Ethical Fashion & Sustainable Living

Nisolo's Ethically Made Sustainable Leather Boots & Tote Bag

Nisolo is a certified B Corporation crafting high quality, ethically made leather goods using socially responsible practices. Through their sustainable leather shoes, Nisolo provides steady employment opportunities for shoemakers in Peru & Mexico, allowing artisans to support themselves and their families. Nisolo uses sustainable practices such as eco-friendly waste disposal systems, leather byproducts from the meat industry, & carbon offsetting to craft leather goods that are meant to last a life time.

Emily WaddellFebruary 21, 2020ethical shoes, ethical leather, fair trade shoes

J. Crew Fair Trade Jeans: Review & Reflections

Last year J. Crew and Madewell released a line of fair trade denim. I finally got around to purchasing a pair and honestly I love them you’ll find my review below. Getting name brands like J. Crew and Madewell to choose Fair Trade Certified factories is big. Assuming these big name brands continue the using fair trade factories, this could have a a very positive impact on garment workers.

20+ Fair Trade Clothing Brands to Love

Fair trade clothing companies are fighting against fast fashion by offering their garment workers livable wages, respectable working conditions, and empowering the people through out their supply chain. Wear your values with these fair trade clothing brands changing the world! This list of fair trade clothing brands even has a pricing guide to accommodate various budgets. While not all of these brands are officially fair trade certified, they all use fair trade principles through out their supply chain. Clothing companies certified by a third party fair trade organization are specified below.

Why I Don’t Shop at H&M: Greenwashing, Ethics, & Sustainability

Well if you haven’t heard by now H&M is moving towards sustainability. I’m not writing this to hate on H&M, but to simply explain why I prefer not to shop with them. I’ve procrastinated writing about H&M’s sustainability push for a few reasons.

Emily WaddellMay 21, 2019h&m sustainable fashion, h&m, fast fashion, sustainable fashion

Jackalo: Sustainable Kids Clothing Crafted to Last

Jackalo is a sustainable brand of children’s clothing that is ethically made and crafted to last. This kid’s clothing brand encourages parents to invest in high quality products for their children & take part in circular fashion. Great lessons to start teaching kids at a young age!

Boodywear's Affordable Eco-friendly Underwear & Basics

Boody is encouraging consumers all over the world to add eco-friendly essentials to their wardrobe. Their affordable, ethically made bamboo viscose products allow consumers to explore and enjoy the comfort of eco-fibers through everyday basics such as bras, underwear, and activewear.

Brides for a Cause: Secondhand Wedding Dresses for Charity

Brides for a Cause is a non-profit bridal boutique that sells wedding dresses for charity. This unique bridal shop focuses on collecting & reselling wedding dresses while empowering women. The proceeds from wedding dresses sold are donated to women focused charities. Since opening in 2012, Brides for a Cause has collected over 10,000 wedding dresses, donated over $700,000 to their charity partners, and provided their customers with a number of sustainable wedding dresses.

Packing for Travel: A Form of Mindfulness & Minimalism

Packing for a trip can be a form of mindfulness and minimalism leading us to be more aware of our belongings. Only being able to select a certain amount of garments, shoes, and goods encourages us to prioritize our belongings. And so often we tend to overpack. What will the weather be like? What events will I be going to? Questions like these cause travelers to pack way more than they need. And these were definitely questions running through my mind as we packed for Dublin a few weeks ago.

10 Social Impact Brands Focusing on Products Made in Haiti

If you’ve been following along for a while you probably remember that I did a study abroad trip to Haiti a couple years ago. It was a great opportunity because we didn’t go to build houses for anyone, save anyone, or teach anyone…we went to learn as students. We visited social enterprises, learned about Haitian culture, the economy, the health care system, and all. It was truly a life changing experience. These people have the kindest souls and are incredibly hard workers.

