An Interview With: The Venetian Pantry
Abi was lucky enough to sit down with the wonderful Martina (better known as The Venetian Pantry) to talk all things interior and the human connection. She is an Italian designer based in North-East London. A graphic designer by trade, her work also spans photography and, in recent years, interior design. Originally from a small town in the Venetian countryside, she moved to London in 2012, and currently lives in a Victorian house which she and her husband Joe renovated three years ago. She shares her love for all things interiors, good food and travel on her Instagram account, The Venetian Pantry.
What does meaningful architecture look like to you? What materials do you naturally gravitate toward?
I strongly believe a home should be a reflection of the people who inhabit it. My husband is English, I am Italian, and we live in a 19th-century Victorian Home in North-East London. When we approached our renovation, I was very conscious of respecting the integrity of the house – its bones if you will. For example, we were adamant about keeping all its original features, from the beautiful cast iron fireplaces to the old and cricking pine floorboards. But adding an Italian touch was inevitable. For me, that mainly transpired through the choice of materials. I favour natural materials such as Marble, Terrazzo, brick, wood and brass. There is a certain honesty and integrity about using raw materials, an appeal that goes beyond the latest trends.
What are your greatest influences?
Italy is for sure my greatest inspiration. I was born and raised in a small town about 1 hour away from Venice, in the Venetian countryside. I grew up surrounded by gloriously crumbly buildings, so much beauty that I used to take for granted, just because I didn't know any different. It was only in my last decade living abroad that I realised how much my aesthetic has been influenced by my background.
What would you say your particular style or aesthetic is for your home?
I'm always striving to achieve a timeless aesthetic, without being too influenced by current trends. I want my house to feel warm, inviting and lived in. Whether I managed to achieve this is not for me to say!
How have you designed your home to suit your family needs? Has this changed or evolved over time?
I wanted our home to feel like a calm oasis – a respite from the busy hustle and bustle of a metropolis like London. My husband and I are both graphic designers working from home, and although we enjoy each other's company, having different working areas was crucial for us. We turned our middle living room (traditionally the darkest spot of the house on a Victorian Terrace) into a cosy home office, with a double floating desk. When one of us has a work call and needs privacy, we also use our newly renovated Den (still a work in progress!)
What is your go-to colour palette?
I am risk-averse by nature, so when it came to deciding on a colour palette for our home, I opted for a combination of off-whites. We use the same 3 colours throughout the house: a limewash from a company called Bauwerk in the shade "Stone" for the walls of the new loft and kitchen extensions; Strong white from Farrow and Ball (a cool, almost greyish white) for the old rooms of the house; and Skimming Stone from Farrow & Ball on all woodwork, to tie it all in together. I find it much easier (and safer) to work with a neutral canvas and add touches of colour through soft furnishing and decor. I gravitate towards earthy colours – plaster pink, olive green, mustard and rust.
What does sustainability look like for you in the home?
We have tried to do our bit as much as we can. For example, we installed solar panels on our roof and went for a more energy-efficient induction hob instead of a traditional gas cooker. To operate our stove, we use logs made out of compressed coffee grounds. But perhaps a less expected sustainable move we adopted early on was to buy a lot of reclaimed furniture. I love bargain hunting in antique and vintage shops. It's a great way to inject character and uniqueness into your home, whilst also being a more sustainable way to shop for furniture.
What are the simple pleasures about living where you do?
We feel very spoiled in Stoke Newington, our neighbourhood. It has a vibrant community, a beautiful park, lots of cute independent shops and lovely restaurants. It feels somewhat like a self-contained village – with the baker, the cheese shop, the fishmonger and the butcher – so we find we hardly have to leave! I particularly love the local green grocery, which is so well stocked, it even has an obscure variety of radicchio from my home town. And speaking of Italian influences, there are a couple of shops in the area that make me feel right at home! I am particularly fond of Gallo Nero, an authentic (and tiny) Italian deli packed with all my favourite goods from back home. I always head there whenever I am in a nostalgic mood (or fancy some good quality prosciutto!).
What's your favourite view from your home?
The pantry is definitely my pride and joy! It's a sight that I always find uplifting – hence why we keep its doors open 99% of the time. It is the focal point of our kitchen and my greatest source of happiness within our home. I find there is something so hearty, so wholesome about a well-stocked pantry. So comforting.
How important is outdoor space for your family?
This may sound obvious, but having a garden (however small) made the biggest difference to our quality of life. Before moving in our home, I had lived in a rental one-bedroom flat in Shoreditch for almost a decade. It was on an incredibly trafficked noisy street, with only a small balcony but greenery around. One of the main things that made me fall in love with this house was the presence of a huge lime tree at the back of our garden. Every floor of our home offers a different view of it, and it is particularly breathtaking from our large picture window in the loft. I love watching the seasons go by from there, observing our small urban ecosystem enter our garden: cats, foxes, squirrels, birds, bees. Having a patch of green is such a luxury in London!
Do you have any home design tips?
My main tip would be to just take your time and follow your gut. With interior design, there is no real right or wrong: as I said, I see the home as a reflection of its inhabitants. But I think it's important not to rush decisions and give in to the temptation of sorting everything out right away. I prefer to have a slow approach to decorating, and waiting for the right piece to come along (a little anecdote here: we slept on our mattress on the floor for almost a year before we chose a bed!). I usually have a strong gut feeling when something feels right, and I know I simply must have it. Sometimes I buy pieces without really knowing where they would go, waiting for that lightbulb moment. But it's so satisfying when everything falls in the right place!
What’s your favourite piece in your home?
It's hard to choose! We collect a lot of things during our travels, so we have many pieces that hold memories or have special meaning to us. One such piece (and probably my favourite) is an 1800s nude painting that I discovered at an antique dealer in Rye. I couldn't really afford it, but I had such an instant connection with it (the aforementioned gut feeling) that I just couldn't leave it be. So, with a little negotiating, we brought it home with us – my first proper art investment ever. It now lives in our bathroom, by the bath. It serves me as a daily reminder to embrace my body, with all its imperfections.
Do you have any more future plans for your home?
So many! We are currently in the middle of tackling our Den – which until recently had been serving as a miscellaneous storage room and hence nicknamed "the Monster room". I'm hoping it'll be in good shape by Christmas. There are lots of bits and bobs we still need to do around the house: repainting the staircase and adding a runner, sourcing various bits of upholstery, and adding bespoke storage cabinets to the living room, which are currently being built by our carpenter. The main piece of work left to crack is the front garden, which is in really horrendous shape. I always joke that it has saved us from burglars so far!
Follow Martina's journey on Instagram.
Dominy has a passion for empowering others to reach their full potential, and offers her expertise through coaching, programs and tools to take radical responsibility, develop healing and healthy habits, and create your personal power.
In our conversation, we discuss:
A gentle note of caution: we very lightly touch on pregnancy loss at the start before 2:10, from 31:44 to 32:12 and between 42:22 to 42:47. If this feels uncomfortable for you in any way, you might prefer to skip this part of the conversation.
About Dominy Roe
Dominy is the founder of Love Dominy, helping women and girls to break generational cycles, lead themselves and leave a legacy of love. Offering 1:1 Coaching, Group Coaching, Masterclasses and Retreats, Dominy is committed to guiding personal transformation; emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually and financially. You can follow her incredible work on Instagram @lovedominy or check out the website for more information www.lovedominy.com.
Dominy is also the co-founder of Transformuk, a youth community organization in East London demonstrating love to those facing barriers. Currently they are establishing their childrens’ home model - you can follow this journey on Instagram @transformchildrenshomes or find out more at www.transformuk.com.
If you’re looking for a community of kindred spirits, we’d love to invite you to join us @thesimplefolkco on Instagram.
]]>Hamid has dedicated the last 25 years to studying how our internal mineral balance can influence the entire spectrum of our personal well-being, the health of our children, and our future generations.
No matter where you are in your knowledge of holistic wellness, we break everything down so that anyone seeking clarity on how to make more informed, health-conscious choices can benefit from this awe-inspiring conversation.
You’ll hear a bit about my own health data and personal experiences, and we discuss everything from mitochondria to mental health, and the phases of change we so often experience as we continue to evolve on a healthier path.
Hamid shares how subtle stressors from our environment can affect us on the deepest levels, and how we can begin to shift back into a healthier, more balanced rhythm by being cognizant of key minerals like copper, magnesium, sodium, iron, and potassium.
A gentle note of caution: we talk about my personal experience of pregnancy loss toward the beginning of our chat. If this feels uncomfortable for you in any way, you might prefer to begin at the 12-minute mark.
In this inspiring interview, we discuss:
Hamid brings more than 25 years of experience in studying the root causes of disease, helping his clients connect the dots on the inner workings of their well-being. He spent the better part of his adult life exploring Eastern philosophical and practical systems of Western medicine, yoga, Ayurveda, Buddhism, Thai bodywork, energy work, Amazonian plant medicines, and other traditional healing methods including meditation and sound therapy. He offers individual consultation and counselling in all aspects of the individual health journey with expertise in the Root Cause Protocol (RCP), the ancestral diet, and mental and emotional healing.
Hamid is the voice behind @mineralshaman on Instagram, a platform discussing the intersection of mineral balancing, plant medicines, spirituality, and ancestral wisdom. His websites are www.mineralshaman.com and www.hamidjabbar.com if you’d like to learn more.
If you’re looking for a nourishing community of kindred spirits and parents walking the path toward non-toxic living and holistic wellness, we’d love to invite you to join us @thesimplefolkco on Instagram.
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With a grit and determination to stay true to our core focus of value driven leadership in consciously made clothing and lifestyle items, we have not only been able to take small but mighty steps towards shifting the paradigm in the fashion industry in a more sustainable direction, but we are also able to confidently say that we would never have been able to impact nearly as many lives without staying small and close to our roots. It goes without saying that a huge part of what has allowed us to stay independent and true to our cause, is your continued support. For us, it’s a confirmation of something we’ve known in our bones all along, and it feels like the perfect time and opportunity to highlight just how you help us (and all women) move the needle forward.
It has always been our belief that small businesses have the power to change the world as we know it and now there is evidence to support it! What’s all the more intriguing is that several studies show that women who operate small businesses tend to contribute in subtler, more intangible ways through what’s known as “the giving gap”—the net positive difference in which women redistribute their earnings into the well-being of our planet and those around them.
For Jamie and I this has always been part of our philosophy for The Simple Folk: to instill a culture of conscious decision making and thoughtful working practices, each and every day. For us this means embracing all things slow and being able to show kindness and compassion to the precious community around us and to the planet we live on: our partners who work tirelessly to make the small-batch, artisanal collections; the fabrics we choose to put next to our skin; and the families we support through this work (more on this below).
In Rachael Roger’s brilliant book, We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman's Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power, she writes that women reinvest as much as 90% back into their families and communities.
What’s more, a study composed in 2016 by The Women’s Philanthropy Institute (at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy) found that women consistently gave 89% or more to charity than men. The same study also showed that women in the top 25% of income ranges gave 156% more than men in the same category even though we tend to have fewer cultural and economic advantages.
It makes sense because we tend to operate from a completely different paradigm in which the concepts of plenty, collaboration, and nurturing help make our planet a safer, healthier place to live for our children and all generations to come.
Simply put, when women earn enough, our communities thrive, and our world slowly but surely improves.
We’re incredibly thankful for the support of this remarkable community of courageous women, parents, and friends, and we know from our depths that we are all indeed better together.
As a small business owned and operated predominantly by women, we believe we have the responsibility to give back beyond the social and environmental impact of how we make our clothes. One of the ways we do this is by striving to touch as many lives as possible by supporting access to basic needs, educational opportunities, safe places where they can flourish, and the ability to realize their dreams and achieve their potential.
This is why, when you purchase from The Simple Folk, you are personally woven into the fabric of giving at so many different levels including:
Moreover, because we’re small (and proudly intend to remain that way), you can always expect exemplary customer service from our team of heart-centered humans who all deeply care about the greater impact of our work, our world, and your well-being.
We can't thank you enough for walking with us as we take small steps toward a more inclusive and abundant future for us all.
MeiMei: How is the pivot from childrenswear to include womenswear aligned with your life purpose? Why did you do it?
Abi: The original idea came from the sheer volume of requests for our children’s clothes in adult sizes (and our own desire to dress as comfortably as our children). However, women’s clothing can be very different from children’s and we wanted to do it in a way that ensured we stayed true in our commitment to organic, ethical, and non-toxic clothing but also recognised the beauty of womens bodies and created clothes that celebrated our cyclical natures.
There was a real driving force from deep within us to develop a collection that not only celebrated women’s wondrous bodies but which fully embraced the changes that most experience through their lives. So we created all of our clothes with elasticated waists (the only exception is the new Perfect Jean) and loose, flowing shapes that allow for a changing shape. We also use as much stretch as is possible for a sustainable and natural brand, and include features such as adjustable straps and ties, to give the pieces both flexibility and longevity. It feels important to design clothes that can transition along with our style through our 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and so on.
As mothers ourselves, it was vital to us, to create from a place of reverence for the changes our own bodies have been through. I personally have lived in our clothes throughout the whole of pregnancy and postpartum when your body is changing so fast and I have heard the same from many of those within our community. One friend said to me the other day “when you are pregnant, The Simple Folk are the only clothes that make any sense”. There is a significant lack of sustainable maternity options (a contradictory concept in itself) so we set out instead, to make clothes that would see you well beyond those 9 months.
Giving people space to change a size or two allows them to keep the clothes for a really long time. Adaptability is core to The Simple Folk’s notion of sustainable fashion. It is not just about motherhood though… elasticated waistbands can allow the wearer to challenge societal norms by deciding what is “flattering” or “aspirational” for themselves.
With our third womenswear collection this season, we are seeing a real community emerge behind this side of the brand. What once attracted our childrenswear customers, now has appeal to a much wider audience of women – those who strive to move away from convention, trends and fast fashion, and who instead yearn for the effortless minimalism that The Simple Folk offers.
MeiMei: Have you seen changes to the fashion industry since you started The Simple Folk? More brands coming on board? Authentically or in a PR / headlines sort of way? Any words of caution to consumers?
Abi: We launched our first collection of The Simple Folk in Spring/Summer 2019 and in those few years we have witnessed a drastic change in the industry.
Fast fashion is no longer simply a habit driven by the high street and the rise of online retailers; it is now a discussion point. With more awareness around C02 emissions, waste water and clean energy to name a few, fast fashion is becoming more controversial. We see many customers eschewing the novelty of these quick-fix brands in favor of a “buy less, buy better” mindset.
We would also be remiss not to mention the Covid-19 pandemic, nor to underestimate its significance – the whole world changed immeasurably, and we developed a collective and newfound knowing of all that matters most. There was a definite shift toward living more sustainably, and environmentally conscious brands that may have been under the radar previously became more popular and accessible due to the prevalence (and indeed at times, necessity) of shopping online. This combined with a desire to support small businesses and build community (virtually at the time). And, to top it all off, we saw people searching for clothing made with fabrics, dyes and practices that would support the health of themselves and their families. It felt like when the world was crumbling around us, the fashion industry (along with many others) was experiencing a true and heartfelt awakening.
There are many news-worthy stories around sustainability that continue to make headlines and this is great! Raising awareness is the first step. To see high street retailers forced to join the conversation is the change we all wished to make. Never has there been more talk about ‘ethical practices’, or ‘sustainable materials’ and certainly customers are more aware of organic than ever before. And whilst this feels like a move in the right direction, a new concept has emerged, that of greenwashing, whereby brands use “green” credentials as a marketing opportunity. So our advice would always be to ask questions and research thoroughly before making any purchase. It’s important to explore the veracity of these claims, and encourage more transparency within the fashion industry so that as customers, we can make an informed choice.
The truth is, sustainability is not something new in the clothing industry. Many wonderful brands have been designing and producing clothes made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and other sustainable materials for decades. Twenty years ago, ‘GOTS’ and ‘organic’ were not that commonplace and these brands had to work even harder to champion slow fashion. However, today’s shift in awareness means that these raw materials are really only the first step to sustainability. For example, every year in the UK alone 300,000 tonnes of clothes ending up in landfills* which directly harms our planet. That is an estimated £140m worth of clothing. It must stop.
Truly pioneering brands need to be paving the way to making the fashion industry a circular economy.
Since we began, we set out to make a difference and to champion the slow fashion movement on behalf of our planet and every human life we touch. What’s more, we take a minimalist, non-conforming stance in mindful design. Made with quality and care, in timeless styles, each garment can be loved over and over. Our intention is to create heirloom clothes that can be effortlessly passed between siblings to keep them in circulation for years to come. Every piece in our collection has these values in mind, and we’re determined to prioritize long-term wear to encourage a much needed shift in a healthier direction. In addition to this, if a customer reaches out to us to say they accidentally damaged a garment, we encourage them to repair it and will send a spare button, patch or fastening. Our whole team is passionate about the longevity of our designs and between us we have a huge pool of knowledge that is at all customers’ disposal.
Next year we have our sights set even higher! We are working on making our collections available on rental platforms (hopefully both children’s and womenswear), as well as collaborating with resale platforms so that once a customer no longer needs their garment, they can resell it to be loved by someone else. This will allow our garments to be worn and re-worn by many people, exactly as we’ve always intended.
The final piece for us is the ‘end-of-life’ support for all our garments. We are in the process of selecting partners who can credibly take our clothing at the genuine end of its usable life (once it’s been passed through families, rented and sold as pre-loved), and repurpose the fabric into something new. As our garments are made from natural and organic materials, this is more achievable than with synthetic fibers and we are determined that no piece from The Simple Folk ever ends up in landfill. We are leading by example and are committed to embodying the change that we need to see across the industry to protect and preserve our planet for future generations.
Explore our Childrenswear and Womenswear collections.
* WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme) - https://wrap.org.uk/taking-action/textiles
Author of The Gentle Discipline Book: How to Raise Co-operative, Polite and Helpful Children, Sarah is a mother, child psychology and development researcher, hypnotherapist, trained doula, and teacher of wisdom that always seems to leave us speechless.
She fearlessly advocates for a gentler, more intuitive approach to parenting our children and being compassionate with ourselves in the process.
We recently had the opportunity to chat with Sarah about her book and learn about some practical guidance for shifting our connection skills based on leading cognitive science and attachment theories.
