I mostly stick with my homemade lip balm, but when I am (was) out + about I don't (didn't) like using my finger to apply it. Before the pandemic, I bought a locally naturally-dyed, secondhand top (that's a great mouthful) at a local shop + noticed Poppy & Pout sitting near the register. The lovely woman ringing me up pointed out her favorite + I bought it.

The balm smells lovely (even for this increasingly fragrance-sensitive person). It moisturizes well + stayed solid throughout the summer. Poppy & Pout's lip balm is made from beeswax + sunflower oil sourced in the USA, organic coconut oil from the Philippines, essential or natural flavor oils + a drop of vitamin E. It is made in the USA + packaged in a paper tube.

Now it's almost gone + this is the moment I'm most happy that it comes in that paper tube. I'll rip it up a little + add it to our compost bin. (yay!)

Next up...MeowMeowTweet (because that's what I came across next). And also, it is made in New York from almost all certified organic + fair-trade ingredients. Cost-wise, these lip balms are a bit more pricey than some drug store brands. The paper tube, natural ingredients + traceable production are all good reasons for this, but they also contain a lot more product.

Compare:
Regular lip balm :: 0.15 oz
Poppy & Pout :: 0.3 oz
MeowMeowTweet :: 1 oz

That means that I'd need to buy seven tubes of regular lip balm to equal the amount of balm in a single tube of the MeowMeowTweet balm. I'd have seven plastic tubes to discard too. Just a little perspective.  :)

Love,
Jane

There are a bunch of places to find fair-trade, organic cotton or hemp tees these days...and that is worth celebrating! I feel like I come across these basics often, but I also wonder if I'd remember where to find one when I needed one. So I decided to collect them here. This post is linked toward the bottom of our ethical brands page (for when we might need it).

As usual, we start with these reminders: ​
-The most ethical t-shirt is most often the one that we don't buy.  :)
-When we find ourselves in need of a new-to-us t-shirt, a thrift store is a great place to start the search for a sturdy 100% cotton one. 

The most common fibers used in tees today are polyester + cotton. Even recycled polyester is non-biodegradable plastic which sheds plastic microfibers with each wash. Cotton is often sprayed with chemicals that directly effect the land + the farmers that grow it. Thankfully organic cotton has grown in popularity. Growing organic cotton, however, is not easy...and it demands a lot of water.

Organic cotton can be sourced in one country, spun in another + milled in a third. By the time an organic tee is sewn, transported to the warehouse + shipped to the store or our house...it is probably better travelled than we are. It's exciting to see people care about how + where the fibers in the clothing they design are grown, processed + sewn. It's hard work to trace the journey, since the bulk of the industry has moved overseas. Many brands just don't seem that in touch with the fluctuations in the supply chain. Harvest + Mill is a great example of a brand who takes the time to know the places, people + conditions a tee comes from...from seed to finished product.

Growing new, organic cotton for each new tee is a resource-heavy endeavor involving water, land + labor resources. Innovations in recycled cotton are exciting...and the fact that a tee can be made with 100% recycled cotton (no new fibers added) is a breakthrough. Everybody World offers these innovative tees.

Hemp is another fiber focus for sustainable t-shirt makers. Hemp is a more naturally resilient crop than cotton requiring less water, chemicals + fertilizers. Hemp restores soil health rather than depleting it. It makes a sturdy, long-lasting fiber as well. Jungmaven makes hemp/organic cotton tees.

The working conditions of the garment workers who put together our clothing are of great importance. We know that our purchases factor into the paychecks of all the hands who touched that t-shirt. It's exciting to know that there are people designing clothes with the entire process in focus. Fair-trade certifications bring credibility to ethical labor claims.

While all of these factors are wonderful, we can't lose sight of the fact that even organic cotton, hemp + recycled cotton require land + power + water + transportation + human resources. These processes create waste too. Just how many t-shirts does one person need? Can we wear the ones we have longer + wash them less? Can we borrow or trade? Can we find a secondhand tee instead? Just a few things to consider before going any further.  :)

The tees collected here:

• are fair-trade certified or made in the USA
• are made from organic or recycled cotton 
• cost less than $50 
• are mostly from brands that offer "women's" + "men's" tees which, as always, refers more to sizing than gender

christy dawn :: organic cotton, made in los angeles
coyuchi :: organic cotton, fair-trade certified
everybody world :: 100% recycled cotton, made in the usa
harvest + mill :: USA grown organic cotton, made in usa
​industry standard :: organic cotton, made in los angeles
​jungmaven :: hemp/organic cotton, made in usa
​known supply :: organic cotton, fair-trade certified
​outerknown :: organic cotton, made in usa
pact :: organic cotton, fair-trade certified

I neglected to check if I'd already written a fair tees post until I was finished with this one. (I had.) Anyway...reading over my previous (now deleted) post let me know that this is indeed an update. Some of the brands listed in the previous post no longer make their tees with fair wages in mind, some have raised their prices + this time I decided to use fair-trade certification as my measure of working conditions. So...I'm posting this update with gratitude to the humans who run these brands with farmers, garment workers + the environment in mind.

