a magic eraser - Farmacy

Melt away all of your makeup at the end of a long day. Thanks to Farmacy Beauty, their Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm gets rid of every single drop of makeup. It’s a hundred times more gentle on your skin than makeup remover wipes and it contains sunflower and ginger root oil, moringa tree extract, papaya extract, and echinacea greenenvy. It’s 100% clean as it is only made with simple, pure ingredients.

Farmacy Beauty was founded by Mark Veeder. The sustainable company prides themselves in their farm – to – face skincare line featuring a unique Echinacea GreenEnvy, a plant containing more than 300% natural antioxidants. Their ingredients are both locally sourced and produced, making sure the company does its part in being environmentally responsible. Their packaging is made from FSC Certified Paper and their jars are 100% recyclable.

How Smitten!!!

elephant love - Ivory Ella

As temperatures drop, Ivory Ella brings us these Tie Dye Joggers—and are a must! They’ll look fly and keep you warmer than your hot chocolate will! Available in multiple colors, these athletic musts are made in the U.S. and dyed by hand.

Ivory Ella was founded in 2015 by a group of friends who learned about the impact of the ivory trade in Africa, and its effect on the elephant communities. They sought to educate the public about the crucial roles these magnificent creatures play in our ecosystem—and the vital importance of protecting them. Ivory Ella donates 10% of their net profits to Save The Elephants.

We’re smitten indeed!

photobooks created thoughtfully - Artifact Uprising

Artifact Uprising was founded by Katie and Jenna, a team of sisters and professional photographers, and there’s one thing for sure - these women have a seriously elegant aesthetic.  With gorgeous products made in the USA and printed on responsibly sourced materials, there’s no better way to capture your family memories than an Artifact Uprising photobook.

All of Artifact Uprising products are printed on FSC certified paper, and are unique in their effort to leave the smallest footprint possible. Portions of their photobooks are printed on post-consumer recycled paper, and their wood blocks are milled from fallen pine trees native to Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.  In addition to their thoughtful paper product sourcing, they have partnered with the non-profit SKCAC to provide empowering and meaningful jobs to adults with mental or physical disabilities.

Certifiably Smitten!

reclaimed wood...Happy 4th y'all! - Holstee

How about displaying pics, art, inspirational memes or quotes in this absolutely delicious alternative to a classic frame.  Reclaimed wood, simple, elegant...stylish.

Holstee met the team from Urban Ashes, a company that creates with reclaimed wood, and also works and trains formerly incarcerated individuals.

The frames are handcrafted using wood taken from deconstructed homes and buildings in the Detroit Metro Area...excellent!! (The frames themselves are put together in Ann Arbor, MI.)

"We are proud that through our work with Urban Ashes, we are able to give both the wood of these frames, and the craftsman and women who assemble them, a second chance." ~ Holstee

Holstee also creates outstandingly dynamic letterpress stationary, cards and paper goods made from 50% elephant poo and 50% recycled paper! Handmade, acid free and 100% natural.

Reclaimed wood...elephant poo?

Totally Smitten!

notable sun wear - Solve sunglasses

Solve is a for-profit sunglasses company that contributes to solving one of the biggest threats for developing societies - a lack of clean water.  For each pair of sunglasses that are purchased, Solve will provide clean water for an entire life. 

Solve was founded by Jeb Geesey and Justin Kroboth, two fire-fighters from Charleston SC, and works exclusively with Water Missions International to provide clean water for life.  Solve is able to put $10 of each sunglasses sale - the estimated cost per person of Water Missions’ custom water, sanitation and hygiene efforts - and promises that the clean water supply will continue for life.  

Like our friends behind the Wello Water Wheel, Solve knows that water gathering in developing countries is a time consuming, often dangerous, back-breaking practice (usually left to women and children) that very directly perpetuates the poverty cycle.  With the help of Solve and Water Missions International, a clean water supply becomes a reliable and easily accessible part of every community.

