Exec’s April Picks: Sustainable Edition

Suma Appalaneni, President

Beauty Pick: Youth to the People Superfood Cleanser

I’m obsessed with this cleanser - it does wonders for my skin and makes me look brighter and refreshed even after the first use!! I’ve been using it for over a year now and it is so worth it! The cleanser is made with kale, spinach, and green tea and the brand is 100% vegan!

Fashion Pick:  House of Sunny

This really isn’t a hot take, but I absolutely love this brand. They have the cutest stuff, and it’s so high quality!! My favorite thing they have in right now is the Paradise Party Top - so 2000s so fun and perfect for this summer!

Lilly Reed, VP and Treasurer

Beauty Pick: Necessaire body wash and body lotion

I decided to try this brand out on a whim because lots of influencers were using it and I am officially obsessed! Necessaire products are sustainable, clean, and gender neutral making them one of the best body care brands out on the market right now. I am currently using the eucalyptus body wash and unscented body lotion.

Fashion Pick: Outdoor Voices workout sets

I became a cult follower of Outdoor Voices in 2019 when I bought my first polka dot matching leggings and sports bra in the Dallas store. The creator of the brand- Ty Haney- has a great story on How I Built This and continues to be one of my fashion icons. Her athleisure pieces are versatile and I find myself trying to incorporate them into my daily wardrobe even when I am not exercising.

Olivia Fondie, Senior Events Director

Fashion Pick: Reformation Christine Dress

This fun, summery dress is perfect for hot weather brunches, picnics, or photo-ops. Reformation is a sustainability leader in the fashion industry and continues to grow in popularity. This dress is not one that I own (yet) but I plan on buying it ASAP. I convinced myself I need it in my wardrobe this #hotgirlsummer. Who doesn't need a simple white summer dress? I hope to live out my Pinterest girl dreams in this dress, accompanied by a pastel claw clip, platform converse, and maybe an aesthetic city background.

Mackenzie Hanford, Junior Events Director

Fashion Pick: Boyish jeans

I discovered this brand at a boutique in Charlotte and bought a pair of “The Mikey'' and I don’t think I’ve taken them off since… They're so incredibly soft and comfortable, a rarity in jeans, which is why I wear them so often. Boyish uses sustainable methods and fabrics to make their products and they even feature their own consignment shop on the website where you can buy pre-worn items! Whenever you click on a product on their site it tells you the “positive impact of this product,” going into detail on the amount of water, land, and emissions saved, as well as the number of trees planted. I’m already looking to get my hands on some of their shorts for this summer!

Beauty Pick: Aveda: “outer peace acne relief pads”

I’ve used this brand practically my whole life because it’s what my local salon uses and I love it. From the scent of the products to their sustainable focus to the natural 100% vegan ingredients they use, Aveda is a great option for skin, hair, and body care. I have a lotion from this line that’s similar to these wipes (that they no longer sell) and I’m pretty sure I can attribute the fact that I rarely break out to that lotion.

Culture Pick: @trashisfortossers / @packagefreeshop on Instagram!

This account is the epitome of zero waste and she even has her own shop where you can get products that are or help you to become zero waste!

Amanda Gage, Blog Director

Fashion Pick: Rooey Knots Headbands

Rooey Knots is a small business that I have been following for five years now. I met Gareth, the mastermind behind the brand, at a flea market in Martha’s Vineyard, and I have been a loyal customer ever since. Rooey Knots makes all of their clothing and accessories from up-cylced materials, and everything is sewn by hand, which makes their carbon footprint significantly lower than most large fashion brands. Once the weather starts to warm up, I love to wear headbands, and my favorite headbands are from Rooey Knots. All the headbands are made from up-cycled, vintage ties. They are the perfect accessory to take your look to the next level. You can shop their products online at http://www.rooeyknots.com/charter-packages-five and you can follow them on Instagram (@rooeyknots) for all updates.

Maren Beverly, Junior Blog Director

Fashion Pick: Paloma Wool- Long Sleeve T-shirt, “Cancún”

This spring I am simultaneously embracing maximalism and sustainability— which seems like a paradox, but it’s really not, I swear! Paloma Wool’s clothing brings art and photography together with their fun, colorful, sustainably made pieces. I recently treated myself to this long sleeve tee and it might just be the softest shirt I’ve ever worn. Not to mention, the print with crowds of people makes me nostalgic for life pre-Covid!

Ashley Foley, Social Media Director

Beauty Pick: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint

I recently purchased the Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint and have been loving the natural, glowy coverage. However, I just discovered that Ilia is also working hard to create more sustainability in the beauty industry. They announced that they would be partnering with TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box program where customers can request a shipping label to send back five empty beauty containers (regardless of brand) for them to be broken down in an earth friendly way!

Katie Calhoun, Junior Social Media Director

Fashion Pick: Taylor Hollan

I have been obsessed with this brand for a while now and finally think it’s becoming more popular. One of my friend’s friends created this company over quarantine and has been continuing it ever since. She takes old clothing she finds at goodwill and repurposes it and designs unique items. I would definitely try it out! Everything is so stretchy.

Grace Greenwald, Photography and Merchandise Director

Beauty Pick: CocoKind

Recently, I have fallen in love with Cocokind’s products. Not only are all of their ingredients clean and free of harmful chemicals, but the company is hyper aware of its environmental effects. Their plastic tubes are made from resources such as sugar and ocean plastic waste. Their glass bottles are made from flint glass, which cuts down on carbon emissions and takes significantly less energy to produce. Recently, they have implemented putting sustainability facts on their packaging, just as companies include nutrition facts. This allows people to see what went into the product’s production and how to best recycle the product. Their facial repair oil is definitely my fav product at the moment, but you can’t go wrong with any of their products!