I’ve finally found it: A shampoo and conditioner to be loyal to.

I didn’t used to think much of where my hair products came from (especially if I could buy them where I bought my groceries and they didn’t cost more than a frozen pizza). But then I used a sample of Pureology conditioner that I got from Whole Foods, and honestly, cue hair-commercial-cliches. Silky, soft and shiny, check check check. It just gave my hair a way better texture than usual.

This was when I still lived in Kansas City, so I bought my full-size bottles at Beauty Brands. The price of $27 each for a 10.1-oz. shampoo and 8.5-oz. conditioner (the sizes shown above) was steep, but the sample already had me committed. I’ve since read on the bottle that the shampoo is concentrated, promising 80 shampoos per bottle, so I’ve gotten in the habit of using smaller squirts. And you know how sulfate-free shampoos typically lather less than drugstore shampoos? With a little massaging, this one lathers up really well.

For the price point, I’ve been alternating it with a more affordable brand on days that I don’t need great hair. But the brand is amazing, for its quality of conditioning PLUS its social responsibility. From the Pureology website:

• 25% post consumer recycled content in all shampoo and hair condition bottles, aiming to increase it to 50% in the near future
• Organic botanicals
• 100% vegan
• Salon merchandising units made out of recyclable aluminum and LEED-certified alucobond
• Concentrated formulas (for smaller bottles & lower transportation costs)
• Decreased water, energy use and waste in manufacturing facilities

Pureology is also available in liter sizes and travel sizes, the latter being a great way to try it out for less. They call the product “great colour care,” and I do have moderately colored hair right now, but it’s a great condition regardless. It’s available at salons and other “authorized dealers” that you can find by zip code here.

I was not compensated for this post in any way. I just really like this stuff.

Look familiar? The artwork from our our shirts made the cover of KC Magazine’s style issue this May! I just got my hands on the PDFs. For those of you just visiting the site for the first time, welcome, and I hope you’ll come back often. My goal is to help us all shop smarter by sharing news about fashion that respects people and the environment. And of course, you can buy our organic tees here.

From the magazine…

ON THE COVER: The vintage illustration that graces this month’s cover is one of three in the Fashion Loves People graphic t-shirt line designed by freelance writer and designer Janette Crawford. It was first sketched in 1970 by J. Kirk Davis, a Kansas City-based artist whose work was published in Women’s Wear Daily in the 1970s and ’80s; the mod subject’s angular, popped collar inspired Crawford to incorporate a bold, Native arts-inspired graphic that adds a fashion-forward edge to the overall composition. Crawford launched the line last fall with the goal of helping shoppers “do good” with their purchases by providing three main benefits: eco-friendly construction, donation to a nonprofit ($1 from the sale of each shirt goes to Not For Sale, a San Francisco-based organization fighting human trafficking in the U.S. and abroad), and the philanthropic support of fine art. All shirts in the series are ethically manufactured in Peru and screenprinted in the U.S. by Storenvy using eco-friendly inks. The tees are available locally at Halls Plaza (211 Nichols Road, 816-274-3222), Habitat Shoe Boutique (4569 W. 119th St., Leawood, 913-451-6360), Haught Style (6951 Tomahawk Road, Prairie Village, 913-677-0070) and online at fashionlovespeople.com. Fashion Loves People’s third t-shirt design will be released early this month; Haught Style will carry an exclusive variation.

I recently wrote an article for KCFreePress.com about eco fashion in Kansas City, spotlighting three fabulous Kansas City brands. Today, a closer look at Early Jewelry.

Kylie Earlene Grater grew up on a small Kansas farm, but rather than leave those roots once and for all when she moved to Lawrence in 2001, she has translated her rural upbringing into the aesthetic that defines Early Jewelry: “Capturing the spirit of pasture and prairie, and the excitement of old made new again.” Grater’s eco-friendly nature is reflected in her minimalist lifestyle and design aesthetic, she says.

