N.O.W – Cardigan
I’ve been looking at No One Without for a while, and while I love the giving model I was never a big fan of their designs. Their new unisex cardigan however caught my attention. It’s the first piece that I could really see myself in. With a nod to Sherlock Holmes there is a mustache on the breast and a pocket watch time piece popping out of the pocket. Time pieces are a recurring theme in their designs. They are supposed to remind the user to not put things off till later. Love more, do more, live more right N.O.W. No One Without partners with a couple different non-profits and gives 20% of their profits…
Moral Fibers – Art Empowers
When times get tough economically, art programs are always one of the first things to get cut. On the flip side of that out of extreme circumstances come some of the best artists. Moral Fibers is clothing company that loves seeing artist grow. They set up long-term partnerships with artists in developing nations to offer them an opportunity to make a living off of their art. These artists are not looking for a hand out, just the chance to share their art and provide for their families. People are more and more concerned about the origins of the food they put in their body and where things are manufactured. This is a dope look at…
TWINS for Peace
A collaboration between twin brothers Maxime and Alexandre Mussard and their best friend Louis Felix de Fenoyl, TWINS for Peace is a Parisian footwear brand with a purpose. TWINS for Peace has a one-4-one giving model. For every pair you buy they will give a pair to a child in need, but unlike TOMS they are also involved in donating school supplies, school tuition, books, and medical supplies. They carry a men’s and women’s line of casual footwear produced in a family owned factory in Portugal. The shoes are made from Italian materials and carry the motto “Be Cool, Be Good.”
MOVMT 2012 Lookbook
MOVMT is a southern California shoe company that takes care to use recycled and organic material whenever possible to make a super simple but wearable shoe. Each season they partner with a different organization. This year a portion of the profits from their Clean Act Collection will benefit the Plastic Pollution Coalition which is a network that is focused on preventing the harmful effects of plastic on humans, animals, and the environment. Their line includes men’s and women’s casual footwear. From the sound of it only the “Clean Act Collection” directly benefits the charity while other pieces in their line do not so just check the name when you’re purchasing.
NorthWest NAU
NAU pronounced (now) embodies a lot of what the NorthWest has to offer. When I first moved to Seattle from Hawaii one of the first things I noticed about the people here (aside from being a bit fair skinned and having an affliction for plaid) was how much influence they took from nature and applied to their designs. Its kind of like Hawaii where a beach culture has influenced the look and feel of a lot of designs. Here the bike, boarding, climbing, and outdoor activities show through in color ways and textures of a lot of designs. NAU is a Portland based brand that creates outerwear that works as well in downtown as in the…
New Revolution – Oliberté
Oliberté is the first to make its premium leather goods exclusively in Africa. With natural rubber outsoles from Liberia, and leathers from Ethiopia, it’s best known for its handcrafted, rugged style. If you’re looking for a chukka that stands out a bit these are a fresh addition. I love the detail in the logo and the story behind it. I love how they stress that they are NOT a charity but a company that cares for its employees and the community where their goods are crafted. Thats the whole theme of this blog is that life does not have to be one or the other. Making a comfortable living and being a consumer can be…
Revolt Wind Breaker
The good folks at Pnoy Apparel have come out with a fresh color way on a classic piece. I know it seems a bit cold out for a wind breaker but the versatility of the fold up pouch make it an easy addition to any afternoon trip around the city. I’m really lovin how they switched up the colors on the flag. For those that don’t know Pnoy Apparel also runs an amazing program called Shirt the Kids. With the slogan “Help Put A Shirt On Poverty” they offer much more than just a simple garment. The crew regularly does shirt drops in the Philippines and is very active in the Filipino Amerikano community in the…
Sevenly Tees – Super clean lines
The crew at Sevenly are creating some really clean t-shirt designs. If you know me then you know I love apparel as a medium for design. Sevenly takes on a new cause with each design and creates an original garment to raise awareness and most importantly funds to support it. I’m as inspired by the super clean lines as the amazing causes that each of their designs supports. This week profits go to Freely In Hope, an organization that gives protection to sexually abused women in Kenya.
