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The State News discusses issues and the cultural impact of entertainment news including TV & film, fashion, music and more.
Hello, and welcome back to House Lights. Your one stop shop for everything you need to hear about this week in the world of entertainment. As always, I'm your host, Liz Noss. And today, I am joined by the wonderful, the amazing
Jaden:regional desk editor, Jaden Beard. And
PJ:sports desk editor, PJ Pfeiffer.
Liz:So it's been a long time since you've been here, Jaden. We don't really do the intro with what we, you know, when we are in the newsroom lately. So I guess someone's not been listening to house lights recently.
Jaden:Oh, geez. I just wanted to let people know.
Liz:I just want to let people know. And what I wanted to say was it's a very special last episode. And, you know, in a less, you know, mean way. And it's a very special last episode of the semester of House Lights, so I wanted to bring back, long term host, Jane Beard. Thank you for having me, Liz.
Liz:Of course, baby. Excited to be back. Wonderful.
PJ:Thanks for having me too.
Liz:Yeah. Like, JJ, like, you're cool too. I just think that, you know, I just wanted, you know, to make it a little special.
PJ:No. Totally. Yeah.
Liz:No. Like, totally.
PJ:Yeah. No.
Liz:I yeah. So, actually, this is yeah. So all of this hostility actually comes from you know, it's sort of thematic, to what we're talking about today. I actually wasn't being mean at all. It has to do with the amazing documentary.
Liz:Well, amazing. It was pretty good.
PJ:It was a documentary. It was
Liz:a documentary, but it's on an amazing topic called Brandy Melville and the store. You know? Everything that's surrounding that. So yeah. And that's sort of just it was a play on how the mean girls are that work there.
Jaden:You were just cosplaying.
Liz:I was just cosplaying. I that was a really bad explanation for why I was coming off hostel, but I It's okay. I just wanna, like, pull it into the episode instead. So but yeah. So you guys both watched it.
Jaden:Guess we did.
PJ:Yeah. Yeah. We I watched it last night.
Liz:Nice. Just a little research before the before the pod.
PJ:Yeah. Oh, definitely. Yeah.
Liz:But I first of all, like, my background, Britney Melville, I feel like it I kind of, like, grew up with it. And I feel like, Jaden, you're probably the same way. Okay. That's why I wanted to bring you on. Tell me a little bit about your experience with Brandy Melville and just sort of, like, how it changed your middle school life?
Liz:Just how or, like, that way, it very much or, like, early high school, I feel like.
Jaden:Yeah. No. It very much I wanna say, like, even, like, 8th grade. Yeah. I remember when it came into popularity, it kind of was on the same page as, like, Lululemon at that time where if you had it, it very much was like a status symbol, and it was very much like, you know, you were fitting in.
Jaden:You felt good. I remember the first time I bought a brand new Melville shirt. It was the, like, cross one that's,
Liz:like Nice.
Jaden:With, like, the polka dots, and I felt, like, I was, like, on top of the world. I would wear it way too often. It was not cute.
Liz:It was not Well, like, did I know how to style it? No. Like, of, like, this, like that? Yeah. Oh, yeah.
Liz:That was such a staple.
Jaden:It was a staple, and I had it was like that, and the, like, Lululemon lunch bag, and I was like, I'm one of the popular girls. Oh my god. Not not actually.
Liz:Not actually. Lululemon lunch bag. I didn't even know they made those.
PJ:Yeah.
Liz:Wait. That's so No.
Jaden:They didn't make lunch bags. What I don't know if girls at your school did this, but at, like, my middle school, every time you bought something from Lululemon, you'd get that, like, bag, and then the girls would get either lunches out of that.
Liz:I do remember that. Oh my god.
PJ:Many people would bring those for like, they would put their lunches
Liz:in there. Yeah. Oh my god.
Jaden:No. I remember I, like, I, like, bought a headband,
Liz:like, for the bag. Because, you know,
Jaden:it's expensive. It's expensive. But, yeah, I remember it was just such a status symbol. I remember what they're talking about, like, the social media and, like, the Instagram. I remember that was a very big thing.
Jaden:The photography, especially the, like, Tumblr Oh, yeah. Style photography Mhmm. Like, going into it. Oh, it was just a whole thing.
Liz:Well, then it was such a weird time because I feel like Tumblr was 1 or 2 signs at the time. It was, like, the Brandy Melville, like, sort of, like, basic style and then, like, also, like, the, like, grunge Arctic Monkeys. That was, like, random. That's, like, what ran like Tumblr at the time.
PJ:Yeah.
Liz:So how, like, how did you interact with PJ? Or how did you, PJ, how did you interact with Brandy Melville? Because, obviously, it was very much like a teenage girl's dream to, like Oh, it is. Learn everything. So, like, how did you see it, like, in pop culture?
PJ:Yeah. I mean, I never I never wore it. Right. And my my sister, she's 8 years older than me, so it was very much like she was 20 at the time. Mhmm.
PJ:21. So she wasn't really wearing that. Right. And all I just feel like all of a sudden, like, one day in, like, 7th or 8th grade, like, every girl was wearing it. Like, everyone was wearing, like, very similar shirts or, like, hoodies, stuff what else whatever they you know?
PJ:So hoodies
Liz:were good. Yeah. The hoodies were good. Like, actually, like, some zip up ones. Yeah.
