alt fashion brands worth supporting [reviews], mention of dollskill, purchasing/money, police brutality
A month or so ago, some larger alternative fashion brands got hard-cancelled.
They'd been problematic for years, but some friends and I had struggled to find cool alternatives. And then one of them rallied in defense of police brutality and Geneva Convention violations, and frankly, it was the last straw. I decided that boycotting these brands wasn't enough-- I had to fall in love with their competition.
I set aside about $200 and decided I'd see what I could find from more ethical shops. If I can get threads working, this'll be a thread. :)
alt fashion brand review [hissyfit], mention of purchasing/money
HissyFit (UK-based, ethical mfg standards, woman-owned) is hella sick, though a little bubblegum femme for me.
They've got some rad futuristic, antifashion vibes, they've got some pretty rave girl vibes, and they've got some femme/them fatale vibes. I bought most of the stuff they had in black and honestly? Not bad.
For a little color, I suggest checking out their isolation mystery packs, and adding on an item or two from their main shop that you're pretty sure you'll like. Budget about $60-$110 USD for a cool haul, and expect to wait a bit as they ship to the US from the UK (about $10/package). Most of their designs are pretty revealing, though they do have some very cool high-waisted pants for folks who feel like showing less skin.
I'm not sure what good-manners on the fediverse are, so I'll hold off on dropping links unless someone asks. :)
alt fashion brand review [Crooked River], mention of purchasing/money, size exclusion
Crooked River (US, black-woman-owned and run) is busy, but sooo cool.
Instagram sensation Crooked River has sharp, futuristic, crisp, neon street-style vibes. If you're in a rush, check their instagram to make sure they're actively shipping orders-- this is a one-woman-run shop, and she gets *busy*.
I ordered a bathing suit ($50 USD) from this shop and although it took a while to arrive (there was a substantial backlog when I placed my order), the workmanship looks good and the reflective patterning on it is crisp and bright. Despite being a pretty risky cut, my suit still fit my body well and stayed street legal.
Note that the sizes in this shop only range from small (US) to large.
alt fashion brand review [ugogirl], mention of purchasing/money, size exclusion
UGOGIRL (UK-based, owned by a woman-of-color) is so much cooler than me. Because their site is hard to find with a websearch, their address is ugogirl dot shop.
This shop has hard-girl vibes written all over it, plus some comfy loungewear. I picked up a long-sleeved, turtleneck bodysuit with high-cut leg holes, and let me tell you, this piece adds an edge to everything I've worn with it. The vibe here is fierce and club-friendly.
I spent about $50 USD for 3 pieces, including shipping, from the UK to the US. PoC and woman-owned, this is a designer to watch.
I did notice that the largest size they included with just 'large'. While their size 'small' shorts stretched to accommodate my 40-or-so inch hips without much trouble, larger folks may have more trouble.