Hard Lessons from the Thrift Shop I became the manager of a church-affiliated thrift shop in 2014. I ended up working there for 5 years. I thought I knew what the challenges would be. I thought I had a grip on the industry. But I’ve learned a lot: about consumerism, about prejudice, about deeply held, …
Minimalism is in. Capsule wardrobes; intentional living; clean lines; sustainable, closet-sized homes. But I hope you realize that the list I just spouted off represents two very different approaches to minimalism and that doing one doesn’t necessarily indicate anything about the other. Officially, the term minimalism applies to an aesthetic that favors spareness and simplicity. But more …
Fashion Revolution Day is a movement. On April 24, 2013, 1,133 garment workers in Bangladesh were killed when the building where they worked collapsed. Tags inside indicated that several well-known brands had clothing produced at the site; domestic brands include The Children’s Place, Cato Fashions, and Walmart. The UN has asked involved brands to compensate …
My article, Why I Buy Secondhand, went live on the Relevant Magazine website earlier today. I’m excited by the responses, shares, and dialogue created by it so far. Take a look if you haven’t already seen it. If you have any questions, doubts, or ideas regarding the article, feel free to comment here. I may write …
The Bangladesh factory collapse that occurred a day after concerned workers noticed a crack in the building’s exterior wall has killed 700 people and counting, becoming the worst garment industry disaster in history (Associated Press via ABC). Now is a time for grieving, for emotional recognition of the hundreds of innocent lives lost for no …
A sobering reminder of why ethical consumption matters. Proper regulation and respect for the sacredness of human life could have prevented this.
What is StyleWise Blog? This post is the first one ever on StyleWise, first published on January 5, 2013. StyleWise is a blog about shopping and living ethically and responsibly. My name is Leah Wise and I used to have a fast fashion blog. Daily reflections on my own insatiable materialism burdened me and eventually …