Mother Earth
3 Moms On What It Means To Live Consciously—From Fashion To Parenthood
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Brittany Dawn
Apr 20, 2021
What does living consciously mean to you? This is the question—amongst others—that we posed to three inspiring mothers, just in time for Earth Day. From dressing sustainably to parenting passionately, entrepreneurs/moms Justine Liu (Girlfriend Collective), Kestrel Jenkins (Conscious Chatter), and Anjelika Temple (Brit + Co.) all sounded off in such an honest and candid fashion, their quotes are sure to stick with you well after Earth Month comes to a close.
The three thoughtful, nature-loving women were photographed with their adorable kiddos in their cozy homes, all wearing clothing and accessories from Consciously, an innovative new e-commerce hub founded by Maisa Mumtaz-Cassidy that allows folks to shop by their values, whether that’s donning eco-friendly materials, vegan wares, or supporting companies owned by women or people of color.
Check it out in our slideshow below—and prepared to be inspired!
This post is brought to you by Mother x Consciously.
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Meet Anjelika Temple, creative and brand strategist, co-founder and former CCO of Brit + Co., and mother to Anokhi, 4, and Indira, 20 months.
Anjelika wears a Bastora Flared Tanktop, Anna Wool Cardigan, Flora Pants, David Aubrey Earrings, and La Luna Necklace, all from Consciously.
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- "At its best, fashion is another palette with which to express creativity. It’s a little bit of color-coordinated artwork you get to wear every single day, similar to dressing the walls of your home with art you’ve made, found, and collected. I feel like my closet is a patchwork of my personal history, from the decrepit tie-dye sleeps shirt I made in—and have been wearing since—7th grade, to the otherwise insignificant striped tee I was wearing when my husband proposed to me, to the rainbow of non-maternity (but conveniently stretchy) dresses I wore throughout both my pregnancies."
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"I love unusual prints and patterns, am very bad at choosing neutrals (what are those even?), and until this very shoot, I haven’t worn an actual pair of pants since flared corduroys in college. I am a dress gal all the way. I love wearing a pattern from head-to-toe, or head-to-knee as it were. I love wearing brightly colored tights, big earrings, and, of course, power clashing patterns-on-patterns as much as aesthetically possible."
"But alas, motherhood has completely changed things. I find myself living in pocket leggings (I do have a leopard print pair, obvs), colorful athleisure, and always in sneakers or Tevas. Full outdoorsy mom mode over here, and I’ll admit it, I’m into all these comfy, stretchy, highly functional clothes just as much as my pretty patterned dresses. And I’m finally ready to consider pants, actual pants, as apart of my new wardrobe chapter."
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"Motherhood is entrepreneurship. You’ve gotta keep morale high, make fast decisions, realize that your own mental and physical health makes the whole team better, and improvise all the time. I think the biggest way motherhood has impacted the way I think about entrepreneurship is that whatever that thing is that pulls you away—your side hustle, your startup, your freelance career—whatever it is, it has to be worth it."
"When my oldest daughter Anokhi was born, I was worried about how I could possibly keep up the work pace I had set pre-kid. But somehow, yet further proof of the magic of child-rearing, I actually became more efficient with my time. I delegated more, I said no to superfluous projects and meetings, I said yes to opportunities that made my heart sing, and I got home in time to be totally present with my girl at the end of each day. Her existence motivated me to do better, and my youngest Indira’s entry into the world only furthered that motivation."
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- "Being able to go to one place and know that everything has been vetted and curated ahead of time takes so much stress off of online shopping. So many mothers I know have always been environmentally conscious, but that kicks into high gear once you hit parenthood and the amount of weird chemicals and waste it brings with it. Suddenly I find myself caring even more about how everything in my home is made, everything my daughters wear, and subsequently what I’m putting on my own body. Supporting small businesses that are doing right by Mother Earth is in my DNA, and Consciously allows me to do so effortlessly, and stylishly!"
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- "Start small. Make adjustments in your life that make it better—use cloth napkins instead of ripping through a few paper towel rolls every week. Take the time to sort your trash and recycling bins, and revel in the organization of it all. Compost! Know that the impact you are making on the planet will directly affect your kiddos, so buy sustainable as often as you can. Consciously made clothes quite literally feel better, so do it for self-care."
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- "To me, being a conscious parent means fostering kindness towards others, and that includes the earth. Once when my daughter couldn’t sleep, I suggested she think of something that makes her happy. I asked her, what are some things that make you happy? She replied, 'trees, redwood trees, and when I hug a redwood tree I feel happy.' When she said that, it was like a mic drop. My job is done here."
