FASHION ACTIVISM
My mother introduced me to resale stores. Growing up on hand-me-downs. The best day ever was when she took me to a place called Children's ReRuns. She told me they bought clothing from people and you could trade the clothes for store credit, which was like cash to shop in their store. Clothing that kids no longer wanted, or didn’t fit, I could pick out and wear. I went to the boy’s section, forever a tomboy. I looked through the racks of clothing and wondered about the kids that once owned them and wore the clothes.
I got bullied often when I went to public school, the kids thought my family was poor (mostly true, they were always broke) because I wore thrift clothing. That never changed my mind. I knew they were wrong and I remember telling them about how cool it was to trade clothes for new ones. My love and passion for my boy’s vintage yellow thrifted t-shirt, I wore almost daily was stronger than their hateful words, not getting it.
I never had much clothing, my daily uniform was New Kids on the Block t-shirts and black acid-washed jeans until they no longer fit me. I had a few things I wore daily from my older sister. As soon as I could figure it out, I got my first job when I was 15. I got a fake ID that stated I was 16, the legal age to get a full-time gig. I spent my entire paycheck on clothing for myself.
I have always shopped at thrift stores and resale shops since I was a teenager. Thrift World was my go-to for “old man pants & stupid t-shirts”, punk rock essentials. Some of my favorite items came from Salvation Army, Savers, and Goodwill. I remember the first time I went to Buffalo Exchange, in the late ’90s. It was resale clothes for cool kids. Punk, goth, skater, and every counterculture you could think of under one roof. I have been regularly shopping there since.
In 2017 I made the choice to completely ditch any fast fashion forever and only buy and make sustainable fashion. I learned about what really goes on after watching the documentary “The True Cost”. Unsafe working conditions, workers not being paid a fair, living wage and the amount of fashion waste the US produces. Other countries don’t want our hand-me-downs. It takes away the need for skilled seamstresses in those countries.
Sustainable fashion promotion through several pop-up shops at my boutique Blackstar & I produced and hosted MercentilExchange a community pop-up shop at Unexpected Gallery in 2017.
In 2020 I did the project QUARANTINE BUT MAKE IT FASHION Masks I made and donated to Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Banner Health, City of Hope, Los Angeles County-University of Southern California, AZ State Prison, Natural Grocers & Garfield Historic Neighborhood. Funds were also raised as apart of MANDATED MASKS for Rocket A GoGo (A sustainable fashion resale shop).