Let's Have More Love & Less Stuff All Year Round!

No matter your religion or lack thereof - this time of the year carries with it a strong message of kindness toward others! For some people this involves their spiritual beliefs, for others it simply marks the end of a year and a time to take stock and appreciate those around us. 

This special holiday season post is inspired by Planet Ark's message of "More Love, Less Stuff". Here are some of my tips to keep that spirit of loving kindness going all year round!

is for cruelty-free

Every day feels like Christmas when you're making life better for our animal friends! The Gift of Kindness is a beautiful book by Pam Ahern from Edgar's Mission and a great reminder of the wonders of a cruelty-free life

is for hope

With a little bit of thought your purchasing choices can bring hope to those in need and beauty to your life. By purchasing this funky flamingo tea towel from Arthouse Meath for instance, you're supporting artists with severe epilepsy and learning difficulties

 is for reduce, reuse and recycle
 

It's so easy for us to get trapped in a cycle of consumerism, so it can be a beautiful relief to shift our focus onto more sustainable options. One small step would be to cover gifts given throughout the year with reusable wrapping such as the lovely options from ecoChici

is for inspiring others

Beautiful ethical fashion can be a lovely subtle way to inspire those around us! This chic top by Vaute Couture - made from a blend of organic cotton, recycled polyester, and naturally occurring rayon - carries the message that elephants are our friends and not our entertainment

is for sustainable fashion choices

When you feel you can't avoid a new purchase there are so many amazing ethical online stores to make finding a sustainably chic option oh so easy! You can find most of them by searching Kindness by Design :)

is for taking action!

There's no need to wait for the holiday season to consider the welfare of those less fortunate than us! If there's a cause that's near and dear to your heart - why not find a way to take action? One thing I'll be doing in 2014 will be to participate in Fashion Revolution Day to shine a light on the humanitarian issues within the fashion industry

is for mindfulness

Have you ever been entranced by the wonder of a sunset? Completely engrossed in a conversation? Fully aware of the taste and texture of a piece of fruit? Being mindful of even the smallest of blessings can help you create a kinder life. I've just joined the Happier site which encourages people to share the things that make them smile

is for artisans

There are so many benefits to purchasing items handmade by artisans who are working under ethical conditions and are being paid a fair wage. Not only do you end up with a beautifully crafted product, you also have the opportunity to support: (1) traditional skills and cultural traditions; (2) empowerment and financial independence for women; (3) education and health for the wider local community. AfriBeads for example, brings you stunning jewellery from female artisans living in Uganda

is for saving our threatened species

Next time you buy something I invite you to ask - how does this purchase affect wildlife? I only recently learned that a rare mineral found in most mobile phones is being mined in precious gorilla habitat! It's amazing how deeply our lifestyle choices can have far reaching implications. Thankfully there are options out there that actually make a positive difference, like these Orangutan Project Thongs from Etiko. They're made under fairtrade conditions using sustainable materials AND proceeds go toward reintroducing orangutans back into the wild :)

Kind Events: Welcome to Planet Elephant!

During my career as an environmental conservationist I've been privileged to work with some incredibly inspiring people - one of these is Dr Tammie Matson. Way back when Tammie and I worked together in the threatened species department of WWF-Australia. Her amazing kindness by conservation is now focused on the plight of the magnificent elephants of the world. Tammie spoke to me recently about her up-coming book launch and fundraiser to help secure a future for both rhinos and elephants. 

Q. What is it about elephants that captures your imagination and has led them to become a huge part of your life?

Elephants are a lot like us! In some ways I think they’re a better version of us.  For me personally, they’ve taught me so much about the value of family, compassion and having fun.  Watching baby elephants playing in the mud you find yourself caught up in the joy of it with them and it really brings you back to being completely in the moment.  It’s magic.

I’ve been working as a zoologist on elephants since 2005, mostly on human-elephant conflict in Africa and India, but in the last year, since moving to Asia, I’ve been trying to understand and raise awareness about the link between the Africa and Asia in the ivory trade that is driving the elephant poaching crisis in Africa.  Over 30,000 elephants are illegally killed annually to provide ivory for Asian markets.