Sarah has authored 11 books translated into over 30 languages including The Gentle Sleep book, which has sold thousands of copies in the UK alone. She consistently presents new, enlightened ways of helping children grow and shares compelling alternatives to the mainstream methods of parenting so our children can thrive.
She makes raising confident, capable children feel so much easier, and we just love that about her.
Listen to Abi’s Conversation with Sara Ockwell-Smith:
Here are a few of Sarah’s wonderful insights from our time together.
Could you describe a little bit about what gentle discipline is in general?
Time and time again, I come across people who think that anything gentle means letting kids rule the roost with the parents having no boundaries, no discipline, no limits, kids in charge. Gentle Discipline is none of that. It’s not permissive. It’s not negligent, but it’s also not harsh.
It’s about teaching our children how to be safe, how to keep others safe, how to understand the rules of society, and how to learn it better so they can be happy members of society.
For me, the best way to teach a child is through the “authoritative” style rather than authoritarian or permissive. In order to teach them best, it’s all about the relationship that you have with them. It’s all about earning respect so that there’s mutual respect, rather than commanding it through fear.
There are boundaries, limits, definitely not letting kids get away with anything and everything, but it’s more of a balance of a dance of control. Sometimes the child’s in control, sometimes the parent’s in control, and parents very much learn from their children, so there’s humility there as well.
Ultimately, it’s about empathy, connection, and most importantly having realistic expectations of what a child is capable of. It’s about asking yourself, how does my child learn best? They learn best when they’re well connected and respected by their teachers.
To sum it up, it’s how we ourselves would like to be treated.
What makes discipline effective?
What I always tell parents is to think about your favorite teacher. Why were they your favorite? Why did you love them so much? What was it about them that inspired you?
The words that always come up: they had a good sense of humor, they were a good listener, they respected me, and if they got things wrong, they would admit it. Essentially, everything that makes a teacher effective.
Take everything else out of the equation, and you’ll see it’s us. Who we mirror, who we model. If we want to raise calm, kind, and considerate children, there’s nothing better than if we ourselves are calm, kind, and considerate.
Can you help describe some of the mainstream techniques that aren’t quite as helpful for children that are a bit more pervasive?
I’d say that they’re:
Unfortunately, the motivating and demotivating becomes like a Band-Aid on a wound rather than a healing salve. They cannot ever resolve the problem. All this does is punish a child for having a problem without helping them to solve it. When they’re “good” and you resolve it, you’re basically teaching them that you like them better when they don’t have any problems. It can be really damaging as they get older.
For me, this is what discipline is about. It’s about modeling for our children, helping them, being the best investigators, and thinking, why is this happening? What are they feeling and how can I help them through this?
What can most parents do if they are struggling with their child’s behavior?
On one of my book covers, there’s a picture of a tree.
The trunk is you. It’s about you making space for your child, your groundedness. Then you have one branch that’s short-term discipline. And one branch that’s long-term discipline. The biggest mistake many parents make is that they think about the short term, but they aren’t thinking about the long term and the expectations that go along with that.
Make sure you have realistic expectations. You really need to understand what your child’s brain is capable of at any specific age. You cannot force a toddler to act like a 10-year-old and you cannot keep babies from crying at night. It’s an acceptance of what’s age-appropriate for both the short and long term.
How can we respond better?
Picture yourself at that age with a similar behavior. How did you want your parents to respond? Just to give you a hug or listen or to understand, right? I like to call it Mind-Minded Parenting.
Just put yourself in their shoes, and do what you would have wanted someone to do for you.
Here’s a really helpful 20-second framework called PETER:
When we yell or lose our patience…what can we do?
Get most of the parental guilt out of the way!
We all lose it, and comparison is really dangerous. We all have unique flaws, and we don’t need to compare them to the glossy facade of what everyone else is doing. Start by knowing you’re not alone, and that it’s about self-kindness. It’s about realizing I slipped up there. I’m human. I had a bad day. I also realize that messing up is one of the most valuable things you can do as a parent.
If you never mess up, your children will never learn how to make things right themselves. Simply and genuinely apologize when this happens. The best way we can teach our children is by being human ourselves. If it keeps happening, you may want to take a break, have better boundaries, stop people-pleasing, dig into your past. Go easy on yourself.
If you lower yourself to a place where you apologize to your children, they feel valued and worthy of an apology and will model these same behaviors as they get older.
For more of Sarah’s knowledge and expertise, please visit her at https://sarahockwell-smith.com.
]]>When we first began our journey to create The Simple Folk, it indeed all started with one question: who made our clothes? This question lit a small yet mighty fire within our hearts.
It was (and will remain) one of the primary reasons we set out to make a difference. We felt so compelled to challenge the status quo and to champion the slow fashion movement on behalf of our planet and every human life we touch. These values are truly the essence of everything we do here at The Simple Folk.
So today, we’re sharing an inside look at who makes our clothes, the materials we use, our practices and how you can join us in shifting into a new paradigm that values the health of our world over all else.
Inside The Fashion Revolution Movement
This week, 18th-24th April 2022, is Fashion Revolution Week, the world’s largest activism campaign surrounding the anniversary of the 2013 Rana Plaza garment factory collapse in Bangladesh, when so many lost their lives working in incredibly poor conditions.
Fashion Revolution week is one of our favorite movements predicated on the very question of who makes your clothes. It campaigns for reform of the fashion industry with a focus on the need for greater transparency in the fashion supply chain.
Every year, so many inspiring brands make the conscious choice to unsubscribe from fast fashion practices, choosing instead to uplift and uplevel their materials and deliver some truly sustainable products.
The global movement covers three important topics that span the breadth of the most impactful changes we can make both as consumers and creators: #WhoMadeMyClothes, #LovedClothesLast #WhatsInMyClothes
So without further ado, let’s dive into these topics with an aim to embrace a new age of timeless, ethical fashion together.
Our Makers - #WhoMadeMyClothes
From the farmers who grow the fibers to those who weave our fabrics, we consider the social and economic impact of the individuals involved at every stage as well as the wider local community.
Those who cut, sew, and dye our garments are honored, respected, empowered, and we proudly partner with ethical artisans from around the world.
Our woven workshop in Portugal is GOTS certified*, OEKO-TEX® certified, and runs on green energy where power is generated by solar panels and sustainability is prioritized at every turn. We also work with respected artists in Bolivia, Scotland, Spain, and Italy with similar practices.
Everyone who makes our clothes enjoys all of the perks associated with their esteemed profession, including ample breaks and private health care as well as an on site physiotherapist to provide massages and treatments free of charge. The love, pride and recognition of respect for their skills and work is poured into each and every piece we make, and we wouldn't have it any other way. When you purchase from our shop, you’re supporting those involved in every step of making our pieces first and foremost, helping to ensure that unfair working conditions are slowly but surely eradicated.
*SIMÃO & OLGANDO SA, certified by ECOCERT GREENLIFE SAS, license number 00272632.
Our Commitment to Sustainability, Transparency, and Education - #LovedClothesLast
As well as valuing our planet and our partners, we are devoted to every wild-hearted woman and child who wears our clothes.
Small batch, artisan items made in an ethical and sustainable way come at a higher cost than traditional fast fashion and it’s not just because you are investing in quality clothes that will last longer but because your money is going toward paying a living wage and elevating ethical suppliers so they can thrive and grow. It’s important to us that you know what you are paying for and why, so transparency in all that we do is vital.
We want our customers to have all the information they need to make an informed decision and feel good about their purchase. We proudly hold ourselves above reproach when it comes to caring for our co-creators and sourcing sustainable, renewable materials from ethical farmers from around the world.
What’s more, we take a minimalist, non-conforming stance in mindful design. Made with quality and care, in timeless styles, each garment can be loved over and over. Our intention is to create heirloom clothes that can be effortlessly passed between siblings to keep them in circulation for years to come. Every piece in our collection has these values in mind, and we’re determined to prioritize long-term wear to encourage a much needed shift in a healthier direction.
Our Dedication to Natural, Non-Toxic Materials - #WhatsInMyClothes
We search the world for the most ethical, non-toxic, and natural fibers and fabrics we can find—from our rare organic linen grown in the mountains of France with no fertilizers, pesticides, or harsh chemicals to our Econyl® Regenerated Nylon swimwear consciously crafted from fishing nets recycled from our ocean’s waters.
Our Plant-Dyed collection is made using earthen pigments mindfully derived from fruit residues and nutshells, and we proudly carry many pieces in raw, undyed, and organic cotton so they’re as close to nature as you can possibly get (especially perfect for new babies).
With all this in mind, both our children’s and womenswear lines are made to be safe for the well-being of everyone involved, from farm to closet. We prioritize only the cleanest fabrics, from our GOTS certified organic linen, muslin, and cotton to using OKEO-Tex® certified and natural dyes.
For Spring Summer 2022 we went even further to prioritize minimalism, with a heavy focus on co-ord sets that can be mixed and matched over and over again.
Join the Fashion Revolution
Rooted in our desire to make a difference, we’re leading the way toward a more conscious future that prioritizes the health and well-being of both those who make and those who wear our clothes, and chooses earth-friendly practices at each and every turn. And we hope you’ll join us.
To better understand the impacts of the clothing industry specifically and the importance of slow fashion, you might be interested in checking out the following resources:
When everything you own has a purpose and inspires joy (even the most functional item) we believe it creates a connection between maker and consumer. As part of the Fashion Revolution, we’re committed to closing that gap and encouraging a more conscious and considered way.
If you’re interested in learning more, join our like-minded community of kindred spirits on the path to sustainable living over on Instagram, read more on Our Journal or check out Fashion Revolution for inspiration on how you can contribute to a new framework of fashion that’s truly good for the planet.
]]>From a business perspective, it makes perfect sense because you sell twice as much. But as a parent and a consumer, I had to take a step back and a moment of pause, and evaluate if I wanted to concede to this cultural norm and begin gender-coding my children’s lives before they were even born.
Turns out, there’s a lot to consider on this topic (I’ll share more below), and my partner and I have done a lot of learning and decided those gender stereotypes are not welcome in our house.
We’ve instead chosen to move toward a lifestyle that embraces a genuine appreciation of self-expression, individuality, and creativity. We’re both so happy and hopeful when it comes to offering our little ones honest and loving space for self-discovery and authentic living.
It’s with this in mind that Abi and I have consciously designed the majority of our garments.
We want our children to have room to be who they are and lead the way as they grow, develop, and eventually present themselves to the world. We want to support our children’s journey to discovery, versus defining the discovery itself.
If this is all new to you, here’s the lowdown on gender neutral fashion and why I’m embracing this movement with all my heart.
What Exactly Is Gender Neutral Clothing?
The gender neutral fashion movement aims to create garments that every child can enjoy regardless of their gender, and rejects the idea that pink is for girls and blue is for boys—and that girls should be delicate while boys should be rugged. Kids can just be kids and get down to the business of play!
The goal behind gender neutral clothing (and toys) is to free children from social expectations based on their sex. We often aren’t even aware of how our current cultural norms and definitions around gender are subtly programmed into the psyche of our children.
I was once on a flight with my husband and the flight attendant offered him a magazine from a selection of The Economist, Entrepreneur Mag, Newsweek, and the like. She then looked at me and said these exact words as she held out People, Cosmopolitan and Vogue: “Would you like a lady magazine?” I was floored. Yes, I enjoy fashion and some occasional pop culture, but I am also a competent, successful business professional.
The thing is, this way of thinking is so deeply ingrained in our society and continues to be passed on to our children one seemingly harmless comment at a time—that’s just how culture works. That is, until individuals begin to recognize and collectively pursue a better route. And then...the culture evolves, or dare I say, progresses.
Sweden is ranked as one of the top five countries in the world for gender equality and they currently have a few innovative preschools that are experimenting with a completely gender neutral way of being: the teachers aren’t even told the sex of the children.
This may sound extreme, but the reason they are doing so is because they filmed themselves for a year and found that they used different words and tones when talking to boys versus girls. In our current gender-restrictive paradigm, girls are most complimented on their appearance as opposed to their interests or abilities, while boys are often taught to be tough and bury their emotions, sometimes leading to a whole host of body image and mental and emotional struggles later in life. For us, embracing more gender neutral children’s items makes perfect sense, as it helps break this cycle and allows our little ones to flourish without the historical baggage of what it means to be male or female.
What’s more, gender neutral clothing often embodies minimalist, pattern-free garments and with more natural colors, styles, and tones. After reading the book, Simplicity Parenting, and learning about how dizzying patterns and clothing choices can overwhelm and cloud our children’s senses as they seek to discover their world, I am even more dedicated to simple, gender neutral fashion choices for my children, and to designing GOTS and OEKO-TEX® certified childrenswear that is safe, non-toxic, and echoes the tenets of this important movement.
Pink and Blue: A History
Actually, there’s nothing inherently masculine or feminine about any color, and the whole “pink is for girls; blue is for boys” tradition is relatively recent, as is the culture of kid-specific fashion. Up until pretty far into the 1800s, all newborn babies were typically dressed in gender neutral outfits, and those familiar pastel hues and garish patterns only became popular around the turn of the 20th century. But—and here’s the surprise—up until the 1940s, pink was seen as the more masculine color.
During the social upheaval of the 1960s, strict gender divisions in fashion eased somewhat, but these divisions came back with a vengeance in the 1980s, when it became possible for parents to find out their baby’s gender before birth. So the bottom line is that “masculine” and “feminine” color trends come and go like the wind and kid-specific patterns are not, as it turns out, an intrinsic part of childhood.
When you step away from the confines of the modern, kid-specific fashion frenzy and experiment with the freedom of gender neutral fashion, you might even be surprised to find your little one is a budding, sophisticated minimalist. I sure was.
On top of that, when my son opens his wardrobe, he now experiences a sense of calm. His clothing no longer clutters his mind but offers him a blank canvas for his imagination and sense of self to soar.
Choosing a gender neutral wardrobe for your little ones is a huge win-win for kids, parents, and the planet itself in all these wonderful ways:
• It discourages imposed stereotypes that could impact your child’s development: When girls aren’t expected to be dainty and boys are no longer limited to being strong and tough, kids’ true selves can unfold freely.
• Kids get to express who they are: With unisex children’s clothing choices, your kids can choose pieces that reflect their amazing personalities and interests in whatever colors make them happy.
• Everyone can play vigorously: Gender neutral play clothes are designed for realistic movement and play, as opposed to some traditional clothing that can restrict movement, forcing them to play less athletically.
• Simplicity supports the senses: Clothing devoid of wild patterns and loud colors lets children’s senses tune in to what matters most—discovering the world around them.
• It’s budget friendly: Kids outgrow their clothes incredibly fast, but buying attractive, timeless clothing that both boys and girls can wear means each piece can be passed down to all the siblings, saving you lots of money.
• It encourages sharing: With so many interchangeable pieces that everyone can wear, it’s fun for kids to share and create new outfits and looks—or simply loan a shirt or scarf to a friend who needs one.
• It’s kinder to the planet: Less throwaway clothing means less garbage in landfills and less of a manufacturing carbon footprint. And since you won’t be driving to shops as often, you may also be using less gasoline.
Gender neutral fashion can certainly be a freeing, ongoing lifestyle, but this doesn’t have to be a strict either/or kind of decision for you or your kids. Remember, the whole point of the movement is self-expression without imposed rules or limits.
So if your kids begin to ask for more traditionally masculine or feminine clothing, that’s fine, too—as long as you allow them to lead the way. There may be times when it’s equally important for your child to experiment with gender stereotypes and extremes as they experiment with their sense of self. As parents, I feel the most important role we play is to offer them a foundation and then to honor the whole of their journey.
]]>My dear friend and fellow non-toxic living pioneer Loni Brown has a vision for the world that never fails to inspire me to learn, grow, and become a better version of myself. She’s warm, kind, intelligent, and incredibly fierce; truthfully, my favorite kind of human.
As a mom, eco-home and lifestyle coach, non-toxic nursery educator, aspiring building biologist, and co-founder of EntirelyEco.com, Loni is a woman who knows about clean, non-toxic living.
We finally had a chance to catch up recently over Zoom to chat through where we’ve been, and where we’re so passionately headed as we push on into the future with optimistic fortitude and a focus on sustainability. As a bit of backstory, our friendship started nearly 15 years ago when we were roommates in California. During that time, we were both learning about the chemicals and additives hidden in our food, the reality of the human microbiome, and how our modern lifestyles were unwittingly decimating not only our personal beneficial bacteria (which keeps you healthy), but our planetary microbiome and those of our future children as well.
As we exchanged memories, Loni recounted her personal awakening to health consciousness starting with the food we eat and trickling through to every aspect of our daily lives, evolving from a focus solely on what goes in our bodies to include what goes on and around them as well. It would be a calling that would spark years of studying and compiling the available data on the presence of toxic chemicals in our everyday lives and their connections to cancer-related illnesses to show how the common toxins in our homes are indeed impacting our immune systems.
The more she learned about the importance of microbial health (particularly during pregnancy and early childhood), the more she gained the clarity and courage to question the standard and help others take wellbeing back into their own hands.
Loni spent tireless nights and weekends contacting companies to grill them about hidden chemical adhesives—demanding their material data sheets, and asking pointed questions about the use of formaldehyde in products that would potentially contact the skin (even companies who claimed they didn’t use such ingredients). With a fire in her belly and an invigorating sense of hope, she launched her shop and incredible educational content at EntirelyEco.com with the goal of helping every person live a beautiful, healthy, non-toxic life.
Even when it seemed daunting to consider all of the ways that toxins potentially impede our wellness and safety, something Loni said really struck me, because I believe it with my whole heart too: “We have more control than we think.”
How right she is. We can accept the challenge to ourselves to learn more about the materials in our homes and how they might be affecting us. We can feel good about doing what we can, where we can.
Achieving a healthy, sustainable lifestyle is not a sprint, but rather a journey made easier with love, friendship, a shared sense of purpose—and of course, access to clean alternatives. It’s all about taking the next right step, over and over again, as often as you can, and voting with your choices to create the future you want to see. No one inspires me more in this area of my life than Loni.
If you’re thinking about how to make more health-forward choices as you create your home life and family culture, you’ll love hearing Loni speak from her soul about sustainability and non-toxic living in this interview. I’m so happy to share it with you!
You can listen to the full interview below to learn:
Ready to hear what it feels like to live and lead a non-toxic lifestyle? Check out our full interview below. You can also listen to an audio version of our interview here.
P.S. If you loved this article, you might also love Loni’s five simple tips for creating a non-toxic nursery space for little ones.
