I don’t know about you, but I love outerwear. I think it’s so easy to throw on and instantly make an outfit look cuter. For example: a tee shirt and jeans with a moto jacket? Fashion gold. A silk cami with levi’s and a cardigan? Another classic.
This jacket? Another piece in my growing outerwear collection. You know what’s even better? It’s produced ethically by Laura Siegel, a collection made for the globally conscious woman.
Straight from her website:
Our team employs artisans from rural villages all over the world to sustain traditional cultures and crafts. Along with ensuring ethical working conditions and living wages are provided to the skilled artisans, we collaborate with organizations to ensure they receive mentorship and workshops to learn how to maintain practicing their craft, provide for their families, education on wealth management, business practices and more. We firmly believe the hand can produce something beautiful that machines will never be able to, no matter the technology. Thus, we eliminate heavy energy consumption and the resulting pollutants that disperse into the environment of these communities.
What does it mean to be globally conscious?
This means that you are aware of others around the world and an understanding of the issues and concepts that impact them. In order to be globally conscious, you have to be globally aware and somwhat able to see the world from other cultural perspectives.
Ethical Fashion and Its Impacts
If you haven’t seen the documentary The True Cost, I highly recommend it. It focuses on the global impact of “Fast Fashion.” It’s currently on Netflix for those who are interested in watching.
After watching, my image of the world, specifically in the fashion world shifted. While I may not be able to always consider the global impact of my purchasing dollar (I simply don’t have enough dollars for that all the time) it definitely impacted how much I buy and the brands I prefer to buy from.
This is one of the many reasons that I now buy many of my clothes secondhand. If you’re ballin’ on a budget and want to help the fashion industry, buying clothes secondhand can have a major impact. Every item you buy secondhand is another that doesn’t go to waste; it’s another item that doesn’t get shipped back overseas into a wasteland of clothes that will never be used again. (Watch the documentary. This will make sense.)
Why it’s important
We live in an overpopulated world with many people who live in total poverty while others live in luxury. I think, to consider yourself a citizen of the world, it’s imperative to think of others from another perspective.
It doesn’t have to be a huge dent in your wallet; many brands are starting to provide more transparency in their production (check out Everlane!) without breaking the bank.
Don’t feel bad if you want to get something from a less socially responsible company; sometimes I’m tempted too. But just remember, your dollar has purchasing power that can enact change. You have the power to make a difference.