Liz:Well, and here's the thing. I feel like I never see any, like, actual brandy Melville stores, but I got it from, like, the the PAX, like, the Oh, yeah.
Jaden:Definitely.
Liz:Yeah. They have, like, that section, and you know it's the Brandy Melville because it's the one size.
Jaden:It's one size and, like, none of the, promotions went to Brandy.
Liz:No. Yeah. Absolutely. And it was it was just I have the one necklace that was a little lock. Mhmm.
Liz:That was like that was a big thing for me. And then I actually I realized this the other day. I still have a shirt from Brene Millville that I wear pretty frequently. And it's just like a little baby top
Jaden:Yeah.
Liz:With, like it's like a leopard, like, print, like, collar. And this is, like, Brooklyn.
Jaden:Okay, Brooklyn.
PJ:Anyways, it's like I
Liz:actually don't wear it that often, but I saw it in my closet the other day. It's just like a summer shirt, and I was like, oh my gosh. Mhmm. Brandy Melville. But, like, I don't I don't know.
Liz:I haven't thought about Brandy Melville in a really long time before watching this documentary. I'm I own a lot of it. You say yeah. Wow. Like, what kind of, like
Jaden:do you know they have, like, the hype? Ruth is out.
Liz:They have, like, the hype b stuff. They have, like, the little baby tees. They have the hoodies. What, like, sort of stuff?
Jaden:I have, like, their tank tops.
Liz:I have,
Jaden:guys, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Liz:You know what? Like okay. Before we get into the bad stuff and also with Brandy Hellville, which is such a cruel
PJ:Crazy. I love it.
Jaden:I kind of Kinda eats.
Liz:Yeah. Like camp. But, like, what really meant is, like, that it was so good. Like, you couldn't
Jaden:you couldn't
Liz:put it down. Like, it was actually, like, what everyone was wearing. It was the trend.
Jaden:Mhmm.
Liz:And so it's it's not bad to own it. It just sucks that, like, it has this, like, weird political nuance to it. And it's like,
Jaden:because yeah. You know what? It's charged. It's cheap. It's cute.
Liz:And and
PJ:and you're not alone wearing it.
Jaden:And I'm not alone.
Liz:I'm not
PJ:alone. You're not the only one wearing it.
Liz:Well, and it is better material than some of the other fast fashion. Like, it's too much fun. It was cuter than forever 21 at the time.
Jaden:Oh, yeah.
Liz:It was cuter than I by the way, I I don't know if I send this on podcast for. I've worked at both 21 stores, which is weird. But, like, so I know fast fashion.
Jaden:Like, I can I can
Liz:feel fast fashion in my like, I used to, like, fold a 1,000 fast fashion shirts a day? But anyway so it's like I in Brandy Melville didn't feel like it even though it was. It's like the epitome of
Jaden:fast fashion. Honestly, it didn't a lot of the pieces don't feel like it, but some of them really do. I've had pants that I wear them, like, one day, and they, like, fall apart, and I'm like, oh. Yeah. I thought those were nice.
Jaden:No. But it was, like, it's, like, the tank tops. And then do you remember I think it was a very big trend on TikTok a while ago when they talk about their, like, loungewear sets and their, like, sleep sets.
Liz:Yes.
Jaden:I have have a couple of those.
Liz:I, of course, have a couple of those. It's gonna be super. But They were comfy.
Jaden:They're comfy. They're comfy, and they're cute. And another big thing that, like, was a big appeal of Brandy Melville is that it was one of those it didn't, like, say the brand on the
Liz:Right.
Jaden:Clothing as much, which I think is interesting when you go into how they were marketing it and everything. Like, you'd almost think that that's something they want because they want, you know, like, the girls that are wearing it to be, like, brandy girls and recognizes brandy girls. But I don't know.
Liz:She's interesting. That's a good point because I feel like a lot of the time like, like, around that time that it was, like, a growing brand, that was a big thing. Like, Aeropostale always said, like, arrow.
PJ:Yeah. Or, like, gap. Everything. It's, like, gap is, like, in large font. You know?
PJ:Right.
Liz:And, like, Victoria's Secret Pink. Yeah. Like, that was a big thing, like, around because, like, my 8th grade photo isn't, like, one of those, like, pink pull over the top and it was, like, in, like, the the little quarter zip Mhmm. Or whatever. So, like, a lot of the brands around that time were, like, overly branding.
Liz:So maybe, like, that's something that mean girls wanna buy it more because they were sick of having, like, a brand on their but, like, but you could tell it was brand new when you bought it. Definitely. Definitely. Very similar. And and it just had that prestige.
Liz:And I I wanna kinda get into, like, the culture around it. Mhmm. Specifically around, like, Emma Chamberlain, Hannibal Loos, like, Ellie Sue. Oh, yeah. And all that Emma are you surprised that Emma Chamberlain wasn't in it?
Liz:Because I was like, it's kinda crazy. Yeah.
PJ:Yeah. I was a bit surprised, honestly.
Liz:More like Urban Outfitters. Brandy Melville. Yeah. And I wanted to be Emma Chamberlain, so I'm Brandy Melville.
Jaden:Yeah. And I wanted to be a Emma Chamberlain. So I've talked about that a 1000000 times on
Liz:this podcast. Yeah.
Jaden:But she was everything, and she honestly solos.
