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 [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.
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.