For the second time this year, FLP is happy to participate in Max Gladwell‘s “10 Ways” series. This particular post is a collaboration between that series and Mashable’s Summer of Social Good charitable fundraiser, and it is being simultaneously published across more than 100 blogs. Social media is about connecting people and providing the tools [...]
Last month about seven of my coolest friends pointed me to a site they knew I’d love: The Uniform Project. They were all incredibly right. As an exercise in sustainable fashion, Sheena Matheiken is wearing the same dress every day for a year — the charcoal tunic you see above. In her words: There are [...]
First posted at the PopTech blog. It’s such a simple idea. And that’s the beauty of it. The 3/50 Project is a grassroots campaign to save independent businesses — “the brick-and-mortars our nation is built on.” It suggests that we choose our three favorite locally owned businesses, and at those three shops combined, commit to [...]
CITIZEN JOURNALISM, OPEN GOVERNMENT, STATUS UPDATES, COMMUNITY BUILDING, INFORMATION SHARING, CROWDSOURCING AND THE ELECTION OF A PRESIDENT In March at SxSW, I got to have a martini with Rob Reed, the person behind the persona of Max Gladwell. In following his work since then — particularly writings on the Max Gladwell blog about the intersection [...]
Remember Suno? Here’s another GORGEOUS little line bringing industry to Africa. “The Bantu concept is one which recognizes that we as consumers have the ability to make a difference in Africa. However, Bantu does not ask you to buy an ugly t-shirt in which a fraction of the proceeds go to one cause or another. [...]
Editor’s note: Today, I was excited to be able to publish a piece on the PopTech blog about my passion, ethical shopping. It gave me a great excuse to polish up some of that “permanent content” I’ve been promising for this site, so consider this the starting point for something of an “ethical shopping manifesto.” [...]
“Yoko and I, when we got together, we knew that whatever we did was going to be in the papers. So we decided to utilize the space we would occupy anyway by getting married with a commercial for peace.” Strategic. I like it. A lot. (Just finished watching the 1988 documentary Imagine: John Lennon.)
The story of Suno is the kind that makes me so happy. Designer Max Osterweis, whose “real” day job is as a screenwriter and film director in San Francisco, has been collecting traditional East African textiles for more than a decade. With the objective of bringing work to local factories in the struggling Nairobi, Kenya, [...]
All of these “exhibitions” combine two excellent things: Passion and Diversion. British artist Stuart Semple released these “happy clouds,” made of biodegradable soap and helium, into the London skies last week. I’m cheered, just looking at pictures! Via even*cleveland and today and tomorrow. Artist Neozoon has cut up old fur pieces to tag “fur graffiti” [...]
Mr. Kristof, Thank you for your editorial last week defending sweatshops. It was an informative, pleasantly written piece with the just right amount of personal account — how postmodern of you; who can argue with one’s own personal experience?! I’m an ethical fashion blogger who, like you, takes a healthy all-things-considered approach to my opinions. [...]
I’m thinking very hard right now. The NY Times’ amazing Nicholas Kristof published an op-ed piece Wednesday, Where Sweatshops are a Dream, that makes the reasons for supporting overseas manufacturing — even sweatshops — painfully clear. Most notably, because the alternatives to factory jobs are much, much worse. As an ethical fashion advocate, I don’t [...]
In their own words: “Streetstyle & Bike Advocacy from the World’s Cycling Capital.” As described by The Guardian: “The Sartorialist on two wheels.” This blog makes my heart smile! In heels! New Year’s Eve. Christmas Eve. Sweet!
Well friends, we made the paper yesterday! The lovely Jenee Osterheldt interviewed me as her source for a commentary on conscientious holiday shopping. She wrote a fantastic piece — so I’ll use her words to sum up many of mine. (Be sure to read the full piece, at the link above. Charming that she mentioned Buy Nothing Day in [...]
Zac Posen invites us to upload an image of what we wore to the polls at FashiontheVote.com. Not the most important decision of the day (there, I said it)… but kinda fun. VOTE!!!
Last week marked the first-ever Carrotmob event in Kansas City! (And second-ever in the U.S.!) It was an honor to help organize this event with some of the most lovely, conscientious people in town. For those of you not already familiar, Carrotmob is an absolutely ingenious concept of win-win consumer activism — we buy stuff [...]
Thanks to nitrolicious.com for an extensive and exciting update on Nike Considered, recounting its Spring 2009 launch event in NYC on Tuesday. “For Spring 2009 Nike Considered Design will be featured in all six of Nike’s key categories, including ACG, tennis, running, soccer, women’s training, men’s training, sportswear and basketball. Nike’s best selling running shoe, [...]
I just wrote way too long a comment on another blog to not post it here. This is a preview of some permanent content I’ve been working on for this site, so please — join the conversation. It started with Green Grechen‘s original post, In the News…Throwaway Fashion. Check it out. From me: Hey Grechen! [...]
Yesterday, I heard two exciting reports about manufacturing that is bucking the globalization trend. You could call it the silver lining to high energy costs and the weak dollar. From NPR’s report on Superior Products Inc., which produces gas fittings in Cleveland: “When we go overseas now, a dollar-denominated price is something much more competitive [...]
I got an eblast today from the ONE Camapaign with the subject line of “Platforms Against Poverty,” and I hate (or love?) to admit that my first reaction was to wonder about how SHOES were going to help the global crisis. My apologies for even admitting this, but it’s worth mentioning because the email invited [...]
You’ve probably heard the news by Nau: It’s back! (Sorry, couldn’t resist… and that one actually worked. Grin.) I have had the privilege of covering Nau’s comeback for Worldchanging.com, and with that has come the treat of meeting Mark Galbraith, Nau VP of Design, and Gordon Seabury, president of Nau’s new sister company, Horny Toad. [...]