the video includes my experience with thrifting and what i have learned in college about the positive environmental impacts of thrifting. i explain specific facts about textiles and clothes ending up in landfills, creating excess waste on our earth. i also explain my personal relationship with thrifting and how it has helped with my anxiety and friendships. i show my friends in their favorite thrifted outfits and conclude by saying that thrifting is not only good for the environment, but great for the soul.

music by goosetaf – bumblebee – https://thmatc.co/?l=d1299737

“i was young,” perise remembered. “the noises, the movements, the fastness of the waves — all scared me.”

at the time, perise never would have imagined that he’d dedicate his life to protecting the ocean. a decade later, perise is now inspiring a movement in his hometown of buea, cameroon, to combat plastic pollution and protect the ocean.

growing up, perise noticed that his hometown had a lot of problems with plastic waste.

“i saw plastic pollution everywhere,” perise said.

plastic pollution is an issue prevalent all throughout cameroon, since cameroon as a whole has a poor waste management system, perise says. because his area lacks strong waste management, perise observes massive piles of plastic in his neighbors’ yards, on the side of the road, and even clogging waterways. 

wanting to make a change, perise’s first move was one that seemed daunting for a single person, but perhaps also the most practical: picking up the plastic waste in his community. perise hopped door to door in his community, collecting thousands of plastic bottles from the streets.

perise sends most of this plastic to his local plastic collection agency. in more recent years, though, he’s found more creative ways to repurpose the thousands of bottles he collects. through the parallel projects, last year perise brought 3,000 plastic bottles to douala, cameroon, to help construct an ecoboat with the nonprofit madiba and nature. mabida specializes in repurposing plastic bottles to create usable boats, donating them to local fishermen.

perise’s plastic collection efforts have not gone unnoticed in his community, and locals even call him the “plastic man.” perise’s goal is not just to collect plastic in his community, but also to educate his community on plastic pollution and build a mass movement to improve cameroon’s waste practices. for the past few years, perise has visited local schools to deliver presentations on plastic pollution and ocean conservation.

perise finds that education is a key link to making change in his community. 

“raise awareness in the communities, then they will want to put pressure on the governments,” perise said.

through education, perise has developed a mass movement of locals who want to see better waste management practices in their community. they understand that recycling and consuming less plastic are only small portions of the solution, as there needs to be structural changes made by governments as well.

“the plastic pollution crisis in cameroon is far from just a lot of people consuming plastic,” perise emphasized.

unexpectedly, perise’s audience has reached far beyond his local town of buea. several of perise’s photos of plastic pollution in cameroon have blown up on social media. perise believes that only minimal attention has been given to cameroon’s plastic pollution because photos of the crisis have not reached the internet. perise is vocal on social media about the environmental issues that his country faces, in hopes to draw more attention to cameroon and to inspire other young people to start similar movements in their communities.

perise is an active member of the environmental nonprofits greening forward and thinkocean, two organizations that seek to foster a movement of youth from around the world who are passionate about the environment. (in full disclosure, perise is also a friend and colleague of the author in the organization thinkocean.) perise’s story has become so inspiring that for the un world oceans day event this year, perise presented as a keynote speaker alongside some of the world’s most famous environmentalists like bill mckibben and jean-michel cousteau.

despite the global recognition and opportunities he recently has received, perise knows he wants to stick to environmental advocacy in cameroon in the long run. his goal in the future is to work more directly with the cameroonian government to ensure the structural changes in environmental and waste management that his country needs, such as creating more plastic recycling facilities and banning plastic packaging.

until then, perise plans to further expand his local grassroots movement against plastic pollution, in addition to inspiring young leaders around the world to the same.

perise’s rule-of-thumb is this: “if you’re passionate about something, connect with like-minded people around you.”

the not for profit business model of magpies & peacocks is worth talking about because it could be the future of the fashion industry if we properly use the power of our paychecks. if more shoppers supported companies who followed sustainable practices, the demand will increase, and companies and businesses will follow that demand. if we come together and expect more of those whom we give our hard-earned money to i truly believe we can help shape a happier humanity and a healthier planet.

the united states generated 6.3 metric tons of electronic waste in 2016, according to the latest installment of the global e-waste monitor. the amount of electronics we discard is second only to china.

electronic waste, or e-waste, is expected to be a growing problem as the rate of technological development continues to increase. e-waste includes discarded phones, computers, tablets, music players, printers, cds, tapes, wires, and other items that require electricity to function.

discarding electronics means discarding valuable metals such as aluminum, copper, silver, and even gold. according to the global e-waste monitor, global e-waste was valued at more than $60 billion. yet, only 20% of that waste is being disposed of properly, meaning most of that value is lost.

while e-waste constitutes a small portion of the waste that is ultimately found in landfills, it is responsible for the majority of hazardous waste. electronics such as television monitors and computers are often latent with mercury, lead, and other harmful substances.

