Arizona Sustainable Apparel Association Growing Together

I had so much fun meeting Rue Vincent and chatting about her brand Label by Three, a collaboration with her two sisters. Label By Three is based on a belief in three pillars that guide their design decisions- minimalism, sustainability, and versatility. In this episode, we chat with Rue about the meaning behind the brand philosophy and how to bring mindfulness into our clothing choices. Rue and her sisters were not designers before starting the brand, so they had to learn everything from scratch. What they did have is a love for vintage, which inspires their collections today. All of their clothes are handmade by women in a local factory right here in Arizona. 

In this episode, I had the joy of speaking with Theresa Akua Fenn, the designer and founder behind Akua's Boutique which sells colorful handmade bags made out of raffia, a sustainable fiber made from palm leaves. We had so much fun discussing the entire process of creating one of her handbags from the hand-drawn design to sourcing the palm leaves, natural dying, weaving, and more. Theresa works closely with incredible women artisans in Madagascar, Africa and the bags sold in America help to support their livelihoods. This is an amazing episode to learn more about artisan crafts, sustainable fibers, and the value of handmade. 

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dorothy Jonus, the reseller and stylist behind Salty Girlz Closet. Dorothy shares her incredible journey from working in luxury fashion and self-identifying as a "shopaholic" to discovering the freedoms and joy of secondhand fashion. Now she "eats, lives, and breathes" sustainable fashion. She finds thrill in the hunt for new products, the low prices for high-end luxury brands, and the opportunities to style others. In addition to her personal story, we dive into how consumer's rising interest in secondhand fashion is changing the market. Finally, Dorothy lets us in on some secrets and shares some awesome tips about the reselling business for those who may be looking to get started!

A love of shopping is what led her into the business, but it's the experience of serving others and providing a curated collection of clothing that her future customer will love is what keeps her going! Dorothy clearly has found her passion. I had so much fun learning about her journey into reselling and I hope you will too.

In this episode, we talk to Jessica Zaneis from SoulCare in Surplus about a really unique area of fashion - military uniforms! Inspired by her own family's military history and the retired uniforms hanging in her father's closet, Jes began repurposing military uniforms into messenger bags, shrapnels, and vests. Jes is fiercely protective of the environment and passionate about sustainability. We learn more from Jes about the ins-and-outs of creating an original upcycled design and the trajectory of materials used in military uniforms over the years. We get really deep into some thought-provoking questions about the role of fashion and the sentimental value that a meaningful garment can bring. As we discuss, fashion is so much more than just a product- it's a form of utility, expression, and storytelling.