Happy Monday everyone!
Today I'm sharing the last post in partnership with Karton. I have been using their cardboard dresser for several months now and love it! It's held up great! If you have been wondering what the inside of the drawers look like, check out these photos for an inside peek. I am so pleased with how spacious they are! Definitely room for allllllll of my socks (slight obsession ;) )
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WHEW! It's been a long minute since I last blogged! Wanted to pop in and share about a phonomenal brand making a positive impact through shoes. When I first discovered Inkkas through Instagram, I was immediately drawn the the unique and creative patterns on their sneakers. Everything from desert scenes to pineapples were catching my eye! As I browsed through the website and read their story, it became important for me to partner with them and help raise awareness for their cause! They very graciously blessed me with a pair of their sneakers with an incredibly beautiful desert scene. INKKAS: The Inkkas company is founded on the principles of fair trade and global philanthropy. Inkkas are crafted with respect for the environment and the people who make them. THE PROBLEM Over the past century there has been a drastic increase in deforestation throughout the world driven by the demand for land and timber. In the last 60 years alone, humans have cut down around half of the world’s remaining forests. As of right now, there are only 8 million square kilometers of forest remaining – less than 6% of the land surface of Earth. THE SOLUTION When Inkkas was founded, the company set out to be an organization that was about more than simply making a profit. The company established itself on the principles of fair trade, authenticity and social consciousness. Due to the growing danger of deforestation, the Inkkas company decided to make a difference in the world by creating the OneShoeOneTree ™ project. WHAT IS THE ONESHOEONETREE™ PROJECT
As part of Inkkas OneShoeOneTree™ project, the Inkkas company is helping to repopulate the world's forests by planting a new tree for every pair of shoes that we sell. It is Inkkas hope that this project will assist in the reforestation of the world's depleted forests. The trees do more than just provide depleted forests with additional trees, the trees also provide food and timber to assist local populations nearby. HOW DOES IT WORK? In partnership with Trees For The Future,an award-winning non-profit organization, Inkkas plants a new tree for every product it sells. Each tree has multiple uses including - reforestation, improving soil condition, providing food for human and livestock consumption and eventually timber as well. Since its founding in 1989, Trees For The The Future has assisted thousands of communities in planting more than one million trees in 19 different countries. Join Inkkas & Trees for the Future, as we strive to create a better world! https://inkkas.com/ IG: @inkkasworldwear You guys! This has been one of the most enjoyable and inspiring collaborations I've ever been part of. Alas the Label has quickly become one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE brands and I want you to love them just as much as I do. I'm all about athletic wear and tees. And I'm all about brands that are truly making a difference in the world by providing ethically and sustainably made clothing. This brand doesn't disappoint and has made me one happy human. As you can see in the photos, they so kindly sent me the black panel leggings, the waves leggings, and the colour block basic tee. I have worn them out and about and love the fit of each piece, design and the fact that they are so versatile. The tee has that perfect slouchy fit and the leggings fit me like a glove and are so soft and silky. Here is the story of their brand as shared on their website: Kelly Elkin, and Betony Dircks. We met in 2004 on the first day of our Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and immediately connected over our mutual love for bright colours and prints. It went deeper than this however, and we soon realized we also shared a staunch commitment to our environment and the people who live in it. It seemed only natural that with our core values aligned, we would continue to work together for what has now been 10 years (and counting!).Since our humble beginnings in 2011, ALAS has built a reputation around the world for our well designed, high quality, sustainably produced sleepwear. All ALAS prints are created by us and guest designers we love, with each clothing item made from seed to cloth in India under fair trade standards. We now have a resume of well-regarded boutiques internationally and online such as GOOP, Shopbop, and we’re pretty chuffed to count Tavi Gevinson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Sophie Lowe asfans of our sleepwear and pyjama collections. We have been passionate advocates for sustainability and ethical clothing production practices our whole lives, and as we see the community grow, we feel excited and privileged to be a part of this important movement. Their Producers: WOVENS FACTORY: In 2013, we went spent a month traversing all over India in search of a new, Fair Trade woven garment producer, and Jaipur is where we struck gold! We paid a visit to the factory, and quickly discovered their commitment to fair manufacturing standards and a dedication to quality, and got them to begin sampling our designs right away. Now, we can happily say that all of our woven garments are produced in this big-hearted, but small-sized production unit in Jaipur. All garments are made in-house using sweatshop-free, fair labour standards. They also implement all of the below standards:
