The power of therapeutic fashion In this article, you will learn about the power of therapeutic fashion, and how fashion for self-care will grow people's personal wardrobes, as well as people's fashion businesses. I am a fashion author, and a healthy fashion practitioner dedicated to the topic of healthy fashion: fashion deemed medicinal. You will learn so much in my past, current, and future blog post articles about healthy fashion. You will learn even so much more from my upcoming book: HEALTHY FASHION: THE DEEPER TRUTHS, which will be released in November 2021. Pre-orders will be available in a few months, so stay tuned! Two examples of fashion for self-care I am going to share with you an example of a therapeutic garment that supports your own self-care. The first example I am going to talk about is a specific garment type that gives positive, therapeutic energy to the wearer and to the passersby. I am also going to talk more about my free 5-sheet printable: the FASHION JOURNAL TRACKER, and how it supports a person's wellbeing. I am going to talk about page 4 specifically from the 5-sheet printable FASHION JOURNAL TRACKER, and how it will support your self-care. "When we care about the entire picture of fashion, we naturally choose fashions made for our own health." Healthy fashion and the wellness trend for men + women won't go anywhere, anytime soon. Part of this is because we are now part of the New Age and Spiritual Awakening on planet Earth. Another reason-- the corona-virus has definitely made us dress more comfortably. Fashion for self-care is comfortable fashion. Many people are dressing and shopping for loungewear, athleisure, and activewear clothing. These fashion styles are therapeutic because they are comfortable to wear. Many fashion brands and retailers create extra comfortable fashion. These are the types of garments we should be influenced by, and wear. A self-care fashion example: sparkling garments If we look at the beauty and hygiene industry trends-- many beauty and hygiene brands create a product that supports the health and wellness of a person's mind, body, and spirit. I believe the future of the fashion industry will be more and more like the beauty and hygiene brands that are making therapeutic beauty products. For example, the beauty and hygiene industry is incorporating glitter, crushed gold powder, crushed crystals, crushed shimmering mica, and other healthy glittering materials. Sparkling materials also add positivity, as the sparkles and glitter naturally make people feel happy. When we think of fashion as a therapeutic treatment, we might not think of glow, shimmer, sparkle as a part of fashion for self-care, but this is an important example, below, of how shimmering, glittery fashion can make us feel better. For example, recently, I was working on my computer outdoors, and a woman was walking by. She was wearing a beautiful garment that had small crystal beads sewn onto the garment. There were hundreds of the crystal beads glittering as she moved, and as the fabric flew in the breeze. The garment sparkled and shimmered like the way Swarovski crystals do. The sunlight was making the crystals glow and shine, and the crystals were creating an emotion that made me refreshed and energized. It felt like it was a spiritual-like garment. Her garment helped me, the passerby because crystals heal people. Wearing or seeing crystals on garments and accessories can cleanse the body. There are reiki and energy practitioners that use crystals as a tool to heal people. Additionally, many metaphysical shops sell crystals for their therapeutic healing properties. When we place crystals on our body-- they energize our body. It is also similar to the way a person feels refreshed and cleansed after a shower from the crystalline water, or if we cleansed our body and aura after burning sage. Those hanging prisms that you see in windows are not just for decoration-- the prism colors reflecting from it heals the mind, body, and spirit. The woman's garment is magical and spiritual because crystals are. They are a very important part of healthy fashion-- they have metaphysical properties, and this makes her garment therapeutic. Wearing garments with shimmering crystals all over them supports health and my wellbeing. The way glittering garments sparkle and flow in the breeze make people feel special, angelic and inspired. The tracker + self-care There are different ways to be a healthy fashion practitioner. One way is through fashion journaling in a fashion diary. The FASHION JOURNAL TRACKER is a way to learn more about our own fashion style and learn more about fashion in general. "The FASHION JOURNAL TRACKER printable connects fashion with our daily life. We can use fashion as a tool to help our lifestyle." When we use the tracker, we are creating multiple fashion files. We can refer back to these fashion files. For example, one of my outfits was perfect, and I wanted to remember the outfit and wear it again, to feel those happy emotions I had when I wore that specific outfit. I wrote it down in the printable to track that outfit. If you love fashion journal prompts that will help your fashion journey, you can download my free FASHION JOURNAL TRACKER, which is a way to practice fashion for self-care: THE FASHION JOURNAL TRACKER download instructions and info about the printable. Reasons why fashion for self-care is important: it is a part of one's spiritual journey it heals the mind/body/spirit it creates personal self-growth it supports emotional health Below, I will list four reasons why fashion for self-care is important, and how they are all related to page 4 of the FASHION JOURNAL TRACKER. Below is a photo of page 4 from the 5-sheet FASHION JOURNAL TRACKER printable. This is the Fashion//Style Aesthetics sheet: The FASHION JOURNAL TRACKER The fashion/style aesthetic topics Enlightenment Health Transition Holistic Trend 1. Fashion for health is a part of one's personal spiritual journey. In the Enlightenment section, we can use this section to write down: notes// research// ideas// + inspiring things that involve our fashion as a part of our own personal spiritual journey that is positive and enlightening. Merging our clothes into a spiritual sense is important. 2. Fashion for self-care is a part of healing the mind, body, and spirit In the Health section, we can use this section to write down notes// research// ideas// + inspiring things that make our own wardrobe heal the mind, body, and spirit creating health. 3. Fashion for self-care is a part of personal self-growth In the Transition section, we can use this section to write down notes// research// ideas// + inspiring things that are about how our wardrobe is always in a transition, and this supports and creates our personal self-growth fashion experiences. 4. Fashion for emotional health In the Holistic trend section, we can use this section to write down notes// research// ideas// + inspiring things that connect our fashion with our emotional health-- and write down how our emotions connect with fashion trends. "The FASHION JOURNAL TRACKER allows us to take care of ourselves by writing down our fashion ideas and special fashion experiences." If you are interested in learning more about the 5-sheet printable, stay tuned. I will be creating a new article on the FASHION JOURNAL TRACKER giving specific examples for each of the 5 sheets. The new examples I will talk about will also be another form of prompt that will inspire you to fill the printable out in your own unique way. The FASHION TRACKER will support you, your wardrobe, fashion businesses, and the fashion industry in general. Want to read more articles? Check them out here: HIGHLIGHTS

What is a 'fashion intuitive'? Whether you are a beginner fashion intuitive, or an advanced fashion intuitive, or not a fashion intuitive at all, you can develop the skills to become a fashion intuitive. We must develop our intuition when it comes to fashion. Everyone has a gift, and not everyone needs to be a fashion intuitive, but we should all practice becoming more fashion intuitive. However, you do not need the gift of fashion intuition. People who aren't a 'fashion intuitive' have other skills and talents that fashion intuitives do not have. In this article, I will share with you a brief personal story that made me aware I am a fashion intuitive, and I will share a couple of deceased, legendary designers that were fashion intuitives. They are just a few examples, there are thousands of fashion intuitives both living and deceased. Are you a 'fashion intuitive'? I have developed 5 questions that will tell you whether you are a fashion intuitive or not. If you answer YES to at least 3 questions out of the 5 questions, then you are a fashion intuitive. Like I had said before, you don't have to feel like you are not gifted if these fashion experiences don't happen to you. They may be happening to you on a subconscious level even, and it is simply not necessary for you to be aware of them. Q 1 Do you feel fashion on multiple levels; emotionally, physically, spiritually, energetically? (A fashion intuitive can feel and perceive fashion not just physically-- but emotionally, spiritually, and energetically.) Fashion intuition involves being able to see things on different levels. A fashion intuitive will go beyond the physical sense of fashion. When we interpret the entire function of fashion-- emotionally, physically, spiritually, energetically, etc. we can go deeper with our wardrobes, and sense other people’s wardrobe in a deeper way. Q 2 Do you recognize the symbolism behind fashion? (A fashion intuitive will often find patterns, rhythms, and symbols within a fashion look, a garment, and style. The patterns form a kind of “fashion language”) A fashion intuitive goes beyond fashion. They are inspired by symbolism in fashion. Symbolism in fashion is a way to connect with our clothing in a different dimension. For example, some people see shapes and colors in fashion, and often these people see shapes and colors with more meaning than the shapes and colors that they are. For instance: instead of seeing stripes, a fashion intuitive focuses on the language, the symbolism, the creative energy of the specific stripes. Q 3 Do you notice designers like Karl Lagerfeld and Coco Chanel went beyond fashion? They felt fashion was life: “the stars, the sky”, etc. Can you relate to them, or other designers like them? (A fashion intuitive relates to other fashion professionals and can identify with the strength of their fashion intuition.) A lot of famous fashion professionals like Karl Lagerfeld and Coco Chanel established very strong fashion careers for themselves. It was their mission and their life to be able to give the world their fashions. Their fashion designs and fashion collections were not just clothing for protection, they created styles that had uplifted humanity, and inspired people to the degree that their fashion could