~ Orsola de Castro, co-founder of Fashion Revolution
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We all know by now how destructive the fashion industry can be to the planet and to the people who make our clothes, but the truth is that it doesn’t have to be this way. Hi! I'm Lisa, and I create comfortable, versatile, and timeless clothing for women who want to feel good about looking great. By designing styles that stay relevant are easily mixed-and-matched through many seasons, my customers know that their wardrobe won't expire, but can instead be built upon year after year. By producing my line locally in small batches, with the help of talented sewists who are paid fair wages, you can also rest assured that what you are wearing is truly special. In fact, you can feel it right away when you put on a garment made with the soft, luxurious, sustainable fabrics I source from my trusted suppliers. I want women to feel excited about getting dressed. When you put on Ramonalisa, I want you to feel good not only because of how great you look, but also because you know that you'll be comfortable all day long in every sense of the word. You won’t have to STOP being comfortable when someone asks you, “Where did you get that top?!”. Rather than feeling sheepish, it’s a point of pride. |
I have always had a passion for fashion, but growing up I never really thought about where my store-bought clothing actually came from. It was only when I landed a job in the fashion industry almost by accident in 2006 that I learned about the rich history of clothing manufacturing in my city of Montréal, and about all the changes to that industry that came with globalization. I fell instantly in love with the sewing machines, big cutting tables, pattern pieces, and all the beautiful colours of thread. The process of creating, from start to finish, real garments that women would wear, was almost romantic and absolutely thrilling.
But I also learned that what I was seeing in front of me was far from how most clothing is made today. From unsustainable fibres, to ecologically devastating dyeing processes, through to sweatshops and the burning of unsold inventory, the reality of the mainstream fashion industry almost made me feel more ashamed to wear clothes than to go around naked.
That’s why I eventually decided to launch my own clothing line, and to do things differently. Since launching in 2008, Ramonalisa has been made with love right here in Montréal, Canada. In 2012 I made the switch to strictly sustainable fabrics, and I'm proud to think I played a part in making this choice a more widely accepted standard in fashion. I think that industry leaders have a responsibility to manufacture in fairness to people and to the planet, because not ALL the weight of sustainable decision-making should fall on individuals.
The essence of Ramonalisa has always been the merging of ethics and aesthetics, because I believe we shouldn't have to choose between the two. On the surface it may seem like a small thing, but all our choices, no matter how small, add up and make a difference. Helping to make the world more beautiful and fair than I found it is what lights me up. I love helping my customers express themselves through what they wear. My hope is that you'll feel empowered not only by how great you look on the outside, but also how good you feel inside knowing that you are part of the bigger solution to truly making our world more beautiful.
Thanks for being here!
In Joy,
Lisa
But I also learned that what I was seeing in front of me was far from how most clothing is made today. From unsustainable fibres, to ecologically devastating dyeing processes, through to sweatshops and the burning of unsold inventory, the reality of the mainstream fashion industry almost made me feel more ashamed to wear clothes than to go around naked.
That’s why I eventually decided to launch my own clothing line, and to do things differently. Since launching in 2008, Ramonalisa has been made with love right here in Montréal, Canada. In 2012 I made the switch to strictly sustainable fabrics, and I'm proud to think I played a part in making this choice a more widely accepted standard in fashion. I think that industry leaders have a responsibility to manufacture in fairness to people and to the planet, because not ALL the weight of sustainable decision-making should fall on individuals.
The essence of Ramonalisa has always been the merging of ethics and aesthetics, because I believe we shouldn't have to choose between the two. On the surface it may seem like a small thing, but all our choices, no matter how small, add up and make a difference. Helping to make the world more beautiful and fair than I found it is what lights me up. I love helping my customers express themselves through what they wear. My hope is that you'll feel empowered not only by how great you look on the outside, but also how good you feel inside knowing that you are part of the bigger solution to truly making our world more beautiful.
Thanks for being here!
In Joy,
Lisa