Celeste Markey, Co-Founder of Careste

Say hello to Careste, the on-demand luxury brand with a mission to #EndFashionWaste. Similarly to our own values, Careste upholds eco-friendly ethos by creating luxury clothing on-demand to eliminate excess waste.

Read our short interview with Celeste Markey, the co-founder of Careste, to learn more about herself and the brand.

Co-founders of Careste, Elizabeth Rickard Shah (on the left) and Celeste Markey (on the right).

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I was born in Texas and spent my formative years between our family ranch in the Hill Country and the Carolinas. The bulk of my adult life has been spent between CA & NYC. Living in these areas has greatly influenced my personal aesthetic, appreciation for mother nature and ultimately my desire to combine nature, fashion, and business into what is now Careste.

How would you describe your own personal style?

I’m a big fan of understated elegance - I love clean lines, minimalist aesthetics, and voluminous pieces. 

What are your hopes for the fashion industry’s future?

There are so many, but I’ll start with my appreciation for the dawning awareness of the fashion industry’s impact on the environment. My hope is that we can continue to educate the younger generations about the importance of all of the choices we make. It’s great to see large players in the fashion industry jumping on the bandwagon, but there is a lot of clean up work that needs to be done. There needs to be accountability for the past environmental wrongdoings in the industry.

What advice would you offer to someone who is looking to build a more sustainable wardrobe? 

The easiest way to start is to read the fabric labels and only buy clothing made of natural fibers like cotton, wool, and silks, for example. Additionally, staying away from fast fashion is a very easy and clear path to more informed choices. We will ultimately pay the price in climate change for anything that is cheap to buy and therefore cheap to make. 

What inspired you to start your own company and why a sustainable clothing brand?

Elizabeth and I were both separately impacted by the 2008 meltdown - we each had businesses that fell prey to the market downturn. While we did not know each other at the time, we were both negatively impacted by the amount of excess inventory that flooded the market after retailers bounced boxes and canceled orders. The amount of excess inventory was staggering and ultimately shaped our thoughts on how we need to find a better path forward in the industry.  

What is the meaning behind the name Careste?

Careste is the combination of my name and my daughter's name! We had a brilliant agency (Clever Creative) help us come up with the name.

How would you describe the style of clothing at Careste?

Careste is the sustainable, inclusive incarnation of luxury and timeless elegance. Careste is Modern & Joyful; Chic & Effortless.

What makes Careste unique in comparison to other brands?

Careste is unique in many ways - our aesthetic, our sustainability promise, as well as our inclusive sizing.