The thing is, no matter how frugal and conscientious I strive to be, I am unfortunate enough to have consumerism deeply ingrained in me. I will always want something and it will continue to be a struggle between wants vs needs. So if I must really and absolutely give in and make a purchase, I figured the next best thing is to try to be a more ethical, conscious and conscientious consumerist. This involves supporting fair trade, buying local and buying from brands/ companies that give back. If you must shop, here are a few clothing/accessories brands with a cause and commitment to social responsibility:
Toms . This is one of the first brands that got me to really re-think how I’m using my money. Toms, if you don’t already know, started off as a buy one give one shoe company, promising to give a child in need a new pair of shoes for every pair purchased. They have recently started making Toms eyeglasses. Read more about their movement.
Ten Tree. A clothing company that helps you make an environmental difference by promising to plant 10 trees for every item purchased and by socially responsible manufacturing.
FEED. A company that later on started the FEED Foundation, is passionate about the fight against hunger and malnutrition in impoverished areas around the world. Each environmentally friendly, fair labor produced produced product bought from FEED supports a humanitarian program .
Warby Parker. Aside from its commitment to high quality prescription eyewear for less, it has also committed itself to partnering with non-profit organizations like VisionSpring to provide glasses to those who can’t afford them.
Epic Timepieces. Determined to help make a difference, Epic will provide a year’s worth of clean, drinking water (by distributing water filters) to those in less fortunate areas for every timepiece they sell.
Peace Bomb. Article 22’s peaceBOMB jewelry have not just a meaningful history, but also a great mission. Made with war metal scraps from, each bracelet purchased helps clear bombs (that have yet to explode) off 3 meters of land in Laos. Read more about it’s history here.
If we’re going to spend money on clothes and accessories anyway, why not make it count? Buy from companies and organizations that promise to give back to a cause you believe in. You get your shopping fix without the buyer’s remorse. I don’t know about you, but it think it’s win-win.
I’ve never heard of a few of these and am excited to check them out! I agree that it is not only important to watch what we buy (and when), but also to be discerning about where we buy. I really enjoyed this post. Thanks!
This is a fantastic list! I think being aware of the world and everyone in it is extremely important. There’s no reason for the fashion industry to ignore it!
xo
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Awesome post! I’ll have to add some of these guys on to my shopping list!