How this tribe does fair, closet by closet. I spend a bit of time focusing on my closet around here, but in this house, each closet's owner really has her or his own way of doing fair. Our tribe consists of a home-schooled teenager, a working college student, a papa who works in a casual office setting, and a stay-at-home mama. Here is Mr. Tribe + his closet.
key fair closet tool :: ethical brands (and my awesome wife)
style :: functional. I'm a dude. Patagonia style.
Do you have an outfit that makes you feel like you when you where it?
Patagonia or Prana denim...thrifted plaid button down shirt...old skool Vans...Patagonia "live simply" hat...Twin Six "Cars Are Coffins" cycling socks
Do you have a piece in your closet with a special story or meaning?
A grey Mollusk wave t-shirt from a cool local SF surf shop. My wife picked out the t-shirt, so I know she likes it, and it reminds me of an awesome vacation our family had, and one of the coolest cities I've ever had the opportunity to explore with my family.
What does fair mean to you?
Fair means a piece of well made clothing, by a company that chooses to make decisions that might mean less profit for them, that prioritizes the people that make the clothes, prioritizes the people who source the fabric and prioritizes the ecology that is necessary for all those factories. Also, a piece of clothing that looks good, but also functions well and will still be cool 5 years from now.
Does "less" play a role in your closet?
Less is helpful...keeps decisions easier and it means that everything I have in my closet is something that I really like.
Do you struggle with any part of buying fair?
Less so with everyday clothing, because I have found a couple of companies that I'm stoked on that are "fair"...like Patagonia, PACT, Taylor Stitch, Nisolo. But I like to ride my bike a lot and there are not a lot of companies that make technical cycling garments that are "fair".
Do you have any goals regarding "fair" in your wardrobe for the future?
If I have something in my closet that I love...wear it til it's worn out...then buy something else I love to replace it that is "more fair" than the piece I'm replacing.
(Jane again) I feel like it is easier to find fair clothing for men. Styles change at a slower rate and the pieces themselves remain stable...t-shirts, pants, button-down shirts, etc. There are some fair brands doing quality work on men's clothing that doesn't have the same high price point that women's fair brands seem to gravitate toward. If we find a brand that Mr. Tribe likes the look + fit of, we can search for his size on ebay and often find pre-owned pieces in good shape. We've also had some good luck in thrift stores.
Mr. Tribe + I share the 6 1/2 ft. x 2 ft. closet in our bedroom and don't have a need for a dresser or any other storage for our everyday clothes. My coats and footwear live there too. Mr. Tribe has the coat closet to himself + some space in the garage for his bike gear, jackets + shoes which are not so minimal. :)
Thanks Mr. Tribe for taking the time to write some thoughts about your fair closet. It's been cool to see the progression that has happened in your thinking (+ mine) as we talk about all of this...need/want, excess, fair clothing, thrifting, long wearing, etc. I'd say that Patagonia's Worn Wear campaign had an impact as well. It's so well done + really makes wearing longer seem cool (especially for guys).
Love,
Jane
key fair closet tool :: ethical brands (and my awesome wife)
style :: functional. I'm a dude. Patagonia style.
Do you have an outfit that makes you feel like you when you where it?
Patagonia or Prana denim...thrifted plaid button down shirt...old skool Vans...Patagonia "live simply" hat...Twin Six "Cars Are Coffins" cycling socks
Do you have a piece in your closet with a special story or meaning?
A grey Mollusk wave t-shirt from a cool local SF surf shop. My wife picked out the t-shirt, so I know she likes it, and it reminds me of an awesome vacation our family had, and one of the coolest cities I've ever had the opportunity to explore with my family.
What does fair mean to you?
Fair means a piece of well made clothing, by a company that chooses to make decisions that might mean less profit for them, that prioritizes the people that make the clothes, prioritizes the people who source the fabric and prioritizes the ecology that is necessary for all those factories. Also, a piece of clothing that looks good, but also functions well and will still be cool 5 years from now.
Does "less" play a role in your closet?
Less is helpful...keeps decisions easier and it means that everything I have in my closet is something that I really like.
Do you struggle with any part of buying fair?
Less so with everyday clothing, because I have found a couple of companies that I'm stoked on that are "fair"...like Patagonia, PACT, Taylor Stitch, Nisolo. But I like to ride my bike a lot and there are not a lot of companies that make technical cycling garments that are "fair".
Do you have any goals regarding "fair" in your wardrobe for the future?
If I have something in my closet that I love...wear it til it's worn out...then buy something else I love to replace it that is "more fair" than the piece I'm replacing.
(Jane again) I feel like it is easier to find fair clothing for men. Styles change at a slower rate and the pieces themselves remain stable...t-shirts, pants, button-down shirts, etc. There are some fair brands doing quality work on men's clothing that doesn't have the same high price point that women's fair brands seem to gravitate toward. If we find a brand that Mr. Tribe likes the look + fit of, we can search for his size on ebay and often find pre-owned pieces in good shape. We've also had some good luck in thrift stores.
Mr. Tribe + I share the 6 1/2 ft. x 2 ft. closet in our bedroom and don't have a need for a dresser or any other storage for our everyday clothes. My coats and footwear live there too. Mr. Tribe has the coat closet to himself + some space in the garage for his bike gear, jackets + shoes which are not so minimal. :)
Thanks Mr. Tribe for taking the time to write some thoughts about your fair closet. It's been cool to see the progression that has happened in your thinking (+ mine) as we talk about all of this...need/want, excess, fair clothing, thrifting, long wearing, etc. I'd say that Patagonia's Worn Wear campaign had an impact as well. It's so well done + really makes wearing longer seem cool (especially for guys).
Love,
Jane
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