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A story of consumerism Have you ever thought about what happens when you are done with your clothing? Has the price tag on your garments ever elicited questioning where it came from? If your answering yes - hands clapping. You are definitely ahead of the game. If your answering no, you're not alone. In fact, to be completely honest, it wasn't until a few years ago that I was right there, alongside you. My primary criteria for shopping looks fell into two categories of what looked good on and what I could afford. However, in the time since I have learned so much and knowing really is half the battle. One of the biggest issues we need to overcome is consumption. Fast fashion is more than just a catch hashtag, it's a disease that is rotting our minds, our world and humankind. Not only can companies not keep up with demands, but due to high demands on goods, they have also subcontracted to prison labor, simply to keep up with our desire to shop, shop and shop a little bit more. The second biggest issue to jump over lies within waste. According to recent research, 60% of all clothing produces ends up in a landfill within one year. When I first read this statistic, it seems hard to believe. But there is more. The average woman in the United States, (which if you didn't know continues to carry the largest carbon footprint), throws away 37 pairs of denim away annually. That's right - annually!! How is this possible? It seems unfathomable, but it's happening. From consumption to waste - fashion has become a revolving door without any thought to the why, where and how. Labor camps, mostly filled with religious/spiritual persons who have been falsely accused of crimes, are making our clothing. Free labor creates the best margins. In 2013, the camps alone brought in an annual dollar amount equal to 32% of the world's overall retail profit. What can we do about it? In 1997, according to "Made in China", an audit discovered that Nike was involved in child labor and sweatshops. Initially dismissing these charges, consumerism changed their minds. Or rather, non-consumerism. It was organizers/activists from 40 universities nation-wide, who rallied people to stop consuming with Nike until changes were made. Guess what happened? Although Nike is only one company, this example demonstrates that the power of change lies within us. However, apart from companies like Nike, most are making more clothes than ever before. With supply-chain optimization, the ability to turn around demand, increases, companies simply cannot keep up without "cutting corners", using labor camps and continuing to cheat people of liveable wages. When the words, 'more' and 'less' guide our buying decisions, labor camps will continue to not only exist, but also grow. Testimonies from prisoners who have eventually been released, or escaped (which is rare), share on the torture, the filth, the de-humanization of it all. Most of who would rather die while inside, but forced to continue to work, to make our clothes. On the flipside, what happens when our clothes are thrown out? A varied form of dehumanization occurs when we dump our clothing onto another people group. Mountains of clothing can be seen in countries like Chile, Ghana and several more underdeveloped countries . They call it ' the great fashion garbage patch'. Microplastics and various other harmful chemicals, found within the clothing, expose the air an water and become yet another way we are harming people through shopping. What can we do to end this cycle of labor camps to landfills? It's a lot to take in, so let's take it slow. Every little bit you do is better than the nothing you don't do. The first thing we can all do is ask the where and the what? Where are my clothes coming from? What happens when I am done wearing them? The second thing is download the app: Good on you. Every brand and company is rated for fair trade, environmental quality and animal rights. The third thing to do is stop shopping the "dirty dozen", listed below, and switch to thrift. A great app to use for gently thrifted items, along with those local shops, is ThredUp - download it today. Avoid: Walmart Target Ross TJMaxx Old Navy ASOS Forever21 H&M Victoria Secret Lululemon The Children's Place Amazon You may be reading this and feel overwhelmed. If this is you, just take it in. When you are ready, try to do one step at a time. Remember, similar to the Nike activists, you can make a difference. You can change the world. Let's do it together. XOXO, Jenny W. LiveableMe Sustainable + Fair

