Behind the Brand: Blue Urbane
Where did it all start?
Emily has always loved fashion and living in New York City made her fall in love with fashion and jewelry even more. While living in New York, Emily decided to begin taking classes at Parsons School of Design. Her focus was on fashion merchandising and entrepreneurship to make a career switch into fashion. She wanted to be her own boss and build something from the ground up. Her father started his own business and operated it for many years before he retired, and that inspired her to take the leap for herself. Emily wanted to create an online boutique that carried cute, stylish clothing and jewelry but would also do a lot of good for the planet. She found that most boutiques focused more on promoting fast-fashion pieces. Because of this, she felt there was a place in the fashion world for her idea.
How does your sourcing process work?
Sustainability is the number one thing Emily looks for when sourcing clothes for her boutique. There have been many pieces Emily has come across when sourcing for her boutique that she thought were really great but didn't order them because they weren't ethically made or were made from synthetic fabrics/materials. She feels it is very important that we practice what we preach. Emily has a direct connection with the wholesale/designer and makes sure to ask where and how the clothes were made. She likes to choose wholesalers and companies that place good ethics and sustainability as very important parts of their clothing and jewelry creation.
What is the inspiration behind the items you list on your website?
For the clothing, Emily wanted to find pieces that felt stylish, young, and timeless. She makes sure that her boutique carries clothes that are mostly designed by women. This was important because most female designers create pieces not just for style and wearability but also for functionality. Whether it's dresses, pants, or activewear, Emily looks for pieces that will flatter many body shapes. In addition to clothes, Blue Urbane also carries a variety of accessories, such as face masks, wallets, and bags. All of these items are handmade and designed by women. During the pandemic, Emily felt it was important to promote wearing face masks and make it fun, which is why she carries bright and unique patterned face masks. Blue Urbane also carries jewelry. While sourcing jewelry for the boutique, Emily looks for pieces that are long-lasting, a mix of modern design with vintage flair, handmade & designed by women, and most importantly, affordable.
Sustainability:
Sustainability is very important to Emily, so she developed three of Blue Urbane's four core values around it. First, Blue Urbane only sources clothing and jewelry that is sustainably and ethically made. Second, they support female designers and artisans. Third, Blue Urbane's packaging is plastic-free and eco-friendly, using compostable poly mailers. Fourth, Blue Urbane is also a shop that gives back and connects to sustainability beyond the fashion world. One of the ways they do this is by giving part of their proceeds to The Honnold Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that helps develop and promote solar energy around the world for a more equitable future. They create jobs, help with underfunded communities, and make a positive impact on the environment and planet.
Conclusion:
Blue Urbane is a brand you can shop sustainably with confidence because they practice what they preach.
Visit Blue Urbane's website here:
Use code BLUEURBANEBABE for 15% off your order.
Or visit her Instagram here:
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