#this shirt is 100% COTTON. it has no good reason to be dry clean only

[paradoxlemonade]

"weh weh I'm dry clean only don't even look at me or I'll fall apart" got it, cold wash on a gentle cycle in a garment bag, lay flat to dry. Either survive and become part of my wardrobe or die like the vermin you are

[aaron-leon]

Children's Clothing: 5 Reasons to Choose Combed Cotton

If you’re a mum, grandma, auntie, or grandmother-to-be, you’ll know that your child’s wardrobe needs a makeover. The days of a pair of well-worn jeans and a t-shirt being good enough are fast becoming a distant memory.

It’s time to get out the scissors and start the sewing, otherwise, your little one’s wardrobe may end up looking pretty drab in the months and years to come.

With this in mind, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to helping you make the most of your baby’s wardrobe from birth to three years old.

So, without further ado, here’s a run-down of 5 reasons to shop combed cotton in your kids' innerwear:

1. Good for kid's innerwear

In the last decade or so, many parents have begun to notice a change in the make-up of their child’s clothing. The ‘nappy’ days of cuddly, fuzzy, and cheap clothes are fading fast. Most children’s clothes are now made from combed cotton. The term refers to a textile that has been combed, meaning the thread used to weave it has been carefully manipulated to be smooth, softer, and more absorbent. This means it is much better at absorbing and keeping odor and moisture away from your child’s skin. It also makes washing and drying a child’s clothes so much easier and more hassle-free. It’s a great thing.

2. Healthy

Children’s combed cotton is significantly more hygienic than cheaper fabrics because it is smoother and softer. A recent study of 100 children’s cotton bed sheets showed that cotton has a lower bacterial content than all of the other fabrics studied, including microfibres, polyester, polycotton, polypropylene, and acrylic. Cotton fibers contain no harmful chemicals like dyes, phthalates, or pesticides. It also means that the cloth wipes used during and after nappy changes are clean and will make your child much less likely to become ill.

3. Quality

If you’re looking for quality, combed cotton for kid's innerwear is the way to go. The cotton fibers used for most combed cotton kids' clothes are smoother and softer than the cheaper synthetic fibers used for polyester and other synthetics. This means they’re much more comfortable for your child. They also look and feel better, with a more attractive appearance and feel that lasts longer. A few years down the line, the cotton fibers used in combed cotton clothes are still softer than the fibers used for traditional cotton clothing.

4. Sustainability

When you buy kid's innerwear, you can help protect the environment. This is because the cotton you choose should come from somewhere ‘ethical’. In the majority of cases, combed cotton comes from more sustainable regions in India and Pakistan. Many clothing companies are beginning to recognize the need to source their cotton responsibly and are investing in more sustainable growing practices. 

5. Style

Cuddly, soft, and luxurious, combed cotton is not just great for your children, it’s great for you too. Kids’ clothing is not just for playing in and taking dirty nappy changes – it can be quite stylish too. From stylish casual clothing to cool school wear, babies’ clothes are available in a wide variety of styles and themes. 

This new and improved wardrobe is jam-packed with stylish, quality clothes that are not only easy to buy but that looks amazing in the long term. With a great fit, smart fabrics, and the ability to add fun and practical details, children’s clothes are getting better all the time.

[angelrichsoft20]

The Environmental Impacts of the Polyester

When it comes to fashion, polyester is a popular choice. It’s not just versatile but also cheap, and for that reason, it has become omnipresent in the garment industry. Polyester is a synthetic petroleum-based fiber made up of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol.

Polyester has wrinkle-free attributes due to which garments that are made from this fabric need not be ironed to keep their shape. It is also very easy to wash, and dry polyester made clothes in winters. The clothes tend to last long if made from superior quality polyester. However, most manufacturers use cheap quality polyester to meet the demand and make more money.

The fabric is not just limited to the fashion world but is also used in the production of electrical insulation, industrial fabrics, recording tapes, and home furnishings.

Let us first talk in brief about recycled polyester.

What is recycled polyester?

The only good thing about polyester is that it can be fully recycled, and it’s feasible to produce polyester from reused plastic bottles. This means it’s possible to manufacture polyester without needing fossil fuel stocks as a result of which we can reduce waste and keep the ecosystem away from the harmful impacts of polyester. That being said, you need to be mindful of fleeces as reports show that fleeces produced from reused polyester might be a greater source of pollution than polyester itself.

Considering the widespread presence of Polyester, it makes sense to understand the environmental impacts of polyester and how sustainable this fabric is.

It’s Non-biodegradable

The majority of polyesters present in the market are non-decomposable and will persist in the environment for 20 years and, depending on conditions., even 100 years. Still, want to buy the polyester shirt you saw at your favorite store the other day?

It causes pollution

Polyester is a synthetic petroleum-based fiber, and apparently, petroleum refineries are infamous for contributing to large amounts of pollution in the atmosphere. Moreover, synthetic clothes are known to pollute the oceans and cause microplastic pollution.

