Nov 6

Nov 6 6 Simple Ways To Lead A More Sustainable Life, Even When You're Unmotivated

I'll be completely honest: ever since we moved, I've found it incredibly difficult to prioritize sustainability in my day to day life. The act of moving to a new home is such a wasteful process in itself (the endless boxes and bubble wrap and back and forth and throwing away) that I essentially tossed the mindset, giving myself a bit of (necessary) grace until we slowly settled in our new home.

But how long does said "grace period" last? It's been nearly three months and although we're technically "settled," my mindset about my daily habits hasn't shifted much. If I'm being totally honest (which I like to be, mostly) I'm feeling abnormally unmotivated to put in the work it takes to downsize waste and live consciously. I feel like I'm in a bit of an "eco-slump" when it comes to things like recycling, plastic elimination, and everything else it takes to live sustainably.

Oct 30

Oct 30 Daub | Active || Meet the Founder

Olivia Youngs

Slow Fashion

Last month, I shared about a small-batch activewear brand out of Vancouver called Daub | Active. I received two pairs of her leggings and a mesh tank top for the post, but, aside from my (of course) highly positive review of Lexi's products, it's always my goal to take you a little bit deeper than "how do they fit" and "where were they made".

As part of a three-post series on the brand, I'm so excited to share an interview with the founder, designer, and one-woman-show behind both Daub | Active and Daub + Design. Lexi is incredibly intentional with the way she structures and runs her businesses and her interview is proof of just how much work (and extra expense) it can be to keep your brand ethical.

She talks about whether or not "eco-friendly" is really possible in the fashion industry, tips for new business owners and dreamers, and the importance of self-care. Enjoy!

Oct 19

Oct 19 My Fight || Bridging The Gap For Women Fighting For Fairness

Olivia Youngs

Slow Fashion

Last week I wrote about Bird + Stone and their new campaign in support of girls' education around the world. It made me realize that although sexism is pervasive in almost every country on the planet, more and more, brands, non-profits, and communities are realizing just how important empowering women is for growth. Not just for an individual, but for an entire community, nation, and the world as a whole.

Women are the cornerstone, the fabric, the makers that hold families (and, therefore, nations) together, and some communities (some more than others) are learning the value of empowering, employing, and involving the women around them in ways that not only give the women a purpose and reason to fight but ways that benefit people far beyond their reach.

Oct 17

Oct 17 B-Corp Certified || What It Means And Why It Matters

Olivia Youngs

Slow Fashion, Slow Living

One of the most common phrases I hear from skeptics and band-wagon-jumpers alike when it comes to ethical shopping and the way brand's produce is "how do you know?"

How do you know the brand really knows who makes their products and what their waste/use ratio is and where their fabric is sourced?

How can you trust a brand when they use the words "ethical" and "transparent" and "supply chain" in their bio but don't have other evidence to back up their claims? I've worked with brands and shopped from brands in the past who claimed to be "USA made" or "sustainable" but, really, how can you trust what you read on a brand's website?

Oct 11

Oct 11 Educate a Girl, Empower a Nation || Jewelry for Education with Bird + Stone

Olivia Youngs

Slow Fashion, Motherhood

Evie, my oldest, is on the cusp of a new adventure: preschool. Since we moved at the beginning of the school year, she'll likely wait until Winter to start officially, as her mama, I'm a bundle of mixed emotions about it.

I'm excited for the new friends she'll meet. Will she get in time-out for forgetting to include everyone and playing only with her "best friend" as I did in preschool? Or will she be the leader, simultaneously getting other kids in trouble and defending them?

I'm excited to have a little extra freedom. Of course, Mara will still be home with me, but the thought of having even a few hours a day to work/clean/plan/sleep/eat/write without TWO kids tugging at my pant leg? It sounds pretty glorious.

Oct 9

Oct 9 Mimi Miller || Classics Over Trends

Olivia Youngs

Slow Fashion

Fun fact: my maiden name is Miller- and my daughters call my mom "Mimi" so, when I first heard about a small, Washington D.C. based slow fashion brand called Mimi Miller, I was instantly intrigued (and put one of their pieces on my to-buy list for my mama).

Upon further investigation, I learned that the brand was named after its founder, Mimi, and that she sources, cuts, sews, and sells each piece out of her home office, all on her own. Talk about an inspiring fempreneur.

Although Mimi has released several collections since I first started following her brand, her current Fall/Winter collection is my favorite yet.

Mimi relies on a "classic over trend" mentality, which, coincidentally, is a topic I've been thinking a lot about lately. The fast fashion industry thrives on trends. In fact, they've created countless "mini-seasons" with new collections released monthly or even weekly, to keep consumers constantly running back for the newest, trendiest thing.

Unfortunately, some slow fashion brands fall prey to the "trend" phenomenon, but the brands that become my long-term favorites are the ones that rely on classic, timeless fashion silhouettes and statements over fleeting trends that will be in this week and out the next.