uplift human's moods and emotions. They used their fashion intuition to create more life in fashion and more support fashion designs for people’s lives. Q 4 Do you wear clothes that eventually just become a trend before the trend occurs? (A fashion intuitive will wear clothing way before it becomes a trend or they will wear current trends without even following fashion magazines or current fashion’s that are for sale in apparel stores. Then they happen to see their look when they visit a store or see their look in a magazine.) This is a person’s fashion intuition: when they wear a piece of clothing or an outfit that is personal to them because it is either their style or they were personally inspired to wear it. Then months or years later or currently, they find out everyone is wearing it. This is the skill of an advanced fashion intuitive, who wears clothing styles before they become a trend. Also, there is collective energy within the fashion industry, and within everyone wearing and dressing in apparel. This collective energy is fashion consciousness, and whether we are aware of it or not, it affects our lives, and especially the life of a fashion intuitive, as fashion intuitives are susceptible to noticing it more often than those who are not a fashion intuitive. Q 5 Do you feel that you can sense the future of fashion? (Fashion Intuitives can sense and predict the future of fashion) Karl Lagerfeld's final Chanel collection was in the fall of 2020. Karl was not only a designer, he was a fashion intuitive. He was also able to resurrect the spirit of Chanel, and he could always 'sense' the future of fashion. Not all designers have this ability, but Karl Lagerfeld and Coco Chanel did. They were both fashion intuitives, for decades. Lagerfeld held the Chanel label up into a positive regime, unlike anything. How I figured out I am a fashion intuitive I found out I was a fashion intuitive when I went to fashion design school. I was obsessed with drawing fashion designs and fashion illustrations. I started to notice that I was drawing and designing apparel that was eventually becoming a trend in the stores. I felt like I was being a fashion intuitive, and these sketches and drawings of fashion designs, and their themes, were coming from my intuition. I have always had a strong connection to fashion, and this strong connection I feel creates my fashion intuition abilities. Lots of people have different hobbies that they are intuitive with. As an artist, I have always been able to express myself through fine art and fashion illustration, and this was one way I was able to reveal my talent and skill as a fashion intuitive. An example of 2 fashion professionals who were fashion intuitives An example of being a fashion intuitive is the way Karl was able to keep the “spirit” of Chanel alive. Things could change for Chanel because Karl is no longer designing for Chanel, but for now, the newer collections do not carry on the legacy or spirit of either Lagerfeld or Chanel. It might not be the business management’s fault, it might be this way for a purpose. Karl Lagerfeld's energy was a testament to the faith and creative heart and soul of fashion. Long Live Karl. You don’t have to be a fashion designer to be a fashion intuitive, neither a fashion forecaster that forecasts fashion trends. You just have to love fashion so much, that you feel there is a powerful force within you, and part of that force is being caused by your fashion, and other people’s fashion. There are so many ways you can express and use your fashion intuition. I hope that this article inspires you to develop, practice, and create more and more ways to be a fashion intuitive. Whether you have a fashion career or you have a passion for fashion, we can all be fashion intuitives as we observe other people’s wardrobes, and observe our own wardrobe and fashion styling. Want to read more articles? Check them out here: HIGHLIGHTS

Medical masks or fabric masks? It does not matter whether you wear a mask from fabric materials, or surgical masks, what matters is what makes you comfortable. But I am going to share with you why I feel the surgeon masks (the masks worn in the hospitals) are better to wear. Personally, I prefer surgeon masks and I use surgeon masks only. I wear the medical-grade and non-medical surgeon masks. If you are designing and producing cloth masks, it is not a problem. They still work. But I don't believe most fabric materials are the healthiest to cover the mouth with. I am going to share with you one specific reason. I was at the laundromat the other day, and these two nice women were carrying very large loads of laundry from their car to the laundry machines. They were wearing cotton masks. Their cotton masks looked homemade, and they had a cute style to them, pretty prints. But one thing I noticed was that as I was watching them bring in their laundry I noticed they were breathing very hard underneath their masks. The fabric clung to their face as soon as they inhaled, and when they exhaled the fabric pushed out. It looked like a person blowing air into a paper bag as they inhale and exhale. Yet, when people wear medical masks or surgeon masks, they can breathe very heavily, and the fabric material does not cling to the face when the breath is inhaled. I am a fashion professional and I wear predominantly 100% plant-based clothing, so, why am I wearing a synthetic-based surgical mask? As a "healthy fashion practitioner," I choose to wear the type of mask that has already been designed and developed to cover the face and mouth-- medical and non-medical surgeon masks. Cloth masks are a good idea, but there is no evidence of them being able to completely protect you while keeping you comfortable. Cloth prevents the wearer from spreading germs, yet procedure masks and surgeon masks have been shown to prevent the wearer from catching germs in the air. Fabric masks are a stylish accessory, and I am not against them, they are fun, but I am not wearing the mask for style. I am personally wearing the mask that is the most ergonomic and designed to cover the mouth. Well, it is proven that doctors around the world spend much time wearing medical masks, and they are not getting ill. They are ergonomic, designed specifically to cover the mouth. I am always in support of 100% plant-based materials. It seems odd that I would wear a 100% polypropylene mask. I have breathing issues in general, so, I wear the surgeon masks because they have been developed specifically to cover the mouth, and they allow the body to breathe naturally. I think the fabric masks are fun, I like to see all the different fabrics and styles, and if they don't bother your breathing, then you can and should wear them. I am not saying which masks you should wear, any mask is better than no mask. Some people have health issues or breathing issues, and if you do, I recommend the masks the doctors and nurses wear. The spun-bond non-woven fabric surgeon masks are made of is very thin and paper-like. They are designed to keep the mouth area and the fabric dry. The wire on the top of the mask bends ergonomically. The fabric itself does not cling to the face when the breath is inhaled. Surgical masks vs. fabric masks Surgical masks can still be fashionable. Fashion designers have made masks made from polypropylene fiber and added colors and patterns to them. I like the fabric-- it is spun-bond nonwoven, and it doesn't irritate my face. It is not the material used that I like, it is the way the fabric is designed. Also, they don't rip. Many people aren't wearing procedure or surgeon masks because they are not fashionable. However, there are several fashion companies that are selling masks that are made with the same or similar materials as the medical-grade surgeon mask. Some companies have added textile patterns and colors to the spun-bond polypropylene fabric. A few companies that are making fashionable masks with ergonomic material (Masks do not have to be medical-grade, they just need to have the same or similar type of fabric as procedure masks or surgeon masks. They are usually called disposable masks, however, they can be hand-washed and worn many times.) Juicy Couture Laura Ashley Nautica Mask C Turmerry Medipop Shen Beauty If you choose to wear cloth masks, these are a few that I recommend: Pottery barn (3-ply woven linen) Proper Cloth (linen) Mate the Label (organic cotton jersey) Alex and Nova (GOTS certified organic cotton) Coyuchi (500 thread count cotton) Jung Maven (hemp/cotton blend) Shelljon (Organic bamboo/linen blend) Why should I wear a surgical medical-grade or non-medical mask? They are: safe and breathable hypoallergenic high filtration allows more airflow reduces humidity adjustable nose clip breathable layers comfortable ear loops Most medical masks are made with nonwoven-fusible polypropylene. It feels like a paper/cotton texture against the skin. I don't like plastic, but the medical-grade and non-medical surgeon masks are very ergonomic. They help me to breathe more naturally than fabric masks. It has a filtration property that allows the mask to stay dry. This is one thing I like about surgical masks. The issues with some fabrics masks: People have trouble breathing when wearing fabric masks Fabric masks tend to get damp from the water in the exhalations of breath Not breathable enough (many of them) I have personally approached people, asking why they wear surgical masks vs. fabric masks. They say they can't really breathe in the fabric masks. They have also said that they are uncomfortable to wear. Personally, I tried wearing a cotton jersey mask that ties around the head-- and it was not comfortable. My mouth and face were wet, and I could feel my own breath, and the fabric was very damp from my breath and wouldn't dry well. A need for plant-based surgical masks There is a need to develop a plant-based fabric that has the same properties as the spun-bond polypropylene. Some have made masks from abaca leaves. A company in France is producing a compostable canvas mask made from hemp. This could lead to the inspiration of a new mask type, that is medicinal. For example, masks made with natural medicinal plants and potentially infused with essential oils in the fabric like a medical treatment would be a great healthy mask. I have researched therapeutic-type masks, and I know there are companies trying to help people, but they aren't using a lot of the correct materials and ingredients. For example, companies are selling polycarbonate face shields. Polycarbonate is not BPA-free. Some masks are made with hard plastic, vinyl, PVC, neoprene. These types of fabrics and materials have been studied and tested containing carcinogenic chemicals. We can't believe that just because a product is being sold, it is good for us. There are many fashion companies labeling their products a hazard and have cancer warning labels on their product tags. For example, I have seen so many artificial scented masks, polyester nanotech masks (tiny nano-fibers and nano-molecules are being breathed in). Many masks are uncomfortable to wear. Silver ion fabrics with 16% silver, (but it hasn't been tested). It would be great to have a plant-based spun-bond material, a material similar to the bamboo and paper cleansing wet clothes. Many of these fabrics that cover the mouth have not been tested. Also, they have not been tested specifically for the safety of it covering the mouth. There is a need for plant-based surgical masks (they are probably out there I have not looked into it enough, but they are not popular) a spun-bond fabric made from plants, paper, cotton, etc. The surgical mask fabric was developed and designed to let the mouth breathe naturally. They are ergonomic. Surgical masks- because they are designed to keep the body dry, this could also be used as inspiration for new plant-based surgical fabrics for the face and body too. Want to read more articles? Check them out here: HIGHLIGHTS

