Ever since someone first decided to take a chance on running in Vibram FiveFingers (which were originally designed for yacht racers), barefoot running has continued to grow in popularity. Now often referred to as minimalist running — more appropriate since the practice often does, in fact, involve shoes of some kind — it is believed to help improve runners’ posture and form and help prevent injury.

There have been many studies on the physical impacts of minimalist running, and whether or not it does prevent injury. After having transitioned from “conventional running” about a year and a half ago, I can say that it has definitely helped me. A former basketball player, I always had trouble with my knees. It was on and off, sometimes they were fine and sometimes I was in constant pain whenever I had to sit for more than twenty minutes. I always enjoyed running, but it seemed like every time I managed to get into a good groove, the knees began protesting.

I can’t even remember how I came across it, but a few years ago I started researching the concept of barefoot running. In short, people had started questioning the cushioned high-tech spaceships that we have been enveloping our feet in and the heel strike style of running that they enabled, and were looking to more primitive, less injury-prone runners for answers. I got a pair of minimalist running shoes and started experimenting with the forefoot strike-style.

Then, by pure chance, I found myself on a beach in Costa Rica in need of reading material, and one of my co-travelers offered to lend me Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. This book cemented my interest in barefoot running and I have not looked back (to the cushy neon foot-spaceships) since.

When starting to transition into minimalist running, it’s important to take it slow, especially if you’ve been running in “conventional” shoes for a long time. The muscles in our legs need time to adapt to this new style, and all those small stabilizer muscles that have dozed off because we’ve been giving them too much support need to wake up and get to work. To ease into it, I started transitioning from heel strike to forefront strike running wearing my regular old shoes. Then, after a few weeks (for some people it takes longer — months or even years) I started doing short runs in my minimalist shoes. My legs, especially the shins, hurt like hell in the beginning, so I would only do two miles or so. Now, I do a few 4-6 mile runs every week. After six miles, I find, the inside of the shoe starts giving me blisters (probably because I don’t wear socks). But I have no more knee or joint pain.

Most major shoe brands have jumped on the barefoot bandwagon by now, but there are some conscious options out there. For the past year, I’ve been testing out minimalist shoes and have found three favorites that I like for different reasons.

Most Versatile: Drive by Kigo Footwear
Besides the fact that it’s made from post-consumer recycled PET and certified non-toxic dyes and glues using low-carbon production methods, I like the Kigo Drive shoe because it’s very versatile. My pair has been running trails and pavement but also hiked through rivers and swam in waterfalls in Costa Rica. The water and stain resistant material, adjustable lacing and flexible outsole make them ideal for watersports and running in conditions, like wet mud, that would quickly cause other shoes to perform worse. The Kigo is great for the adventurous, multi-sport kind of person, and perfect for traveling with as they can be rolled up. As an added bonus, they are also vegan.
$91, Kigo Footwear

For Hardcore Runners & Hikers: Moc3 by Soft Star Shoes
Designed by veteran running shoe expert, Mike Friton, the Moc3 is an extremely lightweight (less than 5oz) slip-on shoe that provides maximal groundfeel. Soft Star is one of the last remaining makers of footwear that is entirely made in the USA. Raw materials are sourced as close to the company’s Oregon headquarters as possible, the leather is tanned in the US and sole material purchased from Vibram’s US-based product lines. All shoes are handcrafted in Oregon by a team of craftspeople affectionately referred to as “elves.”

For running, the thin (2mm) soles are best suited to dirt, grass and moderate trails. Only those who are very tough-footed will want to wear these on more rocky trails. Hardcore minimalist runners will love these, as they almost give you the feel of actually being barefoot. I’ve found that they are perfect for hiking. The slip-on style is quick and easy to put on, and the perforated leather uppers and moisture-wicking liners make them highly breathable (although not water resistant). The Moc3 is a great option for those who don’t like shoes with toes. The innovative design still ensures optimal movement and they can also be worn with socks. The minimalistic weirdly cool design also make them good for wearing on the street.
$94, Softstar Shoes

The Classic: Vibram FiveFingers KSO
I really didn’t want to like Vibrams. Anything with a cultish following usually turns me into a skeptic. For the longest time I also thought they didn’t fit me — my toes just didn’t seem to correspond well with Vibram’s idea of toes. Then, I randomly tried on a pair of men’s KSO and they fit like a glove. I was lured in. I still think they look kind of awkward, but at least they’re black (yes, I extend the meaning of minimal to color as well). Actress Shailene Woodley famously wore a black pair on the red carpet at a Golden Globes after party, which provoked lots of comments (both positive and negative) from the world’s fashion police.

Style factors aside Vibrams are great shoes for running. I’ve had mine for over a year now and with some small mending they’ve proven to be quite durable. To me, toe shoes tend to give you more bounce in your step. Maybe it’s the freedom of not having your toes all crammed together. I don’t know, but it feels good. One thing that bugs me, though, is that rocks and small branches can get stuck between the toes of the shoes as you’re running. I guess you could call it immersing yourself in nature.
Men’s KSO: $85, Vibram FiveFingersWomen’s TrekSport: $100, Vibram FiveFingers

What are your favorite minimalist running shoes? Share in the comment section.

In our ongoing search for the underpinnings of the good life, we are continually looking for better ways of doing things, slowing our pace even, and carving out a better future. Some folks might say that the slow food movement is ahead of the curve in terms of identifying and implementing viable ways to help make these lifestyle dreams come true. Yet the independent designer label, Feral Childe, has been serving up a sustainable fashion feast for many a season now, and their ethically-made pieces have proven to be both aesthetically rich as well as stylistically grounding. Their latest Spring 2013 collection, The Searchers, is perhaps their best to date in terms of the smart and creative ways that they meld art, literature, custom textile printing, and timely historical/social narratives.

