January 5 2019
Thinking about starting a career in fashion? This is everything I wish someone had told me about jobs in the fashion industry.
Back in 2004 when I was applying for colleges and trying to figure out what I was going to do with the rest of my life, I didn't realize that there are jobs for all different personalities, talents, and abilities in the fashion industry. For some reason, I thought “designer” was the only job in fashion. I have never been particularly artsy, and don’t know how to sew, so working in fashion never felt like a real option.
December 27 2018
I had the opportunity to visit Poland in September on a trip sponsored by The European Union and Polish Investment & Trade Agency. And, not only was I was blown away by their manufacturing capabilities, but the country as a whole. Poland is probably the best-kept manufacturing secret in Europe right now. So, now the secrets out, Poland for manufacturing is where you need to be.
December 20 2018
Yarns are the often forgotten about secret to creating more sustainable fabrics and garments. By understanding them we can create garments that will last longer and perform better, here's how...
December 4 2018
Rayon was the first synthetic fiber, and originally consumers hated it. It wasn't until the invention of nylon, which made women's nylon stockings a possibility that the world became obsessed with synthetic fibers and faster fashion.
How did one little fiber change the fashion world forever? We'll get to that. And, talk about how other synthetic fibers continue to shape fashions hottest trends.
November 22 2018
The fourth topic of TEXTILES 101 is Luxury Wool.
Before you buy that discounted, to good to be true cashmere, educate yourself on some of the worlds most sustainable and rare luxury wool in the world. Cashmere, yak, camel wool, guanaco, mohair, alpaca, vicuna, angora, shahtoosh.
November 6 2018
This weeks topic of TEXTILES 101 is Animal Fibers, specifically - what is wool? Before you head out for your holiday shopping or invest in any itchy Christmas sweaters, make sure to read this guide.
October 23 2018
New to the fashion world? Welcome :) To help catch you up to speed, virtue + vice is offering free mini-courses. We will be releasing a new chapter bi-monthly. The courses will take you from the very first step in the fashion supply chain, textile fibers, all the way through to the finished product in stores. Our first crash course is TEXTILES 101. The second topic of TEXTILES 101 is Natural Plant Fibers.
October 22 2018
Sham Shui Po is a fabric market located in Kowloon and is one of Hong Kongs best-kept fashion secrets. Designers looking for deadstock - Sham Shui Po is your holy grail. Basically, it's where Chinese mills, from fast fashion to high-end, sell off their deadstock.
October 10 2018
New to the fashion world? Welcome :) To help catch you up to speed, virtue + vice is offering free mini-courses. We will be releasing a new chapter bi-weekly. The courses will take you from the very first step in the fashion supply chain, textile fibers, all the way through to the finished product in stores. Our first crash course is TEXTILES 101, which answers, what are textiles, and how do we know if they are sustainable or not.
The first topic of Textiles 101 is WHAT ARE TEXTILE FIBERS? And, why are they important in sustainable fashion design? Get ready to learn everything there is to know about the very first step in designing a product.
September 28 2018
India as a country, has a rich tradition of textiles. Today, Jaipur in Rajasthan and Ahmedabad in Gujarat have become international hotspots for handloom and khadi Indian made fabrics. Textiles are a living history book. They are a window into a countries history and culture. To understand the importance of Khadi, first, we need to explore its evolution. The art of handloom and Khadi has helped India to gain independence and shape it into the country it is today.
September 21 2018
Move over organic and fair trade, the newcomer to the sustainable and ethical fashion scene is clothing made by harnessing the power of astrology. The health and wellness area is seeing a growing market in apparel thanks to biodynamic farming.
June 7 2018
Joining the movement can often feel like a daunting and expensive undertaking to newbies. After doing your first bit of research you probably learned our closets are packed with unsustainable plastic fibers, toxic dyes, and in many cases slave labor.
May 15 2018
What is rayon fabric? Is it eco friendly, does it biodegrade, and is it safe to wear? We break down what you are really wearing when you buy rayon.
March 16 2018
Could polyester be the key to sustainable denim development?
November 6 2017
spoiler: it isn’t swimsuits or yoga pants. What are we going to do with all the single-use plastic we have created? These companies have some ideas.
September 9 2017
This week I am exploring and celebrating three new fiber technologies that deserve the spotlight and are still relatively new to the market. One of them is even an alternative to plastic! Welcome to the future...
August 27 2017
We are always trying to cut down on our plastics use. But, sometimes plastic is needed. GASP! While it pains us to package each garment in plastic, unfortunately, because of the rough shipping process it is actually more sustainable... Here's why.
August 17 2017
Call me jaded, but recently I haven't been able to get through a fashion industry or environmental doc or article without getting super heated about dramatized, exaggerated, and at times even falsified information.
August 10 2017
Charity shirts... While we at virtue + vice fully support raising awareness for important causes like cancers, human rights, and saving the world, the way we promote that awareness is most likely doing more harm than good.
July 17 2017
yup, your vintage Levis from the flea market are probably fake...
June 29 2017
Popularized by Liva Firth of The True Cost, the 30 Wears Campaign challenges you to ask the question “will I wear this 30 times?” before making a new purchase.
June 19 2017
Sustainable fashion asks the question how was something made and how can it be made better? How can it have a smaller environmental impact? How can our business help and progress local communities? It asks the question, are we making this the best way possible, and how can we do better?
June 12 2017
why is transparency important to revolutionizing the clothing industry? By demanding transparency in the clothing industry, we are telling companies that we will hold them accountable for how they choose to make their products.
May 17 2017
We hear the terms ethical, sustainable, socially conscious, and transparent thrown around a lot today. But, what do they really mean? Often used interchangeably, they all do not mean the same thing.
April 17 2017
THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF NON-ORGANIC COTTON - how conventional cotton farming effects more than just fashion.
April 17 2017
Is your clothing contributing to non-biodegradable plastic waste? If it's made out of polyester or other petroleum-based fibers the answer is yes. read our guide to performance-based alternatives
April 16 2017
Today, at virtue + vice, we are still inspired by Gandhi. We believe that by using alternative manufacturing methods to create jobs, we will reduce environmental impact, and add value to the communities in which our beautiful and lovingly crafted clothes are made.
April 16 2017
A step by step guide into Indian block print fabrics. And, an insiders look into the famous Bagru print and Chappas keeping the tradition alive.
April 8 2017
We are virtue + vice a women's clothing brand dedicated to sustainable and conscious designs. Our goal is to create fashionable and comfortable clothing using both traditional methods and new technologies.
