Recycled cashmere has been catching my eye this autumn. As with any natural fiber, and especially with cashmere, reusing rather than starting again from scratch is an exciting advancement. Much of the cashmere used in recycled cashmere at this point comes from fibers left over + previously discarded from the cashmere industry. It would be wonderful to see previously worn cashmere getting a second chance, but this is a great start. This is often how the technology advances, new options for recycling come into play, and then collection can have a focus + outlet/input.

Another intriguing way of recycling cashmere is simply cutting it up + sewing it back together into useful shapes. This could be a way to use bits of sweaters riddled with holes or stains...or too small, secondhand sweaters. These makers are doing amazing work! I love seeing the sleeves of sweaters made into pant legs, and that amazing scarf/blanket is the most beautiful way to ensure that no scrap of this luxurious fiber goes to waste!

Love,
Jane

Autumn seems like a natural time to consider color...and I love these nature inspired tones. These lovely pieces could mix + match + layer for lots of lovely outfit options. We obviously don't need to buy a whole new wardrobe's worth of pieces, in order to consider color in our own collections.

One way I've been considering color is by choosing pieces in white + natural tones.  :) I choose white tones not only because I like them...but also because I'm thinking about longevity. I am anticipating extending the usefulness + my own love for these pieces by dying them with natural dyes as necessary or desired. Dyes are a great way to add a little color to a thrifted, stained or existing piece in one's wardrobe! I love indigo dye + am looking forward to trying some of EarthHues natural dyes too.

Another way I like to add a little oomph to my regular outfit lineup is by mixing colors in unconventional ways. A few of my outfit dreams using the pieces above include...

I'm actually wearing this combination right now. It doesn't seem like it would work (one of those unconventional color combinations mentioned above), but I think it does.  :) It's one of my favorite cozy at home looks.

I like the idea of sliding a heavier, cozy layer over a simple, sleeveless jumpsuit. The ease of two piece dressing feels like a luxury as temperatures dip. I'd really like to see these different tones of green together, but I have a similar grey jumpsuit already in my closet that would benefit from a cozy layer like this.

These colors are an autumn dream...and that green cardigan above could take this pairing into cooler days. Let the leaves fly!  :)

All lovely photos via links.

Love,
Jane

Cozy socks are one of the pleasures of cooler days. Socks can be a simple way to add a playful touch to an otherwise subdued ensemble. They can be a sweet + useful gift or a necessary indulgence. Here in the USA, it is still possible to find socks made closer to home. (yay!) I hope this might also be the case elsewhere around the globe. This is a list of predominantly American sockmakers working to integrate as many of the following qualities as possible: natural materials with traceable origins, fair wages + durability (often backed by warranties or free repairs). Most of these socks do contain a bit of synthetic fiber for stretch + durability. 
​
Zkano + Little River Sock Mill :: organic cotton grown, spun + dyed in the USA :: American wool :: made in Fort Payne, Alabama :: send back spent socks for recycling :: women's, men's + children's 

Vreseis :: Sally Fox's own Californian, organic cotton...spun + knit in North Carolina :: undyed, color comes from the biodiverse cotton grown :: unisex 

​Harvest + Mill :: organic cotton grown, spun + knit in the USA :: undyed, color comes from the biodiverse cotton grown :: men's + women's

Pansy :: organic cotton :: USA grown + made :: unisex​

This post will be linked at the bottom of the ethical brands page along with a few other posts about fair items...for when they might be helpful. All lovely photos via links. Unlinked photos, mine. 

Love,
Jane

Temperatures are climbing into the mid 90s here today (phew), but the light is shifting...sunsets are arriving notably earlier...and the sunflowers are back in all the familiar places. Autumn is on its way. Here are a few things that have caught my eye + my imagination in anticipation of the delicious season to come.

-Black Crane's cozy set actually has me looking forward to cooler days.
-Some dried banskia would be welcome on the shelf all season long.
-If I needed a new pair of jeans, these would be the ones.
-A soft, cozy sweatshirt that I could wear day after day.
-Should I become that kind of hat person?
-A cozy jacket for windy days ahead.
-A multi-purpose balm for thirsty lips, skin + heels to come.

Lots of new collections are arriving from all of the brands on the ethical brand page. If something new is necessary, it might as well be fair! I'm keeping a small list of desirables + giving it some time to percolate.  :)

All lovely photos via links.