What exactly is Vintage? We hear a lot about vintage style and have most definitely seen the hipsters in our lives clinging to it (or maybe we are the hipsters). But, what exactly is vintage style? Vintage speaks to antiquated design. Today's vintage style seems to pull from decades such as the 1960's and 70's, all the way back to biblical times. Depending on taste, vintage means many things. The gems within vintage garments mostly reside within local antique, consignment and thrift stores. Antique stores will hold those treasures that, for the most part, older people wore when the looks were popularized and have since moved on, selling them or donating them. Consignment shops carry more popularized items, but when picked through, a one-of-a-kind find can be had. Thrift stores provide the most diversity of clothing and style - anything from a retired denim jacket to a sequin dress can be had. Years ago, when cardigans were all the rage, I found a camel-colored, Ralph Lauren cardigan at an antique store. The style deemed classic, which is always a great sign for longevity. Besides that, it was only twelve dollars, so I thought it was worth the purchase either way. I wore this cardigan for years before I finally sold it for credit at a local consignment boutique. That's what I call sustainable fashion! For me, vintage means classic 70's boho chic. Now that's not everyone's go-to look and that works for vintage, because basically anything old can make the style happen. What I absolutely adore about vintage remains within the sustainability of it all. It's literally a style that can be so fashionably unique, while maintaining ethical standards of both fair trade and sustainability. A rule of thumb within vintage lies in asking the question: Is it old? If it is, then it's vintage. Vintage style, however, looks a little different. It isn't merely in the simplicity of being old, but also within a specific style. Vintage style honors fashions of past. It allows for a resurrections of timeless periods in history. For me - that's 70's boho. For others - it's 20's regal. That's the great thing about fashion, especially vintage. The style is defined by the individual, while maintaining the integrity of honoring the age past. So amazing ! So fun! For more on vintage style, listen to the podcast. In particular, Season 1: Episode 8. Thank you for reading XOXO - Jenny Wiglesworth LiveableMe Sustainable + Fair www.liveableme.com

What do we think of when the word 'sustainable' comes into play within our lives? For myself, I tend to think of preserving the earth and making things last, through various practices. For others, it may draw a belief of the infamous slogan, 'reduce, reuse, recycle'. Depending on your background and interest, it could really mean a number of things. But, what does this word really encompass, within the fashion industry, and how can we live according to it? We universally understand sustainable to mean, 'anything that can be upheld or maintained at a certain rate or level'. With that definition we understand that it can most definitely be applied to a number of life's arenas. As long as we are upholding something to a state that can be maintained, it would be considered sustainable. In fashion, then, a garment that would last over a period of time would be considered sustainable. This is why thrifting and consignment stores remain to be great sustainable shopping experiences. They both provide garments that have been used and with our purchase, will continue to be used over time, demonstrating pure sustainable practices. New items could also be considering sustainable when we take longevity or multiple-use garments. When purchasing new, consider the longevity of life within each garment. Take denim, for instance - this fabric can historically uphold multiple washings making denim a sustainable purchase. Apart from textile or material, choosing a garment that falls underneath classic style, as opposed to trend, will also have a longer closet 'life' in your overall wardrobe, demonstrating a sustainable purchase. Habits alone also demonstrate sustainability. Washing, drying, using, and caring for, all come into play when considering garments and the longevity of closet 'life' of each garment. Sustainable practices would include: washing less, air drying, wearing multiple times between washing, and caring for the clothing as something valuable. These habits, in and of themselves, define everything sustainability is. It is within these habits, then, where sustainability really comes alive. Whether new or old, as mentioned above, it is the practice or use of the garment that makes it sustainable. The making it last is in the practice or habit. No one can be a complete purest, but if we are asking the questions and participating in the sustainable practices mentioned above, we can maintain what would be considered sustainable. Thrift often, strive toward having a classic wardrobe, purchase garments that have a longer wear, and maintain sustainable habits. Sustainable may mean a lot of things, but in fashion it means making it last. Whether through shopping practices or daily habits, maintaining a position of desiring longevity of garment 'life' defines sustainability. XOXO - Jenny Wiglesworth LiveableMe Sustainable + Fair www.liveableme.com

