Catherine Trifiletti

A designer shows and tells how to be sustainable with style

BY Anne Davis

Local fashion designer Catherine Trifiletti takes sustainability so seriously that after she moved to Las Vegas in 2013, she founded her own hospitality uniform brand to present businesses with stylish, eco-friendly options. Her “mother earth manufacturing” philosophy is inspired by both the patterns and textiles of nature. Trifiletti put together a favorite outfit for Desert Companion with tips for dressing sustainably on any budget.

My style philosophy …

My family’s from Sicily, so my core is Italian luxury. I like things that are made really well; I love beautiful fabrics, colors. It’s funny, though, I can be very natural in the mountains hiking, and then I could be in one of my fabulous suits that’s really bold.

My jacket …

It’s vintage Valentino ($900, originally). I got it a very long time ago! This is one of my favorites, made from a linen/flax blend. And there’s no lining inside the jacket, so it works really well where (the weather) is a little bit hot.

My pants …

These pants (Catherine Trifiletti Ltd, $89) are a hemp and spandex blend. The thing about hemp is you have to wash it a bunch of times, because it can be a little course. But if you add spandex into the blend, it breaks down the fiber.

My shirt …

From EnviroTextiles ($25), this happens to be certified organic hemp and certified cotton.

My accessories …

The necklace and earrings are Lapis Lazuli (Elvia Avila Diseñadora Artesanal, $49). I think natural stones are just so beautiful. They’re unique. And when you buy handmade jewelry, it’s going to last you a lifetime. My friend has a fabulous shoe store in Philadelphia called Bus Stop. I asked her if she could send me a vegan or cruelty-free bag, and this one she sent is from Matt and Nat ($160).

My shoes …

Faux suede Sam Edelman mules ($90). I stand all day, so it’s got to be comfortable! And they go with everything; they’re a natural color with a little speckle of black like a leopard print, which I love. ✦