Curator keeps the makers of their clothing close. All their clothing is made within a ten minute drive of their shop in the Mission District of San Francisco. I love that the process is documented often on Curator's instagram page. I also appreciate that the style of these pieces is a bit different from what has become somewhat standard in ethical fashion lately. Color, texture + fit stand out from the pack, without sacrificing the commitment to natural fibers + fair production. 

All lovely photos via Curator.

Love,
Jane

Last season I noticed a shift in one of the companies I've appreciated for it's commitment to fair-trade + organic cotton. Pact started listing a lot of products that were made with recycled polyester, which has been touted as a sustainable or ethical fabric. It's been showing up more + more on the ethical sites, and it has felt like a trend that can't be stopped. The fact that plastic fibers shedding from polyester have been found in our drinking water shows that it is not sustainable or ethical. 

I wrote to Pact to let them know that I loved their commitment to fair labor + organic cotton, but that recycled polyester was a deal breaker for me. I linked to the article about plastic fibers in our drinking water + let them know that I hoped they would reconsider using plastic fibers in their clothing. I don't think that I was alone, because...

This season...I can't tell you how excited I am to say this...the first thing I read on their site was "100% Organic Cotton + fair-trade factories"! Last season there were certain products that were each of these things, but now they are stating it right up front! There are pieces like leggings + sports bras that contain a blend of organic cotton + elastane...but other than socks, I only came across four pieces that contain polyester. (Yep, I checked all the women's listings.)  :)

The (second) highlight of the collection, for me, is the offering of high waisted, organic cotton, fair-trade, well-priced leggings! I've been waiting for them + can't wait to give them a try. There is also a collection of 100% organic cotton, fair-trade sweaters!

Pact runs some good sales, so be sure to sign up for their email list if + when you are interested in making a purchase. I'm not certain this will work because I've never done it before, but if you'd like 20% off + to give me a little credit for referring you...I'd sure appreciate you linking to Pact through this post. (Thank you, friends...and enjoy!)  :)

I have no way of knowing if my little note had any impact on this company (together with others it may have), but I do know that letting a brand know what its customers want is never a bad idea!

All lovely photos via Pact.

Love,
​Jane

Fair brands are cropping up (yay!)...new products are being dreamed up (yippee!)...and new conscious policies are being implemented (hooray!) all the time! We are in exciting times of development in awareness + response to sustainable + ethical practices in the garment industry! 

Able's wage disclosure plan is one of the most exciting ideas I've encountered recently. Able has published the lowest wage of their Nashville employees + how it stacks up to the published, Nashville living wage. They plan to do the same for their garment workers involved in making their bags, shoes, clothing + other products elsewhere in the world in the months to come. There are a few holes in this scheme such as the fact that many more hands go into making a garment than just the sewist. There are farmers, weavers, dyers, + transporters to name a few. Living wages can be controversial numbers as well. Fair-trade certification may be a better indicator of compliance, but I do believe that Able's disclosure plan has significance.

A few more developments include:
Hackwith Design House, the Minneapolis-made women's clothing line, has a spot on their site where they sell samples + preowned Hackwith pieces. There is a process for sending in worn pieces + earning money toward new ones. Items beyond repair will be made into new pieces! Amazing commitment toward zero-waste!
Domi, maker of organic cotton sleepwear in GOTS certified factories, is making daywear.
Ijji, maker of California-made, unisex pants + jackets is about to launch the softest looking corduroy pieces. The lines of those pants look just so good.
Industry of All Nations, maker of fair-trade goods, is making sunglasses hand-carved in Ethiopia!