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- "This is an unfair question for me at the moment, because I’m literally in the middle of taking six months for myself! Being outside is where I feel like I can take big breaths. Just walking in a beautiful place is my form of meditation, a grove of trees my church. Sunshine and fresh air recharge me more than anything else. Also, reading a whole book in one day or one weekend sounds like a dream!"
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- Keep following along with Anjelika and her girls at @anjelikatemple on Instagram.
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Meet Kestrel Jenkins, host and producer of Conscious Chatter, co-founder of Group Chat and Left Edit, and mother to Wilder, 16 months.
Kestrel wears the Rumer Top and Icon Trousers from Consciously.
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"Fashion and dressing has been my creative outlet since I could walk. My parents tell stories about how whenever someone would come to our house, I would immediately go upstairs to change my outfit to showcase it to our company. And I would do this multiple times during their visit!"
"Fashion is a complex industry in so many ways—from its colonial history to the ways it continues to exploit BIPOC communities today, it's everything but the stereotypical frivolity it's often aligned with. Yet with all the intense realities tied to the fashion industry, it also provides immense joy to so many people. There's a beauty in putting together an outfit, having intimate connections with the stories embedded in our garments, wearing them out into the world to share that creative look with others, and so much more. As someone who is enthralled with asking questions, fashion is the industry that stokes my never-ending curiosity."
Kestrel wears the Bente Sweater and High Rise Pants from Consciously.
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"A friend once called me a 'hybrid Ferrari'—as I get older, this has felt even more aligned with my personal style. I love color, prints, vibrant compositions, and layering. At the same time, the story behind each of my garments is just as important as the look. I work intentionally to build relationships with my garments—to care for them and respect them, so I cherish them for years to come. It's very important to me to think about having heirloom garments to pass down to my daughter one day."
"Since becoming a mom, my style has shifted a bit. I am still breastfeeding, so I am always thinking about access to the 'leche' when I get dressed. Also, ease of movement has become even more important to me, so I can be lifting, chasing, and playing as comfortably as possible."
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"Motherhood has instilled within me a deeper intention behind what I do, and why I do what I do. I remember while I was pregnant, I went through some challenging times, questioning whether or not I was 'fit' to be a role model for my soon-to-arrive daughter. I felt like I hadn't done enough, made enough money, reached enough 'levels of success' to be this fierce woman role model for her. Through those internal struggles, I found more peace with my accomplishments, and also with the realization that I can continue to learn and grow with her."
"With that in mind, becoming a mom has made me rethink what 'success' looks like and how I define it. It has become less about analytics and income (while these are still obviously important), and more about the meaning behind the work I am doing. Being a mom has also reminded me to slow down in so many way—especially when it comes to finding time to be present in the moments we spend together as a family."
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- "As moms, I feel like we are always multitasking—there's no way around it. And with that comes a bit of chaos, I'd say. Yet, at the same time, I think so many of us want to make thoughtful decisions about what we buy, when we have the privilege to do so. Consciously brings together stylish brands, already vetted for sustainability credentials, under the same roof. Shopping more consciously generally involves a lot of time and research, and since Consciously has already done that work for you, shopping their platform allows us to bring some of that joy back into the experience."
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- "You can't be perfect and there's no 'right' path to navigate your way through the layers of sustainability. And you most likely are already doing some things that could be considered 'sustainable.' You can't buy your way into sustainability—this is something the industry unfortunately continues to claim, but it really starts with using, loving, and getting creative with what you already have. When you're ready, just start somewhere, and be ok with a nonlinear path—embrace the aspects that you are most curious about and don't let the overwhelming realities paralyze you from taking small steps."
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"Being resourceful as much as possible. We are always thinking further about ways to reuse what we already have and be mindful of our waste. We also love to share toys, gear, and clothes with other family or friends—the majority of Wiley's wardrobe is comprised of hand-me-downs. I think it's also so important to continue learning, so we can share new knowledge with our daughter. For example, we finally got our Bokashi bin and outdoor composter in action over the last year. We love going through the process of doing these steps with her."
Kestrel wears the Marieta Top and High Rise Pants from Consciously.
