OOTD | Putting It All Together

Do you dress from the bottom to the top, or the top to the bottom? Do you dress by season? By mood? Choosing an outfit isn’t always just about throwing on something clean and heading out the door. Our outerwear is often an expression of our inner selves.

Sometimes, no matter how strong our personality, building a wardrobe and deciding on what to wear everyday is not easy. Everyone has those days where they try on 7 different tops that end up in a pile on the bed, and you inevitably choose something you are tired of. Or you have that one piece that you love but can’t figure out how to wear it.

We picked an outfit that we love, and we’re going to break it down a little. How these pieces go together and why we love having them in our closet.

This outfit is put together with some of our favourite items at SALT. It is versatile for both seasons and occasions. You can imagine it strolling through a Spring or Fall market, or at brunch. Even at the office; the neutral tones and quality fabrics are professional and it is still comfortable enough to last all the way through Monday morning meetings.

 

Ula V-Neck Tee | Integrity

 

 

 

 

Brand: SALT

 

Everyone needs that staple tee that they can throw on for any occasion and know it’s going to look good. The Ula Tee is that for us. It’s v-neck and rounded hem give it a feminine feel that looks great on any shape. It works with any bottom, and can be worn on it’s own or under any style of top layer, like a blazer or cardigan, for a variety of looks. The Integrity print gives the outfit an extra bit of interest, and is hand drawn and printed for authenticity. 

Skinny Hazen High Waisted Denim | Blue Pride

Brand: Mud Jeans 

We’re pretty sure the skinny jeans style is here to stay, so having go-to denim in a slim fit is a smart choice. The tapered leg and high waist of this silhouette balances sexy with conservative, making for a work appropriate option that is also stylish. You’ll also feel good about wearing Mud Jeans for the BCI certified cotton, and the option to lease them back. Perfect with ankle booties, flip-flops, or something taller in the Fall.

 

Oceana Cardigan | Heather French Terry

Brand: SALT

The Oceana Cardigan is made from our bamboo french terry. The Heather contrasts with the black of the tee and brings some lightness to the outfit, both in colour and in how it moves with you.The long hem works with the tight ankle of the jeans so that the bottom of your outfit isn’t too heavy.The length also adds a bit of class, allowing it to stand out and feel a little more formal if need be. Plus, it is so soft and comfy!

 

Wool Floppy Hat | Black

Brand: Connor Hats

The beauty of a wide hat is that it can totally update your look in one move. Black goes with everything, so it’s a solid choice for an accessory. The curvy brim is playful, and might just create the opportunity for a few long-lashed, upward glances in a choice direction. The wool makes it easy to travel, as unlike some fabrics, it can get a little rolled or squished and still keep it’s shape. And it’s soft fit is less likely to leave you with hat hair if you need to remove it indoors.

 

Shop the look in multiple colour options online and in-store today!

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/ootd-putting-it-all-together

SPRING STRUT | Brooklyn Style

 

If you work somewhere that the uniforms don’t jive with your style, when you’re off the clock you can be itching to throw together an OOTD that suits your swagger. Everyone’s individual street-style is a form of expression through fabrics, colours, textures. Whether we are actually on the street or not, it’s not about being seen, it’s about feeling good in what you’re wearing. 

We do highly recommend taking your threads outdoors though. There doesn’t have to be any occasion, taking a stroll around the block is reason enough. Whether you are solo, or with a group, it’s nice to just get out. Stretch your legs, break in your new ankle booties. Plus, with so many of our jobs keeping our butts in chairs for hours at a time, it is healthier to show off your duds on the move.

Pick up your favourite beverage of choice, and just meander and discover. Walk* through unknown streets, stop into stores you’ve never noticed. If you are exploring a new place, ask the locals where to venture to next. Many of the best days are ones with no agenda at all.

People watching is a great way to get inspiration for your next fashion era too. Don’t be shy! If you see someone wearing something you love, ask them where they got it. They will appreciate the compliment on their taste.

Spring weather can be unpredictable, so when the sunshine shows it’s face, make the most of it. Catch a few rays and maybe turn a few heads. Most importantly, strut with confidence in clothes that you love.

Images by Life Set Sail + Milton Photo

 

 GET THE LOOK  |

 

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/brooklyn-spring

MAKERS | Q + A with Mud Jeans

 

NAME  |  Danique Gunning

BRAND  |  MUD Jeans

LOCATION  |  Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Coffee or Tea  |  Cappuccino

Currently Listening  |  Julian Gomes - Nothing Can Break Us

Favourite Quote  |  "The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it." Robert Swan. 

