Hikin' Good with Nau and Ibex, + Cold Splinters

My good friend from college, who grew up in Colorado like I did, just returned home for a visit, and boy did her pictures make me jealous (shown above). Not only is she rockin' 14ers, but she's looking super good doing it! I'm one of those people who shies away from buying activewear because a) it's expensive and b) ok, ok, i rarely put it to use. But she made me want to toss all that away and get buying (and hiking!). While this mostly just means a Goodwill scouting trip is in order, it also means it's time to share Nau, Ibex, and Cold Splinters.

Actually, first things first -- remember CO-based Topo Designs? Well they're still the shiz for daypacks (such as the one above, $98) and more, and they also told me that their fabrics are sourced reliably. So shop away!

Now, Nau:

The Nau m3 Hoody. Yeah, it's wool fleece AND it has a hood ($225 ... people love their active wear, and Nau explains thoughts on their prices here).

Nau Dualist Jacket, $265, perfect for everything from biking to looking really, really active and good. Again, the price is a bit much for me but they explain themselves, and items like this last you a lifetime.

Ibex Energy Tight, $135 (it comes with a lifetime warranty...)

Nau has put serious thought into its production, from where the fabric is sourced from to how to keep shipping to a minimum. They also determine where the garments are sewn by where the fabric came from, and make sure that wherever the workers are, they're treated well. (Read more.) In addition, Nau also donates 2 percent of every purchase to a nonprofit of your choice.

Ibex's focus started on making top-of-the-line exercise wear without the use of synthetic materials. The creator worked with everyone from sheep farmers to craftspeople to create the best wool around. In fact, a majority of the pieces use wool that is Zque certified, "ensuring environmental, social and economic stability, animal welfare, and traceability back to the source" (upcoming blog post? I think so...).

I'll keep my eyes out for more affordable activewear, but these companies' dedication to their production, fabric, and lifestyles is worth featuring their goodness.

As for where to look for outdoor inspiration, I just found Cold Splinters, the blog of a gentleman who owns a consulting agency called Cold Splinters (not sure which came first) after checking up on Of a Kind's newest feature. This blog is awesome, and helps me feel like I've returned to the backwoods enough to forget about the coconut tree in my front yard for just a second (it sounds romantic, but it's a small yard!).

July 19 entry, along with a music find.

Christopher McCandless's aesthetic creed.

Took it all the way back to November '08, and it was still good with this Zabriskie Point, Death Valley pic and music selection.

Well, there's your random outdoorsy collection to get you through Friday and the weekend (and maybe even get you outdoors!). Happy Aloha Friday!

Made Makes My Jaw Drop!

I want to throw a festival in Hawaii just so I can wear the Festival Chic (their own, awesome lettering choice above) selections Made is boasting. Why am I so impressed?

1. Well, they're bold enough to write in multi-colored letters. I mean, YES PLEASE.

2. Their prices are absurdly affordable (£15 for the Jua Festival Necklace shown above)

3. Their shiz is awesome.

4. It's all made with fair-trade, sustainable practices in Africa. They also work with various renowned designers to create new lines.

Check out the nonprofit, Made Africa, the Made shop runs in conjunction with (100% of the sales proceeds go to it).

This festival bag, £75 is made with 100% sustainable leather and Maasai beads:

And this Satchel, £80, isn't to shabby either (it has a strap, too!):

More Made bling below...

Saa Bracelet, £25, made with sustainably sourced brass. Created in-house at the workshop in Kenya.

Triangle earrings, £10 from the Hattie Rickards collection.

Salama bracelet, £18, made with Maasai glass beads and hand-cast recycled glass buds (Laura Bailey's signature. Check out her whole Made line)

Their leather and brass artisan George Onyango at work on the Made logo found on all accessories.

PS Did you SEE those prices? They're pretty much comparable to shops like Forever21, but you're guaranteed to be buying from an ethical company and helping build communities. Why go anywhere else for shiny things?

When Ya Got Money, GiveWell. + Graffiti(ish) Fun!

GiveWell is a start-up that evaluates charities to determine which ones are most effective and deserving of donations. Because sometimes we want to give that money instead of buying clutter, amiright?? They look for charities that are "proven, cost effective, have 'room for more funding,' and are transparent." They also cover a broad number of national and international causes, with findings such as these:

Findings: Give internationally; schools aren't the key; inequality starts early; other programs that don't work; most charities' evidence ... which you'll have to visit the website to read more about!

