Designer's Journal

Ethical clothing doesn’t have to break the bank. Affordable ethical clothing exists, and your money ends up going a lot further, both in terms of its benefits to you and to others. Although there will always be cheaper options out there, the unethical brands that produce them achieve such low prices by harming the environment and their workers. Learn more about the benefits and affordable prices you can find when you shop ethically.

Benefits of Affordable Ethical Clothing

Affordable ethical clothing is something to wear proudly, and you’ll truly benefit from buying it!

You Invest in Pieces You’ll Have for a Long Time

Unlike fast fashion pieces, which are designed for a quick turnaround with little attention to durability, the artisans who make ethical clothing put time and attention into their craftsmanship. At Passion Lilie, our artisans handle everything from the creating the fabric prints to sewing the clothes, many times employing ancient traditions alongside contemporary practices for best results. These beautifully made pieces will last for years to come with proper care. Read more about how to fight fast fashion.

You Help Pay Fair Wages to Artisans

You might be able to find a cheaper option for a shirt or pair of pants than even the most affordable ethical clothing brand can offer, but when you choose the latter, you’re ensuring that the artisans who produced it can support themselves and their families. Part of your purchase involves making sure that the hard work that goes into producing your goods gets fairly rewarded. Passion Lilie is a certified fair trade brand that proudly supports our artisans. Discover more reasons why you should buy fair trade clothing.

You Preserve the Environment

It’s easy to ignore how much harm a factory or sweatshop can have on the environment and just think about yourself when purchasing a piece of clothing. However, the negative effects these factories produce add up over time as more and more factories open. They create disasters that are hard to fix and hurt the environment as well as the local economy. So many unfortunate disasters have occured in the past that were caused by human development, so it’s crucial we become aware of how our work impacts the environment. Passion Lilie uses eco-friendly and sustainable practices to do our part to protect the environment for generations to come.

Buy Affordable Ethical Clothing from Passion Lilie

Passion Lilie produces affordable ethical clothing that makes you look and feel great!

Boho Blue Dress ($49.00)

This dress is trendy and flattering. The Boho Blue Dress features a whimsical print, eye-catching cut-out collar, and two pockets, which are always a plus!

Red Sweetheart Dress ($49.00)

Looking for a romantic dress to wear on your next date night? The Red Sweetheart Dress is it! The halter neckline adds a sweet, feminine touch to the dress, while the flattering empire waistline and soft cotton offer you unbeatable comfort.

Buy Our Ethical Apparel Today

Passion Lilie is an ethical fashion brand dedicated to empowering artisans around the world. Designed in New Orleans and made in India, we are an eco-friendly and fair trade company. Learn more about our mission and shop more of our fabulous products today.

Ethical brands around the country are staging a fight against fast fashion. Fast fashion is a movement among fashion retailers that prioritizes quick turnaround for inexpensive products that capitalize on current trends. These clothes are cheap—both in price and quality—and result in high levels of pollution and waste. The men, women, and children in developing countries who make these garments are often underpaid and work in unsafe conditions. While ethical brands care about the working conditions, wages, and livelihoods of their workers and the state of our environment, fast fashion ignores all of that.

Why Are Ethical Brands Fighting Fast Fashion?

There are many reasons why ethical brands and shoppers alike have joined the fight against fast fashion.

Lead and Hazardous Chemicals on Clothing

The Center for Environmental Health found that many fast fashion brands, including Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe, are selling purses, shoes, and other accessories that are contaminated by lead. Even low levels of lead can cause major health issues, such as nervous system damage and issues during pregnancy.

Disempowerment of Women

According to the World Fair Trade Organization, Asia (WFTO Asia), as much as 80% of the workers producing fast fashion in Asia in 2016 were women ages 18 to 24. Many of these women are impoverished and underpaid, and they often face sexual harassment. For example, the Asia Floor Wage Alliance found 11 out of 12 factories fired women for becoming pregnant.

Clothing That Falls Apart

Fast fashion is made as quickly and inexpensively as possible. Fast fashion brands make hundreds of millions of garments per year, bringing new looks into stores every single week. It goes so quickly, you feel out of style after only one wear! Unfortunately, those pieces don’t last longer than a week anyway. These companies make low-quality pieces so they can keep up with the high volume demanded and entice customers with low prices. Why keep spending money on pieces that don’t last when you can invest in ethical, high-quality clothing instead?

