Jumping from a completely unrelated profession into women’s fashion has put me on a steep learning curve. There are so many aspects to consider to create a business with values of sustainability and fairness, which offers lovely, well-crafted clothing with an artistic flair. I have come to admire two “made in the USA” companies: Tulip Clothing, and Goddess Gear. Tulip is based in Baltimore, Maryland, and makes organic cotton clothes, flattering to many body types, easy to wear, and celebrates whimsy and high style. Tulip’s sister line, Snapdragon and Twig, offers artsy clothes of organic cotton and Modal suitable for work or vacation.

Based in Longmont, Colorado, Goddess Gear is the passion of Anna Elmore, who designs lovely garments in natural and earth-friendly fabrics that are comfortable and charming and whose production supports local employment. I like these clothes because they are beautiful and long-lasting and defy trendiness. These are clothes that you can love and feel good about wearing for years.