Categories
Editorial Fashion Profiles Stories

Repurposed fashion with Martha Eve

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When I design I strive for beauty and creating a piece that flatters the body. I get a lot of my inspirations from old runway pieces and classic vintage styles. Taking something old and making it new again inspires me the most. I’m able to wear my creations and share them with the world.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]- Martha Maruna[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]

Martha Maruna is one of those people who’s timeless beauty and sincerity captures you. She was raised in a small town in Illinois and moved to Kansas City, Missouri to pursue her many passions, some being fashion and floristry.

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Martha now juggles her time between repurposing vintage clothing, working at a floral shop, modeling, drinking matcha tea and swooning over her icon, Marilyn Monroe. But among all her enthusiasms, Martha’s interest in styling started at a young age:

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“As a young child my mother taught me embroidery by writing quotes, sayings and simple flowers on cloth and having me trace over them. As I got older she taught me hand stitching and then sewing with a machine. My mother also made most of our clothes when when we were young and thankfully it was a skill she had taught me. Sewing is one of the many skills I’m blessed to have been raised doing as it shaped my life and interests.”

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Almost all of my clothes are thrifted or vintage. I rarely shop anything new anymore as it bores me to know people all over the world can be wearing the exact same clothes as me – what’s stylish about that?

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“When I shop I look for timeless pieces that inspire me. Elegant blouses, oversized sleeves, chunky sweaters, oversized suit jackets, silk dresses and high waisted pants are my staple purchases. The pieces I’ve been looking for lately are silk slip dresses and an oversized leather suit jacket. All things leather this fall.”

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While the cost of making your own clothes is often much less than buying in store, it is also more sustainable just as thrifting and repurposing.

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“Also the impact new clothing has on our environment drives my passion.

The fashion industry is one of the largest in the world and is also now one of the biggest polluters in the world, the first being oil. The quality of most fast fashion fabrics is very poor – choosing quality over quantity is a must. The term “fast fashion” refers to companies quickly producing cheap pieces of clothing that follow the latest trends. Nothing is made to last and produces mass amount of waste. It’s important to me that I purchase from small companies or second hand. It’s important to repurpose and recycle your old clothing. I encourage everyone to educate themselves on the significant impact fast fashion has on our world.”

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Watch this video by the Economist about the true cost of fast-fashion.

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I’m driven by the passion of taking my own creations and having them be a physical reality. I love being able to wear my designs and know they’re something I truly love. Instead of trying to find unique styles that someone else is creating I just make what I’m looking for.

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Martha recently started selling her own designs. Her style is very classic and simple; vintage with a modern touch. If I could sum up her designs in one way it would be “timeless pieces that one can wear over and over and style multiple ways.”

You can follow Martha on instagram at @marthaevemaruna and @marthaevedesigns.

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Featured in MITH Magazine.

Click here to view the full editorial featuring Martha Eve Designs.

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Categories
Fashion

Sustainable Style + Why

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Sustainable Style: clothing and accessories that are made with the “whole” in mind. The entire process of creating a garment, from growing the textile to stitching it together, is mindful of the people, planet, and community.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Why sustainability?

We are living in a time where we can find things fast and cheap. In fact, the average person buys 60% more items of clothing yet only keeps them for about half as long compared to 15 years ago (Greenpeace 2017). Part of this is due to the quick turnover of style-trends. Whereas there used to be four main seasons, the industry now operates on a 52 micro-season cycle. This “out with the old and in with the new” mentality is not only desensitizing our consumer habits but also putting pressure on the workers who make the clothing. It’s a life of harsh living conditions and low wages; over 50% of workers within the fashion industry are not paid the minimum wage in countries like India and the Philippines. (Global Fashion Agenda 2017)

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Yves Saint Laurent famously said “Fashion fades, style is eternal.” Whereas fashion is an art that is notoriously difficult to keep up with because trends change seasonally, style is impacted by much longer-lasting factors. Style is affected by religion, politics, culture and subculture, weather, body type, profession, upbringing, etc. (Mari Andrew , Paste Magazine)

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]Sights + Souls believes that style doesn’t have to be tied to vanity. It doesn’t have to destroy our planet or degrade people. It doesn’t need to be favored one minute and discarded the next.

