Ever since Rachel Temko founded Whimsy + Row in 2014, they have been dedicated to crafting a brand catered to the “modern, creative woman.” Every weekend for two years, Whimsy + Row appeared at pop-up shops in flea markets all over Los Angeles selling their unique, handcrafted pieces. But they have expanded into something much more.
Whimsy + Row is proudly sustainable. They have achieved this by keeping all of their production local to LA. However, with their increasing popularity, they have detailed their entire, eco-friendly process on their website.
First, they ethically handcraft their clothing and accessories from locally sourced deadstock textiles and materials. Deadstock fabric is extra fabric thrown out by other brands who overproduce and buy more than they need. Most deadstock fabric usually ends up in landfills, but Whimsy + Row uses it to create unique pieces. They use their own excess fabric to create tops, bandanas, and more. In addition to deadstock fabric, Whimsy + Row uses linen, viscose, Tencel, and rayon which biodegrade very quickly and use up less water in their creation.
Next, Whimsy + Row picks up its pieces from their factory and delivers them directly to a warehouse. For both local and international sales, they reject plastic, paper, and packing peanuts. Instead, they use packaging made from recycled materials that can be reused thereafter or recycled again.
Whimsy + Row ensures that their pieces are made to last. Each season, they create new collections that comprise of one-of-a-kind pieces. They do not overproduce, and no water is used in the creation of their products.
More than anything, Whimsy + Row is developing a community, and part of this involves bringing their customers along with them on their journey to sustainability. Each piece on their website comes with an impact report which shows just how much is being saved in purchasing that piece. The report includes the number of miles of driving emissions avoided, hours of bulb energy saved, days of drinking water saved, and pounds of waste diverted from landfills.
As of the publishing of this article, Whimsy + Row’s total impact is 49,000 miles of driving emissions avoided, 7 million hours of bulb energy saved, 1 million days of drinking water saved, and 2,000 lbs of waste diverted from landfill.
All of their products are available online, including a new collection of reusable and washable face masks produced to support customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also have a whole new line of beautiful dresses, tops, pants, and more to choose from this summer!
When shopping on Whimsy + Row’s website, use the link below to receive $20 off your purchase.
http://whimsyrow.refr.cc/settingmind
All images in this article are courtesy of Whimsy + Row.
