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!

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.

One-Stop Shop: Beklina

While it has been my M.O. to share specific brands and items that I'm diggin' at the moment, these finds have, several times, led me back to online shop Beklina. A shop dedicated to organic clothing and sustainable fashion, it boasts everything from Feral Childe to Bodkin to the Pendleton/Portland collection.

TIME OUT. I just found this Lizzy Fortunato iPad case while perusing the designers it offers:

Gaaaahmazing. Want. Need: $345. ANYWAY...

Yes. So. Beklina. This store offers everything from dresses to footwear to jewelry to wooden animal home decor (this falls under the "Paper and Nest" category). The selection is, well, selective so you won't be overwhelmed by options -- just don't expect to find exactly what you're looking for. It's a quirky collection, so can be hit or miss depending on your style (and budget). However, everyone should be able to find at least one thing that tickles his/her fancy. Here are a few more things that worked for me:

Mociun Bustier Top, $350, made by hand in Brooklyn, NY. (Give this one a minute. It will grow on you.)

Kathryn Bentley Enamel Cuffs, $160, "handmade with integrity in the United States."

Rachel Comey Gloves, $350, made in Peru.

Juniper Ridge Sachets, $12, made in Northern California. (Background: Everything is handmade using locally wild harvested native plants, and 10 percent of profits go to groups that defend western wilderness.)

Peruse Beklina for yourself here.