Feel Good Fashion: Three Clothing Brands That Give Back to Charities

During the stress of the holiday season, I rarely give back to others more than dropping the occasional pocket change into an iconic red Salvation Army tin. After New Years, a wave of guilt usually starts to creep in and I begin to wish I had been more giving during the time of giving.

Luckily, there are year-round options for combining my love of fashion with helping others. These three clothing and accessories brands make donations to charities with every purchase. Now I just have to decide what to buy. Shopping never felt so good.

TOMS

Perhaps one of the best-known companies for its “giving back” ideology, TOMS donates one pair of shoes to a child in need with every shoe purchase through its One for One campaign.

[These delicate silver and white shoes are vegan-friendly (made with no animal products.) Photo Courtesy TOMS.]

TOMS offers a range styles of women’s shoes including lace-up shoes, slip-ons, wedges, botas (similar to high-tops) and vegan boots. Most styles range between $54 and $70.

Kayu

This ethically minded company started with a line of bamboo sunglasses. For every purchase of its sunglasses, Kayu donates $20 to fund a sight-restoring surgery in a developing country.

[These handcrafted retro bamboo sunglasses from Kayu offer 100 percent UV protection. Photo Courtesy Kayu.]

Bamboo artisans in China handcraft Kayu’s line of sunglasses. The line includes four styles all priced at $180. While this seems expensive, these sunglasses have great features that make the price worth it. They’re made from sustainable materials; bamboo, a fast-growing grass, is a more eco-friendly alternative to wood; the lenses offer 100 percent UV protection; and the company gives back to those less fortunate.

Today, Kayu’s collection also includes a line of straw and shell handbags. For every clutch sale, Kayu donates $15 to purchase a backpack and school supplies for a child in need.

[This clutch, made from natural and sustainable straw, features a funky turquoise clasp and works well for day or night. Photo Courtesy Kayu.]

Women’s cooperatives in Asia handcraft Kayu’s purses. The three styles of shell purses are made from mother-of-pearl and pen shells that are by-products of the food industry. These styles cost $280 to $320.

Kayu’s other line of purses, made from natural and sustainable straw, come in four distinct styles and cost $135 each.

Out of Print

What’s your favorite book? Out of Print lets its customers wear their favorite stories through its t-shirts and sweatshirts that feature classic, and often out of print book covers.

[This ultra feminine t-shirt references my favorite novel, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Photo Courtesy Out of Print.]

For every shirt sold, Out of Print donates one book to a community in need through its partnership with Books for Africa, a nonprofit that distributes books to children in Africa.

The book covers featured on Out of Print’s t-shirts include my personal favorite, Pride and Prejudice, along with everything from The Great Gatsby and Moby Dick to Nancy Drew, Fahrenheit 451 and The Outsiders. Out of Print’s t-shirts cost $28.

Out of Print’s sweatshirts, which cost $38, feature 1984, The Catcher in the Rye, Moby Dick, and Pride and Prejudice.

What do you think I should buy? Do you have any other favorite ethically-minded brands? Tell me about it in the comments section.

For more fashion inspiration, follow me on Twitter @kirsten_hudson

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