Impact Luxury: Sustainable Fashions by Lia T.
Kick fast fashion to the curb and support the future of fashion: sustainable materials, vegan leather alternatives, and ethical jewelry.
Project Description
- What is the mission of your company or project?
The mission of Impact Luxury is to provide contemporary women ages 21-55 with affordable, environmentally conscious clothes and accessories that emit chic style, functionality, and sophistication.
![Black and sky blue shirt with many triangles, red vinyl purse shaped like the continent of Africa, and a second blue and black triangles shirt with a tie-waist on the right side.]()
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Describe the problem you are solving.
As society shifts to a more environmentally and socially sustainable ethic, the fashion industry is still a global powerhouse, taking longer strides to redirect to more conscious behavior. There are not enough well-designed, luxury sustainable goods for the modern women age 21-55 made and/or designed in the USA by people earning a living wage. A overwhelmingly high number of clothing companies outsource their manufacturing to countries like Bangladesh where impoverished women work for less money. -
The fact is, according to studies by CGS and Accenture, society is shifting to a more environmentally sustainable ethic, but without credible sources of information, there continues to be a lack of awareness about where to shop. During the pandemic, a lot of people became interested in making more sustainable purchasing choices. In a poll by Accenture, 60% of people said as a result of the pandemic they would choose more sustainable products.
- What is the market size/opportunity?
Washington DC has about 700,000 residents as of 2020, with about 385,000 between 21 and 54. This means based on stats over 196,000 in DC alone think sustainability is somewhat important and want the fashion industry to become more sustainable. About half this group, 98,000 to be specific are women and thusly our target audience. This is just within a 10 mile radius - the actual size of DC.
- What is your company/product about and how does it solve the problem?
My company uses screen printing techniques on organic cotton, hemp, and recycled plastic fabrics to design high-fashion casualwear, vegan leather to design couture accessories, as well as recycled and reclaimed metal and wood to make ethical jewelry. We also source exceptional vintage garments for added sustainability.
- Why are you seeking funding and how will you spend the funding?
As a BIPOC female I am traditionally underserved and underemployed. I have difficulty raising funds for my company because vendor fees in my town are very expensive. In general, my needs are mainly for equipment and a space in my local fashion week.
For $2,500 I need the following:
-$200 - a heavy duty embroidery sewing machine
- $300 - a screen printing machine
-$400 - Sustainable Fabric and materials for my capsule collection
- $100 - representation in DC Fashion Week
-$500 - Adobe Photoshop for two years
-$2000 - a laser-cutting machine by Glowforge
- The lowest cost on this list is the cost to premiere in the DC Fashion Week as an emerging environmentally sustainable designer. This is a huge moment that will also provide viewability.
- The highest cost on this list is the laser-cutting machine. To make bamboo or wood purses, pieces must but laser-cut, drilled, and linked together. Cork/vinyl bags and beads must also be laser-cut, as will some of the acrylic stencils used to paint words onto tees and hats. This piece of equipment is a very valuable asset because it'll help me make products in DC, and it'll provide an additional revenue stream for me to be a female maker who can etch and laser-cut small items for customers locally.
- Who is on your team?
Lia Totty is the founder, designer, and stylist behind eco-conscious webstore, Impact Luxury (www.impactluxe.com). She has over 20 years of sewing experience. Lia attended an HBCU to study business and received a certificate from Parsons the New School for Design.
- GIVE THANKS
To all who supported me, thank you SO MUCH!
This means a lot to me. - For those who are not able to give monetary support, a share on social media goes a long way. Tell you friends and family about this campaign if you can. Once again thank you very much.
Updates
The Campaign FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Cards all started from one-of-a-kind artist-designed pieces that were graphically edited for the purpose of creating sustainable products as well as the designer cards you see here
- For this campaign, the aforementioned pouches and tote bags are being created by screen printing designs onto natural cotton canvas accessories.
Vegan Leather and Organic Cotton Jacket
Just Because I Care
Thank you email
Thank You Email and Card
Thank You Email, Physical Card, and Style Box
Thank you email, 3 Physical Cards, and Carry-All Pouch
Thank you email, 5 physical cards, and tote bag.
Vegan Leather Purse
Rewards
Vegan Leather and Organic Cotton Jacket
Just Because I Care
Thank you email
Thank You Email and Card
Thank You Email, Physical Card, and Style Box
Thank you email, 3 Physical Cards, and Carry-All Pouch
Thank you email, 5 physical cards, and tote bag.
Vegan Leather Purse