For almost 15 years, we have worked for a better fashion system. Asking for appropriate remuneration for your work is a further step in this direction.
We’ve been running our project called tHERAPY Recycle and Exorcise for 13 of those years, and like many independent designers, we spent over a decade offering free services, collaborations, and gifting clothes in exchange for "visibility."
It was part of the learning process, a way to grow, connect, and build a name.
But at some point, you have to ask yourself: when is it enough? (and " Did we maybe do it for too long?)
We are incredibly grateful for the opportunities, the people who genuinely wanted to support us, and the visibility that came from these collaborations.
Thanks to all those collaborations, We’ve reached a stage where we can no longer afford to work for free, and also, honestly, we don't need to afford it.
So we are even more grateful for the paid opportunities that allow us to sustain our work and continue creating.
Therapy Recycle & Exorcise is still a very small brand, but it has grown enough to require two studios and two self-run stores, alongside a presence in 10 other stores across five countries.
We not only need to pay those rents, We need to constantly produce and deliver while handling every aspect of the business—design, marketing, sales, and community building. And we are two people.
Unlike big brands with financial backing, we have built everything from scratch coming from a family with no conection whatsoever to the fashion world, one of us being an immigrant, with no institutional support of any kind.
Every rent, every bill, and every material we source is paid through our work alone.
We say THANK YOU!
We truly feel blessed when customers, artists, and collaborators reach out to us. It means the world to have people appreciate and value what we do.
But when requests come without an intention of payment or at the very last minute, it often feels like we are not a respected choice.
Our time and work deserve consideration, just as much as anyone else’s.
Thoughtful planning and fair compensation create meaningful collaborations that benefit everyone involved.
This doesn’t mean we don’t value collaboration—you who know us very well know that we do. We constantly do so with fellow creatives, artists, and independent businesses in ways that are meaningful, fair, and sustainable for everyone. So much that we created a space called RARE, which is a joint store and sustainable fashion collective.
What we ask to be paid for
Apart from ur clothing items that you can buy or rent, We offer styling, consultancy, and workshops.
when you request help in creating your look, or advice, this is also part of our job and not an extra that we offer for free. Our professional services, and like any skilled work, deserve fair compensation.
That’s why our New Year’s resolution for this year was simple: we won’t work for free anymore.
And we wanted to share this because this is our way to say "Please, do the same!".
when we start valuing our own work, others will too. And when we all get paid, we all get to keep creating.
For almost 15 years, we have worked for a better fashion system. We feel this is another step towards a fair, inclusive and sustainable fashion system.
One wehere our work and skills as creatives are fairly valued.
With appreciation and respect,
Angie & poli
tHERAPY Recycle and Exorcise