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- "This is a fabulous question, and one I continue to ask myself daily. I definitely don't have the answer yet, but most recently, I have been working on building moments for myself into my days. Some little things I have tried recently are: taking a bath with a book and a glass of wine at night, going on a solo run, doing yoga in the morning (while Wiley has been with me, she likes to practice her own stretches, and this still gives me a little time to breathe). I know I have to build them into my routine more regularly, because I always feel so refreshed and re-motivated to 'mom' after these moments."
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- Keep following along with Kestrel at @kestrelee, @consciouschatter, @groupchat.social, and @leftedit on Instagram.
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Meet Justine Liu, President of Girlfriend Collective, former founder of Billie the Label, and mother to Graham, 3, and Piper, 2 months.
Justine wears the Eva Sweater and Evil Eye Necklace from Consciously.
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- "My relationship with fashion has evolved over the years. I grew up as a Taiwanese-American teenager in a predominantly white midwestern community, and while it’s a little embarrassing to admit now, fashion provided a way for me to feel like I 'fit in' a little bit more with peers who looked very different from me. In my 20s, fashion meant finally embracing my own self identity and personal style. Over time, that has evolved into understanding that fashion can be much more than just physical expression. Fashion can also mean using the power of your purchasing decisions to support designers and businesses that reflect and amplify your own values."
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"Outside of pandemic times, I would describe my personal style as timeless and straightforward, yet feminine. My go-to closet staples are a discarded button-down shirt from my husband’s side of the closet and a pair of vintage jeans that somehow still have the best fit on me after 5 years and two children. My favorite piece is a vintage YSL blazer I found at a thrift store in Boston—it has the perfect classic silhouette, and in pre-pandemic times I was throwing it over anything I wore out the door."
"Since becoming a mom, my style has gotten more casual, with a focus on outfits that are put-together yet practical. After breastfeeding my firstborn for 2.5 years, I’m a woman who needs to wear a bra to feel supported and comfortable, so I’m mindful about clothes that aren’t compatible with that. I now tend to gravitate towards more versatile, comfortable clothing: outfits that can take me from work meetings to my toddler’s soccer class. Lately, this looks like leggings and a hoodie with a blazer draped over it, or a simple button-down with my favorite pair of jeans."
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"Before I became a mother, I thought I would reach a very specific point where I was officially prepared enough to pursue my own thing. I spent time working in the fashion industry, I went back to business school, I worked for other entrepreneurs, I continuously read and absorbed as much information as I could. And while those were all helpful, I think I was only orbiting the notion of entrepreneurship, and I'm not sure I ever would have felt truly ready for it."
"When I became pregnant somewhat unexpectedly with our first child, I approached it in the same way—I read books about pregnancy, talked to my friends and relatives, researched statistics and medical information. And then when he was born, I realized that no amount of research or training could have prepared me for the place I'd found myself. Being a mother for me wasn't about knowing all the answers ahead of time—it was about constantly feeling out of my depth, learning how to operate while overwhelmed in ways I had never previously experienced, and ending up with something better than I could have ever predicted."
"In many ways I now think of entrepreneurship in a similar light: it’s not about waiting forever for a moment where you feel that nothing could possibly go wrong, but realizing that it is going to be imperfect, and that's where the beauty comes from."
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- "As a mother, I like to shop where my values lie. Whether it’s supporting sustainably-minded or BIPOC-founded businesses, it’s reassuring to know that our money is being spent in ways that will hopefully leave our planet and society in a better place for my children as they grow."
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- "Don’t be intimidated! There’s a glut of information out there, and it can sometimes feel overwhelming, but you can make progress with even small changes to your day-to-day routine, purchasing decisions, or environmental choices."
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- "Despite spending so much more time at home with my children during the pandemic, it’s become difficult to do anything but think further and further into the future. 'It’ll be great when we can...,' 'I can’t wait until...,' etc. But I’ve been trying to be a more conscious parent by making sure I’m as mentally present as I can be for my children, and that my son’s day-to-day accomplishments and activities are highlighted just as much despite the circumstances. Yes, our society has been somewhat shaken up, and we can’t go to restaurants or his favorite train museum, but he did a really good job tracing the letter E with his crayon, so I make sure to celebrate that."
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- "While I don’t have a consistent routine for just myself—especially while working from home with a newborn and a toddler—I do find moments throughout the day to enjoy some solitude. Lately, this has been working on a minor, unambitious needlepoint project after the kids are asleep and before I head to bed. I haven’t done needlepoint since I was a little kid, but I’ve found it to be a helpful activity that helps me mentally wind down from my day, while also feeling like I’m accomplishing something small apart from work."
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- Keep following along with Justine at @justine_liu on Instagram.
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