At first glance, a cotton T-shirt from independent label Small Trades might look like any other basic striped crewneck. But Small Trades founder Robin Weiss says there are a few things that set her brand apart. Her rib knit shirts and dresses last longer than usual fast-fashion fare, she says, because the people who make them bring a legacy of craftsmanship and manufacturing expertise. Plus, buying them supports 64-year-old Beverly Deysher, who has worked for Mohnton Knitting Mills since she was 18, always living within walking distance of the factory in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country. Supporting Small Trades also means supporting factory owner Gary Pleam, whose great-great grandfather built a water wheel in 1873 to power the hat factory that became Mohnton Mills in 1906.
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Some fashion brands, retailers emphasize transparency to appeal to conscious consumers
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Founders of Zady, a new shopping website, hope to appeal directly to them
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Zady showcases brands from around the world that it vetted for sustainability practices
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Beverly Deysher
@placeholder's first job was to put elastic in underwear waistbands, back when mass-produced garments were the company's bread and butter.
Small Trades
Small Trades
Small Trades
@placeholder is just one brand that will be featured on Zady, a shopping site launching this week dedicated to fashion transparency.
Zady
Zady
Small Trades is just one brand that will be featured on @placeholder, a shopping site launching this week dedicated to fashion transparency.
Beverly Deysher
It's simply a fair price for quality products made by skilled employees like @placeholder and sold by business owners like Weiss.
Robin Weiss
It's simply a fair price for quality products made by skilled employees like Deysher and sold by business owners like @placeholder.
Zady
Zady
Dressed in clothing and jewelry from @placeholder's partner brands, including Small Trades shirts, they greeted owner Gary Pleam outside the main office, where a 1950 black-and-white picture of the mill's staff hangs.
Gary Pleam
Dressed in clothing and jewelry from Zady's partner brands, including Small Trades shirts, they greeted owner @placeholder outside the main office, where a 1950 black-and-white picture of the mill's staff hangs.
Zady
Zady
When it launches this week, @placeholder will include information on where products are made, the raw material sources and a story about each brand's origin.
Gary Pleam
If @placeholder could do it again, he'd do it all the same, he said, because business was good most of the time, and they've had a lot of laughs at work, staff picnics and Friday hot dog lunches.