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Why Yomisma's Clothes Are Worth Every Penny
When you browse through Yomisma's collection, you might pause and ponder about the price tags attached to our garments, and if you’re a conscious shopper, you should always do that. In today's fast-fashion era where low prices often equate to quick turnovers, our pricing philosophy stands out. It's a tale of dedication to unparalleled quality, unwavering commitment to sustainability, and an ethos of ethical practices. Every stitch, fabric choice, and design decision reflects our brand's core values. Let's dive deep into the story behind our prices and discover what makes Yomisma a beacon in the fashion world.
Fair US Wages & Supporting Women in the Chiapas Highlands
At Yomisma, we prioritize the well-being of our artisans. Our garments are meticulously handcrafted by artisans in quaint New York studios, ensuring each piece is unique and of the highest quality. Beyond our borders, in the Chiapas Highlands in Southern Mexico, women artisans often face tourists who undervalue their work. We aim to change this narrative by partnering with these artisans, ensuring they receive fair compensation for their craftsmanship and are recognized for their skills. You’ll see the amazing work from these women highlighted in the embroidered cuffs on our Chiapas Kaftans.
Sustainable Practices & Small Batches
Our commitment to the environment goes beyond mere words. We've adopted practices that prioritize the planet. By using biodegradable and recycled materials, we reduce our ecological footprint. Producing in small batches might be costlier, but it ensures reduced waste, better quality control, and a minimized carbon footprint. It's a conscious choice to prioritize quality over quantity.
Direct to Consumer & Price Transparency
The traditional retail model involves several intermediaries, each adding their markup. By selling directly to our customers, we eliminate these middlemen, offering better prices while upholding our quality and ethical standards. This direct model also fosters a closer relationship with our customers, allowing for feedback and continuous improvement.
Conscious Shopping & Supporting Small Businesses
In a world dominated by retail giants, choosing Yomisma means supporting a small, woman-owned business that values sustainability and ethics. Small businesses like ours often prioritize quality, ethical practices, and customer relationships over mass production and profits. By supporting small businesses, consumers can drive change in the industry, pushing for more sustainable and ethical practices.
The Yomisma Story: Beyond Fashion
Our founder's inspiration came from personal wardrobe favorites, each with a unique story. These weren't just clothes; they were memories, experiences, and emotions. Yomisma was born from this realization, aiming to offer garments that are not just worn but cherished. Each garment is a blend of timeless design, quality craftsmanship, and a story waiting to be told.
The Collections: A Testament to Timelessness
We continuously strive to evolve and innovate. Each piece, whether from our past collections or upcoming ones, is designed to be timeless, versatile, and sustainable. Our designs aren't just about trends; they're about creating lasting value for our customers.
The Dark Side of Fast Fashion
The allure of fast fashion is undeniable: trendy clothes at low prices. However, this comes at a significant environmental cost:
- The fashion industry produces 10% of all humanity's carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined[^1^].
- It's the second-largest consumer of the world's water supply[^2^]. It takes about 2,700 liters of water to produce a single cotton shirt[^3^], enough to meet the average person's drinking needs for 2.5 years.
- Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned[^4^]. If nothing changes, by 2050 the fashion industry will use up a quarter of the world's carbon budget.
The Human Cost
Beyond the environmental impact, fast fashion has a human cost:
- Garment workers, 80% of whom are women aged 18-35, earn less than $3 per day in many parts of the world[^5^].
- In Bangladesh, the world's second-largest apparel producer, a garment worker's average wage is 28% of the living wage[^6^].
Supporting ethical brands like Yomisma means advocating for the rights of these workers, ensuring they work in safe conditions and receive fair wages.
Fair Pricing at Yomisma
At Yomisma, our pricing reflects the true cost of making clothes ethically and sustainably. We understand that our customers might notice price differences across our range. This variance is due to:
- Material Costs: Some fabrics, especially sustainable or rare ones, are more expensive. For instance, our Signature Dusters are lined and include several types of fabric which requires multiple people to assemble them. In the future we will have products that might use less materials and therefore require less assembly.
- Labor Intensity: Garments that require intricate detailing, embroidery, or specialized skills take longer to produce and involve higher labor costs.
- Design Complexity: Some designs demand more time and expertise, from the conceptualization phase to the final product.
Every price tag on a Yomisma garment is a testament to the material used, the artisan's skill, and the design's intricacy. It's not just a number; it's a reflection of the value, effort, and love poured into each piece.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
The Chiapas Kaftan: A Testament to Craftsmanship
The Chiapas Kaftan isn't just a garment; it's a narrative of craftsmanship, culture, and commitment. With materials sourced globally and handcrafted details, it's a garment with a rich story. The recycled polyester fabric, sourced from France, comprises 40-67% recycled bottles from the ocean. The Cupro, a sustainable material, is from Japan. These choices reflect our global perspective on sustainable fashion. For the embroidered cuffs on the Kaftan we had only 50 pairs made in order to ensure we weren’t wasting any product.
The Yomisma Signature: The Long Duster
One of the standout pieces that encapsulates Yomisma's commitment to sustainable fashion and artisan craftsmanship is our Signature Long Duster. This garment isn't just a fashion statement; it's a testament to the brand's ethos.
Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the Long Duster embodies the essence of slow fashion. It's versatile, timeless, and made with the highest quality materials, ensuring it stands the test of time. Whether you're dressing up for an evening out or looking for a chic addition to your daytime ensemble, the Long Duster seamlessly fits the bill.
Moreover, like all Yomisma products, the Long Duster tells a story. It's a reflection of our dedication to ethical practices, from sourcing sustainable materials to ensuring fair wages for our artisans. Every time you wear it, you're not just showcasing your impeccable style; you're also making a statement about your commitment to ethical and sustainable fashion.
Supporting Sustainable Brands
Supporting sustainable brands like Yomisma is a call for change, urging the industry to adopt more sustainable and ethical practices. When you invest in a Yomisma garment, you're not just buying a piece of clothing; you're investing in a better future for our planet and its people.
Written by Madison Joslyn on behalf of Yomisma
Footnotes:
- UN Conference on Trade and Development ↩
- World Resources Institute ↩
- World Wildlife Fund ↩
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation ↩
- Clean Clothes Campaign ↩
- Penn State University Research ↩