I never know what to expect when I enter into a podcast interview. Often times, we discuss what's going on within the sustainable fashion industry, how it's affecting the world, small businesses, climate change, and it's all so good. These stories frame the why to the what of LiveableMe's purpose - educating others on all things sustainable and fair. Through these real-life experiences, a beautiful happening plays out and that is exactly what happened when I spoke with Christina, of Prima de Sur (Season 1: Episode 7). Prima de Sur is more than just another sustainable business. It's a story of how two women made steps to ultimately impact the world. Christina had dreamed of beginning something special with her sister, Lauren Michelle, since they were little girls. Like many of us, at one point, her dream became just that -a dream, until 2020. Unlike the majority of negative thought, Covid quarantine brought a sublime opportunity for Christina to dramatically change her life. It was during the worldwide pandemic, that Christina found herself in Patagonia, Chile and where she began her Prima de Sur story. Christina noticed that the Chilean people were creative artisans of home goods. Using natural elements, like wood, she couldn't help but see an opportunity to tell their story. Sharing this with her sister, Lauren, they both began to see a place for their one time dream of sharing something special. Christina began to work with the local artists, selling their hand-crafted goods, while Lauren began working remotely, marketing their idea worldwide. The one signifier to their business was the fact hat they both truly believed that each piece was an exclusive work of art, and told a rich story of the creator. It is here, where their dreams became a reality and Prima de Sur was launched. Prima de Sur, meaning female cousin from the South, identifies not only where the products come from, but also the relationship of their origin (of California) to Christina's newly found home and the Chilean artisans who created the products. Dealing exclusively with home goods, Christina deeply desired to somehow tap into the garment industry, specifically selling sweaters. After a couple years of business under their belt, Lauren visited Chile and with Christina, adventured to meet the artisans. Christina mentions this time as a way to personally get to know the people they are working with - settling in on the idea that relationship should always be first and foremost in developing anything worthwhile. (Such a refreshing thought!) During this visit, and within these personal relationships, they were led to the opportunity Christina had been waiting for - the sweater. A friend of another artist knew of a lady who hand-loomed sweaters with a group of girls. (This is what happens when business is more about relationship than profit.) Turns out that this lady was employing young girls, who had escaped sex trafficking's atrocities. Christina and Lauren begin working with this group almost immediately. They had discovered a way to fulfill a dream and congruently not only empower a people group, but save women from some of the world's most evil atrocities. Today, every sweater sold via Prima de Sur represents just that - saving a woman from sex trafficking. As I continued to listen and even after I had stopped recording, I was in absolute awe. Here was a women, two girls, who went after their own dreams and ended up fulfilling so many for others. It is in the sweetness of their care, patience and desire to do things ethically and fair that makes their story so profound. Like I said, every story presents its own kind of beautiful, and this is another that makes me sit back, be present and remind myself that together, we really can positively impact the world. For more on Christina and Prima de Sur, listen to the podcast - Season 1: Episode 7. The link is on the home page. XOXO, Jenny Wiglesworth LiveableME Sustainable + Fair

When most of us think about Walmart, we think of a great place to buy anything we want at a lower price. With their sunshine imagery, grandparent-like persons greeting us at the door, and of course the ever-so-desirable low prices, they market themselves as this positive, happy place. The truth is, however, it could be argued that it is through these "feel-good" associations that allow them to get away with some of the biggest ethical crimes. They may appear to have low prices, but what is the "true cost"? Ethical is a word that keeps coming up as of late, in conversations and social reform. Ethical simply means "avoiding activities or organizations that do harm to people. In that context, a business considered ethical must be protecting the people who work for them. This protection could be both financial, physical and possibly emotional, but most definitely refers to companies being responsible for the overall protection from harm to those who are employed. Walmart made $559 billion last year, with a net worth of $405 billion. After decades of creating poverty-inducing working conditions, they finally raised their wages in the Unites States. This took decades! Despite this wage increase, however, the majority of their employees continue to miss out on company bonuses and other company perks. Furthermore, despite their increase in profits and net worth, the revenues received do not get passed down to their employees. On top of which, although they have made minimal efforts towards increasing wages within the United Staes, they continue to exploit garment workers overseas. For a company as large as Walmart, its fascinating how they continue to exploit those who work for them. Not only do they not pay livable wages to their garment workers, but they also continue to fight against countries who desire to increase the workers' minimum wages. Which, in Bangladesh (a hub for the majority