Whenever we have a hard day at the HQ, there’s only one two things that can fix it:

Coffee + Shopping.

It’s true – every time. We fight with our partners – coffee + shopping. We show up wearing the same thing – coffee + shopping. The moon falls out of the sky – coffee  + shopping. Our collective, next-to-each-other, shared BFF epitaph – coffee + shopping.

You get the drift.

After a tough work day yesterday, we decided to coffee + shopping and head into Nordstrom Rack for some eye-candy and affordable fashion. As we walked the three story Seattle store, we started to feel a little odd. Other-dimension-odd.

Everywhere we looked – there were ethical fashion and beauty products.

A massive Burt’s Bees & Origins display!

Don’t get me wrong – we’re born’n'bred Seattle girls – Nordstrom is an amazing store (one of the best ever, we say!) and they have been carrying ethical designers and products for years, but we’re not used to seeing high-end ethical brands so deeply discounted! We’re talking insane-level discounts here…

We only covered a small portion of the apparel section (much to our dismay), but within that time, we found more eco-friendly clothes than we were prepared for.

This top that I’m holding was pulled from the activewear section (we’re having a year of running & yoga, so, you know, gotta go coffee + shopping). It’s a long-sleeved, hooded, running top made by super-reputable company, Under Armour. As a part of their UA Green line, it’s made from 100% recycled fabric & printed with soy-based inks. What even? This is awesome! Even better – $27. (Here it is on the Under Armour site.)

Okay, eco-fashion-philes, ready to have your mind blown?

I hold in my trembling hands an EDUN dress for $9.99.

I know, right? Sadly, I left it at the store (easily distracted by shiny things – in this case, there was a shiny quesadilla calling my name), but EDUN was everywhere! We also found an adorable skirt (straight from the runway) for less than $70.

Amazing ethical brands carried at Nordstrom & Nordstrom Rack, not pictured:

• Threads4Thought
• Alternative Apparel
• R44 Standard Issue by Rogan
• Stem
• Splendid
• Nau
• Dayna Decker
• SPROUT Watches
• Petunia Pickle Bottom
• Timberland EarthKeepers
• Eileen Fisher
• Whish
• Tela Beauty Organics
• L’Occitane
• Jack Black
• Kiehl’s
• Jedidiah

…Amazing, right? Definitely count the Nordstrom stores as part of your eco-arsenal! Stay tuned for more eco-shopping sojourns…

Fashion Month bring magic in all forms. Sometimes, it’s a designer switching up to organic fabrics. Sometimes, it’s the perfect color showing up in the perfect fabric, sewn into the perfect shape. Other times, it’s discovering a new design that embodies the most wondrous outlook on sustainability – and their clothes aren’t the least bit boring.

–

–

–

Meet Bodkin. Founded in 2008 by Vogue fashion writer & NYLON fetures editor, Eviana Hartman, the goal of Bodkin is to merge a refined, sophisticated aesthetic with and ethical, sustainable production process. Hartman is dedicated to addressing the resistance fashion seems to have with lowering their environmental impact with an impeccable approach to fabrics, dyes, and even design.

Sustainability is also a design question. No matter how pure its origins, a garment isn’t sustainable if it isn’t a pleasure to wear and keep. As the line evolves we seek to create items with an optimal balance of utility, beauty, and quality. Along the way, we proffer an approach to style that is more about nuance, less about hype and excess and instant gratification.

Perfection. Just like the garments themselves.

Bodkin’s Fall 2011 Ready to Wear Collection combines that same wearable beauty with a warm, draped effect. This is Bodkin’s first ever fashion week presentation, and Hartman stays true to her goal, confirming that she can catalog each garment’s sustainable pros and cons, including each fabrics production and source. The stand-outs included organic cotton jersey and sherpa, as well as wool.

Hartman calls her Fall 2011 Collection “a kinder, gentler cool.” We couldn’t agree more.

vegan

I have a soft spot in my heart for companies that are created out of love. The origin of Farofa Nation is so infused with love – for a woman and for her people – that it drew me in immediately. As it moves forward with purpose, and with that same show of love, its purpose and products have kept me there.

