bright ocean - Thinx

notablySmitten loves supporting Thinx, whom we have written about here. Now they have added new colors to their collection, including their Ocean shade which comes in a total of five styles. It’s everything you want in an underwear! It’s moisture-wicking, breathable, and will never feel soggy. Your days of worrying about leaks is officially over. Have your period in style.

Thinx was made to pay it forward through advocacy, education and access. With your support, they’re able to help young girls gain education on their changing bodies as well as provide them with period products to help them finish school. They empower all bodies and the young women who embrace them!

the golden compass - The Brave Collection

Never get lost again with The Brave Collection’s Compass Chain Necklace. The beautiful piece is handmade in Cambodia with gold vermeil. The artisans are mothers and people with disabilities that work in exchange for fair wages and access to healthcare.

Jessica Hendricks Yee founded The Brave Collection after witnessing a small Cambodian country struggle to rebuild after genocide. By launching her company, she gave many local artisans a chance to create beautiful pieces of jewelry in exchange for fair wages. In addition to that, the company donates 10% of their profits to fight human trafficking in Cambodia. 

We are so Smitten!

get moving - Thinx

You no longer have to feel worried, anxious, or limited when it’s that time of the month. Thinx Underwear now let’s you feel sassy, capable, and worry - free. Thinx brings you period underwear so you can completely ditch your tampons and pads – which ultimately end up in landfills and contribute to pollution. Made out of moisture – wicking cotton, it’s leak – resistant and traps odor. The best part is it doesn’t feel wet or soggy. It’s just like regular underwear but better!

Thinx was founded in 2014 to break the period taboo. Their line of underwear offers a variety of styles from hi - waisted, hip huggers, and even thongs. They’re incredibly absorbent and easy to wash. Thinx has partnered with PERIOD and launched their United for Access Campaign in order to fight for free access to period products to students across the U.S.

clean up for christmas - B.A.R.E. soap

B.A.R.E. Soaps’ message really says it all: “Good For You, Good For Others”.  Made with all-natural ingredients and on a mission to provide a sustainable sanitation programs in Uganda and India, B.A.R.E Soaps certainly are good for everyone.

Their soaps are never tested on animals, and are beautifully made from Organic Saponified Oils, Goat’s Milk and Essential Oils.  20% of each sale are reinvested directly back economic development, bringing short-term relief like shoes, medical attention, and sanitation, and establishing long-term solutions like sustainable farming and employment for women.

The mission of B.A.R.E Soaps becomes clear after learning just two simple but staggering statistics: UNICEF estimates a child dies from diarrhea every 30 seconds in underdeveloped countries, and that a bar of soap can reduce diarrhea born diseases by 40%.  To combat this very real and fully preventable threat of disease, B.A.R.E Soaps has partnered with Children’s Hope Chest and Point Community Church to help families in Kaberamaido, Uganda since 2012. In 2016 they expanded their mission’s reach include Kalwa Slum, India through a partnership with Sundara Fund.

warm up your man - UNICEF

Founded in 1946 by the United Nations to provide food, clothing, and healthcare to children, UNICEF is one of the most well-known charitable organizations for children in existence today.  Their mission of education, safety, nourishment, and healthcare for children globally has been tirelessly reached by creating countless education and health initiatives.  To keep children’s rights and safety on the global agenda, they “strike a balance through research and practical solutions” by providing staggering statistics and life-changing results in some of the most vulnerable populations.  In addition to their ongoing yearly efforts, UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965, and established the World Summit for Children in 1990.

With a tireless history of helping the most at-risk children on a direct level, UNICEF has stepped into the digital age by establishing their UNICEF Marketplace.  Created in 1999 as a modern way to help save children's lives, UNICEF partnered with NOVICA to reach artisans in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.  They have created a proprietary infrastructure to support the artisans as well as the children of UNICEF, bringing items like this Blue Chakana sweater, sent directly from the Peruvian artisan, to a global marketplace for the very first time.

Yes, Smitten.

LOVE these knickers - Naja

Naja Knickers are eco-conscious, adorably designed, and socially conscious every step of the way: our favorite kind of notable trifecta!  Every single design is more adorable, sexy and stylish than the next!