Feral Childe’s customized prints and ethical fabrics really make them stand out in the field

Very few contemporary design labels are able to fruitfully till and harvest their concepts into prints and fabrics that reveal graphic elements like dotted-line planting rows, ink drawn chicken wire, circularly shaped Victory Gardens, and loca(l)vore impressions alongside the probings of film makers like Terence Malick and writers John Steinbeck, Willa Cather, and Pearl S. Buck — to name a few. Rodarte likes to mix things up from time to time via a dreamy wheat print dress, but this is no Rodarte folks — this delves a whole lot deeper.

Feral Childe’s Turnip Top and Carrot Jean nourish us with the basics for Spring 2013

We also know how hard it is to make an honest go of it in fashion, but Feral Childe’s process really matches the dedication of farmers and grassroots gardeners who are acutely aware of our contemporary landscape and the changes inflicted during various stages of planting and human occupation. Each Feral Childe piece is intended to be trans-seasonal and layered in free-spirited combination — as if to illustrate that contemporary fashion can be as soulfully delectable as a meal concocted from the local farmer’s market or one’s own backyard plot.

Feral Childe’s Made in Midtown NYC Trench Coat in coated linen and soft cotton

Designer’s Moriah Carlson and Alice Wu are no strangers to the solid work ethic and painstaking details required to make their bi-coastal operation a success. The artistic duo met during their day jobs, post-grad school and have subsequently approached all of their collections with an awareness of what it means to bring in a good harvest or put on a good show. I believe that they are uniquely visionary on this front, and certainly have my respect in terms of their continued efforts to implement both creative integrity, innovative approaches to textile design, as well as demonstrating commitment to local, U.S. based production, specifically in NYC’s Garment District. Beyond this, they are personally diligent about to getting to know their retailers and client base, and in turn factor this feedback into future collections — much like the end-of-season crop that is tilled back into the soil.

Feral Childe’s Turnip Dress in organic cotton jersey paired with Erika Somogyi jewelry

“Our American landscape is so beautiful and in traveling to different parts of the country to visit our our retailers, you can really fall in love with the U.S. all over again. We are always reminded, though, how extremely difficult it is for farmers (or anyone who makes their livelihood from the land) to grow food successfully. Quite frankly, we are headed for another Dust Bowl if we don’t take care of our natural resources. And, of course, all of this is just one step in the supply chain of making clothes — knowing where the fibers in your clothes come from.”

Feral Childe’s look book incorporates both a sense of place and the raw materiality of craft

Feral Childe’s The Searchers collection serves up a cornucopia of varied and wholesome ingredients like their signature custom-engraved tagua nut buttons (not plastic, writes Alice), printed facings, welt pockets, self-belt options for added versatility, and a range of sophisticated styles intended for mix-and-match styling and transcending the seasons. Spring 2013 fabrications include silk crepe, cotton/linen, khadi (hand-loomed cotton from India), organic cotton jersey, and Hempcel linen. All pieces are thoughtfully made in Midtown NYC.

“At Feral Childe, our prints are designed with the same conceptual rigor that we apply to our fine art practice. We have a set of criteria to make sure that our prints stand out from the rest. The image itself must be generated with hand-made elements (drawing, painting, or collage for instance) and digital manipulation must be used sparingly. We use the prints’ graphics to tell the unique story of each collection. “

Feral Childe’s Rake Dress featuring their custom “Sticks and Stones” graphic print

I genuinely think that Feral Childe’s exclusive textiles continue to set them apart from the rest. This season’s six new designs are poetically named, “Starfield, Farm Elements, Cherries, Victory Garden, Paper Rock, and Sticks and Stones.” All are created as per the studio process described above but also serve as hands-on and iterative dialogue between the two designers themselves. The graphics are symbolic without being didactic, and this is an important distinction in assessing whether Feral Childe’s pieces might work for you. All of their collections transcend good intentions and thoughtfully-edited ingredients to create fashion options that are truly reflective of the times that we are living in. They are the thinking person and/or fashion lover’s choice but not in a way that glosses over or trivializes the stories that simply need to be told. They also read like the good literature that inspires them without ever being elitist. Slow fashion that can intelligently keep up is honestly what they are increasingly about, as well as being a wise investment in our own landscape and environmental legacy.

Feral Childe gets even more playful for The Searchers with the introduction of a print bikini

Writer and Sustainable Fashion Advocate/Consultant, Amy DuFault shared the following regarding her impressions as a long-time follower of Feral Childe:

“To me, one of the things that stands out about Feral Childe is the fact that their clothing is really fun to wear. As a former buyer for a conscious clothing boutique, it was hard to find a line that was even comparable to the overall design and functionality of each Feral Childe piece as well as the real joy the clothes brought to people who put them on. Dresses with sophisticated lines for day or night combined with the unique prints that both Alice and Moriah are known for become not just garments but wearable art that you want to take care of, treasure and take with you into the future.”

Feral Childe will have a studio sample sale this weekend (Sunday, May 19) at their studio in Brooklyn, NY. Other upcoming events include a trunkshow at Atelier 360 in Greenwich, CT on Friday, May 24 and a trunkshow and art installation (themed after this new collection) at Swords-Smith in Brooklyn on Friday May 31. Feel free to visit their Facebook page for event details.

All images courtesy of Moriah Carlson and Alice Wu / Feral Childe

In the past few years, the fashion industry in Los Angeles has experienced somewhat of a renaissance. Big-name designers like Rodarte, Juan Carlos Obando, Trina Turk, Jenni Kayne and Monique Lhuillier have proven that, in order to make it in the fashion world, aspiring designers no longer have to move to the East Coast.

