Meet Taryn Hipwell | Taryn Hipwell is a Healthy Fashion Consultant, author of How to Shop for Shi(f)t, founder of Beyond the Label, instructor at Istituto Marangoni Miami, and the NEW co-Community Organizer of REMAKE for Florida in Miami
We had the good fortune of connecting with Taryn Hipwell and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Taryn, how does your business help the community?
My newest title and one that I love very much is Healthy Fashion Consultant. As someone that is hypersensitive to toxins in food, body care products, and makeup, I am also hypersensitive to fibers, dyes, and petroleum-based fabrics. Through Health Fashion Consulting I educate designers on how to remove toxins from all areas of their supply chain, and how to put (pleasant) pressure on fabric makers they currently work with to do better. This keeps garment workers safe from toxins including pesticides, bleaches, mordants, even chemicals used in the dehairing, defleshing, and tanning of leather. When you reduce chemicals to be less harmful to the end user, it also removes the chemicals that garment workers would come directly in contact with, and it has an overall positive impact on the world.
There are two parts to my business:
1. Healthy Fashion Consultant for Brands and Businesses
– FULL SUPPLY CHAIN ASSESSMENT
– SET UP SUPPLY CHAIN CIRCULARITY SYSTEMS
– RAW MATERIAL SOURCING
– CONSUMER FACING MONEY MAKERS – Certifications, standards, and third party audit implementation
– TRANSPARENCY IS KEY – blockchain, digital passport, and supply chain transparency technology
– SHARE YOUR VALUES SO SHOPPERS CAN WEAR THEIR VALUES
– PARTNERSHIPS
2. Personalized Healthy Fashion Style Consultant for Clients
– CLOSET OVERHAUL – Detox and organize closet
– STYLE GUIDE
– WEAR YOUR VALUES
– ReLOVE – Upcycle, mend, and alter
– FABRIC FIRST, SHOP BY THE INGREDIENTS IN YOUR CLOTHES! – (great for people with eczema, autoimmune disorders, respiratory issues, cancer and cancer survivors)
– SIMPLIFY & SELECT – Certifications, standards, and key words to seek for key, core, and statement pieces
What should our readers know about your business?
While in Los Angeles I had a very beautiful support system. First an incredible group of EcoDivas which shifted to Beyond the Label Team Members when we partnered with TEDxLA. I’d say what sets me apart is that I’ve met many incredible people over many years and I can honestly say that if you have a question, if I don’t know the answers, I most likely know someone that does. I love consulting for this very reason. Directly connecting brands with better resources and creating game plans to live into all the major shifts and transparency measures the fashion industry is beginning to put in place.
Post-COVID shoppers see clothing production differently. Many shoppers expect more from brands. They want to know where things came from and they want to feel confident that they are not buying into greenwashing. I love to introduce clients to new brands that are thought leaders, trail blazers, and industry shifters. I am still new to Miami, 3 years, and when I moved here everything was closed down…I feel like everyone finally started to wake up earlier this year (2023) in April. Communities are reuniting or uniting for the first time. We just hosted our very first 2 REMAKE Miami events Dec. 1 & 3 and I’m about to host 3 during Art Basel in partnership with The Fearless Artist, Global Fashion Exchange, BK Style and more.
A speaker at LAFS (Latin American Fashion Summit) shared this quote and LAFS posted it this morning on TikTok, “Don’t let your current circumstance dictate where you are going. Dream big and you will reach your goals.” I may be new to Miami, yet I have a goal to bring the community vibe of the Los Angeles sustainable fashion community to Miami, with a spicy twist! I also have a goal to continuously find more and more healthy plant based fabrics produced in LATAM countries to make it easier for Miami based designers to produce locally and in LATAM countries.
Taryn has recently partnered with Actitud Lab to launch a Innovative Design Entrepreneurship Program in 2024. We are currently looking for Miami-based brands to sponsor the program, and arts and education funding. We use the fun of fashion for students to learn imperative life and leadership skills, financial literacy, and value centered design.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
FOOD – When my friends visit they know that I am going to utilize them to be a tourist and hit all the vegan and organic restarants: Planta, Love Life Cafe, Lilikoi, Plantisserie, Pura Vida… even Organic Food King Food Truck.
DANCERS – I often meet up with friends at South Pointe Park Sunset Salsa (which is currently on pause) for a little Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, or Zouk OR I love Swing Dancing under the stars especially during Art Deco Week.
FASHION – everyone needs to take a fashion field trip to Reformation to see LA sustainable fashion as a baseline for beautiful and accessible luxury. And I’ve been known to invite people to trunk shows, clothing exchanges, panel discussion with Miami based designers, because everyone shops differently. There are fashion events happening all year and I’m excited that I’ll be cohosting REMAKE events in Miami, Tampa, and Orlando with Sara Philips, also a REMAKE Co-Community Organizer for Florida. 2024 is going to be super fun Miami! Let’s get this party started!!!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Today seems to be a day that I am reminded of one of the only people I knew teaching sustainable fashion before me 13 years ago. Someone that gave me my first keynote speaking gig on stage at FIT. Encouraged me to write my own guidebook. And someone who magically appeared in Miami (the exact same day I officially moved to Florida) after globe trotting for years from Italy, London, NYC, and was living in Dubai at the time…the incredible Sass Brown.
Both myself and my friend Violetta Villacorta magically came across her book in the same week and nerded out on my love of upcycling, and Vio’s love of working with indigenous crafts people. The book is titled EcoFashion. To the point. More recently Sass encouraged me to accept the offer to speak in Abu Dhabi for the Middle East Youth Expo.
The first week I moved to the State of Florida, I was moving into a place in St. Pete. I threw my stuff in the house, got in my car, and drove down to the Miami Design District (which didn’t exist the previous time I’d visited) to have lunch with Sass Brown, Carry Somers founder of Fashion Revolution, Lauren B. Fay the Fashion Revolution USA lead, Colleen Coughlin Fashion Revolution lead for Miami, Veronica Buitron instructor at Istituto Marangoni Miami, Veronica Pesantes founder of the Onikas, and also an instructor at Istituto Marangoni Miami, Francesca Belluomini author of The Cheatsheet to Italian Fashion and Remake Ambassador in Miami…and a few more incredible Miami-based women. Shout out to all of them and the impact they’ve each had globally and locally here in Miami! You each inspire me!
Website: tarynhipwell.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarynhipwell/
Linkedin: http://www.tarynhipwell.com
Other: I’ll be launching YouTube videos in 2024. And also TikTok.
Image Credits
Candid shots taken in the Design District before leading a Wear Your Values breakout circle for LAFS, at Planta, and a bday yacht trip. Headshot taken by my amazing sister. Janell Hipwell Photography
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