Who To Follow: Vol VIII

November comes with the long anticipated cold weather and holiday season — and with that, our (my) uncontrollable desire to shop. Warmer clothes, candles that smell like apple cinnamon woodfire, cute underwear to feel sexy under all those layers, and gifts !!!! for all the lovely people in your lives. This year I want to stress the importance of shopping local, and helping small businesses. So here’s a list of some of my current favorite independent brands, small businesses, and local creators you should add to your holiday season shopping spree.

Hara (@hara_thelabel)

I discovered Hara a few weeks ago when I was browsing through my Instagram feed and saw someone I followed wearing their underwear sets. Hara, (named after the Indi word for green) is a sustainable intimates company based in Australia. Their products are ethically made from bamboo, dyed with natural plant dyes, and bring forward the importance of environmental impacts in the fashion industry. Their products are dreamy and empowering, and ever so comfortable to wear.

Otherwild (@otherwild)

Sonalee is a trauma therapist based in Philadelphia who has never hesitated to spread their beliefs on radical fat liberation. A mix of graphic texts, memes, and self portraits, Sonalee’s account is a beautiful empowering body positive account that everyone should follow because it is so easy to stray into self-deprecative thoughts on social media if you only follow influencers and models.

FABSCRAP (@fab_scrap)

Fabscrap, based in NYC, is a textile reuse and recycle resource. Their mission is to rethink textile waste in the industry, by “providing pickup of unwanted fabric from NYC businesses and engaging the local creative community in reuse.” You can go pick up scraps of fabric at their store in the Chelsea area for your crafts, knowing you’re contributing to the important movement of fabric recycling.

Floral Femme Studio (@floralfemmestudio)

Floral Femme Studio is an online vintage store, run by Kelsie Rae in Los Angeles. All her items are hand-selected and in beautiful condition, and most importantly, shipped worldwide. I love supporting small businesses and love vintage clothes just as much, so this is a great option for those who think similarly. Also, shopping vintage helps our planet! So get some of Kelsie’s gorgeous finds before I buy them all.

Hannah Isolde (@hannahisolde)

“Hannah Isolde is a small-scale, made-to-order womenswear brand based out of Montréal.” Every piece is designed, drafted, and sewn by Hannah herself. “Isolde designs take inspiration from the construction of her favorite vintage garments, updated to reflect the current vogue for a timeless aesthetic.”

Package Free (@packagefreeshop)

A zero-waste, sustainable product store started by Lauren Singer (@trashisfortossers) with the goal of making a zero-waste lifestyle accessible to anyone. They have both an online store and a store in Brooklyn. This place is wonderful for putting together little sustainable gift sets for your friends and family, and you’ll be supporting a woman-run, independent business.

Bluestockings (@bluestockingsnyc)

Bluestockings is a queer-centered, feminist, radical bookstore, café, and activist center located in the Lower East Side on Manhattan. They are the definition of a safe-space, and a wonderful one at that. If you love to spend hours in a bookstore, browsing and sipping coffee while you flip through zines, then this is the place for you and all your literary needs. (Also I’m here like all the time so if you see me say hi!)