Harm to the Environment

Given how quickly these fast fashions fall out of favor (or just fall apart), many of these clothes end up in landfills. In the United States, only 10% of donated clothes get resold. The rest get put into landfills, which can become contaminated from the chemicals found in fast fashion clothing. Furthermore, since fast fashion clothing tends to be made of synthetic, petroleum-based fibers, it will sit there for decades before it decomposes.

How Can I Join the Fight Against Fast Fashion?

One of the best ways to fight against fast fashion is by buying your clothes from ethical brands. Ethical brands consider your health as well as the health of our workers and the environment. At Passion Lilie, we provide shoppers with stylish, well-crafted, ethical attire. We avoid any harsh chemicals that would harm you or the environment. Furthermore, Passion Lilie requires safe, healthy working environments for our artisans. We are a member of the Fair Trade Federation, and we ensure our artisans receive fair wages so they can support themselves and their families. Read more about Passion Lilie’s ethical practices here. Consider shopping for some of our fashionable pieces to join the fight against fast fashion!

Peach Flowers Top

This floral peach print has a warm, summery feel. The shirt is cute, comfortable, and lightweight, making it an ideal choice for nearly any outdoor occasion.

Spinnaker Zig Zag Pants

How fun and flowy are these pants? They’re great for the summer and fall seasons, whether you’re headed to work or for a night out with friends.

Shop Passion Lilie Today

Sarongs are very versatile fashion pieces that can be worn on the beach, by the pool, or wherever your summer plans take you. However, learning how to wrap a sarong can be a bit overwhelming, because there are so many options! Here are a few quick tips on how to wrap a sarong.

How to Wrap a Sarong Three Different Ways

Halter Cover Up

Hold the top two corners of your sarong behind you and reach your arms out wide, as if to form a “T.” Then bring your arms straight out in front of you and switch which hand is holding which corner. Finally, tie them together behind your neck, and you’ve got a fantastic beach cover up.

Grecian Style Dress

Hold the top two corners of your sarong behind you and reach your arms out wide, as if to form a “T.” Cross your left arm over to your right side and drape a bit of the sarong over your right shoulder. Wrap the right side all around your body so that it reaches your back, below your right shoulder. Pull that corner up to meet the piece that drapes over your right shoulder and tie them together in a knot.

Sarong as a Top

Fold your sarong in half diagonally so you’re holding a triangle. Hold the two ends of the longest side of the triangle out in front of you, one end in each hand. Next, wrap the sarong around your shoulders so that the triangle’s point is down your back and pointing at the ground. Take each of the two ends you were holding in the beginning and cross them around your waist, then again around to your back. Tie the two ends together for a cute cropped top.

Passion Lilie Sarongs

Passion Lilie makes many stylish sarongs that are a fantastic addition to any wardrobe. Check out a few of the ethically made sarongs we offer that can spruce up your summer!

Secret Garden Sarong

This floral pattern truly embodies a secret garden. With its beautiful red-and-blue design and white base, this sarong pairs well with a simple top and jeans or with your stylish swimsuit on a beach.

Peacock Teal Sarong

This teal blue takes you straight to the ocean on a warm summer day. The peacock print is both fun and energetic—a perfect sarong print for whatever your summer plans have in store.

Shop Passion Lilie’s Sarongs Today

Now that you know how to wrap a sarong, you can shop for sarongs at Passion Lilie! If you want more summer outfit inspiration, check out our summer outfit ideas here. Feel free to contact us with any of your questions or concerns, and share how you’re wearing your sarong with us on our social media.

As you scroll through Passion Lilie’s collection of fashionable and ethical apparel, you can’t miss the ikat print. It’s both eye-catching and fun, it has a huge range, and it looks great on everything from statement pieces to entire dresses. Western cultures have been making ikat for centuries, and its creation is one we take great pride in. Ikat patterns can be found in Peru, Guatemala, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, and more. It’s a technique that has developed across the globe. Our artisans make ikat prints by hand in India, and we’d like to highlight the process for you to give new meaning to your ikat apparel.

Creating the Ikat Print

Ikat translates from Indonesian to English as “to tie” or “to bind.” Its name comes from the hands-on process of creating the pattern, described below. Although the results look like a print, ikat is actually a dyeing process rather than a printing process.

