Sometimes just knowing they are there is like a little wink to ourselves...even though they are buried under layer after layer on these cold days. A few comfy, beautiful, fair intimates today:

Arq :: organic stretch cotton :: made in the USA :: environmentally friendly dyes

State :: organic cotton/spandex blend :: made in thomson, georgia :: hand-painted

The Nude Label :: organic cotton/elastane :: made locally in valencia, spain :: back closure bra

Pansy :: organic cotton grown in texas + milled in north carolina :: rubber/cotton elastic made in south carolina :: sewn in san leandro, california :: non-toxic dyes 

Lots more fair intimates here (in varying degrees). All beautiful photos via links.

Love,
Jane

This arctic blast has me thinking about "warm". Merino wool is one of the materials that is truly up to the task. What an amazing symbiotic connection wool offers sheep + shearer...each benefits from the other.

My search for a wooly layer that needn't look perpetually sporty brought me to Duckworth. It can be hard to find a 100% wool piece of clothing, so this top (pictured) is ticking a lot of boxes for me. The merino wool comes from sheep on the Helle Ranch in Dillon, Montana (pictured above). The spinning, knitting + dying happens in the Carolinas and the sewing is done in the USA...making this top completely American grown + made. They call this carefully orchestrated connection "sheep to shelf".

Wool socks are my footwear of choice during these cold months. There is nothing to kick off before pulling my feet up under a cozy blanket...or before sliding into some waterproof wellies. Wool socks with a more heavy duty sole keep my feet as warm as slippers. Darn Tough makes wool (blend) socks in Vermont + guarantees them for life! What a long-lasting connection this fosters between the hands that make these socks + the feet that wear them.

Of course another great way to keep cozy is to knit a woolen layer or two. It can be a lovely adventure searching for local wool, to meet the farmer/spinner/dyer + to hear the stories the materials hold. Connection grows deeper with each slow rhythmic stitch.

Keep warm + connected, friends...wooly + otherwise!

All lovely photos via links.

Love,
Jane

Thought I'd share a little correspondence I had this week. I really like the fact that Feelgoodz made flip flops with natural, sustainably sourced rubber + fair-trade labor. Last summer, I purchased some of their leather + rubber sandals...but received a pair of their vegan "leather" sandals instead. When I let them know about the mistake, they said to keep or donate the mistake pair...no need to mail them back. I decided to wear them, because I liked the fit + they needed to get worn. I'm not so happy about their end of life, however. Vegan "leather" is plastic.

As I began to look ahead at the year to come + at my simple wardrobe as a whole, I wondered if Feelgoodz would offer new leather styles. Their website currently shows only vegan options, so I sent this email of encouragement:

Hello- I just wanted to let you know that I am hoping you will bring your leather sandals back this year! I love the fair-trade values your company adheres too. The leather + rubber elements complement that so well for me, because they are natural + biodegradable! Thank you for being a rare, fair footwear option!

This was the response I received:

Thanks for contacting Feelgoodz! We will not be selling leather anytime soon. We have decided to stay with our Vegan Leather option because it is what is best for the environment. We will be dropping some new colors/styles this Spring so keep your eyes peeled!

And this was my response in return:

Thank you so much for your response. I know that some people feel that vegan "leather" is better for the environment. I just don't personally understand it. The oil derived material is plastic that will be around forever. It will contribute to ocean plastics + will break down into that plastic soup that ends up in the guts of sea life + eventually us. It would be better environmentally to simply stick with the natural rubber flip flops.

I know that all of the readers here do not agree with me about the use of leather, and I very much respect the values that inform this conviction. My point in sharing this is not that we need to agree...or even to share an update on a brand. It is that we have voices + the responsibility to share them. I believe that my emails have a better chance of making a difference than my silence (+ simply opting out of buying vegan "leather").

Whatever your opinion, let those companies know.

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

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.  :)

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