This year, the theme of International Women’s Day is #choosetochallenge — an action that couldn’t be more fitting for what we’re doing here at Factory45. So, to celebrate, I’m featuring five Factory45 Alumni who are choosing to challenge through the sustainable fashion brands they’ve built. Keep reading to get to know these women and make […]
“I am so in LOVE with this pillow…” I’ve said every night for the past week. My husband is sick of hearing about it, but I’m not quite over it yet. When Factory45 alumni Lydia Lopez-Astrov asked me if I was a side or stomach sleeper, I admitted (with my tail between my legs) that […]
Did you know that since 1976, every American president has endorsed a specific theme for Black History Month? When I learned that the 2021 theme is, “Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity,” there were several Black-owned sustainable fashion brands that came to mind, having been co-founded by siblings and family members. It’s those brands that […]
One thing you know for sure: You don’t want to create just any ole’ fashion brand. You want to ensure that it’s ethically-made and prioritizes people and planet. But what does that mean? And even more importantly, how do you ensure that ethical labor practices are built into your business model from the start? Do […]
Right around this time each year, I traditionally share an “annual review” of what went well (and what didn’t go so well) in life and business. I wrote this unconventional goal setting exercise last year, having no idea what would be in store for 2020. And to be honest, it still feels weird to discuss […]
I have something a little different for you this week… Over the past few months I’ve been doing more interviews on other people’s podcasts. Pro tip: this is a great way to spread the word about your own brand or business — podcasts are always looking for new entrepreneurs to feature. So this week, I’m […]
Sisters Oriana Turley and Golden Rogers joke that they’re just “two hippie-kids taking on the internet.” Growing up in Southern Oregon, Oriana and Golden lived a subsistence-based lifestyle, fostered by their parents, as part of the back-to-the-land movement of the early 1970s. They grew up without many modern conveniences, and Golden was the first in […]
When it comes to starting a sustainable fashion brand, what’s the number one thing that takes the longest? Fabric sourcing. It can take as long as six months to find the perfect fabric and materials for your line. That’s why, in the Factory45 program, it’s one of the first things we do. But once you […]
So, last week’s post really hit a chord with people. If you missed the blog post on procrastination, you can read it here. It got me thinking more about the whole concept behind “low barrier to entry” opportunities. If we could make things easier on ourselves, how much more would we do and get done? […]
Lately, I’ve been thinking about why it’s so hard for some people to take action. This is, by far, the biggest obstacle I see stopping entrepreneurs from getting a business off the ground. We fall victim to procrastination — which in essence, is fear. When we’re afraid of doing something, or afraid of the potential […]
