From collapsing collars to collapsing ethics… this episode of Factory Settings with special guest Mallory Brooks (@plzdontbuythat) pulls back the curtain on fast fashion, influencer culture, and the marketing tactics brands don’t want you to question.

Mallory and I dig into:

Parke’s viral crewnecks - what happens when hype and scarcity marketing outweigh quality, and why those “mock necks” look like bacon.

White labeling & knockoffs - how brands buy blanks, slap on tags, and sell them as “premium.”

Greenwashing - why “sustainable” and “ethical” are often nothing more than shiny labels.

Factory transparency - what we’ve actually seen behind the scenes (including child labor in “ethical” factories).

Influencer culture - PR boxes piling up in trash rooms, brands prioritizing influencers over actual customers, and why I left influencing even though it was “stupid money.”

Children online - the dark reality of parents turning their kids into content, and why “children are not content” needs to be the baseline.

Better ways forward - how to actually spot quality as a consumer, and my $1-per-day shopping rule.

This conversation is raw, unfiltered, and important. If you’ve ever wondered how to tell when a brand is lying to you- or why so much of what you see online feels off- this episode will change the way you shop, share, and think!

Instagram: @factorysettingspod
Tiktok: @factorysettingspodcast