]]>There’s so very much that goes into parenting, but I believe that one of the most important steps we can take for our children’s overall long-term well-being is to support the development of the groundwork of their health, the human microbiome.
This topic is really personal to me and, honestly, it lays the groundwork for why we do what we do at The Simple Folk.
After being diagnosed with a parasite and spending six long months in bed trying to find answers, I learned just how important the inner workings of the microbiome are for our well-being and for our planet (which is a gigantic microbiome in itself!).
On this journey to healing, I slowly began uncovering all of the ways our Western lifestyles can damage it through toxins, chemicals, additives, and other hidden nasties that are not only harmful to our children, they’re harmful to our environment as well. I read study after study about how so many of our microbes are mysteriously “missing,” and the invisible toll we’re experiencing as we become further removed from our natural, earth-centered lives.
I became invigorated with possibilities and it led me to reshape my entire life around non-toxic living, campaigning for others to do the same, especially if they’re expecting or have small children at home. I believe with all my heart that these unconventional shifts can truly change the world and health outcomes for our families.
It’s more than simply opting for clean, toxin-free fabrics (which you should absolutely do), it’s a complete lifestyle shift in favor of a healthy foundation for our children.
Why It Matters: The Human Microbiome
Let’s talk a little bit about the microbiome because it is an absolutely marvelous, diverse ecosystem teeming with trillions of microbes that live on your skin and in your body, mainly in your gut, and are the most impacted by artificial materials. The bacteria that live there work on your behalf to keep you well. It’s the residence of the majority of the immune system and develops throughout infancy and early childhood. If you aren’t already familiar with gut and microbial health, you can read all about it in this incredible library I’ve composed over the years.
As has been made quite clear lately, there’s a lot in life that we can’t control—but we can make choices during pregnancy and those first three precious years that can help support our child’s microbial development for an entire lifetime of health.
Go Toxin-Free: Pregnancy, Infancy, and Early Childhood
Pregnancy and childbirth is an incredibly special time and one of the best opportunities to become cognizant of toxins and rid them from your life for good. Your little one literally depends on you to inherit their good bacteria, that means you’ll need as many of the good guys as you can possibly get and why opting out of toxins is an important part of protecting and nurturing your child’s health. Here are a few ways you can retain as many beneficial strains of bacteria as possible during pregnancy:
After birth, opting to delay your baby’s first bath by at least 24 hours allows more time for skin-to-skin contact (and the resulting microbial share is a win-win!) while the white coating covering the baby’s skin at birth—called vernix—can do its job regulating temperature, supporting healthy blood sugar levels, and offering protection from inhospitable microbes.
This might all sound like a lot but it can make a vast difference for their long-term wellbeing. You can read my story about welcoming Benjamin into the world a whole three months early and everything I did to protect his itty bitty microbiome so that it could, in turn, keep him well.
Be sure to purchase organic, toxin-free newborn clothing and swaddle blankets made from natural fibers that are OEKO-Tex® and GOTS certified for that extra measure of safety and protection from harm.
As those first couple of magical days turn into weeks, and the joyous weeks turn into months and years, there’s still so much we can do to keep our precious babes on the right microbial path all along the way.
Eating with our microbes in mind and proactively and continually replenishing with and exposing the microbiome to beneficial bacteria is the first half of the gut health equation, but we also have to be mindful of what not to include in our children’s lives—like toxins.
Create a Non-Toxic Household
A big part of supporting microbial wellness is nurturing and parenting our children in an environment that is as non-toxic as possible, so their little bodies can grow and thrive just as nature intended.
The problem is that toxins are everywhere, and they have a devastating impact on the microbiome.1 From heavy metals, pesticides, and nanoparticles, to dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, and even non-caloric artificial sweeteners (and potentially many others), the toxic compounds that our children are potentially exposed to on a daily basis disrupt their microbial balance.2
While we may not be able to control the toxins we’re exposed to in the air, thankfully we can make a multitude of toxin-free choices when it comes to what we put in and on our kids’ (and our own) bodies, reducing their overall toxic load and the impact on their growing microbiomes.
Keeping toxins and exposure at bay begins with knowing exactly where to look for potential dark corners where chemicals often go unnoticed. For us, our focus is on keeping chemicals and additives away from children’s skin and out of the environment by sourcing only GOTS and OEKO-Tex® certified fabrics and non-toxic dyes. However, there are so many other avenues for chemicals to waltz into our lives through our food, hygiene products, mattresses, and other pockets of our homes.
Loni Brown, a pioneer in eco-friendly living and founder of Entirely Eco, a beautiful and toxin-free home decor shop, discovered her passion for healthy home goods while she was expecting her first child. As she began to shop for everything her new baby needed, she found that, “the common household items we all own and use are the cause of poor indoor air quality, which can have many adverse health effects.” She was determined to find a better way. No wonder her and I have been so close through the years.
Once you become aware of the world of the microbiome, non-toxic living simply feels right. When making sure our little ones are safe from toxin exposure, Loni explains that there are three important areas where we can focus our energies on detoxing our lives:
Of all the things we surround our kids with, the most extended and intimate contact by far comes from textiles. Pesticide-heavy conventional farming leads to textiles that are rife with toxins. Whether it’s the clothing our kids wear or the fabrics and textiles they come into contact with on a daily basis—think towels, mattresses, sheets, and pillows—the toxins in these products have the potential for serious health issues down the line.
As you search for any textiles for your family or home, check labels, avoid GMO cotton and other altered fibers and demand transparency from the companies you solicit to make sure their processes are healthy for your kids and the environment. From the moment we found out we were expecting—and every single second since—we’ve been committed to making conscious, health-forward choices for our kids, always keeping their microbial health top of mind. We carry this philosophy into each garment we create at The Simple Folk, which is why we insist on using only OEKO-TEX® and GOTS certified natural fabrics and non-toxic dyes. But it’s not just for our own children—we value the health of all the world’s children, and we figure if we can make this planet even a slightly less toxic place for all its human and microbial inhabitants, we’ve made a difference.
References:
1. Koontz, Jason M., et al. “The Role of the Human Microbiome in Chemical Toxicity.” International Journal of Toxicology, vol. 38, no. 4, 2019, pp. 251–264., doi:10.1177/1091581819849833.
2. Tsiaoussis, John, et al. “Effects of Single and Combined Toxic Exposures on the Gut Microbiome: Current Knowledge and Future Directions.” Toxicology Letters, vol. 312, 2019, pp. 72–97., doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2019.04.014.
]]>As a long-time minimalist, I’ve always been drawn toward timeless style, clean lines, and pattern-free essentials that effortlessly pair well together and can be worn again and again. However, now more than ever, our decisions around sustainable fashion feel deeply poignant.
In this time of global awakening, I felt inspired to share my thoughts and experiences around managing a mindful family wardrobe on a practical, day to day level.
Not long after I began my essentialism journey and as part of my long-term dedication to keeping things simple, I discovered the capsule wardrobe. It seriously revolutionized my daily routine and not to mention my then-cluttered mind.
The mental freedom I experienced as a result of creating a more organized, refined way of being was so refreshing and it seems the saying is true—tidy house, tidy mind. When we had children, it quickly occurred to me that the same could be possible for them too.
Composed of a small handful of soft, comfortable, high-quality essentials that can be mixed and matched with ease, a minimalist capsule wardrobe for your children is like a breath of fresh air for our planet and everyone involved.
Why a Minimalist Wardrobe Is Good for Our Children and the World
The truth is that offering fewer (better) choices actually gives our children so much more.
Much like ourselves, it allows more space for their imagination to soar, more freedom to evolve authentically on their journey to self-discovery, and more time to simply focus on the present moment; a capsule wardrobe keeps things simple. It’s gentle on the senses, and it brings a sense of practicality to getting dressed as our children go about their most important work of playing to their heart's content.
When you also explore the glaring implications of fast fashion, you begin to uncover so many loose threads that turning back feels impossible. You can never unlearn the things you now know—and it made me even more resolute in creating a simple, ethical, beautiful, practical, and luxuriously soft (because let’s be honest, that’s what our children love most) capsule of essentials that are good for their health and kind to the environment.
Furthermore, because children grow so quickly, capsule pieces can be loved, mended, and then passed on to siblings, cousins, or friends as instant heirlooms that will stand the test of time. I’ve also noticed that fewer choices make getting dressed fun and empowering for my children nearly every day (and who doesn’t want that?). Let’s face it, the 5-year-old can’t go too far wrong when selecting his own clothes from a gorgeous muted palette.
If you’re also journeying on the slow fashion path and want to create a health-focused, stylish, minimalist wardrobe that your wild-hearted little ones will both love and want to wear over and over, here are the things I have learned.
Set Some Intentions
Whether you’re expecting or your kids are a bit older (or both), setting your intentions helps when it comes to creating the perfect capsule wardrobe for your family.
Here are some of mine:
Creating these guidelines has really helped us to stay on track and deviate away from strong consumer cultural norms. It feels like such a great privilege to model to our children how to live in accordance with our powerful inner guidance systems, and a capsule wardrobe feels aligned with everything I believe and want to create in my life. It brings more peace and tranquility to getting dressed each day and feels like the best possible option for our family.
By going through this exercise and getting clear on your intentions, you can do the same!
Lean on the Basics
Children are incredibly practical beings. They have one objective in their precious lives and that is to learn, discover, and play.
Since basics can be mixed and matched with ease, they’ll carry you far (and most children love them). Timeless onesies, playsuits, and rompers are wonderful for growing babies and older children alike as they can be worn all alone with bare feet in the warmth of summer or layered with socks, tights, and a chunky cardigan for cooler weather.
There’s no set guideline for how many items you need in your capsule as it very much depends on your individual child. I like to aim for the minimum number of articles necessary to accommodate all the different types of experiences each child enjoys, such as snoozing away, coloring for hours, exploring the garden, floating like a fairy, or playing in mud puddles.
Aim for a small assortment of the following that are comfortable and can be easily layered:
Consider Your Child’s Unique Style and Personality
In our family, it’s not uncommon for pajamas to be worn throughout the day with work boots or for a favorite cotton dress to be worn for weeks on end, which is why I love considering my children’s unique styles and personalities when I’m curating their capsules. It’s all about choosing the pieces they really love and want to wear constantly—it even helps to get them involved in the selection process and can be a fun activity together.
Take a deep dive to get really specific on what your kids love (and don’t love) the most. Here are some questions you can ask yourself and your children as you’re building their individual capsule collections:
When our children feel comfortable, their confidence soars, and I can see this unfolding each day for both of mine. Take stock of their preferences—I promise they’ll help guide the way.
I like to balance gender-neutral pieces with masculine or feminine styles, include bibs or bandanas to keep clothes stain-free, and have a hat or headband on hand for a bit of flair and protection from the sun or cold when needed.
No matter your family’s personal aesthetic or your babes’ styles, having a selection of soft, timeless, quality essentials that are tailored to their individuality and can be worn frequently throughout the season will make getting dressed a simple, welcomed daily activity.
Larissa Leigh (@livingcolorblog), a minimalist mom, slow fashion enthusiast, and kindred spirit has recently shared the joys of winter capsule wardrobes for her children, along with the benefits of building these capsules around her babe’s unique personalities. She found that this approach not only simplified life and saved energy—it also brought her daughters a feeling of independence and a true sense of agency about their options.
Allow for Growth
One thing’s for sure: these precious moments with our children are fleeting. They grow so quickly! If you’re building a capsule wardrobe for your new baby, you’ll likely need to have one in the 0 to 3 month size range, another at the 4 to 8 month range, and another for the 9 to 12 month range. There may, of course, be exceptions to this, but not that many pieces will cover all three size ranges as your little darling grows.
Each size range will require seasonal considerations, but layering clothes is a great solution, along with adding some swaddles and airy blankets for the cooler months. Older children require fewer shopping intervals, yet they do become more opinionated about garments as they grow, which is good to keep in mind.
My advice is to shop for roomy silhouettes and soft, lightweight fabrics that can accommodate them as they grow and adventure out into the world. That way, you can slowly add in two or three pieces each season as you learn about their preferences and purchase the seasonal essentials they need, such as a new jacket, socks, or the perfect hat.
Go for Soft, Organic, and Non-Toxic Fabrics
I don’t mean to generalize as we’re all so unique, but I have yet to meet one child who likes to wear itchy, scratchy, sub-par clothing that doesn’t suit their lifestyle.
Our little ones have busy lives to lead as they learn to walk, talk, run, jump, and bask in the wonder of childhood, so choose fabrics that are practical and healthy for both them and the environment by prioritizing soft, sustainable, and ethically-made fabrics from sources you trust. Sadly, even labels like “100% cotton” can sometimes have hidden nasties woven into their threads. You can read more about the truth about conventional cotton here; it’s certainly eye-opening.
Instead, opt for soft, cozy fabrics that are made from natural materials and processed in a way that’s kind to our environment, such as OEKO-TEX® and GOTS certified organic cotton*, linen, muslin, or terry cloth. Tumbled cotton and waffle are also dreamy, eco-friendly fabrics that most children adore as they feel light, airy, and easy to wear as they navigate their world. Cardigans made from knit cotton or wool are treasures because they’ll keep your children warm season after season and often become wonderful heirlooms for younger siblings.
*All of our qualifying GOTS-certified products are labelled as such on the individual product pages.
Mix and Match With Coordinating Hues
It’s a miracle: if left totally to their own devices, everything my children pick out for themselves matches effortlessly, inside-out or backwards (more common than you’d think—apparently they prefer some things this way...!). The beautiful thing about a minimalist capsule wardrobe is that you have multiple options that can all be mixed and matched with ease, especially when they all fall within the same color range.
Neutrals and earth-tones are ideal because they’re easy on the senses, pair well together, and are often made with the healthiest non-toxic dyes (or no dye at all). You simply cannot go wrong with muted tones that express your child’s individual spirit and creative styling.
Bold, neon colors are almost always made with synthetic, potentially harmful chemicals that can irritate our children’s skin over time and negatively impact their well-being. What’s more, dyes often end up in our rivers and streams as they’re not always disposed of responsibly. If you can help it, it’s best not to support these types of dyes and overwhelming color tones that aren’t suited for our planet or our children.
Look for garments that carry the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certification in regard to dyes to ensure they’re as health-forward as possible.
Shop Ethical, Slow, and Sustainable
Quality garments often come with a higher price tag because ethical companies use sustainable, lasting fabrics and processes, and work with artisanal partners that consider their environmental and social impact. Furthermore, this means that they normally recognize and reimburse their employees appropriately for the skilled work they perform.
That’s why it’s important to shop slowly. Don’t feel like you need to purchase your capsule all at once—you can build it up over time. As you’re planning, make an agreement with yourself to make purchases with consumerism and the environment in mind.
By becoming incredibly intentional and conscious as you shop and adopting a slow fashion lifestyle, you’re not only creating a wardrobe for today—you’re also voting with your choices on behalf of our planet, and making an ethical, sustainable investment in a quality collection.
With loving care and occasional mending, the pieces you curate can be passed down through the years, and perhaps even multiple generations. The key here again is to slowly shop for well-made garments you can cherish, avoid unnecessary over-washing, and make simple repairs when required. Quality over quantity really is the key.
Personally, I find it makes the most sense to purchase most of all of my capsule items from a single, high-quality, ethical source whose mission resonates with my core values. Tapping a single trusted source makes mixing and matching a whole lot easier—and it minimizes time lost to researching and shopping. It feels especially important to support these small businesses right now.
The Simple Folk Capsule Mission
If you have given it some thought and are looking for a starting place, I’m proud to say that our entire line at The Simple Folk is designed with a capsule wardrobe and minimalist families in mind.
Not only does our whole collection meet the strict OEKO-TEX® standard for safety; all of our organic fabrics are also GOTS certified, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We’ve also rejected traditional retail mark-up to make our garments attainable and to help consumers change their fast fashion habits.
Remember to be patient and kind to yourself. Building a conscious, minimalist wardrobe is a journey like anything else in life: full of learning curves, pivotal moments, and sweet memories with the ones you love.
Embracing a capsule wardrobe has helped our family slow down, simplify, and grow even closer to one another, and has made getting dressed an engaging and positive experience for our whole crew.
]]>So the real question is, how will we live in that world when we get it back? For us, there are certainly hidden gems buried in this unexpected experience that are worth taking with us...and many things that we’re ready to leave behind for good.
Our Favorite Keepers
While all of us at The Simple Folk will literally be dancing in the streets (and nearby forests) when this crisis finally passes, we’d also like to honor the gifts this situation has brought us that we absolutely want to hang onto as this incredible shift in consciousness moves us forward.
Our Top Tossaways
Tough challenges (especially huge worldwide ones!) also bring to light what’s not working for us so we can finally let go. Here are some ways of living we’re very ready to leave behind and not drag into the new tomorrow.
Sometime down the road, a morning will dawn like all other days, except on that day COVID-19 will finally be history. Knowing what to pack as we plan for a more sustainable future—as well as what to throw away forever—should make our reunion with the world brighter than anything we’ve known.
Here is a brilliant, visual story composed by Probably Tomfoolery about the waste and wonderful of our former lives, inspiring us to bring forth a new way of living and being. It so perfectly captures how all of us at The Simple Folk are feeling right now, and how you might be feeling too as you navigate these times with your little ones.
From our family to yours, we’re wishing you safe passage and wellness now and in the days to come.
]]>Furthermore, many families have spent every waking hour together, doing simple, fulfilling things as a unit...like cooking, playing, gardening, and making crafts.
What a time to be alive. We are all able to directly witness the profound results that stem from the collective decision to do and consume less. And, while we aren’t celebrating the reason this decision came about, we cannot help but acknowledge what happens when we take a step back and only do what is essential: our planet and our relationships begin to heal.
So...as we prepare for our world to return to “normal,” we are also recognizing that now is the time to take stock and define what parts of normal we actually want to return to. We can’t unsee once we’ve seen. We can’t unknow what we now know.
For our house and for our planet, it’s clear that less is more...and simple is better...and the relentless, mainstream, modern culture of consumerism has decimating effects that no longer serve us.
So what if, together, we can see this pause as a catalyst for evaluating our deeply held belief systems, especially in regard to challenging our addictions to consuming things we don’t need, things we don’t treasure or value, and things that are not good for us or our planet?
