Today we’d like to introduce you to Kat Vargas.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was your usual fashionista, flirting with a possible shopping obsession that needed mending when I began doing a little more research on the fashion industry. My goal was to find meaning in what I purchased, but what I found was the dark truth about the garment world: The unethical and unsustainable way our clothing is made. Soon after that, I made a vow to rehabilitate my bordering addiction to fast fashion, and make a commitment to sustainable fashion while promoting a more ethical approach to our inevitable consumerism.
At the time, I was traveling the world with my partner and documenting the new places we visited through a series of photos. A friend suggested I marry my love of fashion, travel, and photography and that’s how my blog Finding Katnis was born. After two years, my blog has opened up partnerships with sustainable brands, taken me to ethical events, and most importantly help break some of the stigma surrounding sustainable clothing/fabrics. I’ve been able to reach an audience that would otherwise be left in the dark regarding the fashion industry’s contribution to our environmental crisis, and help them discover brands that put our planet first while providing ethical working conditions for the people making the clothing that we wear.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Most of my struggles in my transition into the ethical fashion world are actually not unique to the cause. Just like in fast fashion, I often have trouble finding clothing that fit my style, body shape, and height. While I understand that smaller brands/businesses will have more limitations on production, offering size inclusive clothing is still an opportunity for a lot of sustainable brands. Luckily, I’m getting more and more familiar with a sewing machine (everyone who can, should) so I’m able to alter a lot of my own clothing.
Then there is “Greenwashing”, which is a term we use to describe brands that exaggerate or completely fabricate their sustainable practices to appeal to a conscious customer. To get around this, I often have to go to greater lengths in order to do a thorough vetting of a brand prior to purchasing from them, and even more so when promoting their work.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Finding Katnis – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
My blog Finding Katnis has become an extension of who I am. Having a public platform helps keep me in check and accountable for the cause. What sets my blog apart from most other ethical blogs out there would probably be the transparency and personality behind it. I offer my audience a little satire, and facts adorned with sass for an entertaining and educational read. I wanted to avoid the cookie cutter image, and instead offer something relatable to people who look like me and came from similar environments.
My blog posts titled “The Closet Diary (Pt. 1 & 2)” help serve as sort of a guide for anyone hoping to make the lifestyle change. They go into how to ethically downsize your closet (donating isn’t always the best option) and fall in love with what you’re left with. The biggest compliments I have ever received have been from friends, coworkers, and strangers who have reported back to me on their makeovers and how they’ve discovered a new love for buying from brands that care thanks to my blog.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Big Picture: I want the fashion industry to become circular with our environment and garment factories to neutralize their carbon footprint. The fashion industry is possibly the second biggest pollutant in the world, while the oil industry comes in at number one. We are currently producing clothing faster than they can decompose, using unsustainable fabrics that emit greenhouse gases during production, and making the clothing under unethical working conditions. The end goal with my company has always been to promote a change from that.
In the meantime, I’d love to be able to expand my blog from just a place where I share my thoughts and findings to a full marketplace and ethical fashion index. You can currently browse some of my favorite ethical outfits in “The Katnis Shop” through my website, As for my travels, I’m working on future mission trips where I can document the “Katnis” travel adventures while not only wearing sustainable clothing but also visiting the factories all over the world that are serving as examples for a sustainable future.
I’m also working on expanding the topics discussed on Finding Katnis and share other ways one can contribute to slowing down our current environmental crisis, just in case fashion isn’t your thing. Since studying ethics in fashion, I’ve also started transitioning into a plastic-free and minimal waste home, and discovered a true passion for gardening! I’ve got quite the collection of house plants, outdoor shrubs, and my very own little vegetable garden. I wouldn’t say I have a green thumb just yet, but when I’m not doing research on sustainable fashion I’m spending all of my free time learning new tips and tricks for keeping my plants alive, encouraging a healthy ecosystem, and reusing typical household items in the garden – Stay tuned for these tips on my blog!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.findingkatnis.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainably_kat/
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