Step One

Many rows of yarn are laid out and stretched to about 10 meters, which will ultimately make 24 meters when woven. The rows of yarn will depend on how many different colors will be used in the ikat “print” creation process.

Step Two

The artisan draws lines on the yarn to indicate the final ikat print or pattern.

Step Three

Rubber bindings are placed along the lines to mark the pattern. These rubber bindings are crucial because they resist the dye. If it weren’t for these, the entire fabric would end up colored, and the pattern would not create the ikat print as expected.

Step Four

The yarn is dyed with the base or main color. All Passion Lilie products, including those with ikat prints, are made using plant and vegetable dyes, eco dyes, or organic dyes. We believe in using sustainable, environmentally responsible practices through every step of the process, so you can feel good about wearing our apparel and avoid harsh chemicals. You can learn more about ethical shopping with our ethical shopping guide.

Step Five

Next, the yarn is stretched out on poles in the sun to dry. Sun is very important to the ikat print creation process. Once the yarn has dried, the bindings are removed. If more colors are needed in the design, then steps 1–4 will be repeated until the final ikat print is complete.

Step Six

The ikat print is complete! The yarn is then placed on cones and on the loom.

Wearing the Ikat Print

Due to the care and attention to detail required by this process, each ikat print is truly one of a kind. The result of this process is fun, trendy fabrics that can be converted into a wide variety fashionable pieces. Browse several of our top ikat print items today and expand your wardrobe!

Beach Breeze Dress

This dress is perfect for the beach or even just to wear to work as a reminder of the sandy shores and ocean waves. The bright blue and white are a cheery combination, while the silhouette hugs your curves in all the right places.

Grey with Red Poncho

This poncho is a trendy way to switch things up from your usual jacket or blazer. The tie in the front is flattering yet comfortable. Embrace this ikat print anywhere from the office to your next special occasion.

Caribbean Ikat Scarf

With its bright blue hues and aquatic ikat print, this scarf can’t help but remind us of the Caribbean Sea. The tassels at the bottom add a little bit more fun to the texture as well. Wear it around your neck at dinner to accessorize your outfit, or wrap it around your shoulders to keep warm when the air conditioning is blasting.

Chevron Headband

There’s nothing quite like a stylish headband to keep your hair out of your face. Whether you’re having a bad hair day or simply want to accessorize, this ikat print headband would be a great addition to your closet.

Learn More About the Ikat Print

If you’re curious to learn more about the ikat print and its creation process, check out our Ikat Process video. Shop our collection for more ikat print apparel and accessories, and feel free to contact Passion Lilie with any questions. We love sharing the hard work of our artisans, and we know you will, too!

Part of the fun of the warm weather months is the fashion! From the latest trends to shorts, dresses, and other summer staples, the options for summer outfits are endless. The perfect summer outfit is a necessity for everything from weddings to backyard parties. Passion Lilie has assembled a few summer outfit ideas for you that are easy to wear and 100% ethical. Take a look!

Summer Outfit Ideas

Here are a few of Passion Lilie’s favorite pieces for these popular summer activities and occasions.

Outdoor Errands: Blue Impressions Organic Jersey Kaftan and Pineapple Tote

On a hot day, errands can be dreadful. Having to run around with all your goods while fighting humidity and heat requires a strategic summer outfit, and there’s none better than a kaftan dress. Try our Blue Impressions Organic Jersey Kaftan paired with one of our Pineapple Totes (pictured below). The blue and yellow will complement each other, and you’ll be comfortable with our loose-fitting yet stylish kaftan dress. And did we mention this ethical dress is made of 100% organic cotton? The tote is also a useful accessory that can help hold all your goodies!

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner: Pink Pomegranate Dress

It’s that time of year again when we hear wedding bells. Our Pink Pomegranate Dress would be perfect for a rehearsal dinner or more casual wedding. With its vibrant pink pattern and tied bow detail in front, there’s a romantic feel to this look. Sleeveless and made of cotton, you’ll stay comfortable in this dress as you dance the night away. Write the bride and groom a congratulatory note you can feel good about on one of our beautiful greeting cards made of recycled paper.