The Fashion Journal Tracker My 5-sheet fashion printable is styled and designed in a clean, simple, minimal format, and includes 5 pages of worksheets. The FJT is a 5-sheet fashion printable that gives you a way to express, create, log, + understand your new fashion ideas, for inspiration. It is a fashion prompt-- to get you fashion-inspired. The tracker is meant to support your fashion success and fashion creativity. You can download the FJT for free on my resources page. I have created this 5-sheet printable for fashion pioneers. Whether you are a fashion business owner, or you have a modern fashion wardrobe, you are a fashion pioneer. The Fashion Journal Tracker is fun, and it helps you create new fashion strategies. A testimonial: " The Fashion Journal Tracker is a MUST have for anyone looking to start a fashion brand! One of the most important things a fashion brand needs to develop is identity. In order to do that, you need to understand what ties together your pieces and what makes each item of clothing YOU. This Journal is an incredible tool that helps you express the thought process behind each piece. By logging your daily fashion choices and working through the understanding behind the pieces, the Fashion Journal Tracker makes creating new fashion ideas a breeze. It is something I'll definitely be recommending to all my partnered brands." - Shoaib Syed founder/owner of Bamboo. The fashion printable for fashion pioneers Fashion people know and understand that fashion is complex, and that there is a lot to compose. Fashion is like composing an orchestra, like with the many different instruments-- there are many different layers of fashion concepts. "You may be an old soul, a mystic, a fashion visionary, and if you are all of these-- the Fashion Journal Tracker can support your fashion business and/or your own wardrobe." The sheets will help initiate new fashion projects. It will make you feel empowered, prepared, and refreshed. It will inspire your fashion work, and/or your own fashion wardrobe. If you are looking to find new ways to prompt your new fashion ideas, I have created this journal to: 1. Help you grow your fashion business The Fashion Journal Tracker can help your wardrobe + your fashion business to grow. + 2. Help support your wardrobe. It is designed for personal or professional use. The Fashion Journal Tracker can help your wardrobe + your fashion business to grow. If you are not a fashion professional, you can use it for personal use. How can the FASHION JOURNAL TRACKER help you? The fashion tracker can be used to: create + save new fashion ideas help to prompt and complete your new fashion projects help develop your fashion “signature” fashion identity immediately learn, develop and grow by fashion journaling unlock your fashion secrets-- your style, your wardrobe, trends, fashion projects-- either professionally or personally What the tracker can do for your personal style or fashion business: set daily, weekly, monthly, yearly fashion goals manage your fashion ideas create + brainstorm new fashion ideas organize your fashion inspirations plan, and/or track your outfits fashion mind map//sketch and notes page A description of each sheet Sheet 1 The outfit of the day sheet: I have called it #OOTD, the hashtag for outfit of the day Sheet 1 includes a full week Mon-Sun, to describe what is worn each day. Whether we repeat outfits or not, whether we wear the same outfits each week, or not, it is a great way to understand and learn about our sense of style, how our fashion affects us, and how it inspires us. You can enter your outfits each day of the week, and then at the end of the week, you can fill out the rest of the printable sheets. This way you have had time to wear several outfits and look back on them. Personally, it doesn’t matter if you wear the same outfit every day for a month. You can document them, and find out that each day your outfit feels and looks different, and the outfit is more than an outfit, it is a psychological fashion experience. Sheet 1 has a small amount of space to include your outfits. There is a notes section on sheet 5, so if you need more room or if you have an idea and you need to write it down. Sheet 2 The first page asks 3 questions: 1. The first question: "Describe today’s outfit, and why I wore the outfit." I have worn so many amazing outfits over the years, and I cannot remember most of what I wore unless it was photographed. Being able to describe my look in the Fashion Journal Tracker will help create a fashion memory. It will also be able to help psychologically when we analyze outfits. 2. The second question: "Window shopping therapy: what did I see or buy?" This is another way to remember what people wear, and remember your favorite street fashion looks. You can write down what you saw online that you loved, or something that you bought that you needed to have. Window shopping therapy is an important part of learning about fashion communication, forecasting fashion trends, and creating special memories about what fashion designs we like. 3. The third question: "What can I wear in the future or continue to wear to improve how I am feeling? This question is basically a reflection of the first 2 questions and your answers. Should I repeat my outfit? What did I see-- a style or look that I want to try? Also, how have my outfits (or other people’s outfits) affected or improved how I am feeling? Sheet 3 Sheet 3 is called the Question log. It asks you to describe: your personal style your fashion values + beliefs your fashion ideas for your current/future wardrobe your fashion goals short-term and long-term The fashion question log is a place to write down your creative thoughts, happenings, and goals. It also is created to promote your own creative improvisation and nurture fashion innovation. A helpful tip: your fashion questions and answers will always change as time goes on. Save all your 5-sheet printables, date them, and refer back to them. Sheet 4 Sheet 4 is called Fashion // Style Aesthetics This sheet is a fashion prompt. The words on the page: health, holistic trend, enlightenment, and transition, are word prompts. On sheet 5-- describe how each topic symbolizes your own fashion trends, styles, and looks (and/or collectively--you can write about other people’s styles too.) Sheet 5 The Sketch // Notes section: The notes section on page 5 is when you need more space to write things down from the other sheets. You also can sketch, and make more new notes here. If you don’t have enough space on the other sheets, this sheet can be the section where you add the rest of your notes. The notes section can be used as a vision board, to plan, etc. This journal can be used daily, weekly, bi-monthly, monthly, or yearly-- it is up to you. The Fashion Journal Tracker will help you create fashion strategies and new fashion keywords. The digital fashion printable is in PDF format. The journal can be reprinted, as it is a 1 week, one-time-use journal. You can use it at any time. I loved creating the Fashion Journal Tracker— and a more in-depth, much longer version will be available later on. To get the tracker visit my free resources page. Want to read more articles? Check them out here: HIGHLIGHTS

Handmade holiday gifts The holiday season can be really stressful, especially when you have a lot of things happening. These DIY fashion gifts are great ideas for when you don't have a lot of time but you want to give people something special-- but don't want to spend a lot of money either. I have curated 5 fashion gifts that you can make on your own. I have also included shops that sell natural and eco-materials. If you are running out of time, and you can't buy your materials online from small businesses, I included corporate companies that carry these material items. You may wonder why I support mainstream companies. I support mass-market companies, for one, because they have kept people (the poor and middle class, especially) alive. The majority of the population can afford mass-market products. Also, there is nothing like going into a store and shopping. People need to shop in physical stores too, it is like therapy. These large retailer stores like Target, Walmart, and TJ MAXX are giving people a product they can afford, and a lot of space to walk around and "shop therapy." It is the experience people get when they go into a store and can see and touch everything. I love online shopping, but I also love visiting stores and window shopping. 5 fast, easy, cheap fashion gifts to make for the holidays: Photo: Los Angeles Apparel 1. Masks Before I get into the mask ideas, I have a little fashion news about a company I want to share. The photo above are masks made by LA APPAREL. They have made over 10 million masks. 80% of the masks produced were made for the government. I personally love their apparel product, they are a very modern and trendy company. I am going to be showcasing their fleece teeshirt soon, and some of their other fashions. They have produced so much plant-based fashion--comfortable, athleisure-like styles. Los Angeles apparel had over 375 coronavirus cases and 4 deaths. This was not good, but this company has over 2,290 employees. The problem is, I don't believe Mr. Charney, the founder of Los Angeles apparel is to blame. Los Angeles, as a whole, has had a high coronavirus outbreak. Also, I think they were trying to do a good thing, and save millions of lives, because they made over 10 million masks! They have probably saved many lives. Fabrics I would personally use to make the masks are organic, plant-based fabrics with plant-dyes, or low-impact dyes, or undyed fabric. You could also use the surgeon's medical-grade mask fabric. This material is designed in an ergonomic way. They really are not that disposable. You can hand-wash the disposable surgeon-mask fabric with hand sanitizer, and/or soap and water. 