Liz Alig . Fair Trade Fashion . Spring 2020

LI Z A LI G

CHLOE JUMPSUIT $48 recycled denim . guatemala CHELSIE T $26 upcycled deadstock . cambodia

WAVERLY MIDI DRESS $120 handwoven cotton from guatemala

SAVANNAH T DRESS DUSTY NAVY $34 pima cotton . bolivia ALEX PENCIL SKIRT NAVY $28 upcycled jersey . honduras

CORTA TOTE $24 upcycled traditional ikat . guatemala

CHELSIE T $26 upcycled deadstock cambodia ALEX PENCIL SKIRT $28 upcycled jersey honduras

I started Liz Alig over ten years ago. In what was kind of an accident —or at the very least something I had no idea I would still be doing ten years later. When I first decided to manufacture I thought to myself...I will have them make 100 pieces then if they don’t sell I’ll just have a really big wardrobe.

But here we are.

I started this line as an incredibly naive twenty -three year old. I had just worked in Kenya, India, and Honduras and had seen the impact fair trade manufacturing jobs can have for women. On the other hand, I became increasingly annoyed about fair trade clothing being tacky or poufy or bright or just not quite right.

I wanted clothes that I actually liked to wear that were made ethically —not too much to ask right?

It turns out this is more difficult than I ever thought.

Ten years later, having shed tears while surrounded by tons (literally) of old clothes to be recycled, experiencing some of our stockists going bankrupt or just not paying, and receiving batches of garments in the wrong color or the wrong size or at the wrong time — my perspective has changed.

I have had a bit of a year of reflection—changing most everything in my life, so it seemed only natural to question this too. Should I still put so much effort into a company that won’t really ever become a ‘success’ in business terms? Are new ‘ethical’ clothing companies doing a better job and this small line is no longer needed?

Despite the fact that I know quitting this line would hurt a lot of the fair trade groups we support (or would result in a loss of income for our women entrepreneurs who work from their home), I have come to the same conclusion as when I started this ten years ago: I want clothing that I actually like to wear that is made with a story of hope.

In the growing sustainable fashion market, I think there is still room at the table for this small brand. The world sustainability is being thrown around in the fashion industry making it increasingly more difficult to figure out what to buy or what ‘ethical’ clothing even means.

Fair trade and sustainable fashion has come a million miles in ten years, but if we all were completely honest I think we would agree most of it is still not quite right. It has gone from bright and stiff to plain and flowy and a lot of it is just not what I would choose to buy if I didn’t care about the production process. I will be the first to admit that sometimes our clothes fall into this category as well. Sometimes Liz Alig clothes don’t fit quite right, sometimes the quality isn’t perfect and sometimes they miss the mark.

I have taken a hard look at Liz Alig to see how we can do better and the truth is we can’t actually make an impact in the fashion industry if the clothes we make aren’t quite right.

Sustainable fashion is not actually sustainable if it is not clothing people want to wear.

I think this Spring 2020 collection encompasses my initial goals from ten years ago a little better, i.e. clothing I love that is made with a story of hope.

This means we are making fewer styles. Styles we have tried out and we really like — garments you can easily mix and match. This will give us a chance to perfect the fits and quality of these few garments. They are the garments I reach for time and time again in my closet. These pieces are not only functional, but are the kind of garments you will want to live in because they are incredibly comfortable and make you feel great!

All this to say—if you have tried our garments in the past and the quality and fit are not great, I apologize, but I’m pretty sure you are going to love these! Thank you for your continued support.—Liz

ALISON WRAP DRESS FLORAL PRINT $48 upcycled deadstock . cambodia

TABITHA HAT AND GLOVES $36 EACH hand knit alpaca from bolivia

PIPER COAT $244 Handmade with portoguese wool

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ALISON WRAP DRESS POLKA PRINT $48 upcycled deadstock . cambodia

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BREONNA DRESS TEXTURE WEAVE $46 handwoven organic cotton . india ALEX MINI SKIRT YELLOW $28 upcycled jersey . honduras

lizalig.com BREONNA DRESS STRIPED $46 handwoven organic cotton . india CHELSIE T $26 upcycled deadstock . cambodia

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SUZY DRESS $120 handwoven silk from cambodia

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lizalig.com CHELSIE T $26 upcycled deadstock . cambodia ASHLEE SHORTS $42 Handwoven cotton . guatemala

PHOTOGRAPHY DANIEL MEIGS @danielmeigs MODEL ALANA NEPTUNE @wheredidshego LOCATION THE RUSSELL HOTEL @russellnashville TO ORDER DEEDEE deedee@lizalig.com