of Walmart's garment workers), amounts to be approximately $43/month. According to Remake, Walmart continues to refuse to pay for work already completed for them, during the pandemic. They also failed to sign the International Accord Act, which would ethically protect those workers. All of this continues to happen, despite the fact that they were a major company producing product during the Rana Plaza act of 2013, which killed over 1100 people. Walmart is one of the leading producers of fashion and congruently one of the leading causes of unsustainable and unfair trade within the fashion industry. They, alone, could change the face of what is now unethical, fast fashion. However, they continue to focus on their stock holders and CEOs getting richer, while the marginalized workers are daily fighting for both their livelihood and their lives. Walmart may appear to be a happy place with low prices, but at what true cost? Every $3 top represents an underpaid person, working within an unsafe workplace. Walmart is not an ethical business. They aren't even trying to be. So what does that mean for us? As consumers, we can make the biggest difference by weighing out the true cost of a garment by measuring its economic price against the value of a person. When considering this, we have a conscious application to our buying decisions. We can consciously make the decision to apply this education through the practicing of not consuming - at least not with Walmart. This is the largest, most measurable way to 'force their hand'. Walmart may desire us to see them as a wonderful, positive shopping experience, but now we know the truth. For more on Walmart and other controversial companies participating in unlivable and unfair trade, within fashion, check out: https://remake.world/ XOXO - Jenny Sustainable + Fair

This week, I had the opportunity to speak to a beautiful soul, Jess Lambas, who happens to have a whole lot to say about motherhood, minimalism and mindset. There is something about those three words that doesn't seem to naturally work together. However, Jess explains how they not only work well together, but furthermore, are actually also empowered by each other. Motherhood can be described as a space in time when selfless is daily known and without intention, life begins to simply pass you by. Thank goodness, this is not the case for our friend, Jess Lambas. Whether admitting it or not, she gets intention. Speaking openly to her desire and belief that everything should have a purpose and place, she demonstrates minimalism in all ways. From her home décor to her fashion sense, she is a minimalist in the best of ways. Furthermore, she not only likes less, but also tells us that when things surround her, and clutter abounds, it is her mindset that is mostly affected. Clutter begins in the physical and remains in the mental, filling our lives and minds with things. This space can feel busy, look messy and for those desiring minimalism be very uncomfortable. Jess describes it as a space where she simply cannot function. The more things that begin to surround her, the more her mindset is clouded and her daily function halts. Alongside her minimalistic values, lies her sustainability goals. Living simply has always been almost second nature for her. Even as a child she remembers enjoying thrifting. It was the documentary "True Cost" however, that really swung her into full sustainable buying practices. Once viewing this, and being educated on the atrocities within the garment/fashion industry, her practices took an even deeper dive. Now, not only was she spending less to live a minimalistic lifestyle, but she now was also asking the questions about products that she was consuming. This can be a challenge for anyone, but especially a mom clothing two young boys. Navigating sizing, growth patterns, and style preferences are just a few of the periphery of categories a mom must base decisions on when it comes to their children's clothing. She mentions thrift and consignment shopping to be a number one go-to. However, when the clothes aren't there, it can be challenging. She also sews, and has taken on challenging garments like swimwear, to which I bow my hat to. Children's clothing is currently a challenge in the sustainable and fair space, but hopefully won't be always. It can be appear daunting to tackle big things like minimalism, but Jess encourages us to simply take it one step at a time. As you take the little steps, they eventually become bigger steps. Don't worry about doing it all, she reminds us, but know that by digressing from consumerism ( buying to keep up with trends or fill a desire to have things) and adopting minimalism (buying what you need and making what you have last), a clearer, simpler mindset will be had. And with those simple step by step measures, motherhood, minimalism and mindset all come together. For more on these topics and to hear from Jess Lambas, check out the podcast. She also shares tips on easy sewing for beginners and tantalizing stories surrounding vintage style. Click the podcast link on the home page. XOXO, Jenny Wiglesworth LiveableME Sustainable + Fair

