Cancelled: Reformation, ban.do, etc.
Buying from ethical brands is hard.
Issue 02
Every organization you know has released a statement in response (and usually in support) of the Black Lives Matter movement. Their support, however, hasn’t always been genuine.
It’s commonly believed that where you spend your money often reflects your values. When those values no longer align, the company gets boycotted, cancelled. Reformation said they “weren’t ready” for black models. Fun-focused ban.do revealed they ignored requests for more diversity over and over again. The RealReal has (and has been having) a lot of problems too.
All of these brands were once loved for their sustainable practices or women-empowerment. We are all trying to shop with this moral weight in mind, but we aren’t perfect.
Last year, I wanted to only buy clothes from the thrift store. It lasted until May. I had been looking for an item for so long in the thrift stores, only to find it at A&F, on sale.
When news about the Nike sweatshops came out, people said they wouldn’t ever buy from them again. Now, I’m out here with my beloved AirForce 1s and doing workouts on their app.
Shopping with morals all the time is so, so hard when you don’t have much of a budget or free time. Not only are sustainable brands usually expensive, they can be limited in variety and sizing. It’s a constant balance between voting with our money, and allowing our styles to evolve, change, and express us fully.
News like this can be disheartening, and it makes me question whether my efforts are making a difference at all. I hope with a downfall, there will be space for the rise of better brands to fill its space. Fashion isn’t perfect, but we can only do the best we can, as often as we can.
Black-owned clothing brands to shop from:
Things won’t be fixed when the news dies down. Even the small things make a difference.
Golden Girly Shop – Custom lounge sets. So freaking cute, you pick the colors and style and they make it for you. Take a look on their IG and then order on depop!
Golde – I’m partial to this brand because one of my friends did their social media for a while and many people I know have partnered with them. Known for their superfood latte blends and genuine focus on wellness.
Retro Rhapsody – for those thinking about sustainability, this vintage Etsy shop features silk suits, warm sweaters, and some of those lil bags I mentioned before.
Mint Swim - even if it’s a quarantine summer, their swim-adjacent pieces (like breezy tops and overalls) will do you good.
Onto you: what trends, styles, looks would you like to read about? And, what stores would you want to see discounts from?
You can reply directly or leave a comment!
That’s all for now! x Iris