80% of the fabric masks produced, I personally would not wear. Most fabrics, in general, are fine, but people are breathing in all kinds of fibers, microfibers, chemicals, dyes, and synthetic detergents etcetera, which may not be healthy. For example, it is true that there are sunglasses currently produced and sold made with a type of plastic that is toxic. Companies are putting warning labels on their products, saying that they are "carcinogenic and could cause cancer and be a hazard." So we cannot believe that all fashion products are safe to wear. There are signs being put up in the retail shops, stating "Warning: this product may cause cancer or reproductive harm." Mask ideas tie wrap mask scarf-like mask bandana-style mask neck warmers-- tube mask Where to shop? All fabric stores Photo: Etsy 2. Tassel accessory key chains These key chain tassels are for both men and women. They can be added to a backpack, luggage, purse, or another accessory. They can be added to keychains and other accessories too. The tassel shown above is from DEBROSSE NYC. These charm tassels are really cute, and they can be made in many different types of materials like chording, faux leather, embroidery thread, gold metallic yarns, and other materials like metal hardware and beads. Another key chain idea: this leather key chain accessory by CUYANA is modern and trendy. It has two, black leather fringe tassels and a little leather tag attached to it. You can engrave or embroider something on the tag. A tassel keychain with two tassels is an adorable key chain idea. Another example: A set of 5 tassel key chains in multiple colors Like HAUTE PINK FLUFF'S tassel. To make your keychains extra modern you could add: geometric beads (like the one shown above) Swarovski crystals prism crystals There are really not enough people carrying around weapons. People can be attacked at any time, and need to feel protected and safe. You could always add a cute can of pepper spray or a mini pocket knife to the key chain. They also have cute mini flashlights at the Dollar Tree. A few other things to add to create a modern + stylish tassel key chain: pom poms dog tags braids macrame charms wood materials Where to shop? Fabrics stores, Hobby Lobby, Target, Michaels Photo: Anthropologie 3. Botanical perfume rollers // essential oil perfumes Many are very sensitive to chemicals, and they use essential oils as an alternative to perfume. I would like to make my own perfume with botanicals. The synthetic chemicals and added synthetic fragrance in the synthetic perfumes sold can be irritating to my skin and lungs. Essential oil perfumes are not that expensive to make. Large bottles of essential oil can be bought at Walmart or TJMAXX, or any small business online! You only need to add a few drops to the roller or spray bottle. (20-40 drops or so, it depends on how strong you want it.) For the blended-oil-infusions: jojoba oil and rosehip oil can be added to the bottle, or just add water and alcohol. HELLO GLOW has all-natural men's botanical cologne scents for men, and she explains how to make them. Using natural botanicals and herbs makes the scent become more healthy, inspiring, and makes the person feel good emotionally. I personally like a blend of pine, cedarwood, and anise seed for men. I have an all-natural odor eliminator spray, and they used this herbal blend. I love spraying it in the air and around me because it has a strong masculine scent to it (but it doesn't keep me smelling like a man because it is an odor eliminator spray). You can add a few things to the perfume and cologne roller or spray bottles: gemstone chips: like rose quartz + jade dried flowers: like rosebud + lavender herbs: like mint + rosemary One great idea is to buy vintage perfume and cologne bottles at thrift stores. Additionally, natural food stores have cheap little glass bottles for DIY beauty and hygiene products. You can use either the glass roll-on bottles for essential oil and oil blended perfumes, and/or a perfume/cologne made with alcohol in a spray bottle. Where to shop? Tjmaxx, Walmart, Target, natural food stores Photo: Alabama Chanin Scarf 4. No-sew knit stretch fabric scarves (from fabric scraps) The scarf shown above is very easy to make and very stylish and comfortable to wear. All you need is fabric scissors and jersey knit fabric. When jersey knit fabric is cut, the edges of the fabric do not fray. The fabric edges just roll over-- so, it has a natural, stylish rolled-edge. I have made these before, and they can really enhance a look. Also, just wrapping plant-based fabrics around the neck is very therapeutic. Add some essential oils to the scarf, wrap around the neck, and it feels really relaxing. Jersey knit stretch fabric can be found at just about any fabric shop. Two online fabric stores that sell scraps by the pound are Hemp Traders and Organic Cotton Plus. Fabric scraps are cheap, and they come in different sizes. These fabric stores always have a few larger pieces where you can turn them into scarves. Scarf Ideas: You could also add a fabric label, and use a fabric pen to write your label or name on it. You can hand-sew the label on the scarf like in the photo above. Some scraps I have bought were not dyed fabric, and I hand-dyed them myself with plant dyes. Where to shop? Hemp Traders, Organic Cotton Plus Photo: 527 Photo 5. Framed fashion quotes I love the idea of giving people an inspiring quote by a fashion icon, or fashion designer. Framed fashion quotes can be hand-written or printed out. There are hundreds of printables on Etsy that have fashion quotes and fashion illustrations that can be printed and framed. Fashion quotes or fashion images really make a room look modern. Framed fashion quotes are for both men and women. Quotes, from fashion people especially, can really make people feel empowered. One colored print at Office Max is only a few dollars, and you can buy a cheap frame at TJ Maxx or Michaels for under $5. If you have a colored printer, you can even print them out at home. A few ideas to embellish the framed quote: stencils stickers gem stickers copper wire metal hardware painting the frame gold or silver adding fake plants + flowers A few of my favorite fashion quotes you could use: “I loathe narcissism, but I approve of vanity.” – Diana Vreeland “Fashion is not necessarily about labels. It’s not about brands. It’s about something else that comes from within you.” – Ralph Lauren I adore wearing gems, but not because they are mine. You can’t possess radiance, you can only admire it.”– Elizabeth Taylor “A great dress can make you remember what is beautiful about life.” – Rachel Roy Where to shop? Joanne's Fabric, TJ MAXX, Hobby Lobby So, these are the 5 handmade fashion gift ideas for the holidays. 1. Masks 2. Tassel key chains 3. Essential oil perfume + cologne 4. Knit jersey scarves 5. Framed fashion quotes I hope that you can have some time to create this holiday season. I know I will be drawing some holiday-inspired fashion illustrations this month to share with you all, and I will be making my own essential oil blends. I would like to make all of these fashion gifts listed if I could! I love the idea of being able to make a trend-driven product, something I can find at a store but make myself. It is very rewarding to design and make products as holiday gifts. Want to read more articles? Check them out here: HIGHLIGHTS

Holiday Inspiration This mini gift guide includes 8 fashion + beauty products for men + women. Modern spa gift baskets, DIY spa treatment products, and ultra-warm and cozy apparel items are included! Each item selected is modern, fresh, and cool. They are products that everyone will enjoy. I hope you are getting inspired this Christmas and holiday season! I had a cup of coffee the other day from STARBUCKS, and they currently have holiday-inspired designs on their coffee cups. That really started to get me inspired by the holidays. Hot cups of coffee, hot chocolate, kind Christmas cards, holiday-inspired stationery, and Christmas lights are a few things I love about the holiday season. I also love to window shop and check out all the new gifts and new products people sell online and in the stores. It is a very inspiring, and charming time of the year. Thanksgiving and Christmas are two holidays that make us feel like giving. It doesn't have to be a product, it can be giving people encouragement, having compassion for others, etc. I know Thanksgiving is not until next week, but I wanted to share, early, with you a few holiday gift ideas that are 'healthy' and support health. This guide could also be for those who want to shop early or start making their list of things they want to get for yourselves, or for their friends and family. The 8 fashion + beauty products We are all human, and to be happy and content is a part of a healthy lifestyle. My blog and work HEALTHY FASHION is about escaping from the unhealthy parts of life. We want therapeutic-based products. Fashion and beauty items that are designed to create peace, good vibes, and soothe the mind and body. I have added 8 fashion and beauty products: 4 products for women, and 4 for products for men. Each of them has a brief description of the product that I found on the company's website. The description is quoted and written by the owner or by the company that is selling the product. I write some details (in the pink text) as to why they are a great holiday gift (for yourself or others) below the description. I have only listed 8 products, yet they can also be an inspiration in regards to finding other products that are similar to these products. Note: You can click on the title of the product to buy or check it out. All of these products can be shopped online. FOR MEN Photo: Self-Ceremony 1. JADE EYE MASK by SELF CEREMONY The Jade Eye Mask invites us to sink into a comfy couch. A quiet mind is a catalyst for true change. Let this mask enhance your self-care practice by unwinding your mind while soothing and relaxing your skin and facial muscles." -SELF-CEREMONY This is the ultimate, and modern spa eye mask. The jade stone will remove negative energy from the body. The crystal will also stimulate the skin with its crystal frequency. Photo: Feel Very 2.FEEL VERY THERMALS (95% TENCEL 5% SPANDEX) "Tencel Lyocell 95%, Elastane (Tencel fabric blend) 5% It has less resistance to sticking to the body when worn and maintains body temperature, which is good for warmth. The basic round neck design is meticulously sewn, and the bottom finish is neat and comfortable to work with. The material is excellent, and it gives a new impression even if it is worn after washing."