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P E O P L EO V E RP R O D U C TMARCH 2024ISSUE NO. 1THE PROBLEM/ POSITIVE IMPACT PEOPLE/SUSTAINABLE DESIGN/SWOOSH! THE REAL STORYEXPOSINGTHE PROBLEM

TABLE OF CONTENTS817POSITIVE IMPACT PEOPLESWOOSH! THE REAL STORYWhat is NIKE doing behind thescenes, when it comes to fashiontransparency in terms of fair tradeand climate change?60114THE PROBLEMA PLEDGE FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGNThe issues surrounding fast-fashion have less to do withpolitics and more to do with thehuman psyche. How can we...Highlighting 4 major players inthe sustainable space, and how we,as consumers can take part. A DESIGN SKETCH, RIPPED OFF BY SHEIN/Photography by Casey HoThe company, Trashie, shows ushow to do sustainability right withthe innovative Take Back Bag.

D E S I G N T E A MEDITOR-IN-CHIEFJenny WiglesworthMANAGING EDITORJenny WiglesworthPHOTOGRAPHERSContributing work from various photographers - namedCONTRIBUTING WRITERSHXXXART DIRECTIONEmily Henry @emilyhenryMay WiglesworthXavier WiglesworthFront Cover photo: provided by Blogilates creator, Cassey Ho Published by Jenny Wiglesworth, People over ProductIdaho, United States www.enneasisters.com/rawandregal@gmail.com02ASSOCIATE STYLE EDITORYun-A JohnsonENTERTAINMENT EDITORSHaylee PennFrida LidbomMARKET EDITORMisty Lake

LETTER“fast fashion isn’t free.someone, somewhere ispaying. “Lucy SiegleEditor-in-ChiefJENNY WIGLESWORTHWriting this letter is somewhat of a surreal practice. Assomeone who’s spent decades in the sustainable fashionspace, educating persons from all fronts, I found thereto be a lack of transparent information provided to theend consumer. Conversations ending in doubt ormisunderstanding, with people who desperately want toethically be responisbly consumers, led me to begin theprocess of creating this copy. This publication’s purpose is to be a one-stop readingfor those partaking in fashion - basically anyone whopurchases clothing. The magazine will bring artists,company owners, big business, technological advancersand others, to help you, the reader, get a fullunderstanding of what fast-fashion is and how we canmake a difference. My desire is to provide access to a deeper understanding of how human rights, climate change, consumer valueof products work together and how simple changescreate big movements. I hope you enjoy this first issue. FROM THEEDITOR03Photo Credit: Amber Tyler PhotographyJenny Wiglesworth

FROM OURREADERS“My sustainability efforts, arerooted in hearing and connectingwith people’s stories inBangladesh and India, andwanting to weave those storiesinto my product, and into myclient’s lives. Upcycling fabricscraps into new yarn; usingancient traditions of hand weavingto create new fabrics; utilizing fairtrade factories that providechildcare, healthcare and trainingto employees…Personal confidenceincreases, as we reconnect withthe story of our clothes. That’swhy sustainability is important infashion.”Emily Harris"Sustainability in fashion isn't justabout saving the planet; it's aboutempowering people worldwide. It'sa movement that unites us for thegreater good, shedding light onglobal injustices while paving theway for positive change."EMILY HENRY04This is a dedicated space forfuture readers. We hope that this is anamazing opportunity to seehow both our magazine isimpacting your life andconsumer choices, whilealso giving us ideas on whatelse you would like to seeand read.

exposingthe problemFast-fashion continues to evolveinto not only a harmful productaffecting the climate, but also asocial construct depleting humanrights. Photography provided by Faire05

