I have to admit that for all my writing about mending, patching, refashioning, and repairing...I don't see many things through to the very end. The thing is that it takes quite a lot of wear + repair + reuse to actually use something all the way up. This feels like an almost crazy thing to realize.

This week I said good-bye to my beloved babouche slippers. I bought them on our first return (we used to live there) trip to California...twelve years ago. Over the past few years, a tear in the side of one slipper grew so big that I could stick my entire hand through it...many of the sequins left nothing but tufts of thread to hint at the original design...and the insoles sat crumpled under my arches. But still, I wore them every day.

I loved these slippers + twelve years is a good, long term of service. As I cut the slippers apart (I'll compost the leather), I was moved to thank the cow from which the leather came...and the craftspeople who stitched the design to the leather and formed the pieces into something that fit my feet so well. It reminded me of Native Americans who thanked the animals that gave their lives for shoes or coats or meals. I actually felt more connected to the elements + makers of these slippers in their destruction than I did purchasing them or wearing them day after day. It was a strange sort of realization.

I know that even now, the discolored leather that I cut away could be scrubbed + made into something new...perhaps baby shoes. The worn, plastic soles could be attached to different slippers. The remaining sequins could be removed + reused. What is now deemed disposable is not truly useless. We live in a strange world...where...at the moment...we feel that there is a never-ending abundance of resources. Our connection to those resources can get lost.

But our connection is not lost. Our skin comes in contact with materials that the earth has produced + human hands have formed. We put nourishment into our bodies multiple times every day that sun + soil produced + human hands passed along to our plates. Awareness is all that is required...and then gratitude can flow.

Love,
Jane

Leggings hold an important role in my + my girls' wardrobes. In the colder months, there is nothing more comfy than leggings. For working out, they are a necessity. Our favorite exercises are yoga + walking + cycling + rowing + strength training. Leggings work for all of it (lengths varying with the seasons). I've been on a mission to find the best leggings for years now. For a while I was devoted to Anthropologie's organic cotton/made in the USA Pure + Good leggings. By the time I needed to replace them, they were made out of polyester + imported (with no mention of fair labor). Then I found Outdoor Voices' made in the USA athletic wear + believed that I'd never have to look any further. I bought a pair of shorts, but when I went back for leggings their clothing was no longer made in the USA + made no mention of fair labor (+ now I'm not into polyester fibers either).

So the search continued.

Here are a few of the leggings that we have tried lately...along with a little overview of each brand + our thoughts too:

Pact ::
production: fairly made overseas 
fiber: 92% India grown, organic, fair-trade, GOTS cotton + 8% elastane
use: worn by Julia + I at home + for exercise for a few years (this year, exercise only for me)
performance: need to be replaced about once per year, because of thinning + holes between the legs/knees...I do repair the holes as often as possible...and do wear them quite a lot 
pros: low cost, fair-trade labor + cotton, organic cotton, perform well for exercise, opaque, long + capri length options
cons: lower waist (I repeatedly need to pull them up during yoga), slight sheen, could be more durable between legs, a bit long + baggy at the ankles (accordion fold up works), too short for tall/slim Jo
overall: Julia + I like these for working out, but I would love for them to have a higher waist. They are thinner than Pansy + therefore not as warm (as winter loungewear). 

Pansy :: 
production: made in California
fiber: 90% USA grown, organic cotton + 10% spandex
use: worn for loungewear + day to day activity...not worn for exercise
performance: I chose not to exercise in these leggings, because they are thicker + not quite as stretchy as Pact. I forgot to change into Pact leggings before going to yoga one evening, and that was all it took for the crotch gusset seam to rip right along the stitching for about 5 inches.
pros: organic cotton, traceable materials + labor, warm, completely matte, opaque, high-waist, durable seams, well-made
cons: not great for work outs that need a lot of flexibility, expensive
overall: I love the fit of these leggings. They are high-waisted (with elastic at the waist that keeps them in place) + the length is that perfect 7/8 length (my favorite). They are cozy, which I love in the winter. The fabric feels substantial + never transparent. I was able to find mine on sale/half-off toward the end of the summer (they are on sale now). Pansy seems like the most ethical choice to me, but I cannot wear them for yoga.

Tasc Performance ::
production: made in a factory exclusively sewing for Tasc, in India, 90% powered by renewable energy including onsite solar panels
fiber: 52% organic cotton + 43% viscose made from organic bamboo + 5% lycra
use: I wear them to exercise.
performance: fabric is stretchy + feels cooler on the skin than my cotton leggings, haven't owned them long enough to speak too much about durability
pros: mostly natural fibers, cooling, long + ankle + capri length options
cons: had a hard time finding the right fit
overall: My first choice was the Crosstown 7/8 legging (high-waist + ankle length), but they just did not work for me fit-wise (strangely tight at the ankle + loose at the waist). Next I tried the Nola (not so high waist- but I can pull them up). I sized down + that worked for me. The fabric is cool for working out.