Style makes space for individualism and removes conformity and gladly, comparison with it. One’s style compliments the body and encourages self-acceptance. It is a form of expression. With sustainable style, one realizes that this expression is also a reflection of power as consumers.

So, what does investing in sustainable style look like?

  1. Buying less and choosing well.

Being sustainable is mostly about being intentional with what we buy. It doesn’t mean you need to become a minimalist, it just means you need to be mindful.

   2. Choosing second-hand clothing.

Fashion trends repeat themselves throughout the decades. So, instead of buying the new, and most likely, less quality version of that 1990s attire, seek out the originals in thrift stores or depop shops.

   3. Repairing and repurposing old clothing.

When we choose well, our garments last longer. If it comes to the point where that sweater is snagged or the jeans become too short. Stich the imperfection or cut the jeans into shorts. Get creative.

     4. Supporting brands that incorporate sustainability.

And who are these brands? Most likely, if a brand is sustainable in some way, they will talk about it. Companies like Good On You are making it easier to know a brand’s impact by doing the research for you; search a favorite brand of yours and check out their rating based on the impact on labor, the environment, and animals.

 

 

If you are someone that is making a step towards slow fashion, let’s get into contact.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”7803″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Categories
Fashion Profiles Stories

Personal Style With Kaylinn

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If it looks blah, I’m going to feel blah.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]We are living in an era where fashion is completely subjective. Although big brands will always determine the trends, there’s less pressure to conform and more room to use clothing as a form of self-expression. It’s gotten to the point that tasteful fashion can be found anywhere and on anyone; even in the midwest for a college student who may not have the budget to afford the Prada lifestyle.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Kaylin Clotfelter is a student at Missouri State University who dresses to the top. You won’t be able to catch her off guard for a random photoshoot. Believe me, she’s always ready.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]“I’m in between saying I want to be a director and that I am a director. I make videos that are focused around visuals. My main goal is to make everything look pretty. Oh, and I also love modeling and buying clothes.”

Tell us about your style.

Mostly 90s with hints of the better parts of 2000s, wishing there were more 70s pieces. I try to only buy items that are strong statement pieces on their own, so that no matter what I pair it with it will stand out. There’s a lot more to my style than people actually see, because I can’t buy everything I want. So physically I’m a small representation of my actual style (which exists largely in my imagination).

In short, me trying to look richer than I am.

Where do you buy your clothing?

Thrift stores, Depop, Instagram shops, and occasionally some online stores.

How do you know whether a piece of clothing is worth buying?

I don’t! I buy stuff and regret it almost as often as I buy something and love it.  But my rule of thumb for styling day-to-day looks is trying to put together a combination of items that I haven’t worn before. My general goal for getting ready is to look cool enough to be able to do a photoshoot if I needed to. But if I’m running late, I have a few go-to classics.

Is sustainable fashion important to you?

I think I’m sustainable more by accident. It’s not the biggest concern of mine, because in the end if I like it I’ll buy it. I shop mostly vintage because it allows me to get more unique items that are better made at a cheaper price than I could buying new. If I bought stuff from F21 we wouldn’t be having this Q&A. I guess that makes me semi-sustainable?

When did you really find your style?

I don’t think I really have. I know what I like, but I’m still just copying things I see. I don’t have enough money to develop my style to true originality yet.

But some of my fashion icons are @double3exposure @accidentalinfluencer @sisiliapiring and @haleyappell

Compared to your community, how is your style different?

At school, most people wear completely casual clothes on a day to day basis. I try to dress up every day no matter what. Even on the days I wake up too late to put something together I somehow still outdress most everyone else. I’m not sure why.

Have you ever been mocked/ made fun of about your style?

Yes. In high school, if someone jokingly made fun of my outfit it was my way of knowing that it was actually a cool one. I don’t really care if someone makes fun of it unless it’s someone whose opinion I really value. In that case, I consider it constructive criticism.

Mostly if I feel self-conscious about an outfit I remind myself that it would look sweet in photos, so there’s no reason I can’t just wear it for normal life too.

