One of the great things about fashion is that it is a universal art. We all have different tastes, but no matter where we live and what our preferences are, we can all appreciate one another's style. I love following fashion from around the world, but always make sure to keep up with American fashion and American companies as well. Today, I teamed up with one of my favorite blogger friends,
Kat from Love & Ace to select a few pieces from four of our favorite companies. Besides being based in the US, these brands all emphasize the importance of the environment and social responsibility. Kat is kicking off a new feature on her blog with an emphasis on the beach (since she lives so close to the ocean). Check out her picks
here!
I forced myself to choose a favorite from each of these companies for the picture above, which was really tough. Even narrowing down their products to choose a few favorites for the spotlights below was difficult. I started dreaming up outfits in my head of basic tees and dresses from
Alternative Apparel, a clutch from
hearts.com, and just the right shoes and accessories from
Dogeared and
Gorjana.
Alternative Apparel, hearts.com, and Griffin (one with Gorjana) all offer men's fashion too! Planning another post on that soon!
GORJANA
I've seen quite a few bloggers with Gorjana jewelry and always fall head over heels for the delicate yet unique look of their pieces. Then I went to look for products and discovered these cute sandals and this amazing tote (I'm totally obsessed with it now). I love the orange/camel color combination.
Bio: "Gorjana & Griffin Inc....began in 2004 from the design and business ambition of husband and wife, Gorjana and Jason Griffin Reidel, whose bi-coastal residencies have fused a West Coast lifestyle inspiration with the sophistication and polish of East Coast trends into each design and collection. The Griffin brand, launched in 2012, brings the company’s sophistication and influences to today’s stylish male consumer. Together, the collections provide women and men with functional, stylish, and highly wearable jewelry, footwear, bags and other accessories. In addition to both collections, Gorjana & Griffin is committed to charity and social causes through its many charitable efforts and company foundation."
ALTERNATIVE APPAREL
I bought my first piece of Alternative Apparel clothing a few years ago because I loved the color and feel of the material. Then I bought another sweatshirt from their brand this spring (see how I styled it
here). When I noticed the same brand name, I knew I needed to check out their website and loved their comfortable looking basics and their cute prints. And when I saw the sweatshirt I already owned on sale on Hautelook last week, I bought it in light blue. What can I say, when I like a brand, I really like a brand.
Bio: "
A clothing company that really gets it. We know our customers want clothes that aren’t just about looking good, but feeling good. Clothes that are perfectly worn in and perfect for any occasion—clothes for a casual, truly comfortable lifestyle... We’re a group that really cares. We take pride in our work and our craftsmanship. We thrive on collaboration, especially creatively. And we all take our social responsibility and commitment to the community seriously—living passionately, purposefully and without compromise."
3.
sailboat tank
4.
zipup hoodie
2.
romper room romper
3.
go fish maxi dress
HEARTS.COM
I'd never heard of hearts.com until Kat did a post featuring the denim in bloom clutch below (#2). She had a discount code, so of course I went to take a look. I love love love all of their clutches. I ended up buying two of the lace pouches in creme and pink. The back on them is made of black leather remnants and adds a toughness to the feminine lace front. The pouch is small, but holds quite a bit of stuff, which is always a plus.
Bio: "We are committed to transforming consumer behaviors through practicing our values. We promise to provide fashionable, beautifully crafted items while minimizing the negative impact of production & supply AND maximizing positive environments for people & the planet... We intend to be part of a global effort to optimize living conditions for all people and life on Earth. We aim to create a legacy through which people understand that they need not sacrifice quality of life for beauty, and that true beauty emerges when we hold the vision of the highest good of all."
DOGEARED
Kat also introduced me to Dogeared. I've been looking to add some delicate rings to my jewelry collection, like I said, but was looking for pieces that caught my eye (not so easy when I'm online shopping). All the different options on Dogeared, however, have me so excited. Their are so many unique pieces, you can really make the jewelry your own. I think it'd be fun to layer the infinity ring with an alphabet ring. Also, if you come from a mixed religion family, like me, then giving paying homage to each (or all) is always appealing!
Bio: "Dogeared Jewels and Gifts have been hand crafted in California for 20 years, when designer Marcia Maizel-Clarke recognized the need for jewelry that speaks. The style is modern and versatile, inspired by California's free spirited, natural beauty. Designs range from subtle classics to eclectic, unexpected statements, all designed in the spirit of love, kindness, and consciousness... Dogeared believes what goes around comes around. We are committed to the same values we held when we started on this journey in 1991... And we will always design with the planet in mind and support nonprofit groups working to heal the environment and create social change. For over 20 years, we've been loving what we do and doing what we love: Creating jewels that celebrate love, happiness and good karma and make a personal, positive statement about the people who wear them."
2.
eye ring
3.
bee necklace
4.
set of 3 rings
5.
jewish star ring
6.
infinity ring
7.
alphabet ring
Don't forget to opt in to their newsletter to keep up to date with their new products and sales. Most of them offer incentives for first timers too!
*All biography information is taken directly from each company's website.