Girlfriend Collective :: (including Jo's words)
production: SA8000 certified factory in Vietnam
fiber: 79% post-consumer plastic bottles +21% spandex
use: "the gym, yoga + being lazy"
performance: have had one pair for about a year + they are "holding up just like the day I got them"
pros: "comfortable, don't make me hot, opaque, don't smell", high-waist, perform well + stay put during yoga, nice fabric weight (not too thin), matte, well-made, lots of colors + fits to choose from, great size range, long enough for tall/slim Jo, a number of rise + length options
cons: made from plastic fibers which will not biodegrade, but will break free with every wash + find their way into our waterways + drinking water
overall: "They are my best girlfriends". I (Jane) would love to try these too, especially because of the high-waist + ankle length option. The plastic fibers are a deal breaker for me though.

Please let us know, if you have a favorite pair of fair leggings! We're all ears!

Photos via links.

Love,
Jane + Jo + Julia

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.
~Hans Hofmann

Responsible disposal is a big part of zero-waste. Keeping things in use for as long as possible...or from doing harm to the environment...often requires creativity. Ace & Jig is a brand that tries to make use of every last scrap of their beautiful textiles. They have sold gorgeous, scrappy scarves + garlands, offered patches for repairs at swap events, and done collaborations that put scraps to work as patches on vintage jeans. The bundles above are about to be made into quilt squares that will become part of a collection of community-made quilts! 

I've found some ways to make the most of a few of my own discards lately...or at least get them into the right places...so I thought I'd share.

Julia + I needed new glasses this year. We both still liked the glasses we were wearing, but couldn't do without them in order to just get replacement lenses put into them. We went ahead + ordered new glasses, and are keeping our old ones as backup. Next time we need new glasses, we may just get replacement lenses put into the backup glasses + let the cycle repeat between these two pairs. That would be a great way to reuse + avoid waste!

Julia had an even older (too small) pair of glasses that we needed to let go. I wrote about one way we had passed on our old glasses a few years ago...but I recently learned that we can also donate them at the optical booth in Target (no postage needed). Lens Crafters, Pearl Vision, + Sears Optical also collect used glasses. The glasses are then passed on to One Sight which strives to provide vision care + glasses to those in need around the world.

Jo graduated last weekend!! She had to buy this lovely, polyester gown + hat...and as soon as the ceremony was finished...Jo was finished with them. I looked online for a place that might collect graduation gowns for reuse. I found one...but it is no more. Each school wants their own color + sheen...so it is probably tough to amass enough to outfit + match a school's/student's need.

Jo has a friend who will graduate in December + is about the same height, so she is passing this gown + hat on to her. Passing this garb on to someone a year behind at the same school...who can then save the money...may be the best way to keep it out of the landfill. Chances are the same color + sheen will be used at the school again next year.

Rechargeable batteries are so much better these days than they used to be. They hold a charge for longer periods of time + can be recharged many more times. I've made the transition where I can, but still have a few batteries that get used up from time to time.

I've been collecting those batteries + trying to keep them out of the landfill for years. Our battery store will take them, but they charge by the pound...and batteries are heavy. They told me to just dump them in the trash, but I'd like to do my best to make sure that they cannot leak into the ground. Our hazardous waste disposal center does not take batteries. The last time I was in Ikea, I noticed that they are now collecting spent batteries as well as spent lightbulbs, paper, + plastic bags for responsible disposal. Thank you, Ikea!

Taking a little extra care to keep things out of the landfill can create beauty...or opportunity...or generosity...or protection that we would not have experienced otherwise! It's exciting to see more + more mainstream options for reuse + responsible disposal! And I always welcome the opportunity to use a little creativity! 

Love,
​Jane

I was reading along and came to a sentence that read something like...Let off all of the striving for a minute + notice the work that is being done inside of you. 

It isn't hard for me to readily name the things I am striving for...the issues that occupy my mind. I write about lots of them here...zero-waste + food + simplicity + buying fair. I've been thinking about systems lately...a system for food (nutrient rich, zero-waste, whole foods, organic, local, seasonal)...a system for clothing (a suggestive list with a little built in flexibility)...a system for stuff (responsible replacements only). I think about this a lot...and the enormity of it all (compassion, responsibility, budget, choices, unexpected...) often feels like urgently navigating a giant, never-ending maze while wearing an unwieldy backpack. 

So that urging to notice the work that is being done on the inside...that felt important + valuable. Because after all...isn't that really what all of my striving is for?! It is the internal flame that directs + urges me on. That can be surprisingly easy to forget.

