Clotheshorse with Amanda Lee McCarty cover art

Clotheshorse with Amanda Lee McCarty

Clotheshorse with Amanda Lee McCarty

By: Amanda Lee McCarty
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 Host Amanda Lee McCarty (she/they) decodes and demystifies the fashion and retail industries, and takes on topics like consumerism, workers rights, personal style, and why fashion is a case study in capitalism gone awry. Your money is as powerful as your vote! "If you wear clothes, you need to listen to Clotheshorse." --Elise "If you are human and live in the world, you need to listen to Clotheshorse." --Individually Wrapped© 2025 Amanda Lee McCarty Art Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode 242: I'm With The Brand (unpacking how brands influence our brains), part four

    Episode 242: I'm With The Brand (unpacking how brands influence our brains), part four
    Sep 3 2025
    This episode is part four in an ongoing series about brands and how they influence our identities and drive consumerism. In this episode, we will explore three more "emotional branding" trends of this century: convenience, nostalgia, and hope. This episode includes the following topics:An explanation of trend forecasting and why most large brands are selling essentially the same stuffWGSN and how "big trend forecasting" might be bad for fashion, workers, and customersThe Ouroboros of hustle culture and convenience marketing, along with all of the products and industries that have thrived in a time when people are working more than everWhy we can't have something that is fast, cheap, and goodHow and why nostalgia gets us to open our walletsWhy hope was a good marketing tool through the 2010sIdentifying the upcoming emotional branding trends.Additional reading:"The Future of Fashion Forecasting," Kate Hart, Not Just A Label."Uber fares are cheap, thanks to venture capital. But is that free riding ending?" Sam Dean, Los Angeles Times."Polly Pockets Are Making a Comeback and They Are Just as Good as You Remember," Kate Reggev, Architectural Digest.Future Consumer 2027: EmotionsJOIN AMANDA FOR THE CLOTHESHORSE BIRTHDAY CRAFTERNOON ON SEPTEMBER 21!!!ALSO: get your tickets for Clotheshorse LIVE!10/23 Seattle, WA @ Here-After10/26 Portland, OR @ HoloceneGet your Clotheshorse merch here: https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/If you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it’s a typed out message or an audio recording: amanda@clotheshorse.worldDid you enjoy this episode? Consider "buying me a coffee" via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/clotheshorseClotheshorse is brought to you with support from the following sustainable small businesses:Slow Fashion Academy is a size-inclusive sewing and patternmaking studio based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Designer and fashion professor Ruby Gertz teaches workshops for hobbyists and aspiring designers, so that anyone can learn the foundational skills of making, mending, and altering their own clothes. Ruby also provides professional design and patternmaking services to emerging slow fashion brands, and occasionally takes commissions for custom garments and costume pieces. She has also released several PDF sewing patterns for original designs under her brands Spokes & Stitches, and Starling Petite Plus. Check the schedule for upcoming workshops, download PDF sewing patterns, and learn about additional sewing and design services at www.slowfashion.academy.The Pewter Thimble Is there a little bit of Italy in your soul? Are you an enthusiast of pre-loved decor and accessories? Bring vintage Italian style — and history — into your space with The Pewter Thimble (@thepewterthimble). We source useful and beautiful things, and mend them where needed. We also find gorgeous illustrations, and make them print-worthy. Tarot cards, tea towels and handpicked treasures, available to you from the comfort of your own home. Responsibly sourced from across Rome, lovingly renewed by fairly paid artists and artisans, with something for every budget. Discover more at thepewterthimble.com Deco Denim is a startup based out of San Francisco, selling clothing and accessories that are sustainable, gender fluid, size inclusive and high quality--made to last for years to come. Deco Denim is trying to change the way you think about buying clothes. Founder Sarah Mattes wants to empower people to ask important questions like, “Where was this made? Was this garment made ethically? Is this fabric made of plastic? Can this garment be upcycled and if not, can it be recycled?” Signup at decodenim.com to receive $20 off your first purchase. They promise not to spam you and send out no more than 3 emails a month, with 2 of them surrounding education or a personal note from the Founder. Find them on Instagram as @deco.denim.Vagabond Vintage DTLV is a vintage clothing, accessories & decor reselling business based in Downtown Las Vegas. Not only do we sell in Las Vegas, but we are also located throughout resale markets in San Francisco as well as at a curated boutique called Lux and Ivy located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jessica, the founder & owner of Vagabond Vintage DTLV, recently opened the first IRL location located in the Arts District of Downtown Las Vegas on August 5th. The shop has a strong emphasis on 60s & 70s garments, single stitch tee shirts & dreamy loungewear. Follow them on instagram, @vagabondvintage.dtlv and keep an eye out for their website coming fall of 2022.Located in Whistler, Canada, Velvet Underground is a "velvet jungle" full of vintage and second-hand clothes, plants, a vegan cafe and lots of rad products from other small sustainable businesses. Our mission is to create a brand and community dedicated to promoting self-expression, as well as educating and inspiring a more sustainable and conscious lifestyle both...
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    1 hr and 55 mins
  • Episode 241: I'm With The Brand (unpacking how brands influence our brains), part three