So Smitten.

breaking a cycle through craftsmanship - Lamon Luther

Lamon Luther is a furniture company who, in their own words, “turn brokenness into beauty”. Brian Preston founded Lamon Luther in 2007 after meeting a group of homeless men living in a tent village in the woods of suburban Georgia.  After learning that many of the men were skilled construction workers and laborers who lost jobs after the economic crisis, Preston realized that meaningful employment was the key to transitioning out of addiction and homelessness. He started first by picking up men each day to take odd jobs, and slowly grew into a furniture company.  Providing hope, pride, and a source of income has made all the difference in the lives of Lamon Luther’s craftsmen.

Brian Preston

Today, partnering with huge companies like West Elm has allowed Lamon Luther to grow into a steady and reliable employment source for skilled laborers who strive to break their cycle of poverty.  Using over 240,000 lbs of reclaimed materials and hiring only homeless or transitioning craftsmen, Lamon Luther has built thousands of beautiful tables, cabinets, bookshelves and benches in Douglasville, GA.  

Strong, hopeful and Smitten.

good girl gifts - Anekdot

Beautiful designs and an innovative approach to creation make Anekdot a notablySmitten favorite!

Pictured here is the Cherry Blossom Set. Sheer, pink and perfect.

Anekdot is an innovative and unique company that approaches fashion and creativity in a totally revolutionary way.  Rather than designing undergarments and seeking textiles to fulfill those visions, they focus first on the fabrics and allow those vintage and reclaimed textiles to dictate the designs and collections.  

The result of this process is a beautiful collection of bras, knickers and loungewear that leaves a significantly smaller ecological footprint by minimizing waste and shifting the fashion industry’s level of responsibility. 

Anekdot turns left-behinds and leftovers into beautiful, wearable collections!  

Forward-thinking...We're Smitten.

the perfect gift = Wello WaterWheel

Cynthia Koenig has spent the last two years creating an extremely innovative solution to a very real problem in Rajathsan: the gathering and storing of clean water.  Simply put, water collecting eats up a large portion of the day for many women and is very taxing on the body.  The Wello WaterWheel is a deceptively simple tool that allows up to 45liters of water at a time to be gathered and safely stored by simply pushing the wheel like a cart. 

Wello claims that 1 in 7 people globally lives more than a kilometer from the nearest water source, and most women carry 20 liters on average (weighing around 45lbs) at a time.  It is also estimated that 75% of the girls between the ages of 15-17 in Rajathsan drop out of school to help with the household.  Water gathering is a slow, tiring process and almost exclusively a woman’s job.  

With the WaterWheel, women are able to dramatically improve their daily life with an estimated 35 hours a week saved by no longer gathering water in a traditional method!  They have time to work a job and produce income, have more water each day to keep their home clean, are able to properly hydrate their families, and can create better irrigation for their crops.  All of these factors are key elements to breaking the poverty cycle.

Interested in donating.

We’re so excited to see Wello reach their full potential as they begin distributing WaterWheels this year.  

Inspired and Smitten.

t-shirts for good - Kuyichi

Kuyichi’s Aiden PLP SS t-shirts are 100% organic fairtrade cotton, super soft, and look great draped over any man’s shoulders!

Kuyichi can be credited for starting the fair-trade revolution and raising environmental awareness in the fashion industry.  They were the first to introduce organic cotton and fair trade sourcing, and insist on reaching sustainability (both economic and environmental) while producing their products. They are members of the Fair Wear Foundation, and provide transparency by publicly reporting their environmental and social sustainability progress to Made-By each year. 

Since 2001 they have paved the way for so many other culturally-conscious clothing brands, and continue to be at the forefront of good practices in every single aspect of their production.  In an effort to minimize waste and maximize positive effects, Kuyichi strives to become “closed loop” in their production and sourcing.  In 2008, they partnered with the Climate Neutral Group in an effort to minimize the greenhouse gasses from their factories, offices and modes of transportation.  They hold high standards for factory conditions, provide fair wages for the individuals working, and emphasize the goal of mindful production.

Impressed and Smitten.

luscious lashes - Josie Maran Mascara

I've written about Josie Maran Cosmetics in the past...her entire line is outstanding!

The way that she has infused this exquisite oil into her cosmetics is superior to any company I know of.

Here, I introduce her highly nourishing and natural, argan oil treatment mascara. Lengthens, adds volume, lifts, and curls lashes for 24 hours.