It’s toxic to plants, animals, and humans

The coloring of polyester takes disperse dyes, which are indissoluble. Just like polyester, the production of disperse dyes require harmful chemicals that are non-biodegradable and, if left untreated, can cause a serious threat to the environment. The majority of polyesters are produced in Asian countries, including Indonesia, Bangladesh, and China, where laws related to the environment are almost negligent; hence harmful chemicals that can lead to severe air and water pollution are often discharged untreated. This toxicity causes pollution as well as damage to flora and fauna.

Apart from causing significant environmental issues, the dyes used in the manufacturing of polyesters are also harmful to humans. Dye workers around the globe are at higher risk of cancer and other lung diseases than the rest of the population.

The manufacturing of polyester is water-intensive

Polyester is manufactured through a rigorous energy heating process, needing huge measures of water for cooling. In fact, the water-intensity required for the manufacturing of polyester is way higher than for natural textiles.

If not handled efficiently, this can cause the water table to drop and reduced access to clean drinking water, especially in countries where polyester is usually produced.

Final words

Polyester has a substantial effect on the environment. In regard to the sky-high environmental cost of the vogue, poor quality polyester is likely the biggest culprit. If you are in favor of maintaining an eco-friendly closet, we advise you not to buy polyester made clothes unless the fabric is produced from recycled polyester.

Try to purchase garments that are made from natural fibers, including organic cotton and hemp. But if you still prefer polyester, try to limit your purchase to recycled rainwear or sportswear garments though the microfibres will still pollute the oceans. If you want to throw away the old and torn polyester clothes, make sure you first get it recycled. Recycling of old polyester is becoming prevalent; however, you will have to do your homework to find out whether or not you have a recycling program active in your neighborhood. Stick to these practices, and you can surely contribute to lowering the effect of polyester on the environment.

[clothing-12]

The Top 3 Secrets to Buying Apparel

One outing to the rear of your storage room and you might find somewhere around one horrendous illustration of an attire buy turned out badly. In the event that you must purchase for your organization or association, these tips will assist with staying away from the pressure of settling on some unacceptable decision. You need to give an exceptionally private endowment of significant worth to be worn and delighted in into the indefinite future. At the point when your clients, planned clients or workers get to the rear of their storeroom, you don't need your organization's shirt hanging as a nonconformist, never to be worn.

For what reason would it be a good idea for you to purchase clothing? Giving clothing to advance your business is by a wide margin the #1 direct promoting item class with yearly deals assessed at $5.6 billion. Almost 30% of all special buys are attire. Design, structure and capability alongside your image picture are an otherworldly mix. Before you set your last strategies in motion, we should gather up the disarray and go with your choice simpler. There are 3 regions to consider: texture capability, orientation style and quality. By zeroing in on these 3 regions, you can make a superior choice for what turns out best for your venture and financial plan. Then, I'll let you know a few normal goofs to keep away from while purchasing clothing. At long last, you will see replies to some oftentimes asked client inquiries.

THE TOP 3 SECRETS TO BUYING APPAREL

Execution Apparel and Performance Brands are current clothing popular expressions.

What is your piece of clothing going to do? How might it be utilized? Start considering the end. Corporate purchasers and non-benefit bunches are currently searching for structure and capability as a key thought.

100 percent Cotton is imparting the spotlight to numerous manufactured textures, for example, execution attire. Execution clothing has many credits: hostile to wrinkle, hostile to blur, hostile to pill, against shrivel, against stretch, antimicrobial and dampness wicking, to give some examples. This clothing can stand hard use and steady washing requests of exercises like those of eatery servers and development laborers. Numerous athletic and golf clothing lines utilize antimicrobial textures to diminish microbes development brought about by sweat.

Remember that waterproof, water-safe and water-repellant don't mean exactly the same thing. Waterproof pieces of clothing are crease fixed, ready to endure a particular measure of water strain and keep the wearer dry. Water-safe attire is synthetically treated to oppose water. To be viewed as water-repellant, a texture should oppose infiltration by finishing assessments when washing and cleaning. You might be catching wind of an exceptionally well known presentation texture called dampness wicking. This attire is produced using engineered materials intended to draw dampness away from the body.

Be keeping watch for various names for a similar exhibition highlights. Attire creators have marked their presentation items. Here are only 4 models:

ClimaCool - Adidas innovation that keeps air streaming around the piece of clothing to assist with managing internal heat level.

Cool FX - Izod innovation that scatters dampness across the article of clothing.

Dri-Fit: Nike water-wicking framework to keep the wearer dry

StretchFlex: Bella-Alo's stretch texture.

People's styles and sizes are totally different. Many brands offer buddy styles to dress all kinds of people.

Men's shirts are formed straight through the middle with the shoulders marginally inclining down from the neckline and the sleeve slanting down at a point. Fundamental fit contemplations include the neck, shoulder and sleeves. Men's sleeve lengths are offered short or long sleeves down to the wrist. Men's diminutive sleeve shirts are worn longer on the arm, in certain styles down to the elbow. Oversize shirts have similar cut at this point bigger in general aspects.

Ladies' shirts are customized to all the more likely fit a ladies' normal shape and to give more solace. Fitting at the abdomen makes the shirt lighter and more agreeable without extra free texture batching at the midsection. Sleeves are normally more limited and fit nearer to the shoulder. A few ladies' shirts are accessible in a length sleeve, which is complimenting for ladies since it shows the slimmest piece of the arm while covering the upper arm. Fitted at the midriff, many ladies' shirts will include a slight erupting at the hips.

