Designer Spotlight: Filson

As we (too) quickly approach fall, I have been daydreaming about weekend trips up north. Daytime hikes near the lake, nighttime sing-a-longs around the campfire - the smell of burning logs lingering in the crisp air. It’s my ideal all-American getaway.

And because there’s nothing better than a weekend vacation, I teamed up with the American made company, Filson to show you guys some of my essentials I pack when I head out of town, starting with this incredible leather weekender bag from their new Weatherproof Collection.

I’m a huge fan of Filson and the products they create. They are made in the USA and they believe so much in the quality of their craftsmanship, that they offer a lifetime guarantee. So while the price point can be a little steep, you are investing in a product for life. And as you all know, I’m a huge believer in quality over quantity.

For the Weatherproof Collection (that also includes a backpack, briefcase, and rolling carry-on bag), Filson worked with a century-old tannery in Pennsylvania to develop a new vegetable-tanned proprietary leather that's both highly durable and lightweight. The leather is made for boots so it can repel rain, snow, and saltwater, meaning it’s built to last even in the worst conditions.

In addition to a great weekender bag, I have a couple key pieces that always come with me, regardless of where I am going. These include reading materials (typically whatever book I’m reading plus a stack of magazines), a notebook (I’m loving my monogrammed Shinola version), a striped long sleeve tee, some beat up jeans, and a couple pieces of jewelry to dress up my look (right now I’ve been living in a statement necklace, large gold cuff, and a menswear-inspired watch). Lastly I throw in a hat to both protect me from the sun and cover up untamed hair.

If you guys are in Detroit, check out the new Filson store that opened this summer (rumor has it, the women’s line is coming this fall), otherwise you can order from their collection online. And I’d love to hear from you - what are the qualities you look for in a weekender bag? And what are some of your packing essentials?

And thanks again to Filson for allowing me to test out the new leather collection!

photography by mar manzaneres

bag: c/o filson

top: ann normandy designs

jeans: old

shoes: banana republic

hat: similar

sunglasses: the peacock room

notebook and watch: shinola

necklace: clyde's rebirth

cuff: nomad collective

What Does It Mean To Shop Ethically?

Shop ethically. Shop responsibly. Shop slow fashion. What exactly does any of that mean??

The deeper I dive into this subject, the more clear it is that shopping responsibly is not black and white. It is a whole lot of gray. 50 shades of gray. And with all of that gray, it makes it really hard to perfect ethical shopping. So what’s a girl to do?

My opinion? If you can’t commit 100% (and that’s ok - it’s hard!), pick the values that are most important to you. Below I’m going to lay out some of the most common ways to “shop ethically” and what each of them mean. Then you can decide for yourself in which way you want to support ethical/sustainable/slow fashion.

1. Support American Made. Here in the good ol’ US of A, we have higher standards for our workers, as well as regulations that require codes to be up to par. That includes safety standards as well as minimum wages. So workers in the US are being looked out for more than their third world counterparts.
2. Buy Fair Trade. Support companies who respect human rights and believe in a  living wage for their workers. Not all overseas manufacturing is bad. Do a little research and see which ones are enforcing fair trade regulations, especially in developing countries.
3. Look for Chemical Free/Organic Items. The chemicals and dyes in the majority of our clothing is harmful not just to the environment, but to the workers creating the garments as well as the consumer who is wearing the clothing. Shop for items made of organic material and natural dyes to avoid harmful side effects.
4. Go Eco-Friendly. Buy items mad of natural fabrics that don't harm the environment. You want to look for textiles that will naturally decompose instead of sitting in landfills for decades.
5. Pick Vegan or Cruelty Free. Buy cruelty free items and support the rights of animals.
6. Thrift. I’ve written a lot about thrifting, so if shopping on a budget and avoiding massive amounts of clothing ending up in landfills are your priorities, shopping resale is the way to go.
7. Upcycle and Sew. Use deadstock fabric to re-sew and re-create old garments into something new. Or if you have sewing skills, design and make your own clothes.
8. Shop Local. By supporting the small businesses in your community, you are keeping your money in the local economy. Living in Detroit in particular, I believe wholeheartedly in supporting the local retail scene, which not only supports local jobs but also puts my tax dollars to good use.
9. Wear What You Buy. A Lot. Currently there is a campaign, #30Wears, that encourages you to wear new purchases at least 30 times. This campaign supports quality items over disposable fast fashion. Before purchasing, ask yourself if you will get at least 30 wears out of the item. Can you mix and match it with current wardrobe items? Is it versatile enough to last. The theory is anything you wear 30+ times is sustainable.