I stopped reading right there + started writing in my journal:
I feel like I'm working + striving to be better in the areas of zero-waste + food + simplicity + buying fair- but I sometimes lose sight of the goal + choose the right now/comfortable/easy instead. I want systems (which is not all bad) to help me do better. But...I also need to embrace what is happening in me!

- I want less!
- I recognize enough.
- Compassion is consistently on my mind + part of my actions.
- I want to keep up with the latest fashions less.
- I want new stuff less. 
- Patience is easier.
- We love whole foods (which are often the zero-waste ones) best!
- We feel best when we eat them.
- We are stronger.
- We recognize + enjoy simple pleasures so much.

Yay! So exciting! That really was the whole point- right? Yes! (Oh, I hope this doesn't come across as prideful. I'm hoping to inspire a little introspection out there...and a recognition of the exciting transformations that others can celebrate as well!)

"The law [like my systems] always ended up being used as a Band-Aid on sin instead of a deep healing of it. And now what the law code asked for...but we couldn't deliver...is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us." Romans 8

Please...let's be gentle with ourselves on this journey. Our outward efforts are meaningful + encouraging + necessary, but it's the slow internal changes that will lend strength + resiliency + longevity to the journey. 

Thank you for joining me on the journey! My hope is that you have experienced some inward change as well + that you take the time to truly savor it!  :)

Much love,
​Jane

Botanica Workshop :: recycled nylon, made in Los Angeles

Lacausa :: made in Los Angeles

Reifhaus :: made in Portland, Oregon

Hackwith Design House :: made in St. Paul, Minnesota

Pansy :: organic USA cotton, made in California

The Ones Who :: made in the USA

Girlfriend Collective :: recycled plastic, SA8000 certified labor

Haight :: made in Brazil

Esby :: made from recycled plastic bottles in the USA

Outerknown :: recycled plastic, Fair Labor Association certified

Patagonia :: recycled polyester + nylon, fair-trade certified

Patagonia :: recycled polyester, fair-trade certified

Patagonia (kids) :: recycled polyester + nylon, fair-trade certified

Nu Swim :: recycled polymide, made in the USA

Shaina Mote :: made in the USA

Thief + Bandit :: innovative fabric, made in Halifax, Nova Scotia (little ones too)

Matteau Swim :: made in Australia

Baserange :: made in Portugal

Also ::
-Azura Bay :: made in California + fair-trade in India, recycled fibers
​-Beklina :: made in California
​-Beth Richards :: made in Canada
-Bikini Empire :: made in Canada
-Galamar :: made in Los Angeles, recycled fibers
​-Jessica Rey :: made in Los Angeles, recycled fibers
-Koru :: fair labor, recycled fibers
-Manakai :: made in the USA, recycled fibers
-Mara Hoffman :: recycled fibers, "responsible manufacturing"
-Rachel Comey :: made in the USA
-Reformation :: recycled fibers, made in Los Angeles
-Reswim Club :: made with remnant fabric in Adelaide, South Australia
-Riz :: board shorts made in England + Portugal, recycled fibers + recyclable (!)
-Swoon :: reversible bikinis, made in the USA
-Vitamin A :: made in Los Angeles, sustainable fibers
​-Lots of Australian options

I came across a wonderfully fair swimsuit the other day + it sparked the idea for this post! Personally, I don't wear a swimsuit too often...so the one I've had for a few years still works (I think...maybe I should try it on).  :) That swimsuit in the closet is the most ethical one...but if a new one is on your list...here are a few fair brands to check out. 

Stretchy synthetic fabrics might be just the thing for swimwear...but I am intrigued by the idea of a little organic cotton Pansy working in this category. It might be best for beachwear...and not in-the-water wear... but ah, minimalism!  :) I'm also intrigued by the idea of using a Girlfriend Collective sports bra as swimwear with either a pair of their short gym shorts or a bottom from a different brand. This multi-use concept is making me all kinds of excited!  :)

This post will be linked on the ethical brands page for easy access. All beautiful photos via links. 

Hope sunny days are in your present + are plentiful in your future!

Love,
Jane

The sign of a beautiful person is that they always see beauty in others. ~uknown

There are lots of ways to acquire low waste food...buying bulk, growing our own, shopping the farmer's market, dumpster diving, foraging, trading, making it from scratch + more. One of my favorite ways to buy low-waste food is to get it straight from the farmer who grew it.

I had loved our CSA in London (shout out to Abel + Cole)! It was delivered in a cardboard box that we left out to be collected + reused, when the next box arrived. I learned about + cooked things like celeriac + parsnips for the first time (I know...I'm American).  :)  We didn't meet a single vegetable that we didn't like...partly because the website connected with the CSA offered recipes + cooking suggestions. When we moved here, I couldn't find a single CSA that was accepting new members.  :(

I met Steve for the first time at a Food Circle event where he was promoting the benefits of preying mantises...wearing a worn pair of overalls + a very worn straw hat. Once I realized that there were sellers at our farmers market stocked with vegetables that they bought wholesale...and had not grown themselves...I became very picky about who we bought from. I noticed one booth advertising organic vegetables + there was Steve...same worn overalls + same very worn straw hat. As we became regulars, he started to ask me if I'd heard of some of the less common things he offered...like spaghetti squash + gooseberries...I'd ask how to cook them + take some home to try. 

