An Interview with Lauryn Strobel of Love Khaos, the makers of ethical festival attire that believe in paying above-living wages, minimizing textile waste, and caring for the planet.
By Tess DiNapoli and Brett Stadelmann
Introduction
First and foremost a free-spirited, creative brand, Love Khaos ethically designs luxury festival clothing for everyone. With a catalog full of superior-quality apparel boasting meticulous tailoring, Love Khaos’ one-of-a-kind festival fashion is destined for greatness. They’ll be right at home at red carpet events, raves, music videos, festivals, and any other high-profile event you can imagine. If your goal is to be over-the-top and stand out amongst the crowd, look no further than Love Khaos.
The owner and designer behind the brand, Lauryn Strobel, strives to use her business as a force for good. Right now, the fashion industry is the second-most polluting industry in the world. Moreover, half of all garment workers are based out of sweatshops, including 250 million children under the age of fourteen. Strobel’s goal is to challenge the status quo in the conventional fashion scene with her ethically- and sustainably-made clothing. Every glamourous garment is intended to have both a positive social and environmental impact.
As a One Percent for the Planet member and certified B Corp, Love Khaos offsets 100% of their carbon footprint, as well as donates a minimum of 2% of their sales to charities that do good for both people and the environment. They go above and beyond to minimize textile waste and use recycled materials. Strobel hopes that all Love Khaos shoppers can feel good about looking good!
Furthermore, Love Khaos is a slow fashion company that makes a majority of their collection to order. Everything is made in house, not in a factory, by their full time employees who receive living wages, health benefits and paid time off.
Not only is Love Khaos proving the fashion industry can still be profitable with ethical manufacturing processes, but they also ensure inclusivity is a priority. Anyone can be a trendsetter in their visually-stunning, luxury apparel. With multiple collections dedicated to gender-fluid outfits, there is an extravagant, high-end look for everyone—and custom orders are always welcomed.
It is easy to see the appeal of Love Khaos’ eclectically-curated collection. Their eye-catching fashion displays Strobel’s creative passion by incorporating futuristic styles with reimagined silhouettes. Unique textures, one-of-a-kind detailing, and stark material combinations all exude glamor and rebelliousness, but it is not just for looks. Each outfit is made to be fully functional, lived in, and worn festival after festival.
From holographic velvets to exotic prints, Love Khaos provides guilt-free, socially- and environmentally-conscious, handcrafted clothing to take your wardrobe to the next level.
An Interview with Lauryn Strobel of Love Khaos
1 – What are your thoughts on how fast fashion might be destroying our environment?
Tragically, there is no doubt or dispute that fast fashion is unequivocally wreaking havoc on the environment, ranking as the second largest polluter just behind animal agriculture. Its destructive impact stems from the mass overproduction of cheaply made garments, pollution from toxic dying & treatment processes, the use of cheap synthetic materials, exploitative labor practices, and the alarming generation of textile waste destined to decay in landfills for a century or more.
What makes it worse, fast fashion encourages a culture of excessive overconsumption, where trends change rapidly, and “disposable” clothing items are quickly discarded, thanks to their cheap quality and construction.
Consequently, a staggering volume of clothing waste accumulates as garments find themselves dumped in landfills, rather than being recycled or repurposed. This linear model perpetuated by fast fashion is unsustainable in the long term, and we are already seeing the negative repercussions.
2 – How has the sustainable fashion movement affected this environmental impact?
The sustainable fashion movement has transformed fast fashion’s environmental impact through ethical production, responsible sourcing, and eco-friendly practices. It has raised awareness about the negative effects of fast fashion, driving consumers and brands to reassess their choices.
Transparency and accountability have become crucial, with brands adopting sustainable practices and ensuring fair treatment of workers. Innovation in materials has emerged, with a focus on organic cotton, recycled fabrics, and renewable resources. Circular fashion principles, such as recycling and upcycling, are gaining momentum to minimize waste and extend clothing lifespans.
3 – How do festivals affect the environment?
