Sustainability Practices

Hi! My name is Amanda R. Martinez, the human behind The Slow Seeker.

The heart behind this small woman & minority-owned business is social & environmental impact. That means caring for others, this planet, and ourselves. I commit to being conscious of the resources and materials I use. I understand that every decision I make regarding this business causes a chain reaction (my hope and aim is that it causes a positive one)!

I’m not an expert, but I plan to seek progress over the unattainable idea of perfection. I plan to iterate, iterate, iterate until one day, our collective social & environmental efforts create ethical supply chains & restorative environmental change. Are you with me?!

image of folded blazer, kraft tissue paper, and poly mailer. Shipping process

Packaging

As an online business striving to keep the environment in mind, it’s VVVV important that our packaging reflects those values. We use 100% recycled poly mailers which are made entirely of post-consumer and post-industrial content. We also use 100% Recycled Kraft Tissue Paper which is also made entirely from post-consumer & post-industrial content and is recyclable and naturally biodegradable itself!

How you, as a conscious consumer, can help close the loop:

  • Make someone’s day by sending a surprise care package: Reuse your SS poly mailer to ship a surprise care package to a friend or family member!

  • Use it as an organizational tool: Reuse your poly mailer to hold loose items together (like scrap fabric, household items, etc).

  • Travel with it: Reuse your poly mailer as a travel shoe bag or small laundry bag.

  • Save $$$: Reuse tissue paper and twine for special occasion gifts!

A small stack of boxes ready to be shipped

Shipping

We ship all domestic orders through USPS. In an effort to offset emissions made by shipping, The Slow Seeker has partnered with Cloverly, a company that calculates carbon emissions and purchases offsets and Renewable Energy Credits in real-time to mitigate the environmental impacts of everyday activities — aka making sure our online purchases don’t negatively impact the environment! ;)

Image of mannequin wearing a tan long sleeve knit ribbed top and purple printed midi skirt. The Slow Seeker sign in background, and four amber glasses sitting on a mirrored platform

Products

Did you know that textile production has created more greenhouse gases than international flights and maritime shipping COMBINED?! Let that sink in! To reduce carbon emissions and textile waste, all items included in the shop are secondhand. If you want to read more about circular fashion and its benefits, click here!

By purchasing secondhand, you and I reduce our carbon footprint, divert trash out of landfills AND pressure larger retailers to rethink their supply chain & waste strategies. Additionally, if I can’t repair/refurbish clothes or jewelry on my own, I turn to other small businesses in my community for help! The Slow Seeker may be a small business, and you and I may not have large-scale influence, but our dollars and actions create ripple effects!

What you, as a conscious consumer, can do to close the loop:

  • Educate yourself on the circular economy and existing supply chain structures (stay tuned for easy-to-follow content on my IG account)!

  • Start normalizing secondhand purchases by proudly showing off your thrifted finds!

  • Look at what you already own and reinvent it! You’ll be surprised just how far your existing closet can take you!