Liz:She yeah. Sorry. Now she's just, like, fast like like, nice fashion. Yeah. She's, like, brand name, like, Louis Vuitton fashion.
Liz:Yeah. And so now I I think that's sort of totally off topic. But I feel like that's sort of the reason girls have like sort of like stopped watching her as much because she doesn't feel attainable anymore. Back when we were watching her. Like teenage girls, like, she felt like
Jaden:And now her only videos are, like, me at fashion week. Yeah. Which I still love and I eat up, but
Liz:Of course. Because I grew up with her.
Jaden:Yeah. But, like,
Liz:I'm not fashion week. I'm not fashion week. I'm not fashion week. Getting a coffee every day.
Jaden:I'm, like, going surfing.
Liz:Yeah. Yeah. So but yeah. No. That there was such a, like, cult of social media around right now.
Liz:And I and I like the way that they, I don't know, they showcased it. Mhmm. And the thing just like and and, like, their weird Instagram too.
Jaden:They do have a weird Instagram?
Liz:But it was the same Instagram that all of these Instagram girls that were going on, like, the dope trip, like, were having at the time, like, Hannah Lotionally's women and stuff.
Jaden:And I was looking at it and I was like,
Liz:oh my god. I wish that was me. Yeah. No. Literally.
Liz:Well, and I I wanna talk about that a little bit about in the documentary, they're, like, crowdsourcing efforts.
Jaden:Oh, yeah. That was so interesting.
Liz:Like, how they just picked out, like, the coolest girl
Jaden:in the store.
Liz:It was like, let me see what you're and it's like it is like super cool. It it it feels it feels weird. Mhmm. But being that teenage girl that got picked out and bring her to the store, like, that's what you want.
Jaden:That's why it worked. Right. That's it was, like, that's why they're able to pay these employees minimum wage and have them do the, like, style sourcing and, like, the research and everything that, like, a usually, like, a 50 year old person that's paid, like, a really high salary would do. Because they were, like, I'm research. I'm a market research.
Jaden:Because they'd be, like, I've been selected because I'm a cool girl. I'm a cool brandy girl. I fit the brandy girl aesthetic, and my opinions are better than everyone's else's.
PJ:Right. They could, like, flaunt the fact that they were, like, a part of Brandy Melville, they got time
Liz:picked out.
Jaden:Time, I would have too.
Liz:Yeah. Exactly. And I feel my dream. That's part of their marketing is, like, oh, if I walk into a Brandy Melville store, I might be the cool girl. Mhmm.
Liz:So I'm gonna go in there and buy clothes and hope that
Jaden:they like my outfit. Which it was so crazy that if somebody was just wearing something that they liked, they'd take a picture and then just copy the whole thing. Yeah. Right. That's insane to me.
Liz:I'm just wondering how that because, like, they didn't I wish they would have gone more into that, actually. Because I'm trying to figure out how you went. I I I know they said they got a couple of lawsuits. Mhmm. But, like, how you don't get lawsuits all the time because you're just copying, like, what, an Air Apostol shirt?
Liz:Yeah. But I feel like that happens a lot in fast fashion.
Jaden:Oh, very much so.
Liz:There's always dupes.
Jaden:Shein is luxurious.
Liz:Yeah. Shein. Yeah. Shein. Yeah.
Liz:Shein. Yeah. Shein. Yeah. Shein.
Liz:Yeah.
Jaden:Shein for that.
Liz:But I do you feel like they get away with it more just because it's, like, on, like, just, like, more online, like, rather than, like, I don't I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I feel like they get away with it more because it feels, like, unattainable to try and, like, reach that company and be like, oh, that's my shirt Yeah. Rather than, like, you're looking at it on in a store.
Liz:I don't know.
Jaden:Yeah. But they were also I also thought it was really interesting, the documentary, and you may have wanted to, like, get into this later.
Liz:Yeah.
Jaden:But how just, like, unprofessional it was ran and, like, how they had no system or anything, and it was just, like, it was just, like, the email, hey. Let me know if you wanna work with us sometimes. This is, like, a huge corporation. But it was so successful. Signature?
Jaden:No email signature.
PJ:It was I
Jaden:have an email
PJ:signature. This is a this is a different side to, like, running it, but, like, it wasn't well organized, but also they didn't run it fairly. You know? And the it like, only, like, the white women. They would be the ones modeling.
PJ:And the, you know, the minorities, they would be doing, like, the grunt work.
Liz:Yeah. And the the grunt.
PJ:Yeah. And they're stuck.
Liz:But they'll still take that that one girl that was on there that wasn't they'll still take her, like, style and do it, but then they won't pay her the money Yeah. That they gave to one of the
Jaden:The white girls. White girls. That they stole from.
Liz:They were like, oh, like and also, like, why it just it boggled my mind that even that girl got a $100 for that because all she did was, like, wear pants and they let them take a picture. Mhmm. You I don't understand how, like, paying her for, like, a I don't I didn't understand that aspect.
Jaden:I think he said I think in the documentary, it was saying that, like, specifically with the, like, the brandy girls, like, the, you know, like, pretty skinny white girls that they'd had, like, have in the front. They would find ways to, like, pay them more. So they send it
Liz:all in. I see.
Jaden:And they'd pay them, like what was the one about the girl who was, like, swifter sweeping, and she have Yeah.
Liz:She didn't
Jaden:have, like, the cloth
Liz:on it, so it was
Jaden:just, like, plastic. But they were, like, well, she's hot. Like, we were keeping mom, which was weird, by the way, because they were all minor. They were mostly minors, I'm
Liz:pretty sure. Because they kept saying, like, oh, yeah. We were, like, 16. Well, because I'm sitting there, because I'm watching them talk about the early days Yeah. And they look 21.
Liz:And I'm like, you were 14 when you were running. Yeah. And they were, like, the hot girls. Yeah. Like, it's so weird.
Liz:But, no, that made me, like, literally LOL. That was fun. Yeah. Yeah. But I was actually sit like, talk just, like, overall with the documentary, I was sitting on the couch and I was entertained Oh, yeah.
Liz:The whole time. Oh, like, it wasn't like it did not feel long. Like, I felt like I was watching it, like, through the entire way through just, like, entertained by these, like because, like, there was some, like, really like, the girl that was the stock girl, she had some, like, really good, like, perspectives and stuff, but but then some of the other girls that, like, worked there Mhmm. Didn't you feel like they were still, like, the Brandy girl?
PJ:Oh, a 100%.
Liz:There was one girl that said this this, like, stuck out to me so much. There was one girl and she was like, oh, yeah. When I worked there when I was 16, I just, you know, I just looked down on everybody that, like, came to the store because I was that girl and, like, I was That's a crazy thing to admit. Yeah.
PJ:In a brand
Jaden:new role. Job.
PJ:And especially in a documentary about bash like, bashing Brandy Melville. Right. Why would
Liz:you still bring that up? You're one of the people that, like, came on and be like, this is a terrible place, and it's you're the girl. You're the girl that's breeding that climate. Like, she's like, yeah. I just, like, looked down at people who and I was like, you worked a retail job.
Jaden:No. Those those TikToks, when it was, like, POV, you walk into Brandy Melville, they were very true to form according to that document. Like, I mean, like you said, I didn't have a Brandy growing up by me. It was just in the PacSun. Mhmm.
Liz:But, you
Jaden:know, people at PacSun have that vibe too.
Liz:Honestly, it could've been too.
Jaden:I walk in there, and I was like, why is this, like, 15 year old, like, side eyeing me
Liz:right now? No. Literally. But and and so talking about, like, the stores then, it was how many stores of Brady Melville are there? Because, like, they're why did okay.
Liz:Getting into, like, sort of the founder now.
Jaden:Mhmm.
Liz:Why did Yves Stephane? Stephane. Stephane Marsan, which is a fake name. Right? Like I know.
Jaden:There's no
PJ:Definitely a pseudonym. Yeah.
Liz:But he knew, like, everybody in the store, and, like, he'd come into all the stores.
Jaden:Yeah. That was weird.
Liz:Like, how I'm about to actually
PJ:look at it. I think I wanna say
Jaden:under a 100. Because I know they specifically said that they turned all of their attention to stores in the United States. There's still stores abroad, obviously.
Liz:Right.
Jaden:But maybe I don't know. But and the fact that they were all texting Stephane. Right.
PJ:Yeah.
Liz:Like, it was just it was the CEO. That person was the one who got all the information.
Jaden:And Stephane was like he was like, oh, yeah. That girl gained weight. Find a reason to fire her.
Liz:What? That is so weird. Yeah. Why is the c because, like, if it was, like okay. I worked at Forever 21.
Liz:One. Right? Mhmm. It was Forever 21. There are, like, 7 types of managers just in the store.
PJ:Yeah. No. Seriously.
Liz:But, like, it just seemed like the only person who ran brandy Melville was Staphon. And, like, they were photographer leading. Yeah. No. No.
Liz:No. The the aspect of the photographer.
PJ:I did slick the dynamic.
Jaden:Do you remember, though, when that like, did you recognize her Tumblr picture that, like, got her the job? Yes. Because that sent me into, like, a
Liz:that I saw that in the door. It's, like, sitting on the bed and, like
Jaden:That's her badge. Yes. I took I was, like, oh, my god.
Liz:It was giving Thinspo. It was Thinspo at the time. That is, like, number 1.
Jaden:Not to say that she was intentionally No. Doing it for Thinspo, but it was definitely used for Thinspo.
Liz:That was the vibe around the time.
Jaden:And that's what got her a job at Brandy Melville?
Liz:What's In what sense? Brandy Melville, obviously, the Thinspo. Oh, obvious. And it's because, like, they still get away with it today.
Jaden:They do.
Liz:Yeah. And it's, like, I don't know how, like, we're still all fine. I mean, I'm 1 size fits. I mean, yeah. I'm I've worn a shirt from there.
Liz:We all, you know, we've we've all shopped there, but, like, I just don't understand how they still get away with it. Mhmm. Because it's like Yeah. They're really
PJ:because even changing one size fits all to 1 size one size fits most to
Jaden:Not a single thing.
Liz:Well, and it's just like that's just demeaning now. And I think they bring that up in the documentary where it's like, well, now it just like, one size fits all made me feel bad, but also, like, most now makes me feel not included at all.
Jaden:Yeah. Yeah. Exactly.
Liz:So it's I don't understand that sort of brand behavior in general. Like, I don't think any other sport could get away with it today. Yeah. You know what I thought
Jaden:was really interesting though? Is it reminded me a lot of the documentary about Amber Crosby called White Hot. I don't know if either of you guys watched it.
