sustainability – Style Lottery

5 Zero Waste Tips with Style Lottery

December 19, 2014February 25, 2015Leave a comment

At Style Lottery, we’re on a mission to help people become more conscious consumers. We live in a world with finite resources and if we want to keep enjoying them, we have to become good stewards of what we have.

So, what is Zero Waste? A Zero Waste lifestyle encourages individuals to live more sustainably by reducing, reusing, and recycling. It is an extension of minimalism and environmentalism. So of, course we’re all about it here at Style Lottery.

We’re not trying to become tree-hugging hippies or recycling nazis. We just want to raise awareness of little ways to give back to the environment. I see Zero Waste as a challenge for us to take a critical look at our consumption. Are our lives filled with things or do we focus on the people we meet and the experiences that we have with them? Sometimes we have to start small in order to lessen our environmental footprint without going insane. Here are some ways to start:

1. Switch to a bamboo toothbrush

I recently switched over to bamboo (Brush with Bamboo) toothbrushes and I loved it! Although I did feel like a hipster brushing my teeth with a wood handle, it felt good knowing that my toothbrush was compostable and would be returning to the earth from where it came. I’m so excited about these toothbrushes that I’m putting them in my family’s stockings this year.

2. Toss out plastic tupperware

As I was moving, I had to decide whether to keep my mountain of mismatched tupperware. I decided glass was a better option because it was more durable and could be microwaved without melting. I also find that glass containers look more aesthetically pleasing when filled with leftovers in the fridge. The price might be a bit higher than plastic, but at this point, I’m looking for a quality option that will last me for a longer time. Glass is it for me. (Hipster tip: Mason jars can also be a good alternative). If you’re someone who likes their food separated, you might want to go for a stainless steel lunch box with sections.

3. Invest in a reusable water bottle

I am a juice fiend. I don’t drink alcohol but I drink juice like it’s wine after a long day. I realized that I wasn’t getting enough water. At first, I would fish for some change and would buy some from the vending machine at school. Then I decided to invest in a reusable water bottle. I chose the Takeya brand because it was on clearance at Ross and it was glass! I was worried I would break it or chip my tooth on the mouth somehow, but I’ve had no trouble with it. The silicone case keeps it from slipping out of my grip. To help me drink more water and less juice, I got the free Water Your Body app. It’s the most annoying and useful app on my phone. It reminds me to…water my body and keeps track of how much I’m drinking every day. I’m very competitive with myself so I always try to beat my record for how early in the day I can reach my water goal. (Hipster tip: You can use a mason jar for hot and cold beverages).

4. Switch to a reusable shopping bag

My friend Julia got me stuck on reusable shopping bags. My mom had given me one a year ago and I always forgot to bring it with me to the store. Julia always had hers tucked away in a pocket of her purse. I noticed that she always got the right amount of food for one person because when her bag was full, she stopped shopping. I, on the other hand, shopped like I was feeding a family of five. Something else that helps in this area is going to farmers markets. Not only is it a great way to get the appropriate amount of fresh produce and veggies, it’s easier for you to buy what you actually need. If you need 3 apples, buy 3 and not the jumbo bag of 12. (Hipster tip: bring mason jars to fill with granola or nuts).

5. Swap your clothes

The hardest thing for me to down-size on was my clothing. In trying to fit all my possessions into 4 suitcases for the move, I realized I had too much stuff and most of it was clothes. It was so surprising and frustrating because hello I’m the sustainable fashion girl! I’m not supposed to have excess clothing. (Those of you interested in down-sizing your wardrobes should check out the Unfancy blog’s Capsule Wardrobe. It challenges you to pick 37 articles of clothing to wear for 3 months. Think you can do it? Check it out here.) I looked through my wardrobe one last time and donated clothing items that I knew I wouldn’t and shouldn’t wear anymore. Two huge piles later, I was finally able to fit all my things into my suitcases. Those of you attending the 2015 Style Lottery swaps will thank me later ;). Donating clothing is a great way to make room for clothes that you actually want. Swapping is an even better option because you give and you get. To check out Style Lottery’s past swaps, click here.

FYI: Trash is for Tossers has a great list of Zero Waste Alternatives. See the full list here.

Would you try some of these zero waste tips? Let us know in the comments which ones you like and which ones you’re already doing!

Can the Corporate World Do good?

