Bear needed a few warm clothes for winter, so I went to Bluebird, a kids resale store on Larchmont in LA. It’s a super cute place, and everything I got was used. They also buy your stuff, just like Buffalo Exchange or Crossroads Trading Company, but for kids.
 
Besides a hat, this was the first batch of clothes I’ve bought for Bear. The rest have been hand-me-downs from friends.
 
Where do you get your kids clothes?

Related Stories:

Kind Classics: How To Pack a Healthy Lunch That Your Kids Will Actually Eat
Fatim's Superhero Baby
Kind Cuties!
What To Do When Nothing Fits!!!

Pure Citizen's daily email is a must have. Every day Pure Citizen highlights a new organic, fair trade, eco-conscious and/or vegan company, and for a limited time only you can find a selection of our items on sale at up to 70% off!

Shop Pure Citizen and see this week's vegan favorites on sale: perfumes from Tallulah Jane, makeup from Modern Minerals, jewelry from 31 Bits, dog and cat beds from Better Buddies, and more.

Want to win some vegan shoes and chocolates?

To enter, sign up for Pure Citizen's daily email here and leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite vegan company by December 18 at 11:59PM PST. 
The winner will receive one pair of handmade vegan ribcage flats from Manimal, plus five runner-ups will win a sampler of vegan chocolate truffles and Munch from Nicobella.

Be sure to check out all of the vegan holiday gifts that Pure Citizen has to offer. And today through December 18th, you can also get free shipping on any purchase by using code KINDLIFE at checkout. That should make your holiday shopping a whole lot easier.

• This sweepstakes is open to all registered users of TheKindLife.com. Learn how to sign up by clicking here.
• You may only enter once. Multiple entries will not be considered.
• The sweepstakes will begin on December 14, 2011 at 6:00AM PST and end on December 18, 2011 at 11:59PM PST.
• After the entry period has closed, a winner will be chosen at random and notified via private message and email. If winner does not claim prize within 24 hours, a new winner will be chosen.
• Odds are dependent on the number of entries. Any questions? Please contact the site admin.
• Void where prohibited by law.

*UPDATE: We've chosen our winners! Congrats Jennifer, Audrey, Orin, Bianca, Maiah and Phyllis!*

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by
 

Eco-jewelry designer Tumbleweed Bead Co. makes their jewelry from recycled materials and natural stones, and all their pieces are handcrafted. This season, Tumbleweed is giving away a set of six gold rings and a pair of large, silver rectangular earrings (pictured above) to one lucky kind lifer!
 
To enter for a chance to win the ring and earrings set pictured above, tell me where you would wear them in the comments below.
 
PS - If you’d like to do some eco-friendly gift shopping, you can get 15% off any purchase from Tumbleweed December 1-20. Just use code kindlife when you check out!

*UPDATE: We've chosen our winner. Congrats Lindsey!*

Kind designer Vaute Couture makes some of the chicest winter coats, tees, and accessories around, and best of all, everything is 100% vegan.

The Alicia Coat

Vaute Couture is giving away one “Alicia” coat (pictured above), plus a Friends sweatshirt, earmuffs, and a knit headband (pictured below) to one lucky kind lifer. This year’s collection is super stylish and fun, so be sure to check out Vaute Couture’s look book too.

The Friends Series Favorite Sweatshirt

The Vaute Couture Signature Earmuff

The VC Soy HandKnit Feather Headband

To enter for a chance to win Vaute Couture’s winter wardrobe, tell me why you need a new winter coat in the comments below.

Good luck!

PS - Today through December 5th, you can also get 30% off any purchase of a Vaute Couture coat by using code KINDLIFE at checkout.

*UPDATE: We've chosen our winner! Congrats Megan!

It's starting to get chilly, so I thought it would be a good time to share this blog from the archives. If you're thinking of buying a new coat, be sure to read this first!

Where does wool come from? How do we get it? We just shave the sheep gently, right? And make them feel better in the heat? Uh no!!! Animals are cut and hurt in the process of collecting wool - there is nothing gentle about it. Then at the end, there isn't a retirement farm for these sheep. They are sent to slaughter.
 
According to PETA, a gruesome practice called “mulesing” is still inflicted on sheep in Australia, where millions of Merino sheep are raised. These sheep are bred to have wrinkly skin because that produces more wool. In the Australian heat, however, the excess wool causes sheep to die from heat exhaustion – but worse, for their wool to get infested with maggots, which literally eat them alive. Farmers’ solutions to this is to cut off chunks of skin from lambs (without anesthesia) so that the scarred flesh will deter maggots. However, the lambs’ wounds often become infected before they heal.
 