    Episode 241: I'm With The Brand (unpacking how brands influence our brains), part three
    Aug 21 2025
    This episode is part three in an ongoing series about brands and how they influence our identities and drive consumerism.In this episode we will be unpacking and exploring various examples of "cause marketing:"The flaws in the "buy one, give one" model,How brands engineer fundraiser collections to be profitable,The effectiveness of "round up" at checkout campaigns,Why B Corp certification doesn't mean as much as it once did,The real reason companies do fundraisers for charity and causes,And we will do the math to get to what a 1% giveback really means.Additional reading:"Melania Trump says 'don't care' jacket was a message," BBC."T-shirt makers riff on Melania Trump’s jacket with their own message and donate proceeds to refugee services," Lindsay Ellefson, CNN."The Broken 'Buy-One, Give-On" Model: 3 ways to save TOMS Shoes," Cheryl Davenport, Fast Company."The Impact of TOMS Shoes," Bruce Wydick."Shoeing the Children: The Impact of the TOMS Shoe Donation Program in Rural El Salvador."Dr. Bronner’s Statement on Dropping B Corp Certification"The B Corp Standard is at Risk," Fair World Project."Nespresso: Known for Human Rights Violations, Now B Corp Certified," Fair World Project."How Nespresso's coffee revolution got ground down," Ed Cumming, The Guardian.Rio Tinto Corporate Rap SheetTHANKS TO THIS EPISODE'S SPONSOR: MLE!! Ase code CLOTHESHORSE at www.madebymle.com to get 10% off your order. JOIN AMANDA FOR THE CLOTHESHORSE BIRTHDAY CRAFTERNOON ON SEPTEMBER 21!!!ALSO: get your tickets for Clotheshorse LIVE!10/23 Seattle, WA @ Here-After10/26 Portland, OR @ HoloceneGet your Clotheshorse merch here: https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/If you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it’s a typed out message or an audio recording: amanda@clotheshorse.worldDid you enjoy this episode? Consider "buying me a coffee" via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/clotheshorseClotheshorse is brought to you with support from the following sustainable small businesses:Slow Fashion Academy is a size-inclusive sewing and patternmaking studio based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Designer and fashion professor Ruby Gertz teaches workshops for hobbyists and aspiring designers, so that anyone can learn the foundational skills of making, mending, and altering their own clothes. Ruby also provides professional design and patternmaking services to emerging slow fashion brands, and occasionally takes commissions for custom garments and costume pieces. She has also released several PDF sewing patterns for original designs under her brands Spokes & Stitches, and Starling Petite Plus. Check the schedule for upcoming workshops, download PDF sewing patterns, and learn about additional sewing and design services at www.slowfashion.academy.The Pewter Thimble Is there a little bit of Italy in your soul? Are you an enthusiast of pre-loved decor and accessories? Bring vintage Italian style — and history — into your space with The Pewter Thimble (@thepewterthimble). We source useful and beautiful things, and mend them where needed. We also find gorgeous illustrations, and make them print-worthy. Tarot cards, tea towels and handpicked treasures, available to you from the comfort of your own home. Responsibly sourced from across Rome, lovingly renewed by fairly paid artists and artisans, with something for every budget. Discover more at thepewterthimble.com Deco Denim is a startup based out of San Francisco, selling clothing and accessories that are sustainable, gender fluid, size inclusive and high quality--made to last for years to come. Deco Denim is trying to change the way you think about buying clothes. Founder Sarah Mattes wants to empower people to ask important questions like, “Where was this made? Was this garment made ethically? Is this fabric made of plastic? Can this garment be upcycled and if not, can it be recycled?” Signup at decodenim.com to receive $20 off your first purchase. They promise not to spam you and send out no more than 3 emails a month, with 2 of them surrounding education or a personal note from the Founder. Find them on Instagram as @deco.denim.Vagabond Vintage DTLV is a vintage clothing, accessories & decor reselling business based in Downtown Las Vegas. Not only do we sell in Las Vegas, but we are also located throughout resale markets in San Francisco as well as at a curated boutique called Lux and Ivy located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jessica, the founder & owner of Vagabond Vintage DTLV, recently opened the first IRL location located in the Arts District of Downtown Las Vegas on August 5th. The shop has a strong emphasis on 60s & 70s garments, single stitch tee shirts & dreamy loungewear. Follow them on instagram, @vagabondvintage.dtlv and keep an eye out for their website coming fall of 2022.Located in Whistler, Canada, Velvet Underground is a "velvet jungle" full of vintage and second-hand clothes, plants, a vegan cafe and lots ...
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    1 hr and 53 mins
  • Episode 240: I'm With The Brand (unpacking how brands influence our brains), part two

