Wednesday 28 March 2018

SEARCH | Finding Sources

When you are part of a movement that hasn't caught on as much as you'd wish it would, sometimes living up to it's highest ideals can be challenging. We speak now of the eco-fashion game. 

Yes, to anyone who is paying attention to the consumer fashion world, sustainable production, transparency, and fabric content are certainly big discussions that have been evolving for several decades. For this we are thankful! We ride on the shoulders of pioneers like Patagonia and ESPIRIT who brought the discussion of sustainability in fashion into their companies and slowly to the forefront of consumers' minds. Great progress has been made. However, in our quest to become as sustainable as possible, we find that there are still glaring holes in the reality of making it happen in our industry, namely in fabric production and content.

We are still a small (but mighty!) company, so we depend on great fabric suppliers out there to source bolts of the best fabrics we can find. The thing is, sometimes we can't find what we are looking for. Before we are thinking about the style or feel of a fabric, the main boxes we want to tick are sustainable, ethical, and plastic-free. We also like to source as locally as possible, which in the textile industry can be tough depending on where you are. Canada doesn't seem to be as popular a destination as other countries to set up large textile production facilities. (We are lucky though that there are amazing large scale sewers to be found not far off in Vancouver!) We are conscious that large freighters travelling miles and miles of ocean contribute to the pollution of our saltwaters so as often as possible, we want to eliminate that from our supply chain. But what if the only options we can find in Canada are polyester blends, acrylics, or cottons that are rough and not suited to our styles? There lies the question of trade offs.

Another problem we run up against is that sometimes, the things we're looking for don't show up at all, or maybe don't even exist yet, at least not anywhere near us. For example, when you type "Plastic-free elastane" (spandex) into Google, lots of articles come up about people trying to eliminate plastic from their lives, and articles detailing how plastic in clothing is damaging the ocean. But, there seems to be no well known, sustainable alternative to adding stretch to a fabric that comes up right away. Again, being that we are still not at the scale we need to be to be able to invest in production of our own, we are still searching for that alternative.

Even for fabrics that are readily available, there is so much research and verification that needs to go into the mark of sustainability. Take Bamboo for example. A strong fibre, made from a natural plant that regenerates and grows amazingly quickly with few resources. Sounds pretty eco-friendly, right? Well, what if that bamboo is growing in a field that used to house 100s of species of animals and a plot of irreplaceable rainforest? Not quite so eco-friendly now. As it is with any crop, there needs to be careful consideration put into where and how it is grown. We could easily breeze by with a don't ask, don't know attitude, but that wouldn't be doing our due diligence in what we are trying to acomplish. We are working to educate ourselves more and more in these areas so we are always asking the right questions and doing our homework.

The other side of this discussion is style. There are probably options out there that may hit our needs thus far. We don't stop there though. The fabrics we choose still need to suit our design M.O. The feel, the fall, the cut, the colour. These are things we don't want to compromise on either. Together with carefully crafted patterns they are what achieves the versatility and expression that we create in our clothing. We want that sustainable blend with a little stretch giving you the longevity you want with the comfort and style you crave. We want it all! We're greedy.

We would love to have the capacity to produce super sustainable fabrics. Someday, our circle will have expanded enough that we can be part of the production and education processes enough to have all the best options at our fingertips.

We look forward to this discussion permeating all industries, especially energy, transportation, and agriculture, until the idea of sustainability first is the norm. For now, we want to send a call out to our communities. What do you know on the subject? What have you found? What are we missing? Is there a great company out there doing custom production of truly sustainable fabrics in Canada (or at least the USA) that we haven't discovered yet? Or, what are you looking for on content tags? What is important to you? You are part of the discussion too!



from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/search-the-right-sources

Wednesday 21 March 2018

HART + STONE | A Local Gem

When you start a business in a small community, you hope that you are received with support, that your products are well-liked, that you make a difference. You also hope that you will be able to connect with other awesome local entrepreneurs to collaborate and support their endeavours. We are proud of all our business-owner friends, but we get especially excited about working with other female entrepreneurs.