Because sometimes you need to know the negatives and things that don't work to know you're doing the best you can. Even if it is yourself who has gone astray. And hey, GiveWell even posts their own mistakes.

I would love to take the GiveWell strategy and apply it to a number of socially conscious businesses making products such as shoes/clothes/pillows etc., using similar criteria. Because, as discussed before (and often on Stanford Social Innovation Review), for-profit, socially conscious businesses don't really have any set means of being evaluated, or guidelines to go by. Future calling? We'll see! (Looks like Guilded, a sustainable fashion workshop in NYC, is tacking similar discussions for the fashion industry, according to Ecoterre.)

As for fun/pictures/I want, check out this Walls Notebook for aspiring graffiti artists (or people who just think it looks cool):

Plus, it's only $16.95! Read super charming bios of the creators here.

(Found via Design Taxi)

Of a Kind Inspiration

One of my favorite websites to find creative inspiration and beautiful goodies is Of a Kind. While the short-run products tend to be a bit over my price range, they're really not terribly expensive, and the purchases are so intimate that one will probably keep them around for quite a while.

The way it works is that Of a Kind pairs with different featured designers to offer a limited number of one of their creations solely for the website. Along with this item, the creator offers a story line, advice, or a "how it was made." Below are some of the most recent creations that I'm digging:

CELIA BAG by RACHEL NASVIK, $184 - The designer's featured background includes the making of the bag as well as her bag highlights throughout the years.

ORION TUNIC by ANN YEE, $325 (eek, ok ... but there were only 10 made!) - The designer's featured background includes what she learned from her mom, who owns and runs two Chinese restaurants, and how to dress like Yee.

MISFIRE RING by TOMTOM, $130 - This designer's background includes her specialty pasta sauce, the technology behind creating the ring, and a blast-from-her-past feature of buildings to check out (she used to work at an architecture firm).

And of course, for the boys:

BRUISER BOW TIE by FORAGE, $78 (but sold out) - Background includes the duo's origins, work space, and bow-tie icons.

I would love to use this concept for a similar one with an international development and nonprofit/socially conscious business bent. Maybe get artisans in a certain area of the world to create something and market it similarly, or profile goods such as the Falling Whistles necklace embellished by the artist of their choice. Any way you take this inspiration, it could definitely be a fun and rewarding concept for more than just local artists and makers (which gets props in its own right). I especially like the way it highlights the maker as much as the project.

The next edition of Of a Kind will be revealed in 1 day and 19 hours, so get ready!

Happy Monday, all :)

Favorite Finds Along the Way

I, of course, hope to share as many socially conscious brands and options that I can find, but along the way, I stumble upon a few favorite pieces or check back in with companies I've already written about and find some goodies. Here are a couple such finds, since I just really, really want to share them!

Afia:

This romper, $150, is the shiz. As are these new-color, limited-run shorts for $80 (and the whole outfit is awesome, as well):

This Cri de Couer armlet with fringe, which is totally unique and a fun statement piece ... for $150. At least it's not a $36,000 backpack!

And the Blue-Sheep Tie-Dye Adiba shoes for da ladies by Oliberte, $135:

Also, been checking out this blog a bit: Africa on the Blog.

Yay for Friday! Hope to have some new goodies (and thoughts) for you all next week.

Why Not Buy a Whole Cow? Heifer International

Sometimes, it feels even better to not buy anything at all for yourself, or the person you're gifting to who has everything they could ever need. For the last couple of holidays, my family and I have donated to Heifer International for my mom, and she absolutely loves it. Pictures, you beg? OK!

Bees, $30. Bees, according to Heifer International, require very little space and are inexpensive to maintain, but enable the receiving families to sell honey, beeswax and pollen. In turn, the bees increase fruit production. The families that receive the bees are also trained in bookkeeping.

Ducks, $20! How cute is this picture??? Ducks are great for crops (they eat bugs and make fertilizer) while giving the farmer and his/her family protein and extra income from egg sales. And ducks make babies! Which makes for more ducks!

You can also go bigger and get a llama for $150 (or buy a llama share for $20), which are great packers, poop on topsoil (yay!), and create wool; a heifer for $500 (or a share for $50); or even a camel for $850 (share $85), to name a few. Check out all the options here.