Besides a budding creative industry, Los Angeles is the largest garment manufacturing hub in the country. There are over 100,000 workers and 5,000 contractors here. However, many of these garment workers still work in sweatshop-like conditions, and less than 1% of them are unionized.

The Garment Worker Center was started by a coalition of immigrant rights groups who had been helping workers on an individual level for year. Entirely funded by grants from non-profit foundations and run by volunteers, the center holds workshops, functions as an information resource, helps garment workers organize, and provides support for workers who want to take actions against unfair labor conditions.

I was born and raised in California and have a deep affinity for both the natural beauty and cultural diversity of Southern California. This is such an amazing place to live and it only makes sense to support local industry. It’s better for the environment and it’s better for the community.

The most important agents of change in this field, however, are the designers who choose to make their pieces in Los Angeles, according to fair, ethical standards.

“I was born and raised in California and have a deep affinity for both the natural beauty and cultural diversity of Southern California,” says Kristina Lenss, founder of ethical fashion label Kristinit. “This is such an amazing place to live and it only makes sense to support local industry. It’s better for the environment and it’s better for the community. Los Angeles has some of the finest apparel manufactures in the world and I feel honored to support them in any way possible.”

LA, it turns out, is becoming a breeding ground for locally made, considered fashion. Here are some other labels that can proudly label themselves “made in LA.”

Clover Canyon
Clover Canyon aims to reflect “the eclectic, joyful spirit of California through vivid prints and streamlined silhouettes.” The label, founded by veteran designer Rozae Nichols, does that quite well. The design team works collaboratively and draws on a shared passion for travel and art. This is conveyed through original prints, hand-engineered to frame and enhance the body, in a perfect blend of cutting-edge technology and traditional craftsmanship. The collections are designed, patterned, cut and sewn in the label’s LA atelier.
clovercanyon.com

Clover Canyon Summer/Pre-fall 2013

Jill Aiko Yee
Jill Aiko Yee studied at Otis College and trained with LA-designers Rozae Nichols (of Clover Canyon, above) and Gregory Parkinson before starting her own line. Feminine and sensual yet bold and colorful, Yee’s designs often incorporate sheer fabrics and ombre dyes. She says more designers are starting to look toward manufacturing in LA because of the quality, something that is apparent in her own detail-rich pieces.
jillaikoyee.com

Hand dip dyed silk pieces by Jill Aiko Yee

Kristinit
Before launching her ethically and sustainably made line in 2006, Kristina Lenss worked as a costume designer for theater, films, and TV. “I love producing the line locally because you get to develop real relationships with everyone involved in the process,” she says. “It’s very fulfilling to work with the pattern maker, cutter, and sample sewer on a one on one basis. We develop friendships in addition to great working relationships and it just makes the whole process more fun. I don’t think you would get that same sense of community by manufacturing overseas.”
kristinit.com

Elegant, ethically made dress and jumpsuit by Kristinit

Wren
Born in Illinois, Melissa Coker landed an internship at Helmut Lang and worked in the editorial ofices of Vogue, W and Details before launching her line, Wren, in 2007. Named after Jenny Wren, a dress-making character in a Dickens novel, the label is now based in Los Angeles. Coker says that one of the reasons she has chosen to manufacture in LA is the slower pace, which allows more time for creativity and reflection.
wrenstudio.com

Kimono dress and lace short by Wren

Ashton Michael
A Los Angeles native, Ashton Hirota caters to rock stars who are looking for one-of-a-kind custom pieces — designed and made in LA. In addition to creating capsule collections, his label, Ashton Michael, is known for being able to turn custom designs around quickly for impatient celebs, so having centralized production is key to the business. Hirota’s clients include artists like Will.i.am, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown and Pitbull — chances are you’ve seen his work on stage or on TV.
ashtonmichael.com

Designer and stylist Ashton Hirota, of Ashton Michael

Deborah Lindquist
As one of LA’s most sought after environmentally conscious designers, Deborah Lindquist makes couture-inspired creations from a mix of upcycled, sustainable and organic fabrics. Fans include Hollywood stars like Sharon Stone, Pink, Jessica Alba, Christina Aguilera and the Pussycat Dolls, for which she designed stage costumes. Trained at Parsons School of Design in NYC, Lindquist moved to Los Angeles in 1989 and launched her eponymous line. An early pioneer of the eco-fashion movement, she has continued to make impact in the fashion world without compromising her environmental values.
deborahlindquist.com

Conscious couture by Deborah Lindquist

Linda Loudermilk
Dubbed the “Vivienne Westwood of eco” by ELLE, Linda Loudermilk wants to redefine sustainability as something alluringly sexy, fun and edgy. Early on, she saw where the industry was headed trademarked the term “luxury eco” and has used it as both an umbrella for her lifestyle brand as well as a stamp of approval. Loudermilk views nature as the original punk and often incorporates fabrics made from bamboo, seaweed and corn into her designs, along with upcycled scraps of lace and other fine fabric remnants. Her clients range “from celebrities and socialites to biker chicks and boxers” and most of the designs are made in the US.
lindaloudermilk.com

Eco couture by Linda Loudermilk

KCA by Fashioning Change
Fashioning Change is a startup that helps online shoppers make more conscious purchases by showing customers ethical alternatives to mainstream designer looks. Recently, the site launched their first collection, KCA by Fashioning Change, a line of basics, sustainably made in Downtown LA.
fashioningchange.com/kca