“The seed of Farofa Nation was sown in 1998 when [designers Serge Castagna and Ana Testa Castagna] met. As their relationship grew, Ana, who is from Rio de Janeiro, brought Serge to her hometown. Having been born in Switzerland and living in the United States for many years, it was in Rio that Serge witnessed true poverty for the first time. That harsh reality made a huge impression on him.”

At that point, Serge and Ana started talking. How could they help these kids, struggling in poverty – young, hungry, sometimes pregnant – in a meaningful way? They joined their powers of advertising (both worked as advertising art directors for years) and created Farofa Nation.

Mood For A Day

The Mind of Tao

“Our mission is to have a collective of t-shirt lovers, designers and human beings who simply want to help the children of Brazil escape poverty. We want to mix the creativity and goodness of people from all walks of life to help these kids get off the streets and onto the path towards a brighter future. Together we become a great nation. Together we can become Farofa Nation.”

Farofa Vaodor

Here’s how the t-shirts help: Farofa Nation has partnered with TASK BRASIL, which teaches street kids self-reliance and responsibility, and offers them the tools to become productive members of their society. It supports all children living on the streets, including pregnant teen girls, with the help of donors from around the world, including rock icon Jimmy Page.

Mimushi Nation (yes, they sell mimushi too!)

Ten percent of each t-shirt sale still goes to TASK BRAZIL, and at the same time, Farofa Nation continues to work toward finding even more ways to make the world a bit better. To purchase one of their t-shirts, click any image, and to donate to TASK BRAZIL directly, click here.

I’m going to jump right in. I promise I’ll get to the ethical side of things soon, but I’m squirming and can’t help but start in the middle. Forgive me?

For their Spring 2011 line, Nixxi, a sustainable fashion house out of Vancouver, Canada, decided to add a few print tops to their line. They brought in Camilla d’Errico, a manga-inspired artist also out of Vancouver who has been making waves with her stunning painted styles for years. (If you don’t know the name, check her site…then breathe a sigh of appreciation at how awesome she is.)

D’Errico’s work for Nixxi features her oft-obsessed-over “Helmetgirls” – ask any steampunk babe; they’ll know what you’re talking about – and the designs are printed on multiple styles and colors, so you won’t have to sacrifice a flattering cut or color for the design you want.

And any designer that partners with Camilla D’Errico is fine by me.

But back to Nixxi! The brand was created by Jada-Lee Watson in 2007, who wanted to create timeless women’s clothing in a versatile, ethical way. All of Nixxi’s tops, dresses and even pants and shorts are created using organic and sustainable fibers, and sewn right in Vancouver, where Watson can watch over the production of each style while making certain that the working conditions and wages of all of the company’s employees are fair and ethical.

Each design is beautiful, too, of course, and Nixxi offers both her newest collections and older pieces (at a fantastic discount) on her website, in retail stores, and at online boutiques. (I’ve even found some great sale prices on newer designs by scrolling through Nixxi’s list of retailers. A little work pays off!)

Find out more about Nixxi by going to their website. All of their collections (including the above prints in their S/S 2011 line) are available here, and I highly recommend you see if there’s a retail store near you.

Ethical fashion is kind of a like a new genre of music. First there’s just one amazing band, redefining beats and notes, reaching into us and pulling at our heartstrings. Then there are a few more bands, all with passion, all hoping to share their craft. Then some major record label comes along and starts toying with the sound, crafting it. It starts piecing together writers and singers and drummers, it adds the auto-tune.

And that new genre goes mainstream.

Whenever a little-known band gets big, there’s always a couple of people who complain: their shows cost more, their sound has changed, they aren’t as experimental as they used to be, the passion is gone. And that’s all true…sometimes. When something awesome finally gets worldwide recognition, it’s bound to look a little different than it used to: a little more obvious, a little more accessible, and a little less personal.

Sometimes I forget that ethical fashion is the same way.

For “eco” to survive – to thrive – it must, at least in part, become a brand, a business. It mustn’t be so personal all the time, and it has to become an easy choice to make for everyone, whether or not they’re “invested” in ethical lifestyles, whether or not social consciousness is always on their minds.

