Need, Love, Want: Things I Found This Month That You Should Know

I can’t devote an entire post to every great sustainable/ethical brand I find. (That’s a good thing!) So here’s my roundup of cool stuff I like:

Love: JADEtribe

Have you ever met people that you follow on Instagram? I was out at the super-fun Babel NY party on Sunday night, and fell into conversation with a woman named Kimberly. It was only after 15 minutes of talking, when she asked me what I do for a living, that she realized we follow each other on Instagram. Through her company JADEtribe, she designs ethical and sustainable handbags. I perused her amazing Instagram account, and promised her I would actually take a look at her bags.

And I’m glad I did! Her website has scads of pretty and sophisticated items handcrafted in Southeast Asia. Take a quick peek at a fraction of the selection:

Love: BRIKA x Far and Wide Collective

I was so disappointed to see Given Goods close up shop. They had some wonderful, ethical brands! Still confused by that.

BUT you can find at least one of those brands over at the design site BRIKA now. Far and Wide Collective, which supports craft production and small businesses in emerging economies like Afghanistan, is featured as BRIKA’s first non-North-American maker.

“Hedvig has extensive experience in international development, specifically in Afghanistan, and has seen first-hand how supporting craft production and small businesses (rather than donations alone) is the most effective and sustainable way to improve quality of life,” says Kena Paranjape, BRIKA Co-Founder. “But Hedvig also understood something many socially based businesses don’t–the end product has to be beautiful and marketable.”

Word.

Want: Dick Moby Sunglasses

Designed in Amsterdam and hand made from bio-plastic acetate in the north of Italy, Dick Moby sunglasses have a Cali-cool vibe. So it makes sense that they’ve joined up with the Surfrider Foundation to prevent plastic pollution. The lenses are high quality, being CR 39 UV lenses by ZEISS. Only caveat? You have to order them from Europe.

Need: Carrie Parry’s New Tops

It looks like Carrie Parry is going through a bit of a rebranding effort, focusing on seasonless, perfectly-fitting blouses and other tops. She spent a two-year mentorship program with Alvanon, the leading fit apparel expert, to study the bodies of real women and create a range of fits to flatter all body shapes.

My favorite is the silk boyfriend blouse. What a staple!

Want: Forager Botanicals Body Oil

I’ve been using Forager Botanicals since before I knew what “non-toxic” was. I picked up their perfume in South Moon Under in Maryland. (Oh, South Moon under. You are still so cool to me. Unlike Abercrombie.) Things change: Now I’m living in the same borough as its maker. And now Forager makes body oil.

The oils are a vegan blend of almond, jojoba and coconut oil, made in small batches in Brooklyn. I’m especially interested in the Honeysuckle fragrance, having spent a fair amount of my child hook picking those blooms and sucking out the drop of sugar that lay within. To reduce packaging waste, Forager even offers a 20% on refills. The Honeysuckle fragrance is all natural and has notes of light sweet floral, green leaves and citrus blossom.

Want: CurleeBikiniSwimwear Open Mumu

I absolutely love this made-to-order mumu by eco-conscious swimwear company CurleeBikiniSwimwear. I only wish I could afford it!