Today we’d like to introduce you to Camille Lee.
Camille, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It was never my plan to pursue entrepreneurship. That all changed when I started paying attention to the fast fashion industry. Like millions of others, I was a fan of the television show, “Project Runway” when it first debuted in 2004. I was swept into the behind-the-scenes look into the world of garment creation as played out on the competitive show.
But, it wasn’t until many, many years later when I came across new clothes at the local thrift shops that still had their original tags on them that I realized their sunken cost. Time and time again, I’d find “new with original tags” items at the thrift stores waiting to be swooped up by someone that would see their value. Thinking back to the Project Runway days, I thought, “Hmph. What a shame that all of the work used in the creation and production of this garment is going to waste.”
After all, only approximately 20% of clothing that goes to thrift stores is then actually sold. So, what happens to the rest of it? It didn’t take much research to find out that most of those things go directly to landfills. And, although I knew I had to do something about it – I also knew there was no way I could stop the current process.
But, what if I could interrupt the process? What if I could find a way to rescue as many t-shirts as possible from the local thrift shops and give them original graphic designs and then put them back out into the economy as one-of-a-kind, circular fashion, graphic tees? Once that thought entered my brain space – it never left. That was the true beginning of the WearEmOutTees brand.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Not in the least. Deciding to venture out on your own is a sure way to bring obstacles and challenges your way. You no longer have the immediate luxury of staying just in your specific wheelhouse of knowledge. Now, you have to dabble in, and eventually become good in several areas of business.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
WearEmOutTees.com is a business that I run specifically designed to rescue t-shirts from thrift shops and add original graphics to them to keep them circulating in the economy, therefore – diverting them away from landfills. But, it’s not just about the landfill diversion. We’re here to provide alternatives to people looking for cool graphic tees without supporting unethical and environmentally hazardous fast fashion brands.
What sets us apart is that we are the t-shirt brand that uses pre-loved tees, solely. Because of our ethos, you’ll never see us selling newly-produced t-shirts. What most people don’t know, is that it takes approximately 713 gallons of water to make just one, new t-shirt. Fast fashion brands are using the Earth’s irreplaceable resources for the sake of fashion at a speed that isn’t sustainable.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Above all, businesses that were already in existence and those just getting their legs under them before and during the covid-19 pandemic learned how to masterfully pivot. Those that had business ideas within them, they learned how to go for it and try their luck at something new. We had a leg swinging over both sides of that fence.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.WearEmOutTees.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearemouttees/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearemouttees
Image Credits
@SolestePhotography and Eleny Serna
