About

What is Sincerely Sustainable?

Sincerely Sustainable seeks to both investigate and understand how the emerging industry of sustainable fashion promotes itself in a competitive, complex market.

According to Forbes, “Just as consumers today are taking a closer look at the food they consume and the chemicals they put into their bodies, they are also shifting their purchasing decisions to create a cleaner environment through the clothes they wear” (Forbes, 2019, para 2).

Sincerely Sustainable is here to evaluate what’s going on behind the scenes— what kind of promotional tools are being used, and how are they so effective? What has suddenly compelled some people to spend as much as $128 on a basic linen top that is marked as “sustainable”? And what does “sustainable” really mean?

Its series of blog posts work towards answering these questions through the evaluation of sustainable fashion brands, the industry as a whole, and what sustainability means to the average American.

WHO is Sincerely sustainable?

Erica Arias

Erica Arias-Bonilla is a junior Marketing and Media Arts and Design double major with a concentration in Creative Advertising at James Madison University. She is from Springfield, VA, just 15 minutes outside of Washington D.C. She has a great interest in learning how the advertising world operates and how it impacts a consumer’s purchasing habits. Erica hopes to work for an advertising firm in D.C. after graduating in December 2021.

Daniel Cymes

Daniel Cymes is a sophomore at James Madison University. He is studying Creative Advertising in the school of Media Arts and Design. From an early age, the importance of purchasing sustainable clothing was emphasized in his household. Set to graduate in May of 2022, Daniel is in the process of networking job opportunities in Los Angeles after his graduation.

Kelsey Williams

Kelsey Williams is a senior at James Madison University. She is graduating with a degree in Media Arts and Design with a concentration in Creative Advertising. Her best skills include photography and design. She is also passionate about healthy living. Kelsey currently works for Bluestone Yearbook on campus as a designer, and even owns her own photography business. She plans to graduate in December 2020.

Riley Cook

Riley Cook is a sophomore student at James Madison University. She is majoring in Media Arts and Design with a concentration in Creative Advertising and double minoring in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and Creative Writing. Riley currently works as the marketing intern at the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center. She also works as a stylist at Free People, a bohemian apparel and lifestyle retail chain. Riley plans to graduate in May 2022.

Grace Garvey

Grace Garvey is a Media Arts and Design Major with a concentration in Creative Advertising. She is a sophomore at James Madison University where she is working on becoming a successful creator, strategist, and organizer to prepare for future careers. Grace has practiced writing creative briefs and writing copy for advertisements in her classes at JMU. She plans to graduate in May 2022 with multiple internships within the field.