eco brand: anchal project, how design changes lives

if you had a superpower, what would it be? this is a question i love to ask people in my life. the founders + workers behind ethical businesses are made of tenacity, resilience and creative problem solving applied to our world’s pressing issues: i call them our modern-day superheroes. today we meet the entrepreneurs + the artisans behind the eco home goods label anchal project, a brand i’ve been following for years. exploring a sustainable brand, as a conscious consumer and citizen, means pulling back the curtain on a brand and getting to know the people, the processes, and the forces behind the label. and who doesn’t love to take a peek behind a superhero’s curtain {ahem, or cape}?

“We believe design can change lives. When you purchase Anchal’s handmade products, you invest in new economic realities for exploited women around the world.”

— Maggie and Colleen Clines

anchal {the urdu word for shelter} brings safety, stability + shelter to vulnerable women across the globe through sustainable employment and handmade designs. a movement for forward change + freedom can happen with a sea of steadfast people, and sometimes, a movement starts with two savvy, strong-willed sisters. colleen and maggie clines place human rights at the center of their organization, working with survivors of sex trafficking and transforming lives via sustainable employment. colleen and maggie are today’s supersheroes and their capes are fair trade.

anchal project is a nonprofit that uses design and collaboration to provide economic opportunities for marginalized women to empower themselves through the creation of handmade, fair trade products. ordinary quilts + pillows these are not, my friends.

all entrepreneurs start with an idea {there it is, skipping about, frolicking in our brains} and suddenly, it’s standing there before us, a once fermenting idea has now come to fruition. and sometimes that idea comes into existence to create positive change on this planet we all call home.

colleen clines took a trip to india in 2009. she was introduced to the world of commercial sex trade and the lack of opportunity for women in the community. it was then that she was galvanized to address social and environmental systems, “the women we met became our sisters, sisters we had to fight for.” 

rooted in collaboration and creative design solutions, anchal is a non-profit that operates like a business via both sales and donations. women are hired as artisans and every artisan has her own personal bank account. 100% of artisans are investing in their children’s education, thereby breaking the cycle of poverty + exploitation.

anchal’s programs demonstrate that when employment inequality is systematically addressed, this can reduce the number of women reliant on commercial sex work and eliminate the stigma that women and girls face around the world. 95% of anchal artisans have left the commercial sex trade or dramatically reduced their clients.

from the founders of anchal, “our impact is evident in each artisan’s personal growth, which we measure annually. ferosa purchased a plot of land and has ideas for a farm, renu bought her family a water filter to ensure safe drinking water, seema purchased purple tile for her kitchen and laxmi sent her daughter to college.

our holistic program is designed to address the diverse needs of each woman and equip them with the tools to sustain employment as an anchal artisan and beyond. by offering alternatives to dangerous and exploitative work, we help women rediscover their dignity, independence and creativity in a financially rewarding way. our programs offer women design and skills training, full-time employment, educational workshops, health services, a supportive community, and access to an international marketplace.”

ethical consumption is indeed a potent form of protest. cheap goods are linked to poverty wages, to dangerous working conditions for factory workers {with 86% being young females} and to environmental degradation with factories contributing to pollution of local communities. this holiday season, choose an ethical label, choose an experience for a loved one, choose to be a superhero yourself via each purchase your make. together we can choose better.

“I think when there is peace, respect and freedom, anybody can be more productive and creative. When I am making something I have many images in my head, but only need to reproduce them on the fabric.”

— Lupe, Anchal Project Artisan

to learn more about anchal’s work, follow them on IG or skip on over to their website for fair trade goodness + life changing products. remember friends, only buy what you need because quality over quantity is what the cool eco cats are doing.

until next time, stay green dear hearts!

eco living: sustainability + the future of vegan leather

why sustainable designers choose vegan leather

today we’re going to explore the leather industry + the alternative leather textiles available. we’ll start with polyurethane and in the coming weeks we’ll explore plant based leathers including pineapple leather, apple leather, cactus leather, mushroom leather, corn leather and more. from our friends at sans beast, a luxe, vegan handbag company:

the rise of vegan leather

“did you know there are 70 billion animals slaughtered yearly for our food and/or fashion consumption? there is a commonly held view that leather is a by-product of the food industry. in fact, it is considered a profitable co-product. in addition, many animals are raised purely for their hides.

animal based leather is an incredibly profitable yet destructive industry. 90% of the worlds fashion leather is chrome tanned + will not biodegrade {chrome tanning is the only way to achieve the majority of desired fashion tones in a consistent + cost effective manner}.

