By Laura Ferreiro
It’s always inspiring to see how companies use music and charitable giving to take their brands to new heights. At the recent Agenda trade show in Long Beach, hundreds of clothing, accessory and streetwear purveryors converged to show off their latest lines and explain the philosophy behind their brands.
Eco-friendly brand ECOALF at Agenda 2013
ECOALF
Spanish brand ECOALF embodies the idea that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. The eco-friendly company uses discarded tires to make shoes and flip-flops, plastic bottles to create bags, and recycled fishing nets as the fabric for their clothing. Their looks for men, women and kids are sporty yet chic, high-fashion and highly functional. What’s even better, it’s totally sustainable!
House of Marley
Some brands, such as House of Marley, integrate music and philanthropy into their very fabric. As the name would suggest, House of Marley was established by Bob Marley’s wife, Rita, and the Marley family to keep the reggae legend’s “vision of hope and unity alive.” The company, which sells stylish headphones, audio systems, bags and watches, was showing off its latest products at Agenda. Not only are they made from earth-friendly materials such as recyclable woods, metals and textiles, but Marley products support 1Love, the Marley family charity that’s dedicated to supporting youth, the planet and peace. We love it!
Sunskis
An exciting new sunglasses company founded by a surfer after returning from a life-changing trip to Australia inspired this sporty, lightweight and flexible line of “sunnies.” Not only are the glasses attractive and affordable, but the company is a member of 1% for the Planet and donates proceeds to the Leave No Trace Center, which educates kids about the importance of environmental awareness and activism, and the Surfrider Foundation, which protects the world’s oceans and beaches.
Teva
Many outdoor enthusiasts are fans of Teva’s ultra-comfy and durable sport sandles and hiking shoes, but did you know that the brand has been supporting clean water charities since it was founded 25 years ago? For every pair of shoes Teva sell, they have committed to cleaning up a foot of shoreline. Teva is also the official footwear sponsor of First Descents, a non-profit committed to helping young adults with cancer and empowering them to regain control of their lives by experiencing outdoor adventure therapy through kayaking, rock climbing and other outdoor adventure sports.
Katie and Stewart from Krochet Kids
We also ran into our friends at Krochet Kids, who were showing off their adorable bags, tees and hats. This unique non-profit sells handmade crocheted apparel and accessories made by women in impoverished communities around the world. Proceeds from the sales of the items go directly back to the communities to create a cycle of employment, education and mentorship for communities in developing nations. It also aims to inspire young people to work for positive change in the world.