Local Kine Good, Rubba Slippah Style

Helped out at an awesome event yesterday for a magazine I copy edit and freelance for. One of the presenters, In4mation, mentioned their collaboration with Freewaters on a limited edition pair of unisex sandals.

When you walk, the rubber slippers imprint "RESPECT LOCALS" in the sand. However, designer Rhandy Tambio's inspiration originated in New York City, where he got frustrated with everyone who was trashing the streets where others lived.

Freewaters  is a grassroots organization that sells sandals to provide clean water to those who wouldn't have it otherwise.

Find the sandals here. Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day!

DIY Perfect for a Craft Partay...

Honestly WTF recently featured this DIY pom pom necklace, which looks pretty killer, complete with instructions and follow-along pictures. While you may not have pom pom trim, chain, or nylon cord lying around your house, a scavenger hunt followed up by a stop at your local craft store for anything you couldn't find will do the trick (or you can use her links to buy everything online). And ending the hunt with mimosas and craft time with the girls sounds pretty good to me!

Find the DIY directions here. Happy Aloha Friday!

Feelgoodz, Flip Flops, and B Corporations

Now, I know I was jonesing for wool socks and boots, but rubba slippahs (known as flip-flops to us mainlanders) are aloha-friendly footwear that I can also dig. What's great about FeelGoodz flip-flops is that they're eco-friendly. Like, compost-them-when-you're-done, completely biodegradable eco-friendly.

They're made of natural rubber, with trees grown in Thailand that absorb Co2 and that are quickly replaced by the company when they're maxed for their production. Which means that they aren't using EVA foam, which isn't biodegradable (and we all know that rubba slippas are a popular item that gets junked way too much. I'm sure there are more than a few pairs that made it to that huge plastic garbage patch in the middle of the ocean).

On a lighter note, they have them for men, women, and kiddos!

Plus, right now, purchases also benefit Pencils of Promise. AND they're only $20.

Flip flops may not be the height of fashion, but damn if they're not comfortable and beach friendly! And according to Michael Bastian, men love the flops, so make 'em fashion ... see (from here): 

Looks good to me. And, from Vogue UK, found here:

Rock 'em how you want!

Learn more about Feelgoodz's mission, history, and product here. They're a certified B Corporation, meaning that they've been checked out by B Corp and determined to be a socially conscious business. Find out more about B certification and the socially conscious business movement here. 

Also, read an article on Stanford Social Innovation Review about what it's like to be the only B Corporation in Kentucky (not to mention the business that provides the framework for the article, In Every Language, sounds great). 

Prescribe-Your-Own Glasses, aka AdSpecs

I admit it: I have terrible vision. I'm the person at the party who hands their glasses around so everyone can see the coke bottle lenses and try them on, saying, "Oh, man, you really are blind!"

But hey, at least I have 'em. Because if I didn't, I wouldn't even be able to read a sign five feet ahead of me, not to mention a classroom board. And I'm lucky enough to just be nearsighted ... can we really imagine what it would be like to try to work, or read a textbook, without badly needed glasses?

Smart, determined people in developing countries have exactly this issue, and there are numerous organizations trying to solve this problem, such as Warby Parker (watch a video interview with the founder here). However, part of the problem is getting the prescription right. Cue: Glasses that you prescribe yourself!

Oxford Professor Josh Silver created silicone gel glasses that change prescription as you inject gel into the lens. A sort of one-pair-fits-all approach, they're called AdSpecs.

They may not be the best looking glasses, but if they let you see things clearly, they look pretty good to those who need them.

Found on GOOD. 

Stanford Social Innovation Review also has an in-depth article about organizations trying to address vision issues, and why a lack of glasses is still a problem in developing countries (they even mention AdSpecs, along with VisionSpring).

Super Stoked for These Ties

I caught a glimpse of Proud Mary's new ties earlier in founder Harper Poe's blog Lloso, and now they're officially here!

So handsome, so good. Background: Proud Mary (featured earlier for its market) works with artisans in Guatemala to create the fabric for all of her accessories, pillows and ties. And you can buy 'em here.

In the meantime, I found these shots from GQ's slideshow of Tommy Ton's street style shots during New York fashion week. Which 1) I'm sure would go great with these ties and 2) Made me happy. I might need to move somewhere that gets cold again, just so that wool socks and boots are a necessity!

Refresher: These ties = good.

Good Doin' and Lookin' Shorts, Please! Aka Afia

I mean, this picture speaks for itself. But if it doesn't ... These shorts rock my world. They're $80, which is the still cheaper than, or comparable to, most department store duds.

Afia also sells an array of clothing items and accessories. Like this beautiful dress:

And this rockin' romper:

Textiles are sourced from from small vendors in Ghana, patterns are thought up by designers in Ghana (as well as Chicago and NYC's garment district), and the garments are hand sewn by the Dzidefo Women's Cooperative in the village of Kpando, Ghana -- all of this immediately impacting the community.

I also liked this explanation for the style: "The colors, patterns, and motifs used in West African textiles are a visual representation of history, proverbs, moral values, and social codes. The coined 'urban indigenous' style of Afia is a fusion of traditional, vibrant West African aesthetics with urban American trends."

(Fanny packs, $20!)

Read more about Afia's concept, or start from Afia's home base here.

I love the thought and effort put into every piece. When you know the story and positives behind your clothing, it gives it a whole new meaning to your day.