​A few new-to-me discoveries in the past year are:
Everybody World :: something inspiring + different...made in the USA clothes, designed for + by everybody...including tees made from 100% recycled cotton!
Mate the Label :: organic cotton basics made in Los Angeles
LA Relaxed :: Knits for women, made in Los Angeles with natural materials, paid fair wages
Elegantees :: knit tops + dresses made by women in Nepal who have escaped sex trafficking, for women + girls (I especially like the girls' dresses)
Freeset :: fair-trade, non-profit for freedom from slavery in India, offering bags, scarves​, and organic tees for men + women
​
The last thing I want to do is to offer another place that promotes consumption. It is my hope that highlighting a few brands doing good work...and assembling a list of ethical brands...will provide a resource for those times when we do need to add a piece to our collection of useful tools (our wardrobes).  :) The fairdare list of ethical brands is being constantly updated. I also enjoy celebrating innovation + progress toward a garment industry that we can be proud of...one that not only provides for consumers, but also promotes the flourishing of garment workers, farmers + the environment.

All lovely photos via links. 

Love,
Jane

It seems like we often gravitate toward simpler + simpler shapes + colors as we move toward simpler wardrobes. People who share their small wardrobes online often recommend a collection of black, white + grey pieces in classic shapes...a few tees (one striped), a couple of button-down shirts, a sweater, a jacket, black pants, jeans, a black dress, trainers, flats, heels. There is ample opportunity even within this formula to choose individual shapes + fit. It's a great basic collection that would serve almost any daily situation, + we seem to tire of these simple shapes + colors less quickly. 

Some simple wardrobe wearers inject a signature color or two for each season. This approach also requires restraint. Different people like different things, however, + I'm sure many have found their ways to more colorful, simple collections. I'm interested in exploring the possibility of building a small collection of a little bit more adventurous pieces...and to observe the speed of tiring of these pieces. Autumn colors invoke feelings of cozy rather than dread of the cold that is to come. ​They always call my name, so no doubt that has something to do with these thoughts...but not everything. I imagine that I'm not alone, as a wardrobe of paired down basics can get a little bland for some.

So anyway...here's a little collection of pieces that I imagine could make me quite happy in the season to come. I know that I often say something like that in a post like this. I'm aware that part of that comes from the fact that all of these pieces would be new to me...and I don't think that buying all new pieces each season is at all ethical or sustainable. So...obviously simply adding a less ordinary piece or two to my existing wardrobe is what I've really been exploring lately. What I'm struggling with a little bit is that I'm not used to seeing myself in pieces that aren't a bit more on the quiet side...and I'm wondering what's really "me"...or what I really want to wear. I'm still deciding.  :)

Love,
Jane

Autumn is one of the times of year this tribe looks forward to most. Clothing-wise, it is just the best. The sweltering heat relents, + the cold is still at bay. Autumn is the glorious in-between. Bare legs under a dress or skirt seem just right. Long sleeves aren't too much + an extra layer in the mornings + evenings is welcome. Autumn colors are just so lush + lovely...and the textures too.

Spring + summer seem like the perfect times to thrift for sturdy linen + flowy dresses. Autumn offers the chance to layer up those pieces with a long sleeved button-down tied at the waist. Later that same button-down can slide easily under a sweater. A longer dress with sleeves might be just right for gathering all the autumn goodness from the farmers market. Add + subtract a linen, denim, corduroy, or velvet jacket as needed. Soft denim feels good again + light sweaters cozy things up just right.

Autumn is the perfect time to search for durable, second-hand denim, velvet, corduroy + leather. Resilient silk + cashmere are treasures to thrift as well. The pieces above look to show little or no wear at all. A piece or two could add a lovely touch of crisp autumn to what's already in the closet. Oh Autumn...we love you.

All lovely photos via links.

Love,
Jane

The sunsets + cricket songs are coming a little earlier. The morning + evening temperatures are inching lower + my thoughts are turning toward autumn. So...just a little window shopping + dreaming of cooler days to come. 

