The Intersections of Sustainable Fashion, Black Women and Luxury
Sustainability is another theme taking storm this year, and the Black Gen Z fashion gurus are tapping into the luxury
By Morgan Dunn
Sustainability is another theme taking storm this year, and the Black Gen Z fashion gurus are tapping into the luxury resale market. Sustainable Fashion and Luxury, two quintessential themes in 2021. From pinning luxury inspiration to Pinterest boards to nestling away vacation funds to a Caribbean island getaway, Black women did not come to mess around this year regarding our money or our lifestyle.
The resale industry is a positive force reshaping our environment, closets, and the pockets of small-owned businesses. It’s projected to be worth 51 billion by 2023. The word sustainable was tossed around quite a bit in 2019 and 2020, mainly in fashion magazines, commercial ads, and promotional incentives. It’s now becoming a trendy word that brands are attaching their names to help attract consumers. Which unfortunately diminishes the true meaning behind the cause. Let’s set the record straight; sustainability means “meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”.
Black vintage shops like OneandDunn reframe how Black women should think about fashion, sustainability, and luxury. OneandDunn is a designer resale boutique based in Washington, D.C. Our exclusive pieces thrive at the intersection of luxury and sustainability. As a first-generation Jamaican American, my mother and graduate of The High School of Fashion Industries in New York City taught me the importance of hand-me-downs and looking good but not having to break the bank. My mother and I spent a lot of time in unique thrift stores and consignment shops- trying on clothes, feeling the fabric, and studying the cut of different items. This ultimately sparked my interest and love for sourcing rare vintage pieces.
One and Dunn is a place for women to seek luxury safely and freely. In particular, black women and women of color have experienced racism from large designer corporations in retail spaces. From being followed around the store to being mistaken as a personal shopper, we've disproportionately been neglected. Most, if not all, have experienced shopping while Black (SWB) the burning glares and stares. We’ve witnessed others clench their purses, to store managers constantly ask “if we’re shopping for anything.” SWB and as a woman feels different.
Supporting Black brands, Black women, and sustainability in the fashion industry will shape the future of our experience to the insections of luxury and how that looks and feels for our community.
For now, I leave you with this, keep fighting, supporting, and rallying around Black-owned businesses. It’s no longer a trend but a lifestyle.
With so much love,
Morgan Dunn
Founder and CEO
OneandDunn Boutique