Southerner Spotlight: Making Fitness More Inclusive with Hannah Setzer

For me, part of what it means to be “Fairly Southern” is to be fair to and inclusive of people of all races, genders, abilities, ages, sexual orientations, and cultures. One of my original intentions for this blog was for it to be a space that promotes diversity and inclusion in the South. Social justice is an undercurrent in many of my posts about ethical fashion and sustainability, but I also hope to publish more posts that directly focus on promoting a more inclusive Southern culture. I am excited to do just that today with a spotlight on Hannah Setzer, a Virginia native with a rare medical condition who is on a mission to make the world, and especially the fitness industry, more inclusive for those with disabilities and medical needs!

I did a Q&A with Hannah to learn more about her background and her mission. I can’t wait for you all to get to know this spunky lady! Without further ado: meet Hannah!

Hannah Setzer of Feeding Tube Fitness: Making the fitness industry more accessible for people with disabilities and medical conditions! | Fairly Southern
Read More

Sustainable Sandals: Oka-B Review

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Oka-B sandals in exchange for a review. This review contains my unbiased, independent opinions.

Oka-B Sandals Review: Sustainable, Fashionable, Comfortable, Women-Owned, Made in the USA | Fairly Southern

I used to always choose fashion over comfort when it came to my shoes. Now, I won’t settle for one or the other! I want super comfortable shoes that still look cute and are practical (i.e. can be worn for multiple occasions). And, it helps if they are made ethically and sustainably, too!

I had heard about Oka-B shoes and had contemplated ordering a pair for about a year or so. Then, Oka-B reached out to me and asked if I’d like to try some. The brand seemed like it could check all of my criteria boxes, so I jumped at the opportunity! I chose the Quinn Sandal.

Read More

Why It’s Important to Buy Less Stuff

This post is part of my Why Series here on the blog. I often write about fair trade, eco-friendly, socially conscious living, but I am not always able to fully address in each of my blog posts WHY I choose to live this way. This series goes into greater detail about my why!

Why It's Important to Buy Less Stuff | Fairly Southern

Personally, I’ve never thought of myself as a big spender or stuff accumulator. However, after reading Jen Hatmaker’s book 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess several years ago, I began to turn a critical eye to what I was purchasing. Clothes, beauty products, home decor: It’s all stuff. I began to realize that perhaps I was buying more stuff than I realized, even if it didn’t necessarily seem like a ton in comparison to other Americans in my demographic. I began to consciously scale back my shopping habit.

Read More

How to Find Sustainable Clothes for Kids

A guest post by Mick Schulte

How to Find Sustainable Clothes for Kids | Fairly Southern

As a mother of four with a set of twins in the mix, focusing on the sustainability of products in our home is a fairly recent development for me. To be completely honest, when I had my kids, I didn’t think much about the impact of their lives on the world’s resources. I was more focused on diving into the major life experience of motherhood. I dreamed of cute family pictures with all of us in perfect outfits, looking coordinated, but not matchy matchy, and living the happily-ever-after life most people think of when they’re just starting out.   

Then I had my kids and realized happily-ever-after is complicated.

Read More

Spring Ethical Fashion Trends

Spring Ethical Fashion Trends | Fairly Southern

Sometimes we see new clothing trends on the racks but are unsure whether these trends would actually work on us; on our normal bodies living our normal, everyday lives. When it comes to ethical fashion, trends can especially be complicated. As I strive to wear clothing for longer rather than subscribing to a fast fashion model, my goal is actually to steer away from trends and toward a lasting personal style that transcends time. Still, if you’re someone who chooses to buy ethically made fashion, you are going to have to buy what is trending at the time you shop. So it’s important to consider the trends that are out there and decide whether they will work for your personal wardrobe!

I recently visited my favorite ethical fashion boutique, The Flourish Market, to find out what is currently trending in the ethical fashion world. Chief of Style Katy dressed me in several different ethically made outfits to show y’all how the latest trends look on a real life person. Here they are:

Read More

Small Joys: Volume 17

Small Joys | Fairly Southern

All the little things bringing me joy lately:

1. Spring is finally here! I’ve enjoyed spending some time outside on warmer days with Ru pup, and I got to spend a fun afternoon with my mom exploring beautiful Pullen Park in Raleigh!

Pullen Park, Raleigh NC | Fairly Southern
Spring at Pullen Park, Raleigh NC | Fairly Southern

2. A completed shower renovation. Back in December, we began renovations on our master bathroom shower to correct some issues that were causing mold. Our shower is finally complete, and I am thrilled to be able to use it again and not have to clean it every few days!

Read More