7 Slow Living Tips Humans Can Learn from Their Pets

Meet Jimmie (dog) & Theo (cat). Our little furry babies. Stunners huh?#adoptdontshop Both about 6 months old and quickly becoming best buds. Being a new pet owner can be a bit overwhelming when your animals are so young, but these little goobers have taught me a lot. Somedays I get frustrated when I’m working from home and they’re going crazy They remind me daily about the importance of slow living and unconditional love. Here are a few slow living tips I think we could all take in and benefit from.

Conscious LivingEmily WaddellOctober 21, 2018conscious lifestyle guide

Passion Lilie: Affordable Ethical Clothing That Empowers

Passion Lilie’s bold style empowers consumers wearing their apparel and the artisans who craft these beautiful goods. Passion Lilie provides sustainable employment opportunities to artisans in India through the crafting of eco-friendly clothing and accessories.

Looking Beyond Fair Trade Certified

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about Fair Trade Certified products. I buy certified products all the time. I think it’s great that there are third parties that can verify the ethics of a brand. And I believe they should be compensated for their time. I think their stamp of approval on products is helpful to consumers because it makes it easy for shoppers to identify products that are positively impacting the world.

Conscious LivingEmily WaddellOctober 16, 2018fair trade brand, ethical style, ethical fashion blogger

9+ Ethical Shoe Brands Your Feet Will Love

These ethical and sustainable shoe brands are focusing on transparent supply chains, eco-friendly materials, and fair labor practices. This guide features eco-conscious sandals, handmade boots, and ethical sneakers. I’ve tried shoes from all of these socially responsible brands and have never been disappointed. Learn about these shoe companies and support their missions.

5 Ethical Leather Brands Making a Difference

Leather products provide a lot of employment opportunities in developing countries. Steady employment opportunities through the creation of leather goods allows community members the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty & support their families. When I visited Haiti I was able to witness the impact leather goods and sustainable employment can have on families. Here are five ethical leather brands thatI encourage you to support as their missions help provide steady jobs in developing communities and encourage individuals to rise above poverty.

Emily WaddellSeptember 19, 2018ethical fashion, ethical brand guide

10 Ethical & Sustainable Clothing Brands Embracing Curves

Ethical and sustainable fashion can be tricky to find in general, but especially for sizes that aren't in the S-L range. Check out these size inclusive clothing brands that carry XL-6XL! Some say plus size, I personally am not a fan of this phrase because it seems to separate these sizes as "the other." XL and up are sizes too! The reality is people wear a variety of sizes and the clothing industry shouldn't shame people based on their size or make it more difficult for XL+ to find clothes.

Retro & Vintage Designer Glasses with Retrospecced

Recently you all have been asking me where I got my new, fun frames? The answer is Retrospecced! They’re providing a sustainable, socially responsible solution for eyewear. Retrospecced is a social enterprise that recycles and refurbishes retro and designer spectacle frames. AND they give back too! So fun!

What is the Sustainable Fashion Movement?

Sometimes it's a struggle when you're trying to be a conscious consumer and your friends aren't on board. When my friends go to the mall, I love tagging along for the social experience, but often times it leaves me feeling sad that there is SO much fast fashion. Sometimes it makes me feel that no matter how hard I work to inform people, it's not gonna change. So I thought of a few fun ways to get your friends excited about sustainable fashion, get the conscious conversation started, and socialize with your crew.

6 Sustainable Activewear Brands Better Than Lululemon

Working out can have a positive impact on your health and body, so why not clothe your body in love too! Make sure your workout apparel has a positive impact on the planet & other people with these sustainable brands.

WAMA Underwear Review: Women's Hemp Hipsters

WAMA Underwear is an organic, hemp underwear brand encouraging consumers to think about the materials that are in contact with their body, specifically undergarments.

Casale Antonietta Review: The Best Eco-friendly B&B in Sorrento Italy

Spending a bit of time on the Amalfi Coast was the perfect way to end our three week trip. We stayed in the BEST B&B up in the hills of Sorrento. Casale Antonietta is a family owned B&B with an incredible view, kind staff, and a wonderful place for nature lovers.