VALUES STATEMENT// What We Strive For

We are humans in the midst of a magnificent and grievous existence. In the face of uncertainty, injustice and mortality, we honor and tend our grief, and let it shape us into architects of a better world.

WE ARE BUILDING A MORE CARING WORLD. We pursue equality by pursuing equal access to joy. Equal access to joy requires equal access to safety, community, opportunity, play, creativity, expression, self-determination, and the natural world.

WE ARE BUILDING A MORE EQUITABLE WORLD. In the absence of justice, we pursue equality through equity. We acknowledge historic systems of power and oppression that still shape our world; because we do not all start from the same place, we must make adjustments to imbalances. We center the needs of those most affected.

WE ARE BUILDING A QUEERER WORLD. We embrace spectrum and that which defies definition. We face the future with a spirit of curiosity and radical imagination.

WE ARE BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE WORLD. We create a supportive and safe environment that invites people to show up as themselves, and where the richness of everyone’s ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives is platformed.

WE ARE BUILDING A MORE CARING WORLD. We foster connectedness into interdependence. We meet each others’ needs with generosity of knowledge, social support, and resources. We forge webs of community care that decrease our reliance on institutions and corporations.

WE ARE BUILDING A MORE COMPASSIONATE WORLD. We navigate conflict and trespass through a framework of transformative justice and community accountability. We pursue progress imperfectly, and acknowledge that the necessary unlearning and relearning for social justice work is a life-long process, and the goal is not mastery but to remain open and curious.

WE ARE BUILDING A MORE DIVERSE WORLD. We uphold each person’s right to self-determination. We support people’s autonomy to make their own decisions, and provide them with the resources and information necessary to pursue their own path.

We recognize these efforts as a part and product of social justice movements that extend throughout history. We honor and hold gratitude for the sacrifices, wisdom, and teachings of all those who came before.

  • We carry a mix of secondhand and vintage, handmade and small-batch, and mass-manufactured products.

    Our secondhand apparel is sourced online and from within the local community through our buy-sell-trade program.

    We currently stock handmade and small batch products from over two dozen diversely owned small business.

    • More than 90% are Woman Owned businesses

    • More than 70% are also LGBTQ+ Owned businesses

    • More than 30% are also BIPOC-Owned businesses

    We carry a limited selection of mass-manufactured products, such as our crafting supplies and tools, and certain accessories—such as sunglasses.

  • Historically, we’ve donated 10% of quarterly profits to aligned nonprofits and mutual aid. Now, the majority of our profits go back into the community through the space, resources and programming of The Parlor.

  • We strive to operate as a low-plastic business. We use recycled and recyclable shipping materials, and try to avoid unnecessary packaging.

    We also focus on sourcing secondhand goods, helping prevent overconsumption and items from entering the wastestream while they still have use.