Grater’s designs are made from recycled metals and vintage and natural materials, from one-of-a-kind buttons and cuff links to feathers and bone. She handcrafts each individual ear wire and necklace clasp, which underscores the handmade origins of each piece. Occasional interns and part-time employees help with basic production steps, like trimming wires, but Grater does all the finishing herself. “Quality control,” she says.

Grater’s skill set comes from a degree in sculpture from the University of Kansas, including a year spent studying craft-making in England through an exchange program. She has now been building Early Jewelry full-time for three years and has worked with several major distributors, including a 6,000-piece order for Urban Outfitters in 2007 and a Free People order that just shipped out in February.

Early Jewelry is available at boutiques and shows across the country, and online at EarlyJewelry.com.

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As you may have noticed, I can’t get enough of Kylie and Early Jewelry — her aesthetic complements everything that I think is good in the world. When I visited her Lawrence studio earlier this spring, she made a necklace of repurposed vintage buttons and even showed me how she makes her custom necklace clasps, which are beautifully designed yet perfectly practical. Anyone interested in jewelry construction will appreciate these videos.

We also talked more about how she started her business, which is a great case study for any artistic entrepreneur. In general terms, it goes something like this: She got the best education possible in her field, learned about wholesaling by working at a retail store in her industry, sold her designs at as many local art and craft shows as possible to figure out her market and what they would buy, did valuable business research through her local small business development center, expanded her distribution by entering the world of tradeshows, and now, Kylie has made Early Jewelry her full-time job for three years.

One catalyst of Kylie’s success has been LOLA, Ladies of Lawrence Artwork, an event/collective she co-founded in 2004. At the first LOLA show, she and three other local artists hosted an evening event to sell their goods, and today, a larger group hosts several shows a year, all in venues that allow them to keep 100% of their profits.

That initial collaboration of Kylie’s led to many more, and it’s striking how much she has partnered with friends and other creatives to create and maintain her brand, from her identity design to photography to copywriting — some of which she has traded jewelry for. You can listen to Kylie talk about how she got her start and how she launched her brand in my other video excerpts.

The next LOLA show is this Saturday in Lawrence, and I can’t wait to see Early Jewelry at the Renegade Craft Fair here in Austin May 15-16.

What a month this has been: I now live in Austin!

My to-do list has been a bit overwhelming lately, and I’m sorry that my blogging has suffered for it. I still have a handful of Kansas City-focused posts that I’ll share with you as I continue getting settled in here, and as I get to know Austin better, I can’t wait to share all my discoveries with you.

Jon and I are so excited to be here. And, at the same time, we know that we owe so much to our Kansas City community. Even up until it happened, both of us really underestimated how hard it would be to leave our house, our city and our family and friends behind on Saturday. Our U-Haul saw quite the wave of emotion, to say the least.

So to everyone in Kansas City and Lawrence who has touched our lives over the last 10 or so years, whether big or small, THANK YOU for who you are and what you do. You mean so much to us and always will!

Letterpress card from Hammerpress

I recently wrote an article for KCFreePress.com about eco fashion in Kansas City, spotlighting three fabulous Kansas City brands. Today, meet Sseko Designs.

In the past year, Sseko Designs founder Liz Bohannon has sold more than a thousand pairs of sandals to customers around the world. The sandals are transformative, meaning that they can be styled in multiple ways with multiple strap patterns, and each pair is handmade by a group of young women in Uganda who are paid full-time salaries that allow them to go to college in a country where women often don’t make it to university.

Bohannon first visited Uganda in 2008, where she was inspired to create the concept for Sseko Designs in a matter of weeks. She visited again this winter to train a second round of Sseko women. Her passion for the endeavor stemmed from the need she saw first-hand for women to be enabled to make it to college, as well as from her graduate studies in corporate social responsibility at the University of Missouri.

“My belief is that business is the most powerful tool that we have,” Bohannon said. The inspiration behind Sseko was, “Let’s take this problem that would traditionally be addressed by a nonprofit, or by the social sector, and build an entire business model around helping contribute to, or solve, this social issue.”

Since its small beginnings in December 2008, Sseko has sent its first three Ugandan employees to university, and seven more women are currently on their way.