One more key differentiation in ladies' attire is erupting to consider the distinction in chest sizes. Erupting compliments a lady's elements, considering better development and solace without bundling of overabundance material. Alongside the custom fitted shape, ladies' styles are cut more diminutive than men's shirts. Another outstanding distinction is that ladies' shirt buttons are tracked down on the left half of the placket, while men's shirt buttons are on the right.

While picking your area for finishing attire, be aware of where on the body the plan will be shown. Many experienced purchasers attempt to avoid chest logos while dressing ladies.

Attire quality is recognized by 3 variables: texture type, development and layered strength.

For what reason improve quality pieces of clothing last longer? On reason is layered dependability; the article of clothing will oppose the inclination to contract or mutilate subsequent to washing. Quality clothing will keep up with its expected shape to wear above and beyond and over once more.

Peer inside the piece of clothing for quality. You will see twofold needle trims on better pieces of clothing, two columns of sewing sewn lined up with one another. Take a gander at the shirt's neck and shoulders and you'll find an inch of texture sewn over within creases. Taped neck creases, taped shoulder creases and twofold needle sews secure the creases, assist the piece of clothing with keeping up with its shape and give a more completed appearance.

Clothing weight (light, medium or significant burden) isn't the most ideal mark of an article of clothing's quality. Lightweight is around 4 oz. per square yard of texture; medium weight is around 5 oz. what's more, heavyweight is around 6 oz. Weight will likewise shift among textures. For instance, the frequently seen white shirt of numerous renowned brands is accessible in both a 5 oz. furthermore, a 6 oz. weight. While the lighter piece of clothing is more efficient, a white tee shirt is fairly straightforward and uncovering. Then again, the ultra well known Under Armor brand highlights shirt styles that are really slim and utilize exceptionally light weight execution textures.

[sandcreekfarm]

Top 8 Best Base Layer For Cold Weather Reviews (2021 Updated)

While stylish insulated jackets are the first gear for farmers in winter, they are hardly your most potent defense against the cold. If you are serious about staying warm when working outside, you should make sure to get the best base layer for cold weather as the foundation for other pieces of gear, like leather work boots, mid-layers, insulated vests, work gloves, etc.

Let’s explore my 8 top-rated base layers to complete your appropriate layering before the winter comes.

Top 8 Best Base Layer For Cold Weather 2021

Product ImageProduct NameFeaturesPrice LAPASA Men's M31Best Lightweight Base LayerSee latest Price Under Armour Men's Base Crew 2.0Best for DurabilitySee latest Price MERIWOOL Men’s Base LayerPrevent Annoying Sweat & OdorsSee latest Price Icebreaker Men’s Merino Wool Base LayerNo Chafing For Continuous Leg MovementsSee latest Price HEROBIKER Women's Thermal Underwear SetBest BudgetSee latest Price Under Armour Women's Base Crew 2.0Best for WomenSee latest Price MERIWOOL Women’s Base LayerAutomatically Adapted to Body TemperatureSee latest Price Kari Traa Women's Rose Base Layer BottomsFeminine DesignSee latest Price

In-depth 8 Top Rated Base Layer For Cold Weather Reviews

1. LAPASA Men’s M31 – Best Lightweight Base Layer

Check Latest Price on Amazon.com

LAPASA M31 is my best base layer clothing for cold weather in day-to-day farm activities outdoors like feeding livestock, cutting wood, plowing snow, loading grains, etc.

This undergarment set is designed with the user’s health in mind. It is made of 100% Australian merino wool that meets the STANDARD 100 Oeko-Tex – one of the world’s most well-known ratings for textiles tested for harmful substances. This label means that every detail of this base layer is safe for human health.

Since farm jobs are hyper-active and require continuous body movements, you need a lightweight base layer to avoid the bulky feeling. This LAPASA base weighs only 200gr/m2 and has a four-way stretch rib-knit hem and snug fit, allowing you to perform a wide range of motion in daily farm jobs.

Plus, it is made from thousands of 18.5-micron merino wool fibers to slide your skin smoothly with no itching like traditional wool clothes.

Pros Cons

Made of 100% natural Australian Merino wool for excellent insulation, breathability, safety, and comfort

Four-way stretch for maximizing your body movements

Easily removable tag

Lightweight

No separated top/bottom options

Too thin and fragile

2. Under Armour Men’s Base Crew 2.0 – Best for Durability

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By keeping your vital organs warm enough with the Under Armour base layer, you will regulate your good blood circulation. Thus, your arms and legs will always stay warm under frost winter mornings.

This Under Armour T-shirt is sufficient for small land or farm owners because it is more budget-friendly than the above LAPASA merino shirt. It is made of synthetic fabric, with 93% polyester and 7% elastane for extended stretchability, durability, and dryness.

Since Under Armour is a worldwide well-known brand in the sportswear industry, you can also use this T-shirt for various outdoor activities like hiking, camping, fishing, etc.

