How did you come up with the name of your company?
While growing up in Louisiana, I was always really good at doing what I was told and following the rules and not speaking out for my own opinions, partly because I wanted to keep the peace and partly because my personal opinions on the world had yet to be formed. However, I always felt at my most comfortable expressing myself through clothing. I felt free to be exactly who I wanted whenever I picked out the day’s outfit, especially on the weekend’s since most school’s in Louisiana require uniforms up through High School. And that is where the idea for Untitled Thoughts was born.
Untitled Thoughts represents all of those thoughts roaming around inside your head that you wish you were comfortable enough to speak up about. It represents a desire to show the world who you truly are through the art of clothing and expressing how you feel via the way you put together an outfit. Because no one should be afraid to share their true colors with the world! Everyone has a beauty inside them that they may be hiding and we wish to help women realize how good they can feel and comfortable they can be when they begin to express more of their own Untitled Thoughts.
What inspired you to start a sustainable fashion line?
I have always been incredibly eco-minded, even when I didn’t realize it fully. Growing up, our family was relatively poor. We never really got new things- everything was used, thrifted or handed down to us via family members. I remember my favorite day of the year, every year, would be the day my mom took my brother and myself to the local thrift shop to buy “new” clothing for the upcoming year. It was like Christmas to me. I loved scouring through the racks of items looking for that really unique piece that spoke to my personality at the time.
This love of thrifting has stayed with me over the years and helped to shape my obsession with upcycled garments. It is so important to me that we as a brand really focus on limiting the amount of “new” materials we produce and put out into the world, especially when there is such an overflowing amount of really incredible material already available for us to use. Plus, it’s super chic to wear something no one else has, right?
What is your company’s mission?
We are on a mission to really help shape the name of “Fashion.” For the longest time, we have wanted to show people that you do not have to compromise on design and being stylish when living a more eco-friendly lifestyle. You don’t even have to give up all that you love to become a more conscious consumer. And, while we cannot possibly tackle all of the issues facing sustainability at once, we are on a mission to alleviate some of the pressures that fast fashion & traditional companies place on the earth by personally providing garments that are made from repurposed, recycled or organic materials; Are dedicated to helping out a specific cause such as wildlife preservation, cancer research, etc.; And help those involved in the creation process to earn a solid, living wage that they can put towards their future or the future of their families. Of course, we also promote healthy beauty standards amongst women of all shapes, sizes, nationalities, etc. We truly believe that women can be beautiful at any size, with any skin color, living anywhere in the world!
What is something you wish people knew about sustainable fashion?
I really wish people knew the difference between truly sustainable fashion and fashion that is being marketed as “sustainable” but really isn’t. I know that understanding the difference can be complicated, especially when products are being green washed left and right. However, if you walk into a store and it is labeled as “Organic Tee” but costs less than $10, a few more questions might need to be asked. Because sustainable fashion isn’t JUST about using sustainable goods- it’s also about using sustainable practices in the entire chain, which includes treating workers fairly and paying a livable wage, reducing your Carbon Footprint from start to finish, working with companies who uphold these same values, etc.
What’s the most challenging thing about running a sustainable business?
The most challenging thing about running a sustainable brand is honestly keeping the costs low enough for your product to be affordable to a wide variety of consumers while still maintaining high standards, especially in regards to worker compensation. It’s a juxtaposition working in this industry, because we all understand that the MOST sustainable form of production would be no production at all, yet you obviously cannot run a business or affect change that way. Yet in order to affect such change, we as a brand want to cater to a demographic that doesn’t shop luxury, meaning we don’t want to have huge prices on our clothing, but that contradicts our views on “Less is More.” So honestly, we are in a constant tightrope walk with attempting to keep our prices in a fair spot, allowing multiple demographics to shop or collection, supporting a “Less is More” tagline, sharing input on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle, all while providing a decent, livable wage to our seamstresses: It’s kind of insane to be juggling so much!
Just For Fun
What’s your favorite color?
Cyan
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