By giving families means for land management and extra income, these families are able to save up and buy other crops or animals as well as help support their communities. It's an awesome concept. Learn about all the benefits they attribute to a simple gift of an animal on their Our Approach page.

Maybe when you save a ton of money by saying no to an expensive purchase, you can go home and buy some ducks instead. Because ducks are way more awesome than a wallet, sometimes, even if you don't get to play with them. (I mean, think -- if whoever buys an Olson twins backpack for $35,000 bought some camels instead, they could help make a ton of people better off...).

Oh, and a heads up -- hens are LOUD. You don't want them as a pet! So give them to someone else! I have two who live right outside my window, and it's not a pleasant alarm clock :) Though I can't complain about fresh eggs...

Anyway, go Heifer International!

Happy Thursday, all.

The Olson Twins Would Want This Alt Apparel Find

Word on the street is the Olson twins are back, this time around with swanky backpacks that cost up to $36,000. While I'll admit they're cute (really, really cute, and fancy backpacks are definitely a good idea), the fact that they cost that much (and aren't being promoted as socially conscious, of course) is a bit of a no-go. Instead, I love this:

It's The Acoustic Townsend Cross-body by Alternative Apparel, and it's awesome. OH, and, Olson twins, it's only $78. As you can see, the bag even doubles as a trendy fanny pack (is there such a thing? maybe?) which may seem silly until you're out on the town and want to get your dance on. Or you just decide you want to rock a fanny pack.

Alternative Apparel is an awesome company with strict social guidelines and responsibilities for themselves as well as their vendors, which you can check out here. And if you live in Venice, Cali you can even visit the flagship store yourself!

All of their clothes are said to be handcrafted with "their signature softness." And I don't know who doesn't like softness.

I also like these finds for the ladies, which would also go great with the bag:

The Ainsley Mini-Pinstripe Capri, now on sale for $24.99 and sold in black or tan. (Found on Boutiques.com)

The Molly Heather Burnout Crop Tee, $44. Love the rolled-up sleeves. (Found on Zappos.)

Visit the Alternative Apparel website or blog.

Found via Made to Travel, a great blog with a list of ethical fashion outlets.

LemLem Awesomeness, Playing Catch-up Again

I keep a list of potential blog posts, and the note next to this picture link is, "pretttyyyytyty". I'm obviously obsessed with this dress and the fact that you can wear it either way. Though I absolutely love it with what is traditionally the back in the front, as shown in the first picture.

This is another goodie from Lemlem; specifically, the Afar Two Way Dress. While it's a little above my price range at $213, a girl can dream every once in a while, right?? Read more about Lemlem in this blog post.

OK, running off to plan a photo shoot/send off queries/look into grad school/brainstorm columns for awesome fellow ethical design blog Fashion at Liberty.

Much love!

Cuddle up, or Sling Rocks, with Mexchic

Alright, so it's prime summertime and a tad bit toasty, but that doesn't mean there's not SOME excuse to get your cuddle on, or at least picnic. And even if you're sweating so much you don't want to move, Mexchic can still spruce up your home to make it look as cozy as you wish you felt.

Hand-woven 'Honey' Striped 100% Cotton Summer Blanket, $155

Read the story behind the cotton blanket here. Short version; the weaver who helped create these blankets is from a small pueblo in Tlaxcala, Mexico and she weaves on what was her grandmother's loom.

Houndstooth Chico Top Drawer Blanket made with pure virgin wool, $70

Read more on the wool blankets, and how you can also rock it like Mr. Eastwood, here.

And of course, if you're more a fan of slingshots than blankets, Mexchic's got you covered, stylishly.

Dreaming Puma Hand-carved Slingshot, $125. Read more about the Mexican carver who creates these slingshots using local inspiration and a tiny pocket knife.

Right now, the things I have pics of next aren't on Mexchic's Etsy store. However, I wanted to share them anyway, because they're gorgeous and I want!

From the Huipil pillow cover collection.

Mano de santo collection.

See all of Mexchic's stunning collections here. Plus, visit Mexchic's website, Etsy shop and blog.

Mexchic's About page explains best: "The name Mexchic is a play on the Nahuatl word for the Aztec Peoples, ‘Mexicas’ pronounced ‘me-shi-cas’. Mexchic works with Mexican artisans who are masters of a variety of traditional, centuries old techniques. We also at times modernize the design of each craft, attracting a new appreciation for the cultural riches of Mexico."

Found via Proud Mary's blog Lloso (another do-gooding fave).