We are also supporting a work environment that encourages respect, women's equality and skill development, all of which makes us very happy. KNITS FACTORY:We have been working with our knitwear factory in Tiruppur since 2012. The two owners are a similar age to us, and we have connected with them from day one, in the professional sense but also on the level that they are small business owners, just like us. With their production unit that employs 30 local machinists, patternmakers and garment checkers, they pay close attention to detail and focus on creating a positive and productive working environment. The production unit is certified by SA 8000 for social accreditation and also commit to the below standards:
THEIR FABRICS:
High Quality Organic CottonAll of our garments are constructed with only the highest quality GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cotton, which means that the cotton that has been farmed without dangerous chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers and genetically modified seeds. The standard covers the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, trading and distribution of all textiles made from at least 70% certified organic natural fibres. For more detail on GOTS, check out their website. Handwoven Organic ChambrayHandloomed woven cloth has a rich and long history in South India, which is why we travelled there when looking for a chambray to add to our fabrications. It’s been spun, woven, and dyed there since prehistoric times, and is an ancient industry for the area. The process starts with raw GOTS certified 100% organic cotton yarn, which is then dyed by hand in the two colours used in our fabric; indigo in the warp, and white in the weft. The warp yarn is then stretched out onto a loom to the desired length of the fabric, and the weft yarn is woven back and forth to create the cloth. The fabric is easy to care and durable, but also incredibly comfortable and soft. You’ll find as it ages, it becomes even softer in handle. It’s a beautiful process, and your chambray garments will become a part of your story every time you wear them. Why Organic?The production process for conventional (non-organic) cotton uses more insecticides than any other crop, 25% of the world's total usage, in fact. Pesticides contaminate local waterways, destroying the environment and harming animals. Pests build a resistance to the chemicals used, so new pesticides are continuously developed, resulting in greater pesticide use and perpetually increasing costs for farmers.In addition to the environmental factors, food and water supplies can also be contaminated from runoff which in turn can create suffering through disease, illness and birth defects in local communities. The benefits of using organic cotton are therefore apparent. It means that the health of all people involved in the supply chain is improved and local communities can benefit from relatively clean water and food supplies. In addition, organic cotton farmers generally have a longer cotton commodity lifespan because chemical-free agricultural land stays fertile much longer than land which is damaged by the use of pesticides. Organic farmers often utilise companion planting (cotton with coconut trees and mango trees with chilli and onion plants, for example) which supports the soil structure and gives them yielding crops over different timeframes. Recycled PET PolyesterWe use a blend of polyester that uses recycled plastic items like PET water bottles, and other single use plastics to create a fibre that's perfect for our activewear. The fabric in our MOVE range uses 70% less water, energy, and heat compared to traditional polyester processing methods; a far more sustainable way to produce a fabric that has longevity and strength. Interested in what PET is, and how we turn it into a fabric? Also known as Polyethylene Terephthalate, PET is a clear, tough plastic that’s commonly used in water bottles and moulded consumer product containers. It’s been recycled for use in the carpet industry for years, and it’s now gaining popularity as an apparel textile fibre. These post-consumer water and soft drink bottles are shredded into tiny chips, which are then re-processed into tiny fibres that are spun into a yarn. This yarn is then knitted with elastane (for stretch) into the fabric that we are using for our leggings and crop tops. Dyeing and PrintingAfter the weaving and knitting processes, the organic cotton fabrics are then dyed and printed using methods that avoid toxic heavy metals, AZOs and formaldehyde. This is highly beneficial for the employees working in the dye and print houses, as well as the end consumer, whose skin comes into contact with the fabric in its final use! All waste water from the dye and print units is treated for future agricultural use. Recycled PackagingAll of our packaging, swing tags and business cards are recycled and recyclable. Garment After CareA large amount of energy goes into the after care of clothing, so please be mindful. You can machine wash your ALAS garment in cool water, and line dry to reduce energy consumption. Avoid wasting water by not washing your garments unnecessarily - spot clean where possible. Attention coffee drinkers! I am STOKED to share about a super rad brand called As of Latte. They feature different products related to coffee as well as creatively packaged coffee beans. Here's the story:
