow your own patch of grass in a tin specifically to be used in your Easter basket. This will give off oxygen and turn any basic basket into festive décor with a twist.

4. Coloring eggs is an Easter tradition that can be adjusted to fit an eco-friendly lifestyle. Buying fresh organic eggs from a local farmer and using natural to dye the eggs are ideal for partaking in holiday festivities with consideration of our Mama Earth.

Instead of using food coloring and dyes, use the guide below to know which ingredients will help you achieve the egg colors you want!

Pink/red: cranberry juice, beets, raspberries, or rhubarb

Yellow: saffron, cumin, or turmeric

Purple: red wine or red onion skins

Blue: red cabbage leaves or blueberries

Brown: grape juice, rosehip tea, or coffee

Orange: yellow onion skins or chili powder

Green: spinach

Images via https://oldbazaaristanbul.com/home/natural-easter-egg-dye

Why Organic Cotton?

Although we may be mindful about recycling and consuming organic foods, are we really doing what’s best for ourselves and Mama Earth? It isn’t often that we think about where our clothes come from let alone the process of producing the resources and materials that go into one t-shirt. Making the simple switch from conventional to organic cotton can benefit both you and the environment – it’s a win-win!

oldbazaaristanbul strives to contribute to a better environment by carrying various brands like Rylee and Cru, Oma Mimini, Skylar Luna, and others who use organic cotton.

Amongst the awesome brands oldbazaaristanbul has chosen to support, we would like to feature Rylee and Cru. As one of our top-selling kids’ brands, Rylee and Cru has taught us how to be fashionable yet environmentally-friendly. Unique and artistic, this brand exemplifies compassion for creativity and the world in which we live.

By purchasing clothes made from organic cotton, you are reducing your environmental footprint. Here’s why:

Soil and water isn’t damaged in the process of growing the organic stuff, sparing the harm of acidification by 70%. The methods used to grow conventional cotton, involving synthetic fertilizers, mono-crop culture, and intensive irrigation, tamper with the beautiful balance of nature.

Methods of growing organic cotton doesn’t call for fancy fertilizers nor high energy usage. This means that, overall, less energy is used through the halt of fertilizer production, leading to a total of 62% less energy used. Likely the most crucial and meaningful advantages of saving energy is the decrease of pollution, which, in turn, supports a healthy atmosphere for our littles to thrive.

The methods and materials to grow organic cotton use up about 71% less water than those of conventional cotton. Did you know that it takes 2,700 liters of water to make a conventional cotton t-shirt? That’s because conventional cotton practices require intensive irrigation, while organic cotton, with the help of crop rotation, is able to retain its own moisture within the soil and potentially save 91% of the water used. That’s more water for more important uses!

With conventional cotton using roughly 16% of the world’s insecticides and 7% of pesticides, each purchase of a conventional t-shirt serves as a contribution to global warming. On the other hand, organic cotton grown in healthy soil creates a natural balance -no need for any extra stuff. By reducing the use of agricultural inputs, organic cotton lowers the chances of global warming by 46%. Most importantly, nine of the most commonly sprayed pesticides are known cancer-causing agents, which only cause air pollution, threatening our generation of littles.

Currently, only 1% of cotton grown worldwide is organic. By choosing to go with organic clothing, your purchase holds the power to influence every sector of the apparel industry – brands, manufacturers, and farmers alike. Although a little pricier, purchasing organic cotton clothing is investing in water conservation, cleaner air, better soil, and a better future – and that’s priceless. Each of us is given the choice of caring for Mama Earth and the others who inhabit it. You can make a difference one t-shirt at a time!

If transitioning to organic and ethically produced brands is something you’re interested in, we are proudly releasing Rylee and Cru’s new spring/summer 2018 collection on the 21^st of February. The collection will feature organically-produced clothing and swimwear for women and children, and we think you’ll love it!

Receive emails to be first to know when this collection, and others, drop! Sign up to join our tribe here.

Images via https://oldbazaaristanbul.com/, Rylee and Cru

Your Cart (0)

Your cart is empty