The Vanity Project | clothing with a cause

What Do You Stand For?

The Vanity Project (TVP) uses this multi-layered question as the underpin for their clothing design. They directly collaborate with non-profit organizations to produce clothing based on the social and societal causes these organizations represent.  TVP provides the platform of support to elevate the awareness for the issue and 51% of each sale goes back to the organization featured.

TVP began in Chicago and has since morphed into a holistic outreach system encompassing several areas of focus: Education & Youth Development, Hunger and Poverty, Disease Support, Social Equality, and Environmental.  This is greater than just a clothing company, but a chance to choose and represent the causes you are truly passionate about.

Check out their stylish designs HERE and if you don’t see a cause you care about, contact them and a start a collaboration today.

The Arbor Collective | alt apparel design

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Arbor Collective crafts their products from alternative materials with application, functionality, and the environment in mind.  The company was established in Venice in 1995 and immediately took responsibility for creating a better tomorrow for shredders everywhere.  They bolster a collective of riders, artists, environmentalists and entrepreneurs that share the same mindset of a greener planet.  Besides taking advantage of sustainable clothing creation initiatives, they also donate at least 5% of profits to different organizations annually, print on recycled paper, recycle ALL office waste, use soy-based inks and regulate carbon emissions.

They are currently working with True Offsets to help the restoration and protection of the forestlands in the Hawaiian Islands. In the past they have partnered with such organizations as The Surfrider Foundation, American Forests, The Rainforest Action Network, and The Nature Conservancy.

If you are bombin’ around Venice, check out their physical store at 102 Washington Boulevard or check out their gear online HERE.

Marine Layer | the perfect shirt

Marine Layer has taken the concept of “the perfect shirt” and made it a reality.  Their clothing is made right here in the USA (USA chants echoing in the distance) from a combination of Pima Cotton and MicroModal.  The Modal fabric is produced by Lenizg AG whom uses materials that are 95% recycled and reused from Beech Wood.

The company was started in a small San Francisco apartment and has grown into two local stores in the SF area.  We made a stop in their Hayes Valley shop recently and burst out laughing after reading the bag that my purchase came in (see quote below).  This group of innovators has a knack for witty storytelling and a real passion for creating clothing that fits perfectly.

“This bag was made from recycled children.  No that’s wrong.  Shit.  This recycled bag was sustainably made children.  No.  Damnit.  This recycled bas was made by adults and designed by adults (who act like children).  Got it.”  – Marine Layer Team

Check out their comfortable clothing designs HERE.

 

Proof | Sustainable Wood Wear

Wood wear curator, Proof, brings you a collection of sustainable eye ware, clothing, and accessory products that are REAL schaweet and eco-friendly.

From their first pair of glasses to the more recently offered wood wallet, Proof has been continuously innovating to bring customers more eco-friendly products.  Their most recent wallet product was made possible by 768 Kickstartbackers raising over $30,000 to get the product off the ground. The simple design is crafted from 100% eco-friendly materials and follows the UNIQUE mantra that Proof has come to follow. Proof creates with a love for product design and a love for the environment. No project is too small for these innovators, they are just looking to get involved and aid a HELPing hand whenever possible.

Proof actively supports a number of “Do Good” initiatives including the support of eye clinics in India, the first recycling program for sunglasses, and planting trees in addition to their sustainably sourced materials.

Check out Proof’s Collection where you’ll find great products all curated in the most sustainable fashion.  ENJOY.

Proof | Sustainable Wood Wear

Wood wear curator, Proof, brings you a collection of sustainable eye ware, clothing, and accessory products that are REAL schaweet and eco-friendly.

From their first pair of glasses to the more recently offered wood wallet, Proof has been continuously innovating to bring customers more eco-friendly products.  Their most recent wallet product was made possible by 768 Kickstartbackers raising over $30,000 to get the product off the ground. The simple design is crafted from 100% eco-friendly materials and follows the UNIQUE mantra that Proof has come to follow. Proof creates with a love for product design and a love for the environment. No project is too small for these innovators, they are just looking to get involved and aid a HELPing hand whenever possible.

Proof actively supports a number of “Do Good” initiatives including the support of eye clinics in India, the first recycling program for sunglasses, and planting trees in addition to their sustainably sourced materials.

Check out Proof’s Collection where you’ll find great products all curated in the most sustainable fashion.  ENJOY.

NAU | meaningful design

Portland based urban+outdoor apparel brand NAU, is redefining the clothing industry with smart design entrenched with REAL eco-friendly outreach initiatives.

The brand creates with this ethos in mind: “to redesign fashion and to redefine business so that each become a powerful force for change.  One small step towards unf***ing the world.” BOOM!

