Jul 18

Jul 18 Bird + Stone || Jewelry for a Better World

Travel has a way of changing everything; of inspiring and broadening perspective. I remember coming back home from a trip to Kenya when I was 16 with an intense awareness of the privilege of my culture and the injustices that plague most of our globe. Sure, I wasn't there for months, but in my short stint across the world, I became painfully aware of need and was filled with a desire to do something about it when I arrived home.

The problem was, I didn't. My flame burnt out over the excitement of senior year of high school and my focus shifted away from the women I had met on my trip and towards the immediacy (and convenience) of my own life.

Jul 6

Jul 6 Liz Alig || Effortlessly Fair Trade

Olivia Youngs

Slow Fashion

Effortless. Transparent. Slow. Fair.

These are only a few of the words that Liz Alig uses to describe their business model. If there was a brand to value all aspects of ethical, sustainable, and slow fashion equally, they would be it.

I first heard of Liz Alig very soon after my commitment to shop ethically well over a year ago. At the time, even with my limited knowledge of what ethical, sustainable fashion really was, I was impressed with their commitment to creating ethical fashion that was actually (gasp...) fashionable. Their designs are far from boring and are meant to be worn comfortably, in your real day to day life.

Jul 2

Jul 2 Karton || Cardboard Reimagined

Olivia Youngs

Simple Home, Slow Fashion

If you've been following along on SL&Co.'s social media for the past few months, you'll know that my family and I are right in the middle of packing up everything we own, downsizing, and moving to a small town in the mountains of Colorado. It's been a busy phase, but I can't stop thinking about our new house/condo/apartment (to be determined...) and how I want to decorate it with so much more intention than in our previous homes.

As I journey into slow living, I've realized that ethical shopping and sustainable living applies even in the pieces I choose to fill my home with. Although decorating sustainably and ethical takes more time, money, and research than just going to Target and buying a new rug, it immediately fills your home with literal culture, value, and stories, without costing the environment.

Jun 29

Jun 29 An Ever Growing List of Ethical Lingerie Retailers

Olivia Youngs

Slow Fashion

A few weeks ago I shared about the one time I shopped at Victoria's Secret and the subsequent guilt I felt as an ethical fashion advocate and simultaneous relief I felt as a consumer upon finding a bra that fit the way I wanted it to. After sharing my story and hearing the (many) responses echoing my feelings, I was a bit saddened by the lack of availability of ethically made lingerie. It's one of the most basic garments, but for many different reasons, finding ethically made bras and lingerie is a struggle for SO many ladies out there (myself included).

Deep down, I know that a list can't solve all of our problems, (you'll be hard-pressed to convince me that they can't help ;) but I thought that curating my own resource of brands who are, in fact, making ethical and sustainable lingerie, would make the search at least a bit less daunting.

Jun 26

Jun 26 MATTER Prints || Slow Sustainability

Olivia Youngs

Slow Fashion

By now, you're probably no stranger to MATTER Prints. Their beautiful pieces have made a few appearances on SL&Co, as well as many of my favorite fellow slow fashion blogs across the blogosphere. But, although these posts are thus far sponsored by MATTER, I assure that the hype surrounding this Singapore-based brand is all true. As I've worked with the brand on several blog posts, reviewed their pieces, and used them in real life (often — my MATTER pieces are some of the most worn and loved in my closet), I never cease to be inspired by their commitment to doing things in a truly slow, ethical, innovative, and creative way.

Jun 21

Jun 21 Dear Slow Fashion || 7 Things I've Learned In A Year Of Ethical Shopping

Olivia Youngs

Slow Fashion

Dear ethical fashion movement (slow fashion movement, fashion revolution, whatever you'd like to call yourself),

This is for you.

I've been "a part of you" for an entire year now. 365 days of shopping ethically (or not shopping at all). In that short amount of time, I've gone from overwhelmed consumer to passionate advocate to frustrated influencer to "veteran" participant. I began my journey understanding almost nothing about ethical fashion, only that I hoped it was "real" and that it could make a true difference in my life and the lives of the people making my clothes.