“We are starting to understand the social and environmental impact of overproduction and consumption of our clothes. But it doesn’t have to be this way if circular fashion is practiced. Circular fashion is a great way to better the environment. More fashion brands need to start implementing it like H&M is. I advise people to start shopping for clothes that will last them years rather than what is trending at the moment.” -Brandon Alfaro  Time sure does fly. It is crazy 2021 is about to end, and as humans, we must bravely move onward to another year. Before 2021 comes to ..read more

Howdy! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. For this blog post, we will be talking about men’s fashion and my five top picks for fall and winter 2021 trends.  The Classic V-Neck Sweater: The layering options for these sweaters are limitless! My current favorite color scheme would be the all-white. A white sweater with a white dress shirt. The perfect combo for any occasion. The Statement Sweater: In every wardrobe, there should be a monochrome sweater and a statement. The statement sweater adds flavor and your genuine personality to the ensemble ..read more

Hello, November! Lately, I feel as if my last couple of blog posts have been super serious. So I wanted to write about a lighter topic today. This time of the year is my favorite. I tell my friends this all the time “I thrive in the winter!”  I am obsessed with layering fall/winter essentials and creating a variety of outfits. Here are photos of how I would style a shacket. Simple items can be put together to create a visually pleasing ensemble that will allow you to express yourself.   A couple of my favorite fall/winter trends for 2021 would be:  Shackets P ..read more

Hello, fall! I am so excited for the seasons to change again. My last couple of blog posts have been about fashion and science. Today, I wanted to write about a lighter topic: style care. What are some ways we can take care of our clothing? I believe focusing on basic wardrobe care can increase the longevity of our clothing. The first tip is simple. Make sure you are doing laundry correctly. Separate your clothing by color, so the darker dyes do not stain the lighter ones. Try to wash with cold water and less often.  Wash in smaller loads, so your clothes can dry all the way. Air dry ..read more

The human mind is extraordinary. Everything we have now was once an idea stemming from the unconscious. As you read this blog post and stare at the computer screen, you are utilizing something thousands of years ago humankind would have ridiculed. An idea that grew and made the world a better place.  Now in our generation, those ideas and contributions have led to the innovation of mushrooms. These innovations challenge society’s current views of the fashion industry. With hopes of finding creative solutions to protect our planetary boundaries, researchers have turned to regenerative reso ..read more

Let’s experiment. Grab a shirt from your closet and look at the clothing label. Where was it made? Typically, this label will tell you the country of origin. Okay, let me rephrase the question. Who made it? Yes, not where is it from, but who made the piece of clothing you will wear? Then a billion other questions come into play. What were the working conditions? Did this person get a fair wage? Were they even old enough to work?  With corporations demanding cheap labor from overseas, the transparency from the manufacturer to consumers becomes unclear. It’s funny how it contradicts the age ..read more

The first sighting of leather was dated back to 1300 BC. Fast forward to the 21st century, and the leather industry is worth 407 billion dollars. Wearing leather is a statement on any occasion, but the story behind leather has a huge impact on the earth. Understanding the dark side of this industry will expand our perspectives to find alternative solutions for this fabric. Honestly, it would be easier if we can use the skin of our exes. However, I think society would condone those actions. (Haha, just kidding!) Within the leather industry, there is a tremendous amount of animal cruelty. Th ..read more

It typically takes me a couple of days to reflect on a moment in my life. Today, I wanted to share my thoughts on BE SEEN‘s Fashion Showcase before it becomes a fleeting memory.  I want to thank everyone who supported me in my first design. There was an overwhelming amount of support from the community, family, and friends. Thank you for always listening to me ramble on about fashion. Heather-Thank you for giving a random stranger your wedding dress. I hope I did it justice! An-Thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone. For your wisdom, patience, and straightforward honesty. O ..read more

There is a story behind every item you have in your closet. Today, I introduce the story of denim so you can understand the complexity behind the creation process. Also, there will be insights into the future of denim creation.  The beginning of denim lies in cotton fibers getting harvested, which are then cleaned and spun into strong threads. The threads are dipped several times into indigo and woven together to create denim. This sounds like a simple story, right? However, every story will have multiple layers that should unfold. The process of creating denim has a damaging effect ..read more

When my friend bought up the issue of ethical thrifting, I had no idea how complex the subject was. After weeks of reflecting on the problem of over thrifting and not being able to come up with a solution, I turned to fashion enthusiasts and avid thrifters in the community. There is always more to be found when everyone contributes their perspectives. Hopefully, this will provide a platform for further discussion that is larger than our individual thoughts. Thrifting is becoming an ethical problem. The overconsumption by thrifters has left the marginalized communities with a scarcity of items ..read more