The unique formula: 100% argan oil mixed with black iron mineral pigments, infused with the lash strengthening properties of bamboo.

The argan creates a lash-softening effect, hence it being called a treatment. Creamy, and delivered by a five-ball brush that reaches every lash.

Josie Maran Cosmetics favors fair trade practices, sustainably harvested ingredients and eco-friendly packaging.

Beautifully Smitten.

random acts of flowers

It's so simple, so loving...I'm crazy about Random Acts of Flowers!

RAF recycles and repurposes flowers and distributes them to individuals in healthcare facilities across the country...so cool!!

Random Acts of Flowers’ mission is driven by floral recipients, and strives to be a 100% recycling organization.

With more than 500 volunteers making up the core of the operations and mission fulfillment around the country, if you've got the time, they would love to include you in the volunteer team at a branch near you.

Please check out their story here.

Totally Smitten!

vegan goodness - Matt & Nat

I would be totally remiss to not include Matt & Nat (Vegan handbags) on my shopping blog at this stage! I've recently been looking for a new summer bag...I truly have found nothing I feel good about purchasing. Then I came across this red cross body from Matt & Nat...sold!

Founded by Montreal-based designer Inder Bedi in 1997, Matt & Nat offer sophisticated styles, a delicious palette of colors, and environmentally conscious, well-designed vegan handbags to the world of fashion.

The name is inspired by MAT(T)erial and NATure, and “means exploring the synergy between the two, the reflection of one on the other."

“At Matt & Nat, we live by a simple motto, ‘Live beautifully’. Living beautifully means appreciating the humanity, creativity and positivity found in all of us. Our values include social responsibility, excellence, inclusiveness, integrity, learning, authenticity, and, of course, love. We are inspired by the textures and hues of nature, and to better protect it, we aim to constantly better our ways.”

Crafted from smooth Vegan leather and lined with 100% recycled plastic bottles, the entire Matt & Nat line is good for animals, the planet, and us two legged creatures as well.

The concern for sustainability is evident in their manufacturing process and their usage of sustainable materials such as rubber and cork. You can read about their ethics & sustainability practices here.

I am entirely Smitten with Matt & Nat's genius craftsmanship and inspirational business practices!!

Check them out on social media...they've got a lot to share! 

beauty basically - LUSH

So the brightly colored, delectable smelling party that is LUSH (created by Mark Constantine and Liz Weir) has been going strong since 1995. At that time I was addicted and dedicated to another product line and could not be swayed. But as my concern for our environment, our animals and our planet has exponentially increased over the last several years...LUSH has landed smack dab on my radar!

I feel particularly concerned about the amount of materials companies continue to use to package their merchandise. Plastic wrappers around tubes of product, that are then boxed, then sealed again with a much harder plastic...ridiculous! It's a problem, one that LUSH has been addressing for years with their innovative solid beauty products. Sold like produce at an open market, with ingredients and aromas to heighten the luxury.

Today I shine a light on their artful shampoo bars. Long lasting, concentrated, packed with active ingredients and essential oils (with 14 different flavors to choose)...and will do the job of 2-3 bottles of liquid shampoo!

No packaging whatsoever, it sits in a soap dish on the side of the tub. Perfect.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.  The bars last for up to 80 washes for lavish locks every time.

LUSH products are 100% vegan.

LUSH are against animal testing and are supporters of animal rights and welfare.

LUSH are charitable and support environmental conservation and human rights.

LUSH works tirelessly to leave a small carbon footprint behind.

Smitten!!

for the love of elephants - The Elephant Art Gallery

What a unique and creative idea...Elephant paintings! These 9000 pound elephants create rare and striking works of art at The Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC) in Lampang, Thailand.

The TECC is 19 years old and works in elephant conservation science. They are focused primarily on the care and wellness of Thailand’s elephants, 2,700 of which live on private grounds. They operate an onsite hospital and Thailand's first mobile clinic, which treats sick and injured elephants free of charge.

Asian elephants are an endangered species. If something isn't done to halt the rapid decline in numbers, it is likely that within the next 50 years, this amazing creature will be gone forever.