So thank you, Payless.

zoe & zac is Payless’ answer to inexpensive, eco-friendly fashion. They partnered with Summer Rayne Oakes, a model-turned-eco-strategist, to create a line of products that would appeal to the ethicist in young women everywhere – that would sell to young women everywhere.

When I first stumbled upon zoe & zac (while buying one of their bags at my local Payless) I was frustrated at how little “story” there was behind the brand.

• Was the line inspired by anyone in particular? No; it was created when Payless hired Oakes to make a line of eco-friendly products.
• Did Payless choose Oakes because someone at the company had some sort of life changing experience? No; it was wholly a marketing decision.
• Is there even a Zoe, or a Zac? No; it is (or at least appears to be) just a name.

In fact, when you click “who we are” on zoe & zac’s website, you don’t get a story, or even a cute anecdote. You get this:

Ah, the information age.

Oakes did her research on ethical materials, calling this venture “a learning process” to determine what materials are both money-saving and environmentally-friendly. I’m pleased to see that their faux animal products use fewer harmful chemicals (and no formaldehyde) and that, like Matt & Nat, they’ve chosen to use recycled PET in their products. In fact, I’m pleased with its choices overall!

On that note, here’s the purchase that started it all:

“Stay cute and environmentally friendly with this chic zoe&zac satchel! It features durable fabric made from recycled PET, nickle-free hardware, eco-friendly faux leather trim, and organic cotton lining. Inside zipper pocket and two open pockets. Secure top zip closure.”

I picked up this adorable Petal Satchel from Payless on my way to the airport. The zipper on my old summer handbag was coming apart and I needed something cheap, durable and easy to stuff into a carry-on. I also needed something with a pattern.

I have very specific needs.

The recycled PET fabric feels almost canvas-y, and I’m surprised at how little grime it and the faux leather picked up, even in the dustiest, dirtiest places I managed to find myself in during my trip to Delta. It did well enough, in fact, that I’m inclined to pick up a pair of zoe & zac sandals next time I’m near another Payless (or just buy ‘em online).

What do you think of mainstream ethical fashion? Is it a boon, a necessary sacrifice, a cop-out, or something else entirely?

Spring is in the air and, as the cherry blossoms begin to bloom and the daffodils stubbornly poke through the still-cold ground, I’m taking my biological and social cues from the rising temperatures: I’m more active, I have this insatiable desire to plant and clean, and I’m feeling a little bit…amorous!

It’s not just me: Spring Fever is a real biological phenomenon. We’re wired to feel happier, more energetic, and more receptive to our preferred sex partners. In my personal experience, all that positive energy makes us feel better about loving ourselves and our planet, too. And as you all know, self-love (for me) is all about clothes – and planet-love is all about buying them sustainably.

I first learned about Lille Boutique when writing about Araks Yeramyan lingerie, then fell in love with their wide-ranging selection of lingerie, bath products, home decor and jewelry. Lille’s owner, Sarah, has a knack for finding truly inventive creations from independent designers, and even lists her own favorites on the website. When she and I connected, we realized we had a golden opportunity to make shopping for ethical lingerie easy – to take the guesswork out of your underpinnings.

Erica Tanov Helena Silk Charmeuse Chemise: $260
$195 with registration

From March 30 through April 6, Lille Boutique is offering its members an exclusive 25% discount on all of its ethical designers’ products – eighty-two in total – under the Awakened Aesthetic collection. Each product is manufactured ethically, by being produced locally in its respective city; using organic, sustainable or recycled materials; and/or being manufactured with the highest regard for humanitarian and environmental considerations.

Better yet, Awakened Aesthetic readers get a sneak peak of the collection – and a chance to purchase before anyone else – today and tomorrow only.

Malia Mills Juliette D/DD Bikini Top: $155 // Erica Tanov Lolita Petal Silk Camisole: $188
$116.25 with registration // $141 with registration

To receive the discount, you must be a member of Lille Boutique. To become one, all you have to do is sign up using your preferred email address. Easy! I promise you won’t get spammed, and Lille is fantastic about keeping their clients’ information private. No risk; just beautiful, ethical lingerie at a discount.

