Rachel Kibbe, founder of HELPSY, hails from Cleveland, Ohio and is based in New York City. She has a degree in Fashion Design from Parsons and a B.A. in Creative Writing and Spanish from Emory University. During her time at Parsons she apprenticed under labels such as Alexander Wang and Jack Spade. Rachel's interest in fashion came to full bloom when she lived in Spain for three years and wrote for a magazine about health and fashion. After moving to New York to attend Parsons, model Agyness Deyn brought Rachel on to write the majority of the fashion content for her website, NAAG. She later took on the role of Contributing Editor of The Byrne Notice.

Rachel wants to be part of a positive change in the fashion industry, and she believes a more ethical industry doesn't have to sacrifice visual appeal. She hopes HELPSY can provide a unique platform for this change.  

THE HELPSY MISSION

If crunchy lifestyles and yoga pants come to mind when you think of ethical fashion, you're not alone. HELPSY's goal is to change this misconception and to curate apparel and products that are as beautiful, exciting, and design-forward as they are ethical.

HELPSY was founded on the belief that design-forward, cutting-edge fashion can have a social impact, 100% of the time. 

What is ethical fashion? Can fashion even be ethical? (Of course we believe it can.) These are difficult questions that deserve thoughtful answers. Buying ethically is not just a matter of buying recycled bamboo yoga pants because, let's face it, bamboo yoga pants don't fit every moment, taste, or lifestyle: there are other many ways to shop ethically. Through our editorial arm at HELPSY, we hope to answer some of these questions and to promote discussion. Through our marketplace, we hope to guide people to make more ethical purchasing decisions with no sacrifice in beauty or style.

Based on our definition at HELPSY, a product is ethical if it is:

-Non-disposable and well-made

-Made of eco-conscious materials

-Up-cycled

-Recycled

-Fair-trade

-Vintage or second-hand

-Sold to profit philanthropic causes

-Locally produced (manufactured where it was conceived)

-Handcrafted in a way that preserves artisanal traditions

-Cruelty free

In our store you will find a central marketplace that offers unique, ethical pieces and products. Buying ethical products encourages the fashion industry to sell them. The more we choose to purchase ethical goods, the faster the fashion industry adapt to make them, and the better off we'll all be.