7 Indie Fashion and Art Brands That Support The ACLU, Planned Parenthood and More
The "Vote with Your Wallet" movement is beginning to become a bit maddening: Which designers are refusing to dress Melania Trump and which are proud to drape her in their wares? Lyft just pledged $1 million dollars to the American Civil Liberties Union - great! - but their competitor, Uber, which is currently on a Justin Bieber level "Sorry Tour," pledged $3 million - also, I must say, pretty great for the ACLU, but is $3 million even "sorry" enough? Am I still a liberal if I shop at Nordstrom, which still carries Ivanka Trump's fashion line? Bloomingdales does, as well. Will anyone find out that I just ordered something online from Amazon? I have a Prime Membership but Jeff Bezos hasn't spoken out about the #MuslimBan yet. (UPDATE: He released a statement on 1/30, after I wrote this, and also after The Internet decried him.)
Yes, it's all exhausting and important and scary. But for the sake of sanity and in the name of Love trumping hate, instead of focusing on the negative aspects and who to burn next at the stake, I'm shouting out the indie brands and artists that are doing some good with their goods by donating a portion (or in some cases, all) of their proceeds to the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and elsewhere.
Here's what to buy to support the humans who are supporting the ACLU and other organizations.
1.) Everlane's 100% Human collection, from $22
Everlane launched their 100% Human collection on January 20th - Inauguration Day or, as I prefer to think of it, Women's March Eve. The capsule collection of tees and hoodies emblazoned with the phrase "100% Human," addressing the division of our country, and attempting to remind everyone that we are all, after all, human.
We launched the 100% Human Collection to support two things that matter to us—protecting human rights and remembering that we are more the same than we are different. For every 100% Human product sold, we’re proud to donate $5 towards the ACLU. - EVERLANE.COM
The sweatshirts are sold out but will be back in February, but there are plenty of Unisex and Women's tees in stock to tide you over, and each purchase comes with a pin so you can wear your values even on laundry day.
2.) "Feminist" Pencil, $2 each.
On January 29th, to coincide with the nationwide protests at airports in major cities across the country, Natty Michelle Paperie hosted a flash sale on her site that gave back to her customers and the ACLU. A whopping 100% of sales was donated to the ACLU for 24 hours.
The sale is no longer on, but a portion of sales from her Feminist pencils is still being donated to the ACLU.
3.) Women Artists Magazine Issue #4, $12
Women Artists Magazine, an in-print mag that supports female artists by getting their work out online and in print, donating 20% of sales of Issue 4, its 80 page forthcoming issue, to the ACLU. (Preorders come with a All pre-orders come with a limited edition set of W/A stickers designed by Naomi Elliott, the cover artist.)
4.) Otherwild's The Future Is Female T-Shirt, $30
25% of proceeds from this Made-in-USA t-shirt, approved by politicians and super models alike, are donated to Planned Parenthood.
The future will be female, but there's plenty of history behind the tee, as well:
The original “The Future Is Female” T-shirt design was made for Labyris Books, the first women’s bookstore in New York City, which was opened in 1972 by Jane Lurie and Marizel Rios. The photographer Liza Cowan took a picture of musician Alix Dobkin, her girlfriend at the time, wearing it in 1975. The photograph was done for a slide show she was working on called: "What the Well Dressed Dyke Will Wear."
This slogan has lasted through the decades and is reemerging as an empowering statement for all, as female-identified bodies and rights remain under attack. Inflexible and compulsory sexual and gender binaries are used to oppress and deny people their humanity and agency. Otherwild believes in an inclusive, expanded and fluid notion of gender expression, identities and feminisms. We support liberation, embrace our trans sisters, and call for the end of patriarchal ideology, domination, oppression and violence. We believe that “The Future is Female” is the past, the present and the future, and is language that resonates. - OTHERWILD.COM
5.) Embroidery Pattern Program by Artist Sarah K. Benning, $15
From now until basically forever, Benning plans to donate 20% of all Pattern Program sales to human and civil rights organizations. January and February's recipient will be the ACLU. Her Etsy Shop has over 6400 sales and if her Instagram is any indication, the embroidery artist's list of admirers is growing by the day, so that's a pretty chunk of change that is headed out towards the ACLU and other organizations.
6.) Sweatshirts, Banners, Patches and More by Anticipatricia, from $6-$138
Quadruple-threat artist Patricia Thomasson is an illustrator, designer, typographer and needleworker, although she can probably tack "activist" on to her CV. She's donating 100% of sales from a pretty impressive selection of items in her online shop to the ACLU, which includes a sassy wall-hanging that says "S.N.A.F.U." ($38) and an "EH" pullover ($60).
7.) Social Good O.G.: Catbird NYC
Jewelry mecca Catbird has done a staggering amount of social good, to the tune of over $200,000, since they opened in 2004. Year after year, they've donated 1% of their net sales to charities that includes not only the ACLU but also Planned Parenthood, Girl Up, Women for Women and more. Head over to their Social Responsibility page to see a breakdown of the donations, and then click through to do some shopping. It's for a good cause!
BONUS: Civil Liberties Watchdog tee from ACLU.org, $19.99
"Don't let our civil liberties go to the dogs." Civil Liberties Watchdog Doggie T-Shirt, $19.99.