Liz:I was part of it. Yeah.
Jaden:It was pretty much the same story. It was pretty much, like, this, CEO that started this company based on exclusivity and centered whiteness and thinness and had this whole idea about, who's the, like, Amber Crombie teenager. And it was kind kind of I don't think it was necessarily, like, California beachy. I think it was more, like, East Coast. Yeah.
Jaden:But still a little bit, like, laid back. And they also had, like, a central, like, house kind of, like, how there was the brandy New York apartment. And they eventually, though, they hit a point where people saw how problematic it was, and they had to do a whole rebrand. They had to do a whole change.
Liz:Mhmm. And the
Jaden:thing is, like, that's just people have, like, brought attention to Brandy Melville, and that's just not happening now. And, like, they were saying, when that article originally came out, which, by the way, I I haven't heard of that article before.
PJ:No. Me neither.
Jaden:I knew that it was problematic in the sense, of course, of, like, all types of it's most Right.
Liz:You you you know that from, like, walking in in
Jaden:those Yeah. Very much so. Very much so. But, like, more of, like, the deeper issues and everything going on. So, hopefully, this, like, calls attention to it more, obviously.
Jaden:I think it has.
Liz:Right.
Jaden:But when the article came out, they turned off their Instagram comments for a couple days, and then I think correct me if I'm wrong, but did sales go up?
PJ:It if it I think so. But even if it didn't go up, it went down, and then it went up.
Jaden:It went back up. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly.
PJ:Which is crazy.
Jaden:And it just I don't know. It just makes me think about how even if Brandy Melville does have to change, I just think about kind of like the next 10 years and the next CEO that's just going to see this market of making girls feel insecure and, like, they have to fit into their brand to be cool Right. And this exclusivity market because it works and it made it gives them so much profit. Yeah. And if it's just gonna cycle again.
Liz:Right. And it's not just fast fashion either. Like, that's, like, the same, like, sort of market strategy as, like, social media too. Yeah. Like, if you don't fit into that, like, algorithm of, like, whatever, you're not gonna blow up on TikTok.
Liz:Yeah. You're not gonna you know? It's it's disgusting. Yeah. It's
Jaden:made me a little depressed.
Liz:But, no, it's, like, disheartening.
Jaden:Yeah. Because you'd like to think that things are going to get better for the next generation, and but we're just following a pattern.
Liz:And in some places, it does. But there's always gonna be those, like, scummy people that run scummy businesses that are gonna take us back 3 steps all the time. Yeah. Talking about the the house, is wasn't that Abercrombie house, like, more of, like, a party?
Jaden:Yeah. It was more of, like, a frat house.
Liz:This brand this Brandy Melville apartment Scary. Was the opposite of such. Like, why was it just, like, a little apartment Yeah. And then it just had, like, random people who didn't know each other, like, just sleep in separate bedrooms because they had to.
PJ:Yeah. No. It's so weird, so awkward.
Jaden:It actually makes me so sick to my stomach. It makes me wanna throw up.
Liz:No. Look at that. Yeah. Well, I I just don't understand why people can't. I I, like, I understand trying to be accessible to your your employees and trying to give them somewhere to, like, stay, but it obviously didn't work as, like, a safe place.
Liz:Right. There's
PJ:a different
Liz:way to do it. Like Yeah. No. I just, like, having people just, like, come in and, like, not. I'd rather it be a front house than, like,
Jaden:this weird
Liz:dingy apartment in, like, the upper west side or, like, whatever.
Jaden:That's, like, terrifying.
Liz:So weird. But, yeah, I don't know. One thing I wanted to say was that, like, the photographer girl, like, I don't know. She just kinda threw me off a
Jaden:little bit.
Liz:I felt like she knew too much. Like, don't you agree? Yeah.
PJ:I know. I agree. I agree.
Liz:Yeah. And it's like she was like, oh, yeah. No. Like, I worked a lot of higher ups. And then she just, like, stopped and was like was like, yeah.
Liz:Like, it was bad. And I'm like, you know way more than your life. Like,
PJ:she was
Liz:in that, like, your group chat. Like, that they all
Jaden:She was? Yeah. Yeah. Let's talk about that group chat.
Liz:That's what I was about to say. Imagine if there was, like, a group chat like that, like, for our, like, work like, it would it would never happen. And this is, like, a big corporation of, like
Jaden:And all they do is send, like, racist, Antisemitic. Antisemitic. Like, fat phobic. Facebook memes to each other?
Liz:Yeah. That, like, aren't even like, it was so weird. And it was, like, the CEO sending it to be, like, part my message.
Jaden:And you know what? The craziest part, I think, of this whole documentary was all the, like, political, like, libertarian messages that they were trying.
Liz:Yes. Let's
Jaden:do it. Code in the stores.
Liz:Yeah. Because why did I not know No idea. That, like, the the tag on the back that had a different name? I never even, like, saw it as anything because it was, like, Britney Melville and then John Yeah. Gatto or whatever was, like, one thing.
Liz:And I was like, oh, that's just maybe, like, their sister.
Jaden:Like a subsection.
PJ:Right. Yeah.
Liz:Right. Yeah. No. It was like this what was it's
Jaden:It was the main character in the book that was you it was a book about, like, libertarian ideology.