A lot of these overlap each other and several others contradict each other. Supporting cruelty free products and buying vegan often means buying products made out of synthetic materials that sit in landfills without decomposing. Those items are hard on the environment. Shopping local shops may support your community and its makers, but the items might not always come from fair trade manufacturers. Lots and lots of gray. Instead of being overwhelmed by this, it’s up to you, the individual shopper, to decide which is the best personal choice based on the values that are important to you.

Where are your priorities when it comes to shopping ethically?

7 Tips for Thrifting

I’ve been shopping resale my entire life. Not because it was ethical, but because it was affordable. I'm also a woman who loves a bit of a chase and there's something so satisfying about the thrill of the hunt. That search for that perfect gem, hidden among racks and racks of clothes.

This purple dress was one of those gems. The bright color, the ease of the material, the flattering wrap style - I knew this dress would be a warm weather staple. And even though it was too big and slightly see through, I saw the potential after a couple of quick fixes. Throw a belt on top and a slip dress underneath and this dress is ready to shine.

Now that I’ve committed to shopping ethically, resale stores - whether they are discount thrift stores or retro vintage shops - have become a staple in my shopping rotation. And since not everyone out there is a veteran thrifter, I’m sharing a few of my tips for a successful thrifting outing:

1. Ignore the sizes. Vintage clothing sizes are drastically different than modern sizes. Recently I found a white silk midi skirt that was labeled 3 sizes up from my usual size. When I tried it on, the fit was perfect. Sizing varies so much depending on the decade or the brand, it never hurts to try on an item with potential. Plus, if you find a great quality item, it's worth having it altered for a better fit.
2.  Explore the men’s section. I have found everything from my favorite vintage t-shirts to cozy, oversized sweaters in the men’s section. If you're petite, check out the children's section too. There are some great blazers in the boy's section for the small framed woman. Don't limit yourself to the obvious.
3. In a rush, stick to a color scheme. Oftentimes thrift store items are color coordinated. If you don’t have time to sift through every single item, think about the colors you wear most and stick to those.
4. Just because it’s affordable, doesn’t mean you need it. It’s easy to get caught up in the great prices and over do it. Keep your lifestyle and personal style in mind. Remember, quality over quantity. A helpful tip is to ask yourself, "If it was full price, would I still buy it?" If the answer is "no," you are probably buying it because of the low price, not because you actually need (or want) it.
5. Keep a list. It's helpful to have a list of pieces you are looking for to keep you on track and keep you from ending up with an overflowing closet of items that don't suit you. I keep a list of items I need hanging inside my closet. Whenever I am out shopping, I take the list so that I know what pieces to look for and can distinguish between what I need and those tempting impulse buys.
6. Be open. You have your list of items you are looking for, but don't be afraid to stray for some truly special pieces. With a little digging, you can find some unique finds that may not be on your list, but are too amazing to pass up. Just make sure they are items you will actually wear in your real life. You may find a beautiful pair of vintage stilettos, but if you never actually wear heels, they will just sit in your closet and take up space. When making any purchase, it's important to be realistic about your lifestyle.
7. Use the internet. There are tons of online resources available that allow you to shop from the comfort of your pjs. This is especially helpful when searching for something specific (like an evening gown). You can filter through the inventory by size, color, price, etc. Some of my favorite online resale shops are ThreadUp and Tradsey. And if you want to shop from your phone, check out apps like Poshmark and Depop.

