New Year's Eve (Day) Fashion! + Osborn Amazing

1) I love this look, found via a Lookbook.nu contributor. Sequin shorts under a sheer skirt = genius combination of two of the season's most fun wardrobe additions. Check out some sequin shorts via Etsy and Asos and a great mesh dress (you can just toss a cardigan over and -- voila -- a skirt!) from For Love and Lemons.

2) How effing awesome are these boots????? That's all I can say. I'm speechless. And I desperately want them. What makes it even more awesome is first, that they go perfectly with the above outfit, and second, that they're made by Osborn Designs, which is a great company I've previously posted about. Oh, and they're having a wonderful online sale that doesn't hurt one bit.

2012 is around the corner, I hope it's looking as promising for you all as it is for me! Considering a "best of" list for tomorrow's post, so see you then if so :)

Apolis = Niching the Market Right

Hmmm, apparently niching is what happens when you try to make "niche" a verb. And it's weird. Anyway, I mean they rock transparent, well designed, and well executed all the way home. Same same!

For starters, it uses visuals and infographics for its advocacy impact evaluations. Ex.:

Its blog, aka "Journal," brings customers into the lives of the small team as well as the work being done around the world. PLUS, this journal is available on iPad and mobile devices. Clever folks.

(Pic from one such journal post.)

It has well-styled wardrobe examples, so customers can see the Apolis style in action:

All in all, the vibe is great and consistent throughout the website, journal, styling, and marketing. And its transparency/sharing of an obviously difficult task of maintaining worldwide relationships and projects with ease is awesome. Makes customers feel like friends. And that's always the goal, right?

One product with the "this will be cool/last me forever" vibe Apolis owns:

(The Heritage Leather + Apolis Mason Courier Bag, $218 - learn everything you could ever want to know about how it was made and with what on its product page. Go Apolis!)

Oh, and collaboration magic, which may be my favorite aspect of socially conscious fashion? Apolis is all over it.

Visit the Apolis website here, and see all the goodies you can buy here.

OH AND MELE KALIKIMAKA/HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

I can't believe it's almost 2012 -- craziness. Good stuff is in the works, folks.

Seydou Keita

Portrait photographs by Malian photographer Seydou Keita. Reminds me of the traditional Christmas family photo -- but much more beautiful.

Simple Is Best: United By Blue

Love these unisex bracelets. Can it get any better than leather and rope?

All of these bracelets are under $30 and made by local artisans, and for each one purchased, a pound of trash is cleaned up from the oceans and waterways. Learn more about United By Blue here. They sell other jewelry as well as Ts. Let's keep that ocean nice and blue!

Dreaming Away The Holidays

Dreaming about Maiyet today ... And the weather to wear this awesome Pendleton + Portland coat:

Snag it via RevolverSF.

Also, considering a trip to Ethiopia ... let a girl know if you have any ideas/connections. Holla!

Etsy Is Magic

I about died of happiness when I visited Etsy today and found this "a little bit of brown" treasury curated by member Nulka. I would take any one of these finds for Christmas ... So if you're still hard up for presents for fam or friends, think about making a unique IOU and surprising them with an Etsy find ASAP. Some finds from the collection:

Visit the collection and Etsy.

Random Goodies Collection

Goody bag time, blog style!

1. Found another scarf:

Mugisha, which means "blessing" in Kinyarwanda, scarf, $38, made by a young group of refugee women in Kenya. Read more here. The nonprofit behind this, Heshima Kenya, is pretty gahmazing.

2. Aand... Bracelets made of PVC pipe:

They're crafted by the Himba, an indigenous people of Namibia who actually started making these bracelets to add flair to their traditional garb while using up otherwise-junked PVC pipe ... and now you can snag your own (and find the whole story) on Ethical Ocean for only $15.52.

3. Final surprise ... A couple Billabong Pipe Masters shots, taken by moi, on the second day of the competition:

(John John Florence there with the board -- he ended up winning the Triple Crown.)

(My lovely friend Chels, who accompanied me.)

(Unknown surfer takes flight.)

Happy Wednesday all, wishing you plenty of jingles and stuff.

Scarf Time

Gaaah, it's winter! And present time! Eek. Good thing I've had these scarves on back-up for a  while now -- it's the perfect time to check 'em out. Also, see A Peace Treaty's scarf selection, which is pretty amazing (as is its jewelry).

2. FashionABLE Dember scarf, $32:

 FashionABLE is a nonprofit working with women in Africa who have been exploited due to extreme poverty. Learn more here.

3. L.O.V. Project Varkala Scarf, $85

L.O.V. Project stands for the Live One Vision Project and raises awareness of and funds for people and organizations "who have almost lost hope" (these people also create the scarves)... They organization's first stop was Little Flower Mercy Home in India. Learn more here.

4. Mercado Global Loose Weave Striped Scarf, $25

This scarf was handcrafted by artisans using a traditional Mayan foot loom. No biggie, right? Mercado Global  partners with indigenous women artisans to craft amazing goods, and proceeds go to help mothers lift communities out of poverty and send kids to school, according to its website.

