A few months ago, my family had to say goodbye to my grandmother, Marie. At 97 years old, she lived a long, love-filled, and fun-filled life. To say she was special is an understatement—I know everyone says that about their grandma, but she really was. She knew how to make every grandchild feel special.
Though dementia took much of her memory in her later years, I hold onto so many warm moments with her—from my childhood all the way through our last visits together. And as I’ve been reminiscing, I realize how much she has influenced me—not just personally, but in why I started League of Friends.
A Seamstress, A Maker, A Resourceful Creator
My grandma was an incredible seamstress. Her sewing room, tucked into the warmest corner of her basement, was where she worked magic—turning fabric scraps into beautiful quilts, resized bridesmaid dresses for me to play dress-up in, and even tiny outfits for my dolls. She could make anything - she never needed a pattern; she just figured it out.
But beyond her talent, she was resourceful and sustainable—long before those words became trendy. My mom, an interior designer, would give her fabric scraps from clients’ projects, and my grandma would turn them into something beautiful. Quilts, pillow covers, even crocheted rugs made from fabric strips—nothing was wasted.
The quilts became a tradition, like a right of passage, in our family. Every Christmas or birthday, we’d get a lap quilt. When you graduated from college, you earned a large, queen-size quilt. And when you had a baby, she made sure you received a baby quilt at your shower. As her hands aged and sewing became harder, she stockpiled baby quilts for future great-grandchildren. That way, even if she was no longer here, every baby in the family would feel special and connected to her legacy.
I still have those quilts for my daughters, Penelope and Mabel. And now, when I think about what I want League of Friends to stand for, I think about the values she unknowingly passed down: craftsmanship, durability, and creating things that are meant to last.
Gardening, Storytelling & Living with Purpose
I didn’t get to spend many summers with her in Iowa as a kid—we usually had family gatherings elsewhere—but one summer, when I was around six or seven, I visited my Grandma and got to help in her garden. I remember digging potatoes, pulling up carrots, and watching her work.
She was always very independent and a doer. She had no problem handling a gardener snake with her hoe, but a tiny mouse in the house? That would send her screaming.
If you’ve been following League of Friends for a while, you know how much I’ve fallen in love with gardening since moving north of the city from Brooklyn. I’m not sure I’d handle a snake as calmly as she did, but I know she influenced my love of growing things—whether she realized it or not.
Growing up during the Great Depression, my grandmother was conditioned to save, reuse, and waste nothing. She saved every ribbon and piece of wrapping paper from gifts. She baked the best chocolate chip cookies and would always pack them in old Pringles cans so they wouldn’t get crushed when she traveled to visit us in Indiana or shipped them in a care package.
The way she lived wasn’t about sustainability—it was simply about making the most of what you had. And when I think about the values behind League of Friends, that’s exactly what we try to do.
Fast Fashion vs. Thoughtful Design
Sustainability has become a buzzword. Marketing campaigns spin old concepts like buying local or circular fashion into something that feels brand new. But if we look back at past generations, their everyday habits—hand-making, upcycling, growing their own food—are what modern technology often tries (and fails) to improve upon.
When I started League of Friends, I wanted to create a brand that made parents excited about fun, high-quality kids’ clothing—pieces they could wash, wear, and pass down to siblings, cousins, and friends.
I’ve worked in the fashion industry for years, and I’ve seen the waste firsthand. There’s so much unnecessary production—so many trendy, low-quality pieces that lose their shape after a few washes and end up in landfills. It never felt right to me.
So when we design at League of Friends, every piece must pass a few key standards:
Our Thoughtful Production Checklist
✅ Would I put this on my kids? (Bonus points if I wish it came in my size, too.)
✅ Are the materials natural and toxin-free? (Better for your little one and the planet—organic fibers biodegrade instead of sitting in landfills.)
✅ Is this piece chasing a trend or built to last? (We don’t design throwaway fashion. We create styles that still feel fresh, even after a kid outgrows them.)
✅ Do I feel proud to put this out into the world? (I’m still learning what resonates most with our community, but I stand by every piece we’ve made.)
✅ Do I feel good about who is making our products? (Any factory can make organic cotton clothing. But we partner with ethical artisans and responsible manufacturers who care about their workers and the environment.)
What We Can Learn from the Past
Fast fashion has changed how people think about clothing. It’s easy to forget that every garment has a backstory—that someone grew the cotton, raised and sheared the animals for the wool, or (worse) drilled the oil to create synthetic fabrics like polyester.
When you see a $5 shirt or a massive Shein haul from some content creator, it’s easy to overlook the true cost—not just in dollars, but in environmental and human impact.
That’s why small, slow-fashion brands like ours matter. I hope we can help shift the mindset back to the old saying:
💡 "You get what you pay for."
Whether new or pre-owned (have you checked out our Pre-Loved Collection?), high-quality, natural-fiber clothing is always the best investment—for your family, your wallet, and the planet.
Carrying My Grandmother’s Legacy Forward
If you’re still reading, thank you. I could go on for hours about this (clearly). But if you take one thing away from this, I hope it’s this:
There is so much value in the way past generations lived. In slowing down, making things with care, and choosing quality over quantity.
Whether it’s repurposing old fabric, baking cookies for loved ones (and storing them in a Pringles can ;)), or just being more thoughtful about what we buy, these small, intentional choices make a difference.
I appreciate you, this community, and the support you’ve shown League of Friends. We’re building something meaningful here—and I’m so grateful you’re a part of it.
Until next time, thank you, friend.
💛 Megan