Galerie LA: Travel Edit

Wearing Back Beat Rags. All photos by @thankthealienz

Finding Katnis was born as a collection of photos documenting my travels with my favorite jazz pianist Dennis, and while the focus has shifted towards sustainability in fashion, travel is still a huge part of our message. This is why I was ecstatic about partnering with one of my favorite sustainable shops, Galerie LA, to put together this list of Conscious Travel Essentials.

First, let’s talk about the magical place that is Galerie LA located at The Row in DTLA. Galerie LA is a concept shop bringing together brands from all over the world aiming to disrupt the current state of fashion. Founder Dechel McKillan comes from within the fashion industry, particularly in celebrity styling so she has a great eye for curating the right assortment of clothing and accessories, and I was lucky enough to have her style me for this shoot. Every garment, accessory, and now beauty product is carefully selected and given a values tag based on the brand’s main focus. The values are grouped as the following:

Artisan: Focuses on unique goods that help preserve a cultural tradition from around the world.
Eco-Friendly: This mainly focuses on the type of materials and production used to make the item.
Ethical: Promotes fair wages and ethical working conditions for those making the piece.
Local: Locally produced items

Finding travel essentials that fit my values at Galerie LA was a breeze especially since they do all the vetting for you. If you see any “must haves” in this list you can use my code “ SUSTAINABLY_KAT” to take 15% off your order! Read on to learn what makes these pieces great for travel.

Shalom Jumpsuit

by Gracemade. Whenever I’m packing for a trip one of the first items I reach for is a good classic jumpsuit. This particular one is loose fitting making it a comfortable choice for when you’re on the go and is a space saver in your suitcase! It is made from linen so its breathable and easy to pack. Jumpsuits also have a way of making you look effortlessly put together so you can go from sight seeing to a fancy culinary experience in the new town.

Hemp Utility Jacket

The jumpsuit is paired with this versatile Utility jacket by Back Beat Rags. I try my best to travel between peak seasons when the temp at my destination is not too hot and not too cold, so a light to medium weight jacket is an absolute must! Back Beat Rags makes this one from an eco-friendly Hemp and organic cotton fabric blend to give it a denim or twill like feel.

Hemp Tie Button Down Sage

The effortlessly “cool” look is easy to achieve with this one. In this hemp-organic-cotton blend you get more of a linen like fabric. It can be easily paired with jeans, shorts, or your favorite wide leg pant to give you a variety of looks. And again, that lose fit makes it just the more comfortable for your travels.

Utility Denim Pants

Here are those “favorite” wide-leg pants I was just talking about. Everyone was swooning over these pants as I walked around The Row in DTLA. They’re roomy while still elongating your legs (a must for short girls like me), and packable. Personally, I prefer heels to most flat shoes and when I’m traveling that is no exception. Luckily, these pants look great with a heeled mule, kicks, or slides!

Accessories

My secret to a hands free bag while traveling? The Fannypack. When I’m visiting a new town I love going to their local shops so being able to carry the essentials (phone, wallet, passport, etc) while being hands-free is a must! Fanny Packs, belt bags or Bum Bags, as they’re sometimes called, also make great companions at the airport so you have an easy way to reach for your documents. Bonus if you get one like this one made from Pinatex (pineapple leaf fiber), you can wear it around your waist, crossbody, over the shoulder or remove the belt altogether for an evening clutch!

The secret to packing shades for a big trip, is to go for a shape and color that could compliment any outfit you choose. For me that shape is usually a classic cat eye like this one. Each pair of Meria Sunnies come in a beautiful woven dust bag made from recycled plastic.

These stunning statement earrings are here to take your travel outfits to the next level. Although I still pack special and beautiful clothing while traveling, I usually stick to more standard and neutral colors to make pairing together outfits with fewer items easier. That’s where these Avens Earrings come in handy. They give my outfit a little razzle dazzle. Cled makes their jewelry with recycled glass bottles they collect from local LA restaurants. Each piece is handmade and cruelty free.

If you ever find yourself at The Row in DTLA do not forget to stop by your all-values-in-one shop Galerie LA!

All photos by @thankthealienz

Kat VargasFebruary 1, 2020