Stephanie Loungewear Poppy Slip Dress: $300 // Red Flower Sento Travel Kit: $60
$225 with registration // $45 with registration

Araks Melinda Bralette: $180 // Unforeseen Circumstances Wooden Chair Shorts: $90
$135 with registration // $67.50 with registration

I’ve listed some of my favorites from the Awakened Aesthetic collection throughout this post. Please contact Sarah or me if you have any questions on material, fit, or anything else, and don’t forget to register to receive the 25% discount through April 6!

As I write this, there’s a storm raging outside. The rain is splashing against the windows, and the rhododendrons are being lashed against the porch, again and again, by a big, blustery wind.

I love spring.

In fact, I think spring is the kind of weather Seattle is best known for: it rains from March through May, with sun and wind and rising temperatures having very little say in the matter. Forty degrees with forty-mile-per-hour gusts? Rainy. Sixty-five with a shining sun and a clear view of the mountains? Still rainy.

At the same time, spring also marks my foray into my annual List of Fun Things I Do. Hiking adventures begin in spring (as long as the trail isn’t flooded); the garden gets tilled and fresh seeds get planted; and obviously there’s some spring cleaning to do.  Spring is wet, that’s for sure, but it’s also the light at the end of the SAD tunnel.

I tell you all of this because recently I was sent some samples to review, care of Five Bamboo.  As I sat down to write this review I realized that, each time I’ve worn them, those samples have made me think of the changing of the seasons, forward movement, and spring.

It makes a lot of sense: the founders of Five Bamboo are five forward-moving siblings.  Zahlen, Xtehn, Vehro, Rohre, and Qxhna banded together to create their first company, Five Ultimate, in 2006, and started researching ethical casual apparel – including the ecological strain of cotton and different types of bamboo processing – shortly thereafter.  That bore the idea for Five Bamboo, which launched in 2008.

Unlike most “ethical” companies, however, these siblings kept researching: new methods to create bamboo clothing, where to harvest and manufacture it, and each manufacturing processes’ environmental impact.  Rohre even spent three months in China studying each step!

“Through Rohre’s research we learned about the toxin-intensive process used to create bamboo viscose, which led to our decision to eliminate viscose as a fiber choice. With more research we discovered bamboo lyocell, which is made via the lyocell process. Throughout this closed-loop process, 99% of all inputs are recycled or reused. There are no harmful chemicals used, no harmful gases released, and virtually no waste generated. We had found our fiber.”

Hell yes you did.

After that, things moved forward fast. Five Bamboo started testing prototypes, designing tops and dresses, and taking pictures of people in their (Five Bamboo) underwear. The result is a line of clothing that is soft, ethical, classic and, most importantly, that moves.

Five Bamboo sent me their V-Neck and Blueberry Dress, as well as a pair of Bamboxer Briefs to ply my partner with. I’ll give you his review first:

Bamboxer Brief: $17

• They’re really soft, “not at all like typical cotton.  They’re more like…felted wool.” (Luxurious!)
• They hold their shape throughout the day, which is surprisingly rare for boxer briefs, he tells me, but they also aren’t too snug.
• In fact, the boyfriend says they’re so comfortable that he “forgets he’s wearing them,” which seems like it might be unnerving, but he insists it’s awesome.

Final answer: “They kind of feel like a second skin.”

Blueberry Dress: $69 / V-Neck: $24

The V-Neck – shown in apple, mine’s raspberry red – has become an anthem for my spring wardrobe. It’s soft, stretchy and versatile, has just the right amount of cleavage coverage, and it’s durable as all get-out. After a my last two cotton v-necks developed holes at the jean line I’m bowing down to the thicker texture of bamboo lyocell. (Are you as sick of super-thin, super-delicate cotton as I am?) The color is so vivid, even after washing, that there’s no way I’m going to be mistaken for anything wild next time I go hiking (…other than some gigantic pink flower).

I’m a little too hippy for the Blueberry Dress I ordered – my problem, not theirs – but the cut and texture are just as superb as their other products.  I love the neckline, though, as well as the ruching at the center.  My favorite colors are fog grey and midnight blue, with classic black at a close third.