Backyard BBQ: Playful Blue Shorts and Timeless Blouse in Grey

There’s nothing quite like spending time with your family and friends while delicious food cooks on the grill. This casual, trendy summer outfit is a great look for any barbecue or backyard party. The blouse has a subtle print and neutral color that work well with the shorts. The Playful Blue Shorts are sturdy, feel comfortable, and feature pockets for you to keep some of your belongings on hand without a handbag.

Summer Day at the Office: Chambray Wrap Dress and Classic Blue Ikat Scarf

This timeless dress paired with a light scarf is a great way to look trendy yet professional in the office. The Chambray Wrap Dress will flatter your figure and keep you feeling confident all day. Our scarf not only adds a fun accessory to the look, but also can be used to wrap around your shoulders when the office air conditioning leaves you feeling chilly.

Shop Passion Lilie’s Summer Outfits Today

To refresh your wardrobe with ethical summer outfits, shop now at Passion Lilie! If you want to learn more about shopping ethically, check out our ethical shopping guide here. Feel free to contact us with any of your questions or concerns, and share the summer outfits you’re wearing with us on our social media!

With so many online shops tempting you with their inventory, it’s hard to sort through the clutter and verify ethical brands and ethical products to buy. Passion Lilie wants to help you become a more conscious consumer by breaking it all down for you with our ethical shopping guide!

Ethical Shopping Guide: Questions to Consider

To determine if a brand is ethical, you have to ask a few questions and know where to find the answers.

Is it fair trade?

Fair trade is a big movement, so its definition is quite lengthy and layered—but in short, fair trade is about improving the fairness of international trade. This means allowing workers to have a voice, providing safe working conditions, and paying workers fair wages, among other things. A big component of any ethical shopping guide should focus on fair trade. If you want to learn more about why you should buy fair trade, read our blog post here. Supporting fair trade brands is a great way to buy ethically, so when shopping online, check the company’s website for an explanation of which fair trade practices it follows. It’s also beneficial to check if it is a verified member of the Fair Trade Federation or other fair trade organizations like it. These organizations create high standards for businesses, and membership indicates they are being held accountable for following fair trade practices.

Who makes the product?

Ethical practices, especially in the fair trade movement, include creating as many dignified jobs and positive opportunities as possible for individuals who are living in underserved areas. Any area in the world where individuals do not have the same opportunities as others due to conditions beyond their control constitutes an underserved area. Many of these areas exist in developing countries, but there are some even within the United States! Part of the satisfaction of your ethical shopping purchase should be knowing the product was crafted with care by local farmers, artisans, or other workers in their own communities and knowing that your purchase will help develop those communities.

What are the working conditions and who checks them?

Unfortunately, many farms, factories, and other places of work in developing nations have unsanitary, inhospitable, stressful conditions that harm workers and perpetuate the cycle of poverty. By working for a fair trade company, farmers, artisans, and workers of all trades can avoid these inhumane conditions. When researching a brand, look online for a description of the work space and conditions. If you can find photos, that’s even better! For example, you can read about the most recent trip our founder, Katie, took to India, where she met with Passion Lilie’s artisans. Our blog even features photos from her visit. In this instance, it’s clear that the founder of the company is following up with the producer groups to ensure safe, healthy, and uplifting working conditions for artisans. For a company to truly be considered ethical and fair trade, it needs to have someone verifying the conditions of its workers and holding the company to high standards. It’s a good sign if the company is a verified member of a fair trade organization or if someone at the company works closely with the workers and checks their conditions firsthand.

Are its practices sustainable?

Our ethical shopping guide has focused a lot on the people who make products, but it’s also important that companies help the environment the best that they can. Inquire if the materials are eco-friendly (such as organic, pesticide-free, non-GMO cotton) and if the supply chain contains sustainable practices. You can also research whether a company’s facilities use sustainable energy or attempt to reduce waste.

Choosing Passion Lilie

After you read this ethical shopping guide, you should feel better prepared to assess the ethics of different brands. Fortunately for you, when it comes to Passion Lilie’s ethics, we’ve done the rest of your research for you. Passion Lilie is a fully ethical apparel brand that is a member of the Fair Trade Federation. We use eco-friendly materials and sustainable practices throughout the supply chain. Our Indian artisans are the backbone of our entire company, and they receive fair wages and quality working conditions that are verified by our founder. You can feel good about making a Passion Lilie purchase and wearing our items on all occasions.

