Gifts that Give Back: For Him

Posted on December 16, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Generous & Practical: 5 Awesome Gifts He’ll Love

Finding the perfect gift for someone special is always challenging. I have several practical ideas I’m sure every man in your life would appreciate, but there’s something more to my list of gifts than just being awesome. The holidays are the perfect time to help those less fortunate, and I can show you how to combine generosity and practicality.

State Backpack

A backpack that can never go out of style is something that every man needs. This one from the State collection is extremely practical – the large number of compartments allow you to carry quite a few items in one well-organized package. It can fit a 15” laptop, and it has a convenient number of side pockets.

For every backpack sold, State delivers another to a child in need. By making this purchase you’ll not only get a quality backpack for a special man in your life, but you’re also making a child out there really happy.

David Sheldrick Wildlife Sweatshirt

One of my fave items! This sweatshirt is made out of cotton, which makes it incredibly comfy. It can also be machine-washed, so it doesn’t require any special care – I’m sure that any man would appreciate that fact.

You should also know that it has an illustration of Eddie by Hugo Guinness on it. Eddie was an orphan elephant who was saved by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, hand raised and released back into the wild. She was one of over 190 elephants that were saved by this trust. The complete net of every purchase goes directly to this cause.

Conscious Step Socks

I don’t know about you, but almost every man I know has trouble finding one whole matching pair of socks. You should introduce them to Conscious Step. My husband is obsessed and looks forward to getting them every year.

The logic behind these socks is easy. I mean why get “normal” everyday socks when you can get a fun pair that was made to help fund the world’s most important causes, like providing clean drinking water, ending famine, saving trees, fighting HIV and improving education worldwide. Conscious Step socks are quite extraordinary, don’t you think?

Feed Projects-Adventorous Kit

Men, unlike most women, somehow forget to take their essentials with them, and perhaps the reason behind it is that they don’t own their own kit. In order to help that special man in your life have a much more relaxed and convenient trip, my suggestion is to get them a practical FEED kit. The thing that makes this kit so special is the fact that making one purchase provides 15 school meals to children worldwide.

Veja-Most Ethical Sneakers

We all know that men like their sneakers and really can’t get enough of them. The company Veja is setting an example for other brands. Just to name a few of their accomplishments-Veja uses rubber from the amazon and organic cotton, they employ over 300 families and provide them with a competitive salary, and finally to cut cost for their costumers, Veja does not advertise. A few weeks ago I wrote a detailed post on this brand (yes, I’m obsessed) -please read about it here. It’s an amazing gift for everyone that likes sneakers (every man in the world, really).

Giving Tuesday 2015

Posted on December 1, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Hi Friends!

Today is “Giving Tuesday” and I know it can be overwhelming for everyone to research and try to find ways to help so I came up with a list of ideas just for you! 🙂

5 ways you can contribute to #givingtuesday!

Donate to a cause you care about-this is the simplest way to give back on this Tuesday. Haven’t thought about which one?! Check out a few of my favorite organizations (WIN, International Rescue Committee, CARE, Charity: Water, She’s the First, Pencils of Promise)
Shop at Lord&Taylor because they are matching all purchases ( up to 25,000) and donating it to Habitat for Humanity.
Have you heard of the Good Shop? Every time you shop through the Good Shop-a donation will be made to a charity of your choice (they are affiliated with over 100,000 organizations). You can shop and save with their coupons to stores ranging from Amazon to Best Buy!
If you can’t afford to give then take the day to learn about what brands are doing to have a social impact. A personal favorite of mine is Eileen Fisher-they are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! Go take a look at all there great initiatives. 🙂
Go volunteer at a local shelter or soup kitchen. Taking the day to give back and help those less fortunate is always a great idea.

Beauty That Does Good

Posted on November 28, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Origins of Alaffia

A fortunate moment that brought together Olowo-n’djo Tchala and Prairie Rose Hyde is responsible for the foundation of this company. This amazing couple worked very long in order to find a solution for creating better conditions for families in Togo.

After some time, they came up with a simple, but brilliant idea – why not use Africa’s natural gifts, share them with the rest of the world and help improve the living conditions for the citizens of Togo and beyond.

