Interview with eco-fashion line Indigo Apparel

Never would I want to put someone’s life in jeopardy for a 7 cent shirt. Every piece that Indigo Apparel sells has been hand dyed with low impact dyes and hand made in the USA. This way, not only can I show support to my neighbors, but I can ensure fair working conditions and wages.

Can you tell us what’s special about your brand?
Indigo Apparel is an eco-fashion line for the bold. It consists of high quality, organic materials (bamboo, cotton, hemp), and hand dyed pieces. The dyes are low-impact (read: non-toxic. Good for the Earth + good for your skin), and the styles are feminine and fun.

What motivated you to start an eco-friendly brand?
After studying for a year in Italy, at Politecnico di Milano, I realized I couldn’t go back to my ignorant ways. In Milan, and many European cities, sustainability isn’t optional- it’s the way of life. After adapting to that system (an example: 3 trash cans instead of 1– plastic, paper, compost) it just became engrained in me. I can’t imagine contributing to toxic chemicals in our rivers, or even to toxic materials we wear everyday when we get dressed.

What green issues are you most passionate about?
I care very strongly about waste in the fashion industry due to fast fashion and its impact on the environment. I care just as much about the impact it has on the way we treat other human beings. I am an artist, so no matter what, I will always be creating, and using, and trying to make some kind of mark in my little corner of the world. Never would I want to put someone’s life in jeopardy for a 7 cent shirt. Every piece that Indigo Apparel sells has been hand dyed with low impact dyes and hand made in the USA. This way, not only can I show support to my neighbors, but I can ensure fair working conditions and wages. It’s called integrity and doing your part for the good of the community, and that’s what I love about the slow fashion/sustainability movement.

What advice would you have for other aspiring social and green entrepreneurs?
There are so many things I would tell aspiring green entrepreneurs… do your research! I think that’s the most important. We’re undergoing a social revolution in the fashion and art communities, and there is much to debate internally. For example, it took me probably 3 months to decide to use organic bamboo as a main material. This is because bamboo is highly criticized– in my opinion, it’s one of the most sustainable textiles out there, and it’s pros FAR outweigh the cons. But you need to know both sides of every new eco-product and development- we’re lucky enough to be in a time where there is so much change and growth in the world of sustainability.

I think it’s also really important to make yourself a part of the community. That’s my absolute favorite part of the green fashion niche. The fashion industry can be cruel, but put a bunch of like-minded environmentalists in a room, and it makes for some excellent discussions. You can meet great, highly intelligent people at social sustainability events or networking meetings.

**Check out Indigo Apparel’s Kickstarter Project! Do your part to support the cause, and get some awesome clothes in the process**

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jackii/indigo-statement-collection-summer-2015