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Unless you’ve been hiding in a cave for a while you know that the it trend is to be green. Recycling, using less electricity in your home, and now buying clothing that doesn’t take a lot out of Mother Nature and still keeps you looking chic. The Spring 2010 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week definitely took a new route this year. From September 11 through the 17th, many designers showcased their work; many of whom are taking that extra effort to find earth friendly materials at a cheaper cost. Designers are starting to show that anyone can dress green no matter if you live in New York City or the North Pole. Here were some of the big green trends that were seen at fashion week and how you can get them:
- The Throwbacks: The boyfriend blazer, the motorcycle jacket, the suit vest, and the garden party dress. The old school is always reinventing itself in the new school. The great thing about these trends is they were all in style 10-20 years ago. More than likely you still have these items in your house somewhere. So run up to that attic and shake the dust off of those boxes! If you’re too young to remember, what the ‘80s were like the nearest thrift store or second hand shop is only a hop away. Often you will find things there that still have price tags on them or have never been used.
- The Green Shows: A first for this year, fashion week held The Green Shows: Eco Fashion Week. This event was held for two days and only showcased designers that were 100% eco-friendly. Most of these designers are underground or new, which is great because you’ll probably be the only person in your office building rocking their stuff. New things that designers are doing are recycling old fabrics and patterns from previous fashion lines. The idea of using paint is old; to dye garments many are using fruits and vegetables. Checking to make sure that the production factories are doing their best to provide a safe and healthy environment for their employees is one of the many reasons to check out these fashion lines. All of these artists are taking the extra step to make sure that the fashion they give to you is made by honest companies who are working hard to preserve the earth. So next time you think about taking a quick run to the mall, shop with these designers and others who are going green.
- I Shop Green: So you’ve decided to shop green. Great! You wake up one morning, get ready, grab your wallet as you head out of the door; but wait! Where can you go to get green clothing that is fierce? Check out online eco-friendly retailers for fashions from around the globe. Also, not only can you shop with your friends but shop in their closets too. You might not have that animal print dress you’ve been searching for but your best friend might. Host a swapping party and bring things that you no longer want or need to trade with your friends for items they have that you want. Trade those out-of-date neon leggings for something you really want for free. It’s great for saving cash and still getting something new.
Guffly is a one product per day online store and community featuring eco friendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office and personal accessories. We know that people aren’t interested in ugly stuff, so you can bet Guffly’s green products are stylish, fun and attractive – eco stylish if you will. Shop the Daily Guff at www.guffly.com
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The Woven Rattan Fair Trade Bag on the Daily Guff today comes from Start Naked. This company was founded through a desire to contribute to the world, experience the refreshingly unfamiliar tastes, sights and sounds of other cultures while embracing the spirit of entrepreneurship. Start Naked co-creates handcrafted products with artisans in several countries by actually going to their village and observing their craft and creating a product of interest to the global marketplace. How could we not support a company like that? They do this while observing Fair Trade practices (woo hoo!) by paying artisans a competitive rate and most often just what they request. All artisans receive a 50% advance when an order is placed. Their local agents collect Start Naked’s products from these families. In some cases the unique skills found in five different villages help to complete a single product. It’s pretty impressive and the products are fantastic!
In Start Naked’s own words:
We believe in uniqueness and quality, and do nothing in “mass” production. In many ways our products are all “limited edition” being crafted in homes with no two products exactly alike. Stores that carry a Start Naked products help improve the quality of life and opportunity of these talented artists. Thank you for carrying our products and being a part of the Start Naked vision to help families and preserve traditional craft.
We can’t think of a cooler way to find a hip bag that’s perfect for travel, the gym, or just your regular grocery shopping. This dynamic bag is fair trade, beautiful and functional, that’s why you can find it on the Daily Guff: http://guffly.com
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It’s true that diamonds are a girl’s best friend but can diamonds be an eco-friendly girl’s best friend? As many of you are aware, many of the pieces of jewelry we rock isn’t always produced in the most safe and environmentally friendly way. Take gold mining for example, this process of extracting gold from the ground is both dangerous and harmful to those that work in the industry. Gold mining uses cyanide which can be deadly poisonous. This is all being said not to scare those that love gold but to inform gold consumers of what this process can do to the people and the environment. Although this is happening, there are ways to rock beautiful jewelry and still be eco-friendly.
1) Green Mining: However controversial and debatable, there are companies out there that practice green mining. These companies are concerned with sustainability and being ethical when it comes to mining. According to some, mining can be done responsibly and in a way that contributes to the environment instead of taking away. So, when considering buying jewelry, do some research and see which companies practice green mining. This is a great way to make a small impact on the environment and to take the steps to being a more environmentally conscious shopper.