Disclaimer: I usually hate music popping up as soon as you open a website, but the music on Afia's homepage was almost cute enough. Which says a lot!

Afia was just featured on Refinery29, and just did a Pop-up Shop with Proud Mary in NYC that I mentioned earlier. Awesomeness.

Sunday Fun Day: DIY Lace Lamp

Step by step, from Dos Family (which, it turns out, is a treasure trove of DIY! Go crazy!). Found on Pinterest.

Yarn Bombing (with a Side of Banksy)

Instead of graffiti bombing, these artists knit their public art. Street art is a powerful outlet for dialogue, and while urban arts may be controversial, I can't imagine a more wholesome, uplifting social commentary than the the textile graffiti of these "guerrilla knitters."

The U1 in Berlin, image from Yarnbombing.

In Bali (a commissioned piece by Knitta, Please).

NY Times article on the movement.

I love that this gives those who wouldn't necessarily spray paint pieces or wreak havoc an unexpected public voice.

Though the other kind of public art, such as Banky's pieces on the West-Bank Israeli wall, can definitely raise important, larger dialogue as well. One picture from the 9-piece project:

See this article for some background/thoughts on the wall, the work, and the artist. And read the conversation, recorded by Banksy, at the end of the article for an unexpected take on the work.

On another note, a knitted Banksy:

(From here.)

Happy aloha Friday, all!

Denim for Peace

This is what I'm talking about! Hautelook, a members-only discount website (membership is free) is pairing with Falling Whistles, a nonprofit promoting awareness of children soldiers and striving for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, through Friday. Meaning:

One-hundred percent of proceeds from selected jeans sales, including 7 for Mankind, Joe's, and Hudson, will go to Falling Whistles.

I like how all of the models are also sporting the signature Falling Whistles necklace, too.

This partnership only lasts through Friday, May 20, and is a brilliant way for both sides to benefit -- member signups plus fundraising.

Visit Hautelook (where the images are from) and Falling Whistles (more to come about this great organization soon).

Hodgepodge of Look, and Good

First, the good. Panera Bread opened up Panera Cafe a few years ago, a place where people come and pay what they can for meals. After a year, Panera Bread Co. has opened two more similar cafes, which make enough money to cover costs and use the several thousand leftover to provide job training for at risk youth.

Read more in this article from The Washington Post (where the image is from as well).

Now, the look. One of my blog inspirations, LLOSO, posted today about visiting the Sonia Delaunay exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt, and shared these images, which are gorgeous and inspiring:

I Danced My Ass off at Josh’s Bar Mitzvah...

Soon to be a documentary and the inspiration behind Project Repat, “I danced my ass off at Josh’s bar mitzvah. Santa Barbara, California. January, 2006," is the wordage nonprofit organizer Sean Hewens saw on a shirt on a rickshaw operator in Tanzania.

Hewens and Ross Lohr, who run two nonprofits in Tanzania, then had the bright idea to take shirts similar to these that made it to the African market after being donated to Goodwill or Salvation Army in the States and then resold, stamp them with a "REPATRIATED" logo, and sell them back in the States to hip kids who love their retro, kitschy shirts.



Profits support nonprofits Smallbean and Newton-Tanzania Initiative -- winter and spring proceeds already covered a new computer lab and scholarships for a schoolgirls in Tanzania.



Watch a video about it. (It's an awesome video, by the way.)

Via GOOD. (All images from Project Repat website.)

Warby Parker Glasses

Along the lines of TOMS shoes, for every pair purchased, one is donated. Not to mention the glasses are awesome.

Women's Pierce

Men's Griffin

They offer home try-ons and free returns, AND the frames with lenses are only $99. Way cooler than any expensive hipster frames.

Warby Parker uses great branding to be hip, meaning the great price doesn't tone done the "I want!" feel.

Example: Founder of Tommy Guns Hair Salon is front and center for its monacles:

And I want to look like her/work for them:

And Victor Jeffrey, filmmaker, is all about 'em too:

And to end well, here's a glasses recipient in Guatamala, who is adorable as well:

Because, according to Warby Parker, one billion people around the world are struggling to work or learn affectively because they need glasses but don't have access to/can't afford them.

Visit Warby Parker's website.

...And Proud Mary's Pop-Up Shop in NYC

Also exciting, Proud Mary has a pop-up shop open in NYC through this weekend at Guilded Studio:

 Basically, (combined with the last post) cute shoes, awesome business, good cause, fun event: win-win-win-win. And there are more wins, I'm just going to post them separately to give Proud Mary the attention it deserves!

Aloha, and don't worry -- I won't be running away to Kaua'i again anytime soon.

Proud Mary Market

I took a trip to Kaua'i last week, a much-needed escape, and took these shoes from socially conscious textile business Proud Mary's Proud Mary Market along with me. Proud Mary owner Harper Poe collects market items when they strike her fancy on her business travels. Ten percent of purchases also go Starfish One by One, which promotes education initiatives for girls in Guatemala. Some items that are still available:

(When I'm a grown-up with my own place, I want this rug!)

All of these items can be purchased at Proud Mary Market on Supermarket. You can also check out her textiles, which I'll blog about soon!

Speaking of TOMS ...

Love that they made Refinery 29's "Stride Right in These Stylin' Summer Sneakers" list. See, good, fashion, and consumerism do play well together!

See the list here.