Written by Alexa Smith
Video by Marissa Greene
With summer coming up, it’s a great time to try out some delicious new smoothie recipes. Give greens a chance with our greens smoothie or take a break from the usual strawberry banana with our mixed berry smoothie. If you’re looking for something with protein try out the super easy PB smoothie. With ingredients you probably already have in your freezer, these smoothies are easy to throw together and make a yummy breakfast, snack, or dessert.
By Alexa Smith
Throughout our Earth Day series, we’ve talked about different ways to be sustainable in all aspects of your life. From recycling to looking for cruelty-free products there are various ways to incorporate a green initiative into your own life. Many people don’t know that the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters globally which is why it’s so important to find ways to be fashionable and sustainable. An easy way to do that is through Wayre a sustainable fashion brand focused on providing “apparel for the modern traveler”
I spoke with Wayre co-founder, Rachael Kemp, about Wayre’s mission and her tips for being sustainable in everyday life.
Interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Alexa Smith: “Can you tell me a little bit about the history of Wayre and how y’all got started?”
Rachael Kemp: So the conceptualization for Wayre started about two and a half years ago. I have been an avid traveler my entire life and I traveled a lot throughout college. When I was in college there was a specific trip that I was on, my classic post-grad Euro trip. Every time I went to get dressed I kept returning to this simple pale blue dress. And I wore it everywhere for a month. In the last two days of my trip I was in Sevilla, Spain and left that dress in a hostel. Ever since I left that dress I just kind of mourned, wishing I had it anytime I went to travel again. Packing for a trip had become a hassle because I didn’t really have my go-to pieces. When you travel you always think: “what is the weather going to be like? What am I going to do when I’m there?” Just so many questions that you go through trying to predict what’s going to happen when you travel. You want to look good and feel good at the same time. So that was just a personal kind of spark that started Wayre. Then about two years later the idea actually started coming into development. My co-founder and brother-in-law, Chris, and I launched a Kickstarter campaign back in July of 2019 and were looking to raise $50,000 and we raised about $90,000. That gave us enough money to basically jumpstart wayre. We like to say, “we make apparel for the modern traveler” it’s lightweight and breathable. It’s built to keep up with you. It’s functional, cute, and just solves your packing dilemmas.
Not only is Wayre focused on creating functional and stylish pieces, they’re also focused on creating a sustainable brand that’s great for fashion and the environment. Kemp touched on these points when discussing the formation of Wayre.
RK: We make everything in a sustainable and ethical factory. Our fabric is all made from post-consumer plastic waste. We have a big sustainability component, it’s a core value of our brand. When we began the brand, I actually had worked in the fashion industry a couple of years prior to launching Wayre and the one thing I told myself was I will never ever work in the fashion industry again without having sustainability as a core value. I just watched the industry from the inside as I was managing production. The textile waste, energy consumption and poor workplace practices are just really inhumane. That was a core value of Wayre from the start.
AS: Could you also touch on Wayre’s labor practices?
RK: When we were sourcing our fabric and sourcing which factories we would work with we didn’t even look at factories that didn’t have ethical and sustainable practices ongoing already. We did a lot of research on the manufacturer we work with now. Another part of our process before we did any sort of development was with them was to visit the factory. We decided we would just fly there ourselves, ask a lot of questions, look behind all the closed doors and talk to the garment workers ourselves about what it is like to work at Everest Textiles – that’s the name of the manufacturer. They’re located in Tainan, Taiwan which is the south side of the island. We got a vibe for their happiness and their well being. I personally came away from that initial factory visit just completely mind blown. This company, Everest Textiles, is on the forefront of sustainability.
Kemp discussed all the different amenities Everest Textiles provides their employees. Not only are the employees paid a living wage but there is free housing available on site, a mandatory nap time at lunch, affordable meals, workouts and gardens for the employees.
RK: We really love our team. The ethical side is a major component because people on our planet should absolutely be first instead of the product. We just love to rave about our manufacturer. We just think they do such a stellar job.
AS: Yeah I love that and I’ve noticed just how transparent y’all are too. Y’all have a whole Instagram highlight about your manufacturer. It’s just awesome to see a brand be so proud of where they’re making their clothes and not try to hide it like other brands might.
RK: Yeah, it’s kind of trendy to become sustainable and ethical. It’s cool but it’s also kind of unfortunate because you do see a lot of greenwashing these days where fast fashion companies or other companies that don’t really have the same actual values and sustainable, ethical practices just kind of greenwash and make it look to the consumer like they’re doing a good job, but nothing’s changed internally. So it’s kind of sad that it’s trendy. I mean it’s also a good thing; it’s a good movement to have but you definitely have to be careful where you consume your products.
