iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Clotheshorse

Embodied WUNC @embodiedwunc.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

We talk with @clotheshorse.bsky.social podcast host and fashion industry insider Amanda Lee McCarty about why fast fashion has such a particular hold on us and what we can do about it!⁠ LISTEN HERE: link.podtrac.com/embodied

link.podtrac.com

Embodied

Sex and relationships are intimate — and sometimes intimidating to talk about. In this weekly podcast from North Carolina Public Radio WUNC, host Anita Rao guides us on an exploration of our brains an...

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Join me and my amazing guests for a night of community, slow fashion, and fun TOMORROW night in Seattle!

This is a tour poster for the Clotheshorse show happening on Thursday, 10/23 in Seattle WA at Here-After. The theme will be Community and Collaboration. You can get tickets at thecrocodile.com

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Reposted by Clotheshorse

JesseJaneReads @jessejanereads.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

If Amanda Lee McCarty from @clotheshorse.bsky.social ever writes a book, I will absolutely contribute to the Kickstarter. She definitely has enough material from doing the podcast

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

In this week's installment of an ongoing series about synthetic fabrics and fibers, we're talking about faux fur and suede. open.substack.com/pub/clothesh...

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

Fast fashion forces people with limited access and economic means to be a part of the suffering of other humans, sometimes on the other side of the world, sometimes in their own community...because these industries have removed better options and better pay in favor of higher profits.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

I had a fantasy of taking out a billboard in downtown Portland in honor of my "homecoming" live show at Holocene on 10/26...but alas, billboards are SO EXPENSIVE! And I'm a horse-they with a tight budget. So here's a fake one!

A billboard that says "Clotheshorse, 10/26, Holocene."

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Nylon is all around us. How is it made? What is the impact? And how do we care for it? Part four in an ongoing series about synthetic fabrics. open.substack.com/pub/clothesh...

open.substack.com

What is nylon?

Part four in an ongoing weekly series about synthetic fabrics

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Just some thoughts I've been having as I head into the weekend of my birthday. SPOILER: I'm thinking a lot about the power of community, care, and joy in very, VERY dark times.

This weekend is my birthday. And as a hardcore, full-time over thinker, naturally I am reflecting on my life, what it feels like to be alive right now, and what happens next.

In the span of 2017-2020, my husband and I lost many friends, family, and acquaintances to "deaths of despair," suicides and drug overdoses. And every time we learned that another amazing person was gone, we sadly nodded our heads and said "I get it." Because it felt like hope was in short supply, like there was no light to be found. We got through it by sort of keeping out heads down, clinging to one another, and working really, really hard to find any shred of joy.

The moment we are in right now feels 100 times darker than any other era in my lifetime.

Yet, there is something else happening that was absent in the past: I see that we are changing.

Rather than putting our heads down and powering through it, we are lifting our heads up, looking squarely in the eyes of the other people around us.

We are extending a hand to one another, saying "nice to meet you, I'm here to help."

We finally realize the importance of community and our roles within it.

We see that nothing gets better for anyone without all of us getting involved. We know that we all have a part to play in the fight for a better world.

We recognize that we are unstoppable when we work together...and that's why the worst people, companies, and systems would prefer that we spend our days tearing one another apart on social media.

We understand that for years we have been sold this idea that we should aspire to have as much stuff as possible...and that life was a competition to see who could have the most stuff, the most expensive clothes/food/trips/lifestyle, and the most curated social media page....and it turns out that all of that just lines billionaires’ pockets, leaving us broke, unsatisfied, and lonely.

We know that what we buy and where we spend our money has a massive impact on the planet and the people around us. So we're doing our best to shop small and local.

We realize that the all of life’s magic, hope, and joy...that comes from the people, animals, and world around us. And we are here to fight for that.

If you know me IRL or have been following me for a long time, you know I've been through some very difficult times. And what I have learned along the way is that the only way out of darkness is through it.

The good news about the darkness we are collectively experiencing right now? We don't have to get through it alone. We have one another. We can share a flashlight and take turns guiding and reassuring one another. We can hold hands through the scariest, darkest parts. We can get through it together.