What exactly is the problem, when it comes to fast-fashion? Simplified answers won’t create solutionshere. Like most product in the global economy,everything is created from a multi-layered, multi-faceted space. The goal is to understand the layersmore clearly in order to make best decisionssurrounding the fact that fast-fashion exists; and it’snot going away anytime soon. So what exactly is fast-fashion? Fast fashion, in themost general terms, is the outcome of a layered mix ofindustry that includes: companies, employees,advertisers, politicians, investors, influencers andconsumers, working within the fashion space. It’sbasically the global marketplace creating a product,but in a more expedient way, based on demand andprofit, creating social, economic and culturalproblems. The problems cannot be blamed on any one entity.Once something becomes popularized and a demandis forecasted, companies desire profits, whileconsumers’ desire products and everyone else inbetween has their individual roles to play. It was onlya few decades ago, in the fashion space, when a newproduct was created within quarterly seasons. Today,according to The Good Trade, “fashion brandsproduce about 52 ‘micro-season’ a year – or one new‘collection’ a week. That seems both mind-bogglingand impossible, but the cover photo on this month’sissues demonstrates the true disparity of consumer’sbuying habits. The garment pile in Chile is but one of many growing‘mountains’ of clothing as a result of fast-fashion. Thediscarded clothing in the Atacama Desert of Chile“has reached such huge proportions that it can beseen from space”, according to space.com. Thismountain, growing by 39,000 tons a year, is but afraction of the 92 million tons of waste a year thefashion community creates. This waste is creating agastronomical environmental impact. This fast-fashion cycle of cheap manufacturing, frequentconsumption and short-lived garment use continuesto abuse the environment causing abundance of wateruse, chemical pollution, CO2 emissions and textilewaste. These reasons alone should provide us withreasons to make changes.Unfortunately, fast-fashion’sglobal negative impact is not purely within theenvironmental sector. The price of fast fashion could arguably be seen as thelargest threat to human rights. Many have heard ofthe Rana Plaza incident of 2013, where a buildingcollapsed in Bangladesh, injuring 2,500 people andkilling 1,134. This factory building housed fivegarment factories supplying at least 41 known globalbrands. Since this occurrence, human rights activistshave labored for better working conditions, especiallysurrounding safety. Although positive changes wereset in place directly after this ‘wakeup call’, thebuilding safety was not the only issue at hand.According to an article by Larisa Epatko, of PBS,“Garment workers earn the equivalent of $64 permonth,” this is not a livable wage. And, Bangladesh isnot alone in this. The key underlying the success formost companies is exploitation. With long hours andlow to no pay (at times), companies use theseunethical practices to reduce their bottom line. Theyfail to “pay wages sustainable to sustain a decentstandard of living….targeting countries with poorlabor laws and human rights protection”, according toMarian Elshahawy, of Project Provision. This is simply the beginning of outlining the affectsthat fast-fashion has on the world. - J. WiglesworthA photo of workers, creating fashion accessories. 06

POSITIVEBy Yun-A Johnson/Photography provided by Goshopia “Sustainable fashion will never be cool.” Anna Wintour, editor in chief ofVogue, was quoted saying, years ago. Wintour was referring to a commonmisconception about sustainable fashion - in that it’s limiting and catersonly to a certain audience. Fast forward a few years and the word ‘sustainability’ seems to beeverywhere in fashion and other industries. While it’s intriguing to seesuch a shift, it’s harder to decipher which brands are ‘doing it right’ whenit comes to sustainable fashion.‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ can be a helpful framework to understand thedifferent branches of sustainable fashion. Those three ‘R’s just scratchthe surface, however. There are many more ‘R’s that demonstrate howexpansive sustainable fashion is Reflect,, re-imagine, re-wear and rotateare the four discussed here. IMPACT PEOPLE07“Sustainability isnot an end goal, it'sa journey.” – EileenFisher

"The most sustainablegarment is already inyour wardrobe." — Orsola de Castro.Here are four brands ‘doing it right’ by makingsustainable fashion an accessible and seamless part ofdaily life.REFLECT -For sustainability education that feels like aconversation with friends. Conscious Chatter podcast: Where What We WearMatters. 08Pictured: Kestrel Jenkins and Natalie Shehata/Photographs @consciouschatterWhat they’re doing right: Teaching sustainable stylingskills. This class shows, step by step, how to recreatelooks from your shopping wishlist, with clothes fromyour personal closet. Anyone looking to expand theirsustainable styling skills can join the online course,and community, called YAS Stylists.What they’re doing right: With a focus on stories,thought provoking questions, and a diverse range ofguests - this podcast goes beyond learning the ‘facts’to thinking deeply and differently about your clothes.They’re also very engaged with their listeners'interests and topic suggestions, inviting everyone tobe a part of the conversation.Re-IMAGINE - For the shopping lover trying to buyless.YAS ‘VIBE’ class: Get the look you want, using whatyou have. Pictured: Yun-A Johnson/ Photographs @youraestheticstyle