The good news is there are many alternatives to wool. Now, I know wool seems more environmentally friendly than say, vinyl. But consider how bad it is for the environment to raise these animals, and use all the resources and land it takes to feed them. Unless you rescued a bunch of sheep from a slaughter house, and live somewhere where in the summer they beg you to free them of the wool, and you gently take it off, and always treat the sheep with kindness and respect, I am not a fan. In order to collect wool in a kind way, you would not be able to run a business – it would have to be a sort of hippie side fun project. I’m not sure how many situations there are like that, but I can assure you that 100% of the wool you purchase in the store is not produced like that.
 
In winter, I do just fine – you can read about some awesome vegan winter clothes here. If you have wool already, use it and love it until it’s time to give it away or say goodbye to it. Just try not to support cruel practices by buying new wool. If you feel comfy in wool, get used wool – although I have to say it always made me itch! But if you are going to buy it, it’s better to get a used product.

Now I’m sure that there are some exceptions to all of this... I recently read about The North Circular, a company started by models Lily Cole and Katherine Poulton. The North Circular rescues sheep and works with grandmothers (literally!) to knit chic apparel and accessories. It sounds pretty decent, but again, this is not the wool that you purchase in any mainstream store. So if you find a story or situation that sounds really compassionate, then that might work for you. I’m usually pretty suspicious when I’m told that certain wool came from a good, cruelty free place... I always wonder, well what exactly happens to those sheep?  How are they sheared? Is this a business? I would need to fully research each situation that I hear about to make sure it seems kosher to me.

What are your thoughts on this issue?

Related Stories:

My Thoughts on Fur
Where Do You Get Eco Undies and Tanks?
Nola Singer's Kind Jewelry
Are Bras With Underwires Bad for You?

I'm looking for new underwear!

What is your favorite line of natural, 100% organic cotton (or other all-natural eco material) undies?



I’m also on the hunt for eco tanks with a light bra inside (think yoga tanks). Not an underwire bra, but those ones that just have some support, almost like a built-in sports bra. Do you know of any great tanks with built-in bras that are eco and comfy? Let me know in the comments below!

Related Stories:

are bras with an underwire bad for you?
my thoughts on fur
nola singer's kind jewelry
my appearance in Vogue

Through the years, I’ve struggled to find the right reaction whenever I’ve come into contact with people who wear fur. I have so many strong feelings about this issue that I’ve often become tongue-tied and have not known what to say.

At times, I’ve said things that, even though they were truly what I felt, only angered or alienated people. Other times, I’ve said nothing and just accepted that it’s their choice. But holding it in and simmering in silence didn’t feel right to me either.

What I’ve finally learned is that being warm and kind is the best way to open a dialogue on this subject. Often, people wearing fur expect me to say something harsh that will put them on the defensive. But, if I’m willing to engage with them openly and respectfully (even if I can’t stand the choice they’ve made), it gives us an opportunity to have a friendly conversation, one where they’re far more open to hearing another point of view.

If I feel comfortable, I might ask them in a disarming tone, “Hey, is that real?” This gives them the chance to answer yes or no, but I think just asking the question plants the seed in their mind. If they say it is, I just go, “Ahhh,” or give a look that expresses my reaction - but without judgment or condemnation; I just try and express my truth.

Many times, people will say things like, “Oh gosh, I know… My mom gave it to me,” or, “I struggle with this issue myself!” Whatever their response, by staying compassionate and non-judgmental, I have a much better chance at planting a seed of change in their mind or opening up a dialogue than if I get into an argument with them. I think I’ve wound up having a far more positive effect by calling out my feelings on the issue while not cutting off the chance to have a respectful dialogue. A lot of times, people who wear fur might already have an openness to hearing another point of view, but if you go at them in a way that’s confrontational, they will shut down.

It doesn’t make me hate the fur trade any less, but if my goal is to win over people and eliminate fur clothing for good, then a kind and understanding approach can be the most effective. Living a compassionate life means sometimes even having compassion for people who are making choices that are harmful or ignorant. We don’t have to like or accept what they’re doing, but the most effective way to start changing it is by engaging them in constructive dialogue.

What do you do when you see someone wearing fur? What have you found to be the most effective way to get people to change?

This fall, step out in style and do it the ethical way! LovingEco, the hottest flash sales site for eco fashion, accessories and natural beauty is gearing up for fall and you can get exclusive access!

Actress and animal activist Shannon Elizabeth is LovingEco’s guest celebrity tastemaker this week, selecting her favorite stylish brands including sexy vegan shoes and purses from Cri de Coeur, natural beauty products from MyChelle, and eco-fashion from Jonano and Vaute Couture.

Want a chance to win a gorgeous fall outfit worth over $660? Sign on as a member today at LovingEco, and this fall you could be stepping out in Jonano’s organic cotton “Bloom Double Sash Shirtdress” (valued at $125) in slate gray and Cri de Coeur’s stunning vegan “Charlie Foldover Messenger Bag” in raven (valued at $495).

