Did you know you can make pink dye from avocado pits? Granted, you’d need a whole lot of them, but the gorgeous, low-impact, organic result is worth every pit; and Leylie knows it!
Leylie, an indie boutique located right in the heart of Los Angeles, California, is pushing the boundaries when it comes to creating not-so-basic basics. By designing all of her prints and fabrics in-house, Leylie is genuinely “Made in LA.” As the neighborhood’s go-to shop for fashion enthusiasts, Leylie recognizes the importance of remaining trustworthy and ethically sound when presenting new designs to her customers.
Today, Leylie purchases her fabric from a family-owned mill in Italy with whom she has worked with for many years. Leylie especially values family-owned business as she feels it’s important to know who you’re buying from and who you’re supporting with your manufacturing dollars. For example, there is a considerable manufacturing scene in LA that is unfortunately quite exploitive. Leylie has carefully selected her manufacturer; based in LA and established for several decades, Leylie’s manufacturer is a local business run by a gentleman who has kept the same 4 to 5 employees since opening his workshop. In this way, Leylie values transparency as much as she values quality.
In addition to supporting family-owned businesses throughout her design and manufacturing process, Leylie takes a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to choosing materials that will produce high-quality, one-of-a-kind pieces. For example, Leylie uses “deadstock fabric” – excess material from factories and luxury brands – which she buys from a local source in LA. She also uses cupro (derived from recycled fibers of cotton) and modal (a fabric derived from bamboo) as well as vegetable dyes; remember the avocado pits?
All this is to say that Leylie understands the importance of transparency and visibility. Leylie says, “I’d rather pay more, so the design is energetically good – it’s all about good juju.” At Sparo, we wholeheartedly agree. As a Sparo-powered merchant, Leylie is going above and beyond the notion of corporate responsibility. Like Sparo, Leylie believes in making the world a better place, one donation at a time.