The Poppy Dress – my favorite. Makes me feel so feminine and such a pretty drape.
It’s been a while since the last Small Shop Love post. But I’m continuing on my mission to support small businesses. It’s not easy in a world of big box stores and brands to get your name out there. Small business products are so worth it, though. And I know for me, any and all support makes such a big difference.
The Scout Dress
For years I’d heard about Sonnet James, and their mission to make dresses that moms can play and be active with their kids in. The price tag made me a little reluctant, though. As a girl who tends to shop Target, it was a little out of my normal range.
The Ava Dress – yes, I like blue.
Finally I dipped my toe in by purchasing a secondhand dress on eBay. And it was love. Suddenly a Pokemon-like fever took over, and I wanted to catch them all. Since then I’ve added 7 Sonnet James dresses to my closet.
The Lulu Dress – ignore the blade of grass. Actually it’s kind of artsy…right?
What tipped me over the edge?
These dresses are not cheap, sure, but they’re also not cheap quality. They are luxury dresses in every way.
The fabric doesn’t pull or pill easily. They are cut so that they are long-enough and high-enough to chase kids in without any unwanted exposure. They are well-knit, and NOT see-through. Essentially, they last, they typically hold their value, and they can be played in.
ALSO each item is handmade, by workers right here in the US, and treated ethically. The owner uses green practices and reuses fabric as much as possible.
When it comes down to it, I can buy probably 5 dresses at a box store for one SJ dress. And I’ll be back at said box store a month later, because the dresses I bought have loose threads, pilling, or have shrunk. With care, my Sonnet James dresses will last so much longer. Plus I get to know that the money is going to workers who get treated well.
Plus, can I just say that the owner, Whitney Lundeen, is straight-up amazing? Her dresses are featured on TV and in magazines, and they’re applauded by celebrities; she is a single mom and works constantly. And yet she shares her heart and struggles on social media, and always responds back to messages there. She is truly inspiring.
Remember that when you shop small, you’re supporting a real person, and their dreams and hopes. You’re typically not funding their vacation home – you’re helping them support their families. I’ve loved getting to “meet” Whitney through her raw and personal sharing, and just love her heart to donate and give and interact with her community.
I highly recommend Sonnet James dresses. And just to clarify – this post is not sponsored, and no affiliate links. Just love. Send me a message if you’re curious, or go check out the dresses for yourself.
What small businesses are you loving lately?
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