AS: Yeah definitely that’s so true. We just wrote an article on greenwashing a few months ago. You’re right it is such a trend now so it’s hard to kind of tell the real from the fake. So, I’m wondering if you have any other ways you like to be sustainable whether that’s in fashion or other areas of your life?
RK: I mean I’m nowhere close to perfect nor does my lifestyle completely focus on sustainability. But I truly try to do my part the very best that I can. The world has made unsustainable options very convenient while sustainable options are very inconvenient. But small things, I’ve invested in a lot of home goods that help keep the plastic waste down in my house. Like, using reusable Ziploc bags and reusable straws and composting. And using a guppy friend bag when I do laundry. We actually just posted on Instagram about washing your Wayre and synthetics in a guppy friend bag but also there are lots of laundry habits you can do to help save energy and the ocean. I just try to consume from brands that have similar values to Wayre and just do my part in my everyday living even if its a little less convenient I think there’s an intentionality there that makes it kind of unique and fun.
AS: I agree. It’s hard to sometimes feel like you’re doing enough when so many bad things are happening with the environment. It’s important like you said to just think of little things you can do.
RK: Yeah we can’t all save the planet every single day by doing mass gestures but we can all do small things. If we can change our small habits and we can do it collectively as an international people then we can make big changes but it requires all the manpower we have to all change our habits. But yes all about the little steps of getting there instead of feeling super guilty when you use a straw once.
AS: Do you have any other sustainable brands whether that be in clothing or anything else that you’ve been loving lately?
RK: Yeah! I love Girlfriend Collective if you’re not familiar with them they’re awesome. They’re a great brand. I love what they’re all about. I also really love Reformation and Patagonia. I think those are probably my favorite right off the top of my head. Another brand called Whimsy and Row I think they’re all based in Los Angeles as well. I’m all about shopping vintage; that’s really helpful. Or do clothing swaps with your friends. Utilizing Poshmark or shopping secondhand is awesome. I think the most sustainable thing you can do for your wardrobe is just to consume less in general. The fashion industry is I think the second or third largest pollutant in the world. And I think the only way we can really minimize waste is if there’s less of a demand. And that means purchasing less. That’s even me coming from a small brand who’s like, “yes please buy my clothes!” If you buy things that you love and you just hold onto those pieces for longer rather than buying something that’s just trendy and you’re gonna wear twice and throw away I mean the better option is to invest. Invest in your wardrobe and find pieces that you really really love that you’re gonna hold on to.
AS: The thing to me that makes Wayre such a great investment they’re so easy to pair with stuff and also the pockets! The pockets on your shorts and the dress they’re just amazing. There are pockets on the side there’s like a secret boob pocket in the dress. Y’all thought of everything.
RK: Honestly, in the design process for myself I was just kind of being selfish and thinking, “If I’m gonna wear these shorts a million times what do I need them to have?” And I personally designed them on a selfish basis. But, yeah I agree just trying to make something that’s functional so that it does last you a really long time is our goal.
By Alexa Smith
Shop local at farmer’s markets.
Austin and it’s suburbs are all home to some amazing farmer’s markets that feature local vendors and farmers. Food can travel miles and miles to get to your grocery store – causing huge environmental impact. When you shop local at a farmer’s market you’re cutting down on that impact. Additionally, local farmers often have better animal and plant care as they don’t have to produce the same amount big companies do. This leads to less harmful and more sustainable practices.
Austin’s Sustainable Food Center still has their farmer’s markets open during the stay at home order just be sure to follow social distancing rules as you would at a regular grocery store.
Additionally, many local restaurants are offering grocery pick-up orders. This is a great way to support local restaurants when many of them have lost a lot of business. Plus, you’ll often be able to find pantry staples that many stores are sold out of right now. Check out this list for where you can get your next grocery fix.
Avoid pre-packaged, pre-cut food when possible.
Yes those watermelon chunks and pineapple slices are so tempting in their perfect, little containers. However, this creates extra and unnecessary plastic waste. If you find yourself reaching for pre-cut produce during your lunch break a lot, think of starting to pack ahead so you can cut your produce at home. Not only will this help the environment, it will also be cheaper.
Bring your own bags.
This one is pretty obvious – especially here in Austin. Tons of people already bring their reusable bags everywhere they go. But did you know you can replace plastic produce bags? For produce bags, check out an option like this or search up a tutorial to sew your own.
Buy in bulk.
