Happy (almost) Friday! I spent last week visiting some of my favorite places and met some pretty amazing people along the way!
First stop is @chelseamarketny @artistsandfleas ! This place was the absolute coolest! Today I want to talk about @one432 .
They first caught my eye because (not only did they have super cool clothing and shoes), but in the center of their setup, they had a computer screen displaying their live website. In large print, I saw statistics for “children in school” and “money raised”. From this moment, I knew I had found a pretty amazing place.
I then was introduced to Ammar, one of the founders of ONE432. Ammar is from Pakistan and currently a professor at Parsons School of Design. We bonded over our love for sustainable fashion. He explained that he comes to @artistsandfleas to bring awareness to ethical fashion, and him and his brother Umar’s brand. I learned that all of the clothing is custom made for you and you could pick any color combinations you wanted! The best part was… it was all sustainable!
ONE432 holds transparency and responsibility very close to their hearts. They see the importance in ensuring the clothing we buy is made with ethics and the planet in mind. To start, ONE432 shares 50% of the net profits from each unit sold, with its artisans and sponsoring a child’s education in Pakistan. On each tag, there is a picture of the artisan who made your garment, their signature, and a QR code. That QR code takes you directly to their biography. You learn about who made your product, and how much money was raised for them. How cool is that?!?
I spent over an hour there…! Ultimately, I decided to buy the dress. Ammar was so patient and helpful. Additionally, I met his partner Saba, who followed with the same kindness and grace. They were such beautiful people filled with passion. I enjoyed every second of my time with them and hope to visit them again!
Please please please go check out their website ONE432 !! It is so creative, informative, and just plain old cool. And of course, if you happen to be in NYC, going to see them in person is a must!