I am not a spiritual person, but I found hope, faith, and meaning in the people around me. In our ability to build, create, and innovate. In the unmatchable power we have when we all work together toward a common purpose.

I believe in us.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

Recycled polyester (rPET) fabric is made from other recycled plastics, not recycled polyester clothing. And unsurprisingly, it gets a lot of greenwashing! open.substack.com/pub/clothesh...

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

We tend to think of the 60s/70s as the peak era of polyester clothing, but roughly 2/3 of the clothing being made RIGHT NOW is polyester. It can be hard to spot because it takes many different forms. Learn more in part two of an ongoing fabric series: open.substack.com/pub/clothesh...

A vintage illustration of three paper dolls with the copy "Polyester, a master of disguise"

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

Big brands are not your friends. This summer, I am releasing a series of episodes unpacking how brands entangle themselves with us emotionally. open.substack.com/pub/clothesh...

open.substack.com

Big brands are not your friends.

How emotional branding gets us to open our wallets and settle for less.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Part 1 in a weekly series about fabrics that I am sharing on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/clothesh...

An illustration of 1970s paper dolls with the heading "Surprise! It's plastic." A sticker says "Synthetic Fabrics, part one."

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

You know what’s truly radical in a world of capitalism, climate crisis, inequality, and rising fascism? Working together and supporting one another.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

When you realize that Princess Polly (fast fashion brand), Nespresso (owned by Nestle), and Arbonne (MLM) are all certified B Corps, it kinda makes you wonder if SHEIN and Temu are writing a big check for their certification right now.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

For years, I have been wanting to do a series of episodes about how brands infiltrate our brains and drive consumerism. So this summer, I'm doing it! Part one is out in the world right now. substack.com/@clotheshors...

substack.com

"I'm with the brand," part one

A new podcast miniseries about brands and how they infiltrate our brains.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

There is a viral post making the rounds claiming that France banned SHEIN hauls. That's actually FALSE, but it's a good time discuss the reality of fast fashion legislation...while also reminding us that we should fact check posts (it takes less than a minute). open.substack.com/pub/clothesh...

open.substack.com

No, France did NOT ban SHEIN hauls!

Sometimes good news is misinformation, too.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Just some thougts on five years of making a anti-consumerism, pro slow fashion podcast... clotheshorsepodcast.substack.com/p/five-years...

clotheshorsepodcast.substack.com

Five years happened way too fast

How making Clotheshorse has given me a joy, hope, and community

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Next week marks 5 years of making Clotheshorse, and one thing I've noticed is that the excuses for shopping fast fashion never really change. Last year I made a whole episode about "there's no ethical consumption under capitalism." Here's a summary: open.substack.com/pub/clothesh...

open.substack.com

Is there really no ethical consumption under capitalism?

Can't wait for the SHEIN tee with that slogan...

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

BIG NEWS! Clotheshorse is coming to the West Coast in October, and I’m doing two live shows: 🐴 Thursday, October 23, Seattle WA at Here-After 🐴 Sunday, October 26, Portland, OR at Holocene TICKETS GO ON SALE ON FRIDAY AT 10 AM PACIFIC!! I will share the links on Friday!

A poster for a short tour for Clotheshorse, a podcast hosted by Amanda Lee McCarty. A white horse leaps through a rainbow heart, with a forest of tall evergreen trees in the background.

The copy shares the tour dates: 10/23 in Seattle, WA at the Here-After, and 10/26 in Portland, OR at Holocene.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

I love seeing Clotheshorse stickers on sewing machines!!

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

It's really true! All of my favorite clothes ARE secondhand!

A vintage photo of two baby donkeys. One is saying "All of my favorite clothes are secondhand." The other one says, "Samesies."

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

We need your help getting the Fashion Act passed in NY State. And guess what? You don't need to be a NY resident to help us. It's time to finally regulate the fashion industry! Let's end fast fashion! open.substack.com/pub/clothesh...

open.substack.com

YOU can help end fast fashion!

How you can help make the Fashion Act a reality...

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Someone IS getting rich from the secondhand economy, but it's not the people doing most of the work: clotheshorsepodcast.substack.com/p/are-resell...

clotheshorsepodcast.substack.com

Are resellers getting rich from selling secondhand clothing?

