Swoop Sleuth — The Swoop

Ya’ll, I am here to tell you that caring about who makes your clothes and how they are made takes some work. I used to be a carefree shopper, spending senseless hours browsing and imagining what my life would be life if I bought particular items. And now I care! And the struggle is real. When I catch myself looking in the places I used to shop or even walking past store windows because NYC is a place that constantly throws consumerism in your face, I find myself thinking, “I like that, but am I allowed to BUY it?”

But it shouldn’t be that hard. That's what we are about at The Swoop- trying to make it a tiny bit easy to shop consciously. And its a great time to be developing shopping morals-- as the tide is changing and people are becoming more conscious consumers, brands that are focused on doing better and more are popping up in unexpected places i.e. the places you are already shopping. In The Swoop Sleuth post, I'll share the results of my incredibly selfless investigative journeys of surprising finds in unlikely places.

ONE: I ordered this on a whim when I kept seeing it pop up on the blogosphere. I. AM. OBSESSED. I was already a fan of RMS based on their highlighter, but this palette took us from casual acquaintance to stage five-clinger. It is a breeze to use and easy to lug around while giving me a lovely dewy complexion. All of RMS products made with natural ingredients which are subsequently not over-processed and that means that it is all also raw, food grade and organic. So technically, this palette could also stand in as a snack. That's multipurpose for ya.
TWO: Tassels are in the same category as stripes and off the shoulder tops in my book. I spotted these Gaia earrings at J.Crew which were made by refugees right here in the US. Adorable earrings and also a sneaky political statement (but only if you want it to be….)
THREE: In the instantly mood boosting heaven of artsy, sophisticated hippie goddesses known as Anthropologie, it might be tempting to expect that all brands are doing as much good as they are making you feel. While not all their brands are ethically focused, there are many gems hidden in there, like this Kopal top. Made by artisans in India, Kopal is designed by a former fashion-big-label-designer with an incredible eye for meddling artisan traditional practices with every day wearable collections. Don’t you just want to pair it with the J.Crew earrings and skip off into the sunset?
FOUR: Remember that dewy skin from above? Combining this oil with the RMS Palette is a sure fire way to look fresh faced. I found it during the incredibly dangerous practice of walking through Sephora. I love the way this smells and how it makes my skin feel in the foggy morning hours. Korres uses only all-natural ingredients steeped in Greek traditions—but more than that, and I can attest from personal experience, their products work.
F IVE: I found this adorable suit in recent Tuckernuck lookbook. Mara Hoffman is another designer that I have long loved. With fun prints and colors, I am always drawn to her stuff. This swimsuit is no exception. Representative of the brand's commitment to reducing the waste common to the fashion industry, this swimsuit was made with recycled nylon. Plus, unlike other cut-out bathing suits that seem to lose the fabric in the exact places I do not not people to notice, this cutout placement seems totally doable and forgiving.
SIX: A supermodel giving back to the world and supporting artisans in her home country? That has Swoop written all over it. More than a means to feel connected to the limelight, Lem Lem makes beautiful clothing. I have been lusting after this dress for quite some time-- it seems like it would be happily dressed up or down, as a dress or as a tunic over white jeans. Made in Ethiopia by traditional weavers, this fine frock also comes in pink.