This long john is marked as Base 2.0 – which is applicable for cold weather conditions with moderate activity levels. If you live in extremely cold or arctic areas, you should look for a better-insulated base layer of Under Armour that is Base 3.0 or Base 4.0.

Pros Cons

Versatile for farm work and outdoor activities

Affordable price tag

Made of synthetic fabric for extreme durability, dryness, and sun protection

Scent Control technology

Only available in one color (pitch gray)

Not for severe cold weather

3. MERIWOOL Men’s Base Layer – Prevent Annoying Sweat & Odors

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Although the undergarment is the inner layer and is mainly used for farm work, you might want it to be more stylish. This MERIWOOL base layer offers you 9 color and pattern choices. You can mix this T-shirt with jeans to wear on a relaxed fall afternoon.

This base layer is also made of natural merino wool like the LAPASA one but slightly heavier with a unit weight of 250gr/m2. Still, it is comfortable enough for me with no itches like traditional wool shirts.

As stated by the manufacturer, you can safely clean this long-sleeved shirt in the washing machine using cold weather and dry it in the dryer with a low heat setting.

While performing physically active jobs like snow shoveling or harvesting crops, this T-shirt prevents sweat build-ups or annoying odors on your skin. The natural properties of Merino wool will instantly absorb moisture better than any other fabric. Thus, you will stay dry and comfortable all day long.

Pros Cons

Various color choices

Can be used as a base or mid-layer

Machine-washable and dryer-safe

30-day return

Slightly heavier than the LAPASA M31

4. Icebreaker Men’s Merino Wool Base Layer – No Chafing For Continuous Leg Movements

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If you already have a top base T-shirt, you might want to get these Icebreaker Thermal Pants for full-body protection against the upcoming frigid winter. These pants are available in 3 neutral color options – Black, Estate Blue, and Midnight Navy.

This men’s legging from Icebreaker is a perfect combination of natural and synthetic fabrics. It is made of 85% Merino wool and contains less synthetic material than traditional outdoor standards.

When getting this legging, you can experience both the coziness and breathability of natural Merino wool and the extreme stretchability and durability of sportswear.

These slim-fit pants feature an elastic waistband, making them a groovy pick for layering in winter. You can choose them as the inner layer and jeans as the outer layer.

Its flatlock seams help reduce chafing and avoid irritation on your skin. Thus, you can also use these pants for other sports that require continuous leg movements, like cycling.

Pros Cons

Slim-fit form with

Elastic waistband and flatlock seams for extra comfort

Contain synthetic fabric for extended longevity

Not true to size

5. HEROBIKER Women’s Thermal Underwear Set – Best Budget

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This HEROBIKER Underwear Set is the best budget base layer for women. This long underwear set provides next-to-skin comfort as the base layer for your farm clothes.

Still, it is thick enough to use as the outer layer for any indoor or outdoor activities, like shopping, climbing, snowboarding, yoga, fitness training, etc. You can even use it as the inner layer for your professional office outfit.

This has a remarkable lightweight and breathable construction with 92% ultra-soft polyester and 8% spandex, meaning that you don’t have to scarify your comfort for warmth.

This synthetic material combination is also much more affordable than natural wool workwear. Thus, you can give yourself several sets for utmost protection every day.

Although this underwear set is dryer-safe, you should wash it in cold water and let it dry naturally to extend its lifespan.

Pros Cons

Many fashionable color choices for women

The most affordable base layer

Made of synthetic material

The top is too short

6. Under Armour Women’s Base Crew 2.0

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This base layer is another Base 2.0 pick from Under Armour but for female farmers and workers.

Like the men’s version, this long-sleeved shirt includes everything you need for a moderate activity level in cool and cold weather. Some mutual characteristics between these two items are the UA Scent Control technology, lightweight, flexibility, four-way stretch construction.

So, what differentiates this T-shirt from the men’s version?

It is made of 100% cotton. Compared to synthetic material, cotton is suitable for certain outdoor conditions, like hunting in the forest on a warm sunny day or mountain biking in California.

However, since cotton retains moisture as its natural characteristic, it might make your skin sticky or cause strong body odors. Using a cotton base layer like this Under Armour shirt even results in emergencies like hypothermia.

Therefore, this Under Armour shirt is still an excellent pickup for certain moderate weather conditions. You might want to explore an alternative that is better in insulation and moisture-wicking.

Pros Cons

Suitable to use for warm or cool days

Lightweight and high flexibility

Made of 100% cotton; Can’t keep you warm better than synthetic or Merino wool fabric

7. MERIWOOL Women’s Base Layer – Automatically Adapted to Body Temperature

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This MERIWOOL base layer is similar to the above men’s version but available in more color variations. I bet that you will give a big “YES” to this thermal shirt. Because for female workers, performance should always go along with fashion.

This base layer is also manufactured of Merino wool from Australian sheep. Unlike any fabrics like cotton or synthetic, his textile is automatically adapted to your body temperature. Thus, you will never feel too hot or cold in any circumstance.

Another reason that I love this MERIWOOL product is that you have 30 days to try the product. If you don’t feel happy with it or want to exchange your item for a more suitable sizing and color choice, you can get it back to the manufacturer.

