One thing I have been very pleased with recently is that Governor Newsom in California just signed Bill 62 - The Garment Worker Protection Act, paving the way for garment workers to get a minimum of $14/hour, amongst other protections.
This is where government mandates and good governance can help create a ore equitable and sustainable ecosystem. In theory, there should be little to no opposition or divided opinion on the main objectives of Bill 62 but there are detractors as there always will be... everywhere, and seemingly with everything.
Regardless, this bodes well for the future and while not directly impacting Sterling Method, it pleases me and leaves me feeling excited about the possibilities through Sterling Method.
Cotton Herringbone Throw on Traditional Charpai
It is gratitude that bores excitement. Gratitude that I live by an ethos embedded in my lifestyle and my business. And within that is appreciation of progress.
I am oddly looking forward to close this rather dispiriting pandemic year with a silent but sanguine prayer.
Best,
Z
]]>Recently, I started getting more involved with the sustainable apparel and slow fashion community and reached out to companies, organizations, and individuals in this space. While I am happy so many wonderful people are changing their consumer mindset, I have to admit there are way too many pretenders out there.
I was never big on Instagram and it was Sterling Method that pushed me to use it more often and promote myself. Some of these so-called "influencers", which are a dime a dozen, by the way, are so damningly self obsessed. I know this is nothing new but the social media narcissism is too rooted in modern day culture and influences our consumption - whether it be material goods or content.
This is enlightening to me because in order for me to promote Sterling Method, I have to be in this ecosystem. And this is a bit of a challenge. I'm ready for it. Maybe it is intuition or gut feeling or it might even just be that some of these people are too self absorbed to even notice how transparent they are. Worse, they know exactly what they are doing. I am being intentionally vague about this. For those of you who get the drift, you know what I'm talking about ;)
I don't mean to use this blog as a cynical place so I'll stop there with that. I say all this because I promised I would frequently update on what I'm thinking, how I'm going, what's next, etc, etc. So there you have it.
For what's next. I'm doing more promotions on Instagram. I have more customers visit my website every week. Some have bought, some have not. Did I expect to have this many customers? No.
So I'm pretty content. I do hope it continues to grow :)
Best,
Z
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It’s the start of something new. COVID-19 has been a drag and in the middle of the pandemic, in May of 2020, I rolled the dice and started this company. The name Sterling Method comes from the idea of living a life of value, hence the Sterling. The Method is how to live that life of fulfillment and value.
The toughest question to answer is not what you do but how and why. We’re supposed to operate in shades of gray as humans and as we live in a divisive and highly opinionated world, we’ve become increasingly binary, choosing one side or the other. To be right, someone or something has to be wrong. And to me, this stems from abundance. An abundance of options, hyper-consumerism of everything, and the relentless want for more.
Sterling Method was my outlet. Not an escape but more of an extension and a more tangible manifestation of how to live a fuller and self-reliant life.
The idea is to be minimal and more conscious in consumption yet still live a quality life with products that have soul, a story and heart. It’s that balance and a means to live well in gray. And while you pursue that journey, give back by being as sustainably conscientious as possible.
… and that is Sterling Method.
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