“that tiny percentage makes up the vast majority of what is dangerous to the environment. that’s why it’s so important to eliminate as much e-waste from going to landfills as possible,” says nate mulliner, director of business development at e-asset solutions computer and electronics recycling.

e-asset solutions, based in the washington, d.c. suburb of falls church, virginia, is one of many businesses working to reduce e-waste by refurbishing discarded items and recycling parts.

if you have a tendency to hoard your old electronics in an untouched dresser drawer, mulliner recommends taking those items to be recycled before they become obsolete.

“first and foremost, stockpiling is a better option obviously than just getting rid of it,” mulliner says. “please do that. if you have one choice of either stockpiling it or throwing it away, stockpile it. but, you don’t want to do that for too long either.

“you don’t want to stockpile things until the best methods of recycling them go out of practice,” he says. “you go to recycle something that someone has a lot of practice recycling, that method is a lot faster, more streamlined, less invasive.”

mulliner recommends finding a local electronics recycler who is certified by one of two governing bodies within the industry: r2 or e-stewards. these certifications ensure that companies are using best practices for the planet, while also prioritizing one of the trickier elements of electronic recycling: data security.

“data security is paramount, for our actual legal liability and for your safety,” mulliner says. “especially in this day and age when things like digital identity can be stolen so easily, it’s extremely important to properly get that taken care of.”

in compliance with r2 certification, every hard drive, cell phone, cd or other data-containing device is wiped clean in the first step of processing at e-asset solutions. if you are uncertain about a recycler’s data destruction policy, there are ways to protect your information before handing it over.

“for a lot of things with a solid-state hard drive, like an iphone or an ipad, especially apple products, the factory reset is 99.99% effective,” mulliner says. “for anything with a hard drive, i would recommend some level of data destruction and you don’t have to go to an expert person to do that. there are wiping software programs you can download for free that are just as effective as something we would use.”

certification guidelines also prevent electronic recyclers from taking hazardous waste to landfills or exporting it overseas. this addresses an important issue. much of the world’s recycling waste was sent to china until the country started imposing bans on waste imports in 2018. unregulated and unsafe electronics recycling practices had previously caused staggering rates of cancer-causing toxins in certain areas of the country. while the chinese government attempts to control this humanitarian issue, southeast asia is at risk of taking on the world’s excess of hazardous material if waste is not handled responsibly.

the history

the idea of sustainable fashion has been around for decades, sprouting from rationing during both world wars. to conserve materials for soldiers, governments asked their citizens to trim dresses short and donate unwanted clothes for the military. 

it landed in the spotlight during the 1980’s when companies like patagonia and espirit gained notoriety for making clothing out of recycled polyesters and organic cotton. 

fast fashion: the enemy of sustainable fashion

fast fashion is considered to be the status quo of how the fashion industry is run, which is exemplified by companies like h&m and zara that sell their clothes for extremely low prices and change styles quickly. traditional clothing companies cut costs and are concerned more about the economic bottom line than the health of the environment. it is important to remember that buying cheap comes at a high cost for the environment and laborers. 

according to unesco, some chinese laborers that are hired by these large clothing companies are paid just 12 cents an hour for their work. in addition to the negative human impacts, the industry also requires toxic dyes and pesticides to produce the products due to the speed of which it runs. zara uses a rapid five-week cycle to design, manufacture and then sell new clothing products. if the products do not sell they often times end up in the landfill. 

the independent reported in november 2017 that workers in istanbul’s bravo tekstil factory, which makes clothes for zara, sewed pleas for help in the clothing that they were making. according to the article, factory laborers were fed up with working conditions but were scared of speaking up because of fears of getting fired.

the notion of consumerism goes hand-in-hand with fast fashion. as fashion trends evolve, so does the public’s appetite for purchasing new clothes. patagonia founder yvon chouinard is famous for an ad campaign that was printed in the new york times that showed an image of a patagonia jacket with the statement “do not buy this jacket” written in bold letters. the message was intended to encourage people to think about what they purchase and only buy clothing when they absolutely need it.

