Have you ever had a love affair with a store?
I can't say that's a usual question I would ask, but in this case it's true.
I'm talking about Sassafras Seattle, the sweetest store on 1st Ave in Downtown Seattle, just blocks away from Pike Place Market where I have my stand!
The great thing about this store isn't just its owner Amy. She does a beautiful job of curating clothing and accessories handmade by women between Portland, OR and Vancouver, BC. That's a 300 mile distance and while it sounds like a lot it's actually a small circle where all the pieces are made.
Not only does she have 8 in-house designers that make their clothing downstairs, but she also works with about 60 other independent women!
In a world where fast fashion and things ordered on Amazon are becoming the norm, it's a refreshing change to go into a shop where you know the pieces aren't made with underpaid or underage labor in a huge factory that dumps their waste into the water stream.
Let's be real, most of us don't want to think about all the intricacies of where our clothing and jewelry come from - coming up with excuses about how we don't have time to go to a store or how we can't afford the investment of well made pieces.
I totally get it and have been there, but I want to pose a challenge.
Can you start to think about where your clothing and jewelry are coming from?
Just buying one piece of jewelry or one item of clothing handmade instead of from a large company starts to shift the conversation. Plus, most handmade things are going to last longer and you won't see everyone else wearing them!
Supporting small businesses and women owned businesses can change our local economies and change the world.
Next time you're in Seattle (or online) check out Sassafras and the beautiful pieces Amy has curated! It's by far my favorite place to shop.
She also has a selection of my jewelry as well so you can try it on in person and find the perfect earrings to match your new dress!
Happy handmade shopping babes!
xo Twyla