- FEEL VERY This is a great gift for men and a great plant-based alternative to typical wool and polyester thermals. Photo: Urban Outfitters 3. THE NORTH FACE ECO NUPTSE PUFFER JACKET "Durable, water-resistant retro jacket from The North Face for lofty warmth inspired by the iconic design lines of their 1996 Nuptse Jacket. Boxy design in a ripstop fabric offers a relaxed fit with full zip-front closure and hood that packs into the stand-up collar. Complete with zipper pockets at the front, adjustable Velcro® tabs at the cuffs and adjustable drawcord hem." - Urban Outfitters This coat is warm, and puffy, and makes men feel cozy and comfortable. Photo: Knack 4. JUST BREATHE SPA GIFT BASKET SET The gift set includes: Coconut Soak Natural Bleached Sea Sponge Urban Concrete Soy Wax Candle Rosette Tillandsia Sea Urchin Mini Matches This is a great gift for men, a DIY spa-treatment care package idea. FOR WOMEN Photo: Skin Gym 1. ROSE-QUARTZ FACE MASK by SKIN GYM "Inspired by the crystal masks that empresses in China have used for thousands of years, this mask made from Rose Quartz crystal seeks to soothe and relax. Great for meditation and as a luxe addition to your beauty routine." - SKIN GYM This is the ultimate, and modern spa face mask. They also remove negative energy from the body. Photo: Feel Very 2. FEEL VERY THERMALS (95% TENCEL 5% SPANDEX) "Tencel Lyocell 95%, Elastane (Tencel fabric blend) 5% It has less resistance to sticking to the body when worn and maintains body temperature, which is good for warmth. The basic round neck design is meticulously sewn, and the bottom finish is neat and comfortable to work with. The material is excellent, and it gives a new impression even if it is worn after washing."- FEEL VERY These thermals are a great plant-based alternative. I have owned bamboo Tencel leggings and they were so soft and comfortable, I wore them all the time. Photo: North Face 3. THE NORTH FACE DEALIO CROPPED DOWN JACKET "Water-repellent, down crop jacket for extra coverage on cold, wet days." - The North Face This coat is warm and fluffy, it will make you feel lighter and more relaxed. I love the color and how it is cropped. Photo: Nordstrom Rack 4. QUILTED PUFFER BAG BY URBAN EXPRESSIONS Details- Detachable, adjustable shoulder strap - Dual top handle - Top zip closure - Exterior features quilted construction, front zip pocket - Interior features wall zip pocket, wall mesh slip pocket Puffer bags are a new trend. They are very ergonomic and cozy to wear, and visually comfortable to look at. This is a great gift for men too! Final thoughts I hope this little mini gift guide helps to get you even more inspired. These healthy-lifestyle products are gifts that will support well-being. Each product I selected has healing, therapeutic properties, that naturally support your mind and body. People want to be comfortable, and they need to be supported. You should buy these products for yourself. Hanna Kroeger says: "God Helps Those Who Help Themselves." It is important to give yourself a gift this holiday season, in order for joy, faith, and enthusiasm of life to be strengthened. Stay tuned for more holiday gift ideas! Want to read more articles? Check them out here: HIGHLIGHTS

Get to know the top 38 fashion industry certifications I have created a list of fashion certification companies that support fashion for both human health and environmental health. This is a free resource and certification list to help your fashion wardrobe or your fashion company. There are many more certification companies, but these are several of the top certification companies. I have put them in categories: TEXTILES // ORGANIC // RECYCLED ENVIRONMENTAL // SUSTAINABILITY ETHICAL // FAIRTRADE Included below are 20 apparel + textile certification companies. The 40 certification labels listed will help you. Whether you are a fashion consumer, have a fashion company, or if you are a fashion activist, these verifications are important because they help us know if a product is either safe to wear, and/or if it is safe for the environment. If you have the time, money, and resources to buy apparel products that are certified, then you are not only helping yourself-- but the world around you. The more certified products we purchase, the more demand there will be for certified apparel. If you don’t have the budget to buy fashion that is certified (many, but not all fashion products are a little more expensive when they are certified,) you can research a list of brands online that are certified to see which brand carries products that are for your budget. Also, once you find brands that are certified, you can trust these brands and can assume they are supported by fashion industry certifications. Stay tuned, because I will be creating a sample list of several companies/brands that carry certified apparel and certified textiles. Many people have different motives about where they like to shop, or what they want to wear. I don’t personally only look for certified products, however, it doesn’t mean I don’t have brand name fashions that are certified. It is something I would like to become more aware of, and I think the trend of transparency is great because it is easier for companies and brands to start being more interested in label certifications too, and promoting them. I would like to purchase more apparel items that are certified. Just because a company has certified its products, however, it doesn’t mean the product is 100% healthy. Yet, typically if they are using certifications they are more than likely a wholesome company and carry a good product. Many brands aren't using fashion industry certifications-- and a lot of them produce a healthy product. I feel more satisfied when I go to a grocery store, and I see certification labels like USDA ORGANIC or NON-GMO PROJECT VERIFIED on food products I want to buy. It just makes me feel like I am eating a healthier product. The same should go for apparel products. I have personally designed and sewn many fashion designs made from cotton, linen, and hemp fabrics that were certified by multiple apparel certifiers-- and the quality, feel, and look of the fabric is noticeable. Surprisingly, these fashion industry certifications are being found in mainstream retail stores. You will not just find luxury fashion labels or eco-fashion labels that are certifying their apparel and textile-based products. Certifying fashion apparel products are becoming much more popular. Target, for example, has a full collection of home textiles that are either GOTS certified or OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified. It really makes you feel like buying sheets and pillowcases at Target when they are made of plant-based fabrics, and with textile certifications included. You can feel and see the difference. Additionally, one of Target’s popular brand Universal Threads is certified Fair Trade. They have partnered with FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED FACTORY. Target has also partnered with BETTER COTTON INITIATIVE. The Top 40 Fashion Industry Certifications Each certification company is listed by category, including a brief description of their company and its logo image. Click on their company name to visit their website! TEXTILES // ORGANIC // RECYCLED 1. BCI: Better Cotton Initiative "The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) — a global not-for-profit organisation — is the largest cotton sustainability programme in the world. In the 2018-19 cotton season, 2.3 million BCI Farmers received training on more sustainable farming practices and produced 5.6 million tonnes of Better Cotton – that equates to 22% of global cotton production." - BCI 2. GOTS: Global Organic Cotton Standard "The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognised as the world's leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibres. It defines high-level environmental criteria along the entire organic textiles supply chain and requires compliance with social criteria as well." - GOTS 3. Soil Association Organic Standard "The Soil Association is the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for healthy, humane and sustainable food, farming and land use." - Soil Association 4. Certified B Corp "Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy." - Certified B Corps 5. OSC: Organic Blended Content Standard "The Organic Content Standard (OCS) applies to any non-food product containing 5-100% organic material. It verifies the presence and amount of organic material in a final product. It tracks the flow of a raw material from the source to the final product and this process is certified by an accredited third party." - Textile Exchange 6. RDS: Responsible Down Standard "The Responsible Down Standard safeguards the welfare of geese and ducks that provide down and feathers for the products we all love." - Responsible Down 7. Regenerative Organic Certification "Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) is a revolutionary new certification for food, fiber, and personal care ingredients. ROC farms and products meet the highest standards for soil health, animal welfare, and farmworker fairness." - ROC 8. Greenguard "GREENGUARD Certification is an internationally recognized product emissions certification labeling program for manufacturers of low-emitting indoor products, furnishings, and materials. Products can be certified under two different standards." - Greenguard 9. Made safe "MADE SAFE® is a program of Nontoxic Certified, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We provide America’s first comprehensive human health and ecosystem-focused certification for nontoxic products across store aisles, from baby to personal care to household and beyond." -Made Safe 10. Reach "REACH  (EC 1907/2006) aims to improve the protection of human health and the environment through the better and earlier identification of the intrinsic properties of chemical substances. This is done by the four processes of REACH, namely the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals. REACH also aims to enhance innovation and competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry." - European Commission 11. SMaRT Certified "Provide Substantial Global Benefits for the world’s products with Environmental, Social, & Economic criteria" -SMaRT 12. ZDHC zero discharge of hazardous chemicals "We want to protect the planet by reducing industry's chemical footprint. That means working hand-in-hand with the entire value chain. We collaborate with global brands, chemical suppliers, manufacturers and other organisations that share our vision. Together we create a new way forward." - ZDHC 13. Naturtextile Best Standard "Naturtextil IVN certified BEST is a standard for eco-friendly textiles with the strictest requirements for ecological textile production at the highest technical levels."- Control Union 14. One Cert "OneCert, Inc. was founded in 2003 by Sam Welsch to provide certification to the US NOP, EU, JAS, and the GOTS and TE textile programs. We are known for our dedication to the integrity of the organic label." - OneCert 15. Global Recycle Standard "The Global Recycle Standard (GRS) was originally developed by Control Union Certifications in 2008 and ownership was passed to the Textile Exchange on 1 January 2011. The GRS is an international, voluntary, full product standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of recycled content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices and chemical restrictions."