It's clear that traditional fast-fashion retailers are falling out of favor among shoppers, many of whom prefer to indulge in more sustainable retail therapy. Here to help answer that call is star stylist Sara Dinkin (whose clients include Chloe Bennet, Chord Overstreet, and Jessica Szhor), who saw the harmful effects of fashion from her own stylish angle.
"I started to see how damaging fashion was on our planet and was ruminating on how I could do my part and become more sustainable in my own profession," Dinkin tells UncoverLA. "From styling, I started to collect vintage and decided to start an Etsy shop called Canyon Goods to specifically sell those vintage pieces and give them new lives and get more involved in the recycled fashion space."
Now, Canyon Goods has taken on a life of its own as a sustainable online marketplace stocked with rising labels that check off eco-friendly boxes, whether it's fair-trade, made locally, crafted from organic or sustainable materials, and other mindful criteria. In addition to a selection of designer vintage finds, expect to find hand-loomed knitwear by Calle Del Mar ($188 and up), denim from new label Boyish ($148 and up), roomy palazzo pants and kimonos made from reclaimed textiles by Jessica Redditt, and lacy lingerie by Nette Rose and Claire Bare ($58 to $162), to name just a few standouts.
As far as accessories, there are chunky sandals by L.A.-based Rafa ($350 and up), playful Matisse-inspired bags by Paradise Row ($380 to $460), retro eyewear by Vow London and Pala ($90 to $113), and fine jewelry by Tiffany Kuntz ($200 to $990) and Irthly ($990 to $2,930).
Dinkin may be a familiar face to faithful followers of the fashion blogosphere and beyond. In addition to being the stylish face behind her blog, the Fancy Hipster (and its YouTube web series, which she creative directed and produced), her film credits include hosting Nylon TV's Street Style series during New York Fashion Week and executive produced the short film, Love Has No Age that premiered at South by Southwest Film Festival in 2015.
We recently sat down with Dinkin to find out more about her career journey, what inspired the aesthetic of Canyon Goods, what she looks for when adding emerging designers to its digital shelves, and what else she has planned. Read on below, then shop the e-marketplace online here.
First, tell us more about yourself and your career journey: Where are you from, and how did you get into styling?
I was born and raised in Florida and moved out to Los Angeles at eighteen to attend FIDM. While going to school I worked for a designer, and then shortly after started assisting a wardrobe stylist. Immediately after assisting I began working as a freelance wardrobe stylist and focused on that for the past eight years before launching Canyon Goods.
How did your blog, Fancy Hipster, come into play during all of it?
Fancy Hipster launched in 2013 and was a play on words. It was making light of our culture and putting emphasis on dressing effortlessly in designer threads. At the time, friends were asking for style advice and so I figured, I may as well just start a blog and put outfits together to share with others.
Were there any particular people or places that inspired the aesthetic of Canyon Goods?
A couple of major influences in terms of aesthetics would be Violet Grey and Goop. People and organizations that I find to be majorly inspirational in this space would be [fashion designer] Stella McCartney, [actor] Olivia Wilde, [fashion resale marketplace] Thredup, [environmental nonprofit] Surfrider Foundation, and local vintage stores.
How did you find the brands that you currently stock?
I spend a lot of time doing brand research online, on Instagram, reading articles and discussing with friends who work in fashion. Before working with a prospective brand I study their practices and ethical standards to ensure they align with the Canyon Goods mission. In terms of Canyon Goods' standards on sustainability, I measure the items the site carries based on the following criteria: If the item recycled, organic, cruelty-free, fair trade, artisan-made, charitable, made locally in the USA, or vegan.
What do you have coming down the pipeline, both with Canyon Goods and in your own career?
Right now I plan to focus a lot on the Canyon Goods' Style Stories, pairing influencers with the brands we sell. I also aim to launch a mini docu-series. Further down the line, I want to curate pop-up shops throughout the country and eventually I plan to expand into other categories such as home decor and menswear and potentially begin designing some of the merchandise.
Shop Canyon Goods online here.
