Jewelry, especially fine, has a special place in every woman's wardrobe. There's something about jewelry that evokes a certain emotion or energy. I've always appreciated a finely crafted piece of precious jewelry because I know it's going to be with me forever. However, we rarely pay heed to the environmental and social risks involved in producing the jewelry. At a time when clean eating and conscious clothing are gaining traction, it's also important to find out where our gold and diamonds are coming from. Until recently, I was unaware of the dirty practices of the gold and diamond mining industry. Industrial gold mining destroys landscapes and creates huge amount of toxic waste (particularly mercury). Gold mining is the leading source of man-made mercury pollution in the world. In case you're wondering what is wrong with mercury, be known that it is a potent neurotoxin that harms the brains, muscles and vital organs of adults and especially children

Just because something is expensive doesn't mean it is luxurious. As someone who has always appreciated the quality and craftsmanship of a product, along with the exceptional service it comes with, I have started questioning the meaning of modern world luxury. At one point in time, luxury meant creating something beautiful and it relied on limitations of production and the value of rarity and scarcity. Unfortunately, the true essence of luxury is {almost} lost in the modern world. The globalization of luxury means that even the so-called luxury brands have cut down the quality and started overproducing goods in a race to boost profit. The ubiquitous luxury goods, which were once a true piece of art have been reduced to machine-made items, often made in China, with no focus on craftsmanship. You're paying more for something that's not exclusive (for example the current trending luxury bag's ubiquity is almost sickening to me sometimes), is inferior quality and often

The fashion industry is hands-down one of the most unethical and wasteful industries in the world. The harsh reality is, both consumers and producers are to blame for its state. We are buying 5 times as much fashion as we did in the 1980s and are trashing on an average about 13 million tones each year, most of which is never really recycled and ends up in the landfills. Wasteful fast-fashion brands play a big role in fueling this culture. They are not only infamous for causing irreversible damage to the planet but are also exploiting the workers and the animals in the process. As a fashion consumer, I started my journey to be more ethical when it comes to my wardrobe choices. Fortunately, on this course, I have come across several brands that are trying to break the fast-fashion mold and creating beautiful collections that are ethically made. In fact, many well-known {conventional} brands are also making an effort to be more responsible and adopting sustainable practices. Whi

Wearing Rhumaa Jacket, Nudie Vegan Jeans, Stella McCartney Shoes The resurgence of conscious living is making us consider our everyday choices. From food to fashion, there’s a dire need for us to switch to a more sustainable lifestyle to save the planet and for our health.     For those seeking to transform the concept of a green lifestyle from aspirational to achievable, there couldn’t have been better times. There are several companies committed to better practices making the life of ethical consumers less complicated than it was a few years ago. As an ethical consumer, our buying decisions are based not just on the quality and usefulness of products, but also on the ethical policies of the companies who sell them. Until a few years back, getting hold of a company’s ethical policy and information about their working practices was very challenging. Fortunately, things are much transparent now. With the help of organizations that are pushing the case of sustainability like

Have you ever wondered what goes behind those fashion labels? How and where your clothes are made and what happens to people who make them? Most shoppers are unaware of the exploitation {in the fashion industry} that goes behind that beautiful garment hanging on a rack. When globalization started in the fashion industry, its goal was to provide consumers with lower-cost clothing, while creating jobs in less prosperous parts of the world. It was kind of a perfect win-win solution. But unfortunately, it hasn’t quite worked out that way. The fashion industry somehow got mixed up in a system that includes harming, enslaving and even killing people. Yes, while millions of jobs have been created in developing countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, and many others, the working conditions of the labour in these parts of the world are less than humane. To put things in perspective, a garment worker in Bangladesh is paid an average salary of less than $60 a month. Most of these workers

You've done your research, are aware of the problem in the fashion industry (labor exploitation, pollution, and landfills) and have decided to quit fast fashion once and for all. Just like me. However, you are confused about where to start. It can be a little daunting because you won't be able to wear the brands you are used to, you may have limiting choices in terms of trends, and the biggest problem - will have to spend a little more than you would normally.  Fortunately, with the rise in the awareness of ethical and sustainable fashion , there are many great ethical fashion brands and multi-brand online stores that curate items to fit everyone's fashion needs, styles, budgets and personalities. Below you’ll find my favorite best online ethical fashion stores for all budgets that curate fashion that looks great and is ethically made, cruelty-free and vegan. ADDRESS CHIC Ethics - Vegan, eco-friendly, fair-trade, sustainable Product Range - Women, men

When it comes to styling a look, there's no denying that a piece of jewelry can immediately spruce up the look. Whether it is a pair of beautiful earrings that instantly lights up your face or a statement necklace that'll turn a simple tee-jean look from drab to glam - there's something about jewelry that every woman loves. In my journey towards creating a more  ethical wardrobe , I have lately become quite fascinated with ethical jewelry brands. I love the fact that designers are getting more creative with their designs in terms of sustainability. From jewelry made from recycled bomb casing collected from war struck Laos by Brooklyn-based Article22 (Peace Bombs collection) to those from crashed luxury cars by U.S. based Crash - when you look up for ethical jewelry brands, you'd be surprised with the choices and will fall in love with their beautiful pieces. Crash  is, in fact, one of my favorites. They make jewelry from upcycled metal sourced from luxury cars, t