Who wouldn’t love a fabulously chic outfit that’s so versatile it transitions from Sunday brunch to Tuesday at the office in a snap? Pair it with your favorite tights and a light jacket for a chilly night out – practically, ethically perfect!

To enter, simply follow these steps:

1. Go to lovingeco.com and become a member (it’s free)
2. Leave a comment on this post with your favorite product from the site

A winner will be selected at random from the comments on this post and you must be a LovingEco member to win. The contest ends at midnight on Sunday, September 4.

LovingEco’s Style for Change campaign is your chance to feel beautiful and give back by bringing about positive change. Purchase an organic t-shirt and 100% of the profits go to charity. Learn more about our Style for Change campaign here.

LovingEco’s sales this week support Farm Sanctuary, an organization based in New York that aims to protect farm animals from cruelty, inspire change in the way society acts toward farm animals and promote a kind, vegan lifestyle.

*UPDATE: We've chosen our winner. Congrats Allie!*

Nola Singer designs beautiful jewelry out of vintage pieces she finds all over the world. Here she shares how she got inspired to design sustainable baubles and lead a kind life. Thank you, Nola!

 

How I Got Into a Kind Life
By Nola Singer
 

I have always been creative, and after majoring in art in college, I still needed to find my outlet. Fashion became my canvas, and I decided to become a stylist. While having the opportunity to work with Alicia Silverstone, Halle Berry, and Jada Pinkett-Smith (among others), I had a difficult time finding unique accessories. I would go shopping and all the jewelry looked the same. I like to wear something different, and as a stylist, I wanted my clients to have their personal style reflected in their wardrobe as well. So, I started making jewelry by recycling vintage pieces that I had collected over the years. I love how each vintage piece is one of a kind and special, and I've always believed that accessories can make (or break) an outfit. I really wanted to make jewelry that anyone could wear to dress up a tank top and jeans, but also wear with a black dress to stand out with some edge.

My love for vintage started in high school. I remember my parents giving me  $20 to go to the mall and see a movie or get food with friends. Instead, I would go to Melrose and spend it at the thrift stores. This was a decade ago, so $20 could get me a vintage T-shirt or slip dress. This is the moment I fell in love with vintage. There is something magical about the history of each vintage find. There is also an energy that I think lives on in the pieces.

In college, I spent a semester abroad studying art and fashion in Florence, Italy. Having grown up in California, where everything is torn down and rebuilt or remodeled, I was enchanted by all the history in Italy. At the time, the American dollar had a lot more value, and I started collecting vintage treasures throughout Europe. I didn't know what I was going to do with these art deco dress clips, shoe clips and filigree brooches I found, but I knew I had to have them. My friends told me I was spending my money on junk, but I knew I would make something with them. I also loved meeting the antique dealers and hearing the history of their antique finds.

So much vintage jewelry and vintage fabric still exists – you just have to search for it. I love re-working the vintage treasures I’ve found and making them into modern fashion. For example, I love to break a pair of clip-on earrings and re-make them into a new style of chandelier earrings, a necklace, bracelet or a ring. It's exciting to take something old and reinvent it. I also feel like much of the new and mass-produced jewelry can't compare to the craftsmanship of vintage jewelry. Recycling vintage pieces ensures that all of my jewelry is one-of-a-kind and unique – and of course it’s environmentally friendly.

I think it is really important to be conscious of everything we do. I try to act ethically in my production of jewelry and in all aspects of my life. I hand make all my jewelry. I make environmentally responsible decisions in my life whenever I can or with every opportunity I have. Beyond being a sustainable jewelry designer, I live in a 1930s house, and even my workspace is decorated with hand-me-down furniture and flea market finds. When I am not making jewelry, I volunteer at animal shelters and I rescue dogs. I love animals, and I'm a vegetarian.

As part of the green fashion movement, I feel good knowing I'm not leaving a carbon footprint and that I’m making good use of a renewable resource by recycling old jewelry. Every piece of jewelry I hand-make is created from a one-of-a-kind piece that I love or that inspired me. I want my jewelry to be stylish and make a statement, while capturing timeless elegance. My designs are feminine and classic, but are mixed with an edge by incorporating asymmetric layering or mixed chains with a vintage piece. I feel very grateful to have been able to make my love for vintage jewelry my life’s work.

Nola Singer’s jewelry and store locations can be viewed on her website at www.jewelrybynola.com. Nola is also on the board of Friends of Los Angeles Animal Shelters and also volunteers with Animal Advocates Alliance at the Baldwin Park Shelter when she is not making jewelry.
 
Thanks Nola! Do you Kind Lifers buy vintage jewelry? What are your favorite places to shop?