-Beaton Linen's coat dress is gorgeous in indigo. I would love to wear this on those days that start + end cool, but warm up in the middle. It could layer over ankle length, straight pants, leggings or jeans...which could be removed as the temperatures rise...and the sleeves could be rolled up too. As the season progresses, I'd wear it over a long-sleeved tee + pants with clogs, trainers, or boots. Made from European linen, dyed with eco-friendly dyes in the USA, + made in Vancouver, BC.
-The day is coming when wrapping my hands around a cup of hot tea + breathing the scent deeply will be daily ritual again. We can purchase Republic of Tea loose teas in bulk...and we do.  :) Look for varieties that are certified organic + fair-trade.
-A Question of Eagles' tumbler would make me happy holding wild, roadside sunflowers...or a hot drink (or just sitting on the shelf). Made by hand in Los Angeles.
-I'm into this pink jumpsuit from Lacausa, because...why not? I'd roll up the sleeves + wear it with sandals now + layer over a wool tee or under a cardigan with boots later. Made from cotton in downtown Los Angeles.
-This Black Crane set worn together would feel like a sweatsuit, while looking much more polished worn with flats. I'd size down in the top, roll up the sleeves + wear it with any type of pants. The pants would be perfect with almost any top...from a fitted tee to an oversized cashmere sweater. Made in Los Angeles from cotton/rayon.
-Scents usher in those autumn vibes + this spicy aroma from P.F. Candle Co. would carry me right into the season. Made from soy wax, cotton wick + reusable glass jar in Los Angeles.
-I'm hoping that this cardigan is a piece in Lacausa's fall collection. It would be just the thing to warm up the jumpsuit, the Black Crane set, a tee + jeans, or almost anything else. Hopefully made in Los Angeles from wool.  :)
-These boots from Doen might be just what I've been looking for. The fitted ankle would make them a good pairing for a longer dress or ankle grazing trousers. Made in Brazil.

Now back to shopping my own closet + cupboards, because I have some good things there that I haven't seen in a while!  :)

All beautiful photos via links.

Love,
​Jane

I've made it pretty clear that I love jumpsuits. :) Recently I sold my exceedingly versatile Ali Golden jumpsuit, because it became a little too big. I've considered buying the same jumpsuit again in a smaller size, because I love how I can layer under + over this style, as well as wear it on its own. It was (successfully) my only formal wear this past year, while also serving as an everyday comfort. Sandals, boots, clogs, flats or trainers...it adapts.

But...I could go a different way too. I've come across these comfy looking jersey options...tempting. Then my thoughts turned to an even more different approach...one with the advantage of easier restroom breaks...tops tucked into pants to look like a jumpsuit.

Black is not the only way to go either. Prints!! Lots to think about.  :)

​All lovely photos via links.

Love,
Jane

Harvest + Mill is one of those brands that makes me so happy. They make their clothing in San Francisco from organic cotton that was grown, milled + spun in the USA. Just a few well thought out pieces make up a collection of versatile basics. Unisex tees + pants are simple, uniform worthy pieces. The women's tee tucked into pants of the same color would make a cute, comfy, faux jumpsuit...as well as offering separates that would serve an existing wardrobe well. From traceable, organic beginning to compostable end...there is just so much to love about these special pieces! 

All photos via Harvest + Mill.

Love,
Jane

Whimsy + Row takes sustainability seriously. They utilize deadstock, biodegradable fabric + Los Angeles sewing. Unnecessary plastic + waste are avoided. Their shapes are simple + straightforward. This is the type of clothing that would mix well into an existing collection + will get worn over + over again for all kinds of occasions.

Whimsy + Row will join our growing list of ethical brands, so that when a need strikes...we have a few places to start the search.  :)

All photos via Whimsy + Row.

Love,
​Jane

I am loving Tonlé for the colors, the breezy fabrics + those hand-woven textiles. Tonlé states, "We adhere to principles of transparency, fairness, and waste reduction in everything we do." Their pieces are fairly made in Cambodia out of remnant fabrics from the garment industry (even the wovens + chunky knits). Each person who worked on each piece is named. Beautiful!

Tonlé is listed under the ethical brands tab (above) along with so many other brands putting fair labor first.

​All photos via Tonlé.

Love,
Jane