Five Bamboo just released a couple of new products, the most notable of which is the Bamboxer.

Gratuitous underwear photos. I love it.

To get a true feel for Five Bamboo, though, all you have to do is read their Philosophy. I’ve copied the main points here, but please head to their website for the full explanation of their seven core values. It’s worth a read!

1. Try.

2. Action Is Our Most Powerful Voice.3. Be Mindful of Our Human Impact.

4. Be Honest.5.Improvement is a Process, Not a Goal.

6. Be Fearless In Our Ideals.

7. Be Grateful.

“These seven philosophies are what keep us going as individuals and as a company. We’re sharing them with you because we believe they offer a unique insight into our company culture and speak to the overall mission of Five Bamboo.

[...]

At the end of the day, you can only be grateful for what you have. No matter how far away from the goal, you must be thankful for what you have been able to accomplish, and be grateful to those who have enabled you to affect change.”

Do you heart Five Bamboo? Stay tuned…Awakened Aesthetic will be hosting a giveaway, and one lucky reader will win some Five Bamboo of their own!

On some mornings, I daydream.  I imagine myself not on a beach, or shopping in the city, but waiting in an airport, with oversize sunglasses resting on my head and bags under my eyes, looking intentionally disheveled (it’s totally not intentional) as I wait for a plane home.

I imagine this because, in my dream, I’ve just finished a round-the-world trip, in which I researched beauty ideals in Australia, reviewed fair trade businesses in West Africa and China, took a spiritual respite in Nepal, and made a short stop at London Fashion Week during my “down time.”

Lindsay is, of course, sitting beside me, just as tired, disheveled and contented as I am.

There has always been one thing missing from my daydream, though. I’m wearing the organic cotton top, the fair trade shoes and the AirDyed jeans…but the bags are always these heavy vintage suitcases, which always look rich and sturdy, have a matching laptop bag and apparently I can actually manage to carry them all through the airport without dying.

I didn’t believe I could get all of that with any sustainable company – until I stumbled upon Plaid Doctrine.

Plaid Doctrine creates eco-friendly briefcases, laptop bags, iPad sleeves and purse organizers with a vintage-inspired style. When I first found Plaid Doctrine.com, I was both excited and skeptical. These bags are so damned pretty – how can they be eco-friendly?

As it turns out, the mind behind Plaid Doctrine, Suzanne Park, lives in the Seattle area. I emailed her with both my excitement and concern, and she suggested we meet to discuss the bags: their design, manufacturing, functionality, and how it all comes in a pretty houndstooth wrapping.

One of the first questions I asked Suzanne was what inspired her to create this line.  As it turns out, Suzanne is an avid traveler, and often became frustrated at how many bags she had to pack, carry, re-pack, have fall off of her arm, and shove into an overhead storage compartment before collapsing into her airplane seat.  Everything seemed to have too few uses, pockets, and ways to incorporate her electronics – laptop, Ipad, phone – without them getting lost or damaged with the rest of her belongings.

So she thought, “Why not make my own travel bag?”

At the same time, Suzanne recently had a brand new baby girl…and while she’s always been sort of eco-friendly, her pregnancy got her researching everything she was putting on and in her body.  What she found shocked her, and she vowed that her line of bags would be ethically-produced, with no harmful chemicals to rub off on her or her CCO.  (That’s Chief Crying Officer: with her around, Suzanne’s conference calls are a lot shorter these days!)

Each Plaid Doctrine bag is created using:

• Water- and stain-resistant fabric made in the US from recycled plastic bottles;
• Vegetable-tanned leather trim made by leather artisans in the US;
• Solid brass hardware with nickel matte finish – also made in the US; and
• A recycled nylon lining that is manufactured only in Japan and Taiwan – and that Suzanne personally made sure was manufactured ethically.

The briefcase and laptop bag are US-made in New Hampshire, and each purse organizer and iPad sleeve is carefully sewn locally, in Tukwila, Washington. Upon purchase, they’re shipped directly from Suzanne to you.