It can be incredibly difficult to make this shift, simply because old habits die hard and because our cultural norms are still both ingrained in us and surrounding us everywhere we look. But if our conviction is strong enough, and we have the support of this like-minded community, we have the wherewithal to inspire and empower one another toward an elevated way of living and being...one that is more congruent with our true desires and more aware, intentional, and ethical about the world we’re creating for ourselves and our children. What a beautiful thing!
Now more than ever, Abi and I are dedicated to furthering our mission of carving out a path for a simpler, more sustainable, and conscious future that values quality over quantity, prioritizes the health and well-being of both those who make and wear our clothes, and chooses earth-friendly practices at each and every turn.
Here’s what we’ve uncovered so far, along with some ideas on how we can all continue to challenge consumerism in our lives.
Waking Up: An Inside Look at Consumer Culture vs. Ethical Fashion
It’s part of our beautiful human nature to create art, meaningful tools, and objects that stimulate our minds and improve our lifestyles.
The problem is when consumerism becomes mindless and automatic, it turns into excess consumption, which rears its ugly head to reveal more pressure, more envy, more financial and emotional stress, less freedom, less generosity, less trust in ourselves, and a truly horrifying mark on our environment.
Mass consumerism's troubling effects run as deep as they do wide, and while the fashion industry isn’t the only one in dire need of an overhaul, it’s our area of expertise, so we’ll start there. Over the last few decades, the production process has accelerated like never before due to globalization, industry competition, and the instant gratification mentality of today’s consumer culture.
You might be shocked to learn the true expense of our collective fast fashion habit. In fact, according to the Global Fashion Agenda in 2017, if the industry doesn’t change, and it’s fashion business as usual, the apparel industry’s climate impact is expected to increase 49% by 2030.1 That alone is jarring. Consider these additionally alarming statistics:
Impact on the environment...
Impact on human beings...
The bottom line is that fast fashion offers consumers an opportunity to buy more clothes for less, but these clothes are often laden with toxins and those who work in or live near textile manufacturing facilities bear a disproportionate burden of social and environmental dysregulation.
If you’re interested in learning more about the sheer impact of fast, disposable fashion on a global scale and the unhealthy, unethical, unsustainable production methods associated with it, the book Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth L. Cline is an excellent resource.
As disturbing as these statistics are, they’re only the tip of the iceberg. We can apply this same logic to all of the other items in our growing collection of things as we’ve inadvertently been trying to keep up with the Joneses over the years. You see, fast fashion is a result of consumerism...a symptom, if you will. The psychology and culture of consumerism is the root issue and its consequences span all industries and drive an ever increasing spiral of craving, consumption, emissions, and depletion of natural resources.
We have no choice but to unsubscribe from the mainstream if we are to change our ways.
Not This: Opting Out of the Culture of Consumerism
Unless we’ve done everything perfectly (and let’s face it, we’re all learning here), we all face that terrible moment in which we realize that we have somehow made a choice that didn’t have a great impact on ourselves, our children, or our planet. Elizabeth Gilbert calls this moment of realization, “not this,” and it’s the perfect way to describe the precursor toward making a conscious shift out of excess consumerism. No, not this.
Personally, I’ve had many of these “not this” moments along the way in regard to many aspects of our lives and our family. For us, traveling and changing our setting often helps us to stay on the edge of our comfort zones. We strive to live with a deep, internal knowing that less, simple, and slower helps us feel lighter, happier, healthier, and more sustainable. It helps us break the routine we once had of buying “stuff” that is low quality, a product of questionable practices, or that we don’t actually need or won’t truly love.
We’re simply becoming conscious of what we have in our lives and keeping things as lean as possible. But you don’t have to make a radical move overseas to become conscious of the consumerism in your life, you can start by asking yourself a few key questions and challenging yourself with honesty and love.
When you are rooted in what you believe and know your decisions do indeed matter, it makes it that much easier to shift into a life with more meaning and joy regardless of what those around you are doing. It’s time to take the lead!
Here are several ways you can take a deep look and intentionally challenge consumerism in your life.
If anything, we’ve proven to ourselves over the last several weeks that the stuff in our closets and cupboards and the things on our calendars are not necessary for us to lead happy and fulfilling lives...in fact, they may very well be our biggest obstacle.
How The Simple Folk Is Leading the Way
Getting clear on our values and opting out of the mass consumer frenzy is truly what led us to start The Simple Folk in the first place—because not only do our children deserve quality garments but the future of fashion (and a sustainable world in general) requires a brand new way of thinking.
Everything we offer from play clothes to luxuriously soft sleepwear is sustainably, ethically crafted with love in small batches from safe, natural, and organic materials. We’ve poured our hearts into creating a game-changing, intentional fashion brand that would serve as an example for how clothing production ought to be.
Abi and I have stayed up many nights, changed directions, shed a few tears, and have otherwise gone to great lengths in considering the environmental and human implications of crafting our collection from where and how our fabrics are sourced and where our clothes are made, to the working environment of the esteemed artisans who make them and even how we price our garments.
The reality is that the finished cost of our items is often more than the retail price of things sold at big box stores—which is why it can be so challenging for many to make the switch. So, Abi and I made the decision early on that in order to impact change on the level we’d like to see, we’d have to reject the traditional clothing markup of 5-6x.
We decided that the only way to entice many consumers to the other side and to enable them to vote for a healthier world with their dollars is to absorb much of the price difference ourselves, which is why we’ve opted to reduce our profit margins and to only mark our items up 3-4x. Yes, we’re bringing radical change through transparency because it matters!
Further, our collection is both OEKO-TEX® and GOTS certified so you can feel assured that the clothes your children are wearing are clean and free of toxins. Read more about our process and commitment to transparency and sustainability; I promise you this, we set the bar as high as possible.
This current crisis is a profound wake-up call—shedding light on just how precious our lives are, what actually matters to us, and how much is really at stake. When this period of isolation ends, we each get to decide if we want to go back to the status quo or if we have the courage to strive for something better. The buck stops here. What’s next for this world is up to all of us.
References:
Between the cleaning, the laundry, connecting with friends over the phone, and snagging a few hours of work here and there, the house is an absolute wreck but the love is more potent than ever before. It takes my breath away to see how well my little ones are thriving right now, both individually and as a little team. I honestly envy them and how grounded, creative, and joyful they seem to be in simply stirring the batter, painting a picture, or organizing rocks during a time when we’re all craving a lot more of these feelings.
Traditionally an advocate of a screen-free childhood (and limited technology in my personal life because I already work in the digital space), I have to admit my sheer amazement at what humanity is able to accomplish with the help of technology lately: almost overnight we’ve shifted education so that children can attend school via tablet or computer, we’re able to see our doctors in real time over our phones, and we can produce food and engage in commerce in new ways. So much is possible and it’s clear that our children are being introduced to technology sooner and more intensely than at any time in history.
That said, massive amounts of screen time are no good for any of us—especially when it comes to developing minds and bodies. Our family has been intentionally stepping away from phones and tablets for a good portion of each day to just hang out and be together. Turns out, absolute presence is the greatest gift we can give our children (as well as ourselves).
If you’re looking for meaningful screen-free activities to keep your family connected at home (and make some incredible memories while you’re at it), here are some ideas that are sure to bring smiles.
Get Lost in the Garden
There is nothing quite like spending hours designing and tending to an outdoor garden, be it big or small. Our family garden has become our happy place: we are able to fully disconnect, be completely immersed in the now, and feel a sense of much needed control and predictability as we plant and nurture new life that will feed and sustain us. My little ones are so invigorated by it that their eating habits have even improved. They understand the food they are eating and they are involved at every step in the process.
If you can’t safely travel to a garden center right now, there’s a huge variety of seeds and seedlings available online to help make your garden a success. Beginners should do well with easy-to-grow veggies like tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, peppers, cucumbers, green beans, and squash (zucchini squash is especially fun for kids because its flowers are edible). And even if you don’t have space for a backyard garden, container pot gardens or microgreens grown on a windowsill make the perfect mini-gardens! It’s a beautiful learning experience and they seem to feel so empowered by nourishing their seedlings and watching them bloom.
As if the gardening journey isn’t enough on its own, the additional prize of growing our own produce and being able to prepare and eat the delicious food that came into being through our loving efforts is deeply rewarding for us all. (And that part of the cycle of nature brings us all back to...the kitchen!).
Kitchen Capers
The kitchen is definitely the heart of my home, and including little ones in kitchen activities makes that warm heart beat even more strongly. Kids love to be a part of food preparation—and when they’re involved with planning and cooking healthy meals, they’re more likely to want to eat all that good food. My oldest can chop and saute, and my youngest can stir, measure (roughly), and pour. Cooking is such a sensory experience too, with all those colors and textures and smells! Which means that letting kids help out in the kitchen is a great developmental experience as well as something that’s purely enjoyable…and gives them such a sense of purpose and contribution.
Just yesterday, my oldest said to me, “we should make a book of our delicious recipes so we can share it with others!” And so, we spent the next hour doing just that. The pride was palpable.
We’ve noticed that when we make it a family affair, the kitchen begins to represent a time of closeness and connection for us all.
Artistic and Scientific Endeavors
From collecting and tracing leaves to making homemade playdough or slime, building your own solar system or erupting volcano, or creating an inspired watercolor painting, collage, or mosaic...many kids naturally gravitate toward projects, and everything you need to get them started is probably already in your house or yard. We’ve been painting designs and faces on sticks and rocks—and even making rock people to play with later. I especially love these three Waldorf-inspired projects, which ignite kids’ creativity and connection with nature:
Song and Rhythm
Music has an almost primal way of connecting us to our inner wild child, and there’s no special skills or training required to bring kids into that joy. From a Spotify family dance session to a sing-a-long or a do-it-yourself marching band, the power of music can be profound for all of us.
Big and small kids alike can also easily master rhythm instruments like blocks, sticks, and bells and they feel such a creative energy when they do it! We had an impromptu drum circle a few days ago with rocks and cans and sticks and balls and I saw a confidence and rhythm in my oldest that I have never seen before...it brought out an aspect of him that truly took my breath away. We’ve had quite the cacophony around here and I am loving every minute of it.
Fantasy Lands
Pretending is child’s play at its best—and once little ones get lost in a fantasy, the hours just seem to disappear. You can also learn a lot from the pretend games that your child chooses to play; it’s absolutely fascinating. A lot of times our children work out their inner struggles through play, and there is a lot they can communicate to us about who they are and where their little minds are if we can really tune in. Play is indeed the language of childhood...and with the unexpected gift of more time on my hands, I am able to join in on the wondrous party more than ever before—the places they take me!
Here are some of our favorite ways to expand our imaginations together:
Honestly, when we give ourselves the space and let go of our productive agenda and simply follow their lead, a whole new (and deeply fulfilling) world opens up where we are able to connect with our children on their terms and in their language and create intimacy and memories that we’ll carry with us throughout our lives.
Just Add Water
I’ve yet to meet a kid who doesn’t love water play. In fact, one of my favorite expressions is “Just add water” because it soothes and invigorates them every. single. time. If you’ve got a pool or a creek on your property, that’s absolute heaven, but there are plenty of simpler water games kids enjoy too. A water hose and a bucket can lead to hours of fun; a pot of water on the kitchen table can become a swimming pool for dolls, action figures, and animals—and pot handles do double duty as diving boards. Take that bowl of water, freeze it for a few hours, and voila...you’ve got a tabletop skating rink for the toys!
For more immersive water play, the bathtub has endless possibilities. It might become a vast ocean, or a dolphin-filled lagoon. And even a stall shower places toys under an imaginary waterfall or rain shower. Oh, water, what a miracle you are!
Old Time Games
Before the Internet (or even television) became a reality, kids made their own fun with all kinds of active and quiet games. We’ve been revisiting the games Grandma and Grandpa loved as kids over these past weeks—and now we know why they loved them. Our kids really got a kick out of:
Exploration and Discovery
We love long family hikes. They allow us to walk away from the screens (literally)—but not everyone has access to the great outdoors these days with social distancing restrictions. And even for those of us who are lucky enough to get outside pretty often, sometimes the weather is too wet or cold to make hiking practical.
Thankfully there are kid-friendly indoor alternatives to ignite that exploration and discovery mode. An indoor scavenger hunt is perfect for a rainy afternoon, and there’s nothing like hiding a “treasure” somewhere at home, drawing an old fashioned map, and sending your kids around the house for a pirate’s treasure hunt.
You’d be surprised at how a child can become enraptured in play with a pair of scissors and a magazine or staring at the moss growing on rocks outside. Discovery is everything and you can join them as they study their world and begin to connect the dots.
Reach Out
This all said, even with so many fun things to do at home, we miss our friends and family and playing together. It’s so important for friends to stay connected, and we’ve been allowing regular screen time for video chats and virtual parties where the younger set can catch up and get silly together.
But there are plenty of screen-free ways to stay in touch with the outside world too. Handwriting letters and drawing pictures to mail to friends and family gets the warm fuzzies going—and it also feels good to hang uplifting signs and pictures in the windows to bring good vibes to anyone who walks or drives by.
For more truly exceptional ideas, check out The Joy Journal for Magical Everyday Play, by Laura Brand. It is everything my mama-heart dreams of.
Just remember that with a little imagination, intention, and preparation, keeping kids learning, growing, and engaged at home without screens can be pretty simple and oh-so-satisfying.
PS: We’ve designed a little something special for you. With these fun paper dolls, you simply print, color, and cut, and play dress up ’til your heart’s content.
]]>And with so much uncertainty looming, our homes can easily feel more like mayhem than the safe sanctuary we desire and cherish.
And let’s be honest, optimal mental health is at the forefront of all of our minds these days. So, what can we turn to—now that the going has gotten tough—for a sense of security, ease, joy, and flow?
Certainty and trust in the rhythm.
That’s right, rhythms provide a form of organization and structure for our days while carrying a sense of fluidity and flexibility. Instead of the outlook feeling monotonous or daunting, there’s a gentle flow of what to expect and what’s coming next. A conscious rhythm or daily cycle can help make life simpler because there’s already an established pattern we can trust.
Honestly, it feels good just thinking about it.
Why Rhythms and Rituals Matter
As I’ve been chatting with friends and deepening my relationships with each of my children, I’m learning that we all need certain anchors throughout the day—specific events or things we do regularly that we can count on. These anchors not only ground and orient us, but they enable us to build in the important things...like healthy eating, exercise, nature, time to ourselves, and dedicated time with those we treasure most. They can be so significant that they even help liberate us and free up the creativity we need in our brains to improve our circumstances.
In Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt Into Fuel for Brilliance, Jonathan Fields eloquently outlines the function of routines and rituals in our lives as being the psychic bedrock upon which we can effectively and consistently ground ourselves in the face of uncertain times.
They provide a sort of calm in this storm that we’re navigating, and while they can be game-changers for us all, they are even more essential as a key component for a stable and secure childhood. I love this explanation from one of my favorite books, Simplicity Parenting by John Payne:
“Meaning hides in repetition: We do this every day or every week because it matters. We are connected by this thing we do together. We matter to one another. In the tapestry of childhood, what stands out is not the splashy, blow-out trip to Disneyland but the common threads that run throughout and repeat: the family dinners, nature walks, reading together at bedtime (with a hot water bottle at our feet on winter evenings), Saturday morning pancakes.”
A study from the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology found that children with strong family routines were less impulsive and more cooperative—and I can understand why. I’d imagine the same is true for us adults...routines support us in a way that makes us feel safe and held.
Furthermore, because children are so inherently present, it’s all the more important that we attune to their needs (along with our own) as we listen to this call to slow down, savor, and create these moments with great care.
Here are a few practical ways to evaluate your daily rhythm and bring a deeper sense of rootedness to these days.
Getting Clear on Your Values
A beautiful place we can begin reflecting on our family’s rhythm is to pause to consider what’s truly important to us as individuals and as a unit. Our core values provide the unseen texture of our family’s universe, and becoming very clear about them can help guide us into a new rhythm that deeply fills our cups and brings a sense of joy and meaning into the everyday.
For example, here are a handful of values that are important to my family and some areas that we love to keep our focus on:
Self-Care
Loving Discipline
Joy
In becoming clear about our values and the areas of our lives that give us the greatest sense of peace, it makes it much easier to take a look at our current rhythms and discern how we can make some adjustments to serve us better.
We can also include our children in this conversation by asking them what they value and what means the most to them. We can get to know them in new ways through this practice and learn to love each other better than ever before. If we’ve learned anything during this time, it’s that our choices matter and affect the ones that we love in profound ways.
Outlining a New Daily Rhythm
There’s a reason we feel so calm when we listen to sounds of the ocean or tune into our breath: it’s a pattern, an unmistakable rhythm that allows us to be still and know. I love the way a steady rhythm punctuates family life yet allows lots of space and freedom to allow for growth and change.
When we start getting clear about our family and personal values, we can begin to look at our current family rhythms and become aware of how we can make simple shifts in the routine to be more aligned with trust, ease, and flow.
For example, our current daily rhythm looks something like this:
Our current evening rhythm looks something like:
Whether you have just one infant or a multitude of children running around, it's the little, seemingly insignificant things that help us all feel grounded and keep us moving through life. In a time when it’s very tempting to stay in our pajamas around the clock (hey, no judgment), creating the space to simply get dressed each day creates that glimmer of a normal, consistent routine in sync with the nature of time (our kids are particularly loving these high-comfort play clothes that are really more like daytime pjs).
As we experiment with our family dynamics and rhythms, it's easier to notice where we can allow more space and less tension. We’re letting it be a time when we can all focus on how to love and enjoy each other more.
If It’s Not Important, Let It Go.
Even if we have everything in its place and a beautiful routine, if something is stirring up tension in the house or creating a lot of anxiety for us or our children, it’s important to let ourselves off the hook, and let it go.
Expect that there will be challenges; this life is the real curriculum and we can learn from the tough moments. Know that they are coming. It’s the occasional turbulence that allows us to practice our muscle flexibility. And since the only constant is change, this too can be seen as a certainty anchor for us to remember that we are all always learning, evolving, and growing. The objective is a loose rhythm that lovingly guides and grounds us toward deeper connection with ourselves and with one another, as opposed to a rigid schedule that disconnects us from the heart of the moment.
Being mindful of these simple, daily rhythms can create a sense of flow and ease for everyone, along with a sense of normalcy we all so desperately crave during these unprecedented times.
