Author Spotlight
Blakely Faulkner
With the Sweetheart dance being this saturday, everyone is hustling to find what to wear in order to be prepared. Those who are looking for dresses will probably hop onto the basic websites such as Shein, Urban Outfitters, Zara, and any company that promotes a flashy ad as you scroll throughInstagram.
Easy and cute right? Actually, no.
Maybe the dresses are cute, but the alleged child labor that goes into these dresses definitely is not.
Purchasing from companies who use fast fashion is tempting due to the cheaper prices. Fast fashion is a way to mass produce clothing, the way it works is these companies use fabrics and dyes that are full of chemicals because they are cheap to use. Not only is this bad for the environment, but many of these fast fashion companies overwork and underpay their employees.
The problem with fast fashion is that these companies underpay their workers, and a large majority of them are under the age of 18, according to wisestep.com. So why are we so fast to purchase from these brands that overwork and underpay their workers, when we could be shopping from local boutiques who provide sustainable clothing?
I took on the challenge, starting at Etiquette Boutique located at 6920 Mission Road Suite B, Prairie Village, KS 66208. Etiquette is a local small business and one of my favorite places to shop, avoiding fast fashion.
I first noticed the display case which had a sparkly black dress and a velvet green dress as I approached the door. I walked in and was greeted by a zebra print dress, a blue cross back dress and so many more. There were definitely countless options that would be appropriate for the sweetheart dance.
I then hightailed it to “Array,” a newer teen boutique located in Town Center. Shining out from the cream row of buildings, Array was painted in bright pink which will definitely catch your eye. The walls are covered in floral decor and the windows bring in a positive light.
I was overwhelmed with the amount of dresses available here. Array has an—array (pun intended) of dresses, from sparkly to floral to colorful and everything in between. There’s no lack of Sweetheart dress options here, along with many chic separates for any occasion. You can find Array at 5230 W 119th St, Leawood,KS 66209.
Then, on the other side of town, I headed to Camille La Vie which is located in Oak Park Mall. Every time I go to Oak Park Mall I drag my friends into Camille La Vie to try on dresses. Camille La Vie is unique because they have flattering dresses for every body type, so finding a confidence-boosting dress is easy.
This shop has a great variety of dresses for all formal occasions—long and short, flowy or tight, classy or wild, and so many more styles. Oak Park Mall can be overwhelming, but Camille La Vie’s employees are always eager to help you find your perfect dress.
Finally, I visited Altar’d State, which I’m sure you’ve wandered into before. From my recommendation it is worth wandering. Altar’d is located at 436 Nichole drive Country Club Plaza, 5238 W 119th St, Leawood, KS 66209, and Oak Park Mall. They have a massive stock of different styles including boho, country and more.
There’s lots of colors to choose from and it’s a very inclusive brand. Although Altar’d state isn’t a locally owned boutique, they’re manufactured here in the U.S and are sustainable and eco friendly. Not only is Altar’d state ethically sourced, but their dresses are also generally affordable. In addition, they have locations in Town Center and Oak Park Mall if the Plaza isn’t the closest location to you
Although shopping for dresses can be fun, it’s easy to get caught in the chain of fast fashion. It’s so important that what you’re buying is eco-friendly and ethically fair, and the bonus of helping a locally owned business can never hurt. I hope that if you’re looking for a dress this winter, you stop by one of these shops or another sustainable brand. And remember, eco-friendly looks so good on you!
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