T.J.Maxx, known for big name brands with little brand prices, is finally being exposed for what it truly is. After decades of hiding behind what appears to be ethical, discount shopping lies a company that continues to participate in unfair labor wages, unstainable practices and false promises. The only thrift happening at T.J.Maxx is the low prices. Like Target, T.J.Maxx used to be one of my many choice shopping destinations. I loved the idea of stopping in and grabbing an entire outfit for under $50. I appreciated that I could still be trendy, without 'breaking the bank'. The convenience of shopping for everything in one spot was also a bit tantalizing. Little did I know how I was achieving these gains and discounted prices. Little did I know how people were being treated behind the scenes. Like Target, T.J.Maxx has become just another disappointing red and white brand. There is nothing fair or thrift-worthy about T.J.Maxx and the way they handle business. During the pandemic, they cancelled already made orders, which meant thousands of garment workers went unpaid for work already completed. To date, they continue to ignore petitions to signing the International Accord Act, which requires safety standards to be placed within all garment facilities. Congruently, they receive "good" press for minimal foundation giving and associate volunteerism, while making no push towards overall fair-trade reform in truly helping the marginalized they employ. On top of all this, many are under the illusion that T.J.Maxx receives its inventory as an overflow from other stores' orders, when this is simply not the case. The majority of its clothes are created specifically for their stores. In other words, they are not part of the solution in either sustainability or fair trade. In fact, it is exactly the opposite. There is nothing thrift-worthy about T.J.Maxx. Unlike thrift stores, that actually carry clothes desired to be re-worn, upcycled and/or repurposed, they order their garments new like everyone else. It's almost worse, because they pretend to be this beautiful afterthought, as if they are saving the clothing from the big brand manufacturers. When in reality, they play the same game of ordering new, pricing it cheap, and hoping that no one knows the better. T.J.Maxx used to be a favored shopping spot and now its just another name of a company making all the wrong choices for all the wrong reasons. XOXO, Jenny W. Sustainable + Fair

It was more than delightful to interview Sarah Mann, of The Sarah Anne, this week. Her insightfulness into and meticulous approach toward fashion, and it's multi-facets, sets her apart for sure, but in such a beautiful, humble and intriguing way. Sarah began her fashion design career approximately five years ago. Admittingly, it has been a long road to get to where she is today, but only because of her passion surrounding the process. Asking the appropriate questions to the responsive people directed her down the path of pivot, to pivot, to discovery. She admits that taking the time to develop something beautiful is all part of the journey - one spent developing a product that she proudly stamps her name on. Apart from her curiosity in the fashion world, as an entrepreneur she understands the importance of creating a product that actually fulfills an unmet need in society. Her garment, (aka: Shrug), does just that. She describes it as an accessory that keeps a person warm, while maintaining a fashionable look. It is functional, sustainable and versatile. On top of its everyday basic uses, it is also water-repellant and like-magic, regulates body heat, thanks to the wonderful animals the yarn comes from. Unlike cashmere, that takes its yarn from goats, Sarah's garment comes from the illustrious, ever-so-curious animals known as the alpaca. At first glance, both animals appear to be similar in nature. However, the differences, both from an environmental and fashion perspective, are large. For more on this - listen to our podcast: TuneInTuesday: Season 1: Episode 4. Sarah has overcome many obstacles in creating her garment, but through each and every one, she persevered. She created a garment that gives back from every angle possible. For a community of Peruvians, it provides economic stability. By using the alpaca, it sustainably gives back to the world. As far as fashion is concerned, it provides a beautiful accessory option that both keeps a person warm and entirely fashion-worthy. It is a rare gem to find someone that contains the ethical awareness of both sustainability and fair trade, but Sarah has it in spades. For more on Sarah, and The Sarah Anne Designs, listen to the podcast. Thank you for reading. Don't forget to sign up for our free newsletter, and receive an empower-me sticker. XOXO, Jenny W. LiveableME Sustainable + Fair

