Anne Sage is one of our oldest and most devoted supporters. This in-demand designer, stylist, and author is revered for her distinctly simple and elevated style. What fans may not know is that she is a longtime lover of fair trade fashion who lives her values. While the City Sage, as she’s sometimes known, is always on the go, she took a moment to share her story and curated must-haves, from alpaca throws to horn earrings – and what she thinks Accompany does a great job of.
1. Name and occupation
Anne Sage - designer, stylist, author
www.annesage.com
@citysage on all social
2. How did you first get interested in artisan made, fair trade and philanthropic fashion?
Believe it or not, my sister ran a Fair Trade store back in the early 2000’s, selling clothing and other artisan goods from a women’s co-op in Central America. I remember how proud I was of her for bringing light to a topic that not many people were talking about then, and I, for sure, was a patron as well as an ardent fan of the store!
3. Why is artisan made, fair trade and philanthropic fashion important to you?
It’s partly self-serving: I’ve always been someone who loves wearing pieces that few people have. That sense of discovery and being “in the know” is definitely an ego boost! But more magnanimously speaking, it’s important to me that I live my values. Choosing wardrobe pieces that represent sustainability and ethical practices is a great way to put my money where my mouth is, so to speak!
4. Accompany’s global style is driven by wanderlust. Where are your favorite places to travel and discover local handcrafted goods?
I was in Baja last December and went absolutely mad for some of the treasures I found down there! In particular, there are a couple small beauty companies using indigenous desert plants as their main ingredients, and it’s some of the best skincare I’ve ever encountered!
5. People sometimes associate handmade and sustainable with a specific kind of boho style or vintage style. Do you think this is accurate? How would you describe your own sustainable style?
I can definitely see how handmade and sustainable goods got this reputation (I can remember a pair of particularly heinous hemp pants I wore in high school…). But thankfully a lot of today’s most sophisticated designers are embracing sustainable and ethical production practices. My style is simple and elevated, and I’m definitely all about quality over quantity. So pieces that are handmade by skilled artisans using techniques handed down over generations (gorgeous silks, knits, and leather goods, for example) are the perfect addition to my wardrobe.
6. What do you wish your followers and other consumers knew about artisan made, fair trade and philanthropic fashion?
That it’s not all macrame and mudcloth! Some of my favorite items in my wardrobe are ethically produced but, to look at them, you’d think they came from a high end department store!
7. What are your five favorite artisan made, fair trade, and philanthropic pieces that Accompany has curated on our site right now, and why?
-You can’t go wrong with stripes, and this soft Alpaca throw is the perfect mix of neutral hues!
-The texture and cropped fit on this lilac sweater are at once timeless and totally right now!
-I actually own these earrings and every single time I wear them I get complements. They’re so striking!
-This peace sign pillow is a perfect example of how incredibly stylish an ethically produced product can be!
-Woven cane patterns are having such a moment right now, and this bag is a great way to incorporate it into an everyday look!
8. What is your best advice for people who are just getting interested in sustainable living and ethical fashion?
Do your homework! Not all ethical goods are created equally, and there are a lot of buzzwords being thrown around without any substance behind them. Sites like Accompany do a great job of breaking down where each piece comes from and telling the story behind it!
9. Any tricks for how to incorporate ethical fashion and conscious consumerism into a busy, conventional life?
Sometimes, it’s the act of making the switch that’s more painful than maintaining it in the long run! As a very basic example, we recently stopped using paper towels in my house. The transition was an adjustment, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be and now I don’t miss them at all!
