This episode is part two in a recurring series examining and debunking the most common “excuses” and justifications we see for supporting, maybe even protecting(?) fast fashion and fast everything. And this week we are going to explore a classic comeback to conversations about fast fashion: “it’s classist to talk about fast fashion.”   We will explore the following questions: What is class? What are the differences between socioeconomic class and social class?What is classism? And how does it...

This episode is part one of two about laundry and clothing care. You can find the other episode as episode 153 in your feed! It's the year of Earth Logic here at Clotheshorse, where we are planning to reduce our consumption of brand new clothing by 75%!It's essential that we get as much wear as possible out of clothes. And how we wash, dry, and deal with those stains is a big part of making our clothing last longer.  Amanda is joined by Maggie and Traci to solve your laundry quandaries.  In...

This episode is part one of a FOUR episode series examining the ethics of secondhand resale with Alex of St. Evens. You can find the other installments as episodes 160-162. In the first installment, we will tackle two arguments often tossed around in discussions about secondhand on social media: Thrift stores are designed to be a resource for low income people.Resellers are making tons of money from taking things that should be for low income people.The intro segment for this episode will...

It's the 200th episode of Clotheshorse and we are going live (and on video) for the first time ever! Amanda is joined by special guest Gem Masland (@draugqueen) to celebrate this very special occasion. This episode is filled with cool stuff: ★ Awesome messages from listeners about their own journeys within the slow fashion movement. Thanks to Desirée, Susan, Stacie, Frances, Maggie, Ruby, and Kate for submitting audio and video recordings!★ Amanda's tour of Lancaster County, featuring thrift...

If you dare to dive into the comments section on just about any post about fast fashion or fast everything, you are guaranteed to see more than one person saying "there's no ethical consumption under capitalism."  This episode is part one in a recurring series examining and debunking the most common “excuses” and justifications we see for supporting, maybe even protecting(?) fast fashion and fast everything.  And this week we are getting started with a real banger: “there’s no ethical...

How do we get people to join our community and work for change alongside us? By talking about slow fashion, fast fashion, and overconsumption! But starting these conversations can be intimidating.  And frustrating to continue! Have YOU ever tried to change minds in the comment section of a social media post?!  Fortunately Amanda has learned a lot about how to have productive conversations about slow fashion over the last four years, mostly by trial and error.  In this episode she shares what...

There is no question that travel impacts both our planet and its people.  Yet it's also an amazing opportunity to explore both ourselves and world, while deepening our understanding for the other humans sharing this planet. Can we travel more responsibly, finding a balance between ethics and exploration?  Amanda is joined by Desirée of The Pewter Thimble and travel writer/educator Ginger to break it down.  In this episode we will explore the following questions: What is responsible...

Amanda is joined by Maxine Bédat, author of Unraveled: The Life and Death of a Garment and the founder/director of sustainable fashion think tank New Standard Institute. In 2021, Maxine led the introduction of the New York Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act...aka the Fashion Act!  In this episode we will answer all of your questions about this groundbreaking piece of legislation, including Why is the fashion industry largely unregulated?What are the policies within the...

What if we could use secondhand resale as a way to push brands toward making higher quality, longer last clothing? And what if resale could be more equitable for everyone involved?  In this episode, Amanda is joined by Jake and Yulia of Treet.  We will discuss how helping brands create their own resale platforms could benefit customers, the planet, AND the brands themselves.  Also, in this episode, most brands are at crossroads: try to compete with the ultra fast fashion brands like Shein...

Amanda answers questions from members of the Clotheshorse community.Here are just a few of the things covered in this episode: How do we avoid overconsumption at the thrift store?How can we simultaneously take control of our finances and reduce our consumption?How do we find our personal style in a sea of "kinda garbage" clothes?Why is it so difficult to find clothing in larger sizes? And why are so few brands offering extended sizing?What changes does Amanda wish the industry had made a long...

In this episode, Amanda is joined by artist and print designer Erin Cadigan to talk about how AI impacts the world of print design and really, all creative jobs.  Erin is the print designer for UK slow fashion brand The Hippie Shake. You will get to hear about the importance of art, design, and creative exploration in Erin's life, as well as her thoughts on the larger issues of economic justice associated with generative AI.  Dustin also drops by to help Amanda explain AI, how it works, and...

Happiness feels so...elusive right now, right? Happiness coach Sandra Ann Miller joins Amanda to talk about how we might have happiness wrong.  In this episode we will explore the following questions: Are unhappiness and consumerism linked?What is hedonic happiness? How is that different from eudaimonic happiness?Can money buy happiness? And are billionaires happy?How and where can we find happiness (you might be surprised)?What's the difference between being happy and toxic positivity?Is...