So whether it’s lighting a candle before dinner, having taco Tuesday, getting dressed in the AM, or rolling up your yoga mat after your practice, filling your days with things you can count on can add both comfort and meaning and may very well ensure that these days are remembered as the best of our lives.
]]>Now more than ever, acts of kindness and empathy are the healing balms we all crave, and the thing we need to remember is that each of us, no matter how we’ve been affected, still has the power to spread that medicine...at least in some small way.
If you’re wondering what you can do to restore a sense of caring, connection, and hope right now, we’ve put together some ideas that we hope will empower you to let your uniquely beautiful light shine.
Call Your Parents and Grandparents
It’s painful not to be able to visit your older relatives (or anyone else!) right now—and your parents or grandparents may be feeling even more lonely and trapped than you are. While you may not be able to share a warm embrace with loved ones, reaching out with a call to see how they’re doing and to let them know you’re okay can warm their souls across the miles.
Can you come up with a funny story to make Grandpa laugh? Or share something that will distract Mom or Dad to create a sense of normalcy? Picking up the phone may not seem like much, but your call could be the best part of your loved one’s day today, and the thing that helps her stay strong for tomorrow.
Check in on Friends and Neighbors
Travel restrictions and trying to stay six feet away from every other human being definitely puts a damper on community spirit. Restore that connection by checking in regularly to see how your neighbors and friends are doing. Even a simple text message asking if someone is all right or if they need anything will make someone you care about feel so much less alone.
Ready to take things further? How about scheduling a virtual luncheon or block party online over Zoom or Skype? For both us and our children, being able to see the faces of people you care about in real time and sharing in friendly conversation brings a powerful sense of togetherness and optimism.
Grocery Shop for Elders and the Immunocompromised
Older people and those who have underlying health conditions may not be able to safely shop for groceries, medicines, and other essentials they need right now. If you can still make regular trips to the supermarket or pharmacy, shopping for those more at risk can be literally lifesaving.
To protect yourself and others, it makes sense to wear gloves while you’re at the store, and to let the people you’re shopping for know that you’ll be leaving packages at their door rather than coming in close contact to hand groceries over.
Can’t get to the store yourself either? You can still help! There are likely a number of grocery, produce, and meal delivery options in your area that your older friends or those with health challenges may not be aware of or know how to access. You can research these services for them, and help a homebound friend set up door-to-door delivery so they can feel safe and secure.
Buy Gift Cards from Local Small Businesses
With social distancing becoming the new norm, small businesses are really suffering. Buying gift cards from your favorite neighborhood cafes, restaurants, and shops is like giving them a no-interest loan when they need it most. Give the cards you purchase as gifts, or keep them for yourself to enjoy when times are better. Either way you’ll know you’re doing your part to help small businesses stay afloat.
Stay Home Whenever Possible
The more we all stay home and don’t come into close contact with others, the sooner life can hopefully start to get back to normal. For Abi and I, we’re choosing to focus on nurturing our bonds with our children and immediate family. We’re playing more games, getting creative in our daily activities, and having long, thoughtful conversations we may not have made time for in the past.
Even if you’re young, healthy, and don’t feel personally at risk, it’s crucial to practice social distancing to protect others who are more vulnerable. Staying at home during this crisis isn’t only about self-preservation—it’s a heroic act of self sacrifice that could save untold lives.
Support Local and National Organizations
If you’re fortunate enough to have some spare funds during this time, there are countless organizations working hard to make a real difference—and they could really use your help. Here are a few of our favorites:
Residents of developing nations may face an even greater threat from COVID-19 than most of the world, due to their limited resources and lack of sufficient medical facilities. As part of The Simple Folk family, know you’re already lending a helping hand where it counts.
The Simple Folk stands shoulder to shoulder with the Change for Women collective, a legion of creative leaders spanning multiple industries propelled into action and standing together with one simple quest: to make a difference in the world by supporting health, human rights, and equality for women and girls everywhere.
Practice Self Care
There’s a reason you’re always instructed to put on your own oxygen mask first when flying. If you’re running on empty, you’re in no position to help anyone else. So during these challenging times, remember to be kind to yourself and recharge your batteries. Go for a walk alone in nature, listen to soothing music, meditate, journal, dance, or take an online exercise class. Prioritize whatever makes you feel healthy, whole, grounded, clear, and relaxed.
And while you’re at it, take the time to reflect on what parts of normal you’d like to return to. If we can use this global pause to collectively envision a better life on the other side of it all, we will be able to rise up as individuals, communities, and as a planet and rebuild in a way that is more congruent with our deepest selves. Together, we can redefine and upgrade our sense of normalcy.
In short, taking optimal care of yourself mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually while connecting more deeply with those you love will enable you to give back and support those around you. And when you do that small, good thing, don’t be surprised if you find yourself feeling stronger, more connected, and more hopeful too.
Wishing you and your family kindness, love, and good health.
]]>Nearly two years ago, after having enough of fast fashion and its impact on our planet and well-being, Abi and I set out to go against the odds and start our own line of childrenswear.
The journey has been treacherous, invigorating, eye opening, and uplifting. We get asked nearly every day what it’s like—as women and mothers—to take on this grandiose mission of changing an industry (and the consumer shopping habits that go with it).
For Abi and I, who are both novices to the world of fashion, bringing a collection to fruition is often a long and winding path that starts with a whole lot of heart and pure, creative inspiration. From there, it then twists and turns with both beautiful and gut-wrenching lessons, a plethora of “ah-ha” moments, and some downright exhilarating adventures. In many cases, we never know if we’ll get that item “just right” and if it will see the light of day until the final hour.
So, while we’re currently putting the final touches on our Spring Summer 2020 (SS2020) collection, we thought now is as good a time as any to pull back the veil and let you all in on what it actually takes, behind the scenes, to design and ethically and sustainably produce what we are sure is the world’s softest line of children’s clothes.
How do you ensure your production is above reproach and is indeed leading the fashion revolution?
For starters, I live in Portugal, where making clothing is an esteemed artisan profession that has been in many families for generations. Those who cut, sew, and dye our garments are incredibly skilled and enjoy many benefits associated with their career…from long lunches and private health care to a tight knit community feeling and an incredible amount of pride in the individual pieces they make.
Our facility is GOTS* and OEKO-TEX® certified and runs on green energy, recycles their own well water, and uses power generated by solar panels. It’s such an uplifting place. We visit often and work closely together to bring our dreams to fruition. We are very hands-on every step of the way, and feel fortunate to have found partners who feel more like family.
We are so committed to changing the fashion industry that we made the decision internally to reject the traditional clothing markup of 5-6x.
Making small batch, artisan items in an ethical and sustainable way means that our cost of a finished garment is often higher than the retail price of clothing at big box stores. This represents a substantial price difference to the consumer, making it harder for them to jump ship on their fast fashion purchasing habits.
We decided that the only way to entice many consumers to the other side and to impact change on the level we’d like to see is to absorb much of the price difference ourselves. So we’ve opted to reduce our profit margins and to only mark our items up 3-4x.
So, as part of a multifaceted approach, we are heavily focused on educating consumers on who made their clothes, how they made them, what materials and processes they were made with, and why it matters. Our content regularly emphasizes that less is more while sharing insight on simplifying and minimalism; facts on consumerism, pollution, and landfills; and tips on how to mend and upcycle our clothes.
Armed with knowledge and better alternatives, we believe we can come together as parents to vote with our dollars and to prioritize the health and well-being of our planet and its inhabitants.
*SIMÃO & OLGANDO SA, certified by ECOCERT GREENLIFE SAS, license number 00272632.
What inspired the SS2020 collection?
This is the first season where we felt we had successfully laid the foundation as a brand (with many basics already available) and were able to focus on pieces we’d been dreaming about for many moons. With nature and our children’s outdoor play as our muse, we chose muted tones and earthy shades and also focused on sourcing a few new key fabrics like our tumbled cotton and terry cloth.
We have also been able to listen to feedback from our community (seriously one of our favorite privileges) and respond to what they would love to see us make. All of our dyes are OEKO-TEX® certified, meaning they’re free from any harmful substances, but we also now offer new (and much requested), undyed garments that contain zero dye and are simply the natural and unaltered color of the raw fabric—like you see on one of our new incredibly soft styles for babies, The Ribbed Kimono.
Another focus going into this collection was extending our sizes on some of our rompers and bloomers for older kids. They are such fun and practical pieces, and so fitting for the spring and summer seasons, but many of the sizes ended at 24 months. As our kids got older, we found they still wanted to wear these timeless pieces so we initially extended the sizing to 3 years, and then pushed even further to create sizes for bigger kids (up to 7 years!).
We’ve always taken a non-conforming stance by making our playsuits in bigger sizes, so adding in the big sizes on the rompers and bloomers made a lot of sense. We want kids to feel free to play and romp around (plus, look incredibly stylish), and that shouldn’t have to stop when they get to a certain age.
How long did the SS2020 collection take to develop?
As with every collection, our brainstorming begins a couple years before launch with a Pinterest board detailing our inspiration on colors, style, and overall aesthetic (and a whole lot of messaging back and forth between Abi and I). Many of the fabrics and colors have been in the works for over a year, but we really started finalizing the designs and styles in the last ten or so months.
We’ve been able to reintroduce some of our previous and most popular styles in new fabrics, like The Terry Boxy Tee and The Terry Long John. Our brand new styles often involve lots of alterations during the development process and sometimes we need several rounds of the tiniest adjustments before we approve a prototype, as the fit is incredibly important to us—and every little detail has to be right. We are exceptionally manual and hands-on in the design and creation process as we would rather a garment takes longer but be perfect, than to rush through something we aren’t 100% in love with.
What specific steps go into creating a collection?
What lessons did you learn from the first two collections that you were able to carry over to this collection?
So many things! It hasn’t always been easy and we don’t often do things the way other brands do, but we’ve figured out what works best for us. One example is getting our colors right—we are so very particular with our colors and have to make sure that each one is exactly the right shade (who knew a sand color could be slightly too yellow?). We figured out that Pantone references—what most brands use for color references—are not specific enough for us, so we have to find a color swatch exactly matching our vision. Sometimes this means cutting the lining out of one of our coats or giving up our handbag to get just the right match!
Our linen fabric has also taken a long time to perfect. We always look for the softest fabrics, and for our first Spring Summer collection we couldn’t find a 100% linen that was soft, but also light and airy enough for play and movement. For SS2020, we finally found the right one! It’s 100% linen, GOTS certified organic, and remarkably soft. We loved it so much, we’re introducing some really beautiful new linen pieces, like The Frill Linen Top and The Frill Linen Shorts. They go beautifully together, but they can also be mixed up with some of our other classic styles, like our Wilder Tank or Linen Trouser.
What have been some of the obstacles you’ve encountered while developing this collection?
Our biggest obstacle was finding the tumbled cotton fabric. We knew what we wanted—it’s this really light and soft (always soft!) summery fabric that makes a slight, rustling noise when you move it around. But when we explained it to our factory, they said it wasn’t possible to source this type of fabric and have it be natural and soft, and that it would have to be made from nylon. That goes against everything we stand for, so we kept looking for what we wanted. Eventually, we found a cotton fabric woven in a particular way to create the “paper touch finish” but even then the fabric sample we saw wasn’t quite right because it was too thin. It was completely by chance that we received some prototypes labeled “wrong” fabric and it turned out that they weren’t wrong at all. We had to call the factory to let them know that the “wrong” fabric was actually perfect! Most use a chemical process to achieve this texture but we stuck to our guns and found exactly what we’d envisioned at the end of the day.
We have such a specific sense of aesthetics that there can be quite a lot of back-and-forth to get things right. But that sense is actually what keeps us going—we put so much love into our collection and we know in our minds it’s going to be amazing, and it just takes a little patience, a lot of communication, and sometimes even a few tears to get there.
What are some of your favorite pieces in this new collection?
There are so many to choose from but The Sage Dress is just so beautiful—it really is one of those styles we wish we made for adults, too. The inspiration came from Abi’s daughter, Sage, who likes to be a bit of a tomboy and roll around in the mud. Abi wanted a dress that she’d be comfortable playing in so we made it looser, in a longer comfortable length, and with little pockets she could put things in. We saw the first prototype and just made a couple of adjustments—moving up the empire line slightly, moving down the pockets, adjusting the length of the ruffle on the sleeve—and by the second prototype it was exactly the way it should be. The Sage Dress is a good example of a garment that we really willed into existence because our desire to create it was so strong!
Among others, we are also introducing The Daily Playsuit, a terry cloth basic that is truly essential for summer days, and a few key pieces in our beloved vintage light denim fabric that is both beautiful and practical.
How do you balance being moms of young children and running a very hands-on, creative business?
It can absolutely be tricky to find balance when we’re honing our vision for a new collection, juggling meetings, reviewing prototypes, and visiting the factory, all with our kids in tow. But it’s also pretty perfect that they’re part of every step of our journey because they are our ultimate inspiration, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We set out to develop a line of childrenswear that was not only ultra-soft, non-toxic, ethical, and sustainable, but that also gave us the peace of mind knowing that our children can play, explore, and adventure to their hearts’ content in ultimate comfort and health. And with new, dreamy styles and more GOTS certified organic fabrics than ever before, we couldn’t be more enthusiastic for and proud of what’s to come!
So when we’re feeling overwhelmed, dealing with possible delays, or reviewing the tenth prototype of a new style that still isn’t quite right, we can look at our kids and know that it’s all worth it.
We are leading the way toward a more conscious future that values quality over quantity, prioritizes the health and well-being of both those who make and wear our clothes, and chooses earth-friendly practices at each and every turn. This is the legacy we want to pass on to our children, so yes, it’s worth every single minute of it.
]]>We're honored to share the following guest post; an original piece written by Jessica Goodall.
On my journey of minimalism, I have discovered a myriad of creative and sustainable ways of living. Often misunderstood by critics, minimalism is not about owning a particular number of items or eliminating joy. It is about simplicity, intentionality, and responsibility. It is about questioning everything and choosing meaning. And now, for me, it is about mending.
As a young girl, my mother taught me the value of investing in quality, using things gently, making do when possible, and repairing or repurposing rather than tossing. This mindset is often reserved for those forced by circumstance to live sustainably, but with increased opportunity we must remember the value of living slowly and mindfully. In a sense, we must create artificial limitations based in ethics.
While the age of convenience may present an illusion of abundance, the reality is that we can no longer afford to ignore the detrimental effects of our disposable culture. Our world is hurting, and through the practice of mending we can begin to heal the planet, inspire our creativity, and empower the makers.
By consuming and eventually mending high-quality, ethically-made goods, we are building a culture of integrity rather than greed; we are supporting creative and sustainable solutions rather than forcefully delegating our problems; and we are fueling our human need to innovate, to make, to survive.
While I fully believe in the concepts of minimalism (and have sometimes dreamt of my possessions going up in flames so not a thing could weigh me down), there are times I am concerned with the extreme devaluing of physical objects. To me, one of the most beautiful aspects of humanity is our creativity and craftsmanship, and our ability to tell a story through both aesthetic and utilitarian objects.
Of course, not all minimalists devalue objects to the point of asceticism. In fact, most find that decluttering allows them to more fully appreciate the objects that resonate with them. When everything you own has a purpose and inspires joy—even the most functional among them—I believe it creates a connection between maker and consumer. And when we use these objects well, when we love them enough to mend the wear, we are merging the story of maker and consumer and eliminating toxic waste and exploitation in the process.
To better understand the impacts of the clothing industry specifically and the importance of slow fashion, I encourage you to check out the following resources:
The reality of the clothing industry is undoubtedly depressing, but remember that the tiniest of positive actions become gloriously ginormous snowballs.
Another misconception about minimalists is that we are immune to the collection and hoarding of goods. Like so many, I enjoy the anticipation of acquiring things, but I have also become anxious about the process of shopping now that I am aware of the psychological, social, and environmental impacts of mindless consumption.
By giving myself a set of ethical shopping guidelines, I am not only able to reduce my anxiety around consumption, but I am also able to empower the makers, fuel my creativity, generate a lighter footprint, and tell a story. Quite simply, my commitment to minimalism allows for more conscious consumerism and vice versa.
With the focus of clothing in mind, here are 5 ideas for improving your own impact:
What is the story behind your most lovingly worn piece of clothing?
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About the author: A nomad at heart from the Pacific Northwest, Jessica seeks to to empower others on their conscious and creative path. Her site, Goodall Creative, is a space focused on contemporary art for the good of all—a reflection of her desire to cultivate and inspire a lifestyle rooted in purposeful exploration and expression.
]]>After all, do we really need more stuff? Statistics show that we consume twice as many material goods than the average American did 50 years ago, and wow, does that all add up! The average U.S. home contains nearly 300,000 items, and 54% of Americans are feeling absolutely overwhelmed by all their clutter. Researchers have even found connections between clutter in the home and stress, depression, and the breakdown of precious family traditions.
And toys from well-meaning gift givers, so ubiquitous during the holidays, are no exception. Although kids usually only play with a select few favorites, they often have hundreds of toys at their disposal—leading to the same stress, overwhelm, and distraction that we as adults also feel when we’re around all that clutter. Thankfully, research now shows that it’s more about quality than quantity, and that fewer toys—preferably ones that are simple, natural, non-toxic, and open-ended—are far better for kids’ development and creativity.
What children really want and need, though, is our undivided time and attention, not more stuff. And it’s a very good thing, because shared family time has been linked to many benefits, including an increased sense of security and identity, improved self-confidence, stronger family bonds, less behavioral issues, and better communication skills. It’s clear that spending time together truly is the best gift we can give our kids (not to mention ourselves).
So, where do we go from here? The more I reflect on how we want to spend the holidays this year, the more I’ve come to realize that it’s quality time, not things, that our souls crave. As complex and wondrous beings, we’re wired for community, meaningful connection, and presence...not presents. And as fun as it can be to get a mound of new things, we’ve decided that since it doesn’t satisfy the depths of who we are, can distract us from what matters most, and it isn’t typically an earth-friendly event, we will instead mindfully prioritize experiences with those we love this season.
Fortunately, the opportunities are endless when it comes to finding experiences to enjoy with those who matter most, and it doesn’t even have to cost money. We'll be spending this coming Black Friday weekend on nature walks, snuggling up close by the fire, putting up our tree, and making homemade goodies for those we love. And we won't spend a dime!
Even more, if you want to give gifts, you can gift time together doing something special to those you’d usually give “stuff” to instead—you’ll not only be saving them from more clutter, but research says that experiences make people happier than material possessions, so you’ll be spreading joy and helping to create memories that can last a lifetime.
