
Wearing The Meghan Cutout Heel in Cheetah Calf Hair
What does shopping ethically mean to you?
For me, it boils down to consideration. I have really intertwined slow fashion with my approach to curating an ethical wardrobe. It means every purchase I make takes months, not seconds. Who made this garment or accessory? Is this the most ethical option for a piece I know I will wear? Can I see myself wearing it on repeat, for at least 30 wears? Do I truly require this item? I think ethically shopping—ensuring that garments are made with fair paid labour in safe working conditions—is more than that narrow definition, and also encompasses the ethics of owning more clothing. Another pair of shoes. That bag you just have to have.How did you make the transition to slow fashion?
I started when I was 18, when I was introduced to Nokomis, an entirely Canadian designed and produced shop that used to reside on Whyte Ave. I learned the value of a quality garment and the importance of investing in your wardrobe. I feel lucky because when I first started buying my own clothing as a young adult, I learned very quickly how to save up, decide what is essential and a re-wear a piece without it losing its initial lustre. I owe so much of who I am to that shop and the values it instilled in me.
Wearing The Meghan Cutout Heel in Cheetah Calf Hair
How do you justify the price point of slow fashion?
I think I consume a lot less fashion than most would assume. I typically buy a handful of pieces a year. The price, while a significant hurdle and a mark of the ongoing privilege within the slow fashion community, has become manageable since the cost per wear is relatively low, and the quantity of purchases I make per year is low.Why do you shop ethically?
Because someone is always paying for it. I think we have the luxury of being removed from that reality in Canada, but logically if fabric on a bolt costs X amount and a t-shirt is being sold for less than the raw material, you need to acknowledge that somewhere in that supply chain someone is absorbing that burden so you can wear a cheap $5 t-shirt. And I have the privilege to choose better, to ask brands to do better, to vote with my dollars for an industry that pays everyone fairly throughout the supply chain for their labour and effort. Fashion should never be prioritized above the basic human rights and needs of another human being. It’s as simple as that.
Wearing The Meghan Cutout Heel in Cheetah Calf Hair