Ethics
It is hard to know how ethical companies really are these days. I am just one person, but I aim to be as ethical as possible. This company is partially an experiment to see how far I can go and what challenges I run into. I aim to be radically honest with customers so they truly understand how the clothing industry functions.
No Use of AI/LLMs
I avoid generative AI at all costs—not just in my designs, but in other places it might pop up such as admin tasks. If I need to work with other service providers, I find people who also avoid using these tools. Unfortunately, it is truly unavoidable in some cases, such as searching for manufacturers on Alibaba.
Stealing from artists, writers, and coders and supplanting them in job opportunities is bad enough. The environmental justice aspect is devastating: AI data centers are popping up in communities everywhere, taking advantage of public utilities and introducing noise pollution. Many of these data centers are pushed through despite community opposition. To add insult to injury, these projects are frequently funded with taxpayer dollars despite the immense wealth of the companies pushing them.
Responsible Production
I aim to make clothes that are timeless and high quality so they last longer: a sweatshirt can last a decade or more even with regular wear. People have limited disposable income and want to make more ethical choices, and making and selling beautiful things that last longer is more spiritually satisfying than the alternative.
I primarily use natural materials because many people find them more comfortable. They are usually biodegradable as well—but if the end customer cannot compost the product, then it goes in a landfill the same as a polyester garment. Cotton is also notably notorious for water consumption, so natural doesn't always mean more environmentally friendly. I want to find materials which have the least impact over the product's whole lifespan.
I also order smaller quantities so that I don’t end up with wasted stock, and produce and release designs thoughtfully. My business also doesn’t need to grow infinitely—if I end up with profits beyond what I need for myself and my family, I will figure out how to donate or otherwise use the extra money for a good cause.
Customer Experience
I want to help my customers make shopping choices that leave them feeling satisfied, rather than guilty or regretful. To this end, I avoid using dark patterns or FOMO tactics to nudge people towards impulse decisions. I want my customers to feel happy with their purchases because they bought something they really love, which fits well and supports an ethical business run by an independent artist.
I want to help customers understand how to better take care of their clothes so they last longer, while keeping in mind that modern life isn’t conducive to taking extra time to do chores, and design products accordingly. I always try to remember how I feel as a customer and aim to meet the needs (and wants) of my customers in every step of their experience.
Employee Welfare and Labor Rights
Because my family owns a small factory and I have spent a great deal of time there, I feel a huge responsibility to ensure that the people making my clothes have good jobs, good wages, and work-life balance.
Various third-party audits are used by factories as proof that they meet minimum standards for labor rights and working conditions. You can research what’s required for WRAP, GOTS, SEDEX certification, and more. Many factories with these certifications have higher minimum order quantities, but when my business grows more and I can afford to place bigger orders, I hope to work with these companies.
Other Considerations
There are so many other ethical decisions to make which pop up when building a business.
- Choosing to support USPS: I try to use USPS for shipping not only when it is cheaper than UPS, but also when it is only a bit more expensive. I want to offer affordable shipping for customers and support a governmental (public) organization as much as possible. USPS has many important functions, such as ensuring that rural populations have affordable mail access even when it is not profitable to offer it.
- Avoiding use of the Meta Pixel: You know how you see ads on Instagram or Facebook after visiting a company's website? This is because a cookie called the Meta Pixel (which is something website owners choose to install) is tracking you. I don't blame shops for using this considering how difficult online retail is, but I want to find ways to advertise online without helping Meta collect data.
- Expanded size range: I want to make Mage of Quills a size inclusive brand. It is incredibly frustrating to never find your size in clothing stores. Right now, I am stocking up to 3XL, but I want to expand to bigger sizes as my inventory grows and I better understand my customers. I also want to stock smaller sizes because I remember the point in my life where I was between kids' and adult sizes and it sucked!
- Reusable packaging and freebies: I don't want to clutter your house with cheap branded crap. The free gifts that come with my online orders are thoughtfully chosen and reusable, including the envelope and washi tape, and the box and tissue paper your clothes may be packaged in are also reusable.
Looking Forward
This is a new company, but I already have thoughts on how I can improve as it grows.
I don’t like that social media is necessary to launch an online business successfully because I don’t want to give money (for advertising) and deliver eyeballs to social media companies. I would prefer not to use social media advertising at all, but currently, I do not have better ways to reach such a wide audience. If you want to help me with this goal… keep in mind that word of mouth advertising is often the most effective!
I want to continue exploring more environmentally-friendly materials and production methods. This is easier to do during my trips to India and an ongoing process as new materials and techniques are always being developed. I would also like to find ways to support artisans who have kept traditional techniques alive.
My clothes are currently shipped via air. The more environmentally-friendly option would be to ship by sea, but the main problem is that sea shipments have a very high minimum I am nowhere near meeting, and it takes months, rather than one week, for delivery. With increased volume and planning, this may be more viable in the future.
I would ideally like to make at least some clothes that are fully compostable and make sure my packaging is biodegradable as well. There are many details which prevent this currently, including the fact that even 100% cotton clothes are typically sewn with polyester thread because it’s stronger. Another problem is that composting is an extra chore for the average person, so even if something is biodegradable, what good does it do if the end user can’t compost it? There are many such problems to work on.