"As Of Latte® is based out of sunny, Southern California and brewed by twin brothers, Edwin and Joel Wiesner. Originally starting out as a web and graphic design studio, Edwin and Joel decided to add a small online shop and promote their business. After receiving such exciting feedback to their simple online shop, they decided to shift gears and advance As Of Latte® into a full online shopping experience. However, the fashion world is not too foreign to these coffee addicts, as they use to run several clothing ventures in the past. Their strong entrepreneurial spirit and love for coffee, has allowed them to create the first clothing brand to only exhibit coffee and combine it with a little pop culture here and there." When I found their account on Instagram, I couldn't stop looking through their t-shirts and hats - some made me laugh and others blew me away with their genius designs. Here's the part I know you're going to love. I reached out to ask how their clothing is produced. I was met with such openness and enthusiasm - very thankful for both. They detailed the process for me - here's what they said: "Everything we sell is printed in the U.S. We use a process called "Direct To Garment" printing, which is a lot safer than plastisol inks used in screen printing, on our environment! Also, our blank shirts are provided by a company called Bella+Canvas. 👍 We'd certainly love to provide more organic cotton tees, however pricing & accessing them can be tricky..." I believe that when the timing is right, they will start selecting more sustainable fabrics. So many times, I'm met with exceedingly vague responses when I ask where a brand's clothing is produced - or they have no clue. Or sometimes a slow fashion brand isn't half as enthusiastic or kind as the owners of As of Latte were. Just a good reminder and something to think about. https://www.asoflatte.com/ IG: @asoflatte My favorite part of Instagram and blogging, is having a place to share the purpose and story behind brands that are making a difference. Personally, these are my favorite types of accounts and blogs to follow. They give me the opportunity to learn about new brands and, most importantly, read about individuals who have chosen the road less traveled and the impact they are making through hard work, long hours, and fighting personal struggles to benefit others. So without further ado, I would like to allow KP, the founder and creator of Faithfully There, share his story and the purpose behind his brand. https://www.faithfullythere.com/ @faithfullythere "The majority of my life I gave all my attention to everything except God. When my mind and heart were wrapped up in the world, I always knew they didn't belong there. I approached a period in my life when I was searching for something--I began working on my relationship with Christ. I was making progress but I knew I was not giving Him my heart, mind, and soul. So, He sat me down ... literally. Sidenote, I'm a hooper! I spent a lot of my time in the gym playing basketball. Sometimes, I would put playing basketball over spending the needed time with God. Like I said, he sat me down. I tore my Achilles and I couldn't hoop for months. To say this was the easiest thing I've ever done would be a lie. I was torn (not just my Achilles) sometimes even depressed. But it was during that time that the Lord opened my eyes to who He is and changed how I lived life. This ended up being the most rewarding situation of my life. I always liked fashion and I had a desire to go out and clothe the homeless. But not with just any kind of clothes. Clothes that would send a message of hope and bring glory to the Lord. It started with the idea of just making clothes and wrist bands for the homeless but God began to lead me in a direction to expand the expectations I had." "To put it simply, God is faithful.The name Faithfully There came from the never ending love, grace and mercy that the Lord continues to pour out on our lives. Faithfully There's purpose is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ through fashion and outreach.
The aim is to create fashion that encourages conversations that lead to sharing the Gospel with others. We pray that Faithfully There will be a vessel to inspire others to live and share the Gospel." (In the photos, I'm wearing their ABIDE muscle tank and two versions of their FAITH shirts. Very comfortable and the perfect staples for my wardrobe. They serve as reminders for me to stay focused on my walk with Jesus.) I can deny it no more. The temperatures have dropped, leaves are falling and I'm switching up my wardrobe. Yes, fall is definitely here to stay and making me take note. For a summer gal like me, it's hard to let the season end BUT a new season means new goals and new brands to share with you featuring fall clothing. Now, each time I share a clothing post, it's NEVER intended to pressure you into making a purchase. I share because these brands are making a positive impact on the world by choosing to produce their products responsibly and I want to tell everyone about them. Second, it's my goal to help raise awareness for avoiding fast fashion. Third, I hope this gives you options for when you are ready to make your next purchase. So without further ado, I would like to introduce you to the first of the brands I'm featuring this season - IT IS WELL LA. You can find them on Instagram: @itiswellla or visit their website: https://shopitiswellla.com/ With the chilly weather approaching, I knew I wanted to add a couple of new sweaters/sweatshirts to my wardrobe. I was interested in finding something basic with simple designs yet unique in fabric and texture. IT IS WELL LA immediately caught my eye when I discovered their account through Instagram. Their clothing definitely met my goals style wise but I was stoked to find that they also met my high standards for responsible fashion. IT IS WELL LA, is a small business offering simple, easy silhouettes made from quality fabrics. Their collection is conceptualized, designed and manufactured locally, in DTLA. Their cause is making a positive difference in people’s lives by giving clean water wells to communities in need. There are 663 million people living without access to safe water (try wrapping your head around that for a minute). Women and children are burdened with the task of fetching dirty water which leads to illness and lack of time to gain an education or earn a living. They're here to help change that. They help by giving 10% of their proceeds to their charitable partner to begin the process of digging clean water wells. Each well can help up to 500 people at a time, improving conditions for better health, education and economic opportunities.