Nonetheless, each shirt comes with a 1-year limited warranty, covering manufacturing and material defects.

Pros Cons

Wide range of colors to serve women’ fashion tastes

Excellent customer care policies

Adaptive textile

Not suitable for women with a long torso

8. Kari Traa Women’s Rose Base Layer Bottoms – Feminine Design

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Why limit your winter workwear to dull solid colors when you can play with patterns? This feminine Rose Base bottom from Kari Traa has funny colors of the Scandinavian winter. You can use it as a base layer for farm maintenance tasks or as an outer layer for winter sports like skiing, hiking, or snowboarding.

Made of natural Merino wool, these thermal pants keep your bottom body warm when going with leather work boots and a good pair of insulated socks. The side panels are thinner to better wick away sweat and moisture from your skin.

Besides, its firm but soft elastic waistband keeps the pants in one place but doesn’t cause any sores on your belly.

What don’t I like about this item? The fabric is see-through and hard to be worn alone. If you just want a bottom to wear inside your work pants, this is a good one. But if you want it to be both an inner and outer layer, you will have to find thicker pants.

Pros Cons

Classic and feminine design

Thinner side panels for moisture-wicking efficiency

Durable elastic waistband

The fabric is see-through; can’t be worn alone

Final Words

There is no perfect choice for everyone in every circumstance. In other words, the best base layer for cold weather for you is the one that meets your fashion style and work preferences.

LAPASA M31 is my all-time classic choice for both farm work and outdoor activities. This set is a valuable pick with both the top and the bottom for full-body protection. It is also the only item on the list that meets the STANDARD 100 Oeko-Tex rating, the golden standard for users’ comfort and safety.

Source: Top 8 Best Base Layer For Cold Weather Reviews (2021 Updated)

source https://sandcreekfarm.net/best-base-layer-for-cold-weather-reviews/

[bluebirdblanket-blog]

Top 10 Best Disney Blankets For Adults

The Disney blankets for adults is made of 100% polyester. It is soft, warm, cool and cozy. The stylish and beautiful designs on the blanket make it a great idea to give it to your loved ones on special occasions like birthday, valentine or Christmas. By using it, you can feel relax at home after very hard work. The beautiful and elegant designs on the blanket make your family and friends fan of this blanket. Further, the blanket is of high-quality, soft and smooth that makes your environment very comfortable and wonderful. The thickness of the blanket is designed so well providing ample breathability. Furthermore, it is easy to wash and easy to dry keeping in view the safety and health of your family. It is available in a variety of colors, patterns, designs and styles.

Top 10 Best Disney Blankets For Adults

1. A lavish super soft Franco Bedding blanket Your little princess will have a sense of security and sound tucked into the delicate and comfortable support of this Disney Princess weighted cover. Highlighting Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, and Rapunzel with a moving "Be Strong Be You" message, this beautiful weighted cover makes certain to be a hit with youthful Disney cover for grown-ups' fans. This super-delicate weighted cover is a warm and comfortable approach to assist kids with having a sense of safety while resting, dozing, voyaging, or nestling up to watch their preferred Disney Princess undertakings. It's intended to apply delicate, even weight that copies the sentiment of being embraced. The Disney Princesses keep on catching the hearts and minds of Disney cover for grown-up fans with their unconventional stories of fun and experience. Bring the enchantment off of the screen and into your home with this top-notch weighted cover and door handle pad set including a portion of her preferred majestic companions.

Features It is made of 100% Polyester The Disney Princesses weighted blanket featuring Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, and Rapunzel in a colorful “Be Strong Be You” design plus doorknob pillow as a bonus It is a great idea to give young fans as gifts. It can be used as Disney blanket for adults’ The blanket is soft and cozy. The high-quality, soft and smooth texture creates a comfortable environment. It is best in times of relaxation and restful sleep It comes in premium quality and is designed to keep in view children’s safety. It measures 36"(W) x 48"(L) and weighs 4. 5 pounds. This blanket is recommended for children aged 3 to 8 years that weigh 35 to 55 pounds. The decorative bonus doorknob pillow measures 6. 5" (L) x 4" (W) with an attached band that will fit a standard door handle. It is easy to wash without worrying about the color fading. The wrinkle-free material makes it easy to clean option for a kid. 2. Disney Frozen Diamond Dazzle Blanket The Style Name is Diamond Dazzle. It keeps kids warm and comfortable with Disney's Frozen "Diamond Dazzle”. it has a reversible silk touch throw by The Northwest Company. It comes in multicolor. It is a double-sided warm throw blanket.