In 10 words or less, what do you do at Mud Jeans? Marketing, Inventing creative ideas on how to share our philosophy.

What motivated you to start working at Mud Jeans? Over two years ago, I joined Bert van Son, CEO of the company MUD Jeans. He had just introduced the Lease A Jeans concept and when I first heard the story about leasing jeans and the circular economy I thought: "I need to be part of this". For me, coming from an advertising agency there are three important aspects that motivate me every day to make the most of it.

1. The freedom of creating a brand. Doing it the way I truly believe it should be done, not being restricted by the approval or budgets of others.
2. The collaborations that we have with like-minded people, stores and other companies.
3. And, most importantly, spending time on something that actually produces change in the world. 

What has been your most rewarding experience since working with Mud Jeans?

Since the beginning we have been dreaming about filming the whole recycling process of the returned Lease A Jeans. People always ask if we actually recycle the jeans and what that looks like. And yes, of course we do that. The jeans are first shredded into little pieces, mixed with new organic cotton, out of which a new denim fabric arises, and from this fabric new jeans are made. So, last May we actually made it a reality. Together with 4 interns, a Landrover Defender, and 3,000 old pairs of jeans, we drove to Spain and filmed the full recycle process. The reactions and support was overwhelming. People are so engaged with what we do. To me that really meant a lot. 

Watch the Recycle Tour Here!!

What does a typical day look like for you + your crew?

There is no typical day! That’s the fun part of MUD Jeans. We always have new creative ideas we’re working on, cool people visiting our office, or interesting events we’re attending. 

Tips for moving from a hobby to a full-time job?

Believe in what you’re doing. Don’t spend too much money on lunch :)

Work / Life balance, how do you keep it?

It can be hard, especially since I could easily be a full-time backpacker. To keep my creativity going, sometimes I really need to go away. To another country, where there is more space than in the Netherlands. Where you can spend time in nature and meet other backpackers. It makes you see things from a fresh perspective. 

What’s the next milestone for MUD Jeans?

This spring we will introduce the 'O3 Blue'. A new washing which is actually not a washing. The finish is made by using laser and ozone techniques, no water or chemicals are used in the process. We’re all very excited about it. The responses to the jeans on the last fair in Berlin were very promising! 

Danique's Salt Wish List  | 

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/makers-mud-jeans

ADVENTURE 02 | WILD SCOTLAND

The opportunity to feel the heart of a different country, to explore it’s unique landscapes and meet the people that cultivate it’s communities is where I find joy in travel. Scotland has always been on my list of wild places to see. This winter, after my first year of business at SALT, I felt a familiar tug on my heart strings to have an experience. I knew that I was headed to Europe to visit some of my closest ladies in their new communities. Knowing this, a cheap flight to Edinburgh and a road trip around Scotland seemed like a fantastic idea, and one for the bucket list! 

I rallied one of my closest friends, Caitlin, to come with me and we started to plan. Caitlin and I are both busy people, constantly striving for what is next in life, so a road trip, with LOTS of hiking planned felt like the best way for both of us to escape and unwind from our full lives. 

Upon landing in Edinburgh, Caitlin and I grabbed our car and instantly hit the road. We were headed to the highlands in the direction of John o’ Groats, the northern most tip of Scotland. This is when the real adventure set in, driving on the wrong side of the road in a standard car! I am excited for a challenge at the best of times, and this one was a laugh. Caitlin was the best co-pilot for the journey, gently reminding me that I was a little close to the curb/ditch as large lorries whipped past my right side on the windy rural roads. Being from Salt Spring Island, navigating windy rural roads at top speeds are my jam, just not while driving stick with my left hand, on the wrong side of the road with large delivery trucks as my oncoming obstacle! It took me a few hours to settle in to the changes and then Caitlin and I were off to the races. 

Our seven day adventure took us on a windy coastal hike, through two national parks, along a coastline dotted with small villages and wild secluded cabins. On our fourth day, we crossed Skye Bridge onto the Isle of Skye, which is breathtaking with it’s Fairy Pools and small towns. Skye was a highlight with many sights to see and a sense of home, definitely a place I could live.  

There is a vast feeling that runs through you upon a visit to Scotland. The mountains aggressively rise out of deep valleys dotted with lakes and heather, and there are the most beautiful skies you have ever seen. Also sheep. Sheep really are everywhere! I personally don’t think that one visit to Scotland in enough. After my first visit I am now dreaming of the day I can go back and rent one of the small cottages nestled between two mountains and hike every day coming home to a wood fire and some local whiskey! 