While bulk buying sections are mostly closed right now to prevent germ spread – once they open back up they are a great option for reducing waste when shopping. Buying bulk cuts down on the amount of packaging used for shipping, storing, and buying food. Additionally, you can ask the grocery store you shop at to use your own containers – such as a glass jar – to further prevent waste.
Look into organic food.
Buying organic can be a great way to factor more sustainable food into your diet. However, according to an article from Columbia University it’s not always the most sustainable option. So don’t stress yourself about buying all organic everything. Instead, figure out which brands and products you trust and decide what is important for you to buy organic.
The most important thing to remember when creating a sustainable diet is every bit counts. Even just shopping local for some products helps create a more sustainable lifestyle. Don’t feel like it’s all or nothing and as with cruelty free labels it’s important to do your own research and not just believe what you see on the packaging.
Written and photo by Alexa Smith
Going cruelty free in cosmetics is a great way to begin living a more sustainable lifestyle. However, while it seems like an easy step to take, understanding different cruelty free labels can be difficult. Since the FDA does not regulate what constitutes as cruelty free, companies are free to make claims that may or may not be substantiated. Even independent accreditation such as PETA and Leaping Bunny have their own issues that make the “best” accreditation a hotly debated topic in the cruelty free community. If you’re looking to get truly committed to cruelty free it takes a little more work than simply looking for any old picture of a bunny. Here are a few different things to look out for when shopping cruelty free.
“Cruelty Free” / “Not Tested on Animals”
As mentioned before, as there is no legal definition in the US of “cruelty free” or “not tested on animals” these phrases are not verified by the FDA. Since there is no regulation on these phrases, companies are free to use them however they please. They may not currently test the final product on animals but still buy from manufacturers that test on animals. They could also be using these claims while still testing on animals – there’s no way to be sure other than investigating the company itself.
While these words themselves are not regulated by the FDA – that doesn’t mean the products with these phrases are not cruelty free or even unaccredited. Organizations such as PETA and The Leaping Bunny often charge more to license their logo and use it on products. So companies may be registered with the organization as cruelty free but not display the logo. This is where doing your own research comes in handy.
I took a look at some of my products and found that a hair product I use from LUS (side note: great for curly hair!) has a simple claim of “No Animal Testing” which I wasn’t very convinced by. However, when I looked into their website I found that they are actually certified cruelty free by Leaping Bunny. So, if you have a current product you love with no bunny on it – don’t throw it out just yet! Do some research into the brand and company to find out more info on it.
The Leaping Bunny Program
The Leaping Bunny label is one of the biggest names when looking for cruelty free products. It is often mentioned as one of the most reputable certifications because it is the only one that conducts audits of the companies it accredits. Their website states, “All Leaping Bunny companies must be open to independent audits” so it is not clear if they audit every company on their list. However, they are the only organization that requires companies to agree to a written statement and an audit. Leaping Bunny also requires that companies confirm with suppliers that they are not tested on animals. However, they do still accredit brands that are owned by companies that test on animals. When a brand is owned by a company that tests on animals, Leaping Bunny notes this in their Compassionate Shopping Guide.
PETA’s Beauty without Bunnies
PETA’s cruelty free accreditation is considered lesser by cruelty free bloggers such as Cruelty Free Kitty and Ethical Elephant. In the linked article for Cruelty Free Kitty, the author Suzana Rose, found that one of the brands on PETA’s cruelty free list was not able to confirm if their suppliers were also cruelty free. So, unlike The Leaping Bunny Program, PETA does not confirm if brands are using cruelty free suppliers. You’ll notice PETA’s list is longer because of this. PETA also does not conduct any audits of these companies. All companies must do to be accredited by PETA is sign a statement of assurance and fill out a questionnaire. PETA argues that this method works since the statement is legally binding and they believe the threat of a public relations disaster encourages companies to tell the truth about their testing practices.
Choose Cruelty Free
Choose Cruelty Free (CCF) is a much smaller organization than PETA and Leaping Bunny. If you look on their About Section of their website you’ll find they only have two paid staff members and consist mostly of volunteers. This being said – they do not have the resources to audit their accredited brands as Leaping Bunny does. In this way they are similar to PETA since they only require a brand to sign a legally binding contract. However, what makes CCF different from PETA and Leaping Bunny is that they are the only organization that does not certify brands own by parent companies who test on animals. They also require brands to provide written verification from the brand’s suppliers that they do not test on animals.
So…what’s the best option?
At the end of the day, the best option is to conduct your own research on brands and decide for yourself which accreditations you feel comfortable with. There is no right or wrong answer as all of these have their own pros and cons. The most important thing is to stay informed and understand what exactly each certification means.
