We’re looking forward to introducing you to Camille Lee. Check out our conversation below.
Camille, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
There are a few things I felt compelled to do that I hadn’t before, one of them was to focus on combining even more of what I love with what I’m providing within this business. I’ve always enjoyed making crafts but never planned to include that as part of the offerings via WearEmOut Tees. And honestly, I didn’t initially see a connection between the two, but deepening the focus on keeping t-shirt fabric out of the landfills, I realized that selling pre-loved tees wasn’t the only way to get it done. So, after some thought, I decided to bring a new collection that uses rescued t-shirt off cuts and my very own making skills. I’m happy to say that the braided wristlets were added just this past month and are now available on the website.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello Amazing Readers! My name is Camille Lee and I operate WearEmOut Tees here in Dallas, TX. Our primary goal is keeping t-shirts and t-shirt fabrics out of the landfills. We do this in part by collecting pre-owned, landfill-diverted t-shirts from local thrift and resale shops and adding our very own original artwork that has messaging around slow fashion and making better choices for the environment.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One moment that shaped my worldview was when I learned that when we buy something online and then decide to return it for whatever reason, that it doesn’t go back into the inventory of the original seller to be sold to the next person but instead goes to the landfill. Learning that rocked my world. Especially in the current age of “free returns” and shipping.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Running such a specialized brand like WearEmOut Tees that’s focused on slow and sustainable fashion is challenging to the point that hearing about how much money the fast fashion industry brings in each quarter is mind blowing. It’s certainly enough to make anyone want to give up because you realize that those are the industry giants and we as a society have been groomed to accept what it is they are spoon feeding us with their constant sales and low prices, so much so that most people don’t stop to question just how the companies can profit so tremendously while selling $5 or $10 items. And yet, it’s that piece that keeps me going — overall people don’t actually know the true cost of fast fashion, so the welcomed challenge is to educate them so they can make better choices.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Lots of smart people are getting the fashion industry wrong, but it’s not their fault. Industry giants spend billions of dollars a year keeping the flashy marketing techniques going to keep our attention and get our money all while hiding what’s going on behind the scenes. What’s actually going on behind the scenes is a dismal reality that impacts both the planet and women and children garment workers who are tasked with the impossible feat of earning living wages. The more educated society becomes on this topic; I believe the quicker impactful changes can come.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’ve completed all the tasks that I’ve intended to complete and am left with an abundance of time to use as I please. It’s a rare occurrence. Time and space to just be is important and fleeting at times but knowing that everything and everyone is taken care of for the moment is a comforting and satisfying feeling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.WearEmOutTees.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearemouttees/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearemouttees
Image Credits
Image Credits
@SolEstePhotography