2) Recycled Jewelry: Buying jewelry that is recycled is a great way to be an eco-friendly jewelry fashionista. One way to do this is to purchase jewelry made from recycled silver. This eco-friendly option is great because silver is increasingly popular and having a recycled option is great for the environment. Over the past 20 years jewelry made from recycled silver has increased but isn’t where it should be. Since recycling is very important to the sustainability of our planet making recycled silver for jewelry is an important way to contribute to the greening of our earth. Another recyclable jewelry option is to purchase jewelry that is made with reclaimed materials. This could be broken plates, electronics or even other jewelry. By producing and purchasing such jewelry these items are not thrown into landfills and are instead rocked by eco-friendly stylish people like yourself. Next time you are in the mood to be the eco-friendly jewelry wearer that you are, be sure to check out recycled jewelry to make an even bigger statement.
3) Sustainable Materials: Jewelry made from sustainable materials is not only eco-friendly but also very fashionable. When a material is sustainable, it means there is an abundance of the material that makes up the product. The material grows at a faster rate than the rate the material is being consumed. So, purchasing products that are made out of sustainable materials like wood, bamboo or granite are eco-friendly because these materials are able to replenish themselves are a very rapid pace. If you are looking to stand out and be eco-friendly, be sure to purchase jewelry made from sustainable materials.
Guffly is a one product per day online store and community featuring eco friendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office and personal accessories. We know that people aren’t interested in ugly stuff, so you can bet Guffly’s green products are stylish, fun and attractive – eco stylish if you will. Shop the Daily Guff at www.guffly.com
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Last week was Fair Trade week at Guffly and to make a bigger impact on fair trade Guffly donated a microloan of $175 for Amevi Adokanu through Kiva. We achieved this total through support by our Twitter followers and Facebook fans!
We’re proud to support Amevi, a traveling shoe saleswomen in the neighborhood of Totsi in Lomé. She sells the shoes from house to house and is well known among the community. Amevi’s business allows her to assist her husband, a cook, to provide for their children’s needs.
We felt compelled to support Amevi because her stock is almost exhausted and she would like to purchase 25 boxes of various styles for women and 30 boxes of children’s shoes. We were excited to be able to raise some of the remaining funds to help this entrepreneur. As young entrepreneurs here at Guffly, we understand that it can be difficult to get things going and to keep them running and we’re fortunate enough to be working in Detroit, not a third world country.
Guffly Gives is part of our initiative to give what we can to people and charities throughout the world. We know that being eco-friendly is more than recycling our paper and cans – it also means being world friendly. That’s why last week was Fair Trade week to bring some our favorite fair trade suppliers that work with artisans across the world into the Daily Guff spotlight. We feel that by supporting fair trade we’re enabling people to become more aware of what the implications of non-fair trade are.
Stay tuned to what Guffly is up to and help us support our next Guffly Gives!
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Today’s useful kitchen gadget comes to Guffly from Two Hands World Shop. A couple in Lawrence, Kansas founded the company after they returned home from working in Guyana. They select unique products of the highest quality artisanship that adhere to the Fair Trade criteria. They realize that trade is a fundamentally human interaction and we appreciate their efforts to ensure it is done fairly.
For those of you curious about the detail of fair trade: it means a fair wage, safe, cooperative workplaces, long-term business relationships and a chance to preserve cultural art forms. Fair Trade also helps disadvantaged producers by providing access to credit, banking, education and training. Check out some of our articles: What Does that Fair Trade Sticker Really Mean?, How to Live Fair Trade Style, and Why Fair Trade is Important to Chanell.
We’re all about “voting with our money” (if you will) by purchasing fair trade products to support appropriate global interactions. Hats off to Two Hands World Shop for being a leader in the movement. Get a pair of the Handmade Wooden Salad Claws that make a great gift (especially those hard to buy for people, everyone eats salad, right?!) on the Daily Guff: www.guffly.com
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As a bright eyed senior in college I thought I knew it all. My time at the University of Michigan had me thinking I knew a lot about how the world worked and what my opinions were on the whole operation. That was the case until I took a class that, now that I look back on it, challenged every decision I had made until that point. That class taught me all about fair trade, and sadly the reality of what occurs when there ISN’T fair trade. Simply put, I had a rude awakening.
During the course we learned about the history of trade, specifically between the US and Mexico. I won’t bore you with the academic details though. Instead, I’ll skip to the part when we actually went to border cities in Mexico and got a hands on feel of how trade effects real people. I stayed with a woman and her family. Her home was two rooms made from concrete, one bedroom for her, her husband, and her son, and another for pretty much everything else. There was no running water, no heat, and spotty electricity. Despite this, she was maybe one of the most kind women I have ever met. She took in visitors like myself because that is what she had to do to get by in addition to making corn tortillas and selling them to her local community.