“Synthetic alternatives to leather are less environmentally damaging than animal hide procurement, tanning + production - and hands down, more ethically sound.”

— Cathryn Wills

we come full circle back to the question of ethics + what rates as important to consumers. i believe there is a great deal of misinformation in the market - the main one being that leather is the natural bi-product of the meat industry + therefore we are being responsible by using it for product manufacture. but just like any industry, supply is based on demand, and demand is often based on marketing. leather is a co-product of the meat industry - and as per aplf reporting in november 2018, the global leather goods market is worth usd 95.4 billion in 2018 and will reach usd 128.61 billion by 2022 at a growth rate of 4.36% during the forecasted period. these numbers are not a lucky coincidence that there just happens to be enough animals slaughtered to cater to this market - it's by design + it's driven. 

we’ve chosen to focus on the inordinate damage that factory farming does to the environment as well as the exploitation of animals that exists in this industry, and combat these issues, with making non leather bags instead – and we work tirelessly to create bags that are well designed + manufactured to instill a loyalty to the product from our customer, thus inhibiting any desire to send it to landfill.  

there is an excellent 2017 report by the global fashion agenda that rates several raw materials, cradle to gate, in terms of environmental impact - and it highlights that leather rates substantially worse than synthetic leather on three out of the four measured traits - global warming, water scarcity, eutrophication. indeed, cow leather is in the top three raw materials in terms of negative impact - sitting amongst cotton, wool + silk.  synthetic leather fares worse in abiotic resource depletion (the fourth pillar on which the materials have been rated) which is related to fossil fuels. so, is synthetic leather really an inferior option on the environmental front?

Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Higg Material Sustainability Index tool.

an alternative to leather

we're not going to greenwash this situation. our bags are not made of soil + sunshine. they are constructed from a good quality polyurethane {pu} which is a base fabric coated with a painted surface + then embossed with various textures. this is no single use catastrophe we're carrying around. polyurethane {pu} is a highly resilient, flexible and durable material. it is a polymer joined by urethane links - used as a coating to give textiles a wide variety of properties including the ability to be water-resistant and anti-bacterial.

invented in the late 1930s as a potential replacement for rubber {which was in short supply post wwi}, pu has become a prolific material, used in everyday life (fridges, washing machines, car interiors, the list is long). the pu we utilize, does not use toxic levels of chemicals in production, with the fabrics adhering to the chemical standards of reach + prop65 {the californian toxic enforcement act of 1986}. synthetic alternatives to leather are less environmentally damaging than animal hide procurement, tanning + production - and hands down, more ethically sound. 

we continue to source + sample alternatives - with our next step being, to use more {primarily} plant based + recycled materials. when we say 'primarily' in relation to plant based, we refer to the fact that for a plant based fabric for fashion handbag construction to have longevity + remain 'good looking' it does generally need to have a coating of some description, and this is typically a polymer of some sort.  

acrylic + cellulosic acetate

we use both acrylic and cellulosic acetate in trims + charms in our collections. acrylic is a plastic, and was developed 
in the 1920s, as a shatterproof alternative to glass. other names for acrylic
 - plexiglas, acrylite, perspex + lucite – are all trademarked names. acrylic is thermoplastic + becomes malleable under high heat, as a result, we are able to mold it into shapes such as our distinctive luggage handle. cellulosic acetate was created in the late 1800s + refined further in the early 20th century.  cellulosic acetate has a long winded construction, but in simple terms – it’s a combination of wood pulp (the cellulosic part) + a mixed bag of chemical compounds. It offers transparency, a beautiful color spectrum, flexibility + is hypoallergenic. it’s been utilized for film, fabric, lacquer + eyewear over the years.”