Thanks to a bit of help and support, they came up with five nurturing collections for skin and hair care. What makes these collections so unique is their coconut and shea based formulas that emphasize natural beauty and help you maintain it.

But that’s not all this couple is working on. Alaffia is so much more than another business that sells beauty products – what makes them different is their company’s policy and the principles that both of them care deeply about.

Fair Trade Policy

For starters, they respect the Fair Trade movement that enables economically disadvantaged countries to receive a greater percentage of the price which is paid by consumers. Thanks to their policy, developing countries and their citizens can improve the conditions regarding basic human rights and finally put an end to some quite serious issues, such as child labor.

Help for Mothers

Did you know that each year of 160,000 women die due to labor complications in West Africa alone? The most powerful factor for this terrible fact is poverty, and others such as inadequate infrastructure only contribute to it.

Alaffia’s Maternal Health Project is working hard to lower and eventually eliminate these rates. Up until now, they have managed to pay for over 3,500 childbirths and still working to increase those numbers.

Empowerment Project

With money that comes from their skin and hair care collection, this generous couple is doing their best to improve living conditions in Togo, but primarily in the social and educational fields. Their company hires locals, pays for their health insurance and helps them raise their family.

That kind of empowerment to each and every individual they get in touch with makes a difference with a variety issues, like gender equality. With the rest of the money at their disposal, Alaffia is also contributing to youth educational projects.

Olowo-n’djo and Prairie have made it as easy as possible for us to help them with their cause. By getting one of their natural skin or hair care products, you’ll have a positive impact on someone’s life. You can order their products online or stop by Fairway!

The Coolest Sneakers

Posted on November 10, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Veja, a brand that we can safely say is changing the way we think about sneakers, is a producer of high quality fair trade footwear and accessories made from organic materials. The company works closely with small producers in Brazil and France, so that it can have full control over the materials being used in the production process.

In 2004, founders Sébastien Kopp and Ghislain Morillion built a successful brand, while at the same time raising awareness of the importance of using ecological materials, and inspired many aspiring entrepreneurs to do the same. Simple, sophisticated and at the same time sporty, these sneakers are something special indeed.

Simple, minimalist design

When buying footwear, bags and wallets, the first thing we look at are the aesthetics. The bag and sneakers have to match our overall style and suit our fashion sense. The Veja brand provides us with a minimalistic design that is suitable for every style, and will meet the standards of even the pickiest fashionista.

Organic cotton

Veja is famous for purchasing cotton from 320 small producers who grow cotton under agro-ecology principles. These producers are actually families of small-scale farmers that have around 1 hectare of land on average. Together they form ADEC, the Association of Growers in Northeast Brazil. All of Veja’s cotton sneakers and accessories are made of organic cotton, which is free of agrichemicals and pesticides.

Rubber from the Amazon

As the Amazon is the only place in the world where rubber trees grow in the wild, and Veja uses that rubber to make high quality soles for their sneakers. They work with 60 families of Seringueiros, or rubber tappers. They use a process called FDL (Folha Desfumada Liquida, i.e. Liquid Smoked Sheet), which enables them to transform latex into rubber sheets. This process is brilliant and eco-friendly, as there is no additional industrial processing involved.

Ecological Leather

The most fascinating thing about Veja products made of leather, is that the brand has control over the entire leather supply chain. Moreover, what many people don’t know is that they tan their leather with vegetable oils extracted from the Acacia tree. Heavy metals are usually used in the tanning process, but Veja has taken care of our planet by using only chromium, which drastically decreases water pollution.

Veja takes care of our environment

The key priority of Veja is to reduce CO2. All of their products are transported by boat in order to decrease emissions and energy use.Also, they use recycled and recyclable cardboard when making packaging.

Any outfit, any occasion

There are so many different options to choose from that you won’t know which pair to buy first. Simple and minimalistic, but still different from anything else you have worn before. While the sneakers are not meant for black tie events, they are a perfect casual wear item for virtually any other occasion.

Quality for the whole family

High quality, comfortable and beautifully designed, these sneakers are a great choice for the whole family. Except for the men’s and women’s wear models, they also come in children’s sizes. If you still have no idea what to buy your kids for Christmas, maybe it’s time to think about a nice pair of eco-friendly sneakers.