You could wear one of our simple accessories, such as the Blue & Grey Diamond Scarf, to dress up a casual outfit. This scarf is handblock printed on cotton using sustainable practices in India. This comfortable statement accessory is great as a gift or to treat yourself.

You can also dress ethically to your next date night or classy affair! Try our dresses, such as the Triangles Shift Dress. The fabric is printed using an eco-friendly reactive dye process, and our shift dress style flatters virtually every figure.

Continuing to Shop Ethically

If you’re ready to stock up your closet with more ethical apparel, shop now at Passion Lilie! Feel free to contact us with any of your questions or concerns. We love helping customers shop ethically and talking with you about our ethical apparel and fair trade practices.

According to the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), fair trade is an ideology businesses adopt to support workers, from farmers to artisans, in third-world countries and around the world. The goal is to improve international trade by increasing its fairness, honesty, and transparency. Passion Lilie is a proud member of the FTF, and our brand prides itself on providing our hardworking artisans in India with fair pay and safe, uplifting working conditions. Passion Lilie and other fair trade companies, which can span from the clothing industry to coffee, chocolate, and more, believe in promoting trade that is equal, just, and empowering. Although we support all kinds of fair trade companies, we are particularly passionate about the answer to this one question: Why buy fair trade clothing?

Five Reasons Why You Should Buy Fair Trade Clothing

1. You help people in developing countries overcome poverty.

Fair trade companies agree to pay their workers fair wages. Having fair, stable income allows these workers to take care of their families by putting food on the table, providing clothing for their children, and more. At Passion Lilie, we offer Indian artisans the income they need to avoid the conditions of poverty.

2. You help develop entire economies.

Why buy fair trade clothing when your country’s economy is doing well? Far too many companies, both here and abroad, do not provide fair wages and healthy working conditions, which causes entire economies in other countries to suffer and need our help. As more members of a community are paid fair wages, more of that money gets invested into the greater economy, and more citizens can live healthier, fuller lives above the poverty line.

3. You reduce your impact on the environment.

Another facet of fair trade is being environmentally responsible. Our fair trade clothing is made with sustainably sourced and eco-friendly materials. Furthermore, Passion Lilie’s entire production and supply chain uses natural energy and sustainable resources. By protecting the environment, the areas in which fair trade clothing is produced will stay healthier and remain capable of producing goods and employing locals for many years to come.

4. It’s safe to wear.

Many fair trade companies use high-quality and eco-friendly materials—but more importantly, they avoid using harsh chemicals, dyes, and other unsafe materials. Passion Lilie has begun using organic, non-GMO, pesticide-free cotton as a part of our efforts as a fair trade company, and we also use plant- and vegetable-based dyes, organic dyes, and azo-free dyes.

5. You elevate workers’ voices.

Fair trade companies listen to their workers and give them the chance to speak openly about their wages, working conditions, job satisfaction, and more. Fair trade workers should know they are free from discrimination, forced labor, and other unfair conditions. Everyone deserves to have their voice heard. When you buy fair trade clothing, you can rest assured the artisans responsible for providing you with your new goods know their rights and have a dialogue with their employers.

Buy Passion Lilie’s Fair Trade Clothing

Why buy fair trade clothing from Passion Lilie? In addition to being ethical, our apparel is attractive, flattering, and high quality. At Passion Lilie, we love to see women (and men) embrace our bold prints, classic styles, and fashionable accessories. Here are some of our favorite pieces to make you feel great, both inside and out.

XO Blue Dress

Looking for fair trade dresses? This popular dress has the perfect bright blue print and sweet, flattering silhouette for summer. Enjoy the front pockets and soft organic cotton!

Chambray Men’s Shorts

These denim-colored shorts are just the right amount of comfortable and casual. The drawstring is easily adjustable so you can find your perfect fit, and the pockets complement the good looks with great functionality.

Spinnaker Grey Pants

Even in the heat of New Orleans, you’ll love our flirty and flowy Spinnaker Grey Pants. Embrace fair trade while rocking this fun print out on town or on a relaxing day at home.

Explore Passion Lilie and Fair Trade Clothing

Passion Lilie is a fair trade brand dedicated to empowering artisans around the world. Designed in New Orleans and made in India, we are proud to produce fair trade apparel. Learn more about our ethical apparel and shop more of our fabulous products today.