Ethically made basics by KCA by Fashioning Change

FROCK Los Angeles
Founded in 2009 by Victoria Tik, FROCK creates fair-trade, eco-friendly collections using a unique blend of sustainable jerseys. There are no zippers or buttons, as everything is meticulously shaped around the body. The sexy, flattering garments have been worn by celebrities such as Britney Spears, Leighton Meester and Patricia Field. The entire line is ethically made in the US, using sustainable and organic fabrics, vegetable dyes and low-waste cutting techniques.
frockla.com

Backless dress and draped reversible dress by Frock Los Angeles

Stewart+Brown
Husband-and-wife team Karen Stewart and Howard Brown launched their ethical fashion label in 2002. Since then, Stewart+Brown has gained a loyal following of fans who appreciate the pair’s unique and personal aesthetic and timeless, considered basics inspired by a love and respect for nature. Although the design office is based in Ventura, CA, garments are ethically produced in Los Angeles.
stewartbrown.com

Stewart+Brown early spring 2013

Popomomo
The daughter of two architects, Liz Wasserman had design in her blood from the start. After working at Free People, she lauched Popomomo, which stands for post-postmodern movement, in Brooklyn in 2009. Now based in Los Angeles, the line has become popular with LA’s artsier, gallery-hopping crowd. Wasserman uses sustainable, organic and recycled fabrics and keeps a studio within walking distance of where her clothing is made, making it easy to oversee the production of Popomomo’s collections.
popomomo.com

Palazzo pant by Popomomo

LAVUK
Inspired by the heart of a traveler, designer Natasha Gindin — who was born in the former Yuogslavia — creates pieces that are multifunctional, practical and stylish. Classic silhouettes blend with unexpected details for a look that is decidedly urban. All pieces are made in Los Angeles from sustainable materials like organic cotton, tencel, hemp and dead stock silks. For every garment you purchase, LAVUK plants a tree is planted through the California Wildfire ReLeaf program.
lavuk.com

LAVUK Fall 2012

SHOES

Calleen Cordero
In the 1970s, Los Angeles was famous for hand sculpted wood shoes. This practice has virtually disappeared when Cordero opened her shop in ‘99, intent of resurrect the art of shoe making. Since then, her ruggedly glamorous line of metal-embellished wood and leather shoes have put LA back on the map as a shoe manufacturing district.
calleencordero.com

Leather and wood shoes by Calleen Cordero

NewbarK
Stylist sisters Maryam and Marjan Malakpour launched NewbarK in 2009, making soft, foldable slippers designed to be carried around for when your feet needed a break from the heels. Since then, their collection has evolved into a bohemian luxe line of shoes and handbags — all handmade in Los Angeles.
newbark.com

Fringe sandals by NewbarK

Penelope and Coco
Founded in 2010 by designer Marisa Spinella and publicist Arielle Vavasseur, Penelope and Coco is inspired by the designer’s two style personas — Penelope, a classic, traditional beauty and Coco, an eccentric wild child. Working with shoe cobblers all over Los Angeles, Spinella learned the importance of true craftsmanship and attention to detail, values that continue to inform the brand’s aesthetic, which is one part glamour, one part rock and roll — just like LA itself.
penelopeandcoco.com

Shoes by Penelope and Coco

BAGS

Clare Vivier
Just five years ago, Clare Vivier started making laptop cases, after noticing a lack of stylish, functional ones in the market. They were an instant success, and her company quickly grew into a line of handbags, clutches and other accessories that mixes classic French glamour with minimalist Los Angeles cool. From sketch to finished product, Vivier’s bags are made in Los Angeles, creating local jobs and a sense of community.
clarevivier.com

Clare Vivier Re Bonjour clutch

Marie Turnor
Created by Beth Goodman, a former lingerie designer, Marie Turnor is a line of luxurious leather bags with a modern bohemian edge. Moving to California, Goodman started incorporating color into her designs and has not yet gone back to black. Her bags are inspired by everyday objects like envelopes, origami and paper bags and made in Southern California.
marieturnor.com

Marie Turnor Picnic Bag

JEWELRY

Alkemie
Alkemie’s designs have a rugged California-cool vibe and are made by hand in downtown Los Angeles, from 100% reclaimed metal. When leather is used it is sourced from sustainable cattle farmers and dyed with earth-friendly dye. Each month the designers behind Alkemie, Dara Gerson and Ashley Lowengrub, selects a charity to which they donate 5% of the retail profits. “At Alkemie we believe an integral part of being a sustainable company is supporting practices and causes you believe in,” the pair says.
alkemiejewelry.com

Crocodile textured cuff by Alkemie

KYYOTE
Amanda Loos’ playful, geometric designs inspire visions of endless summers, clear blue skies and technicolor sunsets. Inspired by ancient, primitive and tribal art and adornment as well as modernist art and architecture, KYYOTE jewelry is handcrafted in Loos’ LA studio using certified recycled sterling silver and other materials sourced from small, domestic, independently owned companies who supply the gorgeous bits and pieces that construct the line. Since each component is hand selected for its individual characteristics, no two pieces are alike.
kyyote.com

Ceramic beaded necklace and Huilo-Huilo earrings by KYYOTE

Tiffany Kunz
Tiffany Kunz’s hammered, hand-forged jewelry is simple, wearable and distinct. Her signature line is entirely made in LA, using rough stones, reclaimed metals, hand-cast shapes and textures inspired by nature. The pieces are delicate, timeless and elegant.
tiffanykunzdesign.com

Handmade jewelry by Tiffany Kunz

What are your favorite conscious fashion labels that are made in LA? Let us know and we’ll add to the list.

Images courtesy of the designers and labels

Most people spend about a third of their waking hours at work. Some of you are probably smacking your forehead in disbelief as your read this and saying ‘What?! Only a third?!” Whatever the tally of hours, the quality of the time we spend at work is often neglected, we’re all in a rush to just get out the door and back to our ‘real lives’. But work is life and in true Goodlifer fashion we believe in making the best of it. Good Work is a column devoted to exploring the things that make the experience of finding, doing and being at work better. Move over lifestyle — make room for workstyle!

It’s a familiar story — two people who are itching for meaningful work team up to create their dream jobs. It’s the kind of story that seems designed to make the rest of us insanely jealous. But this story has a twist. In the case of Taylor Cocalis and Dorothy Neagle their dream job makes it easier for a whole group of people — those in the food industry — to find meaningful work of their own, and to help fix the food system along the way. The forum they created to take on these ambitious tasks is called Good Food Jobs, and though the site’s focus is the food industry, their ethos about what it takes to find the right job has universal implications.

The impetus to create the site came from a shared passion for food and a realization that the food industry was lacking an effective meeting point for job seekers and potential employers. Like most good ideas it didn’t happen overnight — for a long time Cocalis kept saying “someone needs to build this website”, periodically broadcasting her desire to her extensive food industry network. Finally, on a serendipitous road trip up to Cornell, the founders’ alma mater where they met as campus tour guides, Cocalis was once again expressing her wish when she finally turned to Neagle and said “we need to build this website”. So they did.

On its surface, Good Food Jobs is an online job search engine catering to the food community (pun intended). On a deeper level, the site functions as a gateway to a set of resources and a network of food industry professionals. If you follow the GFJ newsletter you will become familiar with Cocalis and Neagle’s seemingly endless ability to turn challenges into teachable moments; musings on living well appear as often as discussions of career development and particularly juicy job listings. Additional inspiration flows from the Gastrognomes blog where weekly installments highlight food industry innovators. Combined, these different aspects of GFJ aim to help users redefine what work is, what wealth is and how to create value for themselves. Cocalis and Neagle hope to humanize the job search experience; to make it easier and less emotional by injecting some compassion into both sides of the hiring and application process.

Taylor Cocalis, co-founder of Good Food Jobs

The personalized touch, evident in the warm and welcoming aesthetic of the site, is no accident. As GFJ matured, Cocalis and Neagle began to recognize parallels between the broken food system and the stagnating job search industry. They focused their efforts on reintroducing substance, meaning and complexity into the job search culture. What started out as a project about food and jobs has evolved to include increasing amounts of community and relationship building. Cocalis says: “The same way that we want everyone to enjoy the pleasure of a perfectly ripe peach and to support food organizations that they believe in… we want job seekers to find meaningful work with businesses that are doing work they are proud of.” The way they see it, the job search tool provides a valuable service and generates revenue that helps fund GFJ’s other activities to promote positive food culture and positive job culture. Cocalis explains: “We intentionally built a democratic system. We don’t fund the site via banner and sidebar advertising. Instead, each organization pays $60 per job listing. This allows us to spend our time and energy building the community, rather than chasing down advertisers.” The pair asserts that these other activities — speaking, teaching, writing, providing technical and community support — are what make GFJ worthwhile for everyone.

Dorothy Neagle, co-founder of Good Food Jobs

Neagle and Cocalis are enthusiastic advocates for getting out into the community and getting your hands dirty. They maintain that it is through meeting people, learning new things and getting exposure in your chosen field that opportunities reveal themselves. They credit this very approach for helping them come up with the idea for GFJ — their combined experience of meeting and talking to a wide array of people helped them launch the site and continues to inform their efforts to propose ideas and provide inspiration for the community.

“When people write to us they don’t say ‘thanks for helping me to get that job’, they say ‘thank you for putting into words what I’ve been feeling’, or ‘thank you for proving that there are things that you can do with food beyond working in a restaurant kitchen’,” Neagle says. GFJ’s creative approach enriches the food community. Underlying the entire enterprise is Neagle and Cocalis’ strong conviction that even the most humble job can make a difference and that pursuing your passion will pay off in social, economic and gastronomic ways. They are taking the long view that building a stronger food community will benefit everyone — from job seekers, to business owners, to eaters. A great example from Good Food Jobs!

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Still not sure what to give your mom? Here are a few suggestions for thoughtful, useful, conscious, do-good gifts for the special mom(s) in your life.

For the New Mom: The Honest Life: Living Naturally and True to You by Jessica Alba
Like all new moms, Jessica Alba wanted to create a safe, healthy environment for her family but found herself frustrated by the lack of trustworthy, sensible information on how to live healthier and cleaner life. In 2012, she launched The Honest Company, a brand that makes products that are at once safe, stylish, and affordable. In The Honest Life, Alba shares her personal journey and the insights and strategies she has developed along the way — tips for making healthy living fun, real, and stylish. Offering a candid look inside her home and daily life, she shares her favorite tips for clean eating, eco-friendly home products, eco beauty routines and style.
$15.28, Amazon

For the Mom with a Conscience and a Taste for Luxury: Kawa Luri Gris Shawl by Fibre Tibet
We’ve already told you all about Fibre Tibet and their amazing cashmere knit shawls, but clearly we’re obsessed. If your mom has an affinity for cashmere, we think she’d love it too. You can take it as an opportunity to talk to her about how not all cashmere is created equal(ly fair). The Endless Knot is a Buddhist Symbol that represents interdependence and eternal harmony. Each shawl is handmade by Himalayan artisans, from cashmere collected by Tibetan nomads.
$165, Kaight

For the Mom Who Wants to Look Younger Than Her Years: Pacific Topical Marine Treatment by Marie Veronique Organics
This anti-aging treatment has been called “the natural beauty world’s Creme de la Mer,” and the results do not disappoint. The Topical Marine Treatment helps the skin produce more collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, and increase the number of fibrocytes, the building blocks of beautiful, youthful skin. It’s expensive, yes, but studies have shown that one round of treatment (two of these bottles) gives far better results than more expensive (and toxic) treatments. And mom is worth it, right?
$375, Marie Veronique Organics