Liz:Right. It's, like, the libertarian book. It's like what? It was, like, the libertarian
Jaden:I just wanna wear, like, a cute little sundress. Yeah. And now I'm looking at the tag of my, like, cute little sundress that I bought, like, 3 years ago, and I'm like,
Liz:oh. I was
Jaden:like, this guy just didn't wanna pay taxes.
Liz:No. Literally. And I don't and I don't get that. I mean, I get it because it's like a business owner, but, like, they're from, like, Sweden too or, like, no. Is that what?
Liz:Oh, I know. I'm just, like, one of the, like,
Jaden:Swedish. No.
PJ:No. It's it's it's from Italy, I think.
Liz:I think that was their closest to made into Italy.
PJ:Oh, oh, duh. Duh. Duh. I'm I'm I'm a second behind. Yeah.
PJ:I I think you're right.
Liz:I think
PJ:you're right.
Liz:I thought that that was interesting though too. The fact that, like, people use, like, made in Italy as, like, something that is, you know, supposed to be, like, you know, higher class, and it's just like another kind of sweatshop.
Jaden:It's crazy because I know. I would see that label, and I'd be like, seriously
Liz:have that on a sweater that I had, like, that I thrifted not
Jaden:to go home. Made
Liz:in Italy.
Jaden:I need to look at my I need to take a look at my closet.
Liz:Well, they wasn't just like you know how, like, you have, like, the, like, the little, like, tag, like, inside? Like, on the main tag, it was, like, made in Italy on this sweater that I threw to. I was like, okay. Made in Italy. And, like, why did I not know that?
Liz:Like, it's so weird. I feel like I learned so much. Oh, I
Jaden:very much know.
Liz:Documentary, which is weird because I I wasn't honestly, from a Brandy Melville documentary, I wasn't expecting, actually. Yeah. To learn all that much. I was excited for it. A lot about the, like, industry and stuff.
Liz:Oh, very much. Yeah. I feel like it hasn't been, like, advertised as much as it should be, though. Because I feel like a lot of people haven't watched it.
PJ:Yeah. On, Rotten Tomatoes, I think there are only 2 reviews.
Liz:Really? That's so weird.
PJ:And, like, I was about to be the 3rd.
Liz:Like Did you guys watch the Quiet on set that I just said? I'm
PJ:so sorry. I have not. Yes.
Liz:That same lady from Business Insider was the journalist that was in Biden set. She's, like, running the whole thing in business.
Jaden:Was so good. Know you did a whole episode on it, so I don't wanna Can you
Liz:give me a quick rundown since we're already on it?
Jaden:Are they doing another installment of it?
PJ:Yeah. It, like, just came out,
Liz:I think,
PJ:or maybe it's coming out soon.
Liz:Well, they did another they did another episode that was sort of, like, a reunion episode. So it was like, Bell to, like, answer to, like, if anyone had, like, talked to him and stuff. Yeah. And then, like, the mom and the, like, son sat down, like, talked about it.
Jaden:Basically, my general thesis of Quiet On Set is it's just crazy to think about my entire childhood and what I spent my entire childhood consuming, and then just being, like, oh, not only was all of this happening behind the scenes that was exploitive and disgusting, but it was right in front of our eyes. It was on
Liz:it was it was
Jaden:literally Like, Victorious, like, iCarly. Well, and I was crazy.
Liz:You know me. I rewatch Victorious sometimes. Oh, yeah? Yeah. And, like, you realize all the jokes.
Liz:I know you. You know me. Yeah. Or, like, I realize, like, all the jokes that I
PJ:didn't realize before that were, like,
Jaden:really The, what was were after, like, the credits? Like, the
PJ:the weird god. Yeah. Like, the microwave thing or stove or oven?
Jaden:Oven. Oh my god. Yeah.
Liz:And then it said, like, weird stuff. I don't know. And I've Yeah. I noticed that as a kid too. I was like, oh my gosh.
Liz:They just had a little part of the thing. But, like, you don't realize
Jaden:You don't think about it.
Liz:What it is. But yeah. I saw, like, a TikTok, like, montage Mhmm. And everything.
PJ:Yeah.
Liz:It was
Jaden:Oh, yeah. I saw that too.
Liz:Yeah. But, like, sort of, like I'm glad we brought up Quay on set because it's just, like, fast fashion is just another way to exploit kids. And like that's what Brandy Melville did. Was like use their social media use and it's like I don't know. It's become so commonplace to like scour social media for like marketing research.
Liz:Mhmm. But, like, really in the end, like, we look like, I don't think we talk about enough that it's just, like, exploiting data in, in, like, a different way.
Jaden:Very much. Yeah.
Liz:It's just data mining in, like, a less as, like, a more less formal way. Yeah. Yeah. Well, and the one thing that I wanna bring up also was that all the clothes had those silly names.
Jaden:Oh, yeah.
Liz:We'll get some Oh, yeah.
PJ:I have another thing to add after, but Yeah.
Liz:But, like, all the clothes had, like, the girls names, and I because because there was, like, the Jade dress that they brought up, and, like, everything had, like, a girl's name, and now it's just, like, it's just the girl who picked it out. It's just the girl that was wearing it. Like, that's I know that that's not, like, regulatory. I don't even know if it has, like, a deeper meaning to it or, like, privileged, like, any political stance on it. That's just, like, creepy.