Steve lives near Amish farmers + offered to sell some of their homemade jams, pickles + pasta (!). He, like the Amish, uses no gas-powered machinery on his farm...opting for heavy horses instead.

This year we are participating in Steve's new CSA program. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture + it allows us to have a mutual beneficial relationship! Steve and his family can depend on regular income + my family and I can depend on regular, local, seasonal food May through October. This family is thrilled!

These first couple weeks have involved a lot more plastic (+ styrofoam- yikes!- but I know that it's a reused one) than I would prefer, but the cold spring has slowed vegetable production + they are making up for that leanness with some other goodies. They told us to return all of cartons, jars, + plastic for reuse.

We have a garden, so I'm interested to see how all of this works out. I'm feeling like I want to still be part of a community that supports one another. That was initially something that I resisted about the self-sustainable movement. I don't want to be isolated or non-contributing. Just as I want to support some of the good work that is being done in the garment industry (by buying some clothing even though I can sew), I want to support the quality work that Steve is doing (even though I can grow my own vegetables).

I'm thinking that if I have too much of something...I can always preserve some for the colder months to come. Nothing will go to waste...but we might just eat a few more salads + green smoothies...nothing to complain about there!

So...yes...we are fans of Community Supported Agriculture...and we are very excited to see what's in our box each week! Thank you for growing our food, Steve...and I like your new straw hat!  :)

Love,
Jane

Spring has arrived in our neighborhood disguised as summer. We've had our first tornado warning. We've turned on the ceiling fans. The duvets are washed + put away. I'm experiencing my warmer weather wardrobe + noticing a few holes. In my web window shopping, I've found a few warm weather beauties.

If this was a small wardrobe, it would look like this:
tops ::
-white gauze top
-white muscle tee
-white tank

bottoms ::
-vintage jeans
-vintage army pants
-orange linen pants

dresses ::
-block print caftan
​-navy dress

jumpsuits ::
-plaid jumpsuit
-navy linen jumpsuit

layer ::
​-navy duster

accessories ::
-hat
-straw bag
-sandals

14 pieces :: I could definitely make a simple wardrobe like this work for all the warm months!  :)

All photos via links.

Love, 
Jane

Let's just dive right into this one, K? Pantyliners. Very helpful, but in some ways problematic. Some options for pantyliners: 
1. disposable liners
2. cloth, reusable liners 
3. period panties

Disposable liners create landfill waste + need to be purchased over + over. Reusable, cloth liners can have a hard time staying put. A lot of people use them, but many reviewers do mention their shifty nature. (These would be my choice, because they are made from organic cotton + have a waterproof cotton layer.)

I've been experimenting with period panties for a few years. My top choices after considering my findings included:
-Hesta ::
pro: organic cotton
con: reviews mentioned noise with walking + leakage
-Dear Kate ::
pro: made in the USA
cons: thick, synthetic fabric + reviews repeatedly mentioned tightness around thighs
-Thinx ::
pro: style 
cons: synethic, not clear where they are made, poor press involving the founder
-Lunapads ::
pros: organic cotton options, made in Canada, boy short option
con: reviews mentioned shiftiness of pad inserts 
​
I tried ::
-Thinx High waist. I bought my first pair of period panties a few years ago, when I finally decided to spend more than I've ever spent on that item of clothing. I wasn't thrilled about the synthetic materials, but the reviews made Thinx sound like the best bet in the anti-leak department. Here are my impressions:
-the "cheeky" fit had me in a perpetual state of wedge...which isn't great for stopping leaks 
-the material is like bathing suit material...slippery, hot, + not breathable
-they compressed like spanx, which may have been appreciated at any other time of the month, but was not comfortable in combination with cramps
Conclusion: I just didn't wear them.
​
-Lunapads MAIA brief. I chose Lunapads because of the organic cotton option + the fact that they are made in Canada. My plan was to use them without the extra liners anyway, so the shifty insert review was not a huge deterrent. These fit like my favorite Pansy. They are comfortable + have a larger absorbent area than the Thinx, which is nice at a night. They are breathable, + there is no noise with movement. 
Conclusion: If I must, these are the ones for me.

Photos via Lunapads.

I can't leave this topic without mentioning a menstrual cup as a fantastic waste reducer for so many.

I would love to hear what you have to say on this topic!

Love,
Jane