Have you noticed that thrifting has become the new normal when it comes to fashionably trendy shopping experiences? Yes. Me, too. Guess what? So have the behemoths of fashion. In fact, they most likely statistically projected these trends and prepared for their companies to leverage their buyer's practices (that's us). In fact, that's exactly what they did, and it's called greenwashing. While thrifting remains to be a beautiful, sustainable practice, in its most raw, circular-oriented state of action, big business has decided to make thrift yet another way to "bring in the dough'. It's rather sickening, from a consumer's perspective. We, as the consumer, believe we are investing in a good practice. In fact, the foundation of thrift truly lies in an almost anti-corporation, allowing for clothes shopping to be more than just an experience, but a way of life. So, how are they getting away with robbing the altruistic form of thrift shopping? Corporations like H&M, ASOS, & UO (aka Urban Outfitters) are just three of the multitude of companies participating in what the fashion community describes as 'greenwashing'. They actively participate in practices, that on the surface, seem to be giving back, while congruently continue to mass produce billions of new clothing garments. It reminds me of someone who hands you a $1 bill, while simultaneously steals your wallet behind your back. The truth of the matter remains in the fact that they businesses are producing a façade of care to keep a customer base that they may or may not have lost (consumers trending sustainable standards). The fashion industry is growing into what is estimated to be an $84 billion industry. It continues to be the largest contributor to unfair wage labor and second largest contributor to global warming. And now, they are trying to take a piece of the thrift shopping space. So, how do we get around the behemoths that continue to dominate and control the fashion industry? We change our buying habits and force their hands. Do the research. Shop real thrift stores or consignment shops. Re-use the clothes that you purchase, focusing on capsule closets. Donate used garments when you are absolutely finished with them. Shop and donate to ThredUp (an online app. that devotes its purpose to sustainable shopping). Greenwashing shouldn't be a thing. Thrifting is about making things last, not just another trend to be a part of. Let's not allow these corporations to use it, simply to increase their salaries and bottom-lines, once again. Thrifting is cool, but only when it's done to preserve why it became popular in the first place. Don't be afraid to wear those old clothes, reinvent the wardrobe wheel and have fun with it. -Much contributions taken from an amazing article, written by Jemima Elliott, Re/make. XOXO, Jenny Wiglesworth LiveableMe Sustainable + Fair

Target will always be a place in my heart, but due to recent education it will presently only be good memories. Of course, we could probably assume that most large companies are, at some level, abusing the marginalized. That's why their prices can be low. At the end of the day, someone has to pay. Although this isn't always the case, the numbers usually tell us the story. My memories of shopping Target, with babes in cart will always be. However, with Target's equation results in, placing product over people, shopping here happily just can't happen for me anymore. Awareness is everything. If you didn't know, Target's clothing are pretty much in-house, meaning they have total control and don't have to lean on other designers/companies. With this in mind, you would think they would take action and allow for this control to make positive change in the garment industry. Unfortunately, that is not the case. With over 20 billion (yes, that's billion with a 'b') in annual sales on their private labels alone, they continue to not provide their workers with livable wages. Nor does they have goals to do so. On top of which, they lobbied against the California's Garment Worker Protection Act, a bill holding companies accountable to provide workers with a minimum wage. This isn't just happening within their factories overseas, but also right here in the good ole' U. S. of A. This needs to stop. But, how? The only thing that can force this billion dollar company is by our shopping hands. Our choices are the only thing that will begin to change things. If you're reading this and thinking "I'm a middle-income mom and that's the place I purchase affordable clothes for my kids and myself" and I get that. But, at what cost? I'm not trying to demonize Target, they do that easily enough on their own. If you have to buy lipstick there and toilet cleaner - I get it. When it comes to the clothing, however, I encourage you to really ask yourself - is it worth it? Is buying this whatever dollar amount outfit for my child worth the life of another person's child or the health of a child's mother? Think hard about this one, because this is where change occurs. Then, Your answer should equate to your buying. If, and hopefully when, you answer "no", here are some great substitutions where ethics and value meet: traditional thrifting, ThredUp (app of name-branded used clothing), Poshmark (another app of high-end used clothing) and of course, local consignment stores like Azaleas in Sandpoint, Idaho. Like I said, Target will always have a past, memory place in my heart, but for the present I can no longer support them - at least not their clothing and shoes. I hope you can echo this, and begin to force their hand to think less about their equation of profit to a new place of people over product. XOXO, Jenny W. LiveableMe Sustainable + Fair

