Tag: Brandy

Accessories /

Three Top Tips For Building A Sustainable Wardrobe 

Over the past few years, fast fashion has taken over the clothing industry. Instead of concentrating on well-made, long-lasting investment pieces, many popular retailers instead sell poorly constructed garments made from inferior synthetic materials for an extremely low cost. The design of these clothes is often trend-led, meaning that they quickly become dated after only a few seasons and are subsequently discarded. However, the toll that fast fashion is taking on the environment is quickly becoming evident, as well as the poor working conditions and wages of the people employed in making fast fashion clothing. If you would like to help in the fight against fast fashion, read on for three top tips for building a sustainable wardrobe.

Photo Credit:  @brandy Instagram 

  1. Buy second hand

Instead of buying into fast fashion, you could instead buy your clothing second hand. Do not let the fact that these clothes are pre-owned put you off – you don’t necessarily have to spend hours going through a smelly $1 sales rack at Goodwill (although you can find some gems here if you are willing to put in the work). If you know exactly what it is you are after, try searching for it on an online sales platform such as eBay. You can find some real bargains here, with a lot of clothes being either brand new or only worn a handful of times. Alternatively, you could look at specialist vintage clothing dealers, who will be able to provide you with a unique and sustainable piece of fashion history.

  1. Shop from ethical retailers

If you do decide to buy an item of clothing brand new, make sure you buy from an ethical retailer, such as yuniont.com. An ethical retailer will use fabric obtained through sustainable sources, such as recycled fabric, and have the items sewn in an ethical environment that pays workers fairly for their labor. They may also seek to reduce the air miles involved in producing the garment and avoid using materials that could potentially involve putting an animal through pain, such as angora. This information is often readily available on a sustainable retailer’s website so that customers have complete transparency about business practices and manufacturing methods.

 

  1. Create a classic capsule wardrobe

As much as fast fashion is trend-led, you could avoid this pitfall by creating a wardrobe based on classic pieces that will always look chic, rather than constantly chasing after the lastest trends. Garments such as a white t shirt, well-cut pair of jeans, and little black dress can be used to create many different looks suitable for any occasion; however, what garments you choose to include in your capsule wardrobe will depend on your own personal style – you might consider a leather jacket indispensable, whereas someone else might prefer a beige mac, for instance. Buy items that are well made and the best that you can afford on your budget. This way, you are unlikely to need to replace them after only a few wears.

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ESSENCE 25th Anniversary Festival Night-by-Night Performance Line Up Unveiled

The ESSENCE Festival® presented by Coca-Cola, the world’s largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience and largest celebration of global Black culture, is set to bring the 90’s heat with special performances that celebrate the 25th anniversary of some of the top albums of the decade.  The Festival also just announced the official night-by-night performance line up for its concert series taking place July 5th, 6thand 7th at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

With hits that remain timeless, the 90’s era of R&B and hip-hop music significantly impacted our global culture – setting musical trends and a standard of excellence that made space for artists to thrive as creators, visionaries, and entrepreneurs.  By spotlighting some of the era’s most forward-looking, game-changing albums that are also celebrating their 25th anniversaries, the celebration will reach beyond nostalgia to the new school—with special performances to elevate the groundbreaking sounds that continue to influence the most popular, chart-topping artists of today.

“We are celebrating our 25th anniversary with an extraordinary, multigenerational, cultural celebration featuring nearly 100 Black artists who know that the ESSENCE Festival is ‘home,’” said Michelle Ebanks, CEO of ESSENCE Communications.  “Through an imaginative slate of 25th anniversary curations and a fresh take on our night-by-night line-up, this year’s milestone Festival will creatively represent some of our culture’s most important and influential bodies of work – past, present and future. We are excited to place the spotlight on the music that captivated and inspired our global communities—all re-imagined exclusively for the ‘only-at-ESSENCE’ Festival stages.”

Each “25th” set will be curated and performed by the original artists, including Mary J. Blige’s My Life, Nas’ Illmatic, Brandy’s Brandy, Scarface’s Diary, Big Daddy Kane’s Daddy’s Home,

Da Brat’s Funkdafied, Slick Rick’s Behind Bars and Brownstone’s From the Bottom Up.

  • Kicking off Friday night are marquee performances from some of music’s biggest acts including Missy Elliott, RBRM (Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike) and more; opening night will also include a 25th anniversary set presented by Doug E. Fresh that will feature Brandy, Ledisi, and Sheila E., MC Lyte, Morris Day, Former Members of New Power Generation, among others.
  • Saturday night is anchored by Mary J. Blige, Nas, H.E.R. and more, with 25th anniversary celebrations by some of the most influential names in hip-hop, including Big Daddy Kane, Scarface, Slick Rick and more.
  • Closing night on Sunday will feature a performance by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly with a special tribute to Frankie Beverly delivered by Anthony Hamilton; Jermaine Dupri’s Atlanta-focused curation with performances by Musiq Soulchild, Da Brat, Lil Jon and Dem Franchize Boyz; Teddy Riley’s Legends of Music curation that includes Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Teyana Taylor, MAJOR., Ro James and more; as well as a NOLA-style bounce performance with Mannie Fresh and Big Freedia.
  • Each night will be hosted by Loni Love and will feature music by DJ D-Nice.

The ESSENCE Festival takes place July 4-7, 2019 in New Orleans, LA. You can view the official night-by-night line up here.   Single night ticket is on sale now.

For information about ticket sales, accommodations and the latest news about the ESSENCE Festival® visit Essence.com/festival.  Join the festival community: Follow us on Twitter @essencefest #EssenceFest and become a fan of Festival on Facebook.

The ESSENCE Festival is sponsored by Coca-Cola, AT&T, Ford, State Farm and Walmart.

The ESSENCE Festival is produced by ESSENCE Communications, Inc. FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES: Please e-mail festivalpress@essence.com.

About ESSENCE Communications Inc. 

ESSENCE Communications is the number one media, technology and commerce company dedicated to Black women and inspires a global audience of more than 17 million through diverse storytelling and immersive original content. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, experiential and online, ESSENCE encompasses its signature magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; as well as live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival. Essence Communications is owned by Essence Ventures, an independent Black-owned, technology-driven company focused on merging content, community, and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of people of color.