9 out of 10 TikTok commenters hate me for this.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

So…it’s 2025. We’re almost halfway through this year and there are literally so many things happening right now that are scary, tragic, and rage inducing. Yet social media is still full of myths about reselling, thrifting, and who "deserves" secondhand clothes. open.substack.com/pub/clothesh...

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

This image of a SHEIN "sculpture" that has been making the rounds in the sustainable fashion community this week is made with AI. While I appreciate the concept of the work, it's still AI...and that's just neither a sustainable nor ethical way to create art, no matter how good the intentions.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

If you’ve ever thought you were too _____ to wear something, these fake “rules” have infiltrated your brain, too. open.substack.com/pub/clothesh...

open.substack.com

Let's cancel the fashion "rules!"

I guess if you repeat an opinion enough times, it starts to feel like a fact

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Just a reminder that you can and should wear whatever you want to wear!

You're not too ________ to wear _________!

You can wear navy & black together.
You don’t have to cover your arms.
You can wear what you love.
You don’t have to dress your age.
You can show your knees if you want.
You don’t have to cut off your hair.
You can wear horizontal stripes.
You don’t have to dress for your shape.
You can wear mini skirts.
You don’t have to make yourself small.
You can be yourself.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

There's a new episode of the podcast featuring Marlee of Style Me Slowly. We're talking about why understanding what you really want to wear is a very important part of the slow fashion way of life. How would you describe your personal style in 10 words or less?

A vintage illustration of a cat jumping rope with the following copy: Wear what you want to wear.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

We all pay for these cheap prices, even if we never bought anything in the first place. The world deserves better than fast fashion. I’m so glad we’re all waking up to that and making changes! Let’s make fast fashion obsolete!!!

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

I'm trying a new way of sharing my epic posts here, via Substack. So go learn more about how fast fashion has made new clothes kinda garbage! open.substack.com/pub/clothesh...

open.substack.com

Yes, most new clothes are kinda garbage...

How did they get that way?

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Every meeting I have had this week has started the same way: "How are you?" "Oh I'm good, how about you?" "Fine." And then all of us admitting: "Yeah, I'm fine except for how I'm drowning in anxiety right now." Anyway, read this letter to all of you that I have been working on all week.

I want to talk to you about someone really important…YOU!

How are you feeling right now?
I can’t remember a moment this year where I didn’t feel this sense of churning fear and anger. It feels like a stomachache combined with a headache and I don’t even know if those parts actually ache at all. It’s just there. Even when I’m busy working or doing something that brings me joy, it’s still there, humming in the background. It makes it hard to truly feel anything else.

I feel trapped. I often feel powerless. And there are moments where I just don’t know how I will get through another day.

So if you’re feeling something similar, know that you are not alone.

There is nothing worse than feeling powerless, feeling trapped in an unfair and unjust world and feeling as if there is nothing you can do. In fact, that makes everything around you feel 1000X scarier and suddenly you’re rooting for societal collapse because then at least the worst thing will be here and you don’t have to worry about it any more.

The thing is…we are not doomed...unless we just give up and do nothing.

Right now, the worst people, corporations, and systems are counting on us burning out, giving up, and becoming compliant.

They think we are weak, selfish, and lazy.
They think we don’t have any fight in us.
They think we can be distracted with the next shiny object, whether that’s a new streaming series or something new to buy.

They are wrong.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

We are not doomed...unless we give up and do nothing. Right now, the worst people, corporations, and systems are counting on us burning out, giving up, and becoming compliant. They think we are weak, selfish, and lazy. Let’s show them how strong we really are!

A vintage photo (from a children's book) of two toy dogs with the words "We are not doomed...unless we just give up and do nothing."

A vintage photo (from a children's book) of a little white toy cat with the following copy:

When we accept the idea of doom, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Right now, the worst people, corporations, and systems are counting on us burning out, giving up, and becoming compliant. They think we are weak, selfish, and lazy.

Let’s show them how strong we really are!

When we stand up, work together, and fight back...change happens!

Photo of a vintage toy pig with the following copy:
Get involved in your government.

Vote in every single election, no matter how small.

