Your Guide to Thoughtful Shopping
4.18.2025
A “Made in USA” tag is often a dead giveaway that an item is vintage. With denim specifically, most major brands like Levi’s, Lee, or Wrangler moved production overseas in the 90s, so if you see a Made in USA tag, that pair is often at least 30 years old.
Hot Tip: Jeans made before the mid-70s often don’t even have care tags! If it’s missing one entirely but has other signs of quality, it might be a true vintage gem. Harvester International has a great selection of these more treasured styles.
Single-stitching was the standard until the early-to-mid 1990s when it came to t-shirt production. Around then, manufacturers switched to double stitching for durability and faster production—so a single stitch tee likely dates to pre-1995, often from the '80s or early '90s.
Hot Tip: Single-stitch tees often feel softer and more worn in because the fabric quality was a lot higher back then and the cotton was more breathable. You can find some great single-stitch tees like this LA Lakers one at Tried & True Co.
Not only will you save money, but you’ll be reducing overconsumption and producing less waste. Luxury resale retailers like Fashionphile offer high-end handbags for less, while promoting a circular fashion economy, which encourages reuse and repair.
Hot Tip: You can also sell your prestige pieces with the company to make money once the item is sold as an incentive to engage in a more carbon-neutral process.
To be sustainable doesn’t necessarily mean you have to purchase something vintage or pre-owned, it just means you need to be mindful of where you spend your money. Look for 100% fabric formulations (like 100% cotton, 100% linen, 100% silk, etc) and try to support smaller brands where your dollar means more. These smaller brands often have higher price points than fast-fashion retailers because the quality of what you’re getting is better than what you might get from a giant conglomerate, like Amazon. Try investing in pieces from brands like Mod Ref, Bel Kazan and Dylan Lex.
Hot Tip: Fabrics to stay away from include anything that’s made of polyester or polyamide.That is essentially plastic!
It’s now easier than ever to tailor and alter items that you love vs buying something new. Whether you find something amazing at a vintage shop or thrift store but it doesn’t quite fit right, or you’ve lost weight and need to take in your favorite jeans, there are so many ways to sustainably upcycle key items in your wardrobe with the help of an expert seamstress.
Hot Tip: Each year, approximately 11.3 million tons of textile waste are generated in the U.S., a number largely driven by the fast fashion industry. Don’t let your items contribute to that!
There are so many ways to practice sustainability when it comes to managing your wardrobe and curating your personal style. With intentional decision making and mindful approaches to your purchasing patterns, your wardrobe will be sustainable in no time!