Giving Back While You Shop
What's better than helping others while you shop? There are increasingly more brands that are helping to give back with items you buy. I've rounded up some of these great brands, and hopefully was able to make this long post easier to read by sectioning off the companies into what you are purchasing. And honestly these companies are just a tip of the iceberg. There are so many great ways to help - you can just google "buy one give one" and so many lists come up of great companies to choose from. I encourage you to check it out! And with the holidays coming up, these would make great gifts knowing you also helped someone in need.
Footwear
TOMS - One of the more well known of these type of companies, TOMS donates one pair of shoes to a child in need of shoes for every pair you buy. It's a great idea, but their shoes are pretty pricey for what you get (keep in mind you're technically paying for two pairs) at $59+ per pair. However, their shoes are comfortable and stylish and they have more styles than ever now, in addition to sunglasses, bags, and t-shirts. My favorites are these and these.
Roma Boots - Roma Boots is another buy one, give one company where they donate one pair of boots for every pair sold. The boots are all-weather boots (wellies) and come in various colors and styles. A little pricey at about $90+ per pair, but again remember you are technically paying for 2 pairs. These are my favorite!
Mitscoots - Their main focus is on socks, but they sell beanies, scarves, gloves, and shirts as well. For every pair of socks sold, they donate a pair to someone in need. Check this pair out! Perfect for the upcoming winter!
Apparel
Elephant Pants - The Elephant Pants donate $1-4 for each item sold to the African Wildlife Foundation to help save the elephants. They sell cute harem pants and leggings with elephants on them in different prints for pretty cheap ($18-28 a pair). In addition, they sell jewelry, bags, and various other items. At the bottom of their website they keep a running count of the money donated to the AWF.
ASOS Africa - ASOS teamed up with SOKO, a clothing manufacturer in Kenya, to make affordable clothing. The company provides employment to underprivileged communities, women, and provides equal pay. I'm in love with this dress!
Sevenly - Sevenly has lots of cute apparel items and each week they donate 7% or $7 of their items to various charities - with a main focus on a rotating "Cause of the Week." Their tees are really cute, too! I love this one and this one.
Out of Print - For all you literary lovers out there, Out of Print sells t-shirts and other items with popular and classic book covers on them (my personal favorites are Pride and Prejudice, The Phantom Tollbooth, and Breakfast of Champions). For each product sold, a book is donated to a community in need through Books for Africa.
Ivory Ella - Ivory Ella donates 10% of every item purchased to Save The Elephants to help stop the excessive poaching of these animals. They have adorable t-shirts, and I'm in love with this one here!
Elegantees - If you are looking for some basics, this is the place to go. Elegantees employees women who are survivors of sex trafficking to give them a new life and they make some great apparel. I love this dress and this tee.
SlumLove - SlumLove employs people in Nairobi and a portion of every sale is donated to a non-profit that gives high school scholarships to kids who live in one of the world's largest slums. They make adorable sweaters, and I really love this one.
Underwear
Too. Apparel - Underwear is one of the most needed clothing items and one of the least donated. Too. apparel sells underwear and donates a pair to a women's shelter for every pair purchased. They come in a few colors and styles as well. Shop a popular style here.
Naja - Naja is a lingerie company co-founded by Gina Rodriguez (any Jane the Virgin fans out there?). They employ single women or female heads of households and provide school supplies for their children. They also employ women in the slums to make lingerie bags and 2% of Naja's revenue is donated to local charities that provide education to these women. I love this bra and this pair of underwear.
Eyewear
Warby Parker - I've loved Warby Parker for a while because they quality products, but only recently found out that they pair with non-profits to ensure that for every pair of eyeglasses sold, a pair goes to someone in need. This is awesome, because I couldn't imagine not having glasses. In addition to that, they have on-trend eyewear for cheap ($99 for glasses and $150 for sunglasses - including lenses) and an at-home try-on program for free.
Panda Sunglasses - Another great Buy One Give One company, Panda donates one pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair sold by partnering with Optometry Giving Sight. These glasses are eco-friendly and are made out of bamboo, so they are lightweight! These are my favorite pair.
Accessories
Bené Scarves - By purchasing a scarf from Bené, you are helping 5 girls in Ghana get an education. You can also get introduced to these girls on their website here. These scarves are inspired by Ghana and each one is named after a different girl. My favorite print is this one.
Love Your Melon - This is another BOGO program that donates a hat to a child battling cancer for every hat sold. It's run by college students across the country and the hats are delivered by the students in superhero costumes (how cute is that?). More recently they have been donating 50% of all proceeds to the Pinky Swear Foundation and CureSearch for Children's Cancer. This one is my favorite!
Jonas Umbrellas - Each limited-edition umbrella print funds a clean-water well for a school in Uganda. Once that print sells out, you know the well has been 100% funded. The cool thing is that afterwards, you can track the progress of the well you funded. This is the currently print available.
Mica Gem - Mica Gem sells perfume, and for every bottle sold a mosquito net is donated to a child in need. They actually have a few stores across the country (in Philadelphia and in California) so you can test the scent before you buy. Here is the women's fragrance.
Bags
Kate Spade On Purpose - I was surprised too when I saw Kate Spade, but it's great what they are doing. They employ women in Rwanda to make the purses and provide them with substantial benefits. How cute is this tote and this bracelet?
Better Life Bags - What's cool with this company is you personalize your bag and make is custom. The women who make the bags have various barriers to employment in Detroit and by purchasing the bags you are giving them a better way of life. There are also a few ready-to-ship bags, and I really love this one.
Purse & Clutch - Another company who employs artisans around the world in a developing country as a way to give them a better way of life. On average, every $200 spent in the shop gives an artisan a month's wage (however everything in the shop is under $150). I love this purse and this clutch.
Jewelry
WeWood - This company makes wooden watches and a tree is planted for every watch purchased. The company has teamed up with American Forests and Trees for the Future to make this happen. I love this watch the most.
Purpose Jewelry - Purpose jewelry is made by survivors of slavery and 100% of the profits go to International Sanctuary, a company that provides care to victims of sex trafficking. The jewelry prices are pretty reasonable, and are very stylish. This necklace is one of my favorites, and they have gift sets for the upcoming holidays.
Pura Vida Bracelets - Another popular company, Pura Vida provides full-time jobs to residents of Costa Rica by making the bracelets. These bracelets are cute and affordable as well. I love this one and this one.
The Shine Project - The Shine Project is a place where students go after school to make bracelets and the proceeds go toward scholarships for the students. I love these rings and these bracelets - a great gift!
1Face - 1Face makes watches (from classic to touchscreen), and the proceeds from each watch go toward a different cause. There's a watch for cancer, clean water, AIDS, hunger, and more. They even tell you what the proceeds of the watch will do (for example, for every education watch purchased, 2 children get the education they need). Check out the causes here.
A Little Bit of Everything
FEED - FEED sells things from t-shirts to bags to jewelry. Each item purchased donates something to a hungry child around the world. For the item you purchase, it'll tell you exactly what that donation is (for example, if you buy this bag, it provides 15 school meals to children around the world).
Fashion Project - Purchase donated items (or donate them yourself) and up to 55% of each purchase goes to a deserving charity. There are designer items available, and if you donate yourself you know it's going to a great cause. Check out this J Crew scarf and House of Harlow sunglasses.
Clothe Your Neighbor as Yourself - This is a non-profit company where 100% of the proceeds go to a certain cause (You can give wigs to women with cancer, interview attire for the homeless, or jobs to women rescued out of sex slavery). Here's the classic t-shirt they sell, and also an adorable tee. Currently everything is also on sale!