For the Jet-Setting Mom: Mercado Global Matea Weekender
If your mom likes to travel, make sure she does so in style. This handwoven rope dyed weekender bag is roomy enough to fit all the essentials for an extended weekend getaway — whether she’s glamping or staying in five-star hotels. There are also plenty of pockets to keep track of those gadgets and a zipper closure to keep the pickpockets at bay. Mercado Global was started in 2002 to help indigenous women in Guatemala overcome severe poverty and oppression. The program combines wage-earning opportunities with business education and leadership training so that the artisans who make these bags can address systemic problems and help change their communities for good.
$298, Mercado Global

For the Foodie Mom: DIY Mozzarella/Ricotta Cheese-Making Kit
This DIY cheese-making kit from Williams-Sonoma’s Agrarian collection is the ultimate foodie gift. Who knew it was so easy to make your own all-natural ricotta and mozzarella? In less than an hour nonetheless. All you need, in addition to the kit, is basic kitchen equipment and (organic) milk from your local store. The kit makes ten batches of pure, flavorful and tender fresh-made cheese that mom can incorporate into some of your favorite childhood recipes (homemade pizza!).
$25.95, Williams-Sonoma

For the Crafty Mom: Sewing Kit in Vintage Mason Jar
Is your mom the crafty type who likes to sew, make and mend things? Then this charming kit — an old mason jar filled with useful things like brass scissors, measuring tape, safety pins, needles, vintage wood spooled thread, pins, a thimble, and needle threader — may just be the perfect gift. The lid is topped off with a handy linen pin cushion. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can easily make one of these kits yourself. Otherwise, this one is available on Etsy.
$40, Etsy/pilosale

For the Oenophile Mom: EcoVine Organic Wine Club Membership
Almost every mom enjoys a good bottle of wine, especially if she knows that the grapes were organically grown. A membership to the EcoVine Sulfite-Free “NSA” Wine Club allows her to enjoy 100% organic, award-winning, hard-to-find wines produced from organically grown grapes every month (bimonthly and quarterly subscriptions are also avaiable). Featured wines are measured against rigorous criteria and taken through a meticulous tasting and evaluation process. Two-bottle shipments start at $39 (plus shipping) and can be cancelled any time. Select reds only, mostly red wines, or a red and white mix.
$39 and up, EcoVine

For the Mom Who Has Everything: Deco Perfume from Soap & Paper Factory
Is your mom one of those people who always says that she has everything she needs in life? She’s probably right, but we think a bit of delicious scent is always a welcome gift. The Deco Collection from Soap & Paper Factory is inspired by the era of luxury, glamour, and opulence. The packaging is elegant and each fragrance is feminine, bold and beautiful — just like your mother. Choose from Tuberose (with hint of jasmine), Marine (fresh citrus, basil and green tea leaves) and Neroli.
$35, Teich

Dr. Alejandro Junger, founder of the Clean Program

Dr. Alejandro Junger originally created the Clean cleanse to help improve his own health. A little over 20 years ago, he moved from his native Uruguay to New York City for postgraduate training. Quickly, the high-stress hospital work environment and bad food choices started affecting his health. After being given numerous kinds of medicines to treat his various conditions, Dr. Junger started thinking — were these medications actually getting to the root cause of the problem or were they just covering up the symptoms?

During the Clean Program, you have a shake (vanilla or chocolate) for breakfast and dinner and lunch from an approved list of foods.

In search of true health,  Dr. Junger traveled around the world and started learning alternative solutions to his health problems and the power of cleansing. Upon his return, patients and friends started noticing a distinct improvement in his health and wanted to learn how they could achieve those same results. Thus, the Clean Program was born.

The 21-day cleanse is designed to support the elimination of toxins from the body and help us break old habits. Dr. Junger is very careful to point out that it is a program, not a diet, and that weight loss is not the main objective (although it often occurs as the body rids itself of toxins). Besides its ability to detox, the power of this cleanse lies in its simplicity — you have a shake for breakfast, lunch from an approved list of foods, and a shake for dinner. Along with every meal you take a packet of supplements and a probiotic. Everything is pre-packaged in portion sizes, so it’s easy to take it on the road. Foods known to be common allergens — processed foods, red meat, nightshades, dairy, gluten, etc. — are not allowed on the program. Removing these foods, and limiting yourself to one big meal per day gives the body a chance to focus its energy on cleansing and healing instead of constantly having to metabolize heavy meals.

Dr. Mark Hyman says it best: ‘Food is medicine. It’s not like medicine, it is medicine.’ The science of epigenetics has shown us that low quality food has the power to make and keep us sick. And on the flip side, good food has the power to keep our healthy genes on and turn unhealthy genes off.

Replacing two meals per day with a shake, you’re thinking, will that really give me enough energy? Actually, most of us don’t get enough minerals, nutrients, phytonutrients and healthy fats in our diet. The shakes are very nutrient-dense, incorporating good stuff like rice protein, broccoli seed extract, and pomegranate extract, and you will likely feel more energized than normal.

You can jazz up the shakes with anything from the approved list of foods.