remedies for fast fashion

one of the simplest actions that you can take to limit your carbon footprint is to donate old or worn down clothes to thrift stores or charities. this way, it gives clothes a second life for those individuals that actually need it. you also may want to think about giving clothes that do not fit to friends and family.

another way to function in the sustainable fashion model is to buy clothes from thrift stores. not only are thrift stores much cheaper than buying new clothes from high fashion brands, but you also will be giving clothes a second chance. consequentially many of the clothes that are sold at thrift stores are no longer made in circulation. meaning that the piece that you purchase will be individual and can add a little swagger!

there is a movement in high fashion to create trendy articles of clothing out of recycled or sustainable materials. designer ryan jude novelline designed a ballroom gown made out of old children’s books. lucy tammam is a designer who creates beautiful bridal wear with just silk and organic cotton. 

clothing to look out for while shopping

if you have no appeal to high fashion or are just too strapped for cash, there are other sustainable fashion options on the market.

adidas has partnered with parley, an organization that salvages plastic from the ocean, to make shoes, shirts, and socks. the plastic that otherwise would infiltrate marine life digestive tracts is now being turned into clothing through the initiative. some major european soccer teams that are sponsored by adidas have worn recycled jerseys in competitive matches. 

another option is the shoe brand all-birds, which have become quite popular. their sleek design, relatively inexpensive price, and environmentally friendly materials will show your friends that you are sustainably conscience while also being fashionable. the sneakers are made up of recycled plastics, cardboard, organic wool and castor bean oil (an alternative to harmful oils). 

questions to consider 

how often do you shop for clothing?

would you rather have expensive but durable clothing or cheap but flimsy clothing?

what are your thoughts on using recycled materials to make a fashion statement?

considering the facts about fast fashion, how does your favorite brand of clothing compare to others in terms of their consciousness of the environment?

***

q&a with sustainable shoe designer louis d’arienzo

louis d’arienzo designs sustainable shoes with a company called florent belda in porto, portugal. here is what he had to say about sustainable fashion:

q: what does sustainable fashion mean to you?

a: sustainable is a very broad term that is often misused. for me, my business and my product it is making the lowest environmental impact i possibly can from the materials i use to the partners i work with; how they practice and promote better ways of making for the planet and the people they employ.

q: sustainability also has the long term in mind. what happens when the product’s life is over? are the processes and ingredients using natural resources and at the same time not depleting those resources and maintaining balance?

a: right now i try to use a mix of recycled and biodegradable materials wherever absolutely possible.

q: where did you get your start in sustainable manufacturing?

a: i have always tried to implement the use of less damaging materials and methods for all of the companies i have had the pleasure of working for. when i decided to launch my own collection of footwear i knew it needed to be borne with this ethos.

if you start from the beginning with this mindset and approach, while challenging and at times limiting, you are able to make it a part of your dna. it forces you not to stray.

q: what/who influenced you to start manufacturing sustainable sneakers?

a: the state our planet is in! it made no sense whatsoever to put a new product out on the market that didn’t acknowledge the damage that is being done. it was my obligation.

q: what are your products made out of (and where do the resources come from)?

a: i use vegetable tanned leather and lining for my uppers that use no chromium or heavy metals in the tanning process that can gravely pollute the water table. i found a sole manufacturer in portugal that produces soles made from up to 70% internally recycled waste material. the inner workings and structural parts use cork, cardboard and biodegradable components. we are partly using 100%rpet thread (polyester) from plastic beverage bottles.  all of our adhesives are water-based avoiding volatile solvents that can be hazardous for the people working with them.

q: you mention pursuing the higg index in your business model, can you talk a little bit about what those guidelines mean?

a: the higg index was initiated by the sustainable apparel coalition. it essentially provides the tools for a company to measure its product’s or facility’s sustainability performance. it is designed to promote better practice during the sustainability journey.  it is not designed to fail, but to encourage and guide.

q: why do you think it is so important to pay your laborers a fair, living wage?

a: all humans have inherent dignity and should be treated and compensated fairly. right now i have no employees but this is a conversation i’ve had with my shoe factory who upholds the highest standards of inclusiveness and fairness.

q: why portugal?

a: portugal has always held a respected tradition of shoe and leather goods manufacturing. in the past 15 years they have really come to the forefront of quality, reliable product with an artisanal hand. more and more companies from the luxury sector to start-ups are turning their attention to portugal. portugal is also a very progressive country environmentally and socially.