If you’re not sure where to start, here are some of my favorite giftable experiences:
We’ve taken it a step further at our house, and also asked our friends and family members if they would consider joining us on our journey toward more meaningful living and choose to gift our children with memorable moments together that will truly be treasured for a lifetime as opposed to things they do not need.
One thing is for sure, we are very much looking forward to waking up on Christmas day with our focus on one another this year, not what’s under the tree.
What are your favorite non-conventional gifts? Share with us on Instagram!
]]>Anticipating all that celebration fills the air with excitement and possibility...it’s almost like being a kid again, myself!
But all too often, we can find ourselves frantically striving to get everything just right, dampening that childlike exuberance and sucking the joy right out of the season. Given the typical rush of shopping, consuming, cleaning, and preparing, the whole focus of the holidays has become clouded, making it all but impossible to be truly present with the ones who matter most to us.
That’s why we’re decidedly taking back the holidays, opting out of all that chaotic, unhealthy frenzy, and creating our own new traditions.
After all, if I had to boil the holidays down to their essence, all that would remain is the simplicity of sharing sweet moments with loved ones and feeling eternally lucky for the magic we get to experience in this life together. The wonder, the joy, the feeling of oneness with all of humankind, and deep, permeating gratitude—this is what the holidays are all about.
Once we were reminded of this simplistic and joy-giving purpose, we knew in our hearts that there’s really not all that much to do other than bask in those irreplaceable memorable moments together. So I’ve made a list (and checked it twice) of 35 family-based holiday experiences and traditions that focus less on “stuff” and “to-do’s” and more on what really matters: slowing down, being present, and connecting with those we love most.
For my family, I’ve decided that the best way to ensure we remain intentional throughout the season is with an advent calendar. What I do is pick my favorite 24 items and write them on a piece of paper designated for a day between December 1st and 24th. Each morning, we wake up and see what it’s store for us that day. The anticipation may indeed be the best part as we all get so excited to see what fun awaits us, and it has really done the trick in reminding us daily to make space for what matters most in life...savoring our precious moments together.
Regardless of your traditions and how you incorporate them, one thing is certain—all that really matters is connecting with those we love.
What are some of your family’s traditions for savoring the season? I’d love to know!
]]>Slow living has a way of trickling into every possible surface of your life, and that was certainly the case with parenting. The biggest shift was in our decision to homeschool—to opt out of the hamster wheel of modern education.
Our days were transformed: slow, quiet mornings at home with banana pancakes on the stove. Chinese lessons twice a week. Afternoon playdates, or “field trips” to the grocery, library, botanical gardens, post office. My husband teaching math at the countertop, along with a smattering of all else: why an amplifier works, the science of magnets, how to hammer a 2×4. In between, we find our daughter reading on the living room floor, building obstacle courses in the sunroom, scrawling ‘Save the Tigers’ posters to hang throughout the neighborhood. There’s frog hunting and Hamilton choreography and sock folding, sometimes all in the same stretch of minutes.
It’s a lovely song indeed, offbeat and our own. Slow living has offered us much togetherness, and while it’s not easy, it is indeed simple.
2. You talk in your book about stripping away the excess, which can be hard in a world so focused on always acquiring more. What was your first step in simplifying and paring down? What advice do you have for others looking to do the same?
After the 2008 financial crisis, my husband and I fought hard to carve out a life with little-to-no overhead. We budgeted only for needs, not wants. We spent weekends and evenings building separate freelance portfolios, quitting our weekday 9-to-5s once we’d created sustainable demand for our work. We ate peanut butter sandwiches for dinner and called it lovely. We moved to an area where purchasing a home in cash was possible, even probable, where we could live a flexible life that wasn’t dictated or constrained by finances. I quit shopping for sport. We gave generously. We simplified in every area possible, and yes, there was a trade-off (there is always a trade-off). It was ever worth it.
My advice is to simply take one step: start small. Experiment. Ask yourself what area of your life brings the most stress, currently? Get specific. What stumbling blocks are ahead? Move them, or move around them. My girlfriend dreads picking up the dry cleaning, so she now keeps a strict No Dry Clean Only clothing policy in her home. Another friend despises her inbox, so she rewards herself with a Skittle for every email answered. Infuse tiny joys into your day in whatever way you can. You have far more power over this than you think.
3. Several times in your book you made bold choices to live in a simpler, more present way and then slowly (no pun intended) found yourself back in the daily grind of old habits (some fueled by genuine inspiration). I myself struggle with this and am curious how you manage to keep yourself in check and on a path that is congruent with your deepest desires?
Self-forgiveness (and others-forgiveness) is a pretty integral practice over here. Chances are, if you are reading this, you’re noticing a bit of a chasm between the life you lead and the life you want to lead, and here’s a secret: we all have this chasm! We all have this gap. We are each conditioned to want something different than what we have been given.
The trick, then, is to notice the chasm. Live with the tension. Cozy up in the space between; get comfortable with the discomfort. Once you’ve noticed the chasm, you’re well on your way to the good work: figuring out what it means to live a life that’s ripe with limitations and riddled with lessons, but resounding in love.
Here’s the truth: so many of us need to live a fast life to understand why we need to live a slower one. We need to chase the wrong things to learn the hard lessons the hard way. The failing nearly always comes before the learning, and sometimes, yes, even after the learning. It is an impossible step to skip. We have to allow it. To learn from it, and re-learn from it again and again.
This is life, in all its glory. I refuse to wish it away hoping for days void of failure.
4. As a bestselling author and renowned writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and designer, how do you practice digital minimalism without losing touch?
I actually have my mother-in-law to thank for my approach to digital minimalism. Whenever she calls with a topic that requires more than a quick response, she always, always asks the following question: Is this a good time?
It’s a question of kindness, a clear sign of respect for someone’s time, and it’s a courtesy I’ve learned to offer myself.
Before I check Instagram, is this a good time?
Before I sit down to work, is this a good time?
Before I fire off an email, is this a good time?
Am I in a proper state of mind to receive good news, or bad news, or something in between? Is this a good time for me to exercise self control, to weed out the sales and offers and enticements landing in my inbox? Is this a good time for me to respond to a seemingly aggressive comment with grace and curiosity? Is this a good time for me to react to what is required of me in a way that reflects character and judgment?
This single question has never steered me wrong.
6. You’ve founded an international homeschool co-op called Other Goose. Can you explain how it works and what led you to start it?
Yes, of course! Other Goose was born, quite simply, out of my own need. After traveling the world and searching for an all-inclusive classroom that valued play, freedom, and structure, I discovered the solution in my own (literal) backyard: homeschooling.
But when the time came to choose a homeschooling plan for my kids under 7, the search wasn’t so simple. Where was the methodology that valued all philosophies of learning? Where was the boxed curriculum that didn’t box out the parent? Where was the simple strategy that held space for open-ended discovery?
Other Goose was formed from these questions. Together with a team of thought-leaders, childhood development experts, research scholars, and environmentalists, Other Goose is proud to welcome all little learners and their families.
Members receive prep-free lessons customized for their unique kids ages 2-7, daily progress logs, custom tools to uncover their kids' individual passions, built-in support and mentorship, integrated notebooks to journal milestones, plus perks, discounts, and exclusive sales from our marketplace partners. It’s quite a robust plan, actually! It’s everything I ever wanted in a homeschooling experience.
]]>In fact, the surprising thing is that the more vast that sea of toys grows, the more bored, anxious, and easily distracted kids seem to become...and downsizing that massive toy collection could be one of the best gifts you can give to your little ones.
What Happens When You Embrace a Minimalist Approach to Toys?
A recent study from the University of Toledo took a serious look at how kids’ play was affected when they had many toys to play with as opposed to just a few. In the study, 36 toddlers between the ages of 18 and 30 months were observed in individual free play sessions, in a room with either 16 toys to choose from, or only four. It turned out the kids given 16 toys exhibited a lower quality of play than those with fewer toys. But the children with only four toys to play with engaged in much deeper, healthier play showing greater imagination, more creativity and sophistication, longer sustained focus, and greater interaction with the toys. They also used them in more varied ways.1
The type of in depth play demonstrated here encourages kids to blossom in key areas including cognitive development, imagination, attention span, self-expression, problem solving, and even fine motor skills. And the added benefit of a tidier home that isn’t overrun with toy clutter keeps everyone feeling calmer and more centered.
On the other hand, the kids given 16 toys became distracted, moving from one toy to the next without fully exploring any single one for an extended period. The bottom line is that young children are easily overstimulated when surrounded with too many toys, causing them not to interact as deeply with any of them. And, that deep, meaningful, inquisitive interaction is really what we all yearn for, right?
I see this in my own boys. We can have endless fun with one really special pine cone (giving him a moss beard, making him a hat, transporting him from place to place, throwing a pine cone party, etc...) yet a playroom full of bright, shiny toys often leads to overstimulation, distraction, and a meltdown.
We’ve personally found that simple, non-toxic, sustainable, and high quality rubber and wooden toys made with neutral tones give our children exactly what they need for open-ended, free, grounded, and joyous play. A few wooden blocks can be anything you can imagine them to be whereas a cement mixer, well, it’s always a cement mixer. We’ve also found that when in nature, toys are not even needed as there are rocks to collect, flower crowns to weave, chickens to cuddle, and trees to climb.
How to Reel It In
If you’re feeling ready to simplify your child’s toy chest but not sure where to begin, here’s where I started: by taking a fresh look at each item in my child’s toy collection and asking myself three basic questions:
• Does my child genuinely like playing with this?
• Is this something that inspires his imagination to soar to great heights?
• Is this toy made of safe, natural materials?
With these three questions, our own transformation toward minimalism began. We feel much more rooted and resourceful as a family and our lives are more congruent with our values. We prioritize experiences and shared moments as opposed to material possessions.
We are also aware of the environmental impact of our choices and so our children are eager to make decisions that are healthy for us and our planet. And, since our little ones aren’t overwhelmed with too many options, they are free to relax into the deep, wholehearted play that brings out their full creativity, brilliance, and unique potential.
This experience has been profound for us on many levels. It reinforced our belief that minimal is magical and that imagination soars best on a blank canvas. It fueled our inspiration to create a line of simple, OEKO-TEX® and GOTS certified, high-comfort, pattern-free play clothes that don’t clutter or barrage the senses and allow space for the journey of self-discovery to evolve organically and authentically.
References:
1. Dauch, C., Imwalle, M., Ocasio, B., & Metz, A. E. (2018). The influence of the number of toys in the environment on toddlers’ play. Infant Behavior and Development, 50, 78-87. doi:10.1016/j.infbeh.2017.11.005
]]>When you are pregnant a lot of people give you advice. It was this piece of advice that I was especially appreciative of. You see, my water broke at 27 ½ weeks while we were vacationing in the Caribbean and our plans for an undisturbed home birth went gushing out with it.
As our babymoon turned into a lunar eclipse, I urgently grasped for information. We didn’t have a plan B and I had no idea how much time I had to create one.
Little did I know, my friend’s words would become the rudder that allowed us to successfully navigate our way through the dark times ahead - because exactly 2 weeks later, at 29 ½ weeks, my breech baby was born via an emergency Cesarean.
He was whisked away by the NICU team and I was rolled into the recovery room where I spent what seemed like forever alone with my deepest fears, thoughts and emotions. Would our son survive? Would the trauma of an early birth negatively impact the rest of his life? What does the journey ahead look like? When can I hold him? He needs to be with his mom.
That’s when I remembered my friend’s advice. “They will tell you to rest and recover,” she had said. “But, no matter what, start hand-expressing within an hour or two after birth to tell your body to make milk.”
Right. I have to pull myself together. I have to focus. He needs me. We can do this.
I knew breastfeeding would be a central part of my son’s early life because breast milk is essential to the formation of a strong, healthy immune system. In fact, I knew this more than most because of my work investigating and developing probiotics.
You see, breast milk is full of vital bacteria whose benefits extend far beyond the superior nutrition it provides. Probiotics literally lay the foundation of a healthy gut that will serve a baby throughout his or her life. And, babies get the beneficial bacteria they need from two places: the birth canal and their mother’s milk. We had already bypassed my first opportunity to seed my son’s microbiome and I wasn’t about to let the second one pass us by without a fight. The stakes were high because the consequences of a damaged microbiome in a baby’s first days can have lifelong, negative effects.
Here are just a few examples.
• A 2015 study published in Trends in Molecular Medicine found that the infant microbiome plays a key role in immune and metabolic health and that it’s development can be negatively affected by C-section, perinatal antibiotics, and formula feeding. In fact, babies who are given both formula and breast milk have a subpar microbial makeup that resembles that of babies who are only given formula.
• A study published in Science Magazine in 2015 by Katie Hinde and Zachary T. Lewis found that breast milk is filled with hundreds of beneficial bacteria that get to work colonizing your baby’s individual gut flora which will become the foundation for his or her immune function (80% of immune system cells reside in the GI tract).
I knew the miraculous powers of a mother’s milk and how critical it was that I pass my bacteria on to him. I knew it in my head, like a walking encyclopedia, but it was time to feel it in my bones.
They say birth is a right of passage into mamahood. For me, this was the defining moment. My baby needs my milk and there is something I can do about it.
I began massaging my breasts with a renewed sense of purpose. In those first few days, I would hand-express every two hours, sometimes for as long as an hour. My husband would collect the tiny drops of colostrum (aka liquid gold) with a syringe and then we’d proudly deliver our .4ml to the NICU.
The days before my milk came in were trying, to say the least. It was painful and often felt fruitless. We were physically and emotionally exhausted and I was recovering from major surgery -- but it was worth it. In the end there is nothing like the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’ve done everything possible to ensure the health of your child.
With my mama bear hormones in full swing, I fixated on the elements I could control. I ate well and took targeted probiotic supplements to supercharge my milk. And I expressed with a vigor I hadn’t previously known. My son got the essential ingredients to a healthy start and I never had to consider supplementation due to a low milk supply.
There were other challenges along the way. During our 64 day NICU stay, he learned to suckle, how to coordinate swallowing with breathing and how to move from bottle and tube feedings to the breast. And you know what else? He never got sick.
The odds of having an exclusively breast fed baby after such premature birth are extremely low. And there were multiple times when I was sure we were losing the fight. But what kept me going, what kept me pumping through the night and what kept me offering my breast to my son (even when he preferred the bottle), was knowing how essential my milk was for his tiny microbiome.
If you have overcome the pitfalls of modern parenting and breastfeeding, want to feel more supported in your own journey, or simply want to empower future mothers, we want to hear your story. Join us on Instagram this month as we share our experiences and work to inspire real change with our #EmpoweredNursing campaign.
Originally published on Breastfeeding Today.
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Already, my professional work is completely independent of geography: we live a slow life on a farm in the countryside where we grow our own food and hike every day, yet we are also connected via Skype, Whatsapp, Slack, Gmail, and Trello to some 40+ other professionals across the globe who we synergistically work with to create, manufacture, test, and distribute tangible products that inspire and improve the lives of others.
As humans, we now all have access to more information than we could imagine as quickly as we can type—yet we no longer have a need to retain it, but a need to effectively process and manage it. Any of us could attend MIT online for free today if we wanted…or we could sit with our feet planted in the earth and connect with both nature and ourselves in a way that gives us clarity and insight.
Our world is shifting more rapidly than we can conceive and the dichotomy of what’s possible is quickly accelerating on both ends of the spectrum—how do we reconcile the two? How do we raise children who are prepared for the way the world will be for them?
Wonderful Waldorf Wisdom
In a time when life for kids can easily be too much, too fast, and too soon, I feel more strongly than ever that childhood needs to be nourished and protected, and this is precisely why I have begun to fall in love with the Waldorf Steiner approach to early education.
At the more than 1,000 Waldorf schools worldwide, the power of less is embraced to encourage calmer, more secure, and happier kids. The arts are woven into each day and learning is experienced through all senses. From spending time outdoors to making food, crafts, and music and celebrating nature’s rhythms, the development of each child’s whole self takes center stage.
By encouraging creativity, close relationships, connection with nature, ethics, values, positive inner dialogue, emotional intelligence, and spirituality, learning is holistic and integrated into the very fabric of the child’s character.
Distraction-free Childhood
Yuval Noah Harari, historian and author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, says our greatest resource today is our attention and it is being sought at every turn like never before. If you have a TV, tablet, or smartphone, I don’t need to tell you twice. And, as technology improves, the ability of advertisers, platforms, algorithms, and the like to capture our hearts and minds will as well.
Combine this with how easily a child’s senses can be overloaded (whether it’s by too many toys, choices, movements, noises, or activities) and you have the perfect storm for an overstimulated, disconnected yet overconnected childhood.
By suggesting that children’s early years should be free of attention-grabbing technology and requesting that students wear comfortable, pattern free clothing made from natural fibers, Waldorf schools effectively mute the whirling, buzzing distractions of our day so that childhood is preserved in a way that allows their authentic selves to develop and emerge.
In one of my favorite parenting books, Simplicity Parenting, Kim John Payne said: “By simplifying clothes you ease transition. You offer freedom from choice and overload, while still allowing for the slow and sure development of personal expression.” He goes on to say that simplicity provides the ease and well-being to develop a strong sense of self.
I couldn’t agree more. That is exactly what we had in mind when we developed our collection of sustainable, high-comfort, and pattern-free play clothes here at The Simple Folk. We wanted a line of childrenswear that allowed space for the journey of self-discovery to evolve organically and authentically.
Preparing Our Children for Tomorrow
Harari predicts that the most important skills we can invest in to prepare for the world in the coming years is emotional intelligence and mental balance, because he says the hardest challenges will be psychological. He meditates every single day.
Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, is adamant that our education system is outdated and needs to change. He said in an interview: "We cannot teach our kids to compete with the machines who are smarter—we have to teach our kids something unique. In this way, 30 years later, their kids will have a chance."
Sir Ken Robinson is an author and education reformer who said: “Our task is to educate their (our students) whole being so they can face the future. We may not see the future, but they will and our job is to help them make something of it...We have to go from what is essentially an industrial model of education, a manufacturing model, which is based on linearity and conformity and batching people. We have to move to a model that is based more on principles of agriculture. We have to recognize that human flourishing is not a mechanical process; it's an organic process. And you cannot predict the outcome of human development. All you can do, like a farmer, is create the conditions under which they will begin to flourish.”
