Fashion, Evolved

I love flip flops.  I live in them even in the winter time, so I am always on the lookout for a cool new pair.  That’s why I was stoked to hear about Freewaters.

Not only do Freewaters look sweet, but they are an activist brand that is dedicated to helping people around the world gain access to clean drinking water.  From their site:

Every year, more people die from the consequences of unsafe water than from all forms of violence, including war. Dirty water and a lack of proper hygiene kill 3,300,000 people annually, most of them children under the age of 5. At Freewaters we believe access to clean water is a basic human right.

ProjectFreewaters.org is the working name of our grassroots organization for implementing the Freewaters direct cause initiative: the purchase of one pair of Freewaters allows us to provide clean drinking water for one individual for one entire year.

That is a pretty impressive mission, and certainly a good reason to buy a new pair of shoes.  Am I right???

Go check out their website, and LIKE them on Facebook.  You can watch this inspiring video to get a better idea how the money from the sales of these shoes is used to improve lives:

Seriously.  Of all the things that people should have access to–and of all the things that people NEED to survive and thrive–water is among the most necessary.  Making sure people around the world have this vital resource is more than just good fashion sense.  It’s good sense.

When most women can’t find a product that works for them, they embark on an endless search for the perfect solution by trying product after product which inevitably go to waste.  But Dannette Evans isn’t most women.  She decided that if she couldn’t find products that worked right, she’d just make her own–and Danni Davis Skin was born.

With a full line of natural, organic products for face, lips, body, feet and mind Danni David Skin is designed specifically to help a woman’s skin remain elastic, soft and youthful.  The company’s motto is:  Soft Skin is…beautiful, sexy & ageless.  But physical beauty is so much greater when it’s built on a foundation of good, and Dannette has made every effort to keep green practices in both her business and manufacturing including sourcing her ingredients as close to home as possible, using biodegradable packaging, and a recycling program for the glass containers and bottles her products come in.

Even better, Danni Davis Skin gives a portion of the proceeds of her sales to Kiva.org and Women For Women International.

Find out more about this exquisite line of beauty products on DanniDavisSkin.com.  You can also follow the company’s success on Twitter and Facebook.

Some of the most popular products include…

Gently buff your body with the fruits of pineapple, papaya, watermelon, lemon and orange. Benefit from the exfoliating effects of papain and bromelain. Pineapple contains the fruit enzyme ‘bromelain’ which is effective in exfoliating dead cells on the surface of the skin and also hydrolyze proteins. Papaya contains Vitamin A, a property that benefits skin repair through increasing the rate of new cell formation. Vitamin C is also an anti-oxidant with wonderful proteins for smoother, softer skin. The Watermelon extract, rich in Vitamin C and naturally occurring carbohydrates and amino acids. It supports the UV-stressed immune system of the skin and can be used to prevent photo-aging. This extract also helps to protect the skin from every day toxins and promotes cell-renewal.

A few months ago I wrote a post about an exciting young jewelry designer named Rebekah Green.  Green is a passionate environmentalist who launched her sustainable line of affordable, unique fine jewelry in 2009.  I’m thrilled to report that her business is thriving, and she’s just launched a new initiative on her retail site called Eco-Hero.

Eco-Hero is a way to recognize the efforts of everyday people as they work to make the world a better place.  If you, or someone you know, is doing something special–big or small–that deserves recognition, Rebekah wants to know!

“I feel like it’s high time we create a forum for all of us to toot our own horns and be rewarded for our efforts, big and small,” said Green. “The Eco-Hero Contest allows for everyone to celebrate his or her collective greatness and not-so-random acts of kindness. My goal with this contest is to emphasize that no matter how grand the act, that act itself may very well become the defining gesture that changes the entire life of a person in need or ignites an unexpected domino effect of generosity.”

“Our generation represents a paradigm shift in global consciousness and community citizenship,” explained Green.  “Philanthropy is the new sexy. Charity is the new black. Everything we do is done in style, and that’s why I want to reward my Eco-Hero contestants with a pair of my 100% recycled gold, fair trade gemstone earrings for the best, most inspiring story.”

If you’ve never had the chance to see Rebekah’s work, check out her online store and see what makes her pieces so special.  I own a pair of her 14k recycled gold earrings and I absolutely love them!  I know you will love yours, too.

Change.

President Obama ran a ground-breaking campaign based on it.  Taco Bell assures us that it is good.  The Buddha said that our reluctance to accept it is the cause of all suffering.  Most of us realize that some kind of change needs to happen in the world today if we hope to improve our individual and collective existence.  But change is simply a tool–without conscious thought and a plan of action, it can cause damage by bringing anarchy and confusion.

The question is:  What can we change in our own lives that will really make a difference?

The answer is:  Our clothes.

No, I’m not being glib.  We all have a multitude of daily worries and concerns:  work, school, family, cooking, cleaning, spirituality, health, fitness…few of us are in a position to drop everything and “change the world” in some dramatic way; rather, the changes we make must be a part of our lives, integrating seamlessly into our existing routines.

One very profound way we can do this is by consciously buying clothing that is ethically made and manufactured; and supporting small, independent businesses that are creating, marketing and selling it.  Our demand for this type of clothing will result in the necessary changes to an industry that has long been guilty of drastic wage disparity, sweat-shop labor, toxic farming practices and the mass exportation of local industry to other countries.

You don’t have to go out and buy something RIGHT NOW.  Just wait until you’re ready to buy a new dress or a new pair of shoes.  And then make your choice by weighing all the options (not just the price or the brand name).  Next time you’re ready to shop for shoes, clothes, handbags, accessories or cosmetics ask yourself:

1.  Was this product made by an adult earning a fair wage?

2.  Was this product made using materials that were grown or developed with unsafe chemicals and/or toxic processes?

3.  Was this product made in a country that supports human rights?

4.  Was this product sold by a company that takes care of its responsibilities to its employees and the communities that support it?

The fashion industry is changing from the inside out–but there is no greater catalyst, and no better way to speed up the process–than a robust consumer demand.  We are lucky enough to be at a point where we don’t have to sacrifice style for our ethics.  There are many sustainable designers and retailers devoting themselves to fashion with a conscience.  All we have to do is make the best choices we can when the time comes.

Are you ready to change your clothes?

You already know and love Tom’s Shoes–the company that donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair you purchase:

So far the company has given away 140,000 pairs of shoes around the world.

Now you can commemorate your special wedding day by kicking off your marriage on the right foot (puns intended).  Tom’s has a line of shoes suitable for brides which include a white, a gold, and a silver pair.

Granted, the shoes are a bit conservative looking, but honestly, most wedding gows are so long you don’t see the bride’s shoes anyway.  And let’s face it, these are going to be a lot more enjoyable to dance the night away in than a pair of pumps or heeled sandals.

Check out the Wedding Shoes from Tom’s: