I love brands started by people who set out to do one thing well. Jessica's obsession with button-ups led to her begin making them with her partner Kyle in their apartment. Those first shirts took 18 hours to construct from cutting to buttoning up. Today their carefully designed shirts are made with natural fibers in a wide range of sizes twenty miles from where they are designed. A few made-to-order pieces are still made in their studio in New Westminster, Canada. Jessica + Kyle sum up Power of My People as "responsibly handcrafted shirts made for your capsule wardrobe." I love this subtle reminder to consume with care + intention.

All lovely photos via Power of My People.

Beaumont Organics designs beautiful clothing in the UK. Their organic cotton pieces are made in Portugal, while their knitwear is made from lambswool in the UK. Looking at these pieces makes me a little more ready to embrace all of the crisp autumn days to come.

All lovely photos via Beaumont Organics.

If you're like me + find yourself increasingly allergic to all the alpaca found in so many sweaters these days...this brand might peak your interest. If you simply like beautiful cozy layers...these beauties will likely be of interest to you too!  :) 

Merrow knits are designed + made in Fall River, Massachusetts. Many (most?) of their knits are made from 100% natural materials like cotton + linen. Most knits are now made overseas, so this feels like a pretty amazing find...perfect for these cooler days!

Find this + so many other fair brands on our ethical brands page, when you need them. More fair sweaters here.

The interwebs I swim in love La Réunion, and I couldn't be happier that Sarah Nsikak's pieces are being so widely embraced. Sarah's pieces are made (in New York) exclusively with vintage + waste textiles. Some vintage pieces wear their patches proudly, while others are made completely out of pieced together fabric scraps.

Those of us who have experience thrifting, mending, quilting, or crafting our own clothing understand the price point of these pieces. The higher price point brings awareness to the time + attention that goes into each piece. Price can also suggest the value an item should have once in a wardrobe. 

Of course, we can choose to find inspiration in Sarah's pieces + put our own time + attention into our own patchy pieces. I find encouragement in the all the La Rèunion love, because I feel that my patches may be seen in a different light due in part to this brand's influence.

Patches may have signaled poverty + lack in the past, but many of us are now seeing them as emblems of care + reverence. I feel a sort of full-bodied, visceral connection with humanity when I see these pieces. To be human is to struggle + toil + imagine + create. It is both fiercely difficult + gloriously beautiful. Somehow I see all of that reflected here.

Dress photo via La Réunion. All other photos via Vestige.

Love,
​Jane

Tintorería is the type of project that can only result from an intersection of grand imaginings, artistry + collaboration. Maria Romero is an artist who has a dye kitchen in her studio modeled after "earlier dye houses, where people would drop off their garments to be re-colored".

Food waste is gathered from local New York restaurants + community gardens to become the dye material. Maria has designed a few basic pieces that are made in New York from natural fibers to take her dyes. She has also collaborated with the New Denim Project to dye some pieces made closer to them in Guatemala City. Gosh, I love a project where zero-waste + fair fashion come together!

Eve Gravel is designed + made in Montreal. Most of their pieces are made from natural fibers in small batches. This brand values the people in their clothing's supply chain + feels that "it is crucial that everyone involved in the production chain receives a decent wage + works in a pleasant setting." 

I was able to try on the jumpsuit pictured above + found it to be quite beautiful in construction, look + feel. These pieces embody a simplicity that makes me feel like I could wear them over + over again in various situations without tiring of them. At the same time, they each have a little something unique that keeps them interesting.

All photos via Eve Gravel. Find this + so many more fair brands on our ethical brands page.

Would you consider a cotton "swimsuit"? I grew up in a beach town going to the beach a lot more often than I do these days. I've had a couple cotton swimsuits, and I don't remember the cotton being too much of an issue (not that I swim a ton)...so...yes. Yes, I am considering wearing a cotton swimsuit on our beach vacation this summer. :)

My minimalist heart loves the idea of a two-piece option that just so happens to double as an "everyday necessity". It's all in the perspective, right?

My perspective is greatly helped along by seeing these types of items worn in the beach-like spots.  :)  (Thank you, Pansy.)

There are a few brands whose infrequent emails I don't mind ;) finding in my inbox...especially when a new collection arrives. Gotta love a brand like Free Label who includes the following in just such an announcement email:

As excited as we are to launch the Budding Collection, we want to remind you that part of participating in slow fashion means being mindful of new additions to your wardrobe. Our hope is that the pieces you purchase become closet staples that you love for years to come. If you’re debating getting something today, ask yourself these questions below.

1. Where will I wear it?
2. What do I already own that I can wear it with?
3. Do I already own something similar?
4. Will I still wear it a year from now?
5. Does it fit with my personal style?
6. Is it high quality and will it last a long time?

We hope this helps you make an informed decision. Remember, we want you to feel excitement and joy when you see that garment in your closet. We want you to WEAR these clothes.

Bravo, Free Label!

Photos via Free Label.

These pieces by Wol Hide make me so happy in so many ways.

::  they are made from organic cotton grown in Texas, processed + dyed (with low impact dyes + plant based alternatives) in North Carolina, and sewn in the Pennsylvania

::  I can imagine these pieces adapting seamlessly to so many situations from lounging (with bare feet or socks) to casual (with Mohinders, Birks or Veja sneakers) to dressy (with flats or heels)

::  of course they have me thinking of pieces already in my closet that I could wear in the same ways (which is an even more sustainable choice)

​Love,
Jane

All lovely photos via links.