My mind tends to treat Black Friday like its own holiday; when I began to get my own paycheck, I really grew to (1) love shopping, and (2) love deals, and it was fun to have one day a year that really emphasized both. However, when I realized the gigantic fast fashion retailers are not always the most ethical or ecofriendly corporations, I committed myself to buying local, independent, and ethically manufactured.
So today I spent a few hours outdoors browsing the wares of local Chicago businesses, wearing an ethically produced outfit!
Outfit details: The socks are from Sockdreams, and are made in the USA from recycled cotton. The dress/tunic is sewn by me, using a linen-rayon blend fabric and this Burdastyle pattern. I modified the pattern by excluding the sleeves, using different colors for the back and front, removing the buttons and sewing up the button placket seam, and bias-binding any hems/edges. The black long sleeve shirt is something I bought a looong time ago.
(Apologies for the terrible photos, I didn’t have much time or space, unfortunately…)
I had a great time browsing stores in the neighborhoods around me, and bought a nice handmade mug for my Mom at Wolfbait and B-Girls, which had a great Black Friday event where they donated 20% of their proceeds from this day to charities of the customer’s choice.
But now that I am home, most of my evening has been spent wide-eyed over the sales that a few of my favorite Internet-based, ethically and environmentally conscious brands are having. I am super excited to support these businesses as well as my local stores, and I hope you are too. I’ve compiled a list of sales that I am aware of, organized alphabetically for your convenience. So, without further ado, here’s what’s going on:
A
- Alas: $20 off for new subscribers to their newsletter, until 11/28. Organic sleepwear and athletic wear screenprinted with eye-catching geometric patterns.
- Amour Vert: 20% off through 11/28, with code GREENFRIDAY. Five trees are planted with every item purchased, until the promotion ends. Simple silhouettes with unique and eyecatching details, some made in the USA.
- Apolis: Up to 30% off through 11/28 (head to the sale section). Well-made, utilitarian clothing marketed toward men.
B
- Bambeco: 30% off sitewide with code CYBER2016, through 11/27. Sustainably and ethically crafted home goods.
- Baserange: Free shipping on all orders above 150€ until 11/30. Luxe underwear and loungwear.
- Beacon’s Closet: Gift card discounts, on 11/28 only. Details here. Well-curated secondhand clothing and accessories.
- Beklina: 20% off sitewide with code black2020. Unique items, many responsibly produced.
- Beyond Yoga: 30% off using code BLACKOUT, through 11/27. Yogawear that can double as streetwear, made in the USA.
- Brave Gentleman: 30% off footwear, free domestic shipping on orders $400 and up, with code BLACKFRIDAY. Footwear and clothing made with animal-free materials.
D
- Deadwood: 30% off all weekend. Recycled leather goods, known for their leather jackets.
E
- Ecoalf: 30% off selected products until 11/28. Outerwear and accessories made from sustainable/recycled materials.
- Edge of Ember: 30% off non-sale items with code GIVETHANKS, through 11/28. Luxe geometric jewelry.
- Ethica: Sale on selected items until 11/29. A well-curated boutique with clothing, accessories, and beauty marketed toward women.
F
- Fibre Athletics: Everything is on sale through 11/28. Ecofriendly athletic wear, made in the USA.
- First Rite: Save 25% through 11/28 with code GiveThanks. Striking, minimalist clothing marketed toward women.
G
- Groceries: 25% off through 11/28 with code THANKFUL. Simple basics crafted in Los Angeles, some are specially vegetable dyed. Free shipping on all orders.
I
- Independence: 20% off through 11/28. Utilitarian clothing and home goods, many made in the USA.
K
- Kayu: 25% off your purchase with code gobble, until 11/28. Striking clutches and bags made from straw and shell.
M
- Make It Good: 25% off through 11/28 with code DEALSFOURDAYS. Screenprinted apparel marketed toward women.
- Miakoda: 40% off everything with code SUPERSALE, through 11/28. Beautiful, simple undergarments and athleticwear, marketed toward women.
N
- Nau: 25% off and free shipping with code SAVE25, through midnight 11/28. Utilitarian outerwear and accessories made from sustainable materials.
- Nell & Mary: 25% off through 11/28 with code DEALSFOURDAYS. Striking, screenprinted bags and home goods.
- Nudie Jeans: 30% off seasonal items (follow the links near the bottom of the home page). Organic, fair trade denim and other clothing, marketed toward men.
O
- Oak Street Bootmakers: 20% off sitewide through 11/28. Made in Chicago leather boots and shoes, marketed toward men.
- Oliberté: 30% off everything until 11/27 at midnight. Leather shoes and accessories from a fair trade-certified factory in Ethiopia.
- Only Hearts: Spend certain amounts and get a gift card (details on their home page), through 11/27. Beautiful lingerie, marketed toward women.
- Outerknown: 30% off sitewide, “for a limited time.” Hardwearing clothing with a utilitarian bent.
P
- Pact: Save 30-70% sitewide, through 11/27. Underwear and basics made from organic, fair trade cotton.
- Proud Mary: 30% of sales through 11/27 will be donated to NRDC and She Should Run. Clothing and accessories made from beautiful textiles, marketed toward women.
R
- Reformation: 30% off everything, through 11/28. Flattering, made-in-USA silhouettes, marketed toward women. Items are going fast (a couple of tops I coveted last night were gone in my size by this morning…).
S
- Sock Dreams: 20% off sitewide with code GETYOURSOCKS, through 11/29. Sock store based in Portland, with its own line of ecofriendly, made in USA socks.
- Soko: 25% off sitewide through 11/27. Free shipping to the US until 1/1/2017. Simple and stunning brass jewelry.
- Study NY: Web orders from now until 12/25 will be shipped with a free notebook made from scrap fabric. Bold, oversized silhouettes marketed toward women.
- Swords-Smith: 30% off with code ENJOY30 through 11/28. Unique clothing and accessories, some made responsibly.
T
- thread & paper: 15% off through 12/2, with code THANKFUL. Backpacks, tote bags, and pouches made from leather, felt, screenprinted canvas, and/or waxed canvas.
- Tree Hopper Toys: 25% off and a free ornament with code THANKFUL (not sure when this ends). Handmade wooden toys, puzzles, and decorations.
U
- Upstate: 30% off with code wavy gravy through 11/27. 10% of web sales this month will go to Planned Parenthood, Earth Justice, and Standing Rock. Unique, shibori-dyed clothing and home goods, clothing marketed toward women.
W
- Wallis Evera: 30% off. Clothing suitable for the office, made in Canada with sustainable hemp blend fabrics, marketed toward women.
For a more detailed and comprehensive list of ethical and ecofriendly brands (with information on pricing, sustainability, and ethical practices), please check out these lists:
Ethical/Ecofriendly Clothing & Accessories
Ethical/Ecofriendly Home Goods, Beauty, Etc.
Ethical/Ecofriendly Stores, by City
And if you want holiday shopping ideas, check out my previous post. In the end, sales come and go, but responsible company practices are year-round. 🙂
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
❤ S. (a.k.a. AMisplacedPen)
Misplaced Pen 