Beautifully Crafted Models

Veja’s products are crafted in factories in Rio Grande Do Soul, Brazil. What makes the factories special are the workers who constantly strive to improve the manufacturing process. The company takes good care of the workers, and provides them with various perks and good salaries. Products are made well only when they are made by happy workers.

No advertising

This is one of the rare brands that doesn’t advertise its products, but uses the extra money to perfect their production chain. There is certainly competition, but Veja believes in people who will actually read something about the products before they buy them. When looking at products on their website, you get detailed information about each model. With just one click , you will get an extensive description of a product, including the organizations and designers involved in launching it.

Reflection of a style and attitude

Wearing Veja products is certainly a matter of both style and attitude. Knowing all the materials, and where they came from, allows you to make an informed decision. If you are concerned with reducing pollution and saving our planet, you will certainly love this brand.

The point isn’t to stop buying quality products, but to focus on brands which that offer high quality, while being sustainable. This way we can raise awareness, and make other brands turn to more eco-friendly and sustainable methods, while looking good and feeling comfortable at the same time.

Every Drop Matters, Every Second Counts

Posted on October 23, 2015 by lsdiaz03

We often forget that there are many people less fortunate than us. This isn’t something you need to feel guilty about – it’s in human nature to allow our minds to be preoccupied with everyday troubles like our jobs, home chores and our social life. However, some global issues can’t wait for us to have time but instead need to be dealt with right now. Let me tell you how this watch (yes, watch…as in the thing you wear around your wrist that tells the time) is saving lives!!

Fight for Basic Humans Rights

Just try to imagine how you would feel if you were thirsty all the time and you couldn’t take a refreshing shower or pour yourself a cup of delicious coffee. It’s even hard to imagine, isn’t it? Well, developing countries deal with such problems on daily basis – every day mothers send their thirsty children to schools that don’t have safe drinking water. Water is a basic human right, and not a single being on our planet should be left without it.

Running Out of Time & Water

Unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions are the cause of over 90% of the 30,000 deaths that happen every week – and that number only covers children under the age of five. If we act on this horrifying fact and help distribute clean water and improve hygiene conditions, together we can prevent over 3.6% of the world’s disease problem.

Potters for Peace

Side by side with NGO, RDIC.org, Local Cambodian Ceramic Factory and Reputable Chinese Manufacturers through Alibaba, TUK wants to put an end to this. A brilliant solution that’s beneficial in many different areas has appeared – according to a UNICEF study in Cambodia, ceramic filters made for pots are light, relatively inexpensive, easily portable, chemical free and highly efficient.

For $15 we have managed to fit in a ceramic filter, 11 liter filter pot, 35 liter water storage and a cleaning kit. The whole pot and everything included can last up to around 5 years, and filters should be changed after up to two years. The pots are manufactured locally, so the Cambodians themselves are working on their production – Marc Hall is the one responsible for providing safe working conditions, great pay and health benefits for his employees.

Sophistication, Simplified

Did you know that TUK is actually a Cambodian world for water? Our story actually begins with Kelsey Braun who founded TUK Watches with Shelby Bissen in 2015. After spending time in developing countries, she personally experienced what it’s like to be out of drinking water. This experience changed her and allowed her to get a better perspective on life.

After she met Shelby Bissan, they found a way to bring a sense of urgency closer to the minds of people in first world countries. By creating a simple, but sophisticated watch design, made out of leather bands and stainless steel clasps, the TUK team combined serious global problems with fashion – because every second counts.

Join their cause on Kickstarter from October 15^th to November 24^th and help them collect $22,000, so they can run their first production. Help make the world a better place.

Stella McCartney: Fashion Leader and Activist

Posted on October 11, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Creating a role model for young women to be inspired with is a great responsibility. That kind of exposure needs to be taken seriously – as a trendsetter, it’s necessary to set the right standards and fight for noble causes. Of course, you need to look stylish while doing it.

This level of multitasking is hard to achieve, but women worldwide should look up to Stella McCartney, an experienced designer that doesn’t have problems with inspiration when it comes to creating brilliant new collections, while she fights for the environment. So, how does she manage to achieve all of this simultaneously?