REWEAR - For the motivation to take stock of what’sin your closet.Indyx app: Like a library for your closet.08ROTATE - For the people you’d love to borrow clothesfrom, and vice-versa. By Rotation app: Rent, lend, and/or sell designerfashion.What they’re doing right: Helping you fall back in lovewith your closet. In addition to a categorized system,you and your friends can share your digital closetswith each other to coordinate outfits, get input,etc. Ifyou want professional tips, choose from a list of wellknown stylists to create a personalized lookbook withitems from your closet. Lookbook styled by @christina.mychas/IndyxWhat they’re doing right: A community thatcelebrates personal style over trends. Users on thisapp have a wide range of styles, brands, sizes, andprice points that they offer. The ability to rent clothesdirectly from a person whose style you love is oneaspect. Something that makes this app different isthe unique friendship and community that develop from it. Notice a common thread with these brands?Sustainable fashion is even better when we cometogether as a community. Whether you’re new tosustainable fashion or not, these brands offer amazingtools to use and share with others.Styled by @sarahpriscaaBy Rotation

09CONTRIBUTING ARTIST/XAVIER WIGLESWORTH

CONTRIBUTING ARTIST/ EMILY HENRYWHAT IS CIRCULARFASHION?

ADVERTISEMENT“Demand quality, not just in the products you buy,but in the life of the person who made it.” – Orsola de Castro, an upcyclist, fashion designer,author, and co-founder of Fashion Revolution, anactivism movement which works towards asustainable fashion industry.

A PLEDGE FORSUSTAINABLEDESIGNCounteracting fast-fashion, byrescuing clothing from landfillsCould this be the answer?By Jenny Wiglesworth /Photography by Trashie Team11

Trashie demonstrates how rags really can be turnedinto riches. They recently launched what they arecalling, the Take Back Bag – a bag that proposes howto solve some of the problems that the fast-fashionindustry is creating. How could this little bag possiblyrevolutionize the industry?We’ve seen similar bags presented, but they somehowmiss the mark. Take ThredUp, for example. As aprominent and noteworthy second-hand, online thriftstore, they also offer a bag. Their bag allows forconsumers to send in their used clothes in hopes ofhaving their clothing selected, to be finally sold on theThredUp site. However, when we’re speaking second-hand clothing, the return on the dollar is prettyminuscule. Although that doesn’t matter in the grandscheme of saving the world and all, but to most of usat the end of the day money does matter. (Althoughthey don’t take money upfront for the bag, likeTrashie does, they do charge approximately $18 fromany profits, for providing the bag).Where Trashie’s Take Back Bag differs is they areproviding both a solution for the environment and away for the consumer to earn something they value.Instead of hoping and waiting for a return on your oldclothes, Trashie consumers instantly get a $20 creditto use towards a periphery of top-tiered fashionbusinesses. Some of which include companies like Madewell, Dr.Martins and Cocokind. It offers consumers endlesspossibilities and truly feels like getting something fornothing, while doing the world a little good. What we love most about this opportunity is it worksfor all layers of the industry – the companies involved,the environment, the end consumer and the middle-man – Trashie. Each person plays a pivotal role andcannot be done without everyone getting somethingvalued from it. Recently, Kristy Caylor, CEO of Trashie, announcedon LinkedIn, her goal to “create a scalable model totransform commerce”, has always been her mission.She was absolutely correct when she spoke into thefact that no-one wants to spend time and energy inturning in used clothes to only get $1-2. People aren’tmotivated simply by doing ‘the right thing’. Althoughit’s challenging to admit to that sometimes, theconsumer tells the story., and they are hypotheticallyshouting, ““what’s in it for me?”Of course it’s not only the consumer that makesdecisions based on money, Corporations want theirpiggy bank returns. Although, they may speak intomaking changes, lowering carbon emissions andcreating less fast –fashion, at the end of the day theystill desire, and need, to make money.Trashie continues to show us how they are doingthings better by reporting what they are doing andhow they are doing it. Unlike many in the industry,Trashie leads the way in their transparency in landfillreduction, water savings and carbon emissionreductions, all in real time. The Take Back Bag may be an innovative idea today,but we hope it to be a sort of fashion norm in years tocome. When we create a reason for the consumer tocare, we create a solution for the industry to change.This truly could be the fashion revolutionizer thatwe’ve been waiting for. 12

