Learn how to see. Realize that everything is connected to everything else. 
~Leonardo Da Vinci

It was time for a quieter closet. I'd been avoiding purchasing furniture as much as possible. We've moved enough to know that less is better...but also...organized is nice.  :) In order to figure out just the right piece/pieces to purchase, I listed out the categories of clothes Mr. Tribe and I have + how many drawers would be helpful. I hit upon 5 drawers for each of us. Mine would contain: intimates/socks, tees, layers (sweaters), bottoms, + athletic wear. His would be the same, except he keeps his athletic wear (+ outerwear) in another closet. I wanted room above the drawers for his hanging shirts, so that decided the height desired. Width had to do with being able to access the deeper sides of the closet.

After lots of measuring, two of these sets of drawers seemed to be just the thing. They only have four drawers each, but they met most of my requirements otherwise.

I still have a couple of things to work out (I may not need those bins on top of the drawers), but I'm happy with how this project is shaping up. Along the top shelf are two boxes for our out of season clothing + a few keepsake boxes (a curated collection of letters + keepsakes). I keep my sewing machine here, because I don't want it to rust in the damp downstairs closet (where I keep the rest of my sewing things). There is a bin for my pajamas + one for my athletic wear. My carry-on size suitcase (which holds out of season clothing...namely my woolies in the summer) slides in the side there in front of the shelf. My hanging clothes include my coats (since our coat closet belongs to Mr. Tribe and his outer + athletic wear).  :)

​A quieter closet...a quieter mind.

Love,
Jane

Three weeks ago we revelled in so many familiar places that we love. We visited thrift shops + a gluten-free bakery in Thousand Oaks...drove the winding roads through Topanga Canyon with the windows down, stopping at all the little shops along the way, walking through the library, eating lunch at our favorite spot, chatting with the shop owners...relaxed + walked the beaches of Malibu...lingered in spots along the way back down the 1, eating burger bowls, stopping at surf shops, and not hating the traffic that slowed us down.

This week things are so different in Thousand Oaks...in Topanga Canyon...in Malibu...and in all the areas affected by the Camp Fire as well. Loss of lives + homes + businesses + peace + security + all the destruction that is intangible around events like this is almost inconceivable. 

Here are a couple of lists of reputable organizations to which we may want to consider giving. There are organizations that deal with medical treatment, fire fighters, food, shelter, mental health, animals, + rebuilding. This is a great time to stop for a moment or two dedicated to gratitude + letting our loved ones know that they are loved as well. Wishing you safety + well-being, friends.

Love,
Jane

I've tried to regularly take vitamins for years. Like lots of habits, I'll take them regularly for weeks or months + then a day will come when I suddenly realize that I haven't taken them for weeks. I don't really like the look of my vitamin organizer, so I had been keeping it in a drawer that I would have to remember to open each morning in order to take them. 

Recently my closet received a reorganize + this little shelf no longer fit there. I set it up near the chair in my bedroom to hold the books I read each morning. I put my vitamins there too. Now when I sit down with my morning drink to do my morning reading + writing, I see those vitamins too. By adding this habit to an already established daily habit...I haven't missed a day since.

I'm wondering if this placement trick could work for a few other habits I'd like to be better at as well. I'm trying it with my foot lotion (to apply before putting my socks on in the morning) by putting it next to my vitamins + hand lotion (to apply before bed at night) by putting it with my pajamas. 

Love,
Jane

Dazey LA is all about embracing sisterhood, strength, beauty, diversity + positive vibes. (Watch this!) This latest collection is also about collaboration...as each of these designs was submitted by an artist in the Dazey community! And...all of the tees (+ lots of the other Dazey pieces) are made from 100% certified organic cotton in Los Angeles! 

It really stinks when tees stamped with empowering messages for women are made by women who are most definitely not experiencing any of that empowerment in a country like Bangladesh. At the same time, American garment workers often need further rights + increased pay as well. One of my hopes when buying American made garments is that designers keep a closer eye on their factories (especially when garments like these are both designed + made in Los Angeles) + that the garment workers' children are receiving benefits that come from living in this country...like clean water + education. There is clearly more work to be done + more justice to be won!

