An Ethical Fashion Diary: How My Summer Job Made Me A More Conscious Consumer
By Amanda Gage
Though I enjoyed laying around in my pajamas every day during the first few weeks of quarantine, being in isolation with my family led me to my breaking point. I needed to get out of the house and be able to interact with individuals outside of my five-person family. Thus, I was ecstatic to start working this summer. I finally had something to do that wasn’t watching Outer Banks on Netflix or making my 10th loaf of banana bread. I am now working at a clothing store in Edgartown, Massachusetts called Kenworthy. I never thought I would be excited to work eight hours a day, but I was just grateful to have a job and a way to get out of the house.
“The Sylvia women are not driven by profit but rather a passion to make sustainable, long-lasting clothing that are made ethically”
For some people, retail is a boring job. Folding clothes all day is not appealing to the average Joe. However, this clothing store is very different from any other store. Kenworthy is a Martha’s Vineyard based design company owned by a mother and daughter, Marlene and Randi Sylvia. Both women design all the pieces and make everything by hand, which is something most store owners can’t say about the clothes they sell. The Sylvia women are not driven by profit but rather a passion to make sustainable, long-lasting clothing that are made ethically. Contrary to the “fast” fashion industry, they make everything in small batches to minimize waste from overproduction and don’t crank out new collections every other week. Fast fashion is highly damaging to the environment and can also be a form of modern day slavery, for many of these companies use sweatshops and child labor to manufacture the clothes. It is refreshing to work for a brand that I completely believe in and support. When I put on the clothes, I can feel the love and passion that went into each piece.
Over the past two months, I have been able to collect some amazing Kenworthy pieces that I absolutely adore.
Source: Amanda Gage
Indigo Crop
This is a staple in my wardrobe. I love wearing it with high waisted jeans or my white linen crop pants. It’s the perfect sweater for when you want to look cute but not have to put in any effort. It seriously feels like a blanket on the inside. Especially with the tie dye loungewear craze spreading across the world, these cropped sweaters have been flying off the shelves. One of my favorite aspects about these sweaters is that each one is hand dyed, so each one is unique. Randi uses only natural dyes for her clothes, and in this case, she uses indigo flowers to get the deep, rich blue color.
Source: Amanda Gage
Finley Dress
This dress is perfect for an evening out on the town. The crocodile print will catch everyone’s eyes and will make you the center of attention of any room you walk into. Wearing the Finley dress makes me feel like a “90s A-List celebrity” even though I am a college student walking down the street in Edgartown, Massachusetts. But that’s why we love fashion right? With the right outfit, we can feel like a new and even better version of ourselves, and that’s what this dress does for me.
“But that’s why we love fashion right? With the right outfit, we can feel like a new and even better version of ourselves”
Source Amanda Gage
Mila Dress
As soon as I saw this white, babydoll dress in the boutique window; I fell in love. Throwing on this dress makes me want to run through a meadow like the models in the Marc Jacobs “Daisy” ads. I love the simplicity of the dress, and I truly feel like it is a timeless piece. It’s perfect for the summer heat because of the super lightweight fabric, and it’s so easy to throw on when you’re in a rush.
Source: Amanda Gage
Marbella Dress
This dress holds a special place in my heart because it was the first item I ever bought from Kenworthy. After wearing it for their pop-up fashion show in town, I knew I had to buy it. It’s one of the most comfortable dresses I own, which explains why I wear it all the time. One of my favorite aspects of this dress is that I can wear it to a fancy restaurant or wear it to a friend's backyard barbecue. Let’s just say I have gotten great use out of this dress and will continue to.
Source: Amanda Gage
Sam Top
I have been obsessed with this top lately. I adore the halter shape with the tie, and the back of the shirt is backless with a tie around the waist and neck. I always pair this cropped shirt with white, flowy pants or denim shorts. The print is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I can’t get enough of it now. It was a perfect summer purchase, especially for the hot weather.
Knowing that every piece of clothing I buy not only supports a small, female-owned business but also is made sustainably and ethically makes wearing the clothes feel so much better. It feels amazing to work for women that align with my values.It may not be as high-end as the clothes on Revolve or as cheap as Shein, but I know these clothes will last me forever. Everything Randi and Marlene make always blows me away, and I can’t wait to see what is next for Kenworthy. If you are interested in shopping from this small business, check out their website to order online. I also recommend following Kenworthy on Instagram for daily updates on new clothes and special events coming up.
