Talking to Anna is an exercise in active listening. Much like her clothing and accessories there is no waste. Every word has meaning and her actions reflect her deeply held beliefs.
Anna is Eco-Consciousness.
Annatarian is the new Eco-Couture.
Are there others? Sure. The organic cotton section at Banana Republic encourages me but the concept of a seven year old eco couture company inspires me.
There's something so authentic about it that I'm drawn in and asking more. Why Anna? Why are you doing this?
Like many who find themselves in the fashion industry she's an artist, first and foremost. Like many who found themselves trying to improve our shared planet she was changed deeply from 9.11. As she was flying all over the world sourcing materials from China and Korea to line someone else's deep pockets, Anna stopped and examined her life choices. She didn't feel like the industry that she was involved in was doing the right things.
And Annatarian was born.
This isn't a review piece. I won't tell you about her necklaces and dresses. I won't tell you that you can have Anna design a wedding gown for you that may include a bow from your father's christening gown. I won't bore you with the (fabulous) details of her dresses fashioned from vintage kimonos. I just can't because that would be a review and it's up to you to decide if you enjoy it or not.
But the reality is that Anna had a vision and now there's a company that moves her vision forward. She's an artist who doesn't have to starve and she's proving that haute chicks cool the planet. Vintage isn't musty old clothes, vintage clothes are reworked into dazzling works of art that you get to wear.
While we're talking (actually I'm simply rapt, listening to her mellifluous tone) Anna goes on and on about her inspiration William McDonough and his assertions that our lifestyle should be cradle to cradle. Simply put, we should be adding to the earth with every bit of architecture. His buildings are green, literally, the rooftops feature gardens so birds can look down and see in.
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