- Control Union ENVIRONMENTAL // SUSTAINABILITY 16. Ecocert "Obtaining an Ecocert certification allows you to highlight your environmentally friendly and socially conscious practices, and to establish a bond of trust with your stakeholders. Our teams help you choose the certifications that are best suited to your needs. We strive to enable production processes that respect the environment, better management of available energy and of natural resources (water, air, soil fertility), socially responsible sectors, and better product quality and safety. All of these elements are essential to address today's economic, social and environmental challenges in order to build tomorrow's world." - ECOCERT 17. Eco Label by European Union "Ecolabel is a label of environmental excellence that is awarded to products and services meeting high environmental standards throughout their life-cycle: from raw material extraction, to production, distribution and disposal. The EU Ecolabel promotes the circular economy by encouraging producers to generate less waste and CO2 during the manufacturing process. The EU Ecolabel criteria also encourages companies to develop products that are durable, easy to repair and recycle." - ECO LABEL 18. Sourcemap "Sourcemap is the pioneer in supply chain transparency software, the gold standard for brands and NGO's alike. Our rigorous and time-tested approach is a way to future-proof your reputation." - Sourcemap 19. WRAP The Worldwide Accreditation Program "Having a WRAP certification shows potential buyers that you are dedicated to ethical and responsible business standards. It demonstrates that you obey the laws of your country, treat your workers with dignity and respect, and are conscious of the impact your operation has on the environment. The WRAP certificate is a recognized symbol of a commitment to uphold social and ethical standards." - WRAP 20. Bluesign "THE BLUE WAY by BLUESIGN represents the vision and mindset of responsible and sustainable manufacturing of textile consumer products. BLUESIGN is a system that provides safer and more sustainable environments for people to work in and everyone to live in. Powered by a holistic approach, BLUESIGN traces each textile’s path along the manufacturing process, making improvements at every stage from factory floor to finished product. BLUESIGN changes the environmental impact of textiles for good. As a solution provider and knowledge broker, BLUESIGN acts as an independent verifier to secure trust and transparency. Corresponding to this approach, BLUESIGN encourages the industry to increase their efforts in sustainable processes step by step." - Bluesign 21. Eco Logo Certification UL ECOLOGO® Certification helps companies and manufacturers gain a competitive edge in the marketplace by credibly communicating the reduced environmental impact of their product, service or package." - Eco Logo 22. IMO the Institue of Marketology "Ecocert IMOswiss AG is a leading provider of international certification services according to organic, environmental and social standards. From agriculture and aquaculture to forestry and fair trade, we provide and develop solutions that really make a difference." - IMO 23. Green Seal "Green Seal® is a global nonprofit organization that pioneered the ecolabeling movement with a mission to transform the economy for a healthier, greener world. For 30 years, Green Seal’s rigorous standards for health, sustainability and product performance have driven permanent shifts in the marketplace, empowering better purchasing decisions and rewarding industry innovators. With thousands of certified products, services and spaces from the world’s leading companies, the Green Seal certification mark is a universal symbol that a product or service meets the highest benchmark of health and environmental leadership." - Greenseal 24. LEED: Leadership in Energy + Environmental Design "Leaders across the globe have made LEED the most widely used green building rating system in the world with 1.85 million square feet of construction space certifying every day. LEED certification provides independent verification of a building or neighborhood’s green features, allowing for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of resource-efficient, high-performing, healthy, cost-effective buildings. LEED is the triple bottom line in action, benefiting people, planet and profit." -LEED 25. GreenScreen "GreenScreen Certified™ Standard for Furniture & Fabrics simplifies the roadmap for purchasers wanting environmentally preferable products that enhance the health of people and the planet. And it meets the specifications of one of the largest non-profit healthcare organizations in the U.S. – Kaiser Permanente - a leader in setting standards for environmentally preferable purchasing." - GreenScreen 26. Rainforest Alliance "The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organization working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal. We are building an alliance to protect forests, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities, promote their human rights, and help them mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis." - Rainforest Alliance 27. ISO certification "ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 165 national standards bodies. Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges." -ISO 28. Control Union (SKAL) "With its foundation in agriculture, Control Union Certifications has focused its efforts in developing services around the sustainability of the industry's supply chains which feed into the food, feed, forestry, biomass, bioenergy, social compliance and textiles markets. With 'boots on the ground' in more than 70 countries, Control Union Certifications is uniquely placed to manage challenges with today's global marketplace." - Control Union 29. Cradle to Cradle Certified "Cradle to Cradle Certified™ is a globally recognized measure of safer, more sustainable products made for the circular economy. "- C2C 30. FSC (Responsible Forest Management) "FSC certification ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. The FSC Principles and Criteria provide a foundation for all forest management standards globally, including the FSC US National Standard ." - FSC ETHICAL // FAIRTRADE 31. Ethical Trading Initiative "The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is a leading alliance of companies, trade unions and NGOs that promotes respect for workers' rights around the globe. Our vision is a world where all workers are free from exploitation and discrimination, and enjoy conditions of freedom, security and equity." - Ethical Trading Initiative 32. WFTO: World Fair Trade We are the global community of social enterprises that fully practice Fair Trade. Our Guarantee System verifies that our members are truly Fair Trade Enterprises. This means they pioneer models of business that put people and planet first." - WFTO 33. Peta-Approved Vegan "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than 6.5 million members and supporters. More than 1,000 companies are using the “PETA-Approved Vegan” logo to highlight clothing, accessories, furniture, and home decor items made of vegan alternatives to animal-derived materials such as leather, fur, silk, feathers, or bone."- Peta 34. Cruelty-Free International "Cruelty Free International works to end animal experiments worldwide. We do this by investigating and exposing the reality of life for animals in laboratories. We challenge decision-makers to make a positive difference for animals. And we champion better science and cruelty free living." Cruelty-Free International 35. HIGG Index "Developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, the Higg Index is a suite of tools that enables brands, retailers, and facilities of all sizes — at every stage in their sustainability journey — to accurately measure and score a company or product’s sustainability performance. The Higg Index delivers a holistic overview that empowers businesses to make meaningful improvements that protect the well-being of factory workers, local communities, and the environment." - Apparel Coalition 36. Fair for Life "Fair for Life Certification assures that human rights are safeguarded at any stage of production, workers enjoy good and fair working conditions and smallholder farmers receive a fair share. Fair trade improves the livelihood of thousands of smallholder farmers and workers by providing the means for social community projects and empowerment of people." -Fair for Life 37. Responsible Care "Responsible Care® is the chemical manufacturing industry’s environmental, health, safety and security performance initiative. For more than 30 years, Responsible Care has helped American Chemistry Council (ACC) member companies significantly enhance their performance and improve the health and safety of their employees, the communities in which they operate and the environment as a whole." -Responsible Care 38. SA8000 "SAI’s mission is to advance human rights in workplaces globally. We believe that socially responsible workplaces benefit business while securing fundamental human rights for workers. We help businesses understand their responsibilities to workers and communities and work with them to adopt socially responsible business practices and convene stakeholders from unions, government, and business to advance socially responsible policy." - Social Accountability International Want to read more articles? Check them out here: HIGHLIGHTS