q: how do you reconcile leaving your post as a designer for high-end fashion markets?

a: i actually still work as a design consultant in the luxury sector for a well known milanese fashion house.

q: what is your goal for the sneaker company?

a: to continue building and nurturing my business expanding into more product category while respecting the environment and being true to my message. i look forward to taking part in more rewarding collaborations supporting and empowering people and communities that need it most.

q: what do you want to see come out of the sustainable fashion model?

a: i believe in sharing our resources, breakthroughs, and successes. the only way forward is to engage and help each other who work in the materials and manufacturing industries. if we are all striving to make every effort to create products that respect the environment our industries will truly become sustainable ones.

q: how do you make the shoes attractive and affordable to middle-class customers?

a: my designs are quite pared down but that doesn’t make the decision making in their design and execution easy. i feel their simplicity makes them accessible yet the detailing and color combinations keep them compelling and rather joyful.

“plastic creates pollution right from when it’s made, and then continues to create pollution,” moore said. “it never goes away.”

moore used the 120 billion disposable coffee cups americans discard annually as an example, citing the clean water action’s rethink disposable program. she explained that alongside the 2.2 billion pounds of waste created by the coffee cups, and the strain on finite resources such as fresh water and trees, this throwaway habit also results in 4 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

the throwaway culture that has developed over the last half-century costs the environment as well as the economy: people discard first-use plastic packaging worth the equivalent of $80 billion to $120 billion annually, according to a report from the ellen macarthur foundation.

furthermore, environmental damages caused by plastic pollution, along with the greenhouse gases emitted by plastic production, cost at least $40 billion annually, according to the report.

so how do we counteract all this waste? the report offered the circular economy as the solution to plastic waste in all sectors. the circular economy’s mission is to move society away from its current reliance on disposability and unsustainable resources by redesigning products and systems in order to minimize waste and pollution.

“if we turn off the tap of plastic production, use, and waste management, we’re only left with real materials — reusables that can be used an infinite amounts of times,” moore said.

moore explained that addressing the production, distribution, and widespread use of plastic is crucial in order to make a long-term impact on both plastic pollution and climate change.

while recovery measures such as cleanups and recycling are important, they are “band-aid solutions” that don’t address the root of the problem, moore said. “you can’t get all (of the plastic) out if it keeps coming in.”

“only 9% of plastic ever created has been recycled,” moore said. “we are overflowing with plastic. recycling is not enough.”

mike schoniger, a business owner who oversees the loading and unloading of shipping containers in the port of los angeles, witnessed the limits of recycling firsthand, explaining that the “sheer volume” of recyclables is the issue. he said that because the united states lacks recycling centers, and china has refused to continue receiving and processing recyclables from the west, materials are now stacking up in shipping containers with nowhere to go.

“i’ve seen trash trucks picking (the recyclables) back up and taking them to (a) landfill,” schoniger said.

to mitigate the recycling backlog, the u.s. has started exporting recyclables to india, vietnam, malaysia, and indonesia, the new york times reports. schoniger warned that these nations do not have the infrastructure to deal with the influx of materials, and worried that it will result in illegal dumping.

“i don’t think their environment can tolerate it,” he said of the countries chosen to bear the burden of america’s waste.

“we all just think as far as the curb. we as consumers look away from our problems,” schoniger said.

moore said she knows that when it comes to plastic waste, out of sight should not mean out of mind, and that she fears the trash our species has accumulated so far “will become a layer in the earth, and (a) mark in history of when we didn’t know better.”

at upstream, moore works to stop issues like the recycling overload through measures that “stop trash at its source.” upstream works with venues, corporations, communities, and individuals to institute the circular economy on three levels: throwaway free places, throwaway free communities, and throwaway free living.

moore’s awareness of the far-reaching impacts of manmade trash began with her upbringing in staten island, new york, where, “you can’t walk on the beach without shoes because there’s so much trash,” she said.

now, at upstream, she co-leads the united states’ branch of a #breakfreefromplastic working group, recruiting new partners and orchestrating the vast web of organizations connected to solving the plastic crisis.

moore said the organizations she collaborates with “range from people working on the frontlines fighting oil production to people working (on the issue of) microplastics.”

moore explained that this multifaceted approach is crucial because every problem plastics cause is interconnected. she emphasized the importance of “collaborating to amplify each other’s stories.”

