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Vegan Chic

01-Dec-09

Vegan Chic

www.veganchic.com

Not that long ago, the vast majority of materials used to substitute for leather were cheaply made and generally unsightly. People who did not want to purchase items made from leather had limited options.

Today, there are a number of retail and online stores that sell leather-like products that are very attractive and fashionable. Take a few minutes to review the offerings at Vegan Chic.

Purveyors of vegan shoes, vegan boots, and vegan handbags. We strive, everyday, to bring you a massive line of stylish and practice animal-friendly shoes, bags, and apparel. We believe that in doing so we reinforce our belief that consumers can ‘look fierce without being cruel.’ We believe our name ‘Vegan Chic’ illustrates our core belief that you can be vegan and still be fashionable and glamorous. We hope to bring you not only great vegan shoes and vegan bags, but the widest possible selection of vegan apparel.

So, whether you are looking to strut your stuff in vegan boots, vegan shoes, vegan pumps, vegan clogs, or vegan sandals, you have found the vegan store for you. Gone are the days of heartbreak when you spotted your dream shoes in a store window only to find they were made of leather or had leather soles. This is a compassionate vegetarian’s shopping paradise! Welcome to fear-free browsing. In just a few clicks, you’ll find every shoe style that fits your need, being assured that they are completely vegan shoes. We do all the checking for you. Our shoes do not contain leather, suede, wool, or silk.

Included in the items sold at Vegan Chic are a wide variety of vegan shoes for men, women, and children, vegan day and evening bags, and vegan wallets and belts.

Who are we? We are vegan ourselves…. We know the consumer struggle of meeting the demands of a more compassionate lifestyle. We are a bunch of vegan girls and boys who live in Los Angeles. We have a fabulous office where we work hard to make this fashion world better for animals – and, ultimately, you.

In addition to our animal-friendly commitment, we strive to genuinely make a difference in the world. Therefore, we donate a generous portion of our profits to multiple animal charities!

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Eco-Me

21-Nov-09

Eco-Me

eco-me.com

Have you ever looked at the ingredients in regular cleaning products? I mean, really looked at the fine print? Probably not. Until about a decade ago, I bought regular cleaning products, never thinking what was actually in them.

But, I have changed. I now try to use as many natural cleaning products as possible.  Recently, I learned about Eco-Me, a Pasadena, California-based company that makes of host of different cleaning items. I have been incredibly impressed.

Eco-Me specializes in 100% natural products that are good for you and the environment, too. We created a line of cleaning kits to help people make their own natural, non-toxic, chemical free products.

Robin Levine, the founder of Eco-Me, decided to create her company after her 36-year-old sister was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2005.

With no family history of the disease nor a lifestyle to promote it, could my sister’s breast cancer be linked to the pollutants in our environment or toxic chemicals in our homes? Is it possible that by simply cleaning your home you are creating a toxic environment? Could the chemicals in products that line our shelves lead to life threatening health risks?

Why are we taking such risks in our homes and with our well-being? Questions lead us to an answer: Eco-Me!

The need to remove unnecessary chemicals from our homes led our search for completely natural and chemical-free products…. Most natural cleaners still use synthetic chemicals for colorants, preservatives and fragrance. So, we decided that if we wanted a truly natural products, we would have to make it ourselves, and a few months later Eco-Me was born.

Eco-Me sells a variety of DIY (do-it-yourself) kits for cleaning the home, skin, babies, and pets. The company also sells a line of pre-mixed ready-to-use products for cleaning carpets, laundry, dishes, and wood. In addition, there is a scrub cleanser for all surfaces and an all purpose household cleanser. These products contain no chemicals, preservatives, parabens, synthetic fragrances, colorants, surfactants, detergents, recyclable pet #1 plastic, or post consumer waste.

Eco-Me is very socially responsible.

At Eco-Me, we believe in giving back to our partners, the community and organizations that are doing good work…. Throughout the year, Eco-Me participates in Give-Back Campaigns and gives up to 10% back for online sales to charitable organizations.

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McFarland Designs

10-Nov-09

McFarland Designs

www.mcfarlanddesigns.com

All too often, the stones in jewelry have a shady history. Were the workers who mined the stones paid fair wages? Did they have reasonable working conditions? Did the owners employ children?  How about the people who assembled the jewelry? Over and over again, we hear stories of owners making huge profits off the backs of poorly compensated workers tolling in horrendous conditions.

If you have similar concerns, but also want to purchase truly beautiful, unique, reasonably priced jewelry, check out the website of McFarland Designs.

In all that I do, I strive to minimize harm to people, animals, and the environment, and to leave the world a better place than I found it. In my personal life, this philosophy guides my choices about food, clothing, and entertainment, and of course it extends to my work as well.

I use 100% recycled Harmony Metals and fair trade stones in my designs. I realize that the terms ‘ethical’ and ‘fair trade’ are somewhat subjective at this moment in time in the jewelry industry as there are no established guidelines yet for fair trade metal and gemstone mining; therefore I believe that the best way for me to be true to my ethical intentions is to offer complete transparency to my customers. I pass along to you every bit of information I can find about the origins of my materials, so that you can make your own fully informed judgments and decisions.

