Seven years of Bryn Bryn: Una Pluma

Seven years of Bryn Bryn is back! I’m turning my attention to 2019, the year I started working with Elana of Una Pluma. 

For the uninitiated, Una Pluma is an innovative clothing brand focused on organic cotton and non-toxic production. The brand is a massive hit on Etsy, well loved for Elana’s cozy cute designs in earthy hues (ranging from hippie to streetwear, depending on your styling) and accessible price points. The word innovation gets bandied about a lot, but Elana is truly a mastermind making things happen behind the scenes in the world of sustainable prodution. In 2019, she brought me on to shift the brand’s storytelling and bring some of that behind the scenes magic into the foreground. 

In those early days, I built Una Pluma a new website on Squarespace (still shining at unapluma.com), oriented the brand’s storytelling (read Una Pluma’s story here) and helped established a regular rhythm of collection launches which grew to involve many fun photoshoots I assisted on (and occasionally modeled in) and digital look books. These look books have been such fun, creative projects incorporating both copywriting and design to convey the textures and feeling of each collection. Once or twice, we created a physical versions to share with stockists and fans of the brand. Check out the look book for the Corduroy Cozy collection—which launched the first fabric developed from start to finish by Una Pluma—here.

Since then, Elana has been on a tear, consistently putting in the work to develop non-toxic denim (a famously pollutive industry), organic cotton socks, organic cotton sweaterknits and much much more. Her persistence is a crucial element of her success, as are the deep connections she’s forged with the craftspeople who produce Una Pluma clothes. Elana spent her 20s living in Kathmandu, Nepal following her curiosity, creating connections in the textile industry and learning the language. Today, she visits the factories Una Pluma is connected with in both Kathmandu and Ludhiana, India to conspire on new designs and fabrics and to thank the team in person. I deeply respect this approach, and it’s a big part of why I feel confident recommending Una Pluma as an ethically produced brand.

These days, my job is to support the launch of each new innovation with both visual and written storytelling (visit the page on non-toxic denim production for a taste). A favorite ongoing project is crafting the concepts and lettering for the postcards that are sent with every purchase. 

As evidenced by all the photos on this page, photographers are a non negotiable element of storytelling for a clothing brand. One of my favorite parts of my job is identifying and connecting with photographers, designers and other creatives to help bring ideas to life. In the case of Una Pluma, I’ve had the pleasure of working with an array of photographers on collection shoots, including the inimitable Sam Gehrke, who took the photos below on three separate shoots over the last few years. The wild pattern you see is called Cosmic Chaos, which was developed from a big piece of marble art that Elana originally created on a trip to Paris.

I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorite pieces from Una Pluma, after working up close and personal with the line for almost five years (!). From head to toe, these pieces are in heavy rotation:

Scrunchies~soft, organic cotton scrunchies (mine are in earth tones but this neon collection just came out and they rule)

Crop top in Blossom/Cacao~super soft under layer or top in warmer months! Reversible so it’s like two in one :)

Bralette~ my go-to bra—so soft and cozy. I have it in so many colors.

Five pack of Unders~perfect organic cotton underwear and they’re $48 for five pairs!

Sweatsuit in Emerald (made up of the Nova Sweatshirt and Cozy Joggers)~my monochrome uniform in the chillier months. The sweatshirt is my favorite oversized crewneck (with pockets!). The joggers have a really comfy and comforting waistband that hugs without restricting my belly (tight wasitbands are literally a night ruiner for me).

Bike shorts in Golden Green ~ a favorite for yoga and bopping around in the summer.

Crew socks~I truly think these socks are perfect. They hug my feet in such a delicious way and are super cute with high tops.

Cheers, Una Pluma, and thanks Elana for the opportunity and for all the cozy sweatsuits <3