Expressive, Feminine & Natural

A lot of artists seek for some sort of divine inspiration to move them and help with their artwork. If you’d ask Stella, she’d tell you that the most important things that should serve as the greatest source of motivation can be found in the smallest everyday moments.

Things that make us happy day after day are often those which we take so lightly. A modern women, according to Stella, needs to be natural, first and foremost. When you get in touch with your true nature, you’ll have no problem drawing confidence from that inexhaustible source. Getting to know your real self isn’t an easy journey, but once you find out everything there is to know, your soft femininity and subtle sex appeal will come to the surface.

This kind of newfound reliability will help you grow into a strong powerful women, with strictly defined priorities, spontaneous hunger for hedonism and a positive mentality.

It’s about Being Fashionably Mindful

When you get to know your true self, then and only then will you be able to experience everything around you in the right way. This is the only world we have – it’s filled with amazing wonders, tiny and huge, and we shouldn’t let our hectic lives prevent us from seeing that.

However, now is the time to protect it. Being a lifelong vegetarian, Stella McCartney and her fashion house strongly advocate against environmental pollution and take a stand for animal protection. During her years in the fashion industry, she worked with many different organizations like Peta, Animals Asia, Million Trees Miami and Meat Free Monday, but also with Women’s Cancer Research Fund, War Child and the Kering Foundation.

Like her fragrance, Stella’s design pieces are so much more than just clothes and accessories. Considering the fact she was brought up on the English countryside, her memories are rather simple, but strong and powerful at the same time. Each new collection of handbags she releases reaches a new level of practicality and elegance. The amount of attention she dedicates to details is quite impressive – everything from materials to stitching is combined together to represent a sort of balance between femininity and a strong fashion statement.

Once you go “au naturale”, there’s no going back. With Stella, her fashion house, her designs and her attitude, you’ll be able to achieve a high level of style and a firm system of healthy priorities – it doesn’t get much better than that, does it?

Your Coffee Can Make a Difference

Posted on October 4, 2015 by lsdiaz03

The number one beverage in the world is certainly coffee, with over 400 billion cups consumed each year in different parts of the world. Having this in mind, it’s no surprise why certain organizations are trying to use coffee as a beverage that can change the world. Think about that when you start enjoying your next cup of coffee.

Intelligentsia Coffee – Helping the farmers create a remarkable taste

The growth and the production of the coffee demands the proper environmental conditions, but most of the time, countries that have these exceptional conditions couldn’t reach the full potential of making remarkable tasting coffee. The reasons for this issue are usually insufficient funds for quality operations, inappropriate infrastructure or not enough technical knowledge. In order to help coffee farmers, Intelligentsia Coffee is working directly with them to provide all the necessary conditions for the production of remarkable coffee. The professionals visit the farm before the harvest in order to set up a strategy, during the harvest to monitor the operation, as well as after the harvest to summarize the outcome and celebrate the success. Personal engagement is stressed as a priority in each of these countries. Not only does the production quality improve, but with direct trade the economy in the region experiences a significant improvement as well.

Laughing Man – when dreams become reality

It can be said that Australians are more than just coffee aficionados. They describe themselves as coffee snobs, and whenever they’re outside of Australia, they try to find the perfect place for their favorite flat white. Being an Australian, famous movie star Hugh Jackman truly understands the importance of exceptional coffee. As an Ambassador of World Vision Australia, he started the project, or rather foundation, called Laughing Man. Back in 1999 he travelled to Ethiopia where he met Dukale, a coffee farmer who was trying to lift his family out of poverty. His story inspired Hugh Jackman who launched Laughing Man Coffee. This project provides the necessary marketplace for coffee farmers in developing countries, and enables them to sell their products to US consumers. The Laughing Man foundation supports educational programs, the growth of entrepreneurship and small business projects, as well as community development across the globe. If you would like to learn more about this amazing partnership, please watch Dukale’s Dream, a story about new friendship and giving back.