Now, on to the aesthetic. Those prints took work: the houndstooth and chevron patterns – the latter of which can be found on Plaid Doctrine’s iPad sleeve – were sourced from vintage archives. Suzanne and her manufacturers searched high and low for just the right base, then altered it to perfection.

(Speaking of which, a little bird told me that Suzanne just found a black and gray argyle pattern.  Lindsay and I both swooned.)

Don’t you love that she’s wearing plaid?

Each bag features multiple intuitive pockets: one for your laptop that sits right up front, another for your clothes and sundries, and interior pockets for your iPhone, notepads, magazines and even a couple of pens. And it’s all so lightweight, so compact, and so easy. After my last trip out of town – during which I destroyed my neatly-packed bag trying to get my laptop out to be scanned, both on my way out and back home – I more than appreciate a bag that allows me to keep everything organized while making it easy to carry.

Speaking of which: each briefcase and laptop tote has a rear pocket with a Velcro bottom, so you can slip your bag over the handle of a rolling luggage piece. Bags falling as you run to make a flight?  Nope.

For those of you that balk at the leather, I have good news: both the purse organizer and the iPad sleeve are leather-free and totally vegan.  Additionally, Suzanne confirmed that Plaid Doctrine will be releasing a vegan messenger bag sometime around Earth Day, in some of the same stunning designs featured above.  (The messenger bag will be made locally in Tukwila, too.)

Because we know you’re curious, here’s the skinny on the little bird that graces each Plaid Doctrine bag: Suzanne’s graphic designer doodled it one day, and she thought, “Flight…travel…nature…he’s kind of our mascot, isn’t he?”

The little bird truly does represent the Plaid Doctrine line: it’s about flight, and freedom, and having fun, but it’s also about your life. While fashion is beautiful, carefree and indulgent, it’s important to know what each piece you buy represents, from who designed it to where it was made and how the environment was affected by it.  Each ethical purchase is part of a doctrine we create for ourselves, to be better consumers than we were before.

You can read more about Plaid Doctrine, as well as make a purchase, at Plaid Doctrine.com.

First image c/o Plaid Doctrine; the rest by Lindsay Ginn.

I have a thing for brands whose names have stories.

Fashion is a kind of romance, to me, and when I see a piece of clothing I want to feel something, like I do with a great painting.  The best designers conjure up emotions on the runway – and the best brands hook me a second time by conjuring up even more emotions with their brand name, their about page, their purpose.

“Cri de Coeur is a French expression that translates literally to “cry from the heart.” To us, it symbolizes our heartfelt desire to change the face of the fashion footwear and accessory markets by providing stylish, contemporary products that are ethically produced from start to finish. The choices we make as designers, manufacturers and consumers can have an enormous impact on the lives of animals, humans and our environment, while not compromising on style.  Our mission is to help ethical fashion saturate the future market of retail by exciting a dialogue that will demand that these ideals be met industry-wide – because the planet and its inhabitants depend on it.” – Cri de Coeur About Page

Yep.  Hooked.

I’ve mentioned Cri de Coeur before, a number of times actually, but I’ve never really profiled them.  The skinny is this: they’re a woman-owned animal-free brand that’s focused on helping people find personal responsibility in creating a healthier planet for all animals – humans included – while wearing kick-ass shoes.  (Because if you’re going to save the planet, you should do it in four-inch heels.  Duh.)

Cri de Coeur’s main line runs pricier than those of us in the middle class can usually justify, so they added a second, less expensive line, Hearts of Darkness.  Unlike the main line’s shoes and boots, which can run you up to $500 a pair, everything at Hearts of Darkness is under $150 – and just as ethical.

And if that’s too rich for your blood, there’s also a huge sale section, which I will be forcing you to stare at (wipe up the drool, please) while I tell you more.

Glamour Platform Pump: $110 $70 // Gypsy Fringe Hobo Bag: $390 $273
$59.50 and $232.05 with code lovespring
(PS: I really want those tights.)