NAU is soaked in an authentic passion for creating sustainable products.  They donate 2% of each sale to one of their partners for change (see list below), only use certified organic cotton, purchase carbon offsets, use FSC –certified shipping materials, integrate highly recycled products into garments, and utilize natural and renewable fibers among many other eco-vative processes.

NAU’s aspirations are nothing short of extraordinary admiration.  We look forward to seeing what this brand is capable of.

Partners for Change: Ashoka, Bikes Belong, Ecotrust, Breakthrough Institute, and Mercy Corps.

Learn more about NAU’s beautiful designs and outreach initiatives HERE..

NAU | meaningful design

Portland based urban+outdoor apparel brand NAU, is redefining the clothing industry with smart design entrenched with REAL eco-friendly outreach initiatives.

The brand creates with this ethos in mind: “to redesign fashion and to redefine business so that each become a powerful force for change.  One small step towards unf***ing the world.” BOOM!

NAU is soaked in an authentic passion for creating sustainable products.  They donate 2% of each sale to one of their partners for change (see list below), only use certified organic cotton, purchase carbon offsets, use FSC –certified shipping materials, integrate highly recycled products into garments, and utilize natural and renewable fibers among many other eco-vative processes.

NAU’s aspirations are nothing short of extraordinary admiration.  We look forward to seeing what this brand is capable of.

Partners for Change: Ashoka, Bikes Belong, Ecotrust, Breakthrough Institute, and Mercy Corps.

Learn more about NAU’s beautiful designs and outreach initiatives HERE..

LSTN | Buy Headphones, Give Hearing

Give the gift of hearing when you purchase LSTN Headphones.  Unprivileged children in deaf schools all over the world have limited access to hearing aids and treatments.  LSTN’s socially innovative product utilizes both sustainable resources and a “one equals one” model to aid this social health issue.

Made from Ebony, Cherry, and Beech woods – LSTN believes that “music loves wood.”  Wood produces much better sound resonance than metal or plastic, and is far more sustainable.  Scrap wood from furniture manufacturers that would typically find its way into a landfill somewhere is being “upcycled” to make their headphones.

Founder, Bridget Hilton, believes that building businesses around social issues IS the way to DO GOOD in business.  She’s founded both LSTN and Jack’s Soap (who aids world sanitation efforts around the world in a similar selling fashion).  LSTN partners with global charities like Sound Seekers that provide hearing to those in need.  Taking mobile clinics to small villages, they custom fit hearing aids for children in deaf schools and treat them on the spot.

By supporting do good social innovators like LSTN Headphones consumers can purchase high quality products in a socially-conscious manner and help give back to the less fortunate.

Find their products and a description of their efforts to give the gift of hearing at www.lstnheadphones.com!

LSTN | Buy Headphones, Give Hearing

Give the gift of hearing when you purchase LSTN Headphones.  Unprivileged children in deaf schools all over the world have limited access to hearing aids and treatments.  LSTN’s socially innovative product utilizes both sustainable resources and a “one equals one” model to aid this social health issue.

Made from Ebony, Cherry, and Beech woods – LSTN believes that “music loves wood.”  Wood produces much better sound resonance than metal or plastic, and is far more sustainable.  Scrap wood from furniture manufacturers that would typically find its way into a landfill somewhere is being “upcycled” to make their headphones.

Founder, Bridget Hilton, believes that building businesses around social issues IS the way to DO GOOD in business.  She’s founded both LSTN and Jack’s Soap (who aids world sanitation efforts around the world in a similar selling fashion).  LSTN partners with global charities like Sound Seekers that provide hearing to those in need.  Taking mobile clinics to small villages, they custom fit hearing aids for children in deaf schools and treat them on the spot.

By supporting do good social innovators like LSTN Headphones consumers can purchase high quality products in a socially-conscious manner and help give back to the less fortunate.

Find their products and a description of their efforts to give the gift of hearing at www.lstnheadphones.com!

ETHNOTEK | “one bag, many stories…”

Culture.  Awareness.  Everyday Functionality.

The ETHNOTEK® tribe has a real passion for spreading awareness and creating real systemic change and they do so through the medium of day-packs, messenger bags, and commuter bags. The collection offers customizable bags that have removable front panel designs, dubbed THREADS. Each handmade design has been carefully selected and purchased directly from the artisan or craft village where they originated.

The ETHNOTEK® tribe aspires to not only put together a high-quality product, but to be a conduit for keeping a craft and culture alive.  The demand for handcrafted artisanal designs is a steadily declining industry.  ETHNOTEK® aims to curb this reality and is fighting back against the implementation of factory labor and machine replacement.

Let’s rage against the machine and support tradition by supporting ETHNOTEK®.

They are in release mode of their new commuter bag called the Wayu Pack.  Check it out and read their story HERE!