    Episode 240: I'm With The Brand (unpacking how brands influence our brains), part two
    Jul 23 2025
    This episode is part two in an ongoing series about brands and how they influence our identities and drive consumerism.In this episode:We are going to hopefully answer the question “why might someone get so caught up in a brand that they start fighting with strangers about it on social media?”Amanda explains where "off price" stores like TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack really get their inventoryWe examine why it's more important than ever to support small businesses (and how we can do that)We will explore the background and influence of Marc Gobés 2000s book Emotional Branding, considered “the bible” of contemporary marketing and brandingWhy is Lululemon kind of like a cult?We will walk through the “10 commandments of emotional branding” and examples of how they have been appliedWe will realize that Supreme isn't as cool as it seemsWe explore why people join brand fan groups on FacebookHow Nooworks made a major fan out of Amanda after seeing how the brand handled a crisisAmanda explains why taste is a classist constructAnd so much more!Additional reading:"Getting Emotional With Marc Gobé," Design Emotion."Why Do People Join Cults? Linguist and 'Cultish' Author Amanda Montell on the 'Invisible Power of Language,'" Dillon Dodson, Parade.Cultish by Amanda Montell"The Cult-Like Following Of Lululemon Is Stronger Than Ever — Despite Controversies," Cory Stieg, Refinery29.Business Insider piece about working for LululemonALSO: get your tickets for Clotheshorse LIVE!10/23 Seattle, WA @ Here-After10/26 Portland, OR @ HoloceneGet your Clotheshorse merch here: https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/If you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it’s a typed out message or an audio recording: amanda@clotheshorse.worldDid you enjoy this episode? Consider "buying me a coffee" via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/clotheshorseClotheshorse is brought to you with support from the following sustainable small businesses:Slow Fashion Academy is a size-inclusive sewing and patternmaking studio based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Designer and fashion professor Ruby Gertz teaches workshops for hobbyists and aspiring designers, so that anyone can learn the foundational skills of making, mending, and altering their own clothes. Ruby also provides professional design and patternmaking services to emerging slow fashion brands, and occasionally takes commissions for custom garments and costume pieces. She has also released several PDF sewing patterns for original designs under her brands Spokes & Stitches, and Starling Petite Plus. Check the schedule for upcoming workshops, download PDF sewing patterns, and learn about additional sewing and design services at www.slowfashion.academy.The Pewter Thimble Is there a little bit of Italy in your soul? Are you an enthusiast of pre-loved decor and accessories? Bring vintage Italian style — and history — into your space with The Pewter Thimble (@thepewterthimble). We source useful and beautiful things, and mend them where needed. We also find gorgeous illustrations, and make them print-worthy. Tarot cards, tea towels and handpicked treasures, available to you from the comfort of your own home. Responsibly sourced from across Rome, lovingly renewed by fairly paid artists and artisans, with something for every budget. Discover more at thepewterthimble.comSt. Evens is an NYC-based vintage shop that is dedicated to bringing you those special pieces you’ll reach for again and again. More than just a store, St. Evens is dedicated to sharing the stories and history behind the garments. 10% of all sales are donated to a different charitable organization each month. New vintage is released every Thursday at wearStEvens.com, with previews of new pieces and more brought to you on Instagram at @wear_st.evens.Deco Denim is a startup based out of San Francisco, selling clothing and accessories that are sustainable, gender fluid, size inclusive and high quality--made to last for years to come. Deco Denim is trying to change the way you think about buying clothes. Founder Sarah Mattes wants to empower people to ask important questions like, “Where was this made? Was this garment made ethically? Is this fabric made of plastic? Can this garment be upcycled and if not, can it be recycled?” Signup at decodenim.com to receive $20 off your first purchase. They promise not to spam you and send out no more than 3 emails a month, with 2 of them surrounding education or a personal note from the Founder. Find them on Instagram as @deco.denim.Vagabond Vintage DTLV is a vintage clothing, accessories & decor reselling business based in Downtown Las Vegas. Not only do we sell in Las Vegas, but we are also located throughout resale markets in San Francisco as well as at a curated boutique called Lux and Ivy located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jessica, the founder & owner of Vagabond Vintage DTLV, recently opened the first IRL ...
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    2 hrs and 4 mins
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