Emily Li Mandri, founder and design behind MLE, joins Amanda to talk about all things accessories and jewelry, including What is costume jewelry? And why is metal content important?The drawbacks of "fast jewelry"What are the challenges of running a small, ethical accessories brand?How are knockoffs and copycats a big part of the jewelry/accessories industry?What happens when bigger brands don't pay their invoices?And so much more! Read more about what is happening with Neighborhood Goods and...

New clothes ARE kinda garbage these days, from low quality synthetic fabrics to zippers that are a problem from the very first wear to lack of detail and poor fit.  And the low quality and short lifespan of this clothing is creating an environmental and ethical crisis for the planet and its people.  Why are these clothes just so bad? In this three part series, Amanda breaks down the hidden reasons that new clothing is kinda garbage. This episode covers the following: How the illusion of free...

New clothes ARE kinda garbage these days, from low quality synthetic fabrics to zippers that are a problem from the very first wear to lack of detail and poor fit.  And the low quality and short lifespan of this clothing is creating an environmental and ethical crisis for the planet and its people.  Why are these clothes just so bad? In this three part series, Amanda breaks down the hidden reasons that new clothing is kinda garbage. This episode covers the following: How are returns causing...

It's the first episode of Clotheshorse in 2024! And it's another CH first, too: an entire episode about ONE email!Amanda received this email in mid December. It sparked many, many hours of reading, research, and conversations with other members of the community. In the quest to find a response to this message, a lot of other conversations began: Is it greenwashing to say "Small Business Is The Future?"Where is the nuance within slow fashion? How does that nuance influence the way we start...

New clothes ARE kinda garbage these days, from low quality synthetic fabrics to zippers that are a problem from the very first wear to lack of detail and poor fit.  And the low quality and short lifespan of this clothing is creating an environmental and ethical crisis for the planet and its people. Why are these clothes just so bad? In this two part series, Amanda breaks down the hidden reasons that new clothing is kinda garbage. This episode covers the following: What is planned...

Slow fashion is not a trend. It's a way of life. A community of passionate, creative people. A movement fighting for a better future. In this episode, Amanda is joined by artist and slow fashion superstar, Mikaela Friedman (Mutiny Market, Shop Slow, Psychic Outlaw).  We talk about a lot of things in this episode: Shop Slow, a new slow fashion boutique in Austin, TX that focuses on artisanal clothing made by collective of makers with a focus on recycled textiles.  Check out the Shop Slow...

Emma Zack of BERRIEZ is here to tell us all about the lessons she has learned over the past few years as a small business owner.  She will share advice she has for all of you small business owners out there, whether you’ve been doing it for years, just getting started, or maybe just fantasizing about leaving your dumb job to work for yourself!  She'll also tell us what she would like to say to the big fashion brands out there that refuse to offer plus sizes. We'll also hear audio essays from...

Nearly 1 out of 4 of the new garments we purchase end up being returned to the brand/retailer.  While retail companies tend to keep the true data about returns under wraps, industry experts estimate that half of returned clothing is never worn by another person, ending up in the landfill instead.  So yeah, returns are a pretty big deal across the entire retail industry (even outside of clothing).  Amanda is joined by Emily Austin, who has a lot of experience in the world of returns, customer...

Dani of Picnicwear joins Amanda to explain why (most) new sweaters are low quality, (near) future garbage (instead of future vintage).  It's a complicated tale of synthetic blends, increasing margin targets, and lower prices.   We'll explain how the fast fashion industry has kept prices low and profits high by swapping out yarns, cutting out details, and making copies of copies, while walking through the design process of most big retailers/brands.  We will unpack why it's really difficult...

Writer and all-around rad person Rachel Greenley (@rachel_greenley_words) is back! You first met her in January, when she dropped by to talk about her New York Times essay, This Is the Reality of America’s Fast-Fashion Addiction. In that piece of writing, she shared her experiences working in a facility processing Amazon returns. Her essay is a must-read for anyone who has wondered what happens with the items we buy online and then return! If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, you...

Meet Kristi and Chiarra, board members for the Indie Sellers Guild, a nonprofit dedicated to providing education and support to all online creative indie sellers around the world.  The Indie Sellers Guild got its start in 2022 while organizing the Etsy Strike, when about 17,000 shops put their Etsy storefronts on vacation mode, effectively preventing customers from shopping.  In this week's episode,  Kristi and Chiarra will explain how "reserves" are having a negative impact on small...

Meet Kristi and Chiarra, board members for the Indie Sellers Guild, a nonprofit dedicated to providing education and support to all online creative indie sellers around the world.  The Indie Sellers Guild got its start in 2022 while organizing the Etsy Strike, when about 17,000 shops put their Etsy storefronts on vacation mode, effectively preventing customers from shopping.  In this week's episode,  Kristi and Chiarra will be telling us about what led to the Etsy strike, the outcome, and...