Green is most definitely the new black.
Tata Harper, an all natural skin care range known for its non-toxic ingredients, has collaborated with Maiyet, the fashion brand produced by artisans from around the world, to create a sustainable and eco-friendly T-shirt. The 100 percent organic tee will raise awareness for the Breast Cancer Fund’s “Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.”
“We are both luxury brands, and have both raised the standards for the way luxury brands do business by taking on the challenge of sourcing ethically and using sustainable materials,” Harper said of the collaboration.
The Safe Cosmetics foundation works to advocate for the legislation and protection of healthy personal care products and calls for the elimination of synthetic and dangerous chemicals in these products. It was those very synthetic and dangerous chemicals that Harper found in her and her family’s products, after her step-father’s 2010 diagnosis with cancer, that spawned the creation of her skincare line.
“Giving women the choice not to jeopardize their health with their skincare is what motivated me to start my company, as I truly believe this is one of the greatest health issues of our time”
“Giving women the choice not to jeopardize their health with their skincare is what motivated me to start my company, as I truly believe this is one of the greatest health issues of our time,” Harper told the Observer.
The queen of beauty and health herself, Gwyneth Paltrow, has bestowed her stamp of approval on the signature green bottles, which hold the careful concoctions made by Harper and her team. With skin to rival Paltrow’s, the Colombian-born Harper, runs her eponymous company from a 1,200 acre farm in Vermont. Also known as Julius Kingdom, the farm is nestled in the heart of Champlain Valley.
“When I first set out to create Tata Harper Skincare, so many people told me that it couldn’t be done and that no one would be interested in buying luxury products without a drop of synthetic chemicals”
“When I first set out to create Tata Harper Skincare, so many people told me that it couldn’t be done and that no one would be interested in buying luxury products without a drop of synthetic chemicals,” Harper said.
With serums, cleansers and toners at its helm, Harper’s line, specializes in cosmetics and aromatic treatments for women. Whether it be a plumping lip treatment for $29 to an Elixir Vitae Wrinkle Solution for $380, Harper seems perfectly familiar with both glamour and beauty.
“Fashion and beauty have always been a huge part of my life,” Harper said. “Beauty was a given growing up in Colombia–since I was a little girl my grandmother would host all of the women in my family most weekends for spa parties. I’ve always loved fashion too, and in fact thought I was going to go into fashion professionally for a long time.”
Now thanks to her partners at Maiyet, Harper was able to find her entrée into fashion.
Founded in 2011 by Paul van Zyl, a South African human-rights lawyer, and Kristy Caylor, former head of merchandising for Gap and Product RED, Maiyet’s goal is simple: to create a high-end fashion line with strong business ethics.
Laced with vibrant patterns and intricate handiwork from its artisans, Maiyet’s collection features hand-woven silk designs and detailed embroideries. Working with creatives from Mongolia to Boliva, the fashion house also teams up with NEST, an independent non-profit organization dedicated to the training and developing of artisans worldwide.
Helmed by creative director, Declan Kearney, a former design director at Alexander Wang, the company, is no stranger to luxury or celebrity. Everyone from Riley Keough and Elizabeth Jagger to Naomi Watts and New York’s own “Girls” star Zosia Mamet have been seen in Maiyet’s designs.
This isn’t the first time Maiyet and Harper have joined eco-friendly forces: In 2014 they released a limited-edition travel set, which packed a cleanser, an essence, a moisturizer and a serum in a silk Varisani pouch.
The T-shirt, which is the result of this well-paired collaboration, will be locally produced in Los Angeles can be purchased at TataHarperSkincare.com for $85 and is available starting July 7. The partnership will contribute additional donations to the Breast Cancer Fund for every social media upload tagged with #kissmeimnontoxic through August 31.
