Ritual is a delicious concept. It conjures thoughts of centering actions with deep meaning that we can return to over + over again. Rituals have the power to gently turn our attention + transform our perspectives. 

I've been enjoying the ritual of dipping into guided journaling each morning, and I'm so happy with this little gem of a tool of late. Rachel Garahan starts out by expanding our gratitude vocabulary and then lays out a simple, yet profound guide to transforming our perspective (+ action) with a weekly practice. This practice goes beyond the familiar gratitude list + offers something deeper. It's a guide for days when it's harder to feel grateful + for taking action in the week ahead. 

All I can say is that I ended up purchasing three more copies for my nearest + dearest and since then have thought of a few more people with whom I'd like to share it (including you!). I want to sincerely thank Rachel for creating this beautiful book + for inviting us to "fill not just our own cups, but others' as well, the fountain of gratitude propelling its cycle forward."

Love,
Jane

Enough is a decision
not an amount.
​~Alison Faulkner

It's always a pleasure to come across fair brands in real life that I've only seen online. Today, I had the pleasure of touching a few Le Bon Shoppe tees, trying one on + taking it home! Le Bon Shoppe has long intrigued me. Many of their tees are made in the USA + all are fair-trade. The cotton has a very nice weight that drapes beautifully + feels like it will last for a long time.

Le Bon Shoppe has some deliciously interesting, fair values such as producing limited quantities in an unhurried, flexible time frame, noting:

• "Our goal is not to be a super famous brand sold in every store in the world, instead we want to make just enough for everyone who genuinely loves the product."
• "We are flexible + compassionate with our factories + value all those who have a hand in making all things Le Bon Shoppe as people first."
• "We give ourselves ample time to restock + don't sweat it if things don't go according to schedule!"

I very much appreciate being able to support both Le Bon Shoppe + a local, small business while gaining a well-priced basic that I will wear for a long time!

Love,
Jane

Recently I came to the conclusion that my sleepwear is a category of my clothing that needs some attention. The tanks I've been wearing are more than a decade old. They are worn, holey + no longer fit. I'm sure we all have different opinions on what we prefer to sleep in. This is as it should be. The specifics of my thought process will probably be useful to no one but me. It's the process of thinking this through (or maybe even just the fact that it's something worthy of thought) that might have a kernel of relevance.  :)

My thoughts on sleepwear led me to consider not only my preferences + circumstances, but also the number of pieces necessary, the frequency + amount of laundry (water + energy usage) I'm committing to doing + the possibility of these pieces being able to serve multiple purposes (like workout wear + everyday wear).

One option is to have three muscle tanks. These tanks could serve as sleepwear, workout wear + everyday wear. They need to be washed often as they get sweaty + lose their shape quickly. (Three pieces that double as workout tops. More laundry.)

Another option that I've employed in the past would be to have one lightweight cotton, sleeveless, short nightgown. I could sleep in this several nights in a row before washing it. When I did wash it, it would hang dry before bedtime. (One piece. Less laundry. Need separate workout tanks.)

The third option is to have a maybe four fitted tanks that can also add a layer of warmth under a button up or sweatshirt during the colder months. These tanks are the most comfortable to sleep in. On lazy mornings, I can add a pair of shorts or pajama pants + be in-the-house presentable without needing to add a bra. I could add leggings + do yoga. These tanks need to be washed often. (More pieces. More laundry. Still need some workout tanks.)

It felt really helpful to make notes on all of these things before deciding how I wanted to move forward. I pulled out the three muscle tanks that I use in the warmer months for working out. Two of them have words on the front of them that are scratchy to sleep in. I also went through my sewing patterns + scrap fabric to see if I could make anything from what I have. I found no real winners.

I looked for thrifted + new nightgowns + muscle tanks. In the end, I've decided to purchase a few new, organic cotton, fair-trade tank tops. I'm choosing black ones, because they don't show stains + we do the darks load of laundry most often. I hope this will make them longer lasting + allow me to have less of them, since they will have more opportunity to get clean.

​I could make do with what I have, but I don't feel that opting out of consuming is the choice I want to make this time. I plan to wear these new tanks like I did the ones they will replace...for more than a decade...every day...until they are all used up.

Love,
Jane

A few good library check-outs lately:

• Houses That Can Save the World by Courtenay Smith + Sean Topham :: I absolutely love being exposed to alternatives that could transform access to affordable, sustainable housing. This book offers a variety of inspiration in that direction.
• Sundressed by Lucianne Tonti :: Today's conversations about ethical clothing still major on consumption + excess, but they are also expanding into the territory of regenerative farming + alternative natural fibers.

Doubling every six years.
What's next.
​Together.

Have a fantastic weekend, friends!

Love, 
​Jane

I periodically comb through the ethical brands list to make sure it's accurate + up-to-date. This time around, there have been quite a few changes. 

Many brands mentioned rising prices of materials, missing the mark with demand estimates + supply chain delays as real issues lately. The following are no longer making clothing:

• North of West
• Study New York
• ​The New Blak
• Two Days Off (now selling some sweet weekend projects)
• Winsome Goods (now selling sewing patterns)

On the other hand, many are forging ahead! Above are a few things that caught my eye along the way.

• Organic cotton leggings, shorts + tanks made in Los Angeles + dyed with onion skins collected from local grocery stores from Groceries Apparel.
• Danu Organics' fully compostable jeans.
• A lovely, organic cotton knit made from leftover yarn (from their main sweater collection) in California from Curator.​
• A bright, linen set sewn by Nettle's team of five.
• Pants made in LA from 100% North American waste cotton from Everybody World.
• Organic cotton/natural rubber elastic, corozo/tagua nut buttons + organic cotton thread (for making or repairing our own compostable clothing) for sale at Danu Organics.

On the resale front:

• I have enjoyed dipping into Noihsaf Bazaar's new home recently. It just makes a little bit more sense to me now.
• Renewal Workshop has been aquired + will no doubt be a part of something positive. We are just not able to buy directly from them anymore. 

I'm so grateful for all the hard work, perseverance + innovation these brand share with the world! It's always exciting to see what creativity can do, and I can't wait to see the new spring collections arrive in the next few weeks!

Our ethical brands list can be found here. It is updated periodically (not always with mention). Please let me know if you find any ethical brands you'd like to share! All lovely photos via links.

Love,
Jane

The easiest way to save resources + energy is to use less.
This means consuming less, 
buying less,
being green, 
making do with what we have already -
establishing an imperative to rid ourselves
of all the unnecessary gadgets + duplications
​that so hideously clutter up our lives.
~Victor Papanek