So there you are -- not a bad start, right? And each company offers a selection of scarves and accessories beyond what I just shared. Visit away: A Peace Treaty, FashionABLE, L.O.V. Project, and Mercado Global. And of course, feel free to contact me if you know of any other companies or organizations I should share!

If Look & Good Were a Scarf, It Would Be...

Guys, I'm freaking out. This A Peace Treaty scarf is L&G's masthead to a T. Seriously. Look:

A Peace Treaty Madeleine Beige Scarf, $350

I know, right?? Good thing the missions/stories of A Peace Treaty and L&G are like blood sisters and stuff.

Anyway, scarves are a very popular doing-good accessory, and they're looking good too. Not to mention it's, what, winter you say? Eek! So if your neck's a tad chilly, or your wardrobe weary, hold out for Monday, when I'll be sharing three additional (and much more affordable) finds doing good in all sorts of ways.

In the meantime, visit A Peace Treaty, which offers all sorts of lovely scarves as well as incredible jewelry. Another scarf (or, in fact, stole) example:

Daphne-Tan Stole, $340

And of course, feel free to contact me if you know of any other companies or organizations I should share!

Until then, Happy Aloha Friday all -- will be spending the A.M. working on a features piece about the local slaughterhouse and catching Pipe Masters up on North Shore.

(P.S. I guess posted on Lloso today as well -- if you don't know it, now you have no excuse. And will be spending even more time on awesome blogs.)

TEDxBoulder and Colors Mag Inspiration

Just a few finds that I haven't been able to get out of my head, so figured I should document.

1. Leslie Dodson's TEDxBoulder presentation on the misrepresentation of Africa in media and marketing, and being embedded with research projects vs. quick in-and-out reporting. Her observations on how Africa is misrepresented by media and by nonprofits such as USAID are also very relevant to socially conscious businesses' narratives. Listen up, y'all (myself included):

2. As for the Colors Magazine inspiration, I just love these Kenya bike taxis and the story of a few who run the "boda-bodas," as photographed/covered for the Transport issue:

See the full story/all images and the Transport issue here.

Happy hump day!

This Malia Designs Clutch Is L&G Lovely

Malia Designs Agatha Clutch, $36

This clutch is made in Cambodia, fair trade certified, and according to Fashioning Change, supports the fight against human trafficking. How? Malia Designs employs women workers in Cambodia and donates a percentage of sales to nonprofits working in the area. Scrutinize for yourself here.

Fashioning Change provides a thorough and pretty well designed background of Malia Designs, and I'm guessing other such companies that they stock. The online shop just kicked off in the last week or so officially, and is still in beta design, but it's looking pretty good.

Happy Monday! If you have a little extra energy, feel free to send it my way. Shoots!

Happy Feet Thanks to The Bootstrap Project

I love this footstool. 'Nuff said. And if it's not, then just know that that the footstool is made by an artisan in Tajikistan and his goods in turn are made available to the world via The Bootstrap Project. To be all transparent and stuff, they did send me a wonderful email wishing me happy holidays, but I don't think this makes me biased... Either way, make your own mind up about the project and goods by reading all abouts it here (yes, the "abouts" is intentional. Because I like it. No questions allowed!).

Quite possibly the most fun socks ever... Nadzhida's Stockings made in Tajikistan, $60

I'm sure I'll be sharing more of its artisans and products in the future -- I'd love if the cashmere creations from Nepal one day included that white maxi skirt of my dreams! But I can't complain about adorable hats, either...

As for the organization itself, The Bootstrap Project is an interesting example of globalism meets nonprofit meets microfinance meets business. The company's blog is a fun behind-the-scenes of the work, artisans, and travel involved. Explore away, and see what you think.

Happy Friday, all! Boy, that came fast.

Acumen Fund Words of Wisdom

"Low-income people face a different set of constraints because of their economic situation, but they make decisions, like everyone, that are based on status and beauty and avoidance of risk, and not just 'what’s good for them.'"

THANK YOU for saying this, Acumen Fund. It is somehow forgotten way too often, whether it's by news sources or NGO marketing campaigns, that poor people are people too, with (and with the rights to have!) the same wants and desires, not just needs. It's what makes us all human.

Read all of Acumen's 10 Things We've Learned to Be True.

Beulah London Supports Survivors

Beulah London Tigris Dress, £356

Yesterday, I spoke with a friend who has lived and worked for a nonprofit in the red lights district in Amsterdam about the complications of the sudden upswing in awareness and campaigning against human trafficking. While awareness is important, she said, the movement isn't necessarily offering up answers for those who survive the industry after brothel raids.

These people who survive sex trafficking have been hardened, or don't know where to turn. They may have even been "freed," and are sending money to impoverished families in home countries.

The women, an acquaintance of my friend said, consider themselves survivors, not human trafficking victims. And to take any means away from someone empowered enough to believe they have the will to survive is a dilemma in itself. There has to be another option, one that offers long-term surviving.