PJ:It's just it's weird.
Jaden:It was just, like, right in front of our eyes this whole time.
Liz:That, like, they were just, like, using Yeah. People to, like,
PJ:miss their old character. Just creepy.
Liz:Yeah. Yeah. What were you gonna say, PJ? Creepy. Creepy.
PJ:I thought it was really interesting. I had no idea that it was, like, something like 80% of all the clothes that are trashed
Liz:Oh, yeah.
Jaden:It was eye opening.
Liz:Yeah. Like, I didn't even know a place like that existed.
PJ:Yeah. And then they would, like, low key exploit the women there to work and, like, carry, like, pounds, like
Liz:Pounds and pounds.
PJ:Yeah. Of of clothes, like, on their heads and everything.
Liz:Yeah. I just, like, imagine the thrift finds. No. Yeah. I'm just kidding.
Liz:I'm so sorry.
PJ:The silence?
Liz:The the 5
PJ:second silence was crazy.
Liz:I'm sorry. I was joking. I swear. I was but my roommate's we're sitting on the couch. We're watching this.
Liz:We literally sat, by the way, like, in silence with it and then going, like, every once in a while. We just sat on the couch just, like, absolutely analyzing the sound of it. But, like, my roommate, Mary, she turns in. She goes, imagine the halls. Smiles.
Liz:No. But, like, it's actually disgusting. Like, how, like Yeah. How we just, like, pour all of our waste onto these, like because you assume that it's just, like, domestic landfills. Mhmm.
Liz:I don't even understand, like, how it gets there then. Because it's like they're they just, like, ship They yeah. Almost, like, closed waste or because it's and the fact that, like, most donation boxes are just going to, like, waste. And got, like it just made me, like, my skin.
Jaden:No. Because I always feel like I'm doing such a good thing when I donate my clothes. And now I'm like
Liz:And that's why because I I I like going into Goodwill and just handing it to them because I know that at least it's, like, going into the store.
Jaden:Yeah. But, like,
Liz:how can I even trust, like, a big corporation like that either? I don't know. Yeah.
PJ:Fair. It was also really interesting when they were like, yeah. When we first started getting donations, whatever, there were so many clothes. We just assumed that, like, people were dying. Like Yeah.
Jaden:Like, because they're, like, like, the dead white man's clothes Yeah. Something or something like that.
PJ:And it's like
Liz:they're like, why else would anyone get rid of all these clothes?
Jaden:It's just capitalism. Yeah. They're just capitalism.
PJ:Fast fashion. Like Well,
Liz:and it's great because you assume that, like, the whole world is in, like, a sort of stage of, like, late stage capitalism as we
Jaden:are. Yeah.
Liz:But then, like, there's literally countries right now that are that are not on that stage of capitalism or confused as to why Americans are, like, doing this and, like, Europeans and stuff. We're so screwed. Like, we're so screwed. Like, it's, like, I was like, watching that, like, on on the seashore, like, all those clothes, like, go out to sea. Like, it it makes me think to myself.
Liz:Yeah.
Jaden:It's it's making me think. Think twice about where I put my money, which is good.
Liz:Which is good. And that's why that's why I like this documentary.
Jaden:Mhmm.
Liz:Like, I also so this sort of, like, leads me to my point, though. I will say I love this documentary. The ending point of the movie is kind of weird. It feels like they try to come up with a thesis, and then it just kind of turns into stop buying clothes. Yeah.
Liz:And it's like Totally. But I don't think it's that simple though. Yeah. Okay. Stop buying clothes from Brandy Melville.
Liz:Yes. Yeah. Because then we're, you know, we're not buying into an anti semitic racist company and, like, whatever. You vote with your wallet. Right.
Liz:Exactly. But, also, like, I don't know if, like, just stop buying clothes is the option too.
PJ:Right.
Jaden:And it's this constant theme of placing blame on the consumer rather than the corporations that are committing these crimes against the environment.
Liz:Mhmm. I just thought that was a really weird, like, place to take the documentary. It was like Yeah. They've been explaining this company the whole time, and they were jumping back and forth to, like I actually liked how the documentary was set up as they were showing, like, these trivial, like, little drama things in the store. And then they cut back to gamma.
Liz:And be like, look at these problems that these people are actually having. Yeah. Cut back to this weird drama that they're having. And it would
Jaden:be like, the girls are mean in the store. Yeah. And also Right.
Liz:That one guy that was the store manager, he was, like, he was, like, saying he he I don't even understand why they kept him in as a source. This is another part that was weird. He was like, oh, like, I contributed to, you know, racism in my store, but it was it was okay if it was racist until it, like, hurt my checkbook. Remember? Because he's like, you wanna I'm not remember.
PJ:Yeah. Me neither.
Liz:He was in a roundabout way. He was like, I don't wanna close the Toronto store or whatever. It's fine if you are because, like, all the people that were in the Toronto store, if you remember, were, like, ethnic minorities. Yeah. And so he was like, oh, it's fine if, like, Stefan, like, just touts racism, but now that he wants to close my store because, like, my workers are too, like, like, are minorities.
Jaden:He's like
Liz:he literally, and that's why I think it was kind of like snuck in because he thought that he ate.