“we are all fighting the same fight. stopping a pipeline in louisiana is going to stop plastic waste in the philippines,” she said.

a recent victory that upstream collaborated on was the development of a disposable-free dining ordinance that will make berkeley, california, a leader in establishing throwaway free communities. the ordinance requires all takeout containers to be compostable and all dine-in dishes and cutlery to be reusable, while also adding a quarter surcharge to every disposable coffee cup to incentivize people to bring their own cups.

moore said she hopes to develop a widespread “culture change” that will shift people’s relationships with the items they use.

“i believe humans are incredibly adaptable. if all single-use plastics were banned, humans would adapt in a week and it would become the new normal,” moore said.

moore is raising her five-year-old daughter to embrace a waste-free future. she and her daughter buy groceries in bulk, use cloth napkins, and make their own toothpaste in mason jars.

“being throwaway-free is completely normal to her,” moore said of her daughter.

when asked what her biggest hope is for the world her daughter will be inheriting, moore answered immediately.

“i would love if she could walk on the beach and not see plastic.”

according to the “zero waste” perspective, literally everything created, used, and discarded can be recovered through recycling, compost, reuse, or donation. the movement centers around three goals: diverting waste from landfills, educating the community, and assisting those in need.

programs vary in size and structure. most zero waste move out programs divert 5 to 65 tons of waste from landfills yearly, leading to cost savings and fundraising.

discarded items are often similar to those purchased by incoming students. according to the national retail federation, the typical first-year college student spends $300-$400 outfitting their dorm room. students can experience significant savings by purchasing these items at move-out drives where discounts are 50% or greater.

in 2016, ohio university diverted 20 tons of reusable furniture and household items and four tons of food. the food drive helped over 800 local families avoid hunger that summer. california state university east bay repurposed hundreds of bed mats for the homeless. university of missouri’s move out program raised more than $10,000 to fund summer camps for underprivileged children in columbia.

umass amherst professor arianna moscone said their new2u program has provided an alternative to business-as-usual waste disposal. knox college’s year-round free store has led to 50% waste reduction and over $1,000 savings from hauling alone. a similar program saved harper college $9,300 in office supplies during its first year.

universities structure programs around their target audiences. programs focusing on incoming students might hold onto donated goods until august or install year-round thrift stores. csueb operates a free thrift store because 60% of students are low income.

most institutions serve the surrounding community and operate only in april and may. they gather, inventory, and organize collections during the last three weeks before move-out. campuses often host one to three large sale days and then donate remaining items to charity. others who donate to charity first still raise thousands of dollars.

handling literal tons takes a lot of manpower. universities often log up to 400 volunteer hours. although volunteers are critical, they “are not a reliable resource,” says alec cooley, director of recycling programs for keep america beautiful.

many campuses hire 10-20 student workers to manage the project and assist operations. student volunteers engage participants at dumpster sites, directing them towards donation and recycling stations. volunteers help organize materials and transfer them to central locations.

moscone said undergraduate involvement at umass builds “an engaged network of students who are committed to changing the wasteful, throwaway culture that persists on college campuses. showcasing how much is thrown away that can be reused affects decision making and living practices while benefiting everyone.” university of wisconsin-madison and ursinus college drastically improved student involvement by integrating move-out into coursework.

colorado state university found that investing in staffing directly increases diversion results. although labor is the largest expense for programs such as colorado state, these costs are offset or completely covered by savings and revenue from sale events.

community partnership is foundational because these organizations deliver large volumes of goods from the program to those in need. partners assist the organization, execution, and visibility at every level.

a large portion of start-up costs typically go towards marketing. puget sound’s initial budget was spent entirely on one-time physical advertisements. due to its marketing success, the puget sound’s budget has grown and is now spent on other expenses.

the most successful programs take advantage of all media channels, including mass emails, social media, radio, television, signs and flyers. ohio university partnered with a best-selling pizza restaurant to turn pizza boxes into 5,000 additional advertisements.

pilot project budgets range from $500 to $7,000. budgets often grow after results are calculated and profits from the previous year are applied. many projects find additional funding through state or university grants. stacey white credits the successful diversion of 35 tons at the university of minnesota to a $15,000 grant.

university of missouri claims that 95% of the work occurs during the last three weeks. however, for most programs planning often begins in february. coordinators select sites for donation stations and sale events. they contact stakeholders and partners throughout march and establish involvement and needs. training occurs in april after student leaders are hired and volunteers are recruited.

the last three weeks are filled with facility prepping and establishing donation stations, and intense marketing starts two weeks before sales. they often add action items for programs that have august sales.