Sseko sandals are available online at ssekodesigns.com for $42 a pair, which includes one strap design. Additional straps are available for $7-$9.

***

I am so enamored and impressed by what Liz Bohannon is doing with this incredible for-benefit company. When she and I sat down to chat, she didn’t mind me keeping my camera rolling, and I know you will enjoy hearing parts of our conversation as much as we enjoyed having it!

In the video above, it’s obvious that she is a big proponent (and a walking example) of for-profit business models addressing issues that would traditionally be assigned to the nonprofit world.

Here, Liz describes her view of creating sustainable change in other countries — by teaching and enabling people there, rather than simply writing them a check. Toward the end, she describes an impromptu lesson on innovation that she gave to her current class of seven Ugandan women. The “two areas” she talks about at the beginning are the social sector and the business world.

Here, a look at how the sandals work. So easy, so versatile and so affordable! Get yours now!

And finally, Liz’s own story of how she and Sseko got to where they are now.

Earlier this month I wrote an article for KCFreePress.com about eco fashion in Kansas City, spotlighting three fabulous local brands. First, meet solojones.

Founder and seamstress Sunny Dawn Summers may be living in New Orleans at the moment, but solojones is no doubt a born-and-bred Kansas City brand. Known for high-quality, hand-sewn boy shorts available at Birdies Panties & Swim — silk on the front and mesh on the back — solojones has been in business since 2003.

“It’s some of our sturdiest, prettiest stuff,” says Birdies owner Peregrine Honig. “They’re womanly, not cutesy, and somehow flattering on everyone.”

Summers worked in a corporate job and stumbled upon underwear design through a friend-of-a-friend connection with Birdies. She created a pattern that was a hit and sold about 400 pieces of her first run, while also working weekends at the shop. “I’d take my sewing machine down there and sew panties on the counter,” she says. “Inevitably people would buy whatever was coming hot off the presses.”

Though she’s never formally studied fashion, Summers sews each pair herself. “It’s not like buying something that comes off an industrial line. Every stitch is sewn and seen by eyes who know how to make a lasting garment,” she says. Classic jones are made of stretch silk charmeuse, a strong natural fabric that can last forever when cared for correctly.

But salvaged jones are one of the most memorable parts of the brand. For $30 (or two for $45), Summers will turn an old t-shirt into your new favorite pair of underwear. “It gives another life to something, in a secretive sort of way,” she said.

Classic solojones are available at Birdies, and salvaged jones are available for order through solojones.com.

***

I don’t own a pair of Sunny’s original silk undies, but I just ordered and received the salvaged jones pictured here, which I am so excited about! Both were a nod to my husband Jon (appropriately, right?) — the gray track shirt above is obviously the Storenvy logo tee, for the web startup he founded, and he was a Tiger Cub as a kid (pre Boy Scout drop-out) and has had an adult-sized Tiger Cubs tee since college. A friend had given me the same shirt in a boy’s size small, which has never fit but has stayed in my closet nonetheless, so having it sewn into underwear couldn’t have been more perfect.

When ordering salvaged jones, Sunny lets you choose what color mesh you want sewn onto the back, or you can check a box that says “surprise me.” I requested black for this pair, and I’m in love with the sturdy black lace she chose.

The salvaged jones story: “I had a boyfriend with this amazing Cab Calloway t-shirt,” Sunny says. “I kept it, made panties out of it, and wanted to show everyone. Then I started making salvaged jones out of t-shirts that didn’t fit or that I loved but didn’t wear anymore. It gives another life to something, in a secretive sort of way. I wore those Cab Calloway jones so much they are in shreds now.”

The solojones pattern fits beautifully, free of underwear lines. Sunny takes special requests for custom pieces, and you can contact her through her website. Classic jones are available for $30, and for my two pairs of salvaged jones, I spent just $45.

Image of classic jones by Jenn Wetzel at KCFreePress. The rest are by me.

This month, I was chosen to be included in SPACES Magazine’s Green Issue as one of nine members of  Kansas City’s “green team.” It was an honor, particularly on account of being included in a list alongside Bob Berkebile of BNIM Architects, a longtime leader in sustainable design, whose influence has been compared to that of Bill McDonough, co-author of the epic sustainability book and philosophy Cradle to Cradle.

