The landscape of social media has changed dramatically over the past several years. Once a place for everyone’s “highlight reel”, social media and blogs have transformed from personal journals to leaders of the #Resistance and now lead the forefront of climate and sustainability activism.
With the 24-hour news cycle and the state of current politics, it’s natural that we’d turn to our peers for information and ideas for how to fight back against the climate crisis and discover new ways for living more in-tune with the planet. Today we’re sharing five must-hear voices in the sustainability space – from fashion bloggers-turned-eco-activists to minimalism experts marrying financial freedom with sustainable lifestyles, these five are using their #influence for good. Read on, then be sure to let us know your own recommendations on Instagram!
Melanin & Sustainable Style
This super inspiring platform “discusses the issues and celebrates the success of communities of color in Sustainable Fashion and Beauty spaces … giving the ethical industry an authentic and culturally relevant voice.” Founder Dominique Drakeford champions the diverse voices in the sustainability and climate activism communities while highlighting enviable non-toxic style through interviews and features. MelaninASS is a must-follow for anyone passionate about sustainability and climate activism – check out her roundup of 47 Badass Womxn of Color Influencers in the sustainable fashion space to add must-hear voices to your feed.
Jess With Less
Looking for the next ethical and sustainable brand to lust after? Tips for shifting to a waste-free lifestyle? Thrift shopping tips and tricks? Jess With Less serves up all three with a minimalist twist that will have you swearing off single-use plastic and planning a trip to the thrift store in no time. With a focus on secondhand style and living, Jess makes sustainability look incredibly chic and – dare we say – French.
Jess brings her followers long for the ride as she works to build her own more sustainable wardrobe, introducing small ethical brands and sharing minimal living tips while she’s at it. Her home is as much a reflection of her ethos as her personal style – and there’s no shortage of decor and organization inspiration on her feed.
Jess Ann Kirby
With her fearless approach to politically-minded posts and Instagram stories, and honesty surrounding her own journey towards adopting a more sustainable lifestyle, fashion and lifestyle blogger Jess Ann Kirby doesn’t shy away from tough conversations and teachable moments. Championing living well while also living consciously, Jess highlights sustainable living and clean beauty and her personal journey in learning more about how what we consume affects the environment.
In the past year, her community has followed in her shift from what many would consider a “traditional” fashion blogger, to taking a major risk in pivoting the conversation. Jess’s transparency, honesty and willingness to take part in the conversation is what sets her apart, as she puts it: staying informed = being empowered.
Give Jess Ann Kirby a follow for: Passionate political discussion and information, clean beauty recs, and sustainable style – all with a gorgeous New England backdrop.
Brown Kids
Marrying intentional minimalism, financial freedom, and eco-conscious living all in one beautifully curated Instagram feed, Roe and E, the duo behind Brown Kids, ditch the assumptions surrounding minimalism – chief among them: that minimalism is for white people, especially white women, only. In a 2018 interview with Byrdie, Roe states:
“Black people are no longer deferring to society to give us meaning; we’re asking what is meaningful to us instead of depending on all of these other things … Right now, people of color are coming into this really beautiful moment where we’re asking ourselves, how do we design the lives that we want? And many of us are coming to the answer: Maybe it’s smaller things.”
Boasting nearly 50k followers, Roe and E have built a tight-knit community around Brown Kids that teaches how living intentionally can bring financial freedom – a subject that is often missing in conversations surrounding minimalism. With their often long-form captions, Roe and E treat their Instagram like a mini-blog and their followers as family. Give Brown Kids a follow for the kind of inspiration that makes you feel like you’re in it together.
Holly Rose Co
Formerly known as Leotie Lovely, the newly re-branded Holly Rose Co. is a one-stop destination for product knowledge, sustainable living tips, and climate activism. Serving up blog posts ranging in subject matter from how to be a better tourist to examining claims of “going green” by larger corporations to climate breakdown and forced migration, a visit to Holly Rose is a deep dive into living more in-tune with our environment as she leads readers – with a compassionate hand – in asking the tough questions of their habits and their lives.
Who would you add to this list? Share with us by tagging them on social and including @AvocadoMattress and #AvocadoGreenMagazine!
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