success ultimately depends on cooperation, communication, and dedication. each program is built upon interaction within a web of stakeholders: housing, waste management, facilities, sustainability office, community organizations, the city and, of course, the public.

cooley said move-out programs can fail when stakeholders avoid special operations, are spatially restricted, or disregard such movements as low priority. student program manager marcella heineke provided advice: “focus on the main goal, the resale, and do not get caught up in the bureaucracy of school politics.”

alicia lavaute from the sustainability office at missouri adds that all parties must be engaged with the project, know their role, and follow through.

interaction with the public is the cornerstone to a move-out program’s success. the theory of planned behavior suggests people are most affected by the time required to act sustainably, followed by convenience and cost.

university of wisconsin and university of iowa promote self-efficacy using posters that display program achievement, donation locations, and acceptable products. coastal carolina university’s bold graphics direct participants to 25 portable on-demand storage units, assist workers with organization and inventory, and help shoppers navigate the sale. they also offer incentives such as t-shirts and reusable water bottles.

overall, the best move-out programs promote environmental awareness, build shared economies, and support social equity. their results are impactful, fighting hunger and poverty. the best programs are well-scheduled, quickly implemented, scalable and self-sustaining.

knox college’s free store manager ramona vanriper says move out programs “establish a culture wherein resource stewardship is habitual. excitement and engagement increases with participation.”

a bike is an economical and environmentally sustainable mode of transportation, and one that can enhance the productivity of low-income people affordably and quickly. over the course of ten years, the organization has collected and reused three-million pounds of steel and aluminum, half-million tubes and tires, and four-and-half-million spokes from going to the waste stream. the organization has helped bring over 100,000 bikes to low-income nations.

not only does bikes for the world endorse the message of recycling, but it does so in a way to benefit others that are far less fortunate. as bikes are the most-sustainable mode of transportation, each bike can help save the environment and transform a life. a bike can get someone where they need to be four times faster than walking; therefore, allowing a person to seek out more jobs by lengthening their radius.  

bikes for the world is one effort that is making a big difference worldwide. the volunteers are passionate about making a more sustainable world by getting more people on bikes. ultimately, by getting more people on bikes, traffic would be reduced. according to the departments of general services, cars produce .97 pounds of pollution per mile annually, while bikes produce none (partlow).  

although, bikes for the world is based out of the washington dc area, the organization has established satellite efforts in pittsburgh, charleston, s.c., and new york. bikes for the world is fueled by volunteers, and is always looking for people to get involved and refurbish the bikes. people are more than welcome to donate their bikes to bikes for the world, or organize their own bike drives for the organization.  

another lesson to be learned is to remember that bikes are the most environmentally-sustainable mode of transportation. if you want to help make a difference in the environment, start riding a bike. not only are you helping the environment, but you are saving money and getting places fast. bikes for the world takes advantage of this, and gets more people in low-income areas specifically, riding bikes to better their lives and the world.

all of cross’ dresses are handmade and designed to flatter all feminine shapes. in addition to featuring her own line, she also features clothing and jewelry from over 80 local art makers who sell handmade goods in her shop on 19th street in oakland. field day and friends has been open in oakland since 2012 but cross has been designing her line for over 10 years.

cross started sewing as a teenager because she couldn’t find anything to wear.

“it became a political move for me too. being exposed to the suffering and inequality that comes from sweat shop labor. i would hunt for over-sized amazing fabrics from and make a-one-of-a-kind piece for myself that i felt at home in,” she said. part of what fueled her to create her own boutique was the excessive waste in the garment industry.

cross finds her fabrics by doing what she loves best: thrift shopping. “i hunt through a lot of different fabrics, which means that a lot of my stuff is very small batch; there’s a lot of one-of-a-kind or very small runs. we also use only organic cotton that is grown and milled in the u.s.,” said cross. she wanted to make timeless, impeccably crafted clothing from completely conscious materials. her passion for living sustainably does not stop at clothing design either, she also chooses to live her live the same way.

“my neighbor and i bought our two houses and our yards connect and then we have two lots next to us. we didn’t buy the lots; one of them we’re squatting and the other we’re renting. we have chickens, fruit trees and some veggie beds. i also have a fish pond that i use to make compost to fertilize the garden. the fish poop is a good nitrogen-based fertilizer,” said cross.

cross is particularly also in favor of keeping all things local, which means keeping things in the community. she manufactures all of her clothes within the same neighborhood of oakland as her store and really tries to give back her community whenever she can.