Charisma Laceup Tall Boot: $150 $105
$89.25 with code lovespring

While researching Cri de Coeur, the only downside I could find was that they don’t expressly state what kind of chemical process their faux animal materials go through to get so…pretty.  Is “eco-friendly PU” a specific brand of polyurethane that uses a chemical manufacturing process that’s less harmful to the earth than typical PU manufacturing?  What about Ultrasuede?  Some of this stuff can be found online – Ultrasuede and polyurethane are both plastics and other than the most recent incarnations, take a chemical toll on the planet to create – but Cri de Coeur could do a bit better at telling us what incarnation they’re using and where they’re sourcing it from.

Dillon Over-Knee Wedge Boot: $450 $315
$267.70 with code lovespring

But they are still vegan, and they’re getting people to admit that not all vegan shoes look like shiny, ugly, stiff plastic.  (You’re dying about the above boots, aren’t you?  If not, please see a doctor.)

Enchant Ankle Tie Flat: $85 $59.50
$50.58 with code lovespring

Charlie Foldover Messenger Bag: $435 $305
$259.25 with code lovespring

Cri de Coeur has listed a bit more information on Nimli, too, and since I trust Nimli with my eco-life,* I’ll post it here as canon:

“Cri de Coeur shoes are entirely free of animal products, and as environmentally friendly as technology will allow. [...] We have partnered with thecarbonfund.org to offset all carbon emissions that we can’t avoid, and have pledged to plant a tree for every pair of shoes sold.“

Cri de Coeur, please add this to your website so I can do a little dance.  Thanks.

Stella Cutout Cage Wedge: $240 $120
$102 with code lovespring

Sara Laceup Wedge Mid-Boot: $390 $273
$232.05 with code lovespring

Lastly, as a Valentines Day gift, Cri de Coeur has offered a coupon code for 15% off their already discounted items (aka every shoe in this post…and more).  The code is lovespring. Enjoy!

I don’t own a pit bull, but in a sense, I know their plight.

Every time I apply to rent a house, potential landlords always ask.  “I see that you have a…bull mastiff?  Is that related to the pit bull?”

If you only knew.

It seems breed bias is more and more common these days, both in cases like the above – no pits! – and in the opposite direction.  Have you ever known someone to pick up the cutest little Pomeranian, or pug-a-poo, or whatever’s adorable and cute, and a month later, come to the inevitable realization that dogs poop, and bark, and don’t listen just because you want them to?

I have.  And I’ve watched each of those pups go to the local animal shelter, just another victim of a poor choice, or an unexpected hardship, or bad circumstances.  It’s not always the owner’s fault, and it’s certainly not always the dog’s.  So what can we do?

American Pit Bull Tee: Men / Women

Jus Animalium Culture Apparel (JACA) is an apparel line with a purpose.  It was created to help animal shelters care for those millions of unwanted and homeless pets that enter their doors every year, and to send a message reminding you to have respect and care for your companion animals.

Every month or so, JACA chooses one shelter to donate 5% of their sales to -  this month it’s Cat Care Society – and holds a second promotion for another shelter.  (In January, JACA is donating $5 from every sale of their American Pit Bull tee to Midwest Rescue, which fosters, trains and adopts out dogs, as well as works to destroy anti-pit myths.)  They’re hoping to up their donation amounts as their sales increase…they’ve just started out!

Lethal Injection Tee
Lobo Tee: Men / Women

Not only does JACA donate and educate, but they also print on Alternative Apparel’s organic and natural clothing lines.  JACA sent me a sample of their Red Fox tee, printed on organic cotton, and I was surprised at how soft it was, while still retaining vibrant color.

The Red Fox Tee

What I like most about JACA is that they’re not trying to rile you up.  Their shirts are all about love – for animals, the planet and ourselves – and the most “in your face” of the lot is just a simply stated fact: it takes eighteen dead red foxes to make one red fox fur coat.  Even my easily-bristling meat-loving boyfriend can’t argue with that logic.

And what does Jus Animalium stand for, you ask?

“I believe in Jus Animalium, the rights of beasts, and Jus Herbarum, the rights of plants.

The right to exist as they have always existed, to live and let live.”

- John Aspinall, referring to historical 19th century animal rights activism