Todays post comes from the continually insightful Leah of StyleWise Blog. In the ethical living world she’s a wonderfully articulate, innovative and helpful voice – I always love reading her perspectives and ideas. I thought this piece in particular was helpful for those of you who are trying to transition away from fast fashion, but find it hard to leave the high street.
Below are her words…
So far in my “Brands that Are Better…” series, I’ve covered power players Old Navy, Forever 21, ModCloth, and Free People. I have ideas in the works for Anthropologie and Madewell, but those will take some time and research, so I went the easy route today and decided to cover Urban Outfitters.
Urban Outfitters is easy not because there are hundreds of ethical companies with similar aesthetics, but because they have their own in-house line comprised of upcycled clothing.
The Urban Renewal Collection is comprised of original vintage, upcycled and reworked vintage, and domestically produced items made with deadstock fabrics. As some of you know, I am a huge proponent of incorporating vintage and upcycled garments into one’s wardrobe. The prints of the 60s and 70s, the silhouettes of the 80s, the girl power of the 90s – no matter which direction you go, when combined with contemporary favorites, you end up with a style that is all your own.
Urban Outfitters has an aesthetic advantage over other popular fashion companies, because their items have always fallen a bit on the vintage, grunge side of the spectrum. This has allowed them the freedom to dream up upcycled goods that revel in their originality and imperfection. I know this won’t be everyone’s style, but maybe you’ve got a little room in your heart for experimentation this coming season?
[Sidenote from Fran: if you’re an Urban Outfitters fan this is also probably a good way to buy from them and not engage in cultural appropriation]
Here are some of my favorites from the Urban Renewal Collection:
Recycled Frayed Levi’s Jeans, $69.00 | Cropped Frayed Work Pant, $49.00
To see more recommendations and alternative brands, continue reading here
Until next time, stay magic y’all.