Reach out to your elected representatives, no matter where you live. Send letters, postcards, emails, and even make phone calls. Many report having the most success via phone, but I have received phone calls and emails in response to emails and letters I have sent.

The most important thing is to include why this matters to you. Add that personal aspect. It might feel weird, but it’s actually impactful. I think these personal stories build up in the minds of the people receiving these emails and calls, and soon they can’t help but feel motivated to take action.

Photo of two toy ducks wearing sailor caps with the following copy:

Help the people in your community.

This can range from volunteering at your local library or food bank to providing guidance to people applying for benefits like housing, food assistance, and health care.

In fact, help can come in many forms and you can even get involved without leaving your home!

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Years ago, I happened upon a thread that talked about how "cringe" I am, how depressing I am, how pointless my work is. Yes, I cried! Anyway, here's another cringey series of words about why community and care are so important to me

Capitalism @#$%ing loves
“Main Character Syndrome.”

It is great for business.
It makes us distrustful.
It suppresses resistance.

It's bad for all living things.

Main Character Syndrome refers to the tendency to view oneself as the protagonist of one’s own life story (aka the main character), often at the expense of others.

It can be associated with self-centeredness and a lack of empathy. That lack of empathy often comes from viewing others around oneself as props or NPCs (non player characters–the other characters that aren’t you in a video game).

It’s easy to lack empathy when everyone around you doesn’t feel real. Or when you think you were chosen by fate to save the universe...or maybe something less heroic, like make all the money or have the most followers on social media or own the most Funko Pops.

It’s a weird @#$%ing time.

Early humans lived in communities because it increased everyone's chance of survival. It provided protection from predators, more consistent access to food via pooling supplies, and shared care of children and vulnerable members of the community.

Over time we formed villages and then eventually governments to do the same thing...pool resources so that everyone could be cared for and protected.

Knowing that historically humans thrived in community, why in 2025 are so many people seeming to say, "pull up your bootstraps and take care of yourself?"

I don’t know what happened. And maybe this is just an American thing? A western thing? I don’t know. But individualism is the name of the game, aka Main Character Syndrome. Trust no one. Isolate yourself. Look out for yourself first. And so, we forget to take care of one another.

Main Character Syndrome, isolation, and distrust are GREAT for business!

Consumerism thrives when we’re all just main characters in our own movie…that movie requires wardrobe and props, and lots of them, right?

The main character (aka us) doesn’t need to worry about the human and environmental impact of all of this stuff we are buying... because we are destined to have it all. Our story–our DESTINY–is more important than anything else.

And TBH the impact of “fast everything” isn’t real when everyone and everything around you are just props, just NPCs.

But on top of that: isolation and distrust are lonely and kinda depressing. We make ourselves feel better by...buying more stuff, whether that’s clothes, video games, skincare products, or throw pillows. Our loneliness is great for billionaires because we just keep sending our money into their pockets.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

How can we do good things in difficult times? The seemingly small things we do as individuals are actually really radical, impactful, and important. This week, Christa of Material Union joins us to share how her community fridge has changed her life! Mutual aid is powerful!

“This individualistic culture of every man for himself that we experience in America has poisoned our souls.

And I think that's on purpose, because if we're skeptical of each other, if we don't believe in each other, if we don't believe in the goodness in our neighbors...then we're going to consume more and we're going to buy more.”

Christa Clark, episode 230

A photo of three kittens (two orange, one tabby) on a pink sky backdrop with the words "Caring is cool."

“Helping out is the best antidote to doom scrolling.

Put your phone down.
Go do something with community.

You will be reignited [because] people are good.”

Christa Clark, episode 230

Two kittens—one tabby, one orange—on a sky backdrop with the words “everything is better with community.”

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

The most sustainable clothes (and really everything)? Stuff that already exists! And one part of REDUCE REFUSE RESIST (and tbh the entire slow fashion way of life) is shopping secondhand first! Meaning: looking for something secondhand first, before buying it brand new.

A photo of a peach fluffy kitten pasted on a piece of notebook paper, with the copy “The future is secondhand: tips and tricks for shopping secondhand online.”

