Shopping eco-consciously has never been easier thanks to Social Studies, a sustainable e-commerce marketplace that wants you to rethink micro trends and fast fashion. With an ethos dedicated to changing the conversation around consumerism and ethical consumption under capitalism, this online shop curates pieces from brands that support their mission.
The brand was founded in 2023 by Jessica Gangoso and Daniel Lewis, both of whom have worked with some of the biggest retailers in the world. Its official launch was last month. Together, they combined their love of fashion with a desire to craft a regenerative retail experience that empowers consumers when they shop. They go beyond sustainability by crafting a long-term vision for the future of fashion and consumerism by sourcing brands that use ethical materials, give back to the community, and understand the need for a retail revolution.
“As a lifelong lover of fashion, I’ve also always felt a deep reverence for the planet— figuring out how to merge these two passions has been a driving force. Few conversations address the psychology of fashion—attitude-behavior gaps, cognitive dissonance and the digital exhaustion caused by micro-trends,” says Gangoso, who previously worked at Aritzia helping them expand their brick-and-mortar locations. “With Social Studies, I want to be part of the healing process, creating a community where belonging, safety, and boundary-pushing self-expression come together.”
From Collina Strada to GANNI and so many more, shoppers can click on specific pieces on the site and see what ethos grades the brand receives. For example, if you click on this graphic tee from Santos by Monica, you can instantly see that the brand is vegan, Latina-owned, and uses biomaterials as an alternative to animal leather. By including these ethos grades, Social Studies makes it even easier to understand where your clothes come from, and who’s behind the scenes designing these pieces for consumption.
“As a shopper, I was constantly frustrated by how difficult it was to find something I genuinely liked and by the confusion around how things were made,” explains Lewis. Their e-commerce concept allows shoppers to vote with their dollars, opting to spend money on brands with an ethos that supports a net-positive ecosystem. By reinventing the retail experience, Social Studies will impact how future generations shop, putting smaller, more ethical brands at the forefront of the fashion world.