Yasss boo! We’re participating in Black Friday today, and I wanted to take a moment to explain why. I know that some in the sustainability space pass on the holiday, and I understand it. Historically, Black Friday has been categorized by frenzied crowds stampeding to insanely discounted toasters, thoughtlessly over-consuming because “why not at this price?”

However, just because that’s been the norm doesn’t mean we can’t take a different approach…

Want some help picking out that perfect piece for your special someone? I gotchyu boo - with the unconventional but still very informative gift guide of Declarative faves…

Curious to know what's been keeping people sane lately? What are the most common struggles, pleasant surprises, silver linings of 2020 and more? I have good news.

Remember two weeks ago? I wanted to create a passion project about this wild year we're having, but needed more insight. That's where you stepped in to help. 81 of you kindly contributed their stories to an anonymous questionnaire. Here’s what people said…

Want to spread the love while staying apart? Enter: our first collection of greeting cards. The world is your oyster with these: you can send them as is or color them in to create special designs for your special loved ones. Either way, it’s the perfect surprise for the people you're missing the most.

Our cards are made with a thick cover paper so you can get as creative as you’d like with a range of media. Bring on the masterpieces! Not sure where to start? Here’s some inspo to get the ideas flowing…

"Making it work." #Mood. I’ve talked with a bunch of makers, who are wary about photographing/modeling their work while in lockdown. I’m by no means an expert on the subject (you've seen my awkward #bts), but this past year of doing solo shoots has taught me something I want everyone to hear: When it comes to making sales, professional photos aren't a make or break factor. You just need to capture the essentials…

It began with a realization: there's SO much nuance to the human body. Like, yes. To an extent, we all know this already. However, it wasn’t until I began making clothes and dressing women that I truly understood it. Standard measurements like height, waist, bust and hip don't account for enough. There's torso length, shoulder width, arm length, general body tone, and the list goes on. The body is so intricate and proportions can widely range within one “size.” A garment cut for my body won’t necessarily lay the same or even flatter another's, same size or not…

It's that time of year again! Fashion Week! It’s been 3 years since Declarative’s last runway show, which is crazy because those presentations were a big part of our early years. Fashion Week launched the brand, debuted our first four collections, and although we probably won’t participate again, I couldn't be more grateful that it’s how we started.

Why? Because it's not too hard to work on a project (or business, career shift, etc) in secret. It’s also not too stressful when there's unlimited time to everything is perfect…

You've probably already heard me say they take forever to knit, but why? Our recent typography knits require a lot of extra work to craft those special intarsia panels and today, I’m taking you through my process. (I’m also finally explaining what the heck intarsia is)…

You how ducks smoothly sail across the water, but they're fiercely kicking beneath the surface? Well, this is "the kicking." This is hidden effort and process behind the final result.

It's hard to believe, but today is our holiday order deadline and the last day of our Black Friday Sale. So if you’ve been crushing on something for a loved one (or yourself) this holiday season, the time is now. To help you pick out that perfect knit, I curated this guide to highlight our bestsellers and their features. (If you sense that I had wayyy too much fun putting this together, you’re right. I regret nothing)…

Yasss boo! We’re participating in Black Friday today, and I wanted to take a moment to explain why. I know that some in the sustainability space pass on the holiday, and I understand it. Historically, Black Friday has been categorized by frenzied crowds stampeding to insanely discounted toasters, thoughtlessly over-consuming because “why not at this price?”

However, just because that’s been the norm doesn’t mean we can’t take a different approach…

If you’ve scanned our collections before, you already know we’re mad for merino - merino wool that is. However, what exactly is merino wool? Why are people so bananas over it? Today, I’m going through the subject to give you all the deets…

Ever get gifted a wool sweater that feels a bit scratchy? It happens! Wool comes in many grades (meaning how fine the fiber is). The coarser the fiber, the lower the grade and higher the itchy feel. However, before tossing a scratchy knit in the donation pile, give conditioning a try.

And by conditioning, I legit mean with hair conditioner…

Has a beloved sweater ever shrank to child-size in the wash? Did a scarf ever emerge from the dryer a stiff, fuzzy mess? If so, then you’ve experienced the heartbreak that is felting. When it accidentally happens, felting is a cruel and unforgivable process that sends clothes to their grave. And with sweater weather in full swing, it’s the perfect time to give it a close look. You’ll learn exactly how felting occurs and how to prevent it from happening to you (and your fav knits) again…

It’s summer and a million degrees out. Obvi, it's time to get nautical! …Well, kind of. Today, we are talking about washing our synthetics fabrics (including polyester, rayon, nylon, acrylic and so on.) Clearly, washing is a major point in garment care for hygiene purposes. However, it's also a major point in sustainability because how we wash our synthetics directly impacts their lifespan and our waterways. Why? Because every time clothes get washed, they shed fibers…

Late summer is here, which means hotter temps, hazier days and hopefully more time in some kind of pool or mermaid situation. And with this added sun comes a garment care question I hear a lot: How do I keep my summer whites and pastels clean, especially with sweat and sunscreen in play?