Are you an expert thrifter? What are some tips that you find beneficial when shopping?

dress: vintage from lost and found vintage

belt: old

shoes: old zara

jacket: thrifted

bag: rent the runway

photos by Laila of Studio 11.11

Barriers to Ethical Shopping

I've loved diving into the deep end of sustainable fashion, but the reality is, there are a lot barriers (some real and some perceived) preventing others from doing the same. Not everyone has the time or interest to dive deep, so today, I want to address not only the most common challenges in supporting ethically made brands but also how you can overcome those barriers if you are interested in shopping more consciously.

• Cost - This is the major barrier for most. Because you are supporting companies who use high quality fabrics and responsible manufacturers (that pay workers a sustainable wage), the price of your garment reflects this. But not all ethically made brands are out of reach for the average consumer. You won't find Forever21 prices, but stores like Everlane and Alternative Apparel offer reasonable options that should last longer than your average fast fashion garment. And if those are still out of reach, check out your local thrift stores. By shopping second hand, you are helping to eliminate the amount of clothing that ends up in landfills while scoring some major deals.
• Limited Size Options -  Because this is a smaller industry (with over 95% of manufacturing happening overseas), we are still waiting for main stream fashion to catch up. Therefore, there are not an endless supply of options, especially if you are plus size/petite/tall/anything outside of the size 2-12 range. But there are skilled seamstresses all over the country. So if you can't find the right fit, support their craft and have something made for you. You can buy patterns online, choose your own fabric, and have a custom dress made for less than the price of the average Nordstrom dress. And if that's too much effort, visit your local thrift store (you're going to start noticing a pattern here). Thrift stores are full of clothing from women of all shapes and sizes. 
• Lack of Style - Ethical clothing has a reputation for having a "hippy" vibe so it can be hard to find more modern options. But designers have done an amazing job in the last several years offering more updated, stylish, and sometimes even trendy, solutions. Check out brands like Reformation and StyleSaint for options that don't look like they belong at a Woodstock festival. And if you're really looking to try out an of-the-moment-trend, again go thrifting (told you there was a theme). Thrift stores are filled with items from trend driven, fast fashion stores. So if you can't completely give up your Zara addiction, buy your pieces secondhand and give those items a second life. And to make it even easier, online consignment shops like ThredUp allow you to search and filter through inventory making it even easier to find what you're looking for. 
• Lack of Clear Information - This is something I have really struggled with. Most companies, even ethically made ones, fail to disclose all the information. So even if a company prides itself on being made in the USA by fair trade workers, they may be lacking information on the fabric and toxic dyes that are used in the fabrics. It's hard to find a completely clear picture. And the reality is, the idea of "ethical fashion" isn't black and white. And trying to get to the bottom of a brand's fair trade policy can be exhausting. But more sites are emerging to make it easier to navigate the sustainability of your favorite stores. Check out Project Just to find out how ethical your go-to mainstream stores are. And if that requires more time than you're willing to commit, then yep, you guessed it... thrift! The items at thrift stores may not have originally been ethically made, but rather than supporting the production of more clothing, you are giving new life to a previously discarded garment. 
• Time - Shopping ethically can be time consuming. You can't hop in your car and head to your nearest TJ Maxx to pick up a new outfit. And you can't buy your tees at the same place you buy your toilet paper. And most of us aren't in areas that have a lot of sustainable brick and mortar options nearby. Which means most of your shopping has to be done online and you then have to wait for items to ship. It also means you have to take the time to research different brands and designers. This means you can say goodbye to impulse purchases, which is not a terrible thing, but sometimes you just want to hop in the car and shop. By now you can probably guess my solution: thrifting! This has become my go-to shopping choice when I'm just really in the mood for some good old fashion impulse buying (although I still wouldn't recommend regularly buying for the sake of buying - a major part of shopping ethically is making thoughtful choices and buying items you will love and treasure no matter where you decide to shop.). 

Now it's your turn: What are the predominant challenges and barriers that you face when thinking about shopping ethically?