RIP to the Brands We've Lost
Eulogizing my favorite shops that no longer exist
Last week, I spent more than I wanted to on clothes. That’s because another small, slow fashion brand I like is closing its doors: Ilana Kohn, an NYC-based designer who makes some really unique pieces.
Before I heard about the shutdown, I owned just one Ilana Kohn piece. It’s a pair of patterned trousers that I wear pretty often and get SO many compliments on. By some stroke of luck, I found them on a resale site for about half their original price. They were the kind of thing I’d never allow myself to buy without a discount, and would have been happy just admiring from afar.
When I found out Ilana Kohn was closing, I finally gave myself permission to buy directly from the brand. It’d be my last chance, after all. I ordered a dress and a pair of shorts that are the same cut as my favorite trousers.
The frustration of saying goodbye to brands I admire is all too real right now. Back in February, the company that made my favorite tank tops closed due to a personal crisis in the owner’s life. ARQ was a boutique undergarment brand that captured the Instagram fashion world with its cute, matching underwear sets. I completely fell for the aesthetic, but their quality was truly unmatched. Everything I bought from ARQ was money well spent.
Now, if you’re someone who’s not into fashion, you’re probably wondering why the hell this even matters. There are bigger fish to fry in the world right now — that’s absolutely true. But this trend goes way beyond clothes.
I’ve seen one too many restaurants and shops close in my area over the past few years. And I think that speaks to a larger economic truth: it’s hard to run a small business. It’s even harder when you don’t get the support you need from consumers or your community.
I’ll eulogize one local shop in particular. There was an eclectic boutique in our town that used to sell a wide variety of merch: new and vintage home goods, posters, notecards, CDs, records, clothing, furniture, and art from artists in the area. Shopping there was like going to an estate sale where you could always find something good.
Ryan and I would meet up at the boutique on his lunch breaks and dig through CD bins and racks of vintage clothing in the basement. I’d shop there for birthday and holiday gifts, and bring my friends and family by when they came to visit. It was the kind of place where you could find something for everyone.
And being in the store was an experience in itself — a third space, if you will. There was a whole room where you could sit and play giant Jenga and classic arcade games. Sometimes there were parties at the shop, and we knew the owner by name.
It was a place I never felt guilty about spending my money at. In addition to getting some really cool stuff, I knew I was supporting the shop owner’s creative vision and helping keep the place open for others in the community to enjoy.
But retail sales just weren’t good enough, and the store had to close earlier this year. Ryan and I were heartbroken. I think there were some other personal reasons why the brick and mortar shut down, but I do know that sales were a big part of it.
I know there will never be another shop exactly like the boutique Ryan and I loved. Sure, other businesses will come around. But small shops like that one are an extension of the people who run them. They can’t ever truly be replaced.
I have the same feeling about my favorite bookstores, cafes, restaurants, and other retail spots. Small clothing designers count to me, too, because fashion is a form of art. If we don’t spend money at these places, they will disappear. It doesn’t matter how much we love them.
For better or worse, we live in a society where the way we spend our money directly shapes the world around us. When we only shop at big box stores and eat at chain restaurants because they’re cheaper or more convenient, we make it harder for smaller, unique retailers to survive.
And yes, this can be a dicey topic because shopping small can be expensive.
I’m not saying we have to spend 100% of our money on expensive stuff just because it’s sold locally or made more sustainably. That’s totally unattainable for most people. But when it comes to buying non-necessities like art, gifts, or even takeout, I think most of us can put a little more thought into who we’re supporting when we shop.
Who is benefitting from our purchases? Is it a wealthy CEO who’s name we don’t even know? Or is it a neighbor who put their heart and soul into opening their dream business who needs just a few extra hundred dollars in sales to break even this month?
If we find ourselves in a financially privileged position, I think we all have a responsibility to lift up people in our own communities (and around the world) who are selling goods that are unique, more sustainable, more ethical, or higher quality. We need more businesses that actually give a shit about their impact. This is a hill I will die on!!
Anyway, thanks for listening to me rant. I’ll end on this: don’t take your favorite shops for granted! Spend the money! Life is short and we all deserve nice things! (Also I am not qualified to give financial advice, so make of this what you will.)
Need to refresh your creative routines this fall? Come to my class, Building a Sustainable Writing Practice, in October and November!
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Admission is just $10 per person! Come hang out in person or virtually:
October 26, IN-PERSON class at WordHaven Bookhouse (sign up here)
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