Love,
Jane

Swimwear :: instead of polyester, econyl or recycled polyester ::
For someone like me, fairly made, organic cotton pieces like those from Pansy (available with natural rubber elastic + without added lycra/spandex), Arq or State work well for dipping toes into streams, wading in lakes or rivers + enjoying the sun. A cotton bodysuit like Nude Label's, Thief + Bandit's or Everlane's could work for some as well. Many of us only wear swimwear occasionally + a fewer of us really use it seriously for swimming or surfing.

I thought that bamboo might be a good natural material for swimwear, but I was not able to find any at this point. There are some organic cotton/bamboo sports bras at Tasc that might be an option for some. This modal bodysuit from Commando (or this one from Ripple) is like bamboo in that it comes from natural origins, but requires more processing than other natural fibers. Apparently rayon fibers made up a large percentage of the fibers found in this study of microparticles found deep in the ocean. This provides us with further reason to avoid these fibers (rayon, lyocell, tencel). (Ugh.)

Please don't be fooled by ChitoSante fabric made with shellfish shells. Only a small portion of the fabric is made up of (or treated with) this biomass. ChitoSante is polyester.

Swimwear for serious swimming...at this point...may be an appropriate use of recycled polyester. These pieces of clothing are quite small + don't need to undergo rigorous agitation in the washing machine. If a wetsuit is in order, check out Patagonia's 85% natural rubber wetsuits. ​Continue to prod brands to seek innovation.

Work-out clothing :: instead of polyester in all its forms ::
Tops: It's easy enough to wear an 100% cotton tee or tank already in our wardrobes instead of a polyester one. 
Sports bras: There are lots of organic cotton + hemp sports bras available. No reason not to embrace them (some brands below). Also consider the level of impact workouts entail. I find that for hiking, biking, walking, rowing, yoga + weights...I don't really need a heavy duty sports bra.
Bottoms: Leggings aren't the only bottoms that can be worn for workouts. Consider looser bottoms that won't require such stretchy fabric. There are lots of organic cotton + hemp bottoms (including leggings). Conscious Clothing, Ripple Yoga, Hard Tail, Thief & Bandit, Satva, Pansy + Pact are some great sources (check fabric content). I've done yoga in Pact's new organic cotton leggings, + I think they finally got them just right for me (high waist + stretchy). 


Patagonia is investing in testing + technology meant to develop plastic fibers that shed less...but is that really any sort of solution? We already have access to the fibers that humans have been wearing for thousands of years...natural fibers that return to the soil. Processing these raw materials into clothing we can wear is not without cost to the environment, of course. The best thing we can do is to wear our natural fiber clothing over + over + over again...to mend + repair it...and to wash it as little as possible.

There are gadgets + devices meant to attract or catch microplastic fibers before they can reach the drain, though the fibers must be discarded somehow...and some will inevitably fly off into the air or have to be tied up in a plastic bag to be preserved in a landfill for posterity.

Keeping waste out of the landfill is always top of mind, and I'm really not sure what the answer is in regards to the polyester + nylon items we may be replacing. When I first replaced some of our jackets, I sold them thinking that that may keep those who bought them from buying new pieces. Maybe donating these pieces to be used in carpet underlayment would be positive? (We may have to cut an arm off in order to avoid resale + donate to Goodwill in a bag labelled "rags".) This processing will produce microfibers too though. The bottom line is: the less plastic microfiber producing items in production + use...the better. 

Our actions have an impact. Our voices may have a bigger impact. Educate + encourage with kindness. Encourage the people making these pieces to consider their impact + where they are spending their good intentions. Let's continue to ask for more innovation + creative thinking in this area. No more microfibers, please.

Lovely photos via links. Unlinked photo, mine. A few more ideas: simple workout wear :: 3 ways.

Love, 
Jane

At a much lower price point ($38), For Days makes sweatshirts out of organic cotton in Los Angeles, California. When a For Days sweatshirt wears out, it can be returned + recycled...and a new (30% recycled cotton) one can be purchased for $8! I tried on the Modern Crop + really liked its shape. It is a lighter weight than the other sweatshirts mentioned here.