Photography contributed by Remake10Remake is a global advocacyorganization fighting for fair pay andclimate justice within the clothingindustryPhoto contributed by RemakeMake a real change and donate today:https://remake.world/donations-page/

SWOOSH!THE REAL STORY“Injustice anywhere is a threat tojustice everywhere.”Martin Luther King, African-American civil rights activist By Hayley Penn / Photography by Danilo Capece 17

To the average consumer, fashion is a metaphor forsocietal norms. Boxed and folded to be shipped out tothe next person not knowing where products camefrom or what they are made of. Defined by fleetingtrends and easy access, the narrative of fashionsometimes loses sight of its broader societal impact.Fashion has a narrative. And a powerful one at that.The brightside about easily losing this narrative isthat it is malleable and can be changed. Consumerscrave speed and trendiness, all while professingconcern for the environment, yet often remainunaware of the origins of their clothing. It falls uponmajor corporations to deeply consider theenvironmental impact of their role in the relentlesscycle of consumerism. As the President and CEO ofNike remarked in 2011, "sustainability will be at thenexus of transformation in business, economics, andmarkets''. Together let’s dive deeper into Nike’scurrent stage in the sustainable fashion movementand uncover what they are doing well and what theycan improve on.Good on You (Good on You, 2024)From, Good on You, the world’s leading source forfashion brand ratings, the prevalence of Nike’s lack ofefforts to pay workers fair and liveable wages is noted.Good on You sources their information directly fromthe brands themselves through their own publicreporting. They take a look at how the company ismeeting up to their own environmental policies,shedding light on what happens under the surfaceand aiming to eliminate greenwashing. While Nike isnot turning a cold shoulder to the impact the fashionindustry has on our climate and environment they arealso not keeping this at the forefront of their bestpractices. Good on You reports there are no effortsbeing taken to report biodiversity in Nike’s supplychain. They are also not keeping track of theiralignment to the latest science necessary to meet thegoals of the Paris Agreement, an international treatyaimed at addressing climate change. Looking further,the company has done little to ensure that workersare being paid liveable wages across the supply chainand provide no evidence to ensure they are followingtheir said policy to improve wages. Furthermore, Nikereceived a score of 51-60 percent on the FashionTransparency Index (FTI), an initiative that assessesand ranks major fashion brands based on theirtransparency in regards to social and environmentalpractices on their supply chain. While the averagescore on the FTI is 26 percent, for a brand that claims78 percent of all products contain some recycledmaterial, we expect more. While the company hasmany ideas in place to make sure their employees arebeing treated fairly and to the highest standards, thereis little data and evidence to support their claims.Good on You is not the only climate conscious groupto notice Nike’s impact in the industry. Remake, aglobal advocacy organization fighting for fair pay andclimate justice in the fashion industry, has also takeninterest in Nike’s behavior. 12PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADOBE

Nike is alltalk - NOGAMERemake (Remake, 2024)According to Remake Fashion Accountability Report ,a review and discussion of fashion companies andtheir goals toward reaching their social andenvironmental goals, numerous efforts have beenmade to market Nike’s adoption of resale productofferings and repair and upcycling services, butlimited information on what has actually been done torecycle and reuse products has been provided to thepublic. Nike continues to make the same amount ofnew products that they always have and there havebeen no reports to show product production numbershave decreased. Therefore any resale option that thecompany provides is not a replacement for the viciouscycle of fast fashion that the company is contributingto. As we look closer at the claims Nike has made topositively contribute to the climate crisis it is obviousthere is substantial work that needs to be done. Move to Zero Campaign (CakMak, 2023)In 2019, Nike launched its "Move to Zero" campaign,an initiative spotlighting the company's commitmentto environmental sustainability. This campaign shedslight on the fashion industry's detrimentalenvironmental impact and advocates for reducing itscarbon footprint. The campaign’s primary aim is toelevate industry standards, making sustainableproduct options more accessible to consumers(CakMak, 2023).14PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADOBEPHOTOGRAPHY BY ADOBE

The Impact of Nike Inc.’s Utilization of SustainableBusiness Practices in Their Marketing Strategy onBrand Equity, Brand Image and BrandLoyalty(Dupree, 2020)After the launch of Nike’s “Move to Zero” campaignresearch was carried out to analyze what populationof individuals was most succumbed by the campaign.Analyzing the audience that Move to Zero wasresonating most deeply with. Researcher, Alex R.Dupree, from Kalamazoo college reported theirfindings that age was found to have the mostsignificant relationship with initial consumerreactions around sustainability initiatives, like Moveto Zero. As a consumer this information isempowering for the future of sustainability. First andforemost ensuring the campaign stays honest in theirword, transparent in their marketing, and diligent inimplementing these practices is most important. Butknowing the campaign is supported by young peoplearound the world is promising. If Nike keeps up withwhat they claim they want to accomplish with Moveto Zero, not only their massive brand following butalso research has shown the power in their supportsystem. Nike is one of the biggest sports brands inthe world. They have the power to change thefashion industry for the better. And while they seemto be taking steps in the right direction, it is up to allof their customers to hold them accountable for theiractions (Dupree, 2020). Greenwashing is one of themost common deceptive marketing practices that isconfusing to consumers and unacceptable in theindustry. Sad to say this is not the only deceivingpractice Nike has participated in.Nike Hit with Class Action of ‘Greenwashed’Sustainability Claims (Corrado, 2023)Truth be told Nike has not been as honest as they areletting on with their campaign. In May 2023, Nikewas charged with a class action lawsuit forgreenwashing. Nike had been using Move to Zero tofalsely advertise that certain apparel is made fromsustainable sourced materials. However, over 90percent of the products in Nike’s sustainabilitycollection were made from non biodegradablematerials and virgin synthetic fibers. Nike worked thesystem and tricked the minds of consumers. Claimingthey sourced from recycled materials, the productsthat actually weremade from recycled materials weremade from recycled nylon and polyester which are notbiodegradable any way! These textiles require adamaging amount of energy to extract and processthus adding fuel to the microplastic pollution crisis.The claim also emphasizes that even though Nike isusing “recycled” polyester to make their products, theway in which they are going about it is all wrong.Since the majority of recycled polyester comes from“recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottlesthat have been mechanically recycled into polyesterfiber for clothes…” and is being downcycled by Nike inthis case, there is no circulatory happening. Thetextiles are ultimately losing strength as they continueto be recycled and are destined for the landfill and/orin the ocean.16PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADOBEPHOTOGRAPHY BY ADOBE