A photo of an orange and white fluffy kitten pasted on a piece of notebook paper with this copy:

We live in a golden era of buying secondhand clothing online!
Let’s be honest...for many of us, time is a luxury we just don’t have. Shopping online can be a lot more efficient, but it carries the risk of items not fitting/suiting you.

For successful online secondhand shopping, you need one very important item...A TAPE MEASURE!

As a person who worked in fashion for a long time and has seen how the size on most tags is pretty irrelevant...you should avoid buying anything without clear measurements (unless you know your size in that item).

following copy:

A tape measure will set you up for success!
Knowing the measurements that work best for you in the chest, waist, hips, arm opening, length, etc., will prevent a lot of disappointment on your end! There are two ways to go about this:

Measure your body. There is an art to this and (yay!) there are a lot of tutorials online. When you’re shopping for an item, always ensure that the measurements of the garment will allow for (what I call) “living room,” i.e., being able to move around and live your life comfortably!

Measure a similar garment that you own and love. I tend to go this route more often because it allows for that “living room.” Furthermore, I struggle with a really unhealthy relationship with my body and food, and measurements and scales tend to lead me to intrusive thoughts and self harm. This is a safer route for me.

photo of two kittens (one a white fluffy kitten, the other a black kitten) pasted on notebook paper with the following copy:

Measurements matter!

When it comes to clothing, shoes, accessories, etc…Always check the measurements for items for sale online. If they are not available or seem wrong, either reach out to the seller for more info, or skip the item altogether.

Also, let me give you a piece of advice that I have learned the hard way: if you reach out to a seller asking for measurements (or really asking any other question), and they don’t respond….this is the red flag to NOT buy this item. Why? Well, it could be a scam listing. The person may have listed it a long time ago and since then has forgotten about or even doesn’t know where it is. Or they may not even be active on that platform.

Knowing the measurements of an item that isn’t clothing is just as important. A bag that looks like a tote-size in the photos might actually be a clutch!

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

I was shocked and disappointed to learn this week that Vancouver Fashion Week is showcasing SHEIN... not as a threat to our planet with its overproduction and ever-growing climate impact. . NOPE....Vancouver Fashion Week is featuring SHEIN as a DESIGNER. Speechless. Seriously. WTF.

Photo of two light tabby kittens in a basket of hay with the copy "Cute kittens want to talk to you about SHEIN."

Photo of a cute fluffy peach-colored kitten with the following copy:
SHEIN's growth and impending IPO is a bad thing for everyone on this planet. In 2024, its sales grew to $38 billion.

We are not picking on SHEIN when we talk about the ethical/environmental issues related to its business model. Conversations about SHEIN start with the knowledge that most mass retailers rely on human exploitation and overconsumption.

We are not being xenophobic when we talk about SHEIN.

We are not shaming people for shopping from SHEIN.

We are talking about SHEIN because its success is pushing the fashion industry to make clothing a lot faster and more quasi-disposable. It is making the problem of fast fashion much, much worse.

Photo of an orange tabby kitten with the following copy:
SHEIN produces more pollution than Paraguay.
Yes, SHEIN pumps more CO2 into the atmosphere than an entire country of 6.7 million people.

Source: Stand.earth report “Clean Energy Close Up.”

Photo of two kittens—one a fluffy white kitten, the other a fluffy black kitten—with the following copy:
SHEIN steals art and designs from artists, designers, and brands of all sizes around the world. And yeah, that destroys small businesses and widens wealth inequality.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

New episode of the podcast out today with Scout of Radical Sewing Club! Radical Sewing Club is a weekly mending meetup held in LA. Scout is going to share what they have learned along the way that can help you start your own mending and sewing club in your community!

A vintage illustration of a bear and a squirrel hanging out in the words with a quote from Scout of Radical Sewing Club: “Even if you think you’re not a political person, thinking about repairing your clothes is radical.Learning about sewing and repairing your clothes is radical. It’s a political act.”

A vintage children's book illustration of a very happy raccoon in a log. A small turtle is smiling at him. The copy reads "mending is a radical act."

A vintage children's book illustration of a baby deer in the grass, while a cardinal watches from a nearby branch. The copy reads "repairing your stuff is a radical act."

A vintage children's book illustration of a black cat with white paws frolicking in a meadow. The copy reads "sewing is a radical act."

