👕 What is 'High Quality' Clothing?

💌 Welcome to Issue #63 of The Conscious Edit!

The ethos of slow fashion goes something like: "fewer, better", "buy less, but better" or "quality over quantity".

We hear these phrases a lot, but it's worth stopping to ask: what even is high quality clothing?

We have become so detached from how clothes are made and we've been inundated with cheap, poor quality clothes for so long that it might be difficult to even identify quality (I know it has been for me)...

🎙 So, this week on the podcast, I interviewed fashion designer and educator Zoe Hong (who also happens to have one of the largest online fashion education platforms) about how to spot high quality clothing.

Zoe was such a joy to have on the show! She shared so many useful tips and fascinating insider insights about the fashion industry — and she does it all with frankness and humor that's sure to make you laugh too.

🎧 Find this episode on your fave podcast app OR get the transcript here.

Now let's get to the rest of this issue!

💕 Elizabeth
Founder, Conscious Life & Style

📚 READING...

The Day the World Stops Shopping by J.B. MacKinnon

Can dramatically slowing down consumerism save the environment — and ourselves? What would the impact be on our consumption-dependent economy? On jobs?

J.B. MacKinnon explores all of these questions (among others) in this thought-provoking experiment.

I'm about two thirds through and I already have dozens of sticky notes with 'aha' moments and deeper food for thought. (It's a library copy so I can't make any notes directly in the book!)

Here's a tidbit I think you all will resonate with: "Fast fashion is the opposite of a world in which we buy better but less. It is the utmost example of selling more and worse." Couldn't have said it better, J.B.!

Want to grab a copy? Support your local small bookstore or find it on Bookshop.org*, a certified B-Corp that supports indie bookstores.

*disclaimer: I am a Bookshop affiliate, as I genuinely love the work they do.

ARTICLES I'M READING:

TOP PICK: Fast, cheap, and out of control: Inside the rise of Shein via Wired

Can Shein go green? Experts have their doubts... via Sourcing Journal [log in required]

This is how sustainable fashion will look in 2022 via Another Magazine

This artist is turning textiles into activism via The Guardian

Resale isn't changing our relationship to stuff: here's why via Green Biz

Why outfit repeating is the coolest thing you can do for the planet via Good On You

Brands like Levi's, Gap, Target, and The North Face are "freeriding" on other's factory safety investments via Just Style

📃 SUPPORTING...

The Fashion Workers Act

Fashion's exploitive practices run through the entire industry — and creative professionals such as models, stylists, and makeup artists are not immune.

The modeling and creative agencies that hire these workers are able to escape licensing and regulation. This means that creative professionals are not afforded even the most basic labor protections, which makes them vulnerable to various forms of abuse. The Fashion Workers Act aims to change that.

Learn more about this act on Vogue Business

Take Action (scroll down for action steps to take)

💕 BROWSING...

15 Places to Find Plus Size Secondhand Clothing Online by Stella Hertantyo on CFC

Buying pre-loved is one of the most accessible ways to get involved with the slow fashion movement. But the secondhand market is often lacking in larger sizes for a number of reasons.

As we advocate for more size inclusivity from both new and secondhand fashion businesses, let's also share and amplify existing independent shops and IG accounts that are offering plus size pre-loved clothing.

⛺️ MAKING PLANS...

Tips for Sustainable Camping by Alicia Briggs

As sunnier and warmer weather approaches for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, you might be planning out your outdoor summer travels.

If a camping trip is on your itinerary, be sure to take note of these 10 sustainable camping tips for reducing your footprint and leaving a positive impact from Travel Writer Alicia Briggs!

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Elizabeth from Conscious Life & Style · - · Chicago, Il 60610 · USA