Would you say that your style is a form of self-expression?

Definitely. I like to make sure I look cooler than everyone else, even if that’s not necessarily true. If I’m wearing a totally blah outfit, or really even just a sort of blah outfit, or if I realize the fit was a flop halfway through the day I’m in a bad mood until I can change. I feel like trash if I’m not dressed cool.

What fashion trend do you wish would die and never return?

I can’t really think of anything especially horrid. Everything should have a chance and could potentially be good if styled the right way. (I’m gonna regret saying this next time I see someone wearing flip flops.)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”7030″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][image_with_animation image_url=”7005″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][image_with_animation image_url=”7018″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][image_with_animation image_url=”7004″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][image_with_animation image_url=”7042″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][nectar_cta btn_style=”see-through” heading_tag=”h6″ link_type=”new_tab” alignment=”center” link_text=”View the full photoshoot here.” url=”https://sightsandsouls.co/fashion/a-piece-of-art”%5D%5B/vc_column%5D%5B/vc_row%5D

Categories
Fashion

The Jungalow

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I have hand-picked each and every thing around me to create a space that is intentional, heartening and wholesome.

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This photo series in collaboration with Rebecca (@yebeccayoo) is inspired by the rich hue of terra cotta and earthy atmospheres.

I wanted these images to reflect the importance of being intentional with our surroundings. The things and memories we hold onto makeup our life. Going back through these images almost a year after during the recent focus on “tidying up”, it’s comforting to know that this idea did not lack validity. In case you’re new to this term or aren’t familiar to Marie Kondu, here’s a little recap:

Kondu is a Japanese organizing consultant and author who is pretty much an expert in creating intentional homes. She has a method that involves gathering together all of one’s belongings, one category at a time, and then keeping only those things that “spark joy” and choosing a place for everything from then on.

It’s something that takes time. In western culture, it almost seems like we start collecting things from the moment we are born. So by the time we are adults, our homes are filled with childhood memorabilia, old school papers, and a plethora of other things. Now, I’m not saying that all these things are bad, it just presents the question, what’s really worth keeping? In Japanese, the term “spark joy” translates to tokimeku (ときめく ) meaning “flutter, throb, or palpitate”.

I can name very few things in my home that make my heart flutter: family photographs, surviving houseplants, and a couple of knick-knacks associated with good memories are a few to name. This would mean that there are a lot of things that I continue to hold on to that don’t serve a purpose in my life. They aren’t important documents or treasured items… it’s just stuff, and some of that stuff makes me feel weighed down. You know, the things that we keep out of obligation or that are associated with a sad memory.

When I started applying this concept to my life, I found that the hardest things to give up were the ones I felt indifferent about. “I don’t need it now, but maybe I’ll want it in the future.” At first, it seemed like a harmless feeling, but once the indifferent pile grew bigger and bigger, I realized that I have a lot of expectations for myself in the future. I’m going to reread that college book that I was interested in Junior or finally finish that craft. Just thinking about all the “should’s” or “will do’s” makes me feel suffocated just thinking about. So, let’s make room to breathe. And with that I leave you with these considerations:

What am I choosing to have influence over my life?

And is it enabling room to grow or leaving me suffocated?

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”6783,6941,6940,6784,6774,6782,6776,6943,6787″ layout=”2″ masonry_style=”true” bypass_image_cropping=”true” item_spacing=”2px” gallery_style=”7″ load_in_animation=”perspective”][vc_column_text]

The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past.

– Marie Kondu

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][nectar_cta btn_style=”see-through” heading_tag=”h6″ link_type=”regular” alignment=”center” text=”view the full photoshoot here.” url=”sightsandsouls.co/fashion/the-concrete-jungalow”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”extra-color-1″ animate=”yes”][vc_column_text]It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t give a shoutout to AirBNB.com for bringing this space to my attention. I booked this loft in downtown Kansas City during my stay for the Kansas City Fashion Show. AirBNB is my number one secret tool for finding indoor locations. Many of my most favorite photoshoots have taken place in spaces that I’ve found on the platform. Wondering how I went about this? Read more about finding indoor locations here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]