Equalshuman results from three female entrepreneurs, Jessica Licata, Jodi Ingham, and Alison Vitolo. Together, the company works to cultivate natural, non-toxic, sustainable, socially responsible, and well-balanced designs.
The brand presented its SS23 collections this past NYFW, boasting artist collaborations and launching an NFT collection to bring artistic pieces alive in a metaverse world.
Jessica Licata primarily works on the artistry behind the clothing, then works with the other women to create final designs. Licata showed us pieces of her collection, explaining the process.
“This one was painted for me, for the purpose of getting paint out, getting light out, getting stuff out into the universe that I needed to let go of,” Licata said. “We printed it collectively on 100% organic cheese cloth.”
The brand maintains sustainability by using leftover acquired materials and also through the use of cheese fabric.
“It’s really hard to do funky fabrics and continue sustainability so we did it in a couple of different ways by using 100% organic cheese cloth, but also by going to factories that were going out of business or factories that were shutting down because of COVID. They had all this amazing leftover fabric that was synthetic,” Licata said.
Equalshuman focuses on using natural fabrics. Anything used that is synthetic or manufactured fibers are acquired items that are taken in from the community or items that have been refurbished.
The trifecta discussed the nature of the company and its importance to their humanity goals.
“No waste. We do not like waste. Everything can be reused,” Vitolo said. “We provide clothes for people who need it and we just try to keep it going.”
The brand sustains humanity by donating to companies, providing clothes to those in need, and holding events to uplift their community.
“Sustainable isn’t simply about the environment,” Ingham said. “It’s also about sustaining humans and just recognizing what makes humanity amazing. It’s culture, community, art.”
