By the time I was 6 years old, I already knew I wanted to work in fashion. So, when I found myself in my twenties working as a stylist for a major global fashion company, it was a dream come true. I became fully immersed in the world of fast fashion, where many young aspiring stylists get their start.

For nearly a decade, I worked for the kind of fashion giants that sell trendy, inexpensive clothing made overseas to young women. As much as I loved my career, my awareness of the darker side of the industry continued to grow. Fashion production comprises 10% of total global carbon emissions. It depletes water resources and pollutes rivers and streams, while 85% of all textiles go to the landfill each year. I knew I wanted to continue working in fashion, but I felt worse and worse about supporting an industry that was destroying the planet.

Serendipitously, two things happened right around the same time that set me on a new path. First, I got the happy news that I was pregnant with my daughter, Juniper. Second, I found out that the company I worked for had gone bankrupt and was shutting down. I was saddened, but not surprised. Cheap, throwaway fashion has always been about the bottom line, not about people or the planet. When I went on maternity leave, I knew I was never coming back.

With more free time than I had ever had in all my years of working, I did what most new moms do when they find out they’re pregnant: I became research obsessed! I wanted to make sure that Juniper had the best books, safest toys, the most sustainable clothing –the most highly-reviewed baby anything. At the same time, as a stylist, it was important to me that items I bought for the nursery fit into the outdoorsy, boho, Western aesthetic that I love. Within my research, I found that there was no one-stop-shop that fit my vibe while also being socially conscious and kind to the planet. I decided to start one myself, and Kit and Wilder was born.

My fast fashion days are long behind me, and I’m so grateful that I now get to combine the skills and experience I honed in the industry to do things the right way- the way I always wished the companies I worked for would have done them. At Kit and Wilder, we respect the earth by offering eco-friendly products, including toys and books that teach kids about the wonders of nature and how to be good stewards of the planet. I only carry brands and products that share these values. If I wouldn’t buy it for Juniper, you won’t find it at Kit and Wilder.   

Here’s to slow, simple, and sustainable fashion from here on out.