Stores that sell cotton and linen apparel Online shopping has been a popular way to purchase and find plant-based fashions, but what if we want to go shopping at a corporate chain retail store and find something made from 100% cotton or 100% linen? It has become a challenge to find clothes made from 100% cotton or 100% linen or a cotton/linen blended fabric. Most of the popular clothing stores carry almost all synthetic fibers or fashions made out of synthetic/plant blends. More and more companies are producing fabrics with polyester and acrylic added to natural fibers. It is fun to visit the apparel shops and try on clothes. So, here is a list of 10 fashion retail shops that carry at least some amount of fashions that are made with 100% cotton fabric, or 100% linen fabric. Also, I will talk about each shop-- and what they carry. This is just a list of 10 apparel stores, I have broken them down into specific categories like shops found at the mall, or shops found at an outlet, etc. The shops listed below are also online, and you can visit their e-shop websites. There are more clothing stores out there that carry plant-based fashion, but these are shops I have personally visited recently, and I know for certain that they carry at least some 100% plant-based fashions, (enough where you could find a garment or a few pieces that you would like to wear.) The good thing about these shops is that there is something for everyone. It doesn’t matter what types of styles you like to wear, they are usually producing clothing styles that cater to everyone. Many of these shops have employees that are very knowledgeable of their products and can show you which items are made of 100% cotton, or 100% linen. But, if you go into a shop, I would still check them out, because sometimes you have to look, and not all employees have the time or are instructed to find what each fashion’s materials are made of. I just wanted to mention, that I am specifically speaking of apparel items that these shops carry, not accessory items. I have not looked at bags, purses, wallets, jewelry, watches, or shoes. I am personally not as strict with shoes, and accessories being 100% plant-based. Shoes, for example-- need to be breathable, but if they are made with some synthetic materials, I think it is ok. As long as your socks are made of mostly plant-based materials like cotton. The 10 corporate shops that sell cotton + linen: 1. Aeropostale 2. PacSun 3. The Banana Republic 4. Loft 5. Adidas 6. Tommy Hilfiger 7. Ross 8. Nordstrom Rack 9. Eileen Fisher 10. J. Crew Shops that are typically at a mall: 1. Aeropostale (Men’s+ Women’s Apparel) Aeropostale carries great basics. Their designs are minimal, modern, and stylish. They carry several tops and a few bottoms in 100% cotton. They also carry a collection of recycled cotton designs. 2. Pacsun (Men’s + Women’s Apparel) PacSun does not carry a large assortment of cotton, but some of the brand's products they carry are definitely made out of 100% cotton. You really have to feel the fabrics to identify if it could potentially be 100% cotton, and then check out the label inside the seam. 3. Banana Republic (Men’s + Women’s Apparel) The Banana Republic brand has some great classic items, and fashion that is great to layer with. Their other brand-- the Gap also has some cotton, but I find there are more designer-like items at the Banana Republic store. Shops typically at an outlet mall 4. Loft (Women’s Apparel) The Loft has the most plant-based apparel items compared with the rest of the shops listed here. They have really cute clothing. Their prints are really pretty, and their cuts are very flattering. 5. Adidas (Men’s + Women’s Apparel) Adidas does not carry a lot of 100% cotton apparel, you really have to search, but they have great, sporty fashions, so it is worth it to look. 6. Tommy Hilfiger (Men’s + Women’s Apparel) Tommy Hilfiger is another company like Loft, that carry several 100% cotton fashions. They have a very particular style and look. Their look is modern, fun, and stylish. Multi-Brand Retailers 7. Ross (Men’s + Women’s Apparel) If you are looking for cotton or linen apparel, Ross has some great, budget-conscious, plant-based fashions. Compared with other multi-brand companies like TJMaxx or Marshalls, Ross seems to have a little more plant-based fashion. 8. Nordstrom Rack (Men’s + Women’s Apparel) Whether you shop at Nordstrom’s or Nordstrom’s Off The Rack, you will definitely find several plant-based apparel items. They have dozens of brands, and great designer looks. Shops you can find at shopping centers or fashion boutique locations 9. Eileen Fisher (Men's + Women’s Apparel) Eileen Fischer is a popular brand with a contemporary price point. You can sometimes find this brand at Nordstrom’s or TJMaxx, and you can also shop their online store. They have a distinct look, but they also carry many basics and styles. 10. J. Crew (Men’s + Women’s Apparel) J. Crew is great when it comes to plant-based fashion. They do carry a lot of synthetic, and synthetic blends, but you will always find some 100% cotton, or 100% linen fashions. They have great, trendy looks. Want to read more articles? Check them out here: HIGHLIGHTS

Three fashion books that I love One of the things I have always done is to visit bookstores and look through fashion magazines and fashion books. I used to visit Barnes & Noble all the time, and look through the fashion magazines and books, and get so inspired. I stopped doing that, it has been a while, but I am looking forward to it once the coronavirus is over. It is not very easy to visit bookstores right now, because of the coronavirus, but it is always nice to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and read a good fashion book or fashion magazine at home or while traveling. I am very picky when it comes to what I will read. The books I read definitely have to be a book that I am very interested in reading, otherwise, I will get bored and I will not be able to keep reading it. I read a lot of non-fiction books, however, I would like to read more fiction eventually-- it just takes more time to research. Some book categories I like to read are metaphysics, business, marketing, biographies, and most importantly-- fashion books. I have noticed fashion books are not as popular as other subjects. I have read several fashion books. Listed below are a few of my favorites that I have read. I am not going to give the books away and tell you everything about the book, but I will tell you a few things I loved about them. The 3 books I will be reviewing: 1. FASHION CLIMBING by Bill Cunningham 2. THE WOMAN I WANTED TO BE by Diane von Furstenburg 3. THE GLITTER PLAN by Pamela Skaist Levy, and Gela Nash-Taylor I particularly enjoyed these 3 fashion books listed above. Why? They are very fashion-business oriented. You will learn a lot about the fashion industry. Each fashion author is, or was, a fashion business owner. So, if you like the idea of learning more about the business of fashion, you will like these books. Also, all of these fashion authors are very passionate about fashion. They really love fashion so much, this made me very inspired! 1. FASHION CLIMBING by Bill Cunningham Photo source: Amazon FASHION CLIMBING is a fashion memoir by Bill Cunningham. What is interesting about this memoir was that it was not published while he was alive. After he died, the book and its materials/contents were discovered. Bill Cunningham is probably one of the most interesting people in fashion history. He is no longer alive, but he worked as a fashion business owner and as a fashion photographer up until his late 80s. He never retired. His memoir has a journal-like quality-- it is very intimate writing. His character and attitude make you feel like he is so down to Earth. Bill Cunningham was originally a hat designer and he had his own millinery shop in NYC. He designed all his hats. Cunningham gives a real insider view on the fashion world, and what he went through-- both his fashion successes and fashion failures. FASHION CLIMBING is a book I am going to re-read, because it is very detailed, and has a lot of fashion business ideas and tips that are supportive to everyone in the fashion industry. He has a great style of writing and this made me want to learn more about his life. Overall, after reading FASHION CLIMBING, he leaves you feeling very inspired for many different reasons-- because he doesn’t just show the glamour side of fashion, he gives you a real honest idea of his life in the "luxury" fashion world, that was not always perfect. 2. THE WOMAN I WANTED TO BE by Diane von Furstenburg Photo source: Amazon THE WOMAN I WANTED TO BE is an autobiography written by Diane von Furstenburg. This book was even more personal than Bill Cunningham’s. She spoke a lot about her personal life, her relationships, her family, and her friends. She has a good fashion story, and she really tries to show how the people around her shaped her into the “Woman She Wanted To Be.” Her autobiography is about her fashion business. She not only talks about her success, but she also talks about things that went wrong for her. There are definitely parts of her life that reveals she lived in wealth. So she has an interesting point of view-- to see her speak of her life in the fashion world, which is a little bit like a fairy tale. Her fashion story is a little bit like a fairy tale. She had overnight success in NYC, but she had support, and it did take her time for her fashion career to become successful. Furstenberg also tells her fashion story in a way that you are left feeling very inspired. She truly is famous in the fashion industry for her wrap dress and her textile prints. The jersey knit wrap dress she designed wraps around the body, like a ballet wrap top. Overall, it is a great book to read, especially for those interested in reading about the lives of famous fashion designers like Diane von Furstenburg. She has a great writing style, with interesting stories she shared throughout the book. 3. THE GLITTER PLAN by Pamela Skaist Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor Photo source: Amazon THE GLITTER PLAN by Pamela Skaist Levy and Gela Nash Taylor is a fun fashion book. They founded a really exciting company: Juicy Couture, and it ended up becoming so large, that they had to sell it. They have their own fashion company now, a fashion brand called Pam + Gela, and their fashions are very modern and cool. THE GLITTER plan story is great. Pam Levy and Gela Taylor are two best friends that ended up making a huge success with their velour tracksuits that Juicy Couture is known for. What makes Levy and Taylor interesting, is that they were not formal fashion professionals from the beginning. At one point during their career as owners of their company Juicy Couture, they would pin their new fashion samples to their body, in order to manipulate the design, and hand them back to the seamstress to fix. They were very business savvy, and their book is filled with fashion tips. Juicy Couture is still a large corporate company and a famous fashion brand. Juicy Couture is an important part of fashion history. They had a great idea and turned a 200 dollar business into a billion-dollar fashion empire. I will be sharing with you more fashion book reviews in the future. I hope you liked these book reviews, and I hope they might inspire you to check them out. Want to read more articles? Check them out here: HIGHLIGHTS