Before starting the cleanse, it’s important to do the tree-day pre-cleanse, where you will eat three meals a day from the list of approved foods. Coffee addicts, this will not be the happiest time of your life. The good news is that it does get better after those first few days, so hang in there. Headaches and dizziness is common at the beginning of any cleanse. The great thing is that the Clean Program offers plenty of support, including a community of over 51,000 users and  free Wellness coaches to help you whenever you need it. John Rosania, Clean’s head Wellness Coach, told us to take Natural Calm (a calcium/magnesium supplement) morning and night to help with these symptoms. Other things he recommended was to ensure that I was drinking enough water (1-2 liters/day) and going to the bathroom regularly, to go lighter on the exercise than usual and to make sure that I was eating enough food. Thankfully, the (very pretty) Clean box comes with a manual featuring delicious recipes, made with only ingredients from the approved list.

During the cleanse, you have access to free Wellness Coaches, as well as a community of over 50,000 people.

To make the shakes more filling, you can add anything from the approved list of foods. I love the idea of having the vanilla shake (you can choose if you want all vanilla, all chocolate or mixed shakes in your cleanse kit) with almond milk, frozen blueberries, a handful of spinach and a half avocado for creaminess and added healthy fat (coconut oil also works). Mixing the chocolate shake packet with coconut milk, fresh mint leaves and cacao nibs for a delicious chocolate-mint milkshake doesn’t sound so bad either. If you want, shakes can be sweetened with stevia, which is derived from a plant and does not raise your blood sugar like other sweeteners.

We’re both starting this health-journey as coffee-dependent, overworked freelancers, who have put on a couple of unwanted pounds over the past few months and years. Follow our journey here. Halfway through the program we’ll give you a progress report and tell you how we’re doing, and at the end we’ll give you a full summary of the experience.

In the meantime, if you are curious to learn more about the Clean Program, pick up Dr. Junger’s book, Clean: The Revolutionary Program To Restore the Body’s Natural Ability to Heal Itself, where he explains detoxification more in depth, elaborates on its historical significance and shares how we can reclaim this information and move one step closer toward optimal health.

Gardening is the most therapeutic and defiant act you can do, especially in the inner city. Plus, you get strawberries.

Violence, poverty and the lack of access to basic things like healthy food all contribute to an untenable situation. “South Central Los Angeles,” he says, “home of the drive-thru and the drive-by.” And those drive-thru fast-food outlets, it turns out, are killing more people than the drive-bys. One in two kids are developing curable diseases like Type 2 diabetes, wheelchairs are being traded like used cars, and dialysis centers are popping up faster than Starbucks stores.

South Central Los Angeles [is the] home of the drive-thru and the drive-by. Funny thing is, the drive-thrus are killing more people than the drive-bys.

Curbside Gangsta Garden in South Central LA. Image via L.A. Green Grounds

In his TED talk, above, Finley lays out his vision for how to fix this problem — by planting healthy, accessible “food forests” wherever there is space — in abandoned lots, traffic medians, and along the curbs. It started with the curbside veggie garden he planted in a strip of dirt in front of his own house — one of those that the city owns but the homeowner is required to maintain. When the city tried to shut it down, because they didn’t agree with Finley’s idea of what “maintaining” means, his fight prompted the development of L.A. Green Grounds, a non-profit that provides “nourishment, empowerment, education — and healthy, hopeful futures — one urban garden at a time.”

We gotta flip the script on what a gangsta is — if you ain’t a gardener, you ain’t gangsta.

These people eat unhealthy food because there is no other choice. Most people couldn’t even afford to buy organic food, even if they had the time and means to drive over a half hour to the nearest health food store. “Growing your own food,” Finley says, “is like printing money!” Growing something also, inevitably, gives you an attachment to it and connects you to the food in a different way.”If kids grow kale, kids eat kale. If they grow tomatoes, they eat tomatoes. But when none of this is presented to them, if they’re not shown how food affects the mind and the body, they blindly eat whatever you put in front of them.”

Top image via ronfinley.com

For me, Earth Month in New York City was filled with all new places to eat, sleep and talk wildly into the night in, (which is what a city like New York should be all about).

While it might seem a contradiction that one can lead a conscious, healthy lifestyle in a congested city like Manhattan, it’s actually extremely easy.

Let me make it absolutely clear, when I go into New York monthly, I am NOT looking to green my every move but I do have my favorite places to go. This time around I tried out some new spots to broaden my sustainable horizons and truly liked the new experiences.

Here’s what I came up with.
The Element Hotel
Three nights complimentary stay at the Element hotel in Midtown Manhattan while running around co-producing a fashion show for EILEEN FISHER at Green Festival was pure bliss. I loved feeling comfortable in the fact that I was staying in a hotel working to deepen its shade of green.

The Element is the only major hotel brand to mandate that all properties pursue LEED certification and the staff at the Element took me on a tour to show me some of the things they do intend to work on. To be fair and upfront, the hotel does NOT have that certification yet and does have some work to do to back some of their claims, but the road they are on is a good one. Consider as part of the Starwood chain, the Element has recently launched pedal-powered charging stations in its fitness centers and has announced that all of its hotels are now 100% powered by renewable energy.

The hotel also features recycled tires for flooring, soy based fabrics on room furniture, low-flow oversized showerheads, shampoo/body wash dispensers to avoid plastic bottle waste and dual-flush toilets to reduce water consumption.

The Element Hotels, are also now inviting guests to hit the trails and take in the blooms with its complimentary Bikes-to-Borrow program for all Element guests to get around Manhattan.

Wait, did I happen to mention it’s in Midtown? Full on score.

Souen
Six of us were hungry, crazy hungry as in “Don’t talk to me or I’ll rip your freaking face off hungry,” when we were led by member of our group to Souen for some organic, macrobiotic food.

Apparently, not just since my last trip but since 1971, Souen has been offering natural organic food to New York diners, “with the foremost priority being to serve delicious meals in keeping with good health.”

