Local Moments Curated CT Presents

Donald sits down with Mary Ruth Shields, owner of United Sewing & Design, to continue his journey to understanding more about textiles and manufacturing in Connecticut. We learn a bit of her origin story, the context in which she operates her social enterprise, and how Mary Ruth challenges us to think and act more sustainably.

Kicking off the weekend with a wrap-up of the week and a look ahead at what we’re doing in Connecticut. Chris Penta is a culinary artist, friend, and entrepreneur in South Windsor who previously launched A Saucey Chef in 2021. Chris joins Donald again to give us the scoop on the Spruce Street Farmers’ Market in Manchester what he has been up to recently.

Show notes forthcoming. Check out CuratedCT.com to learn more about Disheveled Diva and how you can get Signature Vanilla Buttercream delivered straight to your door.

It wasn’t fashion per se that necessarily inspires Matt. It was that how we visually present ourselves can signal information about ourselves to others whether we realize it or not. Our clothing tells a story and we might be wise to know how it can help you tell yours. Like any narrative, it can be controlled by you or by others if you let it—so one takeaway was more or less that it behooves us to be mindful of our attire. What stood out to me was how his message was one of empowerment, not about thumbing noses or about a particular design or look, but about communicating your values. In a 2022 TED-style talk, Matt weaved together a history lesson on various social and commercial trends, how our shopping habits have come to impact the environment, and the importance of connecting our clothing choices to our personal values—all catalyzed by a personal encounter in a parking lot while attending CCSU. It’s a story I think worthy of sharing. While our recorded conversation is not exactly a reenactment of his formal talk, I hope it gives you a taste.