Sustainability LOG 03: Shop Your Values
by georgina annenberg, brand sustainability expert
In the meantime big business, amazon, is having one of its best financial years yet. they’ve had the infrastructure and resources to survive and thrive in one of the most challenging economic times.
Large corporations like h&m, amazon, walmart, and target have shown us that they will most likely be okay in the grand scheme of things. businesses such as these take away valuable purchases from small and medium sized businesses through copying their designs and selling them at lower prices, and completely dominating the landscape (both physically and in the media) due to economic power, reach and influence.
Not to completely discredit these big corporations, as some have built seamless service systems from the ground-up and appealed to the masses by offering affordable products that can be hard to resist.
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It is so tempting to merely buy the cheaper version of a product when money is scarce and new deals and discounts are coming at us from all angles. and with this year being particularly financially difficult, we don’t blame you for seeking out the cheaper alternatives.
However, if you are able to, we urge you to support small, local businesses this Black Friday.
In doing so, you are helping to keep small business owners afloat, contributing to a more resilient community, reducing your environmental impact, engaging in a more personal experience, and divesting from the retail giants who, quite honestly, have their hands in one too many cookie jars.
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We would like to acknowledge that individual purchases can make a difference, yet it ultimately needs to be combined with government regulation so that conglomerates can’t get away with poor production practices and murky supply-chains. we shouldn’t need to feel bad about what and where we buy. our hope is that with biden’s presidency, more oversight, incentives and regulation are put in place to hold the retail giants accountable and take most of the burden off the consumer.
Buying from Helen the Brand is a double-whammy in the best sense of the phrase.
You are purchasing items that already have a low carbon footprint due to being secondhand or vintage, and you are supporting a teeny tiny woman-owned business.
We are aware that some of your purchases may be just for fun; they make you happy and they’ll make a great addition to your wardrobe. but we hope that whatever you choose to buy, you truly love and can see yourself getting ample wear out of it. consult our care guide to learn about how to make your garments last.
