Journal — Sustainable Practices

“Do the best you can until you know better. When you know better, do better.” - Maya Angelou I have been thinking asking myself a lot lately what is it exactly that makes Atèlette a sustainable womenswear brand? I hesitate to assign the label on it because I'm not sure if I live up to it, not yet anyway. I think for any sustainable clothing line or any ethical and slow fashion brand, we're all just trying our best. At least, that is my hope that the person who holds the reigns...

I often hesitate to call Atèlette a sustainable womenswear brand because I feel like there is so much more I could be doing, which is a big reason as to why our label says “consciously crafted”. I truly feel that sustainability in fashion (and in life) is a spectrum. I’m not sure WHO, if anyone, has the definitive guide to HOW to be a sustainable clothing label, but I do feel like as a designer and owner, I feel a responsibility to craft and create in a way that aligns...

Growing up, my mother always instilled in me the idea of recycling, reusing, repurposing. Not necessarily because she was an environmentalist, it had more to do with being an immigrant and growing up dirt poor. Nothing was wasted. When we immigrated to America (I was 8), I remember having to wash every jar so they could be reused (great for leftovers, for organizing, for vases). I washed and dried to-go containers (great for lunches or bringing food for your neighbors). Garments you grew out of were sent back to the...