​All lovely images via links.

Love,
​Jane

Altar is a retail shop in Portland, Oregon that carries goods made by independent manufacturers + artists in North America. Alter Houseline consists of clothing made in the USA from deadstock fabrics + provides sizes small through 6XL.

All images via Altar Houseline.

Refashioned by Sass Brown highlights designers around the world making clothing out of upcycled materials. Inspiring.

People of Leisure is a collection of (sometimes) upcyled, recycled + plant-dyed, organic clothing...all made in Los Angeles. Keep a lookout for all natural fibers.

All photos via People of Leisure. Find this + many other fair brands on our ethical brands page, when you need them.

I'm always on the lookout for yoga-worthy, non-polyester workout wear...and this new offering is an exciting possibility! Mate is committed to organic cotton + made in Los Angeles manufacturing. Now they've added activewear in an extended range of sizes to their collection of covetable basics. These leggings, shorts + bras are made with 92% organic cotton + 8% spandex. Add a 100% organic cotton tank or tee + leave plastic microfibers in the past.

All lovely photos by Mate the label.

"Merna Maita, a lounge-anywhere clothing line by Tessa Braun, is named after Tessa's grandmother who entertains with brisket, always in a caftan." The picture that creates in my mind is right in line with the pictures above that present clothing as a perfect compliment to the vibrant, creative, storied lives people are living moment by moment. These small-batch beauties are made from deadstock fabrics in Los Angeles. 

All lovely photos + quote via Merna Maita. This + many other fair brands can be found on our ethical brands page when useful. 

These lovely pieces from Rachel Pally have me considering two approaches to a pared down wardrobe:

• One piece dressing :: A dress or a jumpsuit offers a complete outfit with just one piece. These pieces make it super simple to get dressed each day. Looks can go from casual to dressy with a change of footwear. A small collection of dresses +/or jumpsuits along with a few versatile layers + a few well-chosen footwear options could be a complete wardrobe.
• Coordinating separates :: A few well-chosen separates can be mixed + matched for a variety of options. The choice of tennies, sandals, boots or flats adds even more variety. 

A combination of separates + one-piece options works too, but I do like considering boundaries + formulas from time to time. I love that there are so many lovely ways to have enough...with less.  :)

All lovely photos featuring pieces designed + made from rayon/linen in Los Angeles, California via Rachel Pally.

Love, 
​Jane

Object Apparel offers clothing + intimates made with ethically sourced, organic fibers + natural dyes. These beautiful pieces come in a variety of sizes, and their packaging is plastic free. Mike + Mollie design + make all the pieces in Detroit, Michigan. Loving these natural hues + versatile shapes.

All lovely images via Object Apparel. Object Apparel can be found on our ethical brands page when you need it.

A few fair options for sweet bags that could come in handy for that weekly grocery store expedition or maybe just on a walk. The ready-made bag on the left is a collaboration between Industry of All Nations + Mafia Bags. It is made in California from upcycled boating sails + salvaged climbing rope.

The bag on the right was made from a vintage quilt with All Well Workshop's Full Moon Bag pattern. Amy generously offers this pattern free with her newsletter sign-up.

Whether worn across the body, around the waist or slung over the shoulder these bags are like the pocket every outfit needs. Museo Studio makes a generously sized beauty out of vintage quilt pieces. Sara Kirsten's sewing pattern would look as fantastic made out of leftover scraps or found textiles as it does made from sturdy canvas. This kit from Little House Seamstress is another great option.

I always appreciate that there are so many ways to choose fair! Supporting thoughtful makers is a wonderful pleasure. Making our own simultaneously offers clarifying insight into what it takes to create useful things + affirming satisfaction. It's great to support independent pattern makers as well.  :)

Vive les créateurs!

fair/make :: dresses
fair/make :: jumpsuits

All lovely photos via links.

Love,
Jane