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Just a little reminder that here in the US, it is illegal for your employer to tell you that you are not allowed to discuss your wages with your coworkers. It's also illegal for your employer to take any disciplinary action against you for talking about your pay with coworkers.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

Can we please stop using the term "white trash?" As a person who grew up poor (and lived in a trailer, like many members of my extended family), I have had this term thrown at me time and time again to remind me that I am nothing because I am poor. It feels out of touch with progressive values.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

WE ARE NOT DOOMED...unless we decide to be doomed. And that applies to EVERYTHING: climate change, plastic pollution, the global rise of fascism. In a time when the worst people/systems want us to give up, resisting is both radical & revolutionary. IMO those are better adjectives than “doomed.”

Two grey cats (one an adult, the other a kitten) on a red background with the words "We are not doomed* *unless we just give up and do nothing."

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

A good friend was blatantly knocked off by TJ Maxx, so I'm riled up about this today. ★ It's not a "victimless crime." ★ Stealing from artists just widens wealth inequality. ★ Fast fashion everything isn’t doing you a “favor” by creating a cheap knockoff of something you like.

A vintage illustration of a bunny playing the flute, with the copy "Stealing from artists isn't cute." A little sticker adds "TRUE STORY."

Stealing from small designers, brands, and makers has become “business as usual” for the fast everything
industry. This is accompanied by a vintage illustration of a fox and a sticker that just says "ugh."

Why does this happen so often?
The fast fashion everything model relies on selling as much stuff as possible, as often as possible. And that means a steady flow of new new new product.
Brands and retailers want to spend as little money as possible on designers and production, so copying others is a faster/cheaper route.
Strangely, many people in high level roles within the retail and fashion industries don’t see anything unethical about doing this. They will often bully designers and buyers into executing these copycat styles.

Stealing with artists widens wealth inequality.

Meaning: the 1% gets richer, while the rest of us get poorer.
Who wants to support that?!

This copy is accompanied by a vintage illustration of a pink bear wearing a blue dress and a straw hat. She's hanging out with a little lamb.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

I’m starting a new sort of “tradition” around here: every week I am going to share a reason to feel optimistic. Why am I feeling optimistic this week? Honestly I’m feeling so excited about how many people have been getting involved with boycotts and sticking with it over the past few months.

Vintage stuffed animal (lion) holding a guitar with the words "Why I am feeling optimistic right now."

I had a moment earlier this week of intense panic and despair. I’ve been alone and sick for weeks now, so my brain is definitely feeling more sad and anxious than usual. I have just been too tired to do the work of staying positive.

I was getting ready for bed, in the bathroom brushing my teeth, and I found myself thinking, “everything is so fucked right now.”

And then I realized that wasn’t entirely true. I thought about all of the people getting involved in boycotts, all of the people having epiphanies about overconsumption and how unhappy it makes them…and I felt…optimistic! I felt so hopeful that we really are at a pivotal moment right now. RIGHT AT THIS EXACT MOMENT.

I’m feeling so excited about how many people have been getting involved with boycotts and sticking with it over the past few months.

My feed is full of people who started boycotting Target back in early February, and they are going strong! In fact, the empowerment they have gained from doing that has actually motivated them to reexamine other aspects of their own personal shopping and consumerism. Now they are canceling their Amazon Prime accounts, skipping Walmart, breaking up with mindless shopping, and looking for joy and fulfillment in other places.

I heart every single post I see across all of the social media platforms where someone is saying “wow, quitting Target or Amazon has started this whole new range of habits in my life.”

And you know what?

It’s something I have been wanting to happen for years! People are realizing that we buy too much stuff.

It doesn’t make us happy...and because we are so unhappy, we keep putting more and more coins in this machine that doesn’t care about us, doesn’t care about this planet, and seems to have no actual future in mind for any of us.

And here we are…people are seeing that. People are feeling that. People outside our bubble of slow fashion and anti-capitalism…they are ready for a change. They want to be a part of that change. They want a better future, too.

This moment is radicalizing people around the world.

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Clotheshorse @clotheshorse.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy for the second time this week. It is planning to close all of its stores in the coming months as it winds down its operations. This is not a eulogy for Forever 21.

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