{don’t forget the tip} the workers tasked with leather preparation across the global community have consistent exposure to toxic chemicals and a shortened life span. videos can be hard to watch, when we are educating ourselves about the leather industry and its impact on the environment, the exposure to toxic chemicals for the workers who treat + process the animal hides, and the animals themselves. if you’re interested in learning more, and words are the best way to drink in new information, pop into a local bookstore or cruise your favorite online indie bookshop to purchase eating animals by jonathan safran foer.

until next time, stay green dear hearts!

eco brand: zero waste pouches from by the sea

keep it together

how does one keep everything together? literally or metaphorically, i love the idea of discovering how each of us holds our lives together, whether by service to others, the creation of art, physical activity, prayer or nurturing relationships in our lives. for me, i’m adamant about keeping my home space + personal space organized.

i like to think a neat, orderly space creates clear, open paths for brilliant + beautiful ideas to push through the fertile ground of my brain {that’s my story + i’m sticking to it!}.

zero waste living

to create a clean space here on planet earth, it takes just a few adjustments to our everyday living habits to shape environmentally sound practices.

remember, friends, not all that glimmers can be recycled. the answer here is not simply to recycle more, but to buy less plastic products + pre-packaged food items. according to greenpeace, globally only 9% of our plastic is recycled. where does the rest go? with landfills + recycling facilities reaching maximum capacity, the overflow ends up in our oceans.

here are four easy steps to plastic-free living:

1. carry a canvas or cloth tote bag to fetch groceries + run errands

2. use a reusable water bottle rather than single-use plastic bottles

3. take a set of reusable utensils + your own to-go container when heading out

4. invest in zero-waste products made by eco companies like reusable dishcloths, produce bags + zip pouches

by the sea

i’m holding it all together with handmade + zero waste pouches from by the sea organics. this eco home goods brand + sustainable fashion label was created with the mission to pay a fair wage + provide safe working milieus to workers throughout the supply chain while continuing to adhere to the most sustainable practices at every level of production.

it’s a great balm to my mind + heart to know that there are small, independent companies that never stray from their values + ethics to put people + planet over profit. by the sea has an entire range of lovely, zero waste zip pouches, grocery totes, produce bags, snack bags + charming notebooks made from earth friendly, organic cotton factory scraps. why toss excess fabric into a landfill when you can make magic with them?! i carry my light-as-a-feather notebook with me everywhere!

love + equal pay

shopping is indeed a political act, with our dollars we can vote to support companies that mirror our values. we can choose companies like by the sea that protect the environment by eschewing the use of plastic throughout their entire supply chain and lift up workers via safe working environments + living wages.

each of our actions matters: small acts + big acts. as consumers + citizens, we can each choose to invest in products that truly create harmony for people + planet.

wherever you may be during these uncertain times, i hope that you are close to peace + calm. and i hope that you are organizing the space in your mind, heart + home.

until next time, stay green dear hearts!

don’t forget the tip: journalist + environmentalist lucy siegle informs us in her book turning the tide on plastic, “the amount of plastic debris in the sea is predicted to increase from 50 million metric tons in 2015 to 150 million metric tons by 2025.” let this sobering science galvanize us to action. let us take up pens, my friends. let us write + call our government representatives and elected officials.

our garbage is buried in the ground, burned or sent away to be disposed of in landfills, often affecting vulnerable communities. single-use plastic bags + containers pollute land + waterways, endangering animal life on earth + marine life in our oceans. the chemicals released by these plastics make our soil infertile + our water supplies toxic. gulp.

siegle implores us as citizens + consumers, “whenever you see packaging that is totally over the top, take up the pen and write to the company responsible. It needn’t be a formal letter – a tweet [or ig post] will often be just as if not more effective. add the hashtag, #reducepackaging to your tweet, and make sure you copy in your local council and trading standards office (if they are on social media).”

eco round up: 24 reusable + ethically produced face masks

zero waste + organic cloth face masks

hopefully you + yours have been taking care the past months during these precarious times. we’ve had to become more vigilant about our health, from confinement and social distancing to washing our hands frequently: with each interaction we are reminded of our responsibility to protect + care for others + ourselves.

centers for disease control and prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings. the cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks nor N-95 respirators, hence they do not provide the same protection; masks are intended to slow the spread of the covid19 virus, to help people who may have the covid19 virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.

smiling on the inside

having been diagnosed with covid19, i was grateful to have a doctor who so beautifully + eloquently expressed the responsibility that one has to prevent the spread of the virus when one has a positive diagnosis. as asymptmatic carriers exist, being proactive + wearing a mask sans a positive diagnois could help to slow the spread of this virus.

in france, wearing a face mask is mandatory on public transportation + in high schools. shop owners can also require patrons to wear masks. update: paris mayor anne hidalgo confirmed free washable, cloth facemasks will be available to paris residents after de-confinement by filling out a form here.

support small businesses with each purchase

if you’re searching for a substitute to synthetic masks, there are sustainable options available from small, independent makers: they are reusable + ethically produced; made with natural textiles including hemp + organic cotton; and washable.

here is a link to find out more about how to wear cloth face masks and how to best care for them.

