SO. I'm on the home stretch with one week to go (in theory), and I wanted to be sure to show you three eco-Mama items that have been key to my comfort and were a central part of my wardrobe as my belly grew: my Birks, my H&M concscious collection tees, and my AG maternity jeans.
I'll start with the jeans. I tried on several pairs from J Brand, H and M, and more, but as soon as I put on the AG Jeans Stella Secret Fit Belly® 5 Pocket Maternity Jeans, I knew I had found The Ones. These jeans are super soft, and they feel like wearing your most comfortable lounge-around-the-house leggings. Like all AG Jeans, they're made in the USA, but AG also takes a thoughtful approach to their manufacturing, processing their jeans using ozone technology that slashes use of water, energy, and chemicals.
Full disclosure: As I shared in last month's post, I waited until the very last minute to acquire maternity jeans, but even if I had bought them earlier in my pregnancy, I would probably not have paid full price for an article of clothing with such a short lifespan. Instead, I snagged my pair used from Ebay for about $60.
Next up: The Birkenstocks. Never has there been better cosmic timing (for me) then the resurgence of orthopedic sandals and being pregnant. What you should know about these sandals, though, is that not only are they built to last, but they are made in Germany (thus under fair labor standards) and made out of pretty eco-friendly stuff. Ana over at The Distillerist outlines Birkenstock's eco-friendliness in more detail here, but I can tell you that the footbed is made of natural latex and upcycled cork, two renewable and non-toxic
materials, and the soles are made from EVA, which is a cleaner alternative
to the traditionally used PVC.
Last but certainly not least is my shirt, which is from H&M's Mama collection. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that almost all of the staple pieces (basic tanks and tees) in this collection are also part of the Conscious Collection, including the striped shirt above, which means they are made from organic cotton. I picked up a few layering pieces in black, white and stripes, and I've been pretty much good to go using the looser fall and winter sweaters I already had.
Welsh-born mother of two Julie Deane sat in her kitchen trying to work out how to
pay school fees, and the end result is now the seventh-fastest growing company in England. I love love love her handmade satchels, but I love the story even more.
And right now, you can scoop up one of her beautiful Cambridge Satchel Company bags for more than 50% off on Gilt. The neon one is only $99. Just thought you should know. :)
Naja is a rare find: beautiful, well-made underwear with an empowering mission and a reasonable price point.
A percentage of every Naja purchase you make goes toward supporting an
entrepreneurial sewing program for women through the Golondrinas
Foundation. And for every bra purchase you make, you contribute directly
to the employment of a single mother. How it works: When you buy a bra,
Naja gives you a lingerie wash bag so that you can wash your
undergarments, each lingerie bag is made at home by one of the women
employed through their Underwear for Hope program.
They also limit use of pthalates, incorporate nylon made
from used fishing nets, and (if you take hte at their word) make every effort to produce pieces that are
high-quality and fairly priced.
What I like most about Naja is that they have something for everyone in terms of style,
from hippie-chic bohemian prints to their simple, sexy Noir de Noir collection (above). I also love that they include patterns on the inside of
their bras and little messages on the inside of their underwear-- it
shows that each piece is truly for you to enjoy wearing, though they are certainly worth showing off for a captive audience, should you choose to.
Full Disclosure: I've not yet tried out any of their products-- I just like what I see. I plan on ordering a pair of their briefs as one of my first post-baby gifts to myself, though, and I promise to let you know how they turn out.