Emily Hartwell McPhee of Hart + Stone is another Salt Spring Island boss-lady making her passion a lifestyle. As a local, we have known Emily for over a decade and watched her business grow. Her love for jewelry making stretches back long before launching Hart + Stone in 2014, and is the reason the company was born. What was once a hobby, evolved into something concrete and cohesive that she can pour her creative energy into. She has now amassed a collection of handmade, quality jewelry with timeless style suited for every occasion.

Growing up surrounded by the beauty of the Canadian West Coast, Emily often finds inspiration in shapes found in her natural surroundings. More recently, she has taken her design cues from above. On a trip to New York City, she had the chance to explore the Metropolitan and Natural History Museums.

"I was incredibly inspired by the ancient Egyptian and Mayan jewelry, which were inspired by the sun and the stars."

You will find celestial shapes and names littered throughout her collections, like the crescent moon shaped Nova series. When her life allows, she enjoys travelling to markets so she can interact with customers first hand and see the joy that a new piece brings to someone. 

As many entrepreneurs will tell you, Emily finds the hardest part of being her own boss the challenge of balancing the needs of Hart + Stone with the needs of her personal life. Like if she is "...on a really strict deadline to get an order done but also really want[s] to take [her] dogs outside for a run." Usually, the work has to come first and the fun later, if she has time. 

"Whoever said that being an entrepreneur is great because you get to make your own hours never owned a business. You truly are working 24/7. If I don’t work, who will?"

That being said, there are the parts that she loves. Like having total creative freedom over her designs and her business. And the awesome empowerment that comes from making a living from something she can make with her own two hands. Ya girl!

In the next year or so, Emily hopes that Hart + Stone will extend it's reach beyond where it is now, reaching communities in ways that focus on engaging supporters of the brand and giving back by linking up with a charity.

She has our full support! We love her jewelry and we love her. Shop online or in store for Hart + Stone's beautiful designs. 



from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/hart-stone

Monday 12 March 2018

VEGAN LIFE | Plants Only

Vegan: One who abstains from consuming and using any animal products and byproducts. It is a pretty simple concept, yet one that has incensed thousands on both sides of the debate.

Even if you aren't vegan, or aren’t planning on becoming one, it is beneficial to be aware of what it means to have a vegan lifestyle. Having guiding principles for your life that help you be more aware and kind is great, no matter what the reason. Learning about different ways others choose to bring that into their lives encourages us all to make conscious decisions, even for the small things in life.

To be clear, we recognize that we are part of the debate as well. We are all about conscious living at SALT, but we still carry non-vegan items from time to time, and we do so mindfully. A leather bag that has the longevity to keep a lifetime of replacements out of landfills is something we feel worth investing in. There are so many ways to live consciously, being vegan is just one of them. Even though it is not a lifestyle we fully adhere to, we think it's important to be part of the conversation so that we can be educated about the different ways people choose to reduce their impact. 

There are all kinds of reasons that people choose to be vegan. Regard for animal welfare is an obvious one. Another is not wanting to contribute to the effects that the meat industry has on our environment. Mass deforestation of acres of arable lands to raise food for livestock and to house them, not to mention the waste that is produced contributing to climate change. Many people feel that living on a diet that consists only of vegan sources of food is the best choice for their personal health. These are the top reasons, often times bundling together. Whatever the reason, in the end being vegan focuses on kindness; to animals, to the Earth, and to oneself. Nothing wrong with that, right?

As with many hot button issues, education (or the lack thereof) seems to be at the root of the conflict surrounding veganism. On top of that, with the internet out there, it makes it too easy for proponents of both to find material that supports their viewpoint. Unless you are dealing with trained professionals who have run proper scientific research, we can’t be sure that the information we’re seeing isn’t merely opinion, at least when it comes to the question of personal health.

It is easy to see from the footage in documentaries like Forks Over Knives that on the whole, animals in the commercial industry are mistreated, with terrible living conditions, physical abuse, and the administration of growth hormones. And we can literally watch our limited forests disappear in favour of land for livestock or for raising their food sources, with "livestock or livestock feed covering 1/3 of the Earth's ice-free land"(http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts/). If we re-purposed the feed we raise for livestock, there would be enough food to end world hunger. Fresh water takes a hit too. It can take 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef (http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts/). So there is no debating that from an environmental or ethical standpoint, consuming animals isn’t a great lifestyle option.

