I got my first pair of Jordache jeans when I was six. I was over the moon and made my big brother snap too many photos of me posing in them .
I soon discovered the value of earning money to buy the beautiful things I desired. Vintage dresses, the most amazing black leather motorcycle boots, an RCA tube tv for my room. It felt amazing to not ask permission; to use my own money to fulfill my desires.
I accumulated decades of shopping experience. My young love of fashion stayed with me through art school, then fashion school and working as a fashion stylist for film and television. Shopping became a highly developed skill set.
As a newish mom, I found myself drawn to Marie Kondo's book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.
I dove head first into my first wave of KonMari:
- Taking inventory of what I owned was a powerful experience.
- Remembering when and why I had purchased items began to shape my approach to new purchases.
- Discerning which belongings still sparked joy for me and which ones no longer served me helped me better understand myself.
I began buying with a fresh perspective and far greater intentionality. I loved researching purchases in advance and making choices based on quality and longevity. As I grew more connected to shopping sustainably, I encountered road blocks and a lack of transparency about where products are made.
My awareness grew around WHAT I was buying, WHERE goods are made, and WHO I was buying from.
I shifted away from shopping big box stores and large brand names manufacturing in mass quantities. I found myself buying furniture made in USA and clothes from small brands that manufacture in LA and not overseas. It felt impossible to change all at once, but shopping intentionally became the quest.
What if I could purchase 100% in alignment with my values and only from the indie brands that I love and respect?
I was not doing that entirely in my own home yet, but I challenged myself to do this in my shop. Tortuga emerged as a blank slate for me to refine my buying practices. I focused on giving my money to people who shared my values around creativity, longevity and sustainability.
In 2024, I closed the doors on the brick and mortar — but not the mission. I continue to reform my own buying practices and inspire others to do the same. The time is now to shop like you give a damn!
