Fashion Revolution Week 2019: Handmade, Utilitarian, or Luxury

Happy Fashion Revolution Week! This week is so important us, as ethical fashion is at our core mission.
Fashion Revolution Week was created after the Rana Plaza Factory collapse on April 24, 2013. This unfortunate event brought to light the poor working conditions that many face while working in factories overseas. It has generated a buzz around garment factories and brands, calling on each to do their part and ensure that they are treating their employees fairly and only working with factories that have good business practices.
When I started this brand, making sure the garments were ethically made was at the very top of list and nonnegotiable. I continue to say to this day that I never to exploit anyone in order to make a dollar. My garments are still made in D.C., in a woman owned and run factory where she sets her own schedule and her pay.
Today I wanted to share my thoughts on how ethical fashion is sometimes perceived. When one hears "ethical fashion", different ideas come to mind. I think when most hear the term, they think of clothing that is either handmade or utilitarian-but usually not luxury. When one buys ethical fashion, I believe they think that they have to choose between an ethically made garment that might not be the most stylish or a non ethically made garment that is on trend. Why choose when you can have both? There are brands that are ethically made that choose to only use raw and natural fibers and because of this, they tend to have a more utilitarian look. There may be times that this is the look you want, or you might want something is more elevated. While I don't consider my brand to be quite in the luxury market, I do believe that I offer a higher-end product that is quality made-somewhere between utilitarian and luxury. I aim to walk a fine line of versatile and unique, timeless and current, all while using unique, quality fabrics. Know that you can find a fun dress or skirt in a funky print or with unique details that is ethically made. And if your style is pretty simple and classic like mine, they are options for you to!
As we go through Fashion Revolution Week, I encourage you to think of ethical fashion in a different light and know that you don't have to sacrifice your style when supporting brands that are ethically made. If you're unsure about a brand's production standards, just email them! And as always, feel free to email me if you have questions about our production process!
Learn more about Fashion Revolution Week here and shop our ethically made, high-end garments here!