Dear Nike, Just Don’t Do It (Mashan, 2021)Tomiris Mashan, a Master’s student in ComparativeSocial Research at the National Research UniversityHigher School of Economics, delves into the impact ofsocial media and its relationship to labor conditionsfor Nike sweatshop workers. Her research shows Niketo be one of the many users of visual semantics. Atechnique used to provoke emotions and act onindividual reminiscence; a marketing strategy totarget consumers. Similarly, a technique known asculture jamming uses “emotionally-cultivated brandsand logos of corporations to direct consumerattention to the reality of human rights, labor abuses,and environmental degradation…”. Valentini, publicrelations researcher from the University of Bologna,analyzed data using both visual semantic and culturejamming analysis to discover how instagram postsand comments affect awareness on the issue of forcedlabor in Nike sweatshops. Putting emphasis on howhighlighting these truths can catalyze global actionfor putting an end to harsh working conditions.Mashan drew from the comments section of wellknown influencers in the research and sociologyspace on social equality. Mashan found that the mostpopular posts were directed toward or involved Nike.The main frame of Mashan’s research is the harshtruth that Nike has been an active contributor to the“slavery” that is maltreatment of garment workers.Ultimately, bringing awareness to the problemthrough collaborative research efforts and sheddinglight on the power of social media to showcase theissue. Moving forward with the intention to makeNike take accountability for their actions and furtheruse social media as a tool to broadcast the truth. Nikecan’t hide forever, and they know that.In conclusion, while Nike has taken steps towardsustainability, including initiatives like "Move toZero," it must address criticisms regardingtransparency, fair labor practices, and environmentalimpact. By fostering accountability, transparency, andgenuine commitment to sustainability, Nike can leadby example in the fashion industry, demonstratingthat profitability and environmental responsibility arenot mutually exclusive. They are slowly making theirway to a greener and transparent company as a whole,but this will take time and they need to be heldaccountable. 12PHOTOGRAPHY BY KOVOB58 - ADOBEPHOTOGRAPHY BY ADOBE

22CONTRIBUTING STUDENT ARTIST/MAY WIGLESWORTH

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DESIGNERKO SWIM HAWAIIC R Y S T A LP I T T S13

Ethically Made. Eco-conscious. By Misty Lake/Feature photo - Photography by @thisisbrill"Step into the world of handmade eco-friendly luxuryfashion…" touts the website for Maui swimweardesigner Crystal Pitts. The owner/designer of KOSwim Hawaii shares the joys, challenges andinspiration behind building the sustainable brand thathas fans raving.It's not uncommon to see Crystal rocking her cheekyseamless bikinis while on a waterfall photo shoot, atbeach clean-ups or even at home while creatingcustom pieces for her online shoppers. I had theopportunity to catch up with Crystal and learn abouther journey. We discuss what sets KO Swim Hawaiiapart from other brands on the island and how havinga sustainable and ethical brand has an impact on thecommunity at large.What inspired your journey into the fashionindustry?"As a kid I would always modify the clothes that myparents bought me. I changed them up in a way to fitmy personality to make them more 'me'."14Model @pa_uwelalei: @ho’anoleisPhotographed by Katie @nixie.of.Maui

Photography by @mauikao"It wasn't until I had traveled to Thailand as a youngadult that I was really inspired to enter the fashionindustry. I was so excited to go to the textile shopsand I would just create my own clothes for the day,utilizing the local seamstresses. I wanted to berespectful of the culture when I entered the gorgeoustemples. I'd honor them by wearing long dressesmade of beautiful, local fabrics, but still putting mypersonal touches on them."Crystal's reverence for implementing culturalattributes and being inspired by the environment hascarried on in her designs throughout the years. Whenasked what sets her apart from all the other Mauiswimwear designers, she passionately replied "Iactually make everything myself!" From creating herown prints, to coming up with new cuts, shapes andstyles, right down to the last hidden stitches, she doesit all. This is actually quite rare in the industry.Crystal explains how easy it is for companies tochoose from a template of "styles" by cheap overseasmanufacturers (who may or may not have ethicalpractices or pay a fair wage) and slap their brandlabel on it claiming it was "Made in Maui".Another frustrating (yet common) challenge in luxuryfashion she has experienced are other brandsmimicking hers within the community by outsourcingcopycat designs and selling them as cheap knockoffs.Undoubtedly these copycats are not made with thesame ethics, integrity and eco-consciousness."It's much harder the way I do it. It's more expensive,time-consuming and takes a whole lot of dedicationand creativity but I know I'm giving my customersswimwear with incredible value- something totallynew, luxurious & unique. Every single piece ishandmade with love."The Hawaiian influence in her designs range frombeautiful Polynesian tribal prints to fun and playfulpapayas, birds of paradise and manō (sharks). Thecolors and names of her pieces even pay homage tosome of her favorite Hawaiian attractions andwildlife.14Being eco-friendly has always been a cornerstone ofKO Swim's mission. I asked, "How does your brandcontribute to sustainability?""Whenever possible, I choose fabrics made of recycledmaterials and am so conscious of reducing waste thatI keep and use every single little scrap of fabric I have.It can actually become an issue," she laughs.Crystal added "Oftentimes the fabric scraps are madeinto scrunchies, hair ties or used as ribbon to wrapgifts." Recently, she was able to donate the scraps tomake a diaper cake for a new mom.Along with aiming for zero waste in her business, it isreally important to her to produce a quality productthat lasts. She recognizes that double-stitching highstress areas for extra security may seem minor, butsince many pieces can be worn several ways, this onlyadds to the longevity. A number of the pieces are evenreversible! It's like getting 4+ swimsuits in one andsomething to consider if you're building a capsulecloset.

