Cora Maria

This wrapping/photo was created using recycled materials, left-over paper, and a handmade bow from a local artist. Dear confused gift-giver, Chances are you've been linked to this article by someone on your Christmas list. Whether you’re a conscious consumer or purchasing for someone who is, it can be especially frustrating to shop for someone with niche interests related to kawaii culture. Christmas is a stressful time of year for many, but this gift guide should help you find the perfect, budget-friendly gift for the kawaii person in your life. I have split the list into five categories to help skimmers quickly find suggestions that fit their sustainability priorities. These are: Second-hand DIY Virtual goods Reusable replacements for disposals Small and/or local businesses Please note that none of these categories or items are going to be 100% sustainable. I wrote this list hoping to provide suggestions encompassing a variety of values. If the...

I can barely wear a collared shirt without adding a hairclip as a bowtie. This week I’ll be reviewing a very special item from a very special brand. It’s a button-up from indie fashion brand Clean The Label. In this review I will explore why I bought this item, the customer service experience, and my detailed thoughts on the product itself. As my first ethically and sustainably produced apparel item, does Clean The Label do the underserved niche of kawaii and sustainable fashion proud? About the brand Clean The Label is an Australian unisex street fashion brand inspired by Decora and Harajuku fashion. The owner/designer, Christina Lean, hand-makes each unique item from scrap fabric and unwanted, clean sheets. She runs her shop on Depop where she sells pants, bags, scarves, jackets, accessories, and button-ups like the one I am reviewing today. Why I chose this product I had been eying this particular piece ever since I discovered Clean The Label on Depop 3-4 month...

At the Suitcase Rummage, I have bought many pieces I either adore or ignore. We live in a world where we are surrounded by thousands of businesses competing for every dollar we have. They encourage impulse buying, excessive materialism, and blind trust. They tell you what you should want, what you should have, and they say you need it now!  With the number of questionable fashion companies trying to grab our attention these days, it’s easy to fall into the cycle of constant consumerism without taking the time to learn what it is that you really  want and enjoy. Shopping less and shopping smarter will lead to a wardrobe that better reflects you and your values, so allow me to share with you some tips I have found useful. Disclaimer: While I will be recommending a few free products, I am not sponsored or affiliated with them at all. I’m recommending them because I personally find them to be helpful. Watch fewer hauls. I know, I know, hauls are a larg...

She told me I could wear these shoes. I was a fool to believe her... Your fantasy self. You might not have heard of them, but you know their presence deep inside of you. They are everything you are not, but wish you could be. The most dangerous part about our fantasy selves is how they are shaped by the consumer culture we live in. Media and advertising wants to alter your fantasy self into someone who benefits them. They want you to believe the illusion that you can become the fantasy self with their products. They want you to think that with this new dress or hair dye or make-up product, you will finally be beautiful and happy, just like that perfect image of yourself in your head. Or if you buy these expensive comic markers, then maybe you’ll finally start drawing, or actually start being good at it, right? For someone so imaginary, the fantasy self is surprisingly demanding. What it comes down to is how much stuff you buy that goes unused, and how much guilt and shame...

This is the void possessions cannot fill. The kawaii community is known for its maximism and materialism, which is why most of you might scoff at minimalism as I once did. It’s easy to think that the minimalist philosophy would only point out our supposed “flaws”, but I believe that its teachings could enhance our kawaii lifestyles and help us foster a healthier relationship with our things. Minimalism can help us reduce stress, save up for the items we really want, be more sustainable, and learn more about ourselves. This is why I believe everyone, minimalist or not, should pay attention to the following lessons: Stuff is stressful Yes, shopping is fun, buying stuff is fun, and using stuff is fun too. But our relationship with stuff is more than just looking, buying, then using. There’s also storage, cleaning, and other stuff that may be necessary to use the original stuff in question, and then that other stuff also needs cleaning and storage and maybe more stuff. S...