This summer, I bought this tee (it came along in my backpack too). I'm not much of one for shouting at people with the words on my clothes, but I thought these were worthy words.  :) I've worn it a ton + love it. So...if there ever comes a time when you need a new tee ...Dazey LA can be found on our ethical brands list.  :)

For 10% off use code :: DAZEY-FAIRDARE10 
​(I would earn a small commission too, if this code is used. Thank you so much!)

All gorgeous photos via Dazey LA.
​
Love,
Jane

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.
It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
​~Melody Beattie

It's the time of year that many of us might be thinking about wearing boots. It's exciting to see how many fair boots can be found. The thing that I really want to say on this topic, however, is to consider pre-owned boots, if new boots are in order. Some of these brands might be out of some of our budgets, but we just might be able to score a used pair on one of the resale sites out there (a few are listed on the ethical brands page).

A great way to stir up some gently used boot options might be to put out a call to friends asking if anyone has any boots they'd like clear out of their closets. Maybe a whole group of friends could find some good swaps + matches. People are always cleaning out their closets, + sometimes they offer up barely worn things that we can use! Sometimes a pair of stiff boots might be perfectly worn in for us. I would be aware that the seller/swapper might have wider feet than us...though a pair of thick socks might just take care of that issue too. Second hand boots are a great way to save resources + keep a pair out of the landfill. If second-hand luck is no where to be found...here are some new, fair, quality options to consider:
​
Coclico :: made in a small, family-run factory in Mallorca Spain exclusively making Coclico, living wages, materials sourced in Europe with an emphasis on sustainability, natural materials

Cydwoq :: handmade to order in-house in Burbank, California (visitors to the store can see inside the factory), natural materials, repairs offered

Fortress of Inca :: handcrafted in Peru, fair wages, safe working conditions, gender equity

​Marais USA :: made in Los Angeles

Mason Dixon :: handmade in Philadelphia

Nisolo :: beyond fair wages, safe work environment, healthcare, made in Peru, Mexico, + Kenya

No 6 :: clog boots handmade in the USA (by Sven, I believe)
​
Oliberte :: fair-trade certified, made in Ethiopia, known sourcing

Po-Zu :: fair wages, safe work environment, natural materials from renewable sources + responsibly harvested, no pesticides or beaches or toxic dyes, solvent-free, 10% profit to charity, mostly non-plastic vegan options 

Red Wing :: handmade in Red Wing, Minnesota for 110 years

Sevilla Smith :: handmade in Philadelphia or Barcelona by named makers, made to order, hand lasted, customizable

Sven :: made in the USA since 1974, can be custom made, bases sourced from Austria + Sweden, leather from the USA

Zuzii :: handmade to order in Los Angeles

Also (not pictured) :
​Anfibio :: made in Montreal
Birkenstock :: made in Germany + Portugal
Cordani :: made in Italy
Kamik :: 73% made in North America, liners made from recycled materials, boot recycling program
La Canadienne :: made in a family-owned factory in Montreal, Canada 
Sesto Meucci :: made in Italy
Vince :: made in Italy

For men (not all are pictured):
​
Anfibio :: made in Montreal

​Birkenstock :: made in Germany + Portugal

Cydwoq :: handmade to order in-house in Burbank, California (visitors to the store can see inside the factory), natural materials, repairs offered

Helm :: handcrafted in the USA

​Kamik :: 73% made in North America, liners made from recycled materials, boot recycling program

​Mason Dixon :: made in Philadelphia

​Nisolo :: beyond fair wages, safe work environment, healthcare, made in Peru, Mexico, + Kenya

Oliberte :: fair-trade certified, made in Ethiopia

Po-Zu :: fair wages, safe work environment, natural materials from renewable sources + responsibly harvested, no pesticides or beaches or toxic dyes, solvent-free, 10% profit to charity, mostly non-plastic vegan options 

Red Wing :: handmade in Red Wing, Minnesota for 110 years


All lovely photos via links.

