The internet (or at least the slow fashion community) is all abuzz about Everlane… again. The brand has come under fire quite a few times for missteps in their business practices, and I wanted to share this latest information with you. Please see this post for the details.
It’s upsetting to read isn’t it? I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone, and feel is should be taken very seriously. Now… I’ve been tagged a few times to acknowledge where I stand, and the vibe that I get from the post (please correct me if I’m wrong) is that @ex.wives.club wants to call in Everlane to hold them accountable, and generously offered the chance for them to apologize and improve in many ways. There are very specific, actionable demands listed in the post and they are appropriate. It seems to me that the bigger picture goal is not “performative allyship”, like quitting and announcing ourselves, but rather creating dialogue and promoting real and lasting change through whatever avenues and baby steps we can muster. And because Everlane customers care — generally shopping there because they have an expectation of this brand to be better — it is a great place to start.
It’s also important to note that the labor that has been put forth by @ex.wives.club is actually an incredible and invaluable resource. Not only for Everlane, but for many companies who are failing or falling short to meet certain criteria; because it shows specifics on how they can make things better. I would even say that it should be referenced and put to use as influencers go forward with any brand collaborations.
Sometimes when these things come to light, there are typically a few loud voices who want us (as supporters) to come out and publicly say “Everlane is canceled!” But IMHO, that doesn’t actually fix anything. We would have to cancel nearly every single fashion brand in existence if we rode high on our morals this way. So I had stated in the comments of the post that I was “interested to see how this all plays out”. It does not mean that I’m literally chillin’, sitting back and waiting. I’m having conversations and trying to see if I can effectively be a voice for change. I want to give Everlane a chance to respond (they know they’re being called out, as addressed here) but it is yet to be seen whether they will meet the deadlines given or not. And while we wait for that moment, I am evaluating my position to come up with my own plan. If the answer is as simple as not accepting gifted items anymore? Done.
But I have to speak about something else on my mind too. These are personal decisions. I will never pretend to know everything about anything. I’m a normal person who wants to work on change within myself and my community, to continue my daily commitments to break down internal racism. The vast majority of that change has always happened behind the scenes, and not shouting from the rooftops of Instagram.
My thoughts about all this don’t really matter, because I do not experience racism, and this is not about me. I will say that I truly think it’s important to call each other in and I’m grateful for every learning opportunity… but wow! We as white women sure are quick to jump on each other if someone doesn’t respond immediately and in the exact way that we want them too. I’ve always internalized before projecting and I’ve never used my platform to shit on other people and I’m not about to start now. No judgement if you align with Everlane or not. I do not have the energy nor the expertise to demand that people act a certain way, or to police where y’all shop. Especially when I don’t even know you. And with that, I ask for a mutual respect, as I navigate the ever increasingly muddy waters of slow/ethical/sustainable fashion.
outfit notes
I’m not going to post my outfit today (of course it is all from Everlane, which is why I felt the need to address what’s going on with them.) But I’m throwing around a couple ideas. For the time being, from now until further notice, I’ve settled on donating 100% of my Everlane commission to the Loveland Foundation. It’s an incredible organization that provides therapy for Black women and girls. This is not to encourage you to shop there, but rather a small way that I can put my money where my mouth is. I will continue to evaluate my relationship with Everlane going forward, taking a break from any gifted items for now. Thanks for reading (I had a Stevie screaming in my ear all day so I know the editing leaves much to be desired. LOL!)
loves,
jaana
Thank you so much for this. I came across your post while searching for Everlane’s actual track record. As a long time supporter and customer I am both disappointed and embarrassed that, as a white woman, I hadn’t really noticed the lack of diversity in their promotions and models. Shame on me. The definition of white privilege. I will try to do better and will be taking my $ elsewhere. Never too old to do better. I would also appreciate any nudges towards companies doing it right
Never too old to do better! I’m still on the lookout for a good “replacement” though. I’ll keep ya posted!
I really appreciate your point of view. I feel like so many people instantly condemn others and companies for taking a misguided step. But I believe we just need some guidance to course correct and sometimes that doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process. I just think everyone should be given the chance to do the work and take the steps to change, however small. Thanks!
I agree. It’s good when these things get exposed because it gives us all a chance to correct! But a wise friend said “if there was racism in my workplace, I wouldn’t quit, I’d figure out a way to make it better!” And I love that outlook.
Your sensitivity and common sense approach to a difficult subject are the same reasons you are such a good momma.
That’s nice of you to say! I mean… nobody is perfect. A chance to grow and improve is always a good thing. ❤️
Hi Jaana. I love your Instagram and have really appreciated how vocal you’ve been the past few weeks, which unfortunately I can’t say the same for several white influencers I used to follow. When I saw how a few people responded to your comment on the ex.wives.club post, i interpreted it differently than you did. (Just like I interpreted your comment differently than perhaps a few of them did—I knew it meant you were reflecting on your next steps vs “just chilling.”) I saw them expressing that they wish you would use your advertising power with Everlane to put pressure on the company to respond quickly and follow the list of demands. While of course as a single consumer I can vote with my dollar and choose not to shop there unless they make big changes, it feels like the influencers who make them tons of money (it’s literally the ONLY path I’ve used to buy their clothes!) would hold more sway if they reached out to their contacts at Everlane to pressure the company even more. That’s what people who follow all of you incredible influencers want—influencing in the other direction!:)
I love what you’ve decided to do so far, and I would encourage you to pressure Everlane as much as you’re able. And please continue to be open about what you’re doing to encourage other influencers to do the same.
Best wishes.
Thank you for the encouragement and perspective!! I really appreciate you taking the time to share both how you interpreted my comment, as well as how you interpreted the others. Sometimes we just need to hear it from a different viewpoint. I will definitely continue following and evaluating what I can do to be most effective. I honestly do not have much clout with the company (I’ve been gifted 3 items and have made about $500 over the past 8 months) but I know even small voices can make waves… so I won’t discount simply putting pressure on them. Thanks again!