1. anchal // usa

2. armed angels // germany

3. beklina // usa

4. boutique de sens // france

5. by the sea // usa

6. christy dawn // usa

7. groceries apparel // usa

8. herbivore // usa

9. immaculate vegan // uk

10. indigo handloom // usa

11. in 2 green // usa

12. jan n june // germany

13. known supply // usa

14. la fabrik eco // canada

15. les fleurs // france

16. lisa says gah // usa

17. love goodly // usa

18. malu organics // usa

19. melie bianco // usa

20. reev // france

21. reif haus // usa

22. reformation // usa

23. systems c // france

24. theo the label // australia

25. the sustainable shop // usa

**please note, these face masks are not medical grade and are recommended for personal use only. remember to wash your hands before putting on your mask and after removing it. continue to wash your hands frequently + respect social distancing. stay safe, stay positive + stay inside, dear hearts!

eco brand: the 108 handbags, socially conscious style

into africa

today’s ethical brand, the one08, takes us to the pastoral landscape of eastern africa to the il ngwesi wildlife conservancy. spanning 16,500 acres of lush low plains + highlands, il ngwesi is a community-led + operated conservation initiative in northern kenya, a sanctuary for the critically endangered black rhino, the white rhino, the african elephant + the grevy’s zebra. the vision of the conservation initiative is to sustainably manage the land to conserve wildlife.

this is not just a bag

the one08 is an eco, vegan handbag label created with the purpose of participating in the conservation of wildlife + the protection of our planet. how does a simple product like a handbag contribute to the conservation of biodiversity? the root of the answer lies in the company name. the number 108 was considered the basis of all creation in ancient cultures and traditions. co-founders jamie travis + marnie quinn came together to create the one08, 1 representing the individual, 0 representing the collective and 8 representing the infinite.

“Hearing the fierce roar of a lion just a few feet away is like coming heart to heart with the seat of creation itself. It is not only through the sound but through the resulting vibration in your heart. This permanently changed the way I view our place in the world. My life mission is to speak for the wildlife as they cannot speak for themselves.”

the one08

33% of the profits from the sale of every the one08 handbag is used to purchase equipment and provide training for the people at il ngwesi so that they may continue to live in symbiosis with the land + wildlife.**

every purchase of a cruelty-free, handcrafted product provides viable means of employment, thus allowing the maasai people to live in harmony with wildlife + their environs. the founders of remind us that long term wildlife conservation can only be achieved by working with the communities that inhabit the same land, “our solution is providing economic opportunity for these communities.”

do no harm

it started with a visit to south africa in 2013, where a deep passion for wildlife conservation was ignited. “hearing the fierce roar of a lion just a few feet away is like coming heart to heart with the seat of creation itself. it is not only through the sound but through the resulting vibration in your heart. this permanently changed the way i view our place in the world. my life mission is to speak for the wildlife as they cannot speak for themselves. “

forward thinking

as a conscious consumer, i have been seeking an ethically produced + vegan handbag to travel with me, across town or across continents, and the one08 has captured my heart for their lofty mission and design-led handbags that are transforming an entire community in kenya and conserving wildlife while protecting the environment. all the one08 designs are made with vegan leather, including an innovative plantbased, pineapple leaf fiber, all lined with a happy flora + fauna print made of 100% recycled plastic bottles.

the one08 bag has been my trusty companion, as i stay put for now during these precarious times and appreciate simple pleasures like native vegetation, fresh spring breezes and the scent of fresh blooms on my way to the market. i dream of visiting the il ngwesi eco lodge with friends in the future. when the time comes, i’ll carry this powerful product with me. for now, i love to dream + scheme as i look forward with anticipation to future adventures.

i’ll be holding this bag on my arm as my nomadic soul trots across the globe for all future grand explorations.

don’t forget the tip: **the wildlife conservancy is home to a breathtaking eco lodge hand built by maasai tribal members on the model of responsible tourism and is both owned and managed by the maasai people. the maasai people benefit from sustainable development projects funded by the conservancy including adequate medical care, job training and education for local schoolchildren. let us travel to africa, my friends, at least via our imaginations until we can voyage there one fine day: click here to travel to il ngwesi.

until next time, stay green dear hearts!