Cloth is Culture: St. Brigid’s cloak

We’ve been using this tagline – cloth is culture – for a few years now. I’m going to start periodically featuring examples of what I mean by this: ways that cloth is integral to how humans “do” culture, particularly in a modern setting. – allie While we in the U.S. now mark Groundhog’s Day as a way […]

Manuma in the press

Manuma founder Allie McConnell was recently quoted in a piece in Hartford Magazine by Caitlin Collins on the Pantone Color of the Year, Living Coral. “It’s flattering on literally everyone,” McConnell says. “It has a softness to it, which makes it more approachable than a true fire engine red. It definitely has a tropical feel, […]

MNMA Gift Edit: Valentine’s Day

We’ve pulled together some of our favorite luxury and design gifts for your Valentine’s Day consideration – lavish your loved one, or indulge yourself. We’re as cynical and irreverent as the next modern woman, but we also believe in beauty, pleasure, and thoughtful care for others and ourselves. So whether you’re going all-in on a […]

Clutter control: 5S organization system for home

Are you a KonMari cultist? Or is your bedroom haunted by a growing pile of unsorted laundry? Or perhaps you’ve found a pseudo-organized happy medium? They say clutter takes an unspoken toll on your focus and creativity by resulting in what you might call visual decision fatigue – there’s lots of evidence showing that clutter […]

Tips: Shrink your dry cleaning bill (and your carbon footprint)

Do you avoid buying beautiful clothes because of the scary “Dry Clean Only” label? For the most part, this is a disclaimer from brands so they can prevent returns. They need to minimize returns because it cuts into their profits – that’s understandable. But too often this is an unnecessary burden on shoppers because it’s […]

E-book: Sustainable fashion for special occasions

The first e-book published by Manuma is a simple and straightforward guide to formal fashion. With original content from Manuma founder Allie McConnell, it’s a unique take on dressing in a notoriously challenging category. For many of us, an invitation to a formal event is a flurry of emotions – and almost immediately our thoughts […]

Holiday Gift Guide for Gentlewomen

The best gifts are useful, thoughtful, and beautiful. So we’ve curated a list of suggestions and linked products that we think fit the bill and align with her values. Treat yourself or the amazing women in your life. We’re trying out affiliate marketing links as a source of income for Manuma. I may receive a […]

10 advantages of choosing sustainable fashion

Is your closet making you a hypocrite? How much do you really know about who made your clothes or what they’re made of? Could you answer questions about your wardrobe’s provenance with a smile and a clear conscience? If you’re shifting your fashion budget to more sustainable choices, you don’t have to worry. Choosing natural […]

How small brands can help you align your wardrobe with your values

Small, independent fashion brands make it easy for you to align your wardrobe with your values. You can add another product category to the way you’ve shifted your dollars to make choices that are better for the local economy, better for the environment, and better for women and other workers. Here are just a few ways […]

Joy of Missing Out: Daylight Savings Time and reconsidering the moment

The time change for Daylight Savings presents an opportunity for reflection.  Time is both circular and linear, discrete and continuous, subjective and objective. Sparkpluck Studio How can something that seems so structured and consistent, be so complicated by dualities? We never have enough, yet we waste it. We hurry up to wait. We watch the […]