What I’ve been reading and sharing over the last few weeks.
I often share articles “in real time” on the StyleWise Facebook page, so if you want more regular recommendations, check there first.
News & Human Rights
An Expert on Concentration Camps Says That’s Exactly What the U.S. Is Running at the Border
Not every concentration camp is a death camp—in fact, their primary purpose is rarely extermination, and never in the beginning. Often, much of the death and suffering is a result of insufficient resources, overcrowding, and deteriorating conditions. So far, 24 people have died in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the Trump administration, while six children have died in the care of other agencies since September
Nearly 900 migrants found at Texas facility with 125-person capacity: DHS watchdog
“Border Patrol agents told us some of the detainees had been held in standing-room-only conditions for days or weeks,” the office of inspector general wrote.
Lifestyle
Honest Thoughts on Minimalism & Zero Waste
There’s nothing wrong with being sentimental about possessions, wanting a library at home, or a well-stocked kitchen, if it adds value to your life and prevents things from going to waste. And that’s the problem I have with minimalism. It encourages us to get rid of things for the sake of getting rid of them under the guise of ‘making space’ in our lives
The wellness industry is the diet industry, and the diet industry is a function of the patriarchal beauty standard under which women either punish themselves to become smaller or are punished for failing to comply, and the stress of this hurts our health too.
I contributed to this: 16 Tips from Sustainability Experts to Help You Live Greener This Summer
Fashion
Forget fast fashion: slow style pioneers on the clothes they’ve worn for decades
It is estimated that the secondhand or resale market could be bigger than fast fashion within a decade as we become more aware of the social and environmental impact of cheap clothes. And the slow-fashion movement – encouraging people to buy ethically made items of clothing sparingly, repair them when necessary and keep them for life – is growing in popularity. Here, we asked Guardian readers if they were slow fashion pioneers and to share the much-loved items that have been in their wardrobes for years.
A Q&A With Fleabag’s Costume Designer
As a style reporter, I couldn’t help noticing Fleabag’s clothes throughout the season. It’s not a show about fashion — the way, say, Sex in the City or Girls was. Most of the scenes rely heavily on tight camera shots, actually making it tricky to spot the full ensembles. But when you catch a glimpse of a head-to-toe look, you will see that the clothing is actually really good. It’s chic in a wait-I-would-actually-wear-that way.
Do We Really Need Any More Sustainable Fashion Brands?
It wasn’t that Bédat gave up on her dream of making the fashion industry more ethical and sustainable, and it wasn’t that the brand was struggling financially. It was just that Bédat had become convinced that if she wanted to facilitate real change, she should pursue it another way.
H&M called out on “illegal” sustainability marketing
In particular, the CA, in close collaboration with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), claims H&M’s portrayal of its collection’s sustainability credentials breaches Norwegian marketing laws and alleges that the brand uses symbols, statements and colour to mislead buyers.
Religion & Ethics
These Millennials Got New Roommates. They’re Nuns.
Yet for small pockets of the young, urban and progressive, the convent is calling. Their radical politics took them all the way around and back to the Catholic Church
Cool Kickstarter: The Philadelphia Eleven
Eleven women were ordained Episcopal priests against church rules in Philadelphia in 1974. They hit a chord, in a deeply divided world, by questioning who speaks the word of God. The media caught on, and the women priests were thrust into an international limelight. In 1975 four more women were ordained priests. At the time of the ordinations, the women were on a personal journey of faith. Each woman had to decide how to live out her priesthood in the face of an institution that did not accept her.
Updates
I started an Ethical Freelancers & Bloggers Union to be transparent about our rates in the interest of collective bargaining. Solidarity forever!
Leah Wise is the founder of StyleWise Blog. She has been writing, speaking, and consulting on sustainable fashion, the fair trade and secondhand supply chain, and digital marketing for over ten years. An Episcopal priest, Leah holds a B.A. in Religion from Florida State University and an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School. When not working, you can find her looking for treasures at the thrift store.