It’s Black Friday Season again!
Your inbox is flooded with DEALS, and every brand you’ve ever shopped with has a sale post in your face (UM, we’re guilty of this too).
As a sustainable and ethically produced brand, we recognize the two sides of this cultural phenomenon.
On one hand, the full shadow side of consumerism is on display this weekend, from people getting injured in crowds, fighting in big box stores, to the huge toll this weekend takes on the environment, and for the workers across the globe who are paid less than a living wage (if they're paid at all) to create the goods. Our innate human fear of scarcity gets triggered and we want to make sure WE get the deal even if it means others are hurt in the process. Big brands over produce in anticipation of sales only to discard unsold merch in landfills, and they spend months jacking up their prices to offer the appearance of huge sales this weekend.
Small brands, who often have small margins and are already barely scraping by, either feel devalued by the expectation of discounts or feel forced to participate to take advantage of the rush of sales.
AND, on the other hand, the cost of living in the USA continues to grow year after year while wages remain stagnant. Many people working full time (or more!) are still unable to afford ethically produced clothing even though they would love to. The sales this weekend offer a chance to purchase something they may not have access to otherwise, and gives shoppers a chance to experience a new sustainable brand that they may not have found otherwise.
We love offering sales because it helps make ethical, sustainable clothing more accessible to as many people as possible, so we’re doing our annual Gratitude Sale!
Here are 6 ways to shop ethically this year:
Do you have other ways to shop small to add to the list? Let us know in the comments!