Her husband once worked in a factory for a US company who’s name I won’t mention. Even as one of the better maquiladoras (factories) in the area, the work conditions left a lot to be desired. He was searching for other work, but the city he and his family lived in was completely dominated by factories who didn’t pay enough to support a family with. He had no choice but to leave his family, his home, and his city to look for other work. Like many others in his situation, he debated taking the life threatening risk of entering the US without documentation in order to make ends meet.
There’s no way I could explain the grim reality faced by this whole group of people. Beyond the direct impact that maquiladoras have on the workers and their families, there is also a slew of negatives that the poverty they sustain contributes to – like drug and alchohol abuse, abandoned and abused children, and health related problems (all of which I encountered pretty closely by visiting a drug rehab center, an orphanage, and a health clinic). After seeing all these things that hurt my heart (literally, it ached…) I felt pretty hopeless. I knew that my buying decisions encouraged this and it made me feel pretty gross.
That’s when I knew I had to (1) make fair trade a part of my life as a consumer because I knew I couldn’t stop buying stuff altogther. So, I decided to buy less so that I could afford to buy stuff that supports people getting paid and treated fairly. And (2), figure out a way to tie my beliefs about fair trade to whatever it was that I would end up doing with my life.
That turned out to be the first little seed of Guffly being planted in my head. I’m happy I saw what I did, when I did. Though ignorance was bliss, doing something to encourage fair trade feels way better.
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It’s Fair Trade Week at Guffly and we think there’s no better way to celebrate than by directly supporting an entrepreneur who needs our help. Using Kiva (which we totally heart), Guffly will donate a micro loan but it’s your job to determine how much we’ll give!
We need everyone and their mama to retweet this post because for everyone new person who FOLLOWS US ON TWITTER or JOINS OUR FACEBOOK FAN PAGE by Saturday, September 13, 2009 and we’ll donate $1. Yep, that’s right…if 500 join and follow, then we’ll donate $500.
So, who do we want to donate a micro loan to? Her name is Amevi Adokanu and she currently needs $475. She “lives in the neighborhood of Totsi in Lomé. She is a traveling saleswoman of shoes for women and little girls. This business allows her to financially assist her husband, a cook, provide for their children’s needs. She sells her wares house to house, which means that she is well-known in many homes. Right now her stock is almost exhausted; it is for this reason that she is requesting a loan from the micro-finance group WAGES, in order to purchase 25 boxes of various styles of shoes for women and 30 boxes of shoes for children.” (Kiva.org)
If we exceed the amount she needs then we’ll find a second entrepreneur to lend to! So come on…when has doing something so HUGE been so easy? Join Guffly’s Facebook Fan Page or follow us on Twitter by Septemeber 13, 2009 so that you can help us help out Amevi.
We live for this stuff.
xoxo,
The Guffly Crew
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There is a recent buzz surrounding fair trade and living a fair trade lifestyle. If you are still confused about what fair trade really means check out this Guffly article that provides you with the ins and outs of what fair trade really means. If you have read the article before here is an article that will provide you with ways to incorporate fair trade living into your own life.
1) Fair trade coffee: This is the most common fair trade item people think about when fair trade comes to mind. This is because the treatment of coffee producers hasn’t always been the best in the past and even today but with buying fair trade coffee you can be sure that the workers are being paid fair wages and are able to work in acceptable conditions. Since coffee is a major consumption for Americans, it is important that small farmers are the ones producing coffee for a fair wage.
2) Fair trade jewelry: Jewelry is a great way to begin buying fair trade. By buying fair trade jewelry you know that the artisans are able to express their creative genius while still being paid a fair and livable wage. Many of the fair trade artisans that make jewelry wouldn’t otherwise have a link to the US market place or any marketplace for that matter. With fair trade jewelry artisans and consumers are able to enjoy unique pieces that are sure to draw attention and create conversation.
3) Fair trade beauty products: Another way to live a fair trade lifestyle is to purchase fair trade beauty and body products. Whole Foods is one place where you can find these fair trade products. Their fair trade products ensure that people are purchasing products that are good for the consumer, the community and the world. These products which are a part of the Whole Planet Foundation, tries their best in the fight against poverty. Their aim is to work with the poor in developing countries and create wealth is emerging economies. So, if you are looking to really make a difference be sure to purchase fair trade products at Whole Foods and one percent of the total retail price will go to the Whole Planet Foundation.
4) Fair trade crafts: Fair trade crafts are yet another fair trade item that you can purchase if you are interested in seeing workers earn a fair and livable wage. Many crafts include beautiful and unique pottery, stationery, instruments, and even toys. These crafts and their artisans can be found all over the globe and purchasing fair trade craft items is a great way to encourage and support their work.