And note that this includes pastels so the answer isn’t bleach. Instead, this is my trick that'll work on any of your lights to prevent stains and keep them looking fresh all season long…

The good news: the demand for sustainable products on the rise as more people become aware of our current environmental crisis. Woot!

The bad new? Brands are increasingly marketing themselves with terms like “green” and “conscious,” to appear eco-friendly without putting in the time, effort and expense to actually operate as such. This is called greenwashing…

“I’m not where I thought I’d be.”

Familiar with this little b? I'm well-acquainted. It first crossed my mind the September after college. Everyone was either at work or back in school, and I was alone in a Starbucks filling out more job applications (this time to retail positions because the design jobs seemed to be DOA). At the time, I could quickly shrug it off. Fresh out of school and only 22, I was just beginning and had plenty of time to get where I want to go.

These days, though, it’s not as easy…

"I must be flying a kite in the rain because this just got electric." ~Will Truman

You know me, I love to spill the tea. I also love Will & Grace (just had to make that official). Regardless of how much planning is done beforehand, there are always last minute hiccups going into a photoshoot. The super-Bravo fan in me loves the drama, but my Type-A personality can’t stand it. Either way though, it’s a part of the process and leads to the happiest accidents. Let’s dish...

Whether you're building a sustainable closet or an ecofriendly brand, it's a journey of commitment and improving things as you go. If you wait until you’ve figured out how to be "perfectly" sustainable to start, you legit might be waiting forever. So instead, just begin right now with the budget and resources you have. Here are 5 simple, but impactful steps you can take today to get your sustainable journey going at no extra cost….

Let’s talk fiber content. No doubt, the sexiest topic in the industry.

Whether you're into fashion or not, we all wear clothes (at least I think so). And as a consumer, it's important to know what your clothes are made of, how fiber affects garment performance and what impact it has on the environment…

With the days warming up, the Spring/Summer19 collection is underway (literally as of yesterday). Though I don’t want to reveal too much of the story yet, here's a look at the moodboard to hold you over…

2019 keeps serving change and I'm just trying to keep up. Look out Frasier Crane because the cats and I are coming! That’s right. In just a few weeks, DECLARATIVE is moving to Seattle!

It’s been mixed-emotion city over here. I'm excited for Seattle’s strong sweater weather, but it's hard to say goodbye to Augusta. I've seen the Garden City bloom before my eyes over the past few years and in that time, it‘s become my home…

It's 2019 baby, and I can't think of a better way to kick off the new year than by sharing this next chapter of RESPONSIVE TEXTILES with you: “I would stand and look out over the roofs of Paris and think, 'Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.'" ~Ernest Hemingway

I came across this quote at 1 AM back in April, and the idea of a “one true sentence” immediately resonated. The whole quote resonated…

Last week, I shared RSPNSV's story and the growth that's happened over our six collections. For one, I'm no longer a graphic designer trying to be a knitter. For another, "responsive textiles" has since become an industry term for smart fabrics. (no jk) Now for my news, which you may want to sit down for. After considering these changes, I've decided it's time for our brand name to evolve too…

Does the end of the year also make you reflective? I was legit wide awake for hours last night thinking about the past 4 years of RESPONSIVE TEXTILES.

Fun fact: I created the name for a class assignment in 2012. At the time, I thought it'd be a surface design studio, something a little closer to the graphic design degree I was finishing up. Its mission? To design fabric that's RESPONSIVE to your individuality, body and lifestyle. (Sound familiar?)

Jump to 2014. I’m in the middle of brunch (where my best ideas happen), and I decide apply to Fashion Week San Diego under the name RESPONSIVE TEXTILES…

(Literally though!)
Whether it already feels like winter or you’re experiencing multiple climates a day, one thing is true about this time of year: temp control is a struggle.

How can you dress for the cold when every store is blasting their heat? Why is it winter when you leave for work, but spring by lunchtime (and now you’re stuck carrying around that heavy jacket)? Can the air just pick a lane already? Not sure about you, but I legit ask myself these questions all season long…