The situation with gemstones is a bit more complicated. Everyone has different ideas about what the best ways are to protect workers and the environment, and as with many other ethical conundrums, it can be tough to know what the right decision is. While I am always open to considering other perspectives, here’s what I’m comfortable with right now. (1) lab-created stones,(2) stones that are mined and cut in the U.S., and (3) stones obtained from outside the U. S. through channels that can be verified to be promoting environmental health, worker safety, and local communities.

McFarland Design sells rings, necklaces, pendants, earrings, and bracelets. All the jewelry is vegan; none of the items contains animal products, such as pearls, silk, and leather, and no animal products are used in the construction of the jewelry.

Whenever possible, I make decisions in my studio that take into account the environment and my commitment to conservation and animal rights. I use recycled office paper, ship my jewelry in boxes made from recycled materials when possible …, and I ship all orders in gently used bubble mailers that I obtain from a local radio station.

Each month, I donate 5% of my gross sales to a different charity. These are often animal-related causes, since these are some of the nearest and dearest to my heart, but I’ve also featured international women’s right groups, children’s health organizations (only those that don’t test on animals, of course), marriage equality efforts, and more. I consider this to be an integral part of my business, and a way to bring more meaning to my work, and to the jewelry I sell.

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Mountain Avenue

02-Nov-09

Mountain Avenue

www.mountainavenue.com

Like many people, my husband and I have cut back our personal spending. However, we have not stopped shopping for our little grandson, and there are often presents to buy for holidays, new babies, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and other events. Whenever possible, we want our purchases to bring happiness to the person or people who receive the gift(s) and also serve an additional function. That was the reason I founded this website — before I had any sense of an impending recession.

So, it should not be surprising that I find the website of Mountain Avenue so appealing.

Mountain Avenue began, as many great things do, with a group of close friends sitting around a fireplace sharing dreams and ideas. The fireplace was located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Northern Colorado. The friends were a diverse group. Two had founded their own non-profits and had helped many others along the way. The other two had owned a family business that had been around for over 125 years. All of the friends were searching for a better way to make a difference in the world. That night, this circle of friends decided to form a company that would give back worldwide – one gift at a time. And so, Mountain Avenue and ‘The Circle of Giving’ were born.

Among the offerings at Mountain Avenue are jewelry, items for babies and kids, clothing and accessories, products for home and garden, pets, business, and travel. There is even a wine and gourmet section.

Mountain Avenue purchases the majority of our products from fair trade certified organizations and individuals. This means those groups are committed to the following practices: fair wages, good working conditions, respect for children and the environment, and support for their community.

When buying a gift from Mountain Avenue, you are choosing a product that has been purchased, in most cases, direct from the producer with as few middlemen as possible, allowing us to give you a unique hand-crafted item at an affordable price.

Mountain Avenue strives to be green. We work to minimize packaging and utilize recycling and ecologically sensitive materials whenever possible. We choose our product line carefully to offer you a broad selection of organic, non-toxic, recycled and repurposed items taking into account the processes by which they are produced in an effort to reduce our impact on the environment.

Every time you purchase from Mountain Avenue, a large portion of that purchase is donated to one of our non-profit partners. We offer you the opportunity to choose which of our partners that donation goes to. In having this responsibility, you become part of the circle of giving on a personal level.

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Canus Goat’s Milk

25-Oct-09

Canus Goat’s Milk

www.canusgoatsmilk.com

I don’t really know why I gravitate toward products made from goat’s milk. But, I do. I much prefer cheese made from goat’s milk to cheese made from cow’s milk. And, I just love soap that contains goat’s milk. In fact, I adore the soap made by Canus Goat’s Milk.

Way back in 1994, two friends from Montreal decided the world would be a whole lot softer if more people washed with soap made from fresh goat’s milk. Thus began Canus, and in just a few short years, their original triple-milled bar grew into the second largest selling soap in all of Canada.

The company now makes a host of different products.

Andree Falardeau and Andre Beauregard figured they were on to something. Pretty soon, Canus was making fresh goat’s milk body wash, fresh goat’s moisturizer, fresh goat’s milk body butter and foot scrub. All in all, there are now more than 90 Canus Goat’s Milk and L’ll Goat’s Milk  Products. Plus the new Nature’s Dog line of fresh goat’s milk canine shampoo and delicious goat’s milk dog treats. After all, four-legged friends deserve the benefits of goat’s milk as much as us bi—peds.

While Andre remained in Montreal, Andree moved to Vermont to establish a U.S. headquarters.

