So Many Ethical Fashion Brands Are SO BORING

Can I admit something?

I AM BORED WITH A LOT OF ETHICAL FASHION RIGHT NOW.

As brands like Everlane keep chasing the vanilla-flavored minimalism of the quite small demographic of slender, white, and wealthy, I couldn't help but notice that I am seeing the same items over, and over, and over, and over, and over again from brand after brand.

And I'm not usually one to be this cranky, at least not so openly. I applaud these brands for doing the right thing when most of the fashion industry is just trying to play that fast fashion hustle and putting profits before people. I get that it's hard out there and everybody needs basics. 

But if I never have to see another black bamboo or hemp t-shirt sack dress that only goes up to a size L, it will be too soon. 

EVERLANE, KAREN KANE, HACKWITH DESIGN HOUSE, SIIZU, and EILEEN FISHER

There is just nothing to covet in a shapeless sack dress. Normcore may still be a thing, but it's not everything. I mean, do you all know that you're all making the same things? And do you realize that Eileen Fisher and Karen Kane have been doing this for years? Is there simply no other aesthetic that matters to ethical fashion shoppers? 

I can tell you that the answer is no.

While there must be sales reasons for the heavy focus on the basics, I have a hard time believing that basics are all shoppers invest in. Fashion is an art that allows people to express themselves. If you look at the state of politics right now and hold it up to ethical fashion, do you see any reflection of the world in all of these linen basics?

If ethical fashion wants to make a bigger impact on the biggest polluter in the world (fashion falls second to oil for that sad accolade), give the fashion world something with a little more life. Some electricity. Some jazz. Some FUN.

There is so much more to fashion than having something clean to wear. There is cultural expression, personal identity, body celebration, even sexual identity.

And bodies are more than just lithe size small. In fact, the average American woman is a size 18. Is it really ethical to keep sizing so exclusive?

To Karen Kane's credit, there are a ton of pieces I'm excited by in her Plus collection right now, and to Eileen Fisher's credit, minimalism has *always* been her thing. She's a pioneer in more ways than one. These two designers don't really deserve to be lumped into this, except to say that they were here staking this out and doing it right first. 

This September, we'll see many brands, including ethically focused ones, get ready to debut their Spring/Summer 18 collections in fashion weeks around the world. I'm crossing my fingers for something a little more inclusive and covetable. All I know is, I didn't fall in love with fashion so that I could blend in like a good little ethical soldier.

Call me Veruca Salt, but I want more.