A New Chapter for Global Garbs - 2020 Edition
As many of you may know, I started Global Garbs back in 2015 as a side passion project while still in my corporate job as the Director of Merchandising for an accessory company in NYC.
One part of my job (that I really enjoyed) was to research trends in other regions like Asia and Europe. This is what prompted me to start a blog about fashion trends around the world - hence the name “Global Garbs”.
About a year of posting outfits from bloggers and influencers from all over the world and establishing somewhat of a following (mainly other bloggers looking to get featured), I began to see a pattern of the types of brands these so called “influencers” were wearing. Many only wore cheap fast fashion brands like Forever 21, H&M or Zara.
Global Garbs’ Insta circa 2015-2016
I began to cringe each time I would feature a blogger promoting these brands and slowly but surely posted less and less because I couldn’t find bloggers supporting brands I actually wanted to support as well.
This led me to fully relaunching Global Garbs in 2017 as a sustainable/ethical fashion blog supporting emerging designers, or change-makers/influencers in the sustainable/ethical space.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost three years since that change was made.
So many amazing things have come from this blog:
I’ve had the opportunity to meet and interview upcoming sustainable brands and designers whom I’m proud to represent and promote.
I’ve worked with and have been gifted so many amazing pieces over the years from brands who I would support regardless of having a blog.
I’ve been able to create an income from both the blog itself and also growing social media for other brands and influencers.
I had the opportunity to attend various events such as the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day worldwide event at the United Nations in NY.
I was invited to cover the Global Green Gala pre-oscar party in association with EIN (Energy Independence Now - which is Leonardo Dicaprios’ foundation), and also test drive one of their hydrogen fuel powered cars for a week.
Our first interview in 2017.
All in all you could say that this blog has been somewhat of a success as most blogs or businesses don’t even make it past the one year mark.
And while I don’t necessarily think of myself as being “successful” because of this blog, I know that I created something that many people feel is a good idea, inspiring, and actually needed in a world full of over consumption and fast fashion.
So you may be wondering the reason to recap the past four years. Well, I wanted to take some time to give you some insight as to what has been happening in my life - something of which I don’t typically do.
First and foremost, I had a baby! Obviously this is a HUGE life changing event.
While I always knew motherhood was something I wanted, I never anticipated how much time and energy it would take lol! I always thought “oh but babies sleep a lot, so I’ll have time to still work on my blog”. This is only half true. If you’re a mother you know that it’s literally a full time job.
My son is now my top priority and the reason I wake up everyday (well besides the fact that he literally wakes me up everyday). But it’s truly amazing how your life changes (for the better) after having a child. You see things differently as if the world is brand new.
And while I’ve loved every aspect of being a new mommy, it’s been difficult to be focused on growing the blog these past ten months.
With that said, there’s yet another reason why.
My husband and I have embarked on a new business venture!
We opened a shoe repair shop called Goods & Services. This isn’t just any regular old timey shoe repair shop - it’s a modern take on shoe repair, and we specialize in sneaker customization and re-designing shoes altogether.
We will also be launching our own shoe brand as well (hopefully within the next six months or so).
Our store is located in the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles. The location/neighborhood is truly ideal for what we are doing since it’s both a creative, unique, and much-needed service.
It’s something we feel has finally come to fruition after three years of “wouldn’t it be awesome if we had shop someday”. I don’t think myself or my husband thought this dream would become a reality anytime soon.
Everything from how we got the push towards opening the shop after a life changing event, and even how we found the location, seems like the universe was giving us every possible sign to ultimately get us to open the shop.
How does this fit in with Global Garbs?
While we aren’t 100% sustainable by any means, I do feel that owning a shoe repair shop is still aligned with Global Garbs’ mission. In fact, I am now walking the walk of owning a small business that supports being more sustainable with your choices.
This is why going forward with Global Garbs, I will be venturing into the daily life of being a small business owner / entrepreneur on a more regular basis.
You’ll get a glimpse into our (my husband, myself, and babies) life of owning a business and come along the ride for all of our ups and downs.
Global Garbs will always be a community for small sustainable fashion brands, only now I will be sharing about my brand as well!
While I will still post about other brands, their stories, their mission, and their journeys, I will also now be included in those posts on a more regular basis.
I hope that by bringing more transparency to running a business it’ll inspire, educate, and perhaps even entertain you. 😉
I hope that you’ll continue to follow Global Garbs and our journey towards sustainability, because without you - the reader - there is no Global Garbs.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and I look forward to 2020 and beyond!
Cheers!
-Lauren Fortune