 

 

MY SCOTLAND MUST HAVES

MIRA LEGGINGS  |  These leggings kept my comfy in the car and warm on our hikes!

OCEANA CARDIGAN  |  This cardigan made from bamboo french terry layered well under my jacket but also kept my wrapped up in the car. 

KAI LONG SLEEVE  |  These bamboo shirts make a great base layer under your hiking gear! They are thermo-regulating and absorb moisture wicking it away from the skin!

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/adventure-02-wild-scotland

MAKERS | Q+A WITH ARTIFACT SKIN CO.

NAME  |  Narae + Elie

BRAND  |  Artifact Skin Co.

LOCATION  |  Hamilton, Ontario

Coffee or Tea?  |  Coffee in the AM, herbal tea in the PM.

Currently Listening  |  Once I Loved, by Astrud Gilberto

Favourite Quote  |  "...people will never forget how you made them feel." -Maya Angelou

In 10 words or less, what do you do?
We mix magical potions your skin and hair will love!

What motivated you to start your business?
In 2012, the idea of starting our own skincare company began when I (Narae) was working as a cosmetician while Elie was finishing up architecture school. At that time, the green beauty community was not as broad as it is today. We couldn't find clean, effective, beautiful and fun products that we would like to use ourselves. The face masks were traditionally presented in a line of products - and seemed more like an afterthought. What we wanted to do was make the masks the main attraction. We definitely saw the need in the market and the need to fill in this void motivated us to immediately drop everything and begin this crazy journey.

What has been your most rewarding experience since starting your company?
There has been two most rewarding experiences since we started our company. The first, when we got to 'physically' hold our first finished product in our hands. It's so rewarding knowing that this product went from an idea and sketches, to formulations and testing, to final product. We've come out with a few new products now, but it's the same fuzzy feeling each time! The second, as cliché as it may sound, is when we get love notes from our customers. We always appreciate it when they take the time to tell us how much they enjoy our products. It's really sweet and it makes our day - even when we haven't been outside for a few days! It motivates us to create more effective, clean, and beautiful products for their daily routines.

What does a typical day look like for you + your crew?
It always starts with a cup of coffee (and a glass of water).

The great thing about working with your husband/wife is that you actually get to have breakfast and drive to work together. On our drive to our studio, we usually to listen to podcast stories from other businesses, to get our minds focused for the day. No day is quite like the other - however, in the studio, we are mostly in producing to fulfill orders, responding to emails, and photographing/marketing products. We never stop researching, learning and formulating. After the end of each week, we have a tête-à-tête to regroup and set our goals and tasks for the following week.

 

How did you grow your business from a hobby to a full-time job?

When we started Artifact, Narae had just finished her architecture degree and I (Elie) was working on my own design projects. We jumped feet first into this whole thing. We really believed that we could succeed and knew that this would need our full attention. We sold whatever we could in order to fund our first line of products. In the beginning, while we were working on creating our own brand and researching/formulating products, we started a blog teaching people different ways to take care of your skin, using everyday ingredients. This helped us learn a lot about what people were interested in and also gain an audience for when we eventually launched our online shop.

Work / Life balance, how do you maintain it?

Most business owners would agree that the balance between both work/life is sometimes hard to keep, especially when the owners are husband and wife. It always seems that you are working, if not, you are thinking about it, especially in the early stages. Moving our business out of our home and into a studio space has helped us organize our lives and keep our home for living and our studio for working. Even though we work long hours, we are grateful that we are able to carve our own path.

 

What’s the next milestone for your brand?

Our next milestone is to open up an Artifact flagship store, where customers can test out unreleased products and for them to physically experience our brand.

SALT WISH LIST  |  Artifact Skin Co

1. Dennik Sweater - Creative Blue

2. Sparkle Choker - Gold Plated

3. Third Towel - Sand

4. Air Plant - Tillandsia Xerographica

5. Hanging Himmeli - Suomi 4

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/makers-artifact-skin-co

SUNDAYS |

Sundays are the week’s way of telling you to be free. To some of us, that means packing up the car and heading to places unknown. For others, it means more time spent in warm sheets, maybe an extra cuddle or two.

