Okay, let’s talk about what we wear to cover our heads, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes. Here’s my list of clothes and shoes for the whole family. (If you haven’t checked out the big list of purses, jewelry, and scarves, definitely head over there, too.)
Clothing
139Made – COUPON CODE: “UNEXPECTED” (10% off)
When the owner of 139Made reached out to me to tell me about her company, I wrote back, “Do you know I have that verse tattooed on my back?” I got a Psalm 139 tattoo in the midst of infertility and after years of an eating disorder. I am so excited about a company reminding people that they’re “fearfully and wonderfully made.” 139Made supports organizations fighting human trafficking, and all their tee shirts are made sweatshop-free.
Persimmon Prints
I ran into these guys at a couple conferences this fall and love their “Love God Serve Others” shirts. Then I discovered that each quarter they choose a different awesome organization to which they give part of their profits.
Wildly Co.
Get ready to meet my favorite kids clothes. I featured Wildly Co. here last year when they were just launching, and oh dude, you should see all their fun clothes now. Every time they come out with a new swing dress and leggings I feel compelled to buy them for Evie. Their clothes are ethically made, and I love how they state their commitment to fair labor, “The products we make and sell will not be made based on the hardship of another family.”
Mitscoots
I’ve lost count of how many pairs of Mitscoots socks I’ve bought over the last year. They come in a million patterns, feel comfy on your feet, and my kids and hubby love them, too. And now Mitscoots is branching out into other articles of clothing, too. Mitscoots is dedicated to helping the homeless, giving out socks to those in need and also giving them jobs packaging and shipping the socks.
Krochet Kids
Krochet Kids started with three guys teaching people living in camps in Northern Uganda how to crochet hats. Their goal is sustainable economic development. They teach people how to crochet, give them a job, educate and mentor them in personal budgeting, saving and loaning, and business development. They help people who are sick of living off of the government and aid organizations to become self sufficient. You can actually go on their site and write a thank you note to the woman who made your hat. They post the thank yous on their site, and it’s so fun to see all the sweet comments from happy customers.
Toto Knits
You know, you might have a cute nephew, but you know what would make him even cuter? A knitted hoodie that turns him into a little tiger, rar. Prepare yourself mentally to die from cuteness overload when you see their safari animals sweaters. You’ve been warned. Toto Knits provide job opportunities to Kenyan women, helping them provide for their families and gain financial independence. Each piece is knit to order just for you!
Shoes
soleRebels
Bethlehem Alemu started soleRebels to bring jobs to her area of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where there were none. Her shoes are now distributed all over the world. I have a pair of the CoZEE boots and they are insanely comfortable. All soleRebels use recycled tires as the soles. They ship free anywhere in the world, and these shoes are fair trade and made in Ethiopia.
The Root Collective
The Root Collective makes beautiful shoes in Guatemala, and the jobs they create help keep kids out of gangs. Their artisans own their own companies and set their own prices. The Root Collective works with nonprofit organizations in the communities where they work and donates 10% of the profit back into to the nonprofits, which are working toward sustainable development and not creating dependence.
Sseko
I love these sandals. You can buy different straps, and they have online tutorials on all the different ways you can tie them. Endless strappy sandal possibilities. Sseko employs young women in Uganda during the nine-month gap between high school and university, helping them earn money for school, which is accrued in a savings account until their tuition is due. They also have matching gifts that match 100% of the money earned. They use a sustainable, self-sufficient model of economic development.
Sole Hope
Sole Hope sells the most adorable lil’ baby shoes made from upcycled materials AND you can host a shoe-cutting party to help protect the feet of kids and adults in Uganda. Using recycled milk jugs and old jeans, Sole Hope enlists people here to cut shoe materials, which are then stitched by Ugandan stitchers in their employ. The soles of the Sole Hope shoes are made from recycled tires, so the whole project from start to finish is upcycling at its finest, and life-changing for the kids and families receiving the shoes. The finished shoes slide onto the feet of children suffering from jiggers, a sand flea that lays eggs inside the toes. The team trains families in Uganda on how to safely remove jiggers, decreasing the spread of HIV and future foot trauma.
Nisolo
Nisolo makes beautiful, quality shoes for men and women. They believe in transparency in the process and treating their producers with dignity and empowerment. They facilitate access to the global market, pay above fair trade wages, offer skills training, and provide safe working environments. They give consistent employment, improved living conditions, and access to education and savings.
Slave-Free Christmas Giveaway
I want to make your Christmas shopping REALLY EASY and send you a big box of presents. One lucky winner will get a slew of Slave-Free Christmas gifts to wrap and stick under the tree. (And if you decide to keep them all for yourself I will not judge you…maybe just a little.)
Here’s what’s coming your way:
-dolman sleeved tee from 139Made
-“I am Free” necklace from One Beautiful Life
-beaded bracelet from Trades of Hope
-paper bead ornament from Ornaments4Orphans
-stuffed animal from Mission Minded Cuties
-clutch from Joyn
-socks from Mitscoots
–The Expected One Advent devotional by Scott James
I hope you win!!! Oooh, I hope you win SO HARD. Enter here. Or here. Or here.
Slave-Free Christmas Challenge
This Christmas, I’ve challenged myself to shop my entire Christmas list from organizations that are helping people, not hurting people. Today, 27 million men, women, and children live as someone else’s property. Slaves are making the items that I’m buying to celebrate the birth of my Lord and Savior. Somehow I don’t think He’s blessed by the blood on His birthday presents. For more information on my Slave-Free Christmas project, click here.
