When I was in Belgium, I stopped by Hempmade to take a look at their ethical fashion offerings. I was completely in heaven – an entire shop dedicated to ethical clothing brands! We don’t have anything like this near where I live, so it was a big deal to me.
The store was full of beautiful, fairly made pieces, and I ended up buying a couple of things that I’m really excited to share with you. (Not to mention the person working there was so kind and lovely!)
So many plants!
(Might have gotten this backpack in black 🙂 )
One of those items, which has already proven incredibly useful in my closet, is this t-shirt midi dress by Alchemist. I hadn’t heard of the brand before, so I thought perhaps you guys wouldn’t have either, and that you might like an introduction.
Alchemist is a Netherlands-based brand that uses sustainable fabrics. The brand believes that our relationship with clothing is deeply personal, and that we are connected to the environment through the fabrics we choose to wear on our skin. You all know that I too share a very personal relationship with clothing, so this really intrigued me about the brand. They also state (and this is loosely translated from their site…because I don’t speak Dutch)
“According to the story, alchemists looked for the formula to make gold. They wanted to convert the ordinary into the most beautiful. By melting loose substances they wanted to make the highest possible. We follow their idea and believe that chemistry starts when the different elements come into contact with each other.”
Alchemist transforms natural materials into beautiful, high-quality fashion that makes you feel good about what you choose to put on your skin. Every single detail is considered in their pieces, from the material, to the stitching, to the tags that read, “Clothes won’t change the world, the women who wear them will.”
I wore this dress on the plane ride home, and can confirm it is so comfortable, breathable and functional. I especially love that it transitions easily from work to weekend, as other black midi or maxi dresses I’ve owned have tended to be a bit more fussy – open backs, low cut fronts, etc. This dress has a slim and flattering fit while still being conservative.
The people in my life often ask me what the big deal is about purchasing organic cotton, and why we should choose to wear it over regular cotton. I appreciate that Alchemist directly addresses the importance of what we put on our skin in their marketing.
Organic cotton is grown without harmful pesticides and fertilizers, while conventionally grown cotton uses more insecticides than any other crop in the world. The health risks of pesticide exposure include birth defects, reproductive disorders and weaker immune systems.  According to the World Health Organization, up to 20,000 deaths each year are caused by pesticide poisoning in developing countries, where cotton is still largely picked by hand. Here in the US, more than 10,000 farmers die each year from cancers related to such chemicals.
When you think about it, the decision to choose organic cotton is really quite simple – it protects people, the planet and is becoming more and more stylish each day. Alchemist certainly proves that in their gorgeous, functional and minimal designs.
Had you heard of Alchemist before? And, do you tend to purchase organic cotton?
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