a sustainable and ethical (life)style blog
This is the first of many “Cat in the Wild” entries to come! I hope this series inspires you to get outside, especially if, like me, you’re intimidated or hesitant to leave the comfort of the city for the trail.
I think it was really this hike, Lake Ingalls, that sparked this desire within me to get outside, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
Wool is one of nature’s superstar fibers. It’s warm, moisture-wicking, odor resistant, anti-microbial, and when produced under the right circumstances, deliciously soft and cozy. It’s also one of the most biodegradable materials, decomposing within six months in ideal conditions.
But for those of us concerned with animal welfare, choosing to buy wool involves significant ethical considerations. Personally, wool is one of my favorite fibers to wear, and as someone trying to be a more ethical knitter and consumer, the welfare of the sheep from where my wool is sourced is top of mind for me.
That’s why I’m thrilled to partner with Myssyfarmi, a small-scale wool goods farm in Finland, to talk about this issue close to my heart!
I am a sucker for subscription boxes! I love getting little packages in the mail each month, filled with fun surprises. I mean, who doesn’t?
I’ve tried Birchbox in the past, but that experience was definitely a case of “better in theory than in practice.” I ended up with a bunch of sample-sized products that I never used up, mostly because the products didn’t fit my skin or needs. Worse, I couldn’t filter out brands that were cruelty-free or non-toxic, which became a deal breaker.
When I heard about Petit Vour’s cruelty-free beauty box that the products were also non-toxic and vegan, I thought it was too good to be true! Spoiler alert: It’s the real deal, and I think it’s way better than Birchbox.
Hey fellow conscious consumer! I have to tell you something.
The weight of the world is not on your shoulders, and conscious consumerism isn’t gonna save the world.
I know, this probably sounds hypocritical coming from someone who blogs mostly about conscious consumerism. Although I do believe that thinking critically about the things we buy and what kind of practices we support with our dollars is important, I’m worried that there’s too much emphasis on individual actions within the conscious consumerism movement.
Obviously, I think about ethical fashion a lot, but it’s something else to actually see the faces and hear the voices of the women working in fast fashion sweatshops, fighting for change.
Last night, I had the privilege of attending the Garment Worker Center banquet in Los Angeles. The Garment Worker Center organizes low-wage garment workers in LA, empowering them to fight back against abusive employers.
The banquet was incredibly illuminating about the struggles of garment workers in LA, but it was ultimately a celebration of the community that had gathered to fight for garment worker rights and the garment workers themselves, who are so brave and strong for standing up to their oppressors.
After a powerful and moving night, I, of course, had some major THOUGHTS that I wanted to write up and share with you. Here ya go.
Every time autumn rolls around, I’m more than happy to trade my tired old flip flops for a pair of sleek black ankle booties.
These boots are all ethically made, designed to last, and made for walking… and, of course, jumping into huge piles of crunchy leaves.
I’ve been more conscious of my beauty purchases since learning more about how many ingredients in our beauty products can be toxic or irritating. I also want to commit more fully to buying cruelty-free and vegan products, because animal testing has always horrified me and there is literally zero reason to inflict such violence and cruelty on animals when animal testing doesn’t even yield conclusive information.
Unfortunately, it can take a lot of time to research the products you’re buying, and a lot of money to try out new products just to see if you like them.
Today I’m excited to share a really fun, easy, and affordable way to discover cruelty-free, natural, and clean beauty brands and products!
Time to ‘fess up. I’m addicted to Reformation.
For the longest time, I determinedly held firm against their “cool girl” marketing and ridiculously adorable styles, appalled that just one dress could cost over $200. No way was I going to give in and splurge my nonprofit wages on these floral print wallet-temptresses, no matter how cute!
I’ve always been a bit of a beauty junkie, and it felt inevitable that my conscious consumerism journey would eventually explore the world of clean and natural beauty, as well as vegan and cruelty-free beauty.
Like with most conscious consumer goods, there’s a lot of nuance and depth to these terms that gets obscured through pretty millennial marketing. I’ve written a quick guide to elucidate the murky vagueness around words like “clean,” “natural,” “non-toxic” as they pertain to the beauty industry. Hope this helps!
We’re at the peak of summer, which means I’ve been living in my favorite lazy outfit: the summer dress! I mean, when it’s pushing 90 degrees out, you don’t have time to pick out and coordinate two or more pieces of clothing.
Unfortunately, it’s hard enough to find a cute ethically made and sustainable dress, let alone one that fits within your budget. That’s why I’ve taken it upon myself to spend hours online shopping in order to curate this list of sustainable and ethical dresses under $100! I know, really taking one for the team here.
Enjoy the fruits of my labor and shop my picks below!