Features The blanket has dimensions of 40"W x 50" L It comes in multicolor t is a double-sided warm throw blanket It has two different graphics on both sides. On one side there is a picture of Elsa, and her sister Anna, the ice princess; and on another side, there is a picture of Elsa, Anna, and snowman Olaf It is silky, soft and cozy It is washable in the machine It can be used as Disney blanket for adults’ It is made of 100% Polyester 3. A super-soft multicolor throw blanket This enormous cover measure and highlights an image of Winnie the Pooh in his exemplary red shirt, clasping hands with Piglet strolling towards a red inflatable. The structure improves the hand-drawn viewpoints, loaning an unconventional vibe to the toss. This exemplary Disney cover for grown-ups' sweeping is an extraordinary expansion to your assortment of Disney stuff. For any Disney fan, the connection to a most loved exemplary character is constantly an enjoyable thing to show in your home. Regardless of whether you are giving it as a blessing or saving it for yourself, this Cozy-Chic cover makes certain to be an enjoyment. It doesn't make a difference how old you are or in case you're a kid or a young lady. From child young men and young ladies, little children and teenagers to grown-up people, these delightful, top-notch covers are a phenomenal expansion to your bedding or home stylistic layout. Every one of these covers is made of delicate polyester yarn with a vintage structure. This vintage style cover has twofold layer jacquard sew plan with a showed feel. The cover has an almond tan foundation outwardly, with red accents and dark frameworks. The inside side of the cover has a darker red shading. This kaleidoscopic topic is an incredible method to support the stylistic theme of your home. Not exclusively does the sweeping feel incredible and fill in as an enjoyment token of your adoration for Winnie the Pooh, however, it additionally fills in as an extraordinary toss for a show around your home. These covers look extraordinary on couches, seats, or at the foot of the bed. Not at all like different covers that are more for appearance, this sweeping is cuddly, comfortable, and delicate, making it an enjoyable bit of completely utilitarian stylistic theme.

Features It is made of 100% polyester The fanciful and adorable design Winnie The Pooh with Piglet on the blanket The blanket comes in three sizes: small, medium and large The blanket is equally valuable for people of all ages It has a dimension of 54” x 72”  It comes in Multicolor It also serves as Home Decor 4. The Pouch blanket Plush doll resemble with bunny rabbit This is a Disney themed with park authentic Baby Thumper in a Pouch blanket. It is a plush doll. It is about 10 inches. It is very cute.

Features The plush blanket pouch is printed and looks like a bunny rabbit from Bambi It is super soft It is original, authentic and genuine from Disney store It has varied furry texture It is printed with the satin butterfly on the tail Our plush piglet in a print blanket pouch is the softest sow in the Pacific Islands. 5. A princess Belle Rosewater throw blanket for kids from Disney store The sweeping is delicate, warm, agreeable and highlights your little one's preferred princess Belle, it is produced using 100% polyester and is as delicate as it is beautiful. It is likewise machine launderable. The Fleece cover ideal for a princess themed little child bedding set for young ladies. Made of 100% Polyester.

Feature It is 100% made of Polyester It is super soft and warm blanket Great bed accessory for girls. It is themed for toddler It has lively colors and good design 6. An ultra-soft and cozy Unicorn blanket for kids with 4 color options An all-regular answer for hyper-dynamic kids with resting inconveniences utilizing steady and agreeable strain to quiet them down for a quick rest. Weighted covers give the uniform pressure, which can be very quieting and unwinding, that is the reason weighted covers can be utilized to unwind whenever, not only for rest. The two sides are made of smooth wool texture without pilling, which cares every last trace of your infant's skin with an additional glow. What's more, the sans wrinkle and against static highlights include more solace.

Features The blanker is pictured with popular unicorn pattern It is the safe and fuzzy weighted blanket for kids The blanket is safe to be washed in the machine without any risk of deformation or shedding It has a dimension of 41 x 60inch weighted 7 Lbs. It has a 7-layer structure by applying cutting-edge to evenly distribute the weight. The non-toxic and odorless glass beads are placed in the middle with 3 layers of anti-leakage protection respectively. Further, the small-sized 4x4 inches pocket design protects and stabilized the glass beads. The blanket is ideal for kids weighing 60 to 80 lbs. It has a lifetime warranty and 30 days refund guarantee 7. The muslin blanket for girls, and boys, and ideal swaddling set for baby For a considerable length of time; moms have utilized delicate; common muslin to swaddle their little ones. Be that as it may, maybe they've never done it so beautifully as with these Aden + Anais swaddle wraps. Every normal enclose tells the truth; great print that is likewise delicate to the touch for guardians and child. What's more, the texture is breathable so your kid won't overheat - guaranteeing a decent day or night's rest!

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Features The fleece baby blanket is made of Polyester It is Imported It is a super soft and luxury coral fleece blanket It is featuring the Minnie Mouse napping on a gray crescent moon The background color is Soft white with multi-colored gray stars The Measures of the blanket is 30" x 40" The blanket is of perfect size to wrap the little one The blanket is appropriate for the kid of minimum age 0 and maximum age: 5 Years Read the full article

[bellabooks]

Fanfiction to Published Novelist Finalist #3: “I Sing the Body Electric” by Zoe Kane

