March Sustainably Stylish: Denby

I'm really excited to announce that I have decided to feature some of my favourite sustainably stylish men and women each month on my blog. Naturally, I decided to ask Denby if she was interested in being the first feature. I've known Denby for years and she has been both a very good friend but also a business partner when we worked together on a curated vintage fashion line, Wonderland Vintage YYC. I've been watching in awe since our early business ventures together, as Denby has since then passionately undertaken a career in health and holistic nutrition. She always inspires me with her zest for life, positivity, and ability to consider ethical choices in everything she does - including fashion.

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself?

I am a Holistic Nutritionist, life stylist, nature wanderer, and advocate for ethical and sustainable fashion.

2. How do you define style for yourself? The day you finally stop giving a shit about what others think is the day you start to embrace your personal style.

3. What’s your must have style accessory? Bare feet.

4. If there was one piece of style advice you would give to others what would be it be? Wear clothing for comfort and freedom of movement. Your biography is literally being written by your skin and bones. Tight clothing limits your range of motion hindering your ability to move the way you were made to. It also impacts the flow of your lymphatic system and how your digestive system functions. Here are my simple rules: 1. if you can't comfortably sit on the floor in it, it's too tight. 2. If you can't wait to change out of it when you get home than why wear it in the first place? 3. When it comes to shoes: If the toe comes to a point, or the heel is elevated, or if you can't walk up or down a hill in it, ditch it. There are 33 joints in the human foot that are meant for more than being squished in conventional 'fashion' footwear.

5. What sparked your interest in sustainable style? My years in the fashion industry showed me the incredible amount of waste that is created to manufacture and ship products. The amount of paper and plastic that is used to wrap an individual garment is disgusting. Especially men's dress shirts! The paper, pins, and plastic used to maintain a perfectly folded shirt would be laughable if it wasn't so disgustingly wasteful. It is also my way of rebelling against our obsession with designers, brands, and fast fashion.

6. What’s your favourite vintage, sustainable, or eco fashion stores? Why? I love consignment shopping for the simple fact that I can buy, sell or trade my pieces. We buy too much new and rarely do the pieces we donate get placed on needy bodies. As for online, I admire The Reed for it's selection of vintage Americana pieces and I covet every single item at Prism of Threads.

7. Currently wearing? Jungmaven organic cotton and hemp. This is likely the brand that own the most of. There mission is to have everyone in a hemp shirt by 2020. I have enough shirts on my own to dress a small village.

Learn more about Denby at: http://www.denbyroyal.com/.