This is where I find the Beulah London model interesting. While the clothing reads a bit more mother-in-law than hot new style (and is a bit above my price range, of course), the mission behind it is worth a gander. Here is what its CSR states:

"Alongside every purchase of Beulah, a canvas bag is given which has been made by women victims of trafficking in India through a project based in Kolkata. The women are provided with fair wages, health insurance, and training schemes that help them start their journey towards freedom. Currently the project employs circa 150 women. Natasha and Lavinia's vision is to further the women's textile skills so that one day they can be involved in the whole process from start to finish. In the meantime, all the clothes are being made through ethical means on a separate production site."

Peony Skirt

With some wedges and a chambray tank?? Just maybe ...

Plus, all kinda British celebs are lovin' up on Beulah London:

Pippa Middleton wearing the Shibani scarf

Learn more about Beulah London here. And please let me know if you have heard of a company or mission that you think addresses this issue as well!

Bhalo for a Monday Pick-Me-Up

Saturday Shirt, $135; Cargo Shorts, $155

As I hinted on Friday, today's post is about Bhalo. This company has a fun, quirky, patterned fashion sense, and is created in Bangladesh. Everything is handcrafted/dyed/loomed and eco-friendly. The focus is on fashion inspired by the region and travel, made under ethical working conditions, and engaged in community development.

Scarecrow Trousers, $195

Sale jacket!...

Tailfeather Jacket, $40 (only large left)

There are also lovely dresses, embroidered skirts, and gauzy shirts, but I'm in a jacket, pants and shorts kind of mood (blame the "cold" Honolulu weather!). If you would like see the rest for yourself, go here.

Hope everyone has slept off the Tryptophan haze and is enjoying the final touches of fall!

Skyping with the Fam = Happy Holidays! + Bhalo

Consecutively,

1. Happy Thanksgiving from the Harmon family in Colorado!
2. Happy Caesar named brother Robert, with lil sis Alyse! (All the single ladies, line up. He's a keeper. All the single men, bummer. That pretty lady's been snatched up. Though she's also a keeper.)
3. Happy Anna winning 30 piece of gold on Dark Tower!

There's a bit of a story behind #3. See, back when I was a wee thing, my dad had this amazing game. It was called Dark Tower, and it made all fantasy lovers' dreams come true. Brigands, dragons, warriors, gold. And then he gave it away, and forever regretted it. For his 50th birthday, we bought it for him on Ebay (and it was not easy -- there are apparently a lot of nerds in the same boat) and then we coded a book so he had to guess what was coming in the mail for him.

It finally showed up when I was already back on the islands, and they've been Dark Towering away. But today, it's my turn! Thank goodness for Black Friday.

Oh, and yeah. I won. Above is a Reese's cup on top of the Dark Tower, because chocolate can only make things better. Here are a couple of quotes from our Skype sesh game:

1. Mom: Who am I? I'm so confused. Oh, there I am.

2. Conversation about haggling over the price of soldiers at the bazaar (the bazaar kicked me out):
Mom: Tom, did you tell her to haggle?!
Me: No, I wanted to.
Dad: See! She's her own person!

Gotta love 'em. As for your L&G find (as if that's not enough. Really.) ... check out the Thursday skirt from Bhalo:

100 percent handwoven cotton (don't judge me for not spelling out the 100 because it's at the beginning of the sentence ... it's my blog, I can do what I want to! Anywayyy...), cross stitch inspired by traditional Bangladeshi pattern, made in Bangladesh.

I'll be sharing more about Bhalo on Monday, so if you don't feel like researching, just hold out until then for more loveliness! (PS Thanks to Lloso for this find.)

Until Monday, happy aloha Friday and start of the holiday season, everyone.

What's a Girl Gotta Do for Some Social Studio?

For this outfit, I would probably give up my roommates' dog and say she ran away (Janna and Dan, if you're reading this, I KID! Maybe.) or work a banquet on Christmas (oh wait, I'm actually doing that one ... the plight of the part-time underemployed). Either way, I'd definitely frolic around town in it, like, every day?

Amiright?? Top is the Trapeze Tank for $90; bottom is the Jersey Pant for $110. The whole outfit is made by Melbourne's The Social Studio, which uses all repurposed materials  and creates its clothing from the styles and skills of refugees. They even have a cafe and studio. I can't even get into how great the organization, and working for it, sounds. Read more here. (I'd even go so far as to label it "awesome," but I just read a frequent traveler's account of his top pet peeves about Americans, and that was towards the top of the list. Well played, sir.)

But yes, more importantly, I'll take one of each in size small please. Or maybe medium, if I wanna rock it baggy kine .... Dreamin' away for the holidays. (PS Don't listen to fashion nazis, I endorse light neutrals year 'round.)

Just some images from the website. Seriously, read more about Social Studio here, because I'm not doing its story justice. I originally heard about it from Stephanie over at Fashion at Liberty, and just featured the pants for my snow-day style post over there. Check 'em.

Also, if anyone has any good suggestions of nonprofits to straight up donate to, holla at a girl. Time to start "shopping" for da mama.

Happy Turkey Day, folks! I'm thankful for banjos, beach, and family -- the third of which I'll be Skyping with tomorrow AM.