Props also went to Indigo Wild, Westside Local, Bridging the Gap and Badseed Farm & Market, plus a few more to keep our eyes on. Click on the image to blow it up to readable size. (Thanks to Kirk for the scan! He included the proud pink text surrounding me.)

Thank you to everyone at SPACES!

I recently got to write a few articles about how to take better care of your wardrobe on behalf of one of my favorite clients, Hudson & Jane, the lovely high-end men’s and women’s boutique in Kansas City’s Crestwood Shops. With most of the articles’ content coming straight from the store’s owners, Rick & Flo Ann Brehm, I learned a lot myself and wanted to share it with you as well. It refreshed my appreciation for high-quality fabrics, which are always worth the investment.

“Hudson” and “Jane” are the men’s and women’s personas of the store, and the two of them write regular articles about fashion specific to their sexes. (I write on behalf of them both, but shh, don’t tell!) We published an article about men’s closet care from Hudson and one about women’s closet care from Jane, and I’m combining my own experiences plus info from both here. Enjoy!

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Undergarments. On a day-to-day basis, it is said to give each of your bras at least a day in between wears, to allow elastics time to regain their shape. When washing, use cold water to make sure nothing shrinks unexpectedly (that’s what causes underwires to pop out), and protect those delicates with special wash bags or a BraBaby. Of course, always hang to dry.

Cashmere. With a little extra measure, cashmere can outlast and out-warm every other sweater in your closet. Machine wash your cashmere sweaters one at a time on the handwash cycle with cold water and a gentle detergent, like Dreft. Shape and lay on a towel to dry. The more cashmere is washed, the softer it will get and the less it will pill. (Even the highest quality sweaters pill.)

Linen. Same here. Linen is best handwashed, or machined washed on the handwash cycle, and then ironed. If you like your linen stiff, use starch sparingly, as starch makes fabrics stuffy and unbreathable. (Starch in particular breaks down and clogs the shirt’s fibers, causing it to retain body heat when worn.) Avoid dry cleaning, which yellows and weakens linen fibers especially.

Wool. A good clothes brush will bring out the lanolins in a wool garment (sweaters, coats, suits), which helps it naturally resist stains and grime build-up, thus needing fewer cleanings. Lanolin is a sort of naturally occurring wax that makes sheep’s wool waterproof, which professional cleaning actually removes.

Denims and knits. No dryer for you! To keep any of your more vulnerable fabrics looking newer for longer, wash them inside out and avoid the dryer. Some knits may need to be shaped and laid out to dry, but jeans can be hung.

Outerwear. Think coats, jackets and lightly used suits — for items you can’t wash yourself, dry cleaning at least once a year will extend the garment’s life by removing grime that can wear down fibers. Clean garments also stave off moths in the off-season, as moths are attracted not by the fibers but by body oils and dead skin. Storing clean garments in plastic bags should do the trick.

Dry cleaning. The chemicals used in dry cleaning actually decrease the lifespan of your garments, so dry clean only in moderation. Of course, it’s necessary for cleaning some pieces — jackets, coats, lined garments and anything that says “Dry Clean Only.” (For labels without the “Only,” garments made of natural fibers can often just be hand-washed, including cashmere, linen, wool and silk.) Consider having your garments cleaned before putting them into storage for the off-season, as moths seek out and eat skin oils and dead skin, not the fabrics themselves.

And as I’m sure you’ve heard, the primary chemical used in traditional dry cleaning is a hardcore pollutant, not to mention that it is dangerous for dry cleaners to even work with. Many alternative cleaners have sprung up over the past few years, so check out options in your area. Read more at Commerce With a Conscience.

Reweaving. For damaged garments, all is not lost! (Hopefully.) Marred wool can be rewoven, often for an affordable price. For other fabric issues, ask a good dry cleaner, who can help lend their expertise on how to get it fixed.