In the photos, I'm wearing the Boxy Sweater in charcoal oilwash and the Raw Edge Sweatshirt in blush. They sent me these pieces to style and I highly recommend them. The colors are perfection and the fit/feel of the fabric are everything I hoped for! Easy basics that can be dressed up or down. You guys! I am so so stoked to share an interview with the creators of one of my all time favorite athletic wear brands. TREXO GEAR is a new up and coming brand focused on providing top notch workout clothing with a purpose. I am so deeply grateful for the opportunity to try out a few pieces from their collection. I've personally worn their gear while working out and couldn't be happier. I've def put them to the test! So comfortable and functional. In the photos, you'll see the Women's Everyday Yoga Top , Women's Essential Training Tank , Women's Victory Lattice Leggings , Women's Pace Running Shorts and the Women's Active Headband. They have also been kind enough to share a coupon code for you all to receive a discount until October 14th: KAT Grab a drink, sit back and enjoy reading their amazing story! Kat: Tell us a little bit about yourselves. The faces behind TREXO GEAR are Mike and Ashley Thompson. We are a husband/wife team based out of Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to launching TREXO GEAR, we stay busy raising our two young children and are involved locally with our Church (Sojourn Church) and community group. Kat: Have you always dreamed of launching an athletic wear line? As big fans and historical customers of the expensive, premium activewear brands, we always thought it would be neat if there was a brand that offered this quality level and style… but promoted more Christian principles and causes in their business. We initially started this adventure as a part-time hobby just for ourselves… but we felt like, Lord-willing, this could be something a little bigger if we stepped out in faith and see what God has in store for the future. We were inspired by one of our former pastors out of Atlanta (Randy Pope). Randy founded our old church (Perimeter Church) on the challenge to “do something so big for God that it’s destined to failure lest He be in it”. This was part of the inspiration for us to launch TREXO GEAR. Kat: When did you decide to seriously embark upon this journey? Things really started picking up this past Spring. After doing almost a year of supplier research (including working with some Chinese manufacturers at first) we started working with a fashion designer and manufacturer in Los Angeles to take the TREXO GEAR concepts to the sample stage. We performed multiple fit and style changes through the summer period and launched our first collections online in late August. It is still very early in the process but we are staying faithful and obedient… and looking forward to what God has in store for TREXO GEAR in the future. Kat: Tell us about the purpose behind your brand.
We are Activewear with a Purpose™. And our Purpose is to Inspire, Increase and Invest. We want to Inspire people to perform to their God-given potential. The word TREXO is derived from a Greek word which means to run; to give extreme effort and to strive. And as Christians, we know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! A key part of the original idea for TREXO GEAR was to increase the acknowledgement of the presence of God in sports and fitness. We are living in a period of time when many people and organizations are working hard to make us a more secular society… to remove God from the fabric of our culture. We wanted to do our small part to help put Him back in the fabric of our culture… literally I guess you could say! And last, but not least… we founded TREXO GEAR to Invest in the Kingdom. This is a key part of our Giving Back initiative where we donate 15% of company profits to Christian Charities. Kat: You donate proceeds to charity. We would love to know more about this! Our Invest in the Kingdom initiative is where we are committed to donating 15% of net profits to three responsible, global Christian Charities that are focused on helping the least fortunate people in the world. Using Charity Navigator as a research tool we selected the following Charity partners: Bright Hope International, Feed My Starving Children and Lifesong for Orphans. These Charities are doing outstanding Christian missions in the world and you can learn more about them through the links on our website (www.trexogear.com/pages/giving-back). Kat: Last but definitely not least, could you share about the production process of your clothing? It is estimated that only about 2% of the clothing purchased in the USA is actually made here. This was a staggering statistic for us and it is why we are proud that all of our activewear garments are cut and sewn in the heart of the Fashion district in Los Angeles. And we are really happy to be sourcing our premium fabrics from a key supplier to Lululemon. Of course we like to think that our activewear is even softer! After manufacturing, the units are shipped across town in LA to our distribution center… where things are integrated directly with our website (units usually arrive within 2-3 days after placing an order). And the great thing about being local is that if we really needed to rush a new item from scratch we could go directly from the cutting table to your doorstep in about four days! Organic, ethical and multilingual. Those three words perfectly describe the clothing brand that I'm sharing with you today. Caught your attention didn't they?! Now, I'm sure that reading organic and