Thrifting used to be this gross way to shop. It was something that my grandma did, or an occasional way to shop for random things like Halloween costumes. When I actually tried to thrift-shop for something wearable, I recall picking through garments, sloppily thrown together to simply 'get it out there'. The process of finding something was more of a chore than a desired experience. All in all, I never enjoyed it and eventually gave up trying, until about 10 years ago. Although sustainable and slow fashion seems quite trendy now, it wasn't a few years ago. However, I was quickly thrown into a new love for thrift, after being educated on the truths of the fashion industry. It still amazes me how quickly I turned from grossed-out thrift shopper to almost exclusive thrift shopper, all because of education. The stats are in and it's not looking good for the fashion industry. Environmental waste remains to be one of the largest contributions from 'fast fashion'. Growing from 7 million to 14 million tons of textiles created in the last couple years, the trend is growing - not slowing down. The figures for this year are expected to go into the 17 millions! What's worse is the average American throws away 81 pounds of clothes per year. On top of which, each garment is worn roughly 10 times prior to being dumped. This has to stop. Buying new, for the most part, simply doesn't make sense anymore. It's great to support those designers who are doing it well, but let's further those efforts by re-using what is already out there. Continuing this by shopping our own closets and donating instead of throwing our garments away. There are so many things we can starting with thrift. Thrift shops may have grossed me out a few years ago, but today I see them as a solution to a global problem. Just think of the environmental impact each of us could have simply by reusing what's out there, shopping our closets and donating back to thrift. Let's save the world - together. XOXO - Jenny LiveableME Sustainable + Fair

This week LiveableME had the blessing to interview our good friend & Herb-n-Oil business owner, Misty Lake. With her, comes a fiery spirit of positivity, deep intellectualism and pure joy! She enlightens us with the ins and outs of the hemp industry, updates us on what's new with her business, Hemp-N-Oil, and delights us with passions involving sustainability and fair trade. When we think about hemp, it traditionally brings us back to the mid-90s when hemp was a trendy new way to wear jewelry. We'll admit that it wasn't our favorite trend. About the same time, we also learn, if we didn't know already, that hemp came from the same plant that many were smoking (a.ka. Marijuana). However, Misty awakens us to not only a multitude of alternate uses derived from the hemp plant, but also the way in which it is a natural, sustainable resource. Starting with sustainability, hemp plants can be grown in as little as 100 days or less. That's not a typo - 100 days! Compared to trees, which we've used and abused for centuries, that saves us a few decades. Along with this, these plants provide 4x the amount of oxygen as trees. In these findings alone, hemp provides us with a viable, sustainable resource. We were surprised to find that along with necklaces, they can also be used to make commodities like flooring, cabinetry and so much more. With deforestation being one of many atrocities occurring for the sake of consumerism, hemp could be the answer to so many questions. Along with answering questions on climate, hemp provides answers in the health industry as well. Of course we all know about medical marijuana, but Misty's Herb-n-oil tinctures and creams creates solutions with another hemp by-product - CBD. CBD, in its most purest form, has been shown to heal. Misty's story began as a humble massage therapist, creating CBD creams, to help patients. Being one smart cookie, she developed these helping creams into healing creams, where she successfully witnessed patients healed from various ailments and diseases. At this point, a business was created - Herb-n-Oil. She furthered this desire to heal into the pet industry, where she firsthand healed a dog from constant seizures. Herb-n-Oil has now developed into a blossoming wholesale business, serving humans and animals alike. Ending with fair trade, it is apparent in all things discussed both personally and professionally, that Misty deeply cares about people and process. Personally, she shops slow. It is within local buying, in particular thrift, where she pours her passion. Upon sharing the app: Good on you, she was the first to begin using it and sharing it. Like LiveableMe, she understands the importance of placing people over product. Professionally, she exhibits fair trade practices within every step of her business. From the oils, to the CBD, to the containers, the importance of people being treated well reigns supreme. Although doing things the fair trade way presents further challenges, she persists. We here it in her passion and believe her in the products that she provides. Game-changing the world of fair trade lands her smack-dab in the middle, and we love her for that! For more on Misty Lake, Herb-n-Oil and the sustainable and fair-trade industry, listen to the blog: Season 1: Episode 2. Thank you for reading. XOXO - Jenny Sustainable + Fair