Sundays are for comfort and skin, soft lighting and doing whatever your heart wants. They are for no schedules and no responsibilities. They are for getting lost in a good book, carried away by another world. They are for savouring good coffee. Cozying up in your favourite cottony attire. Or no attire! #NoPantsSundays #NoPantsNoProblems 

Sundays are for nourishment. Give yourself permission to fill your brain with nourishing words, from a book, from a song, from your own internal monologue, whatever grabs you. Nourish your body, whether that is by staying in to recharge or getting active, listen to your energy levels. Fill a jar with water and get hydrated. Feed yourself with whole, colourful food. 

Ever heard of a Kitchen Party? It’s basically the term for when you have people over, and big inviting living room or not, everyone always ends up in the kitchen together. Sitting on the counters, the stools, the floors. Just talking, eating, cooking, bonding. You don’t need a crew to have a Kitchen Party though, you just need the kitchen. You are party enough all on your own! Get cooking, get creative.

Break out that Vegan Buddha Bowl recipe that you have been saving on Pinterest for weeks and get creative. If you’re in the mood for comfort, go off recipe a little, add in some baked yams and switch up the dressing for some miso gravy. #SoloKitchenParty #NoPantsParty

In this go-fast, right-now, immediate gratification world of smart phones and drones and e-mail instead of letters, make the time to take real notice of your surroundings. In mindfulness, there is meaning. Don’t just stop to smell the roses, stop to plant some. Interact with your environment, finding a new level of connection with nature, with your home, and with yourself. Go on, we know you want to. 

 

SHOP THE LOOK  |  

Adriatic Tunic  |  $84 

White Mug  |  $25

Coffee Dripper  |  $45

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

FIBRE TO FABRIC |

There are a lot of buzz words in the eco-fashion world. Things like organic, sustainable, and fair-trade are all ones that we would hope authentically describe the products they are attached to; but how do we know?

Education is everything, so start by becoming an informed consumer and do some pre-purchase investigating. Internationally recognized certifications can save us from sifting through technical jargon and provide assurance that that from fibre to fabric, every step of a product’s supply chain is considered, regulated, and monitored. 

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and the Global Recycle Standard (GRS) consist of very similar sets of sourcing and production regulations, the main difference being that the GOTS is for natural fibres and the GRS addresses synthetic materials that contain recycled content. These standards each have a long list of environmental, technical, and social criteria that dictate how the fibres are sourced and treated.

To protect the planet, the source of the fibres, the types of dyes allowed, and the packaging used must be up to snuff by a set of environmental standards. Chemical restriction and use, water use and treatment, and energy consumption are all monitored and contribute to the waste management standards that each company must meet.

All materials, whether raw inputs or final products, must meet technical quality requirements and be safe for human use (i.e. not too toxic or suffocating.) The social practices must be in line with the criteria set out by the International Labour Organization (ILO); things like the job must be freely chosen, provide hygienic conditions and humane treatment, and payment must equate to a living wage.

To obtain and keep a certification for these standards, companies must consistently meet all the requirements and also pass the audits and unannounced inspections that enforcement teams conduct.

Why should we care about these standards? Because they are helping keep people and the planet safe by dictating respectful practices for where, what, and how things are manufactured, and respecting the people who do the work. Every time you choose an item that is produced using these standards, you are making a choice with your purchase to support the betterment of humanity and how we impact the planet.

“The clothing industry is the second most polluting industry in the world (next to oil) and one of the largest employers of slave and child labour.” - Zady

 

If we as store owners, clothing designers, and consumers don’t use our dollars to show our support for better practices, the harmful production processes and working conditions so rampant in the clothing industry will just be perpetuated. You might not be able to single handedly get rid of sweatshops, but at least you can make an effort to ensure that none of the items in your house came from one. One sustainably made pair of jeans won’t necessarily change the carbon footprint of an international company, but a lifetime of mindful purchases will make not only an impact, but a statement. You can be a leader for change by sharing awesome sustainable brands with your family and friends and encouraging them to also be responsible with their purchases.

All the fabrics we use to create our locally designed SALT line of clothing are sustainably sourced, like our bamboo jersey styles. Bamboo is a sustainable, durable fibre that is used in many industries and has been a welcome addition to the array of sustainable fabric options out there. Check out our bamboo styles and more online or in-store and add a little mindfulness to your wardrobe.

 

SHOP OUR BAMBOO COLLECTION  |  

 

 

Sources 

• http://www.kendortextiles.com/my_new_page.htm 
• http://www.ecolabelindex.com/ecolabel/global-recycle-standard
• https://oecotextiles.wordpress.com/category/certifications-2/global-recycle-standard/
• http://www.made-by.org/consultancy/standards/grs/
• https://zady.com/thenewstandard/product-people-planet

 

 

 

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/fibre-to-fabric