Q & A with Anne Whiting, Founder of Anne James New York

1. City of residence: New York City

2. Place of birth: Minneapolis, Minnesota

3. In under five sentences, define your business:

Anne James makes made-to-order, custom-fit fashion for women who want and need perfect clothes. It’s sustainability-conscious, carefully and locally made, and designed to inspire a woman’s uniqueness and individual confidence.

4. What social or environmental impact is your business making?

Environmentally, I’m not perfectly sustainable—not waste-free, alas, I do have a carbon footprint—but I am environmentally conscious. I make every effort to be careful and mindful of my impact. This means using compostable packaging or eco-conscious paper from noissue and reusing boxes and tissue paper where I can in the development process. It means understanding where my fabric scraps go and considering how they can be recycled. And it means making clothes slowly, per order, perfectly fit, instead of producing thousands of garments that require huge amounts of water, oil, etc. to make.

5. What is the best part of the work you’re doing? Why?

This is hard to narrow down. There are so many best parts. I suppose if I must choose, it’s being part of this moment in fashion, this awakening to our impact and our need for change. Not that eco- or conscious fashion is anything new, as the movement started in the 60s, but the push for industry restructure is greater than ever and contributing to a paradigm switch. Plus, meeting people who are also on this journey and passionate about this cause—I’m grateful for that opportunity.

6. What are three tips can you share to help us all become wiser consumers?

Do what you can to minimize waste. Try to support companies whose business practices you believe in, the reasons for which can be various. And if you have time, research and meditate on the impact and meaning of consumption.

7. What book(s) are you currently reading?

That’s a long list too. I’m a book lover with ADD. The book of the day changes based on my mood and the size of my purse. Most recently: reading a chef’s memoir about his time in Southern France. I’m almost done with Thich Nhat Hanh’s Teachings On Love, and Frances Corner’s Why Fashion Matters is singing to my choir.

8. Quote you (try to) live by? “Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.”

9. Using one word, how would you describe yourself? Curious.

10. What’s one random fact most people don’t know about you? These days, don’t we share everything.