Outfitting Perpetua Boutique

OK – so by now you know that we’re an environmentally-friendly boutique, and you know we sell super stylish clothing and accessories for men and women, but do you know what exactly makes our items fit the “eco-friendly” mold? For those of you who have stopped mid-shopping experience and rubbed your chin pondering such a brow-furrowing question, I thought I’d take you behind the seams and share the very strict list of criteria we use to determine whether an item gets past me, the gatekeeper, and on to the racks of our little red brick piece of South Fourth Ave.

1. What is it made out of? If you’re thinking flowers and branches a la the Flower Shop Challenge on Project Runway (that’s this week’s episode, if you’re a Project Runway junkie like me!), well, you wouldn’t be entirely wrong, as many of the fabrics are all natural. In an effort to promote sustainable fashion, we make sure that we know exactly what each of our garments is made out of, be it organic cotton, silk (which you can get as vegan, too!), bamboo, hemp, linen or any other fabric from a steadily growing list of earth-friendly threads.
2. Where do the materials come from? Yep, we’re that picky. We don’t limit our love for earth-friendly duds to the fabrics themselves. We want to know their backstory. Sure, we’re loving that these cute halter tops are made from organic cotton, but we also need to know where that cotton is grown.
3. Is the item organic, sustainable, recycled, and/or animal friendly? If one of the words on this list doesn’t describe it, we don’t sell it.
4. Does the company engage in fair labor practices and treat its employees well? Does the company help the community? Sustainable lifestyles and choices are all about making the world a better place for ourselves and our children, and part of bettering our world is ensuring that all people are cared for, treated with respect and dignity, and no matter who they are, treated fairly. In our efforts to improve the world we live in, we make a point of purchasing from and supporting others that believe in and practice these same values.
5. Is it fair trade? Fair trade in part means that companies and workers around the world are offered fair trading conditions, ensuring the rights of all those involved and keeping any one company from taking advantage of others. This is of particular importance to us when buying from outside of the U.S. We make sure that when we purchase items, the people who created those items are treated fairly.

I’m proud that we have such a tough list of standards that we hold our items up to, because I believe that everyone who shops here and supports us deserves it. If an item can pass muster with this list of criteria (and of course is super cute), than we consider the item worthy to grace the style and substance-lovin’ bods of our amazing customers!