I Sing the Body Electric by Zoe Kane Work: The 100 Pairing: Abby Griffin and Raven Reyes, The 100 (set post-season 2 finale)   She had no idea how long it was before she slowly edged back into consciousness again, but she was immediately aware that she was no longer collapsed on the ground inside the Mount Weather door.  Everything felt different, sounded different, smelled different.  Not like home, but not like concrete either.  She lay for a moment with her eyes closed, trying to analyze the strange sensations hovering at her periphery.  What was it?  Something was off.  Something was strange.  It took several minutes for it to click – it was such an alien sensation – but when she did she was so startled that she spoke the words aloud. “I’m in a bed,” she exclaimed in wonderment. “Good morning,” came Abby’s sardonic voice from nearby.  “Gold star for observational skills.” Raven opened her eyes. She was lying in a large, expensive-looking carved bed, in an otherwise spartan bedroom, with no other furniture except a small chest of drawers and a wooden chair, in which Abby was currently sitting.  An open door nearby led to an equally deserted-looking living room, where the corner of a couch was barely visible.  No personal effects anywhere. “Guest quarters, I suspect,” Abby explained, answering the unspoken question. “Or maybe they had more rooms than they needed. I didn’t want us sleeping on concrete, but the living quarters felt, well, too…” “Haunted,” Raven finished for her, struggling to sit up. “Exactly. But I did want to try and make you comfortable.” “It’s morning, you said?” Abby nodded, which when the penny dropped and the thing Raven really ought to have noticed first finally jumped out at her. Light. “Right. So. I have good news and bad news,” Abby told her, watching Raven’s eyes flick upwards to stare at the electrical lamp shining merrily from the ceiling. “The good news is that the backup generator kicked on about an hour after you conked out last night.  The bad news is that the security systems aren’t on the backup generator. So we have light, and power, and oxygen, and heat, and food, and all that good stuff, but we can’t unlock the doors. I’m afraid we’re camped out until Wick arrives to jailbreak us.” She looked at Raven appraisingly. “How do you feel?” “Lucid,” said Raven.  “Better than last night.” “You were lucid last night,” Abby informed her. “Very.  You were having an anxiety attack brought on by the sound of somebody from the convoy using an electric drill.  Right?”  Raven nodded.  “Is it better today?” “Yeah.  I think so.” “How do you feel?” “Hungry.” Abby laughed.  “Good,” she said dryly, rising from the chair and making her way towards the bedroom door. “That’s promising.” Raven pulled back the covers and stood up to follow her, then froze, suddenly startled by the whisper of warm air on bare skin alerting her that she was wearing only her cotton shorts and camisole, the rest of her clothes folded neatly at the foot of the bed. “You undressed me,” she said to Abby, unable to keep a faint note of accusation out of her voice, though she didn’t quite know why. “I didn’t think you’d want to sleep in your boots and jacket,” Abby pointed out reasonably, to which Raven couldn’t really argue.  “Get dressed, I’ll be out here when you need me.”  Then she left, closing the door behind her. It took Raven a second to pin down what exactly it was, that strange electrical current that pulsed through her when she thought about Abby removing her clothes. Abby’s hands on her. Abby’s fingertips brushing her skin, gently easing the shirt over her head, unbuttoning her pants and slipping them over her hips, tucking her into a bed she had somehow located pillows and blankets for, after carrying Raven downstairs in her arms all by herself. When Raven realized what it was, it startled her. It wasn’t discomfort, embarrassment, awkwardness . . . it was regret. Abby had touched her whole body, and she had been unconscious and missed it. Her feelings about this were decidedly more complicated than they should have been. She dressed quickly and opened the door to the living room to see Abby folding up a thin blanket, setting it on top of a flimsy pillow on a cramped ancient-looking sofa. “Jesus, Abby, is that where you slept?” “It was fine.” “Now I feel like a jerk.  We can trade tonight.  I’ll take the couch.” “Nonsense.  I don’t mind.  Better than my cot at Camp Jaha, in fact.  Here,” she said, handing Raven a cup and a plate.  “Breakfast. And coffee.” The coffee was good and strong and black, and it made Raven feel human again.  The plate had a small pastry on it, glistening with crystals of sugar, and a heap of fresh fruit. She devoured it in seconds. “I had some time to explore after I put you to bed last night,” said Abby, “and the good news is, we won’t be going hungry.” Abby had finished her work while Raven slept, crates of medical supplies now neatly packed and waiting by the Mount Weather doors, so now she had nothing to do except appoint herself Raven’s new assistant. “I’m a doctor with exactly one patient,” she said firmly.  “You.” Raven was uneasy about returning to the control room, but it was different with Abby there. Abby brought blankets and couch cushions to make them more comfortable, and several battery-powered lanterns, “just in case.” She took careful notes while Raven worked and dictated instructions, and disappeared from time to time to return with food – real food, not protein rations, things grown in the ground that Raven had only heard about in stories. Their system for hauling produce from Mount Weather to Camp Jaha was still limited, so they’d mostly been ferrying back sturdy things, like root vegetables and squash. Raven had never tasted a strawberry before. “Stop working for a minute,” Abby ordered her each time, “and taste this.”  