Naja is the entrepreneurial brainchild of Catalina Girald, an attorney-turned-traveler-turned-activist, and Gina Rodriguez, an award-winning-actress-and-latino-community-supporter.  Naja was created in an effort to shift the way lingerie is made and marketed so that it is empowering, not objectifying, for the “smart, courageous and sexy women of today”.  With factories that employ primarily single mothers and female heads of households, Naja pays above market wages, allows for flexible scheduling, and provides school clothes, supplies and lunches to the children of their employees.  In addition to their factories, Naja employs women in the slums of Columbia to sew garment bags in their homes through their Underwear for Hope program - 2% of all purchases go towards funding this program.  

In addition to all the socially-conscious efforts, Naja prints all their awesome knicker graphics digitally to minimize their environmental footprint.

Smitten with Girl Power!

make a difference - Madi Apparel

Cool, comfy, confident...these pretty, applause worthy panties are made of a soft organic bamboo fabric and decorous, floral lace.

This is how Madi apparel works:

-       Madi creates a beautiful pair of panties here in the US, using a very practical and sustainable bamboo fabric.

-       You buy said panties for yourself, or several friends!

-       Madi then donates a pair to a woman in need.

-       As underwear is the most under-donated item...you've just helped a fellow sister feel more comfortable and supported.

"Underwear is a woman’s most personal garment -- we know what we’re attracted to and feel most comfortable in."

This company, created by the lovely Hayley Besheer in Kansas City, Missouri in 2014, is outstanding!

Undeniably Smitten!

clever, pretty panties - Good and Fair

Looking for yummy, sexy, sporty, altogether covered panties? Well, look no further...the perfect knickers!

These are made of soft, 95% organic cotton and 5% Lycra...creating an ideal amount of softness and stretch. These are super-fitting, low rise with a supple elastic waistband.

Good and Fair Clothing produces its wares ethically, with a funding and supply chain dedicated to treating workers with dignity and respect.

Fair Trade Certified, Good and Fair also produces other basics such as tees, scarves and boxers for the guys!

How could we not be...Smitten!

super, sexy, sustainable - Thinx

How excited could one possibly get over undies? The answer is quite! I am quite crazed about these deliciously sexy, well-designed and logical undergarments! Thinx is not only covering booties...but kicking booty as well!

As women, girls, gals...we have all had the experience of leaking through a tampon or pad and ruining a pair of fantabulous undies. This is a bummer...but not nearly as bad as not having access to tampons or pads in the first place.

This is mad but true: 100 million girls in the developing world fall behind in school because of their periods. In some countries, girls are made to feel shame about their periods, and very often are not able to afford disposable pads or tampons. Over time, many are forced to drop out. (In Uganda, girls miss around 11% of their academic year because of their periods, according to a report on menstrual management.)

The gals behind Thinx (self-absorbing underwear) are sisters Radha and Miki Agrawal and Antonia Dunbar, who saw a need and filled it...handily!

The women patented their THINX QuadTECH technology, and created these ingenious undies that come in three different styles: Thong, Cheeky, and Hiphugger, with prices ranging from $24 to $34.

Here's how it comes together for all of us:

~ You buy a pair of Thinx panties (or build a cycle set)...for your needs and comfort during the month.

~ Thinx then send funds to their partner organization, AFRIpads (which is on the ground in Uganda with 130 employees and four factories.)

~ AFRIpads trains women to sew and sell washable, reusable cloth pads, turning local women into entrepreneurs!

~ A girl is then able to purchase an affordable and sustainable pack of pads, keeping them in school every day of the month.

These undies are brilliant and I am Smitten.

put your money where your lips are - Yum Balms

Who knew that an attractive little tube of delectable shiny lip balm could do so much good in the world? Jody Weiss did! 

In 2002 Jody created an all-natural cosmetics line called PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics, the first cosmetics line to donate 100 percent of all profits (after taxes) to women’s health and human rights organizations.

Their focus is to help bond the exceptional, fortuitous women of this country, with the women who by chance of birthplace, have been born into a world with challenged resources and opportunities. 

Jody’s own personal journey is a potent and inspiring one!

She’s also conceived an efficient way to participate effectively as a philanthropist with PeaceKeeper, and help end the cycle of poverty and exploitation for millions of women and girls around the world for just a dollar a day!

Please check out the rest of the Cause-Metic line: Mega Balms, Lip Sticks, Glosses and Nail Polish. 

Smitten.