One thing is for sure, our children will make their mark in a different world than we’ve grown accustomed to. Perhaps what I love most about the Waldorf approach to education is that it provides an environment where each student can be firmly rooted as an individual so they can develop resilience, flexibility, and the strength of character needed to navigate the future.
____________________________________________________________________If you’re interested in learning more about alternative education philosophies and practices, below are a few books I have personally enjoyed:
• The One Room Schoolhouse by Salman Khan
• The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
• Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne, M.Ed. and Lisa M. Ross
• Free to Learn by Peter Gray
• Hold On to Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D. and Gabor Maté, M.D
• Dumbing Us Down, by John Taylor Gatto
• Courage to Grow, by Laura A. Sandefer
We tend to exist mostly in our own little bubble, so traveling so much was unique in that we were often surrounded by others: people we didn’t know in public spaces. What I realized is that our little world is magical and it is not the norm. As we observed other children on our journey, it became apparent that many of them do not have the basic permission from their adult caregivers to just be human.
The adults in their lives have the best of intentions and are constantly trying to mold them into what the world deems as acceptable. Because of this, they are often not empowered to make their own choices.
To cry. To make mistakes. To go to the bathroom. To have a hard time. To feel heard. To be excited. To be scared. To feel safe. To struggle. To say hello or not say hello. To say thank you or not say thank you. To share or to play with their favorite toy. To not be threatened. It’s so clear to me that in the mainstream parenting culture, children are consistently made to feel like they haven’t earned the right to be treated as the full-fledged humans that they are.
I hear parents raising their voices, avoiding connection, and emotionally or physically punishing their children for being human and having a reaction to a choice that is not theirs. Some examples that I often hear include:
“Don’t cry, you’re okay.”
“He would like to play with that, you need to share.”
“You can eat dinner or go hungry, your choice.”
“If you don’t do ‘X’ then there will be no ‘Y’.”
“Say thank you.”
“Give him/her a kiss.”
“You can go to the bathroom later.”
“We’ll sit here all day until you eat this.”
“That’s not a pretty face. Smile.”
“This is what you’re wearing today. No arguing.”
How have we arrived in a modern culture where it’s socially unacceptable for children to have a say in their own feelings and decisions? Why are so many parents choosing to battle their children into submission and then wondering why their family life feels so stressful and unenjoyable?
The thing is, when we’re continuously trying to shape our children, it’s easy to inadvertently become their adversary verses the single person in this world they can always count on to be in their corner and on their team. It’s no wonder so many children begin to dish the disrespect back out to their parents as soon as they become teens and are old enough to challenge us.
The resounding belief in this parenting paradigm is that kids need to be controlled in order to learn the ropes, and that when they get older and become adults, then they can begin to make choices about their own lives. Yet our relationship with our children and, even more importantly, their relationship with themselves begins from day one, not from age 18.
My belief is that this parenting culture has led us to a place where many children are full of both resentment and fear and become adults who are unable to listen to their inner voice, are afraid to make their own choices, and are constantly seeking validation and permission.
But it doesn't have to be this way. We can reject the notion that our job as parents is to control little humans who came as unique individuals and emphatically resist control. We can choose not to be authoritarian parents but to instead love from a place of compassion and respect. Our children are born into this world with a limitless sense of possibility and confidence, and I believe our role as parents is to nurture, not to break this remarkable and innate sense of self.
Everything our children learn, they learn from watching us. They learn to respect others and to deal with conflict, big emotions, difficulty, and how to make proper choices by watching us and the way we personally model our family’s values.
When we let go of our own need for control and consider instead the benefits of raising children who feel heard, understood, and supported, and who are encouraged to play the role of creator in their own lives, we consciously give them the empowering opportunity to engage with the world in a meaningful way, and we completely change the dynamic within the home. It’s critical to remember that children are not adults in training or waiting to live their lives—they are living their lives at this very moment.
Many of us are recovering from the parental “kool-aid” that was bestowed on us as children. We have the power to rewrite the script and encourage our children to own their lives and their decisions as we guide and support them.
Consider these alternative possibilities for shifting into a place where you can support your child in choosing to feel their feelings and explore their options. Instead of the first option, try the second and see how it feels for you.
“Don’t cry, you’re okay.” vs. "That must have been scary. I am here for you.”
“He would like to play with that, you need to share” vs. “I know it’s your special toy and you are in the middle of playing with it. Do you think he could have a turn once you’re done? If not, that’s ok.”
“You can eat dinner or go hungry, your choice.” vs. “I know you would rather play than eat right now but it is dinner time and I’m afraid you’ll be hungry later. Perhaps you can come to a stopping point in the next 5 minutes to eat and then continue playing after? If not, it’s ok but I will have to put the food away and if you get hungry later, we’ll only have apples and nuts.”
“Say thank you.” vs. “When someone does something really nice for me, I like to say thank you. You don’t have to, but you can if you want.”
“Give him/her a kiss.” vs. “When I haven’t seen someone I love in a long time, I like to give them a kiss or a hug. You can too, if you want. Or even a high five or fist pump? If you want, it’s up to you."
“You can go to the bathroom later.” vs. “Are you sure you need to go? It’s a little difficult for me to take you now but if you need to, we will figure it out."
“We can’t go now. We just got here.” vs. “Why is it that you’d like to go? Let’s talk through our options” (for us, this answer has varied between it’s too loud and I need to go to the bathroom—thank goodness I asked!)
“Be careful. You will fall!” vs. “I just want you to see that there is a ledge there. Do you feel safe? As long as you feel safe, it’s ok but I want to make sure you know about the ledge."
“This is what you’re wearing today. No arguing.” vs. “Why is it that you don’t want to wear this one?” (I am often surprised at the answer—it’s scratchy, I don’t want to feel the wind on my arms, or I want to wear brown because I am Rudolph today, etc.) Then, you could say something like, “I understand that you only want to wear brown and long sleeves but I am afraid you will be hot. How about if we wear this now but then when we leave the house, we change to Rudolph’s summer fur and wear this short sleeve brown shirt?"
When I embrace this notion as part of everyday family life, I get to experience the magical benefits of giving my children a feeling a power over their day. Here are four that I’ve recently discovered:
1. Develop a healthy attitude about mistakes. Making choices means getting it wrong at times. And the best learning opportunities happen when mistakes are made. So when Benjamin chooses to make his own drink, I let him. I watch as he fills the cup too high and suggest that if he pours too much, it will spill. As he decides to keep pouring and the liquid does indeed spill, I let him learn to clean it up, staying present to support him and even laughing about it. Because mistakes make us better, they steer us toward change, they make us more understanding of each other, and most of all, they help us to learn so that next time, we don’t fill the cup quite so high.
2. Sow a sense of self-worth. Carl Rogers, well-known psychologist and a founder of the humanistic approach to psychology, once said: “How we think about ourselves, our feelings of self-worth, are of fundamental importance both to psychological health and to the likelihood that we can achieve goals and ambitions in life.” Wow. This realization led me to a new paradigm; my child’s choice holds as much value as mine and recognizing his choices is a profound way to cultivate his self-worth. Because each time I give a choice instead of a command, I’m letting him know, “I trust you to lead the way in your life.”
3. Allow a sense of control. Toddlers don't typically have tantrums because they're actually upset about making a drink in the orange cup instead of the purple one, but because they are feeling a lack of control. When children experience these strong emotions, they can be so overwhelming that they are forced into fight-or-flight mode, and they are unable to focus fully or think rationally. Not to mention that their rational brain is only just beginning to develop in the first place. So when he has a tantrum, it’s not a choice, and here’s the kicker: it’s his biological response to stress. And from a toddler’s point of view, figuring out the world can be very stressful, so more than anything, they need to feel we are on their team during these times of turmoil and not punished, abandoned, or verbally chastised.
Giving our children choices can help them to feel in control of their everyday lives and reduce the anxiety they feel in childhood and as they grow.
4. Cultivate creativity. When we make every decision for our children we can rob them of the opportunity to develop their creativity. I truly believe that children possess an innate ability to be creative, and their natural curiosity is the fuel on their journey to discovering who they truly are—if we can just allow the space and freedom for our children to follow what fascinates them. And I’ve found one way to cultivate creativity is to avoid managing and instead, give choices.
Just yesterday, we were driving home and had about 45 minutes left to go. Benjamin started to scream because he wanted out of the car so I said, “Ok, we can stop and let you out but how will you get home?” We proceeded to play the most fun game for the rest of the trip where we thought of creative ways he could get home and he would tell me why that would never work:
“I know, you could find a digger and drive it home.”
“I don’t have a digger.”
“You could buy one. Do you have any money?”
“No. I could rent one!”
“You still need money. I know, you could get a job and save your money and then buy a digger and then drive home.”
“But I don’t know the way to our house…”
And so on…
This game was such an example to me that he can still feel free to want what he wants even when it makes no logical sense. And in fact, based on his choices, he decided he’d like to stay in the car and go home with us. :)
Giving our children choices can reap such big rewards—both for ourselves as peaceful parents and for our children, the future leaders of our world. We’re also hearing some new phrases around here, like, “What are my options?” Cue the simultaneous pride and heart melting.
References:
1. Understanding the stress response. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response
]]>In fact, our view of parenthood has been revolutionized by a few particularly insightful books that highlight the pitfalls of many parenting norms and how we can turn the tide to have a happier household and raise a generation of creative, conscious, and thriving humans who can solve problems and make the world better for us all.
It’s not often an easy shift as so many parenting behaviors have been ingrained in our culture for eons. Think back to your own childhood. Do you remember feeling free, validated, and respected by your parents, teachers, and caretakers? For many of us, this simply isn’t the case.
Conscious parenting is radical activism: it means seeing our child as an individual, capable human and working through any triggers we inherited from our own childhood. After all, social reformation starts with the individual, and our values are sewn when we’re children growing up in the world.
Thankfully, there’s a movement of parents who are beginning to wake up and apply proper child psychology and mindfulness to raising our little ones. It’s an exciting time to connect and support one another, which is why I feel compelled to share this list of books that has transformed our home.
How Toddlers Thrive by Tovah P. Klein, Ph.D.
Navigating the toddler years can challenge our commitment to peaceful parenting. If you’re working through the transition to toddlerhood or are trying to keep the peace in a house with multiple toddlers, you simply must read this book. In fact, I don’t know how I would have survived these years with my parenting vision intact had it not been for this book.
The toddler phase is one during which our children explore new worlds through play and learn to adapt to the physical world around them. They test boundaries, acquire new skills, and sometimes display behaviors we don’t expect.
How Toddlers Thrive is one of the best toddler parenting books for parents of small people and teaches us the importance of seeing age two (or three, or four) through our toddlers’ eyes. From this book, you’ll learn what exactly your little one is thinking and gain some positive insight to guiding them through both daily routines and meltdowns.
Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne, M.Ed. and Lisa M. Ross
This book takes an in-depth look at the way our home environment, pace of life, and family rituals impact our children. As it turns out, the way we interact with the world around us, including our relationships with our schedules, our busy-ness, and our approach to engaging media, tells an even broader story about us as humans and, more importantly, as parents.
Instead of fighting solo against the cultural tide of consumerism—including the accumulation of stuff, as well as the overbooking of activities in unending calendars of events—allow the wisdom in Simplicity Parenting to affirm your commitment to the simple lifestyle. This book is a wonderful guide to cultivating meaningful rituals and relationships with your children and provides practical advice for navigating some of the side effects that come from engaging with the world beyond our doors.
It’s OK Not to Share by Heather Shumaker
Often referred to as our parenting bible, this book covers so many complex topics in such a succinct and clear way that we find ourselves referring to it time and time again—it shifted so much for me as a mom and gave me the confidence to do what I believe is best for my child, even if it goes against mainstream norms.
In It’s OK Not to Share, Shumaker discusses some of the “rules” for raising expressive children that make oh so much sense. So often we replay words and behaviors from our culture without stopping to consider if they are the best approach. This book sheds light on it all. Ideas like letting children play however they wish as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else or that it’s okay for children not to share toys might challenge the parenting status quo, but will help you to develop your own parenting style as you navigate the best choices for your own children.
Playful Parenting by Lawrence J. Cohen, Ph.D.
Our children’s play provides valuable insight into their inner worlds. As parents, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to not only observe our children at play, but to get in on the fun!
Playful Parenting is a book that looks at the importance of play as the language of childhood and gives us as parents tools to meet our little ones in their own world. The writer is a therapist who uses play to help children sort through issues and his insight is truly invaluable as a parent. Through the lens of play, he gives us tools to connect more deeply with our children, understand how to work through their fears and emotions, and make our homes more jovial and joyful.
Free to Learn by Peter Gray
Raising our children to be creative thinkers and well-rounded adults can seem a bit daunting when viewed in the grand scheme of life. On the day to day however, we can take small steps to encourage their curiosity and natural desire to learn.
Free to Learn introduces the idea of unschooling in a way that is approachable for both parents who don’t yet have children of traditional schooling ages, as well as parents of older kids. Even if you’ve already been exploring home or alternative education options, you can still glean wisdom and encouragement for the next steps in your family’s knowledge journey.
Hold On to Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D. and Gabor Maté, M.D
This is one groundbreaking parenting book that we’ll be referencing over and over as our kids get older, to make sure we are continuing to emphasize and honor the parent-child bonds that are the absolute heart of our parenting beliefs.
In Hold On to Your Kids, childhood development experts Neufeld and Maté illuminate the serious problems with today’s “peer orientation” culture, where kids look to peers—instead of parents—for guidance on their behavior, values, and identity. What we love about this book is that the authors don’t just explain the issues (although they do this exceptionally well and with amazing clarity), but they present an entire, detailed program on how parents can reattach to their kids and keep them close, all the while learning how to listen to the quiet wisdom of their instincts.
ParentSpeak by Jennifer Lehr
It’s so easy to fall back on “catchphrase parenting” when raising little ones—after all, parents tend to repeat many of the things they were told by their own caregivers. However, a lot of the seemingly innocuous comments parents make to their kids on a daily basis (like “good job” or “say thank you”) may be doing more harm than good...and we couldn’t agree more when it comes to how we want to talk with our children.
In ParentSpeak, Lehr breaks down the common phrases that actually invalidate, micromanage, and even manipulate kids, and gives parents a roadmap for replacing that harmful language with conscious, respectful conversations that honor and empower children as individuals.
We hope you’re inspired to add some fresh books to your to-read list. Take some time this summer to get lost in a book and transform your outlook on parenthood.
Happy reading!
]]>Admiring the divine piece of earth that we call home is my favorite way to spend these late spring days.
It’s taken time and a lot of hard work, but we’re finally enjoying the little garden we’ve always dreamt would feed our bellies and souls season after season. As green-thumb novices, our gardening journey has been filled with epiphanies, challenges, laughter, and love, much like life itself.
This got me thinking about how our gardening days are teaching us so much about our journeys as parents. Because like most plants, if we can only provide our children with the optimal environment, the right nourishment, and the space to become their truest selves, we can witness the beauty of their becoming.
Here are some lessons that have stuck with me lately:
Plant with intention.
It's a beautiful thing to witness your child build their own world rooted in things that give them genuine joy.
We currently have about twelve rows of carrots sown with the (very) specific intention to feed Santa's reindeer, a project spearheaded by our 3-year-old son, Benjamin. He checks on them daily and is quite proud that they are flourishing nicely.
I loved watching him diligently pick out all the carrot seedlings and thoughtfully place them in the ground with a satisfied smile. For him, the focus was all about that reindeer team and ensuring they had what they needed for their holiday flight.
It reminded me so much of how the conversations and experiences we have with our children are just like seeds we plant in their little hearts and minds. When we choose to respond to them with kindness, respect, and love, they can grow confidence, compassion, pride, and self-assuredness.
Know that the fruit (or vegetable) is worth the wait.
One of the beautiful things about gardening is that it requires us to slow down. There’s no way to hurry the process—we get to patiently pause and witness the concept of time, growth, and transformation.
Did you know the last thing to grow on a plant is the fruit? First there is a sprout, then a shoot, then lots of greens, sometimes a flower, and then...the fruit!
As tempting as it may be to try to rush through it, the whole point of tending to the garden each day is to provide the optimal environment so that we can reap a bountiful harvest. It’s true with our kids as well: provide the proper environment and trust them to develop and grow into their best selves on their own terms. Magic takes time.
Embrace trial and error as part of growth.
Here’s the thing about working with nature’s intelligence, you just never know when something will go wrong and a crop won’t produce as you thought it might. This is a great reminder of how important it is to be vulnerable and full of hope and prepare for the best but accept failure as it comes.
As a parent, it’s instinctual to protect our children from things not turning out as they had hoped, but that shouldn’t mean shielding them from taking risks. Letting them fail safely while embracing a healthy view of mistakes teaches them that it’s okay to stumble, because when they take chances and live a bold life, failure is healthy. It’s part of learning.
Believing that the future holds the promise of possibilities and new growth is the first step to making good things happen, and being able to fail well and learn from the experience is a stepping stone to finding your way forward to success.
Prioritize connection.
Connecting with the earth reminds us that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. We treasure our community of friends, and it's so much fun to connect and grow nourishing food side by side. This simple practice allows space for us to share who we are, to let our minds and bodies relax, and to create memories we'll cherish forever.
And as we work together with dirty hands and the sun on our skin and with our children playing happily nearby, we are reminded that if we create the right circumstances and feed ourselves and others with kindness and support, it’s more likely that we’ll grow, together.
So, those are my lessons from this year (so far). How’s your garden growing this year? I’d love to see what you are all sprouting!
]]>At the same time, living a clean, low-impact lifestyle comes with its own challenges. That’s why I always strive to make simple, high-impact shifts to make my home a healthier place to reside.
We’re all learning, and as I’ve made radical changes in our home along my parenthood journey, I’m always amused by the parallel—what’s good for our bodies and minds is almost always in alignment with what’s better for our planet.
We may not be able to control the way the world impacts our children or our planet, but we can create a respectful, non-toxic environment within our homes with a few basic and strategic shifts. Here are some that we’ve embraced:
1. Simplify what you own.
As a parent, one of my greatest realizations is that nothing is better for my mental and emotional health than embracing simplicity and minimalism at home.
I consciously opted out of a consumer-driven life and I have never been happier with this decision. There are many benefits of a minimalistic lifestyle for the entire family, and in an age of one-click ordering and technological devices for just about everything, children today need simplicity more than ever.