“Rather than think of veganism as an identity, it’s wisest to use it as a concept that can inspire you to remove animal products from your life”  https://www.vegan.com/what/

We like that approach because it doesn’t draw a harsh, immediate line in the sand. It is a concept that motivates you to use less animal products, and therefore be kinder to the Earth by respecting her creatures and limiting the impact we make on her environment. We are passionate about protecting the Earth, the oceans in particular, so we are all for choices that decrease the impact on our seas.

What can you do?

  • The obvious one: Become vegan! Find vegan alternatives to replace what you would normally get out of land animal and seafood proteins.
  • Only eat line caught, local, seafood. Commercial fishing pillages sealife at alarming rates that will leave our oceans a comparable wasteland by 2050. Their long nets wreck havoc, dragging coral, sea plants, and other animals out along with the daily catch.
  • Decrease your intake of animal products. Only consume meat once or twice a week from a sustainable source.
  • Get your cosmetics from companies who don’t source ingredients like seaweed, algae, sea minerals, fish scales, shark liver, whale oil, and horse pee (yup). Read this list and we promise, you will find all the motivation you need.
  • As much as possible, purchase items that didn’t have to travel far to make it to your home, including food, to decrease the use of fossil fuels. Support local!
  • Be conscious in all your consumption. Only shop with companies who have verified sustainable, ethical production practices. Not sure about a brand? Ask them! 

The biggest thing to remember is that these changes don't have to, and are unlikely to, happen all at once. You shouldn't go home and immediately donate anything in your house that is made from an animal product or wasn't consciously purchased. You already have them, if you get rid of them they will still need to go somewhere, and you will probably need to replace them. Even though you could find a more sustainable option, you are still going to be consuming more than necessary. When you decide to apply new principles to your current lifestyle, ease into them slowly. As long-term vegans will tell you, drastic adjustments are less likely to stick. 

To get more in-depth information about a vegan lifestyle, check out  https://www.vegan.com. They have a great perspective on how being vegan could be right for you, and a ton of awesome educational resources, like documentaries and cookbooks (some of our faves listed below!) that can inspire you. 

Great Vegan Cookbooks:

  • Oh She Glows, either version - Angela Liddon
  • Thug Kitchen, either version – by Davis & Holloway 
  • But I Could Never Go Vegan – Kristy Turner 


from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/vegan-life

Wednesday 7 March 2018

LOCATION 02 | VICTORIA LAUNCH

SALT IS COMING TO VICTORIA!

That's right, our second permanent location is officially happening. (Cue wild excitement!)

 

During our holiday pop-up, I had the opportunity to explore Victoria and get to know some of the awesome business owners in town. There are so many different neighbourhoods, even within the downtown core. I really got to find out where I felt connected.

As an entrepreneur, expanding to a second location has been a milestone of mine for a long time. I really took a chance on myself to create my own business. If you had met me years ago, I might be the last person who you would expect to own a fashion brand, but I chose to do it because I wanted to find a way to facilitate lasting, authentic change in the world. Now I am supporting a lifestyle I love by creating every day. And I want to do more! Pushing beyond the watery borders of Salt Spring Island will allow SALT to interact with another community and educate a wider audience on the things I am passionate about. 

Design is a huge passion for me, and having the opportunity to create a new space has me buzzing! I can't wait to have a bigger space where I can host community events like yoga classes, documentary screenings, and meet ups that connect like-minded members of the community. I look forward to having and creating new experiences, meeting new people, and getting to know those who will become regular visitors to SALT.

I really lucked out meeting the owners of Fort Prop, the family-run company who will be my new landlords. I am super grateful that I will be jumping into the city with these strong, entrepreneurial women in my community. I already feel supported by their enthusiasm!

I have been a resident of Victoria before and I am so excited to make it SALT's second home. I already have a fantastic team who will help me run the store, and I look forward to connecting with more locals who want to be a part of what we're up to. 

We plan to open July 1st, with renovations starting this coming May. I have so many exciting plans for the space! I can't wait. See you soon Victoria!

 -Jessica



from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/location-02-victoria-launch