TOMS Roasting Co. – a coffee that provides water

Most of TOMS One to One products are mainly focused on aid. In order to enhance the economic development and help create jobs in the communities of countries in development, TOMS started making a clear strategy. The first thing that can be seen, as a part of the economic process, is the coffee farming. They realized that the best way to help the economies of these countries is direct trade and ensuring farmers that they will receive the best price for their goods. Moreover, the farmers can be introduced to new agricultural techniques in order to produce higher yields and reach their full potential. Since many of the countries that produce coffee don’t have enough sources of safe and clear water, TOMS started investing in water systems, which are making a great impact on the community. For every bag of TOMS coffee purchased, one week of clean water can be provided for a person in need. There are numerous TOMS Roasting Co. cafés across USA and you can even order the monthly shipments of coffee from different parts of the world, where TOMS do business. So far, TOMS has been implementing water systems in Malawi, Rwanda, Honduras, Guatemala and Peru.

Written by: Vladimir Zivanovic

Get Wasted at Sweetgreen

Posted on September 25, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Sweetgreen started a campaign this summer called “Get Wasted”, which raises awareness about how much healthy food we waste every day. The goal is to stop people from wasting nutritious and healthy parts of vegetables and actually use them in meals.

Founded in 2007, they have been fighting for healthy and organic diet, and with their dishes they have been contributing this cause for years. Not only are their organic ingredients are carefully chosen from local farmers but their core values include thinking sustainably, which encourages other people to become more aware of our environment and its needs.

Are you aware how much food you throw out?

Every year, a great amount of food ends up in the dumpster, and we don’t think for a second about how much food we are wasting, and how much money we are throwing out. As Dan Baber says: “our culture wastes, because we can afford to waste.” But, is it really a good choice? What are we achieving by that?

Dan Barber’s wastED salad that will change the way you think

Chef Dan Barber put all food waste in one bowl and surprised a lot of people. The wastED salad has become popular all around the world, and more and more people are supporting the cause via social media. This salad will be available on all Sweetgreen’s locations-go try it out!

This salad contains: carrot ribbons, broccoli leaf, romaine heart, roasted kale stems, roasted broccoli stalks and cabbage cores, roasted bread butts, arugula, shaved parmesan, spicy sunflower seeds and pesto vinaigrette. Inspired by Blue Hill Chef Dan Barber’s wastED campaign, Sweetgreen recognized the need to take some further steps and encourage people to become aware of their environment and food they’re wasting on a daily basis.

Make an impact and make a change

People need to finally realize that their opinion and decisions do change the world and influence our community. Think of what you include in your diet every day, and see if it is really as healthy as everything that our agriculture offers.

“The choices we make every day about what we eat, where it comes from, and how it was raised have powerful consequences on the health of individuals, communities and the planet.” – Sweetgreen

Change the World One Lotion at a Time

Posted on September 16, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Founded by Mark Constantine and Liz Weir, Lush has a long and storied history of trying to hit the market with unique handmade and natural cosmetics. After their campaign succeeded and they raised awareness of the benefits of using organic products, Lush started various charity campaigns and isn’t planning on stopping.

Their cosmetics include lotions, soaps, shower gels, shampoos, cleansers, moisturizer, etc. All of these products are perfect for every skin type, and because of their natural formula they are perfectly healthy for you. All the ingredients used come from organic fruit and vegetables, essential oils, and safe synthetic compounds. Moreover, Lush makes makeup and perfumes, which are made according to the highest standards, and they make it a point to ensure customers that none of their products were tested on animals, and that all of the products are made from organic ingredients.

These healthy and luxurious products are famous all over the world, however, Lush is not only famous for their organic products, but also because they believe in protecting people, animals and the planet.

Charity pots changing the world

Lush came up with Charity Pots in 2007, and decided that 100% of the each purchase would go towards funding one mission. These missions include supporting animal and human rights, as well as various save the planet causes from all over the world. Their hand and body lotions have a picture on the packaging, with the description of their mission. This way you know exactly where your money goes and what cause it supports.

Saving the environment and protecting the planet

Many solid products, such as massage bars are sold “naked”, which means without being wrapped and without any packaging at all. This way, they decrease the amount of materials sent to landfills, and if the packaging is needed, they use recycled materials, as their aim is to raise the awareness of using biodegradable, recyclable and compostable materials. They are trying to encourage customers and other companies to stop using plastic bags and start caring about the planet we live on that we depend on for resources.