This post will be linked on the ethical brands page...for when it might be helpful.  :)

Systemic change is what we desperately need in order to curb the effects of climate change. Power plants need to make the switch to solar + wind power. Plastic straws + bags need to disappear from possibility. Carbon taxes, correctly implemented, make sense. Widespread public transportation is important. Power to the people rather than corporations is necessary. These are the types of change that are going to really shift the terrifying trajectory that we are on.

A number of interviews + articles have come out proclaiming the need for systemic change in regards to climate change. Surprisingly, the message that often accompanies this call opines the futility of individual efforts toward impacting climate change.

In an interview on NPR, Ajay Singh Chaudhary advocated for a "rethinking of capitalism" as a major way to impact climate change. He also said, "So often this conversation about climate change gets framed in these hilarious things like, 'Oh, are you like, how much plastics are you recycling? How much are you composting? Have you eaten more beans than meat?', Right?" When the interviewer said, "OK, so I could decide I'm not going to eat red meat anymore", (Chaudhary laughs) "but you are saying instead of that you..." 

Alden Wicker wrote an article for Quartz entitled, "Conscious consumerism is a lie. Here's a better way to save the world." Wicker based her case against conscious consumerism on this quote from this study, "A 2012 study compared footprints of 'green' consumers who try to make eco-friendly choices to the footprints of regular consumers. And they found no meaningful difference between the two." 

So I read the study...which states that people often do things like buy a hybrid car + then drive more than they otherwise would have, because it's "green"...or become vegan + then eat more foods imported from further away. The study puts it this way, "The research found no significant difference between the carbon footprints of green and brown consumers suggesting that individual environmental behaviour does not always modify consumption patterns significantly. Consumers offset the impact of their environmental behaviour by consuming more." 

So actually the study points out that one's ecological footprint is more related to one's level of consumption rather than to the amount of "green" products (like a hybrid car or bamboo toothbrush) one buys or the "eco" labels (like vegan or zero-waste) one adopts. My personal perceptions of sustainability greatly emphasize consuming less too...many of us actually call this "conscious consumption". Ahem. 

I've had conversations about climate change that resulted in statements like, "Yeah, but there's nothing we can do about it." In response, I begin by emphasizing that systemic change like power plants making the switch to solar + wind power is crucial...but I also offer some personal changes that we can make. Learning "enough"...buying local, in-season, organic produce...reducing meat consumption...cutting out packaging altogether...reducing use of air-conditioning, heat, car gas +/or lighting...line drying clothing...not consuming fast fashion...wearing + mending + repairing + thrifting clothing...consuming less...composting ...living in a smaller home...putting less in the landfill...not buying + washing plastic fibers...it all does matter + will decrease one's environmental impact.

Often the will to engage in the fight for systemic change grows out of a connection + commitment to one or more of these individual choices. Conversely, individual action might grow out of engagement with a systemic cause. Individual actions bundled together offer credibility to the possibility of collective proposals. Why would we want to promote the idea that individual action doesn't matter? Why don't we maximize every bit of good we can do to impact climate change, both systemically AND individually?

The thing is that we need everyone to do what they can...as much as they can. 

Love,
Jane

P.S. Reminder: One individual action that contributes to systemic change is voting!  ;)

Since I received Wardrobe Crisis by Clare Press right before our vacation + didn't want to risk losing a library book, I didn't get the chance to finish it before the due date. I will say that it is unlike other books on this topic. It puts the fashion industry into the greater context of history + brings topics like the skillful craft of clothing making to life quite well this way. I will definitely be looking forward to getting my hands on this one again soon! 

Pure Style by Jane Cumberbatch might have been the first decorating book I ever bought. I remember coming across it in a shop in Denver + it spoke so deeply to me of simplicity + beauty. I revisit every so often + it serves as a sort of realignment for me. Nothing feels dated even after all of these years.

​Personal style.
Eye candy.
​The hard way. (thanks, Jo!)
​Sourcing.
An "edgy capsule"...versatile too.
Zero-waste morning.

Hope you are having a simple, lovely weekend!

Love,
​Jane