Q. How did you keep yourself motivated while writing “Planet Elephant”?

Well, I have a 3 year old, Solo, who provided both a distraction and a motivation for writing this book!  It took me much longer to write this book than my other two (‘Elephant Dance’ and ‘Dry Water’) because I had become a mum and life had become a juggle.   

But having a child really motivates you to work harder to conserve the wildlife of this planet, because more than anything else you really want your kid/s to see elephants and rhinos in the wild one day, not in a zoo.

It’s also a massive issue, what’s happening to elephants and rhinos in Africa, and that’s very motivating. It’s a crisis – again! Things had been looking up for both species’ populations in Africa following the severe poaching of the 1970s and ‘80s. Now they’re being poached to provide ivory and horn for new markets in Asia, and their populations are smaller and less resilient than they were last century.


Q. Can you tell us a little bit about the SAVE African Rhino Gala Dinner?

It’s an opportunity to launch my book and talk about Africa (my favourite subject!) with lots of like-minded people who enjoy the same thing and care about wildlife.  It’s also a great deal - $100 for a 3 course meal at Papaya Thai in Cammeray, including wine and beer – and there are lots of fantastic things to bid on like safaris, wine and photography.  It’s all for a very good cause – stopping the rhino poaching in Africa.  Bookings can be done online here.
 

Q. Have you ever seen an elephant perform an act of kindness?

Elephants are naturally kind to each other, especially within family groups.  In the breeding herds, a dominant female, the matriarch, is the leader, and she’s surrounded by her female relatives (sisters, aunts, daughters) and young males.  Male elephants leave the herd when they’re teenagers and join other males in small bachelor groups.  I’ve often seen elephants touching trunks, caressing each other, gently helping young ones across rivers or out of muddy wallows.  They’re extremely tactile creatures.

Q. In 2010 you won In Style magazine’s prestigious Women of Style awards for your work on environmental issues! Speaking of style, do you have a favourite ethical fashion designer?

There are two great jewellery designers who are inspired by their love of nature and use only materials that minimise harm to the environment.  They’re also both conservationists!  One is Nicola Markus of Liminal Jewellery and the other is Nadya Hutagalung of Osel Jewllery.

Q. What actions can people take to help protect elephants around the world?

Never buy ivory and spread the word that it’s not cool in any way!  Donate to organisations like The Big Life Foundation  in Africa that are actively fighting poachers every day and TRAFFIC, the global wildlife trade organisation, as they are fighting a huge battle in Asia to stop the illegal flow of ivory from Africa to Asian markets. 

Ivory jewellery and carvings

  
Q. What brand new adventures are on the horizon for Tammie Matson?

I’m working on an exciting project with TV star and host of ‘Asia’s Next Top Model’ to raise awareness in Asia about the poaching of elephants in Africa and encouraging people not to buy ivory.  We have travelled together with a film crew to both Kenya and Bangkok, going behind the scenes of the poaching and the illegal ivory trade, and in a few months will be producing a series of webisodes for youtube and a public service announcement for the Fox Network Asia about what we discovered along the way! Get on board the “Let Elephants Be Elephants” campaign by joining us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

“Planet Elephant” will be in bookstores in August! For more information visit Tammie's website.

Rare Tee Clothing - Using Style to Save Species

Catherine Mullins from Rare Tee Clothing is helping people to wear their hearts on their sleeve by combining fashion and threatened species conservation! 

Catherine was gracious enough to chat with Kindness by Design about style, threatened species and living green. 

Q. Can you tell us a little about how Rare Tee Clothing was conceived?

I have been asked this question several times since starting the t-shirts, and it is always a favorite to answer. Rare Tee was created out of a want and need for an ethical fashion company. A need for a company who cares about how the garment is made and the message it conveys as much as the profits that might be made. While working in the fashion industry, I quickly realized ethical companies (fashion) who care about the earth, animals, and even people are few and far between. Rare Tee was created as a way to give to those who are actively helping animals in need and to educate the general public on the plight of endangered and threatened species through our graphic art. 