No refined, chemicals, preservatives, meat or dairy products are used in their kitchen and they “employ traditional methods of preparation whenever possible to enhance the healthful quality and natural flavor” of their food. While their ultimate goal is to allow foodies to experience traditional Japanese, macrobiotic food, they are also totally into making you feel full of good stuff that makes you want to run around NYC just a little longer. Even if you get lost, walk 5 blocks past your hotel (see above accommodation) and whimper from the pain of your eco shoes.

At least I had some seaweed in me for power.

Parks
New York City has more than 1,700 parks, playgrounds, and recreation facilities across the five boroughs. Parks properties range from swimming pools to wetlands and from woodlands to dog hangouts. Have you ever taken the time to sit in one while there? If no, you’re missing out.

This time around it was all about the waterfront parks and bench sitting and watching a more natural, much less rushed version of Manhattan go by (with a coffee in hand, of course).

Speaking of the waterfront and some really great bike paths, NYC offers plenty. According to BikesBelong.com, more than 200,000 people bike every day in New York City. This explains all the hot outfits women wore while getting here and there on two wheels.

Note to self, embrace biking next time in the city.

Beacon’s Closet (Vintage and Modern Used Clothing)
Every time I go to New York City I have to stay somewhere new so people don’t get tired of me. At the beginning of April I stayed in Park Slope, Brooklyn and thanks to my innate sense of choosing the wrong direction, I ended up at Beacon’s Closet on 5th Avenue.

The Park Slope store opened in 2002, the second one in a chain of three — the others are located in Williamsburg and on 13th Street in Manhattan.

Thanks once again to thinking I was on the right block, I thought I’d kill a little time before getting my apartment key and see what the shop had. A shirt dress and slouchy sweater later, I was walking out happy and ringing a buzzer across the street from Beacon’s Closet to which I thought belonged to my friend. I was wrong, this was not my friend’s apartment but from what I gathered looked more like a building housing meth addicts or, quite possibly, beat poet wannabes.

Next time I will remember not to confuse the blocks OR ring more wrong apartment buzzers to see what trouble I can get myself in…

There are few things that feel as luxurious against your skin as cashmere, and everyone should have a good cashmere scarf in their wardrobe. The scarves by Fibre Tibet are ‘good’ in many senses of the word — they’re stylish, comfortable, ethically harvested and sustainably made.

Tibet has emerged as the prime source of fine cashmere after factory-farming inspired practices have been introduced in parts of China and Mongolia, resulting in the loss of pasture land and the loss of fiber quality due to overuse of antibiotics and hormones.

The Ocean Gris shawl

The limited edition collection of shawls by Fibre Tibet are made from undyed organic, super fine Grade A cashmere, collected by Tibetan nomads. Only the longest, thinnest fibres are used, resulting in insanely soft, pure cashmere scarves. Fine cashmere is less prone to piling and being eaten by moths, the bane of a cashmere lover’s existence.

Monica Garry, Founder and CEO of The Bridge Fund, has been working with Tibetan nomad communities since 1996 and has helped raise over $30 million to support education, healthcare, cultural heritage preservation and environmental conservation on the Tibetan plateau. The idea for Fibre Tibet came together after she sent a box of yak wool textiles, yarn and wool samples from Tibet to her friend Alberto Zanone, a Milan-based textile designer. Zanone and his wife Carla La Sorte traveled to Tibet to work with Garry and The Bridge Fund team on improving the quality of fiber and creating a sustainable business model.

The Tibetan nomads who collect Fibre Tibet’s cashmere are paid a higher market price

They set up a wool combing and collection program that gave them access to higher quality fiber and ensured that the nomads who collect the cashmere were paid a higher market price.

Fibre Tibet shawls not only look and feel amazing, they also make a difference in the world. The designs are created by Zanone, in collaboration with Himalayan artisans. The Tibetan yak wool and cashmere is collected by Tibetan nomads in Ngari Tibet and the shawls are hand woven by a cooperative in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The Kawa Luri Gris shawl

All profits from the shawls are returned the nomads (who live on less than $1 per day) and Himalayan weavers, generating a positive social, environmental and economic impact and supporting the development of businesses run locally by Tibetans in the Himalayan region.

The Ocean Blanc shawl

You can find these conscious cashmere shawls in exclusive stores and boutiques in the US and Europe and Japan, including Jill Platner Gallery in New York City, Xanadu-Folk Art Gallery in San Francisco, ASAP (As Sustainable As Possible) Gallery in Italy and France, and The Bridge Fund in Washington DC and Brussels. The scarves are also available in Fibre Tibet’s webshop.

A word of warning: once you wrap one of these around your neck, you’ll never want to take it off.

His first single as Snoop Lion, No Guns Allowed, sends a clear message. It was written “to inspire social change and spark conversation in response to the devastating gun violence that claims the lives of dozens of Americans every day,” and has already inspired support and action from non-profit
organizations. The League of Young Voters Education Fund, recently launched a grassroots “No Guns Allowed” campaign in support of Snoop’s budding movement.

MTV x Caliber bracelets are made from the steel of reclaimed illegal guns

In conjunction with the debut of the video (above) — which features strong anti-gun imagery, starting with President Obama at the prayer vigil following the Sandy Hook school shooting — Snoop announced that he will be the face of a change making jewelry collection. MTV x Caliber is a collaboration between MTV and Jewelry for a Cause, featuring bracelets made from melted-down illegal guns bought back by the Newark Police Department. For every $40 bracelet, $8 will go to buying more guns.

“This is such an important message we’re sharing,” said Snoop Lion. “It’s a movement we want generations to recognize, embrace, and get behind. We’ve seen a lot of senseless acts of violence involving guns recently — too many have lost their lives, too many families have been destroyed. Like my friends at MTV, I want to be a part of the change that will help bring peace.”