a few days ago, i was considering replacing a pair of leggings (now mended) and thought of outdoor voices. i have a pair of their shorts that are made in the usa (where all of their product was made). upon further investigation, i found that they have moved all of their production overseas. it reminded me of brands like marais usa and everlane who also started out with exclusively american production, but didn't stick with it.(marais usa does now have some made in la shoes, so i wonder if they have reconsidered.)
i understand that production costs are much lower overseas, but know that there are many other costs involved. garment workers are underpaid and taken advantage of, and there is a cost to our planet incurred by all the moving around of the pieces of a shirt or pair of jeans in the production process.
and then i read this. employees in american garment factories are often taken advantage of as well. it is maddening and disheartening.
i'm not advocating for opting out of the apparel industry, because i would like to see the system improved, not abandoned. right now, however, i think it is good to consider how much work goes into sewing garments. how would it feel to sew all day and still not be able to provide for my family? there are skills involved in sewing, weaving, dyeing, stitching, knitting...the work can be hard on a body...and we are not valuing that when we buy cheap clothing or that of unknown origins.
so while i tried to pick items in my dream wardrobe that were fairly made, i thought it would be interesting to see if i could find patterns + fabric/yarn to sew/knit pieces similar to those i admire.
in columns from left to right (+ corresponding to this post), here is what i came up with:
1. marilla walker's roberts collection jumpsuit + cream brussels washer
2. great falls by pam allen with extended neck + quince & co. puffin, delft
3. ada pullover by carrie bostick hoge + brooklyn tweed shelter, barn owl
4. weekender shirtdress (moving shoulder gathers closer to neck + other adjustments) + navy cotton & steel
5. lzpattern (adjusting size and strap length) + tandy leather
6. wiksten tova + liberty tana lawn glenjade navy
7. grainline lark or hemlock + hemp/organic cotton stripe + alabama chanin organic cotton, white
8. ada sprang espadrilles + hemp canvas + indigo dye + soles
9. kim hargreaves darkness + brooklyn tweed quarry, alabaster
10. weekender boyfriend jeans + bleached indigo denim
11. another roberts collection jumpsuit + cotton ikat
this list only seems even the tiniest bit possible, because it originally employed the priority of "less". it would be quite an undertaking (work/time-wise + materials cost-wise) to tackle every one of these projects...so it reminds me to value the work + materials that go into the clothing that i buy and own. it will be interesting to consult these two lists as i encounter the need to replace items in my own simple wardrobe- one list of fairly-made options, and one with me-made options.
here's to the fair + simple wardrobe!
love,
jane
p.s. thanks again to jo for the polyvore set making! :)
i understand that production costs are much lower overseas, but know that there are many other costs involved. garment workers are underpaid and taken advantage of, and there is a cost to our planet incurred by all the moving around of the pieces of a shirt or pair of jeans in the production process.
and then i read this. employees in american garment factories are often taken advantage of as well. it is maddening and disheartening.
i'm not advocating for opting out of the apparel industry, because i would like to see the system improved, not abandoned. right now, however, i think it is good to consider how much work goes into sewing garments. how would it feel to sew all day and still not be able to provide for my family? there are skills involved in sewing, weaving, dyeing, stitching, knitting...the work can be hard on a body...and we are not valuing that when we buy cheap clothing or that of unknown origins.
so while i tried to pick items in my dream wardrobe that were fairly made, i thought it would be interesting to see if i could find patterns + fabric/yarn to sew/knit pieces similar to those i admire.
in columns from left to right (+ corresponding to this post), here is what i came up with:
1. marilla walker's roberts collection jumpsuit + cream brussels washer
2. great falls by pam allen with extended neck + quince & co. puffin, delft
3. ada pullover by carrie bostick hoge + brooklyn tweed shelter, barn owl
4. weekender shirtdress (moving shoulder gathers closer to neck + other adjustments) + navy cotton & steel
5. lzpattern (adjusting size and strap length) + tandy leather
6. wiksten tova + liberty tana lawn glenjade navy
7. grainline lark or hemlock + hemp/organic cotton stripe + alabama chanin organic cotton, white
8. ada sprang espadrilles + hemp canvas + indigo dye + soles
9. kim hargreaves darkness + brooklyn tweed quarry, alabaster
10. weekender boyfriend jeans + bleached indigo denim
11. another roberts collection jumpsuit + cotton ikat
this list only seems even the tiniest bit possible, because it originally employed the priority of "less". it would be quite an undertaking (work/time-wise + materials cost-wise) to tackle every one of these projects...so it reminds me to value the work + materials that go into the clothing that i buy and own. it will be interesting to consult these two lists as i encounter the need to replace items in my own simple wardrobe- one list of fairly-made options, and one with me-made options.
here's to the fair + simple wardrobe!
love,
jane
p.s. thanks again to jo for the polyvore set making! :)
