#slowfactory

Ceasefire now.

I was slow* to post these new Women Who Inspire scarves from @theslowfactory-blog and now they are almost gone. Snap them up while you still can and celebrate Women Crushing it Wednesday every day!

Hedy Lamarr (We love this iconic image - previously posted here & here & here!)

Katherine Johnson (A Hidden Figure whose photo is no longer misidentified!)

--Emily

I shared these photos on our Twitter & Instagram yesterday, and I’m sharing them here with the full story as an in-under-the-wire Sunday-not-selfie-but-very-self-indulgent.

I wasn’t sure I could go to the march considering the unpredictable schedule and disposition of eight-week-old Star Baby, but I didn’t want to go alone, either. I wasn’t going to make a poster, until I realized the morning of that I had rainbow holographic poster letters and a basement full of cardboard, including some already spray painted (from this project). I was hoping to join up with the Women in Natural Science group from @amnhnyc, but we ended up getting to Grand Central Terminal way after they were scheduled to march. Nevertheless, I decided my signs would represent science - not necessarily the most pressing cause considering the violence and oppression faced by women (especially women of color, LGBTQIA women, and disabled women, for example) for their inherent identity, not just their profession, but still, science is something I can contribute.

“Science is Real” was inspired by They Might Be Giants, and apparently isn’t taken as a given by the people now in charge of our country despite it crucial importance for climate change, vaccinations, energy, education, and more. “Scientists Grab Back” is a nod to #astroSH, or the more visible discussion of harassment in the astronomy research community lead by some of my brave colleagues. Both sides of the sign garnered positive responses, even though I wasn’t as clever as fellow astronomer Dr. Aki Roberge who marched in DC!

And since this is a fashion blog, I’m wearing the Tarantula nebula scarf from @theslowfactory-blog and #ThatOtherShirt aka STEM: Women are all over It shirt, and a North Face galaxy jacket.

Thanks to my husband for taking the photos, Star Baby for sleeping soundly, and you, dear readers for listening to my story, I hope you all have a chance to make your own and share it with the Universe.

"Sustainability encompasses more than materials, it is also about working conditions, agency and dignity. It's about being able to provide for future generations without violence or oppressive hierarchies."

"The criminalization of poverty is why we have so many incarcerated peoples...Poverty is not sustainable. Poverty is systematic."

Today's lecture by Teju Adisa-Ferrar was incredible. She provided an overview of prison labor history in the US and how it impacts the products we use today. I grabbed some screen shots of points of her presentation that stood out to me. The government literally incentivizes the use of prison labor and gives companies who use it a $2,400 tax credit for every inmate them employ.

Some notes from Korina Emmerich’s lecture on Fashion & Resistance, part of Slow Factory’s Fashion & Sustainability lecture series:

- “I don’t put anything online for sale that can’t be worn by everyone”, in response to people being afraid of appropriating when wearing indigenous-related/made clothing. Also she says that clothing can be a conversation starter: share where and who made your clothing if asked or questioned about it.

- She says that ally ship has to be deserved/earned and makes the example of someone coming into your home and saying they are going to work for you but, but they have no skills, why would you want them to work for you? In the same way, you have demonstrate the skills and competency you have in understanding/resisting in order to be an ally.