VEGAN LIFE | Plants Only

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What can you do?

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

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

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

Great Vegan Cookbooks:

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

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

LOCATION 02 | VICTORIA LAUNCH

SALT IS COMING TO VICTORIA!

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 -Jessica

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

ADVENTURE 07 | Shifting Shorelines

Business at SALT grows quieter in the winter months. Tourism drops on the island and locals are hunkered down at home next to cozy fires sipping on coffee. To some entrepreneurs this slow season is a bother and a stress; for me, it becomes the perfect time for adventure. With some big changes on the horizon for SALT, I knew that I could not flee the country to sunshine and surf so I traded that vision for one a little closer, the stormy surf of Tofino.

Tofino and its surrounding area is famously vulnerable to the weather patterns of the Pacific Ocean. Because of this it is home to lush moss filled forests that collide with wide sandy beaches. Storm watching, surfing, and the Pacific Rim National Park are just a few draws to this exposed area of British Columbia’s coastline.

In late January I drove up to visit a friend who was rolling around the area in his VW van exploring and living the good life. I have always enjoyed the balance of travelling solo, yet when there is a friendly face to share some adventure with, I’ll never pass that up! I spent 3 days exploring Tofino and its many beaches, finding new hikes and sipping great coffee. On my last day I was sad to leave. Driving home to Salt Spring I knew that I needed to get back to those wild beaches sooner than later. So that is exactly what I did. Two weeks later I ventured out to Tofino once more, on a spur of the moment trip with a friend visiting from the interior of BC. She had never been, and I was on a mission to share the beauty of the wild beaches with her. 

Previous trips to the area had always been with family, often walking Chesterman's beach and not many others. This time around, I made it my mission to walk every beach as I knew that being near the ocean would ground my busy entrepreneurial mind and, at the very least, maybe spark something creative!

I had heard from friends that the recent winter storms had washed up loads of plastic debris onto the beaches in Tofino, a fact that is sadly no longer surprising. Having grown up in the boating world decades ago, I watched people throw waste overboard like it was just an acceptable part of the culture. This sort of behaviour has compounded over the years, turning our pristine shorelines into garbage cemeteries.

When I was little, I would excitedly scan tidepools for tiny creatures like shore crabs, sculpins, and anenomes. These days, we are just as likely to find a plastic bottle cap, a length of twine, or some other man-made remnant in these tiny ecosystems. I think most of us will notice, and have a moment of sadness for the obvious pollution, but that is as far as we take it. I know, because I followed that thought pattern for years. What I would love, is if we could all take that thought and apply it to our lifestyles. That bottle cap should remind us that we need to eliminate one-use plastics from our lives, so that we are not contributing to the literal tons of waste ending up in our oceans and washing up on shores. This becomes not only a habit, but a conscious mentality. These small changes in our daily lives will have resounding affect on global lifestyles, if we can educate each other on the impacts of our consumption.

We can also be leaders by example. I have recently adopted a "No Cup, No Coffee" policy in my life (and at SALT!), which means I have totally eliminated single-use cups and bottles from my life. On my second trip up, my friend and I made frequent stops at awesome coffee shops for our caffeine fixes. By the end of the weekend, she noticed that she had accumulated a significant number of to-go cups on her side of the car, whereas I had none as I had been re-using my jar all weekend. I hadn't said anything, she came to this realization on her own. I took this opportunity to educate her about what I had committed to, and she went from being horrified at herself, to being inspired to follow suit. I was happy to have lead by my own example and know she will take that experience with her into her own life now to pass along.

As you may know, decreasing plastics and the effect they are having on the ocean is a huge part of what we are passionate about here at SALT. Well, more to the point our effect as humans on the ocean, is something that we are hugely passionate about. Over the past 2 years, my desire to take care of this planet alongside my passion to live a sustainable life has evolved SALT into a company that is so much more than just clothing. We are here to advocate for our ocean, as it does not have a voice of its own. We strive to do that by offering sustainable options for both your body and your home, and by creating conversations that bring awareness to our impacts.

As much as I wish it could happen all at once, it will be a slow progress towards lasting, sustainable change. As the ripples of these ideals get bigger, the demand for a culture of disposable consumption will fade away, shifting us back to a time when all a child could find on the beach was seashells and memories. That is my hope.

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/adventure-07-schooner-cove

IMPACT OF ONE | No cup, no coffee

Every one of us has a personal responsibility to our planet. No matter where you are, this Earth is your home. As we have said many times before, we need to find our collective voice to make a lasting difference. That all starts with us, one by one, making changes. 