Today, the charming Canus goat illustration smiles back at customers from the shelves of major mass retail and drug store chains, supermarkets and specialty stores through the lower 48. Of course, none of this could have happened without the thousands of dedicated, hard-working goats and the family farms that take such good care of them and deliver their milk to Canus. Ultimately, the Company’s success will be defined not only by how much product we sell but also by how we make it and by how many people’s lives get better along the way. This means continuously improving our sustainability practices and sourcing natural, responsible grown and harvested botanical ingredients whenever possible. It also means giving back, and supporting employees who want to make a difference in their local communities. We’re very big on volunteerism and fund-raising.

Among the organizations Canus supports are Heifer International, Komen Race for the Cure, Strolling of the Heifers, University of Vermont Small Ruminant Center, and Friends of Boston’s Homeless.

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Margo’s Bark

17-Oct-09

Margo’s Bark

www.margosbark.com

Shortly after I was born, my father brought home a Beagle named Jenny. So, Jenny and I were essentially raised together. Often, she would walk me to school, and, more often than not, she would patiently wait by the front door for me to return in the mid-afternoon. I loved Jenny dearly, and when she died at the age of 12, I was truly heartbroken.

Because of Jenny, I became a person who loves dogs. My husband and I raised two dog lovers, and we now have a dog-loving grandchild. That is one of the reasons that I gravitate to dog-related websites, such as Margo’s Bark. I also love the fact that this business donates 100 percent of its profits to shelter and rescue dog groups.

Margo’s Bark began as Oscar Youd’s project for the science fair at St. James School in Los Angeles. With the help of his mother and father, Jessica and Tim, Oscar, who was then a seven-year-old first grader, created a homemade root beer. Oscar named the root beer after the family dog, Margo, a black lab-pit bull mix who was abandoned in a parking lot when she was a puppy. (Margo was luckier than most abandoned dogs. She was found by foster parents and later adopted by the Youd family.)

At the science fair, the root beer was a huge hit. Many people suggested that the family should sell the drink. Soon the Youd family, which has five children, began a serious investigation into the making, marketing and distribution of root beer. They even hired a professional flavorist and poured $25,000 of their own money into the endeavor. For nine months, the family gathered weekly to sample new formulas.

Although it is currently primarily available in West Coast locations, Margo’s Bark is sold online.

Margo’s Bark Root Beer is an all natural cane sugar soda microbrewed using natural spring water. We do not use any preservatives, nor do we use high fructose corn syrup. And we are caffeine free. Our ingredients are as follows: carbonated natural spring water, evaporated cane juice, caramel color, citric acid, molasses, vanilla, clove, cassia. nutmeg, wintergreen, and yucca extract.

So, if you are a soda drinker and dog lover, consider buying your soda from Margo’s Bark. You will be able to enjoy soda and help dogs at the same time. And, if you are in need of some clothing, the Margo’s Bark website also sells t-shirts and sweatshirts.

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Give a Green Bag

11-Oct-09

Give a Green Bag

giveagreenbag.com

Since founding this website early in 2008, I have logged onto the websites of thousands of businesses. Unfortunately, very few have proven to be socially responsible.

On the other hand, Give a Green Bag, founded by Suzanne Lippe,  is one of the most socially responsible businesses I have ever seen. In addition to giving back to her community in many different ways, Suzanne is passionately committed to environmental issues.

You will find many unique gift items that will help you ‘go green’ at home, in the garden, at work, and at school. Beyond being eco-friendly, all of my products are Fair Trade, organic, tree free, recyclable, reusable, and utilize renewable resources: I call this Full Spectrum Living. I have spent nearly 2 years researching products and getting prototypes. Many of the items were designed by myself in order to meet my high standard of quality. The items come from around the world and as close as a few towns away.

I am very involved in environmental issues. I have changed my home life to the cause of becoming environmentally conscious, and my business reflects my ongoing commitment to this lifestyle.

Give a Green Bag sells a wide variety of gift “bags” that are suitable for just about any occasion. Custom bags, with logos, personal messages, or corporate designs, may also be ordered.

My gift bags are one-stop shopping for any occasion. I fill the tree-free bag (reusable for many years) with items that are all fair trade, organic, recycled or recyclable, renewable – while at the same time BEAUTIFUL! All food items are organic and Kosher. I also include an insert that details ways of reducing one’s carbon footprint, information on endangered species, or an explanation of the meaning of ‘organic’ or ‘fair trade.’

One of my favorite gifts is the “Instant Spa Bag.” It contains the following items: aromatherapy soy candle, tree-free journal, biodegradable pen, Full Spectrum Living Body Lotion, Full Spectrum Living Body Lip Balm, organic tea, aromatherapy room spray, Nepalese woolen slipper/socks, organic European chocolates, inspirational book of photos and poetry, greeting card, information sheet describing contents which may be used as a gift card to recipient, and information on ways to live the Full Spectrum Living lifestyle. All these items come in a “reusable, fair trade, and sea grass/maize basket with handles.” Moreover, when one purchases Instant Spa Bag, a portion of the sale price is donated to Noah’s Gifts Foundation, “a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to raising money for families in need who have children with cancer and other catastrophic illnesses.” Likewise, the organization “provides much needed financial support for pediatric cancer research.”    

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