With every issue of Herewith Magazine, it gets better and better. In their latest issue, REVELATIONS, you’ll find pages filled with female-forward stories of travel, fashion, health, culture, and surf. One of which spotlights our very own Vitamin A founder and designer, Amahlia Stevens. Read through an excerpt of our “Going Rogue” article below.
What’s the story behind the company's origins?
You do a lot to reduce the company’s eco-footprint. Is it possible to do even more?
Printing has traditionally been more challenging because the best printers are in Italy, so it’s logistically and ecologically challenging to ship my California-made fabric overseas. I have recently sourced Italian-based fabrics so now I’m able to expand to offer prints on recycled nylon base fabrics.
“Made in California” means many things. Of course [it’s about] supporting our local economy, but environmentally speaking its the most sustainable model because part of the footprint comes from the excesses in the supply chain. I produce all my EcoLux and EcoCotton fabrics locally in California; I produce all of my swimwear pieces and most of my cover-ups and beachwear locally. This means that raw materials and finished goods are delivered by trucks, not jets, so the fuel usage and residual pollution is dramatically minimized. Also California has the strictest environmental laws in the country so we know we are producing at the highest level of responsibility. We take the time to get to know the people who make our bikinis, so we know they are well treated and well paid for their careful work.
How do you hope to influence other sustainable brands?
"It’s clear that the future of fashion is sustainability"
What environmental organizations are you associated with?
Do you think consumers—especially beach lovers—are starting to place a greater value on environmental consciousness? Alternately put: Is ethical the new black?
While I don’t think I have many customers who shop for a swimsuit based solely on this, I absolutely do think that more and more women are taking the time to “read the ingredients,” like with organic foods. It’s a process of education but, yes, I think that given the choice, a woman will buy the ethical option.
When I shop for things I don’t make, like kid’s clothes or bedding or towels, I don’t buy anything but organic cotton. That was another thing I learned at Patagonia: the absolute devastation that conventional cotton farming causes on the environment, it’s unbelievable. On everything, from the water supply to depleting the soil itself, so many things. And there’s no reason not to use organic, it’s just that there are so many chemical industry lobbyists that influence the legislation. But still, as a customer, it’s not our only vote, but it’s a huge vote.
What are your thoughts on the girl-boss movement, or the rising trend of women redefining success on their own terms? Is this something that resonates with you?
Yes! In just the last 50 years women have fought to continually redefine their place in society—redefine their womanhood. Every time women break through a glass ceiling they find one more above it. But with the rising girl-boss movement and influx of woman-run businesses, I hope we are on the final frontier of glass ceilings for women. There’s always a ways for us to go, but we get closer every day. The cracks in the glass ceilings weaken with each new girl or woman that dares to dream of being a girl-boss or takes that first step to becoming one. I’m all about creating a world where my daughters will grow up without those ceilings because their mom and millions of other women smashed them for them!
Strong entrepreneurial women have been given quite the platform, amid the current storm of sexual harassment allegations that seem to be coming from all directions. How do you think this will change the game for woman-run businesses?
I think the important thing to take from all of this is that women’s voices are finally being heard. It’s astonishing that it took this long for women’s voices to be validated, but it’s happening nonetheless. The amazing thing about women is that we’ve spent centuries being “lesser than,” so we’ve always had to band together and raise our voices as one unstoppable force to find the change we seek for ourselves. That’s what is happening today. We’re a unified force. This applies to the way we live, the way we have families, the way we choose our partners and the way we work. The game of women in business is changing because we’re forcing the world to change. When you force things out into the open with real dialogue and sensitive, aware conversation, it creates the change that is meaningful for us.
"The game of women in business is changing because we’re forcing the world to change."
Speaking of banding together for change, have you felt compelled to use your reach on behalf of fighting climate change? Especially after a certain “Orange Cheeto Guy” pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord?
And [climate change] is not just a California thing, it’s truly a global awareness. It’s not a debate; it’s not a question. Everybody in the whole entire world knows, except for one person who’s in bed with the fossil fuel industry for some reason.
People just need to make themselves aware. Look out for local things, show up to climate marches, call your congressperson, and just be active and do whatever you can. The cool thing now is that our wallets speak so loudly and we have the opportunity to make our voices heard through our purchasing choices. Especially the younger generation—every brand wants to know how to reach that millennial generation, and it’s just like, be authentic and be positive. Figure out what you care about and chase it.