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Growing up, my Mom instilled in me a very strong sense of what makes fashion timeless, both in terms of being classic and elegant, as well as long-lasting and high-quality. Aside from one annual trip to the mall to purchase back-to-school clothes and new shoes, we mostly frequented thrift stores. There it was all about the hunt as we searched for items that had withstood the test of time – a Gianfranco Ferré linen skirt, Ferragamo pumps, a vintage wool blazer, or a no-name leather belt with a patina from years of loving use.
Part of that childhood experience led to a love of vintage fashion, but it has also honed my eye and taste for things with the same timeless quality. Sustainable design and the slow fashion movement (fewer, better things) are part of that, so I was delighted to learn about two new ethical design companies, one of which is based right here in Baltimore: handbag company Curricular/Extracurricular, or C/E.
Top and pants | Pippa Studio Namroob set
Shoes | Stuart Weitzman Nudistsong in black suede
C/E serves up a line of sleek, functional handbags in the highest quality vegan leather and other sustainable materials. There’s a spacious tote, a classic envelope clutch, all-purpose pouches, and slim wallets. All the raw materials have been painstakingly sourced from the highest quality vendors and are either manufactured in or sourced from American companies, something I spoke at length with co-founder Erin Murphy about.
Even the zippers are top-of-the-line, with a smooth “pull” as you open and close the bag. It might sound funny, but if you’ve ever used a really, really high-quality metal zipper you know that the right balance of resistance and ease in the “pull” is an extremely thoughtful design detail. It’s one of my favorite design details in C/E’s products.
This week, C/E is officially launching its beautiful new Bradstreet Pouch in Capri, a navy and teal color-block. The Bradstreet Pouch is sleek, minimal, and ideal for the bare necessities at 9 in. x 6 in. My iPhone 7+, lip balm, and a small billfold wallet all fit easily in the bag. It comes in a small size as well as two other colors – Cerise, a pink and red color-block, and Violetta, a muted light and medium purple.
Top | Pippa Studio
Bag | C/E large Bradstreet pouch in Capri
Shoes | M. Gemi Pilone sandals – almost all sold out, but they have some other beautiful styles.
Use my referral link for $50 off your order!
The second ethical design label I’m excited about is Marie Mae, which makes office and paper products that operate around the idea of giving corporate gifts that give back. Marie Mae produces the Good Office Box – a customizable corporate gift box of beautiful letterpress and printed paper goods. Each box sold provides an hour of Marie Mae Business School for artisans and entrepreneurs around the world, truly an model that operates on the principles of designing for good.
To help celebrate the launch of C/E’s Bradstreet Pouch and Marie Mae’s summer edition of the Good Office Box, we’ve all teamed up for a giveaway! The instructions are simple, and the winner will receive a box of goodies from Marie Mae as well a large C/E Bradstreet Pouch in Capri.
To enter:
- Like my Instagram post and tag three friends in the comments who love ethical design and timeless style
- Make sure you’re following me @theprimpysheep, @excurric, and @mariemaecompany
- For an extra entry, visit each of our websites and sign up for our email lists
The giveaway ends on July 21 and the winner will be announced July 24. Good luck!
Thank you to photographer Chaq Daniels for collaborating with me on this shoot.
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