Model @pa_uwelalei: ho/anoleisPhotography by Katie @nixie.of.MauiHow does it feel to be a trendsetter?Crystal humbly told me what an honor it has been tobe recognized within the industry. She has beeninvited to showcase her styles internationally at Ibiza& Miami Swim Week as well as being featured inVanity Faire and Cosmo (Vietnam).But one of the biggest honors, she said, was to benamed as the Best of Maui for swimwear design. Thisled to the incredible opportunity to have herswimwear carried in The Fairmont - Kea Lani inWailea, Maui.Crystal is so grateful to have them recognize her hardwork and unique style as well as supporting a trulylocal brand. This is a huge stepping stone in reachingthe goal of expanding her retail presence in luxuryresorts worldwide- especially ones who strive topromote ethical and sustainable fashion.She mentions how fun it is to see KO Swim all overthe island in different settings. A popular bartenderwill wear her bikini top under a mesh shirt as her"uniform". A professional can wear the one-pieceunder a blazer as a bodysuit with a pencil skirt. Infact, the fabrics she chooses are so soft andcomfortable (not to mention sexy!) that many willwear them as undergarments as well. As her websitesays:"…Day and night our adventures of a swimwear lovestory continues."When it comes to designers that inspire her, sheconfesses that she doesn't even follow or pay muchattention to other swimwear brands."I don't want to be influenced by their products. Iwant to come at each new design with a clean slateand an open mind.""Really I am influenced by the lifestyle here on Maui,the Polynesian culture, the waves and curves of theocean, the foliage and the people themselves. I wantwomen to put on a KO swimsuit and feel empowered,sexy, comfortable and on top of the world!"We want that for her too.14Photography by KO Swim HawaiiModel @amanda.meyersPhotography by @thisisbrill

H U M A N R I G H T S A R EN O T A P R I V I L E G EC O N F E R R E D B YG O V E R N M E N T . T H E YA R E E V E R Y H U M A NB E I N G ' SE N T I T L E M E N T B YV I R T U E O F H I SH U M A N I T Y .M O T H E R T E R E S A

TELLING THEIRSTORYGarment workers are acornerstone of theAmerican economyand, for far too long,have faced unsafeworking conditions,wage theft, andpiecework pay, whichoften prioritizes fastfashion over the safetyof workers...By Jenny Wiglesworth/Photography by Adobe17

“A reminder (that) someone,somewhere, is always payingthe price.” Refinery29Photography by Xunan TunichAlthough many companies involved are not disclosed,it isn’t hard to imagine which ones are based on retailprices alone. Sun-Yi is but one of many garment workers (a.k.a.slaves) who are “reeducated” by stitching clothing andmaking products, for what amounts to be over 15hours a day. They are persecuted, tortured and forcedto create products that are sold globally. Pang’s documentation of what can only be describedas slave labor, demonstrates the true cost ofAmerica’s cheap goods and a direct result ofconsumer’s shopping habits. Fashion like this, from companies involved in slavelabor, or even low wages within the garment districts,is not worth it. It’s time to awaken our eyes to thereality of why our clothing is so cheap and makebetter choices when it comes to shopping for fashion. 14Photography by KemedoWhat do we know about garment workers?I recently read the book, “Made in China”, by AmeliaPang. This book documents reality we all too oftenwant to believe don’t exist. Journalist and author, Amelia Pang begins her storywith a horrifying note written by a Chinese prisoner –‘ “Sir: If you occasionally buy this product, pleasekindly resend this letter to World Human RightOrganization. Thousands people here who are underpersicuton of the Chinese Communist PartyGovernment will thank and remember you forever.” ‘ Amelia Pang investigates the ins and outs of thisstory, unveiling the truth of Sun Yi (author of thenote) and many other within the Uyghur minoritygroup, in China. Sun Yi, a young engineer, was caught up in a non-violent political rally and ends up captured and placedin what can only be seen as a ‘death camp’. Throughfirsthand interviews, she exposes the exploitation andabuse occurring within the guarded network ofLaogai. Disguised as a legitimate business, orbusinesses, she unveils the disparaging truth of itbeing a space where people are corralled by force tocreate product, based on demand. Photography by Sean K