At SALT, we have a store motto: No cup, no coffee. It is a mantra that encourages everyone to invest in re-useable containers for all kinds of food and drink. Single use items like coffee cups that use plastic lids, waste energy and clog our landfills. It is so avoidable too! It's really not that difficult to think ahead a little bit. You can invest in a nice, insulated to-go cup that will last decades, or you could even just re-purpose any jar in your kitchen. Cheap and easy! Same goes for your water bottle. Get a size that suits you, and fill it up before you leave the house.

So at work, if you forget your thermos or mug or mason jar, no coffee for you! Forget your re-useable water bottle? Man, is it going to be a thirsty day! By sticking to this commitment, on those days we forget we will suffer the consequences by missing out. Hopefully, this will encourage us to make these habits so second nature that we won't go another day without hydrating. We will be those people who have a jar in our car, purse, and at work so we always have an on the go option that we can reuse. 

A culture of convenience was created from the development of production technologies that allowed us to manufacture cups and containers on a massive scale. This paved the way for the "To-Go" option from coffee shops and restaurants, making it so easy for us to leave food prep to someone else, not worrying about the consequences.

This happened decades ago, and it seems like the after-math has only started to dawn on people in the past few years. There have always been strong advocates of environmental sustainability, but it is more mainstream now. The younger generations are making it cool to shop in thrift stores again, and becoming more vocal and aware. Things like making your own pour over coffee at home or bringing a salad in a mason jar are popular. We encourage these trends to continue! They not only make sense, but they are cheaper! If you have the luxury of being able to shop for a full house of groceries every week, chances are you can find a few minutes to meal-plan so your lunches are as easy as dumping leftovers into a glass container. You'll save money by not eating out everyday and you'll have the satisfaction of saving a to-go container from the landfill.

Who is with us?! Adopt a No cup, No coffee policy for your work and home life. Together, we will make a difference, one caffeinated creation at a time.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT  |  #NOCUPNOCOFFEE

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/impact-of-one-no-cup-no-coffee

OUTERWEAR IS HERE | Reef + Indra

The jacket. This time of year, it may be the only piece of your outfit that anyone notices. So make it count. Our top layer isn't just for keeping the heat in, it can be the statement that ties together our whole outfit. Some top style experts will say never buy a boring jacket. Words to live by!

We are so excited to add our first outerwear pieces to our SALT line. We created a  long and a short option to suit different styles and different seasons. 

Indra Jacket  |

A long-bomber made to protect your hips and your thighs from dripping skies. Style and function don't have to duke it out. Indra is as well suited for a wet-hike as it is for a street stroll. The repreve outer layer offers waterproof protection with a matte finish. Repreve touts itself as the world's leading recycled fibre. Take a minute to watch their impressive video of how they take plastic bottles and turn them into fabric!

 

Reef Crop Bomber   |

The Reef Crop Bomber was born by fluke. While perfecting the shoulders for the Indra, we ordered a sample that was only the top. Turns out, it looked great when you cut it in half too (well, you know what we mean). A few tweaks and the Reef was on the drawing board!

Chambray gives you the style of a jean jacket, without the restrictive stiffness. With the short hem, classic black adds a moto-vibe. Repreve shows up again to keep water rolling to the ground. This shorty-style is great with a crop top and anything high-waisted. Throw it on in Spring to cap off an outfit, day or night.

 

Both jackets are collared and cuffed with a soft, cotton rib characteristic of a bomber style that will keep your sleeves in place. Deep pockets and soft linings are the finishing touches on two styles that are made to last.

A good outwear piece is an investment that will pay you back every time you put it on. Share with us your favourite way to wear these West Coast inspired topcoats. We love to see what you do with our duds!

Shop These Styles Now! 

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/outerwear-is-here-reef-indra

SALT STATEMENT | Plastic Free Operations

At the beginning of this year, we sat down to set our 2018 intentions. We cleared our minds and asked ourselves what we really wanted to accomplish this year. Not heavy at all, right?? A big theme that is always on our minds is keeping plastics and other garbage out of our precious oceans. So we had to ask ourselves, "What else can we be doing to prevent this problem?" Again, so many things! We always try to be conscious in our every day lives, but we wanted to go beyond that. So, we made a big goal that we'd like to share with you: SALT is plastic free in our daily operations by the end of 2018.

We are excited! This goal will be a filter to keep us conscious of every decision we make from now on. From design to production to inventory to your home, what along our supply chain incorporates plastic? There will be things we can't control, but what we want to focus on is that when you take home an item that we have created, no plastic follows you.

We are putting our brains towards things like finding sustainable options for our hangtags and labels. That means no plastic tag fasteners. We are exploring sourcing product tags made from an organic material like cotton that can be printed or embroidered. Our paper shoppers are already plastic free, but we do need to source a new option for our shipping packaging that will keep your items safe without using plastic. (Have you heard about the advancements mushroom packaging has been making?? Pretty rad!) 