September 10, 2014September 24, 2014Leave a comment

This summer I had the pleasure of hosting my first corporate swap with an organization called ISEP (International Study Abroad Program) in D.C.. I was an intern at ISEP and the idea to have a swap at an office came from a conversation with a coworker. Somehow, talking to her about my hobbies lead to me telling her about how I use fashion to uplift individuals from low-income backgrounds through my nonprofit Style Lottery. It turns out that I’m so passionate about fashion sustainability and philanthropy that I talk about it all the time without realizing it!

I have hosted more than a dozen swaps, but this was my first time introducing it to the work world. By corporate swaps, I mean hosting a Style Lottery style closet swap I set up the swapping space at an office or corporate building. For ISEP’s swap , I organized a conference room at the office around noon and left the door open for the entire office to either donate their lightly used items and/or swap. At the end of the day, I stopped by to see the number of donations left on the table:

isep_swap_3 — Items donated by ISEP staff

I noticed that this group was a little different from other groups I had previously hosted closet swaps for. The ISEP staff participated in mostly giving and did little taking in exchange. Several people thanked me for hosting this event at the office and for selecting a charity to where remaining clothes will go. I picked Martha’s Table, a local D.C. nonprofit organization, as our charity for this particular swap because of its direct benefit to people in the community. The organization offers a variety of services for low-income individuals, for example:

Martha’s Outfitters also offers a free clothing distribution program to clients referred by one of the 100 agency partners throughout the Washington, DC area, allowing them access to free casual and work clothing, interview attire, housewares, and linens.

One of my favorite aspects about swaps is the giving back part. I enjoy partnering with organizations that have made a commitment to walk alongside people in the community. These organizations support community members in their time of need and help them get back on their feet. With corporate swaps, businesses and large corporations can join the business of doing good quite easily. That afternoon, after the swap, I took two boxes of donations to Martha’s Table with a new sense of fulfillment. I have the privilege of being the middle (wo)man between these nonprofit organizations and the corporate world. Simply donating the excess in your closet can make a world of difference in the lives of people you may never personally meet.

Special thanks to ISEP for letting me bring the closet swap experience to the office. Every office and corporate staff is unique and has different social causes they are passionate about. I keep this in mind with every swap that we plan with Style Lottery. I plan to work with both the corporate world and nonprofits one day, and when I do, I hope I encounter great companies like ISEP that have the courage to embrace new ways to address social ills in our world.

Click here to read more about how Style Lottery uses fashion to impact the lives of women. Or watch one of our closet swaps in action here.

Style Lottery #1

August 16, 2014November 12, 2014Leave a comment

I’m excited to announce that today we had the opportunity to give our first Style Lottery to five beautiful women from the Exodus House. These ladies were headed to a dinner tonight so we have the privilege of styling their outfits and helping them get ready .

We had been given their sizes earlier so were able to pick out dresses for them beforehand. Some of them were a hit and a perfect fit and others required a replacement or a second look.

My favorite part of the whole day was taking the ladies to the attic to let them shop from the Style Lottery closet.

I was overwhelmed with happiness when I saw them going through the racks with gusto and unbridled excitement. It was so wonderful to see that something as simple as a shopping spree could put a smile on someone’s face. We love our happy customers!

After they picked out their clothes and got dressed, we sent them to hair and makeup. Our volunteer, Jen (a fellow Syracuse grad student), applied makeup and gave the ladies a natural makeup look.

During this first Style Lottery, we discovered just how much clothing can contribute to how we feel about ourselves. Our biggest success of the evening was with Sam. Sam is a beautiful girl with a great curvy shape. Jen and I went through dozens of outfits, but none of them were really her. With the help of one the ladies, we found this gray blazer and paired it with a top from the Style Lottery closet. She wore her own pants and boots. She loved the outfit and rocked the look to the dinner. We could see the look of relief and confidence she wore along with her outfit. We knew we’d made the right choice. She looked, on the outside, the way she felt on the inside– like a beautiful, confident young woman.

And this is why we’re doing what we’re doing. We want to make more women like Sam smile. She deserves to be pampered and to look nice and we’re here to help.

Special thanks to the women who attended the December Clothes Swap. Without them, this first Style Lottery would not have been possible.

Special thanks to Exodus 3 Ministries for nominating these women to win a Style Lottery.

If you know a woman who would enjoy a Style Lottery, you can nominate her here. Our next Lottery will be after Spring Break 2014. Our goal is to give away at least 15 Lotteries. Spread the word.