Jaden:He thought that
Liz:he ate. So you were being silent towards the CEO that was actively, you know, racist and you were in that group chat. I think the funniest thing it was, like, called Melville big shots or something. Like, do I yeah. But I I enjoyed the way it was set up, the documentary to, like, show, like, how trivial really everything is compared comparatively to the issues that they have in Ghana.
Jaden:Yeah. That's more directly causing.
Liz:But, yeah, it was a weird place for it to be, like, just stop buying clones. Yeah. Travel to Ghana to help them go through the kinda, like, not no one can do that. Right. But not many people can do that.
Liz:Yeah. So I I don't know. I wish it would have ended more on putting more blame on the corporation. Yeah. Mhmm.
Liz:I don't know.
Jaden:Which I think that these documentaries, I think that they have a lot more power than they realize because it's the biggest you know, I wish I could say that everyone is going to go and they're gonna read these long expose articles about it Yeah. Because that has the most detail and information. But more a lot more people are just gonna throw on an hour long, you know, docu mentnery or even, like, a docu series.
Liz:Mhmm.
Jaden:And so when they're kind of made like that, we're at the end, it's like, oh, you were so close to the point. You were so close to the point. So it's just kind of a little bit more disappointing.
Liz:I was thinking about that today. I was, like, reading this long article today about how, like, Amazon had this, like, weird private, like, sister company to, like, data mine their competitors and stuff and they Weird. Did it, like, they, like, they made them not Amazon employees so they could go in and, like, surveil, like, Walmart and Ebay and all this stuff. And it was, like, this is, like, a 10,000 word article or something like that. And I was literally sitting reading and thinking, no one's gonna read this.
Liz:This no
Jaden:one's because it's so important.
Liz:Yeah. And, like, no one's going to, like, stop buying from Amazon. Right. Like, it's just so disheartening. And people you know what?
Liz:Maybe that's the theme of the episode. People need to start reading.
Jaden:Yeah. And I stay by that. I love reading.
Liz:I I
Jaden:love reading. Read the state news, maybe.
PJ:Read the state news. What? Read the state news.
Liz:On that. Any, last thoughts on the documentary, guys?
Jaden:It just depressed me.
Liz:Yeah. Yes. Because it was like a silly funny, like, goofy thing. Like, oh, Brandy Melville. Like, it's just like a store company and, like, we know, like, their little, like, problematic scandals or whatever, but it's more than a scandal.
Jaden:And I remember when they first do started doing promo, and, like, me and my friends were all sending it to each other. And we're like, no. No. We can't have Vibrandi. And I was like, no.
Jaden:We can't Vibrandi.
Liz:No. Like, it's not. Can't vibrate.
Jaden:It's it's not like, oh, no. I'm not gonna watch this. You know, keep my eyes shut. But now it's like, guys, like, you should
Liz:watch it. Seriously. I can't. No. Like, I can't.
Liz:Yeah. And I'm just but, like, I feel like every probably fast fashion brand could, like, have a documentary like this. Oh, yeah. Like, I like, maybe next week, like, Forever 21. Oh.
Liz:And they're gonna call me.
PJ:Yeah. They're gonna be really fast.
Liz:They're gonna be like, honestly, I was hired on the spot. No. And that's the thing that was funny. They were, like, only hiring, like, the cool girls, the hot girls. Oh, you were like And I well, then, like, I walked into Forever 21.
Liz:I was like, are you guys hiring? They're like, do you want an application? That's how easy it was
PJ:for like that.
Liz:And, like, you had, like, Phil, look for Brandy Melville. Yeah. So it's like, I guess not all space. Timing. Right?
Liz:Sorry. Hey, Jaden Small.
Jaden:I should have answered, actually.
Liz:Recording. What do you think about Brandi Melville? She's like, what is that?
Jaden:My mom sent me the Brandi Melville website, like, a week ago and was like, this would be so cute for you.
Liz:You're like, read the root cause? Like, read the root cause.
Jaden:I'm about to drop something. No.
Liz:No. No. No. Literally. Well I oh.
Liz:Oh, PJ, go ahead.
PJ:I'm just, going into this going into the documentary, I wasn't fully aware of Brandy Melville. I mean, I just knew Girls Wore It, everything like that. Yeah. But I'm really glad I watched it because now I know the behind the scenes, you know, what's what's happening behind the scenes, how corrupt it was, how, like, just weird and disgusting it was, and the people, like, oh my god. What's his name?
PJ:Stephane? Stephane Marsan.
Liz:Yeah. Who is Stephane Marsan?
PJ:Right. And, like, how weird he was.
Liz:Yeah. It's probably a real name.
PJ:Uh-uh. So, yeah, I would say I'm glad I watched it. Now I'm more aware of it, of what's hap what happened. Yeah.
Liz:Nice, PJ.
PJ:Thank you.
Liz:Nice. Thank you guys so much for watching this episode of House Lights, and thank you so much for coming on.
Jaden:Thanks for having us.
PJ:Yes. Thank you.
Liz:Feels good
Jaden:to be back.
Liz:Feels good to be back, but now we won't be back for a long time. Until next season. And as always, House Lights is one of my favorite projects that I do. And, yep, Jane Schollm. House Lights.
Liz:By, you know, I love this podcast more than anything. So thanks for another great season of watching, and hopefully, we'll be back to share more weeks in entertainment. If you need to hear, I totally garbled that. But yeah.
PJ:Bye. Bye.