About Alyssa Couture: fashion author + fashion entrepreneur If you are interested in learning more about me-- the Founder and Owner of Healthy Fashion, check out my short biography: Alyssa Couture is a fashion author, fashion entrepreneur, fashion industry expert, and fashion intuitive. She feels fashion is a spiritual opportunity. She claims the existence of fashion can be interpreted and experienced with a deeper purpose; Fashion as an alternative medicine for mind/body/spirit. Her sole motive is to bring fashion into its course as a therapeutic, healing tool. To awaken the consciousness of the human spirit via fashion into its transmission of divine activity for overall human wellbeing and ultimate planetary awakening. She had founded 3 small businesses, only one of which she is currently producing. The sole business she is currently focused on is her fashion campaign HEALTHY FASHION: Creating innovative solutions for a healthier kind of fashion. It’s a platform to raise awareness of the health effects of apparel. Healthy Fashion discloses important, relative content to revamp fashion for a healthier planet, but above all, it serves for the health and livelihood of humans. It is to empower and preserve Earth, humans, and plant life. Her second business which is currently not in production was her plant-based, ultra-modern womenswear brand ALTERNATIVE FASHION: The collections are nature-based yet urban-inspired looks that are fresh, chic, and comfortable. Alternative Fashion was founded, produced, and designed by Alyssa. Her handmade line proved to be a success when she was a selected participant and entered in “Saks 5th Avenue’s Emerging Designer Showcase” in 2016 as well as being showcased at 6 select fashion shows. Her product sold online, at shops, and local events. Lastly, her third business was ALTERNATIVE FASHION MEDIA: A news site offering trends, reports, fashion news, and events. Alternative Fashion Media was about the cutting-edge of style while merging art, fashion, and a conscious lifestyle. She created and produced a fabulous fashion show: ALTERNATIVE FASHION 2014. It was filmed and broadcasted on the MPTV channel. Alyssa received formal education at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, majoring in fashion design. She’s been pretty adventurous in the pursuit of acquiring knowledge and wisdom of all things pertaining to fashion. Her personality proved to be a bit restless in terms of experiencing the value of attaining multiple fashion roles established overtime which offered as a benefit to being a multi-purpose fashion entrepreneur. Alyssa has over 15 years of experience in multiple areas of the fashion industry, some of which include fashion business, fashion design, fashion journalism, fashion show production, creative directing, styling, visual merchandising business, and fashion show event production. The roles have also functioned to incorporate a universal element to her work and life skills. Alyssa has participated in over a dozen+ written interviews as an interviewee on behalf of her eco brand and as a guest blogger writing informational content articles about fashion for health and eco-fashion. Alyssa has publicly spoken on behalf of her work at various pop-up shops, podcasts, and live events. Apart from fashion, Alyssa has delved into the creative arts with a background in painting and illustration. Alyssa was Artist/Illustrator of 2 published works: Sue Singleton’s “9 Simple Laws to Create Joy and Grace”, and Elizabeth Foley’s “Nature Spirits Oracle Cards”. In addition, Alyssa created a series of channeled angel paintings. Alyssa’s interest in food and health lead her to her Kitchen Manager role at a meditation retreat with 5-star reviews as Chef. Health and nutrition have played an important role in her life, having studied health and herbalism for 10 years. Additionally, she has spent many years studying alternative health, herbalism, and nutrition, and the celebratory works of her favorite herbalist’s Hanna Kroeger and Jethro Kloss. These esoteric and health-related fields of interest parallel with her interest in pursuing fashion for health. Alyssa has lived and worked in NH, NYC, New Jersey, West Virginia, Michigan, and her most favored and current location: California. Her love of travel has given her the opportunity to explore different cultures and influence her outlook. Alyssa has always been interested in all-universal spiritual traditions having lived and worked at several different Buddhist and Eastern Indian ashrams and monasteries. She chose to engage in this type of lifestyle in support of her meditation and yoga practice, yoga being both a science and spiritual activity. This prompted the revealed importance of fashion utilized for comfort and its spiritual standing. Alyssa specializes in the healing arts, metaphysics, and alternative medicine, all of which are complementary to her fashion work. It has given her outlook a much greater depth which prompted the need to write Healthy Fashion. She is currently working on promoting her upcoming soon-to-be-released fashion book. The book establishes an alternative, modern approach to clothing; Fashion deemed medicinal. Want to read more articles? Check them out here: HIGHLIGHTS

Plant-based fashion fabrics with sheen + luster Current fashion fabrics produced that have a sheen and luster are predominantly made from synthetic materials. A lot of synthetic fabrics have a sheen and luster, and that is partly why we wear synthetic fabrics-- for their aesthetic surface appearance. The fabrics with a sheen and luster; like silk from worms, or satin from polyester are very pretty, so it makes people feel good. Yet, we can find the same surface appearances from those silk and synthetic fabrics and the characteristic of them-- and make them from 100% plant-based materials. One reason plant-based fabrics with a sheen and luster surface appearance are important is that they are physically and mentally luxurious in an ergonomic and healthy way. The look and feel of the shiny fabrics are mentally soothing, and therapeutically physically healing. Below, you will find three plant-based fabrics with shine and luster. Also, I have included some great ways to style and design with these fashion fabrics. The three plant-based fashion fabrics with sheen and luster can be made into both dressy or casual looks. Their sheen and luster add a lot of style to a look. 1. Cotton sateen Photo: Mood Fabrics Cotton sateen: It is the satin weave that makes the sheen of cotton sateen. The satin weave is made of 4 or more warp threads going over a weft thread. Cotton sateen is a lovely fabric, and the fabric can also be produced with plant-based lycra for stretch. Ways to wear fashion made from cotton sateen: The material is great designed as a blazer and as a skirt suit Cotton sateen works great designed into a quilted winter coat It is a perfect fabric for men’s shirting and women’s blouses 2. Cotton velvet Photo: KBT Fabric UK Cotton velvet: The soft texture of cotton velvet is called the “pile.” Cotton velvet fabric has a sheen and a lustrous appearance to it. It is soft and very plush. This makes the fabric feel and look luxurious. Ways to wear fashions made from cotton velvet: This fabric works great made into sleep and intimate apparel Cotton velvet looks great made into sweatshirts and sweatpants It looks nice designed into a men’s or women’s bomber jacket-- and designed into men’s and women’s shorts. 3. Pina sylk Photo: THISco // Etsy Pina sylk: Pina"sylk" or "silk" is like a stiff, yet lightweight, organza-like fabric. It is worn at a lot of ceremonial events. It has a beautiful sheen and luster. A few ways to wear fashion made from cotton sateen: Pina sylk looks lovely made into a scarf and designed in other fashion accessories like scarves, wallets, travel bags, and hair accessories. Pina sylk has a great structure to the fabric, which makes it perfect for dresses Pina sylk used in formal wear makes it a perfect way to dress up in a men’s button-down shirt. Stay tuned for more plant-based fabric inspiration. Want to read more articles? Check them out here: HIGHLIGHTS

Healthy Casual Looks I have styled 2 trending looks for your healthy wardrobe inspiration: 1 look for women, and 1 look for men. These looks are for the end of the summer season and are made to inspire. They are casual, athleisure, sporty, and fun. Included below, I write the details that make these garments luxuriously healthy. These fashions are comfortable and designed with high aesthetic appeal, making them healthy fashions. One of my specific blog categories will feature blog articles about trending healthy looks that are healthy for the body, mind, and spirit. I am developing this blog topic category of specific, healthy outfits, and fashions, because it is often sometimes challenging to find stylish healthy fashion made with mostly plant-based fibers, that are ergonomic and designed for the mind/body/spirit. So this blog category will be a great reference and resource for those who are looking for-- and shopping for healthy fashion. FOR WOMEN 1. H&M cropped white camisole This H&M camisole is made with 95% cotton, 5% spandex. This is the perfect cropped camisole, that works well with cropped sweatshirts and jackets. The square neckline is sleek and minimal. The cut of the camisole is very chic. Paired with a sweatshirt, it is a good layering piece, to wear under clothes that need a fitted garment underneath. 2. Live In Cool cropped sweatshirt This sweatshirt is made with 100% cotton. The sweatshirt fabric is lightweight, and great for all seasons. It has a great cut and feminine look to it. 3. Modesens terry shorts These terry cloth shorts and their colors have a soft, soothing look to them. They are also really refreshing and fun with the 3 pastel colors. Terry cloth is a great fabric to wear when your skin wants some extra support, as the loops of the knitted fabric make it therapeutically cushioned. It is also a great fabric to wear in hot weather, as the sweat easily absorbs and dries in the fabric. 4. Nike Zoom Hyperace 2 I love this sneaker style. I am always looking for a modern-looking sneaker sole, this is one of them. The white fabric color against the black makes the look very refreshing and stylish. These sneakers are ergonomic. They are designed and built to support your health. They keep the weight off the body, making the body feel lighter as the cushion of the sole is springy. FOR MEN 1. Naked & Famous crewneck sweatshirt This sweatshirt is made with 100% Japanese cotton terry. I love the reversed sweatshirt fashion design and look of it. I think they add great stylish detail to the garment. It makes it look cool and interesting. This grey color is sporty and fresh. 2. Levi’s cotton tee shirt This tee shirt is made with 100% cotton. The color palette; the pink, red, and blue colors give off a fun, urban aesthetic. I think men should wear pink more. It is not just a color for women. 3. H&M French terry knit shorts These French terry shorts are made with 100% cotton. The cut has a great tapered cut within the design. They are shorter than typical men’s shorts. Terry cloth is a great fabric for the summertime, as they keep the sweat off the skin, and are breathable. These shorts are slightly rolled up at the hem. I think this hem roll detail gives the look a cozy aesthetic. 4. Adidas Sneakers I love these Adidas sneakers. Grey shoes are trending, and they are a great neutral color for shoes. This Adidas sneaker is pretty classic, clean, this gives the look a relaxed effect. They look comfy, yet are conservative. Stay tuned for more healthy apparel ideas and inspiration! Want to read more articles? Check them out here: HIGHLIGHTS