Sustainability in Fashion is something we can all be apart of. It doesn’t mean that we have to end climatechange, nevers shop for clothing again or stop crimesagainst humanity in the fair trade space. It does mean that we can do our part, be it small orlarge, be it one thing or many, to daily be a personthat is desiring positive change. It begins with one.HOW TODO ITBETTER19PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY FAIREPHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY ALABASTER BABY

ASK GOOD QUESTIONS for self-shopping habitsDO YOUR RESEARCHfor Self & Human RightsBefore we shop, ask where the product comes from. Isit from China, India, Viatnam (places known toparticipate in slave labor)? What is said product madeof? Is it made of something pure such as linen, cotton& bamboo, or blended polyesters (known to pollute)?Doing research on anything seems boring andtiresome, but there are some great resources in thisspace that make it very easy. Download the ‘Good onYou’ app to have access to what companies are doingwell and those that need some work.1 220EMMA WATSON - SUPPORTERGOOD ON YOUCHINESE GARMENT WORKERS/SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

When one person buys something, its’ not big deal.Multiply that by a few billion, and now we have alandfill of clothing. Become a part of the solution byshopping less or take part in a #nonewclothes season,where thrifting is the non-negotiable option.When we shop and support local businesses, we areplacing our investments in people we know,supporting the local economy. This investment iscircular, giving back in non-obvious ways. 3 421SUPPORT LOCALfor economy, climate & youSHOP LESSFor human rights & climate change

REFERENCESAll rights reserved. No part of this publicationmay be reproduced in any form or by any meanswithout the prior permission of the publisher. Printed by Mixam, in the United States ofAmerica. 8-1001SWOOSH - THE REAL STORYNike Hit with Class Action of‘Greenwashed’ SustainabilityClaims (Corrado, 2023)Nike Sustainability Targets (Nike,2024) Remake Accountability Report(Remake, 2024)Good on You (Good on You, 2024)Dear Nike, Just Don’t Do It(Mashan, 2021)Misleading sustainabilitymessaging (Bingaman, 2022) The Impact of Nike Inc.’sUtilization of Sustainable BusinessPractices in Their MarketingStrategy on Brand Equity, BrandImage and Brand Loyalty (Dupree,2020)Move to Zero Campaign (CakMak,2023)15-19POSTIVE IMPACT PEOPLEConscious Chatter Podcastwww.consciouschatter.comYAS Vibe Classwww.youraestheticstyle.comThe Indyx Appwww.myindyx.comThe By Rotation Appwww.byrotation.com12-13TrashieThe Take Back Bagwww.trashie.ioLinkedIN postKristy Caylorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kristycaylor/A PLEDGE FOR SUSTAINABLEDESIGN29-30TELLING THEIR STORYMade in China (Pang, Amelia, 2021

SUBSCRIBE TO PEOPLE OVER PRODUCTMAGAZINEINTERESTED INADVEERTISING?Enjoy huge savingsFree home deliveryGet your copy before everyone elseClick the codeGet 10% off now &get your product/service in front ofsustainablly fashion-minded people. Never miss an issue! P E O P L E O V E R P R O D U C TMARCH/2023ISSUE NUMBER NO. 1