Inspired by the KonMari method—a life-changing, organizational framework developed by renowned tidying expert, Marie Kondo—I became devoted to quality over quantity and to protecting my children’s personal environment by ensuring it is unburdened by unnecessary possessions, chaos, and clutter. We’ve found that when our children’s senses are overloaded by too much, too many, or too loud, their nervous systems are adversely affected, which impacts just about every aspect of our lives...so we’ve decided to streamline our “things” so that home can be a nurturing refuge for us all.
If you’re new to simplicity, you can start small to make a big difference. Here are some of the items I rehomed:
• Clothing that no longer suited our senses or values (dizzying patterns and fast, cheap fashion)
• Excess toys, particularly ones made with unsustainable or toxic materials or that overwhelmed my children
• Unnecessary bedding and synthetic linens clogging up the closets
• Decorative items that had no value or meaning in our lives
• Toxic kitchen and bathroom hygiene and/or beauty products
• Things we don’t use, appreciate, enjoy, or value
2. Choose natural over synthetic when it comes to fabrics.
As with highly processed foods and personal hygiene products, we are discovering that when it comes to fabrics, the less synthetic, the better. This means thinking through purchases like your clothing, your bed linens, your mattress, and even the soaps and hygiene products you’re using.
Our bodies are mostly microbial and there are toxins hiding out everywhere that threaten our health at the foundational level. There are so many reasons to become more conscious of the materials that surround your body and your home. Here are a few things to consider:
• Natural fabrics are more sustainable. Formed from the same petrochemicals as plastic, synthetic materials don’t decompose easily, which means our discarded items will be taking up landfill space for decades to come. Natural fabrics, on the other hand, are made from plant and animal fibers and are easily recycled, so they can typically be reused without harming the environment.
• Natural fibers are kinder to the skin. Synthetic fabric production often involves chemically-intensive procedures, and we’ve unknowingly welcomed these artificial materials into our homes through our furnishings and clothes, which can irritate sensitive skin and lead to a host of unwanted health issues. Natural fibers such as cotton can be grown organically, (even better if they’re GOTS certified!), ensuring that the raw materials are free from potentially harmful chemicals and pesticides, and are gentler on our bodies.
• Natural materials are made to last. Have you ever noticed that most of your clothing made from natural fabrics lasts longer than their man-made synthetic counterparts? Synthetic fabrics can break down quickly causing them to wear more easily, especially if you wash them often. However, natural fabrics are known for higher comfort and quality, so you can be sure you’re choosing attire that is a better investment for you, and for our planet.
• Choosing natural fabrics supports conscious consumerism. By choosing natural fabrics we have more control over where materials are sourced from. The rise of fast fashion—inexpensively made, readily available clothing—has created a widespread dilemma for low and middle-income countries where waste in landfills, low wages, and poor working conditions are unregulated. Intentionally buying from brands that source materials consciously and ethically can send a clear message to change these practices.
I found that choosing natural materials for our home and clothing has helped us to minimize waste and prioritize our family’s health and connection to the Earth.
3. Consciously purchase non-toxic personal products.
My personal journey with hygiene products started several years ago. When I discovered exactly how our bodies absorb the personal care products we use, I took a good look at the many harsh chemicals and artificial ingredients hiding out in my very own cosmetic products. I started to read every label, taking care to avoid exposure to the questionable ingredients in most traditional products.
I was shocked at how many ingredients I couldn’t understand and deeply concerned when I realized what’s been hiding in my family’s hygiene products. I felt so frustrated that many brands claim to be natural, and then when you read the label, you realize there are hard-to-understand ingredients and other toxic, hidden additives that can have a negative effect on your health.
The good news is, just like you’ve likely learned to read food labels, it’s fairly easy to learn to identify these sneaky ingredients and find safer alternatives so you can be sure that what you’re putting on your skin doesn’t compromise your family’s health.
Here are some tips:
• Get rid of anything in your bathroom cabinet with these ingredients that can harm your health.
• Take a good look at your children’s soaps, toothpastes, lotions, and creams and replace them with natural alternatives or even with single-ingredient oils sourced from botanicals or consciously crafted hygiene products that don’t contain artificial preservatives.
• Clean out your laundry room and under your kitchen sink and trade out traditional cleansers and dish soaps for those made with naturally-derived ingredients you can understand.
4. Make plants part of your life.
Filling your space with plants can do wonders for your family’s health and your environment. Given the amount of cleaning products, synthetic and/or treated furnishings, paints, and other common household items that can release harmful compounds into the air, it’s easy for the microenvironment we live in each day to need a little boost. That’s why I’ve become slightly obsessed with bringing the outside into our home with some much needed greenery.
Often recognized for their air purifying qualities, many indoor plants absorb pollutants and help us breathe easy by creating oxygen. Furthermore, studies indicate that green leafy plants can help boost our mood and improve overall well-being, helping to create a happier and healthier home.
Now I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve had my fair share of leafy green failures. So, if you haven’t yet adopted the “jungalow” mentality and are still new to indoor plants, consider starting with small, low maintenance, and inexpensive plants like these, and gradually grow into that green thumb:
• Boston Fern
• Aloe Vera
• Banana Plant
• English Ivy
• Barberton Daisy
5. Play with your children.
I believe that raising our children in a happy household where they are respected in their journey is true activism: it’s a sure way to bring up a generation of emotionally-intelligent humans capable of peacefully resolving conflict and solving problems that will benefit our world.
And, the simple yet radical act of getting down on the floor and playing with your children every day can transform your home into a space filled with laughter, joy, and the spirit of well-being.
Playing with our kids (rather than encouraging them to play with each other while we watch) allows you to prepare them for life by nurturing and challenging them in a way they inherently understand; a way that never compromises your love, but instead intensifies it. If you’ve had moments of frustration or upsetting interactions, playing creates a loving opportunity to engage and level the field, so you can reset and build a strong relationship with your child. Play is indeed the language of childhood, and sometimes in the midst of our daily lives and the age of lessons, sports teams, iPads, and television (all of which we tend to opt out), we forget to communicate with our favorite little people in the language that they speak.
Here are some ways I like to engage in play with my kids:
• Have a fun wrestling match. All young mammals partake in roughhousing and for good reason! Getting physical with your kids is a great way for them to get out their aggression, test their strength, and build confidence. It’s a different, yet equally important type of connection.
• Share a giggle. Nothing brings you closer than a shared, delightful laugh or giggle. It’s a basic way to connect with your children and show them that we enjoy being in their world. This reiterates to them that they are safe, loved, and capable.
• Let them lead you into their world. Allow yourself to be transformed into a doctor, a flower, a horse, or firefighter based on your child’s whims. Ride with them on a rocketship made from living room pillows or rescue their imaginary kitten from the tree. When we let our children lead the way, we show them that we trust in their wisdom and ability to see their world with their own eyes.
Those are my top five shifts that can help transform your home so that it’s healthier and happier on multiple levels. I’m endlessly inspired by our Instagram community on the different ways we can foster joyful environments in our homes.
What choices are you making for a happier, healthier household?
]]>Abi and I began to fantasize about the idea of The Simple Folk shortly after the birth of both of our second children: my son, Valentine, and Abi’s daughter, Sage. We both had wellness businesses at the time, and had intentionally set up our lives to prioritize our families which, among other things, included nurturing healthy minds, bodies, and a loving respect for our world.
It was during this time that we discovered that very few children’s clothing brands are simple, non-toxic, ethical, or sustainable (let alone all of the above). And those that did seem to fit this criteria lacked the softness, style, and minimalist sophistication we desired for our little ones.
So, we began to talk seriously about the idea of starting a children’s clothing line ourselves, not because it was a logical choice given our other work and life commitments but because we shared the belief that childrenswear can be non-toxic, stylish, ultra-soft, and practical, and that slow and sustainable fashion is chic. As mothers, we could no longer bear to dress our children in clothing that wasn’t optimal for their health and well-being or that was the result of unfair wages, poor working conditions, or environmental destruction. Simply put, we had had enough of “fast fashion”.
With a shared vision of leading the fashion revolution for our little ones keeping us up at night (who I am kidding, we were already up!), the momentum overtook us and we finally took the leap. We got to work on building out a supply chain of family-run and ethical companies that operate far above the business standard and that prioritize our planet at every turn, and we committed ourselves to supporting a non-profit organization that we know is truly making an impact and changing our world for the better.
So if, like us, you’re looking for a meaningful way to get off that dizzying merry-go-round of fast, disposable fashion and have dreams of honoring our planet and the beings who reside on it, welcome to The Simple Folk, and to the world of sustainable, slow, and ethical fashion.
Why Slow and Sustainable Fashion is Here to Stay
Thankfully, our culture has finally begun to examine our impact on planet Earth, its people, and animals, and it’s becoming more and more clear that in order to live sustainably we need to slow the consumerist train that has come to define us in the last few decades. Back in the 1980s, this realization sparked the birth of the popular slow food movement with its emphasis on clean, ethically-produced, whole foods.
Inspired by these principles, Kate Fletcher coined the slow fashion movement in 2007 in response to the need she saw for a slower pace in the fashion industry. The ultimate goal of slow fashion is to design, manufacture, and purchase clothing in a way that respects designers, workers, consumers, animals, and the environment.
Slow fashion considers all the resources and methods necessary to bring clothing to consumers, and embraces these important principles:
And even better? Embracing a slow, sustainable wardrobe means fewer clothing pieces and less waste. The end result is an authentic fashion lifestyle that is long lasting, ethical, and ecologically responsible.
It’s Time to Ask, Who Made Your Clothes?
Let’s face it, we’ve all indulged in a little “retail therapy” from time to time, and frankly, it can be fun. So, if you’re wondering if you are truly ready to commit to slow fashion—and if maybe continuing to treat yourself and your little ones to the latest new, trendy styles every season isn’t really such a bad thing—there are some important factors to keep in mind.
Unfortunately, behind those cute new shoes and bright new tops lurk some very ugly and damaging truths. For starters, most of the cheap clothing sold in the U.S. is manufactured abroad by garment workers enduring poor treatment, unsafe conditions, and low wages.
Some have even lost their lives to job related hazards, like the Rana Plaza building collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2013, which killed 1,138 garment workers and injured 2,500 more. Rana Plaza housed five garment factories full of workers—mostly women—facing incredibly poor labor conditions. And when garment workers in Bangladesh dare to peacefully protest the abysmal minimum wage ($0.45 per hour), they are often fired, arrested, and even physically assaulted.
So, what can you do to make a change? The #FashionRevolution campaign urges every consumer to ask brands the pivotal question: Who made my clothes? April 22-28 marks Fashion Revolution Week, a time to stand up for workers’ rights around the world and demand answers from companies who profit greatly from the fast fashion that is so detrimental to people and the planet.
The Downside of Cheap, Trendy Childrenswear
Fashion can also be a very toxic enterprise. Over 8,000 synthetic chemicals are used to manufacture clothing, and most of these are known hormone disruptors or carcinogens that hide within the mass produced fabrics you and your kids wear. And, these chemicals are often then released into the water supplies, affecting the quality of life for local residents, wildlife, and impacting the planet overall.
The bottom line is that when you look beneath the surface, all that cheap, mass-produced stuff is terrible for people, animals, and the world. What’s more, it creates a stressful and dehumanizing mindset of always needing more—and feeling like it’s necessary to slavishly conform to passing trends rather than express your individuality in a more selective, high quality way.
How to Slow Down (and Upgrade) Your Fashion
Embracing a slow fashion lifestyle may seem like a huge step, but it’s really one of the simplest things in the world. After all, you’re slowing down and doing less, not more! Here are a few ideas to ease you in:
Simple, Conscious Fashion Starts Early
Here at The Simple Folk, we work to make the lives of families better: from those who knit, dye, and sew our fabrics to those who romp around in our high-comfort play clothes each day. We decided to embark on this journey because we’re so passionate about furthering a sustainable, wholesome, and authentic lifestyle for ourselves, our children, and those who make the clothes we wear.
That’s why all of our children’s play clothes, sleepwear, and accessories are designed to be simple, durable, luxuriously soft, chic, and timeless and are crafted from GOTS certified organic and natural fabrics and OEKO-TEX® dyes. This means that every garment is free of damaging levels of over 100 known harmful substances, and only the safest clothing comes in contact with your little ones’ precious skin.
Our line is handmade with love in small batches, in a sustainable factory in Portugal where joy and dancing are in the air. Both the artists who make our clothes and the environment are honored at every turn. Our pieces are cut and sewn in a building that:
Maybe it’s because playfulness is one of the most universal aspects of being alive. Primates, dogs, cats, rats, and almost all other mammals (even some birds!) all engage in some type of play while they’re young. Scientists used to believe that the function of play was to develop survival skills like fighting and hunting for food, but more recent studies are uncovering something much more profound: Play is actually crucial for learning and essential to our children’s well-being.
A fact-finder by nature, I find this growing research riveting, and I’ve become determined to do everything I can to prioritize and protect this need for my children.
Watching their faces beam with sheer delight while unencumbered is one of the highlights of my days. What’s more, I am simultaneously able to witness them becoming more independent, developing their own methods of reasoning, sorting through natural consequences, absorbing impressive amounts of information, and deeply connecting to the people in their world...all while following their own path of joy. (subtext: no adult guidance, coercion, or manipulation required!)
What a simple and profound shift it has been for us: instead of pouring into them as if they’re empty cups, we can step back and allow the spark of their imagination to catch fire and light the way.
I must admit, I am unreasonably passionate about this topic because of how much this understanding has impacted our daily life as a family. For us, it has opened the pathway to effective communication, fostered genuine learning, reinforced the feeling that we “get” each other, and, of course, ushered in a whole lotta fun. That’s why I am sharing so many things in this post that I have uncovered over the years—my hope is that it will make you want to swing open the back door and let your littles go wild!
The Work of the Child
Maria Montessori famously said that play is the work of the child. In other words, play is the goal. The rest just follows suit.
We can see this theory in practice in countries like Finland, Holland, and Poland where they don’t try to actively teach young children (not even the alphabet!), but instead give them the opportunity to learn and develop on their own through play. In fact, in Finland and Poland, school does not even begin until age 7.
This might make you think that these children are at risk of academic delay—but it turns out this is not at all the case. Children in these countries repeatedly outperform their same age groups in the UK and U.S. in math, science, and reading, and have higher high school and college graduation rates.
Furthermore, a study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that children who start school later are less likely to be inattentive or hyperactive in class. In fact, researchers discovered that delaying kindergarten by just one year reduced inattention and hyperactivity by 73 percent at age 11 (age 11!) and it practically eliminated the probability that an average 11-year-old would have an abnormal inattentive-hyperactive behavioral measure rating.1 Researchers theorize that this could be due in part to the additional playtime kids have access to when they start school at a later age.
Just wow.
I suddenly got it: play is a serious business.
Play gives children the space to develop according to their own individual path and the foundation and skills they need to learn and interact throughout their lives. There’s a reason it’s the only thing they want to do. Play is not just productive, it’s the most direct route to an emotionally, socially, and mentally intelligent child.
This epiphany revolutionized my approach to parenting. And that revelation led me to the next groundbreaking piece of the puzzle: the importance of unstructured play.
So What’s Unstructured Play Anyway?
It’s simple. Unstructured play is completely open-ended and free. Yes, free—it allows your child to lead the way and explore their world with their own senses and inner guidance system. In this type of play, there are no preset rules, screens, classes, or coaching. No need to make up a game or teach a new song or set restrictive guidelines.
Unstructured play allows children (and even adults) the space to be spontaneous, creative, and adaptable.
In practice, unstructured play might involve building a road out of sticks, making up dances, splashing around in rain puddles, picking flowers, pretending to be puppies and kittens, or sliding down a snowy hill in a tube. Or your kids might decide to build a castle out of old cardboard boxes and decorate it with paints and little bits of odds and ends. Whatever the particulars, the kids themselves decide how their games will work and unfold.
Unstructured Play and the Brain
Studies involving both animals and human children suggest that time spent in unstructured play during childhood confers two major types of advantages on the human brain:
Stronger neural connections
Free play involves creativity, spontaneity, and trying out new strategies in a fun, non-threatening way. This activates and strengthens neural connections in the executive functioning areas of the brain—the regions responsible for regulating emotions, making plans, and problem solving—in a way that organized classrooms and activities can’t duplicate.
The result is that unstructured play seems to foster brains that are more “plastic.” In other words, they’re able to adapt and rewire in response to new circumstances.2,3
Beneficial changes in brain structure
Unstructured play actually changes the structure of the brain itself, in a very good way. For starters, animal research has discovered a correlation between the time primates spent playing and how much their brains grew after birth.4 And free play positively influences the physical volume of a number of brain structures in primates and other animals—regions including the cerebellum, hypothalamus, neocortex, amygdala, and striatum.5,6,7,8 Overall, more time spent in unstructured play is associated with a larger cortico-cerebellar system, an area that plays a vital role in learning and forming mental models.9
All that brain benefit comes with some substantial real world perks: A recent study found that the more time children spent in unstructured activities, the better their self-directed executive functioning.10 Free play even produced lasting brain changes in rats activated at the genetic level—switching on genes associated with social interactions and thinking in as little as a half hour of play.11,12 And perhaps most importantly, play is proven to help enrich brain areas that involve social interaction. Being socially adept helps kids succeed in every area of life.
So when you let your kids run free and wild, they’re actually building their amazing brains. That means not only will they thank you for the fun now—they’ll have lots to thank you for later.
Encouraging Unstructured Play
Kids love to play naturally, so all you really have to do to foster play is to stay in tune with your child and make sure their day contains lots of unscheduled time to play freely. I’ve found that toys aren’t even a necessary component. It seems the less toys we have around and the less specific our toys are, the more creative my children become—and they are then exhilarated by their own creativity.
Another thing I’ve learned is that there is no better way to connect our children than to meet them in their world by joining them in their play. One of my all-time favorite paradigm-shifting books is Playful Parenting by Lawrence J. Cohen. By emphasizing the importance and power of play, this valuable resource can upgrade your relationship with your children and help everyone have more fun along the way.
For all we parents do for our kids, it seems one of the biggest gifts we can give them is to just let them play, and that’s a beautiful thing. So when you watch your children dancing and running about, know that they’re busy wiring their brains for a lifetime of love, friendship, creativity, learning, and success.
Who knew plain old fun could be so good for you?
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