Guffly is a one product per day online store and community featuring eco friendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office and personal accessories. We know that people aren’t interested in ugly stuff, so you can bet Guffly’s green products are stylish, fun and attractive – eco stylish if you will. Shop the Daily Guff at www.guffly.com
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One of our recent articles offer suggestions for eco-friendly date ideas and are sure to be helpful. One of the suggestions is to cook an organic meal. Cooking an organic meal with a significant other is a great way to be eco-friendly and get to know each other. Another great way to be eco-friendly and experience a green date is to go to organic and vegan restaurants. Here is a list of some restaurants that specialize in organic and vegan dishes.
1) The Organic Grill: This cute little organic place is located in New York City and is sure to satisfy your need for organic food. Their foods, drinks, pastries, and desserts are prepared using clean and sustainable materials. They also support local growers, which is great! They have a vegan, wheat-free blueberry buckwheat pancakes that sound delicious. Not only do they serve breakfast but they also have dinner and desserts that are also vegan. So, next time you are in NYC or looking for a vegan dish check out The Organic Grill!
2) Vegan Garden Restaurant: VG is located in Seattle and their menu sounds very appetizing. They specialize in noodle dishes and soups and all of it is vegan. The food there puts a new twist on old dishes. Instead of chicken nuggets, they have vegetarian chicken nuggets. All the dishes are reasonably priced and look great. Be sure to try one of their vegan desserts when you are in Seattle.
3) Lake Side Café: This café is Chicago’s only fully vegetarian and vegan organic restaurant. They specialize in vegetarian and vegan dishes and use nearly 100% preservative and chemical-free ingredients making them not only organic but also eco-friendly. The best thing about Lake Side Café is the summer and fall cooking classes that they offer. This is a great date idea for those that are interested in organic and vegetarian eating. Check out Chicago’s Lake Side Café.
4) Golden Gate Café: This Detroit based café is a local favorite for earth friendly people. Their mission is to provide a vibrant meeting space for people in the community. Their cozy atmosphere is what brings people there but their food is what will keep you there. Not only do they offer delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes but they also host events. They host a drum circle every Wednesday night and open mic every Thursday. Come experience the sites, sounds and delicious organic food of Detroit at the Golden Gate Café.
Next time you are searching for a good organic, vegetarian or vegan meal be sure to check out these places. These restaurants are just a few of the places that specialize in this style of food.
Guffly is a one product per day online store and community featuring eco friendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office and personal accessories. We know that people aren’t interested in ugly stuff, so you can bet Guffly’s green products are stylish, fun and attractive – eco stylish if you will. Shop the Daily Guff at http://guffly.com/
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As summer is winding to an end all the fun outdoor summer activities will have to end but that doesn’t mean you can’t still play some eco-friendly games. Board games and crafts are fun can also be eco-friendly! Soon it will be time to pack away that recycled milk carton Frisbee and hang up your bicycle for eco-friendly traveling but here are some great eco-friendly games you are sure to love during the fall and winter months. Enjoy!
1) Earthopoly: If you haven’t guessed this game is a twist on the old monopoly game we all loved and played back in the day. This game was designed by Cincinnati-based games manufacturer, Late for the Sky. This board game is similar to monopoly but is instead eco-friendly. How is this game eco-friendly you ask? Well, the entire game is made from either recycled materials or biodegradable materials, even down to the board game. The game pieces are made from completely recyclable materials and the plays wrapping is made from a film that is a bio-plastic. In the game each player is responsible for global landmarks and charges other players carbon credits. These accumulated carbon credits turn into clean air and then help fight against global warming. The player with the most clean air points wins! This eco-conscious game is both fun and informative!
2) Eco Dough: When was the last time you played with play dough? Probably a long time ago but there is no better time to brush up on your old play dough skills than right now. There is now eco-friendly play dough that can be enjoyed by the youngsters and their eco-friendly parents. The eco-dough is an all natural alternative to the old favorite. The eco-dough is made with plant, fruit and vegetable extracts. This means there are no chemicals, artificial dyes or metals making it super safe for both kids and adults. Not only is the dough eco-friendly but the packaging is as well. The containers are made from cornstarch and are 100% compostable. Try this eco-friendly dough and experience the fun and excitement of your childhood all of again!
3) Eco Finger Paints: Finger painting is fun no matter what age you are! There are new finger paints that are both fun and eco-friendly. They are made from all natural ingredients! All you have to do is take the eco-friendly powder and mix in water on a 1:1 ratio. This way you can make your own consistency. These exciting colors are sure to spark the eco-friendly child in all of us!
Guffly is a one product per day online store and community featuring eco friendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office and personal accessories. We know that people aren’t interested in ugly stuff, so you can bet Guffly’s green products are stylish, fun and attractive – eco stylish if you will. Shop the Daily Guff at http://www.guffly.com