Every year, billions of tons of plastics end up in our oceans, which is pretty intense considering all those plastics were produced on land. Humans are the ones letting them make their way to our waters. As we have discussed before, one-time use items like straws, bottles, and bags are big culprits. Our marine life are suffering, as they mistake these items for food, or become entangled in garbage that eventually drowns them. Plastic debris releases toxins into the water, effecting marine ecosystems and habitats, which eventually make it full circle back into the food sources we pillage from the waters. Salmon with a side of BPA anyone?

There are some times when plastic can be a good option, or at least a long-lasting one. For example, we use mason jars a lot in out lives. For storage, for preserving, as a cup or bowl. The metal lids that are used have a thin band of silicone on the bottom to create a seal. These lids can be used only once for canning and many times after to store dry goods, but when consistently using them to cap off a container filled with liquid, the lids tend to rust and eventually wear out. The silicone makes this lid difficult to recycle. They can be re-purposed to things like garden markers, but in terms of a lid for your drinking jar, a re-useable plastic option can actually last longer. If you get a quality one and take care of it, you could use it for a lifetime. 

The tricky thing is, what happens long term? Most mainstream plastics are produced with polymers that won't breakdown for centuries. We have got to change our mentality as a society. The "produce now, worry about it later" attitude can only last so long, and at what cost? Our planet will reach a breaking point eventually, one we would rather not test. 

In the current state of the world, running a small business and still having complete control over your supply chain can be challenging. There is a lot of trust involved, and also a lot of research. We hope that this year, we can take big steps in our own operations to make our business as sustainable as possible. We want to be mindful of the little details that we can make a choice about and to be constantly educating ourselves on how we can do better. We love our Oceans and our Earth!

We work to source from other small companies who are just as conscious as we are. Check them out and always let us know if you have any questions about the other brands we carry!

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/plastic-free-operations

MAAPS | Incensed

Smoke rising through the air in your home is usually a bad sign: someone burned dinner, the fireplace isn't drafting; in general fire inside isn't a good thing. When that smoke slowly rises in whirls from the tip of a resin coated bamboo stick, that is another story.

The tradition of incense burning goes back a long way. Evidence of it's use has been found in many ancient civilizations, in Egypt, Babylonia, China, India, Japan, and early South America. It is used in therapy, mediation, ceremony, and is often associated with religious rites in many cultures.

"Incense was employed to counteract disagreeable odours and drive away demons and was said both to manifest the presence of the gods (fragrance being a divine attribute) and to gratify them....Historically, the chief substances used as incense were such resins as frankincense and myrrh, along with aromatic wood and bark, seeds, roots, and flowers." www.britannica.com

Cleansing our air and the energy in our homes is a refreshing idea that has been around for what seems to be centuries. It is said that incense increases positive energy, and decreases negative energy. This shift creates an environment that can boost motivation, focus, and creativity by putting you in a productive, relaxed state of mind. You could find yourself with reduced tension, anxiety, and depression, even with better sleep. 

While not used in Western medicine often, Eastern practitioners will use certain incense blends as anti-septics, burning them through out hospitals to disinfect not just the air, but the whole environment.

In 2017, we discovered MAAPS incense on Instagram and were captured by their sense of style and scent. Creative packaging, geometric holders, and rich earthy scents are the reasons their products caught our eyes. With a 45 minute burn time, they fill your home with dreamy fragrance combinations like Vanilla, Tobacco + Oaked Bourbon or Grapefruit, Corriander + Honey Blossom. 

MAAPS was born from the desire of a husband and wife team, Johan and Charlene, wanting to work together and fill the niche for a "...well-designed, high quality incense collection that existed on the same level as candles." By capitalizing on a personal relationship they had with a family who "... had decades of experience in aromatherapy and essential oils," they were able to bring their project to life, Johan bringing with him fifteen years of experience in the retail world. With 10-month old son Johan Luka Jr, and two other big careers on the go, time is their "...most treasured resource." MAAPS happens after hours, when family has been attended to, and packaging incense can be done in the comfort of the living room.

Creating scents can be tricky, but the MAAPS team has a great approach.

"Our top priority is balance. We want to make sure our scents are well-rounded and don't stray too far into any one direction. We know that scent is extremely subjective, so we aim to make our collection appeal to a wide audience, without being too masculine or feminine."

Whether you are like Johan and use incense to reset the house after dinner or set the stage for hosting guests, or you prefer to burn as a way to calm you down after a long day, we think that MAAPS' clever scent blends offer something for everyone.

 

We love having these smokey sticks on our shelves and in our homes, and so have our SALT guests. This week, pair your favourite MAAPS scent with one of their beautiful incense holders and enjoy 35% off with our Swell Winter Sale on until January 27th!

 

Sources:

https://taodewan.com/benefits-of-burning-incense/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/incense 

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