Alterations. Have you watched What Not to Wear? Many body shapes need alterations to get off-the-rack garments to fit flatteringly at all. Hems, waistbands and more can be fixed for as little as $10. (I’ve seen a man at my tailor who brings in all his ’90s-tailored shirts to get them sewn into a more up-to-date fit — love it.) Just be sure to ask for pricing upfront to avoid any surprises, and get ready to start wearing better-fitting clothes.

Leather care. When cared for correctly, good quality leather gets better with age, developing a deep patina from years of polish. Use a cream polish instead of wax, to keep leather from drying out, just like skin. (It is skin.) Cream polish rubs deep down into the leather, conditioning it for a supple shine and rich color. Keep leather soft and moist. When you buy a new pair of shoes, have them polished before wearing them to avoid stains right off the bat. Hudson & Jane’s pick for cream polish is Meltonian, which is available at most drugstores.

Shoe repair. For small fixes, help is just a car-trip away. New high-heel tips, buckles and zipper fixes are a cinch to most shoe repair shops. From my own shoe guy, I can get high-heel tips replaced for $8 (and have many times), and he once rebuilt the front tip of the sole on my favorite pair of boots for $20-something, ensuring that I wouldn’t wear down the leather on the toe any more than I already had. It gave them at least another few years of wear.

Stay in shape. “When your fit stays the same, your classic wardrobe really can last you a lifetime.” I wrote this in Hudson’s words, but credit goes to my friend Erica for pointing this out to me once. Taking care of our health and wellbeing benefits us all across the board!

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You can sign up for the Hudson & Jane email list here, and you can become our fan on Facebook here. (For every 50 FB fans we gain, one fan wins a $50 gift certificate to the store!) Hope you get as much out of this info as I did!

Big news: In about a month, I will be living in Austin!

Jon and I have been talking about this move for a while, but until last week, we didn’t have a specific timeframe. Now, we are putting our house on the market as we speak, and we plan to be living in South Austin by mid-April.

We’re moving for the sake of Storenvy, because right now Jon’s two co-founders and the two of us are spread across three different states. We currently work together via chatrooms, video chat and the phone, but by all making this move together (we all secured places to live while we were in Austin for SXSW last week), we can’t wait to be living in the same city and working out of the same office. And we can’t wait to join to the energy and community that is Austin.

Though of course, this move is inevitably bittersweet. We are leaving SO much goodness here in Kansas City! Some of our favorite people, places and things.

For the next few weeks, I’ll be focusing on KC-related content (and trying not to cry while doing it) — so that my local friends can appreciate it more, and the rest of you can see how great it really is!

Top image of one of Austin’s many food trailers, taken last July. Bottom image of my 1920s house in Kansas City.

At Haught Style in the Prairie Village Shops, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., be sure to come visit me, Kirk, Heather and Kylie!

Note that this is all day — hopefully those of you in the city can make it at some point. We will release the newest FLP tee to the public at 10 a.m., in store and online. At the event, all of my tees will be available for the special discounted price of $20. Pictures of the new tee coming tomorrow morning!

Kylie has created some adorable necklace styles for the Valentine’s season. Sometimes hearts are just the best. She’ll have the rest of her usual styles as well.

We’ll be serving wine tastings from Inland Sea Wines. Not only are these wines made locally, the company also gives 1 percent of profits to The Nature Conservancy and The Batten Disease Support and Research Association, both of which the owners have special ties to. Inland Sea Wines are available at these local retailers.

We’ll also be serving my favorite locally made cheese, Musser’s Reserve (I’m assuming the reason they don’t have a website is because they’re Amish), and home-baked crackers made with locally grown fresh herbs that I’ll be whipping out tonight.

And don’t let the snow keep you from getting out! Here are four other destinations you’ll definitely want to shop tomorrow:

• Donna’s Dress Shop on 39th is having a girl’s night from 5-9 p.m. Live burlesque included!
• Bottoms Up, KC’s “newest monthly antique and vintage market,” opens for the first time in the West Bottoms.
• Urban Mining‘s monthly vintage market will be open, at 39th and Walnut.
• Good Juju‘s monthly vintage market will be open, in the West Bottoms.

Enjoy! Hope to see you!