Fighting animal testing

Long before Lush was even formed, the founders were fighting for animal rights and fighting to stop people testing products on animals in labs. Today, they are buying raw materials and ingredients that weren’t tested on animals, and, as they always say, they are encouraging others to purchase from these suppliers, because the first step to stopping the immoral and inhuman testing is preventing the cash flow to those companies.

Lush is one of the rare companies that are making organic products to keep its customers healthy and happy, and, at the same time, supporting many causes in order to make our world a better place. They have been involved in many charities, projects and causes, which is the reason people find Lush inspirational and see them as a family, one which shares love all around the world.

Written by: Vladimir Zivanovic

Top 5 Sustainable Wine Companies

Posted on September 12, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Sustainability is the word of our age. No matter what kind of industry you’re in or what type of business you do, this is something you need to strive towards to – either you’re going green or you’re going extinct. Economic, social and environmental elements put heavy pressure on companies to go through this transition and develop healthy standards that will be enforced from now on.

Being that wine is a luxury product, the wine industry counts on marketing to provide enough resources for maintaining successful companies that are also sustainable. On the other hand, wine comes from agriculture and it’s only natural for its production to be – well – natural. Sustainable leaders in the industry are constantly finding new ways to further develop organic production, and work on innovations when it comes to packaging, biodynamics and all other aspects of wine production.

Otherwise, wine dependent regions will suffer the consequences; if production is stagnating or contributing to the decrease in the overall quality of life on the planet, the profits will plummet. Some companies are more successful than others with this matter, and they set an example that should be followed and admired.

Ampelos Cellars

There are three different certifications that wine companies work really hard to get. The first one marks sustainability in practice, the second one is about being organic all the way, and the third one symbolizes achievements in the field of bio-dynamics. Guess who got all three of them? Ampelos Cellars are a highly socially responsible company – if you have a winery and you want to go green, they are the role model you should look up to. They completely gave up on using bottled water, and their cover crop are fava beans, sweet peas and homes for friendly insects, so they don’t disturb the ecosystem. There’s one more fact that will explain why they are the leading eco winery – they utilize solar power.

Silvertap

Here’s an interesting idea – why serve wine from bottles when you can cut down glass expenses and serve it directly from a keg? Besides, we all know that just one bottle is rarely enough, which is why getting a keg is a much better idea. Sure, this idea is quite practical, but actually applying it within the wine industry may not be the greatest move – the industry is all about sophistication, and kegs don’t really give that impression, do they? No matter the case, Silvertap still decided to go through with this project and their daring move was widely accepted and appreciated by the green community.

Alma Rosa

In order to reduce glass production, the Alma Rosa team decided to employ a standard bottle mold for all wines they make, which directly decreases the waste. Maintaining high standards when it comes to quality, but still deciding to give up a significant factor in this industry, namely aesthetics, seems like a winning combo when a wine company wants to go green. However, this is not all they did – their wineries use only green farming techniques. There’s no such thing as doing enough when it comes to environmental issues.

Frei Brothers

Their continual efforts to cut down on glass usage as much as possible really make them stand out in a sea of similar companies, but the fact their corks are made only out of tree bark is another big plus. Frei Brothers admirers might be the luckiest among all – fans who show support for their efforts to save the environment receive various gifts.

One Hope Wine

This traditional Napa Valley vineyard really cares about their home. One Hope winery has a beautiful vision to co-exist with nature around it, and save it from all possible factors that might cause damage. After all, nature is the one responsible for this delicious beverage, and this kind of gift needs to be appreciated. Their efforts to cut back on glass production and lower overall water and energy consumption are at an enviable level. Maintaining the product quality their fans are used to and still constantly introducing new eco-friendly innovations to their winery really is an example for everyone to follow. Also check out their foundation for details on how each wine you purchase gives back. One Hope Foundation at http://www.onehopefoundation.org.

There’s so much more to wine than a simple glass that embellishes your meal. Behind each bottle, there’s a journey – each wine house nurtures their well–hidden recipes, they love and nurture each grape, they make sure you’re provided with a top quality product, and they do their best to protect our planet. So, the next time you’re trying to decide between two brands, maybe you should do some research and allow the deciding factor to be whether they are eco-friendly or not. It will taste better when you know that someone devoted and caring made it.

Please, Do tell

Category Archives: a conscious brand