ethical made you stand up and cheer but what about multilingual? Probably made you scratch your head - am I right?! IDIOMA, strives to encourage and cultivate an interest and passion for other languages and cultures through their clothing. When browsing their website, you'll see tees with graphics written in French, Spanish, Chinese, etc. How fun is that?! It definitely gives me a desire to learn more about others and gain understanding of various cultures rather than falling victim to stereotypes. I was very honored to receive one of their tees and hats. Thank you IDIOMA! Both are so comfortable and beautifully made. The graphic tee can be worn so many different ways. With jeans and fun sandals or with leggings and sneakers while thrown over your sports bra for a more modest workout look. The hat has quickly become one of my favorite pieces! I love wearing it forwards or backwards. And it actually fits my tiny head! It definitely has some 90s throwback vibes that I LOVE! ETHICAL Idioma works with each of our suppliers to ensure that the products we create have been ethically produced. Whether this is through the Fairwear certification, factory audits or direct communication, we ensure that each item is made with a clean conscience. SUSTAINABLE At Idioma we believe in “slow fashion”, high quality items produced for longevity. Where possible our products are made from organic and recycled materials, and produced in a manner that puts the workers and the planet first. MULTICULTURAL Idioma’s designs are led by a curiosity and love of world languages. Each of our designs are based on a word or phrase in a foreign language, sharing a message of acceptance for people, nature and culture from around the globe. Fall is here. Any season other than summer, always brings mixed feelings for me. Part of me loves the special changes that come with each season while the other part of me breaks inside as the magical time of summer bids farewell for another year. However, I have a special shop that I'm thrilled to share about that will cheer you up if you're feeling a bit blue like me. Introducing - MOBYTHRIFT!!!! Lucy and her husband own, curate and operate their inspiring vintage/thrift shop called MOBYTHRIFT. "Since a young age, fashion has been my main interest. Magazines, shopping with people, picking out everyones clothes, pairing different things together, and judging every outfit I see like it's my full time job. When I found out I could actually get a college degree in this my life changed. I graduated after 4 years of school with a degree in Fashion Merchandising.I learned so many amazing things in that time, and even landed my 2 dream jobs... buying for a company and being a personal stylist. What stuck out to me the most was this: Shopping retail does more damage than it does good. When you shop at a large retail store you contribute directly to cheap labor and sweat shops, a blow to your bank account, and unreliable clothes that will quickly go out of style. It didn't take long for me to go back to what my Mom taught me. SHOP SECOND HAND. As I have made this a part of my everyday life, I couldn't understand why hardly anyone else was doing it. People either love or hate it, and I realized the people that hate it just didn't know how to do it right. Or they have an aversion to buying something someone might have died in... But that's all part of the fun right?Together, My Husband and I have created a place for people who love thrift shopping, to come and find more. We created a place for people who hate it, to have a new found love for it. Recycling clothing is something extremely important to us, and we hope you feel the same too!" This gal certainly caught my attention as I read about her desire to provide an alternative to fast fashion. I love that she specifically curates her shop based on classic but trendy pieces. In the photos, the Star Wars shirt, Calvin Klein sweatpants and 90s Olympic tank were items that Lucy sent me from her collection. She definitely has a great eye for picking out rad pieces. She also loves to shop for you based on items your currently searching for. If you need help, be sure to get in touch with her via Instagram or their website.
Instagram: @mobythrift Website: www.mobythrift.com You guys! I'm feeling so pumped for this week! How about you? It's a brand new day to make a difference in our lives and others. Who's with me? I have another question for ya. Have you ever considered shopping vintage or thrifting? Maybe you already do. If so, that's awesome! I love shopping this way as it helps to reuse and recycle fashion. Plus, you can usually find great deals. It's a more ethical and sustainable way to shop popular fast fashion brands as well. I've found that there are numerous shops on Instagram that specialize in vintage/thrifting. You can pay them to shop for you or browse their own collections filled with rad finds. Basically, it's a treasure hunt that makes a difference! One shop that I love is called FAUVE. When I first discovered it through Instagram, I was immediately drawn to the creativity of the owner and how she styles her collection. It's very artistic and professional. You can view her website and IG here: @fauve_shop www.fauvevintageshop.com I'm so obsessed with this vintage 90s Reebok sweatshirt that she sent me. It's in fantastic condition and fits perfectly. I know the idea of wearing used clothing can gross or creep people out. But honestly, once you give a wash, there's nothing to worry about. It's truly a purposeful way to shop.
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