Again, there are lots of options + price points out there! This is just a narrowing down of the longer list...for those with similar tastes + with no time to lose.  :) Sweatshirt weather (to me) means getting outside to enjoy the sunshine + the breeze + all that the day has to offer! Get it! 

All lovely, linked photos via links. Unlinked photos, mine. More fairdare favorites...right this way!

Love,
Jane

Ottowin footwear are handmade in Bristol, UK by a passionate pair of makers. Lovely sandals, shoes + boots for women, men + babes are made to stand the test of time. Each pair is made by hand once an order is placed. Materials are locally sourced + scraps are made into wallets + baby shoes. Sandal, shoe + boot making workshops are offered at their shop. This peek into the Ottowin process is a great reminder that every pair of shoes is made at least partly by someone's hands.

Love,
​Jane

Starting out our fairdare favorites series with the first + most everyday layer seemed appropriate. It's also the easiest category of favorites for me to choose. Most of the favorites here are tried + true...and highly recommended.  :) 

What I'm looking for :: organic cotton or natural fibers/materials (as much as possible), fair labor, traceable origins, durability, wearability 

Considerations :: Thrifting doesn't necessarily apply to the category of intimates, so having a fair favorite or two in this category is helpful. I'm willing to take special care to hand wash (bras) as needed + to line dry (as usual). This prolongs the life of these beauties + keeps them out of the landfill (or preferably the compost heap) for as long as possible. ​

For the whole family :: Pact :: organic cotton :: fair-trade labor :: budget conscious :: men's + children's too
​
We have lots of these in our house. I would wear them too, if they had a higher waisted version. Pact underwear are soft + long lasting + can be found locally (where we live).

For periods :: Lunapads :: organic cotton :: made in Canada :: boxers, bikinis + briefs
I have four of these + they have eliminated my need for liners. They feel like a light, reassuring hug. I just wash these along with the other dark laundry. 

For Europeans + for a back closure bra :: The Nude Label :: organic cotton :: made locally in Valencia, Spain 
I would love to try one of Nude Label's bras, when I need a new one. I like the back closure, because it allows one to tighten the fit as the bra stretches out. I also like that I wouldn't mind these straps being visible when wearing spaghetti straps.

Again...this fairdare favorites series will highlight a very few fair brands to maybe start a search with...when a wider search feels a bit daunting. For more (+ lots more) fair intimates including supportive bras + sports bras, right this way. There are new players in the fair intimates category all the time, which is very exciting! I'll keep my eyes out + will keep updating our fair intimates lists (which is searchable toward the bottom of the ethical brands page). This post will be searchable both there + toward the bottom of the fairdare page. Feel free to add your fair favorite intimates in the comments!  :)

Love,
Jane

I love the idea of versatile dresses that can not only be worn on their own, but can adapt to many uses, occasions + seasons. The images above come from Richer-Poorer, + I think they've captured this idea to perfection! 

A classic, black, slip dress is always the first versatile dress that comes to my mind, but there are so many other options as well. There may even be a dress or two in one's closet with possibilities previously untapped. Here are a few less-basic dresses that would be just as comfortable with trainers as they'd be with strappy sandals...a sweatshirt or a blazer...a cropped tee or a cashmere cardigan. 

When looking for a versatile dress I think of all the pieces that could work with a dress + then I consider if they would layer well with the dress I'm considering. A few things I keep in mind:
-a non-waisted or raised waist dress will work well with shorter + longer tops...a dropped waist limits these options
-a sleeveless dress has more potential to layer over + under well without any extra bulk or bunching at the shoulders
-look for dresses that would be breezy summer options on their own as well 
-a little wiggle room in fit is good for layering over other pieces
-keeping the neckline from being too high increases the ways that things can layer on top
-natural fabrics layer best...no static cling

A carefully chosen dress can be layered under + over lots of the things already in one's closet...over a slim tee or merino turtleneck...or under any number of things. I love the versatility of layering a dress under a tee, sweatshirt, tunic or even that same slim tee, so that dress becomes a skirt without any extra bulk or tightness at the waist. I've tried to stick with some basic layering pieces here, but trying not-so-basics like a flouncy sleeved top or smock could be great layering options as well.

I love that a single piece can wake up so many other piece already in one's closet. Suddenly many of those pieces can be appreciated in a whole new way.

All lovely photos via links.

Love,
Jane