The TECC in conjunction with The Elephant Art Gallery (TEAG) found a genius solution with Elephant art...selling paintings in order to raise awareness and funds for the preservation of this endangered species.

While the elephants are painting, they are unaided in the creative process by humans. Elephants understand spatial awareness and are able to apply strokes within the confines of the paper.

Each piece is original...and a blessing.

This painting was created by Thanwa. Glorious. This painting being sold through Design With Benefits.

These are cool. I am Smitten.

beautiful black birds - The Bird Project

The (exquisite) Bird Project soap was born in 2010, after the extraordinarily tragic BP spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Tippy Tippens, a design expert and social entrepreneur, was living in New York at the time of the catastrophe and felt the desire to help. After many visits, she decided to relocate to New Orleans and start her (very cool) business, Matter Inc.

Matter Inc. is devoted to “making the world a better place by making meaningful products that matter.”

These delicate, black, bird-shaped soaps are made with natural, locally sourced ingredients: biodiesel glycerin, fair trade olive oil, aloe, activated black charcoal, and exude a light cypress scent…evocative of the bayous of Louisiana.

Soon, wash after wash, the black bird melts away to reveal a white, ceramic memento, handmade by Louisiana Clay.  A marvelous symbol of the creatures affected…a lasting token of life, restoration and hope.

The best part is that 50% of the profits go towards the Gulf Restoration Network and International Bird Rescue.

The artistry of the bird…to be cradled in the hand, caressed and cleansed is just brilliant symbolism and an extraordinary literal expression.

I am Smitten with these sumptuous soaps.

kick a** socks - Conscious Step

These socks walk the walk they talk! Conscious Step helps “give an ordinary purchase an extraordinary purpose.”

Can socks change the world…why yes, they can! Conscious Step is surely going  to make a difference “one pair of socks at a time” – 50 percent of all profits go toward 3 partnering charities. Currently Conscious Step offers three exclusive sock designs, each reflective of the cause it supports:

One pair funds Action Against Hunger that provides three therapeutic food packages for malnourished children living in refugee camps in Kenya, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The second pair funds Trees for the Future, which plants 30 trees in rural Ghana and provides an education in agroforestry to women and children, giving them the ability to replenish degraded soils and generate sustainable sources of food and fuel.

The third pair funds Engineers Without Borders that sends Australian engineers to Nepal to build clean water sources in schools so that young girls can have the same education opportunities as boys.

The wonderful entrepreneurs behind Conscious Step are Dr. Hassan Ahmad and Adam Long from Sydney, and Prashant Mehta from New York City. All three, firm believers in “the more profitable you are, the greater your impact”…and “knowing that my sock drawer planted a forest in Ghana”, is more motivating than donating $5 to a charity and having no idea how it will be used or what difference it will make,” says Dr. Ahmad.

These socks are made from 200-needle count, organic, fair trade cotton and are sweat resistant. Each style is embroidered with it’s own unique distinguishable symbol…and did I say they kick a**!

Smitten with these socks.

conscious fashion - Open Arms

I honestly cannot say enough about this socially hip, totally tuned-in company. I have only recently discovered Open Arms...and wow do they knock my socks off!

Open Arms design delicious, modern, comfortable apparel and accessories using reclaimed t-shirts and remnant materials. They create a cool product repurposing garments that were on their way to landfills. Very cool!

To create these upcycled garments, Open Arms employs refugee women that have been resettled in Austin, helping them to avoid the cycle of poverty. Open Arms also provides their team with enrichment opportunities, ESL classes, family friendly schedules and a living wage.

Leslie Beasley started this venture after a trip to Uganda in 2010. She was inspired by the spirits of the refugee women that she met there, and upon her return decided to fill a need for the refugees in her own community. Along with several passionate friends and co-founder Lacey Strake, the business was born.

Their mission statement kicks butt:

“Open Arms is on a mission to do it differently - creating awareness that everyday choices can change the world. We are a social enterprise dedicated to people and the planet by employing refugee women to make fashionable apparel and accessories out of recycled and USA - made materials in the US.”

I am totally Smitten with Open Arms. 

I beseech the whole fashion industry to get turned on by this genius idea. May the runways soon become flooded with beauties in upcycled clothing!