This is a loaded question, as it really depends on both the organizers and attendees. If operated properly, festivals can have a minimal environmental impact.
Essential practices include implementing waste management strategies, promoting recycling and composting, requiring the use of reusable items, and offsetting carbon emissions through verified renewable energy investments and/or carbon offset programs. Collaborations with local communities and environmental organizations can also help ensure that festivals leave a positive legacy and support the surrounding environment.
4 – How can we be environmentally friendly at a festival?
Here is my checklist for attendees:
- Educate yourself—share this knowledge and spread awareness.
- Carpool or take public transit to the festival.
- Eat vegetarian foods.
- Only bring reusable items.
- Conserve energy and use solar-powered chargers to recharge your phone, etc.
- Sort your recycling and compost properly.
- Respect the natural surroundings by leaving no trace and cleaning up after yourself.
- Offset your carbon footprint—it doesn’t cost much and makes a big difference.
Checklist for organizers:
- Choose a location that has undergone an environmental impact study so you know the area can handle a large-scale event without impact to the land.
- Only offer vegetarian food.
- Offer and or require coach travel to the festival so fewer people drive.
- Use renewable energy to power the event.
- Do not offer any single-use plastics, including single-use plastic water bottles.
- Have a proper waste management strategy that promotes recycling and composting.
- Offset your carbon footprint.
5 – Can we really celebrate festivals without harming the environment?
Absolutely, but it takes education and a conscious effort from both the organizers and attendees.
6 – How do you ensure ethical production?
We are our own manufacturer. By making everything in-house, I am able to hire & pay all of our employees myself. This enables me to ensure they are properly looked after in every sense: Safe working conditions, health care, living wages, bonuses, paid vacation, etc.
7 – How do you ensure fair pay of your employees in different parts of the world?
I pay them myself, and I spend a significant amount of time in our studio working side by side with them.
8 – What are your hopes for the future of ethical manufacturing globally?
Our hopes are centered around creating a more sustainable and responsible fashion industry as a whole. We are proud of the efforts we have made to prioritize ethical manufacturing in our own practices, and we hope to see more businesses following suit. By adhering to fair labor practices, ensuring safe working conditions, and promoting transparency throughout the supply chain, we believe that ethical manufacturing can become the norm rather than the exception.
Our aspiration is for consumers to demand ethically produced products and for brands to take responsibility for their impact on workers and the environment. Together, we can create a future where ethical manufacturing is not just an option, but a standard that benefits everyone involved.
9 – How do you ensure the use of renewable components and materials?
It’s all about certifications. I would never buy a material that claimed to be something without documentation to back it up.
10 – What could be done to further promote the use of renewable materials in the industry?
I think that education is the most important component here. So many people don’t even realize that the fashion industry is polluting the environment. I think if people realized how bad things were, they would demand more sustainable options which would drive brands to prioritize renewable materials.
Research and textile development are also crucial, as there are so many materials that currently aren’t available with a sustainable option. Unfortunately, I don’t think enough change will happen though until governments step in and offer incentives for using renewable materials or impose stricter regulations on the import or production of unsustainable materials.
11 – Considering growing criticism of greenwashing, how do you feel about your carbon neutral certification?
I understand the concerns surrounding greenwashing and the need for transparency in sustainability claims. I believe that having a carbon neutral certification is a step in the right direction towards reducing our environmental impact. It shows our commitment to taking responsibility for our carbon emissions and actively working to offset them.
I am aware that certifications alone are not a solution, but we strive to go beyond just the certification by implementing tangible actions and practices to minimize our carbon footprint. We are continuously working towards improving our sustainability efforts and welcome constructive feedback as we aim to make a positive difference in the fashion industry.
12 – Are these types of certification positive on the whole, or potentially problematic?
Transparency and the quality of certifications are crucial yet challenging aspects. Although carbon offsets may not be flawless, they represent a positive stride towards environmental responsibility. I would rather have a bunch of businesses offsetting some of their footprints & attempting to do their best (which may be imperfect) than zero businesses caring about their carbon footprints and continuing on their path of environmental destruction.