Giant Panda Racer Back Tank - This bamboo munching beauty has become a well-known symbol for wildlife conservation. Pandas have the digestive system of a carnivore, but they have adapted to a vegetarian diet! Learn more about this lovable species from WWF

Q. What are the keys factors that make Rare Tee Clothing an ecologically responsible choice for shoppers?

There are several key factors that make Rare Tee an eco responsible choice for shoppers. We manufacture all our products in Los Angeles only. Production is done within a 15 mile radius, cutting down transportation emissions. All of our tags, business cards, and packaging are made from 100% post consumer products. Most of the jewelry is made using recycled or vintage materials, such as scrabble tiles and recycled silver charms. We try to be eco conscience in every part of our business, even down to the paper we print on. 

Wood Jasper Bracelet

Q. Which wildlife charities is Rare Tee Clothing currently working with?

Rare Tee is currently donating to Jungle Friends, Mercy for Animals, and Wildlife Waystation. Jungle Friends is a primate sanctuary located in Florida. They offer a permanent, safe haven for monkeys from the U.S. who have been abused, confiscate by authorities, retired from research, or who have been abandon by thoughtless owners. Jungle Friends also speaks to audiences about the plight of primates in captivity, and that wild animals should never be kept as pets. They educate the public on the importance of keeping a wild animal in its natural habitat.

Philippine Tarsier Tee - This species lives in the lowland and coastal forests in the Philippines and is related to lemurs, bush babies, and lorises

Mercy for Animals is a national organization dedicated to preventing cruelty to farm animals through ad campaigns and undercover investigations. As a vegan company we feel it is important to support all animals, and those who rescue them.

Wildlife Waystation is a holding rehabilitation, medical, and problem solving refuge for native, wild, and exotic animals. This 24 hour facility is devoted to caring for and returning injured, sick, or abandon native wildlife to its natural habitat. Located in the Los Angeles National Forest , Wildlife Waystation has helped a variety of animals such as lions, tigers, primates, bears, opossums, foxes, deer, and birds. Their overall goal is to preserve wildlife and cease its abuse and mistreatment.

Q. What endangered species are you most passionate about?

There isn't a particular species I'm more passionate about than the other, I love them all. We do like to feature the "under dogs" in our designs; species that might not get the media or publicity as some others do. For example, reptiles, bats, and insects. If it's endangered we want people to know about it, even if they aren't cute or cuddly.

Panther Chameleon Tee - This gorgeous reptile is endemic to the forests of Madagascar. Astonishingly their tongues are two times the length of their bodies!

Q. Who are your favourite ethical designers?

Ecoskin is a favorite, beautiful color choices and wonderful knits. Popomomo is another favorite, they have amazing designs and great eco friendly fabrics. My friend Jennifer Miller from Mission Savvy introduced me to some great collections, and features a lot of them in her eco boutique.

Q. In your opinion, what is the most pressing environmental concern for the 21st century?

This question is a tough one. With a growing human population I think using sustainable, clean, and renewable energy sources is very important. Burning fossil fuels creates greenhouse gas emissions alongside another pressing issue...Deforestation. Removing large areas of forest for farming and or urban areas is devastating to the earth, so there is a desperate need for sustainable farming practices. All this threatens hundreds of species of animals and plants that help maintain a balance in our ecosystem. There are many environmental concerns for the 21st century, and all as equally as important as the other. Everything is linked together, and one issue will tie into the next and so on and so on.

Sea Turtle Earrings - Learn more about these ancient mariners at WWF

Q. What’s on the horizon for Rare Tee Clothing?

We have some exciting things going on in the future. We are introducing a new line of tees. The new shirts will have a new fit and will be made of 100% organic cotton. Again, all of our manufacturing will be done within a 15 mile radius, even our fabric miller is right around the corner! We will be working on incorporating new apparel pieces into our line. We also will be working more directly with small and local animal organizations. 

Why not connect with Rare Tee on Facebook and Twitter?

Hawaiian Monk Seal Tank - This species is known locally as Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua which translates to “the dog that runs in the rough (waters)”