And Raven did. Strawberries first, later in the morning; then, a few hours later, for lunch, a plate of sliced tomatoes drizzled with a tart-sweet dark syrup – “balsamic vinegar,” said Abby – and thin slices of several dry, highly-spiced cured meats, alongside thick torn wedges of crusty bread. Then tea, in the afternoon, real black tea, not just weak forest leaves steeped in boiling water to give it some dull kind of flavor, but a sharp, brisk, richly-flavored Darjeeling with milk and sugar, served alongside impossibly delicate little sweets that looked like edible lace. The drill did not return with Abby there. The drill stayed far away.  Raven began to feel like Raven again, drawing maps, examining wires, logging into the control room’s computer system to pull up building schematics.  She would, as it turned out, need Wick for this – which annoyed her – but her mounting excitement was so powerful it could withstand even that. With Wick and Monty’s help, she felt sure there was a way to funnel power from Mount Weather down to the camp. She kept her promise not to mess with anything, but she had done what she came to do. Abby finally made Raven stop working to eat dinner, which they ate in their rooms; Abby was willing to brave the storage rooms and kitchens, but not the dining room where all those dead bodies had lain for so long. The little apartment felt unexpectedly homey, Raven thought, stepping inside to see Abby setting plates down on the rickety wooden table and pouring two big glasses of wine. “This was my deal with Sinclair,” she explained, handing one of them to Raven.  “I said if he couldn’t figure out a way to spring the locks from the outside and get us out for another night, then I would be cracking into the liquor storage.  He said that sounded fair.” “What is this?” “Bordeaux, it said. I have no idea what that is, by the way.  I don’t know anything about wine or food.” “Could’ve fooled me.  Whatever you’ve been feeding me so far has been amazing.” “Well, I have to look it all up,” Abby confessed as she returned to the stove. “The whole kitchen storage system is cataloged so it tells you what each thing is and where it’s stored and it’s cross-referenced to a library of recipes.”  Raven stared at her, which Abby misinterpreted and gave an apologetic laugh. “Don’t worry,” she reassured the girl.  “I’m a scientist.  I’m really good at following directions.” “You learned how to cook,” Raven said blankly, eyes wide. “For me.  In like . . . a day.” Abby waved this off.  “None of this was real cooking. Just putting things on plates. And this was in the deep-freeze, I only had to warm it.” “I don’t care,” said Raven, taking her seat. “You’re my hero.”  And as Abby brought dinner to the table, sat down and picked up her glass of wine, Raven clinked her own lightly against Abby’s and drank deeply. The whole evening became a soft, languid haze of magnificent sensations.  The wine spread a rich, heavy warmth inside Raven, like a velvet blanket unfurling. The stew in front of her – a hearty, well-spiced concoction of white beans and sausage, flecked with greens, in a thick red broth – was savory and filling and lovely. She ate three bowls full, sopping up the last of the broth with more of the same crusty bread they’d had with lunch; no, she hadn’t baked, Abby explained laughingly in answer to Raven’s question, the bread had also been in the deep-freeze but warmed up good as new in the oven. They spoke little, the silence between them relaxed and happy, both immersed in the sensory experience of eating like this. It was still such a novel experience to be free of Ark protein cubes, to eat things whose scents and flavors awakened long-dormant senses and desires inside of you, to feel content, to be full. When they were finished, and the bowls were rinsed clean, Raven poured the last of the wine into their glasses and moved to the couch. After a brief hesitation, Abby followed. “Can I ask you a question?” Abby sat down on the opposite end of the couch, drawing her feet up underneath her.  “Sure.” “Why don’t you hear the drill?” Abby understood immediately, and took a long thoughtful sip of her wine, unhurried, carefully considering her answer.  “I do,” she said finally. “I do hear it sometimes. And I see Jake being floated. And the blood on Clarke’s hands. With – ”  She stopped suddenly. “With Finn,” said Raven, voice flat and heavy.  “You can say it.” “Yes.”  Abby’s voice was impossibly gentle.  “With Finn.  I see it.  I see all of it. When I sleep. When I’m awake. When I look around the camp at those kids. I see it. But it doesn’t hit me the way you do.  I don’t know why.  We all experience it in different ways.”  She looked at Raven seriously, steadily, for a long moment, and answered the question circling around Raven’s mind without it even being asked. “You’re not weak, you know,” she said bluntly. “It isn’t a character flaw. The anxiety attacks. This wasn’t the first one, was it?”  Raven, startled, froze before finally conceding. “And you look at me, or Wick or Kane or Bellamy, and you don’t see them responding in the same way, and you think everyone has figured out how to sleep at night except for you.  That you’re the soft one, the weak one.  That they got to you.  You’re afraid it will be this way forever.  You’re afraid that it means they’ve won.” Raven couldn’t look at her. But she didn’t have to. Abby was right, and both of them knew it. Abby knocked back the rest of her wine, set the glass down and took the younger woman’s hands in hers.  “Listen to me, Raven Reyes,” she said, voice sharp with some nameless emotion. “You are the strongest person I have ever met. You are extraordinary. You are a warrior.”  She reached out a hand, almost absentmindedly, and tucked a loose strand of Raven’s hair behind her ear.  “But it’s okay for the warrior to admit that she’s survived a war.  It’s okay for her to admit that some of her scars are on the inside where no one can see.  They’re still battle scars, Raven.  There’s no shame in them.  You’re not weak.” Raven didn’t speak.  For a long moment, they just looked at each other, as something electric crackled in the air between them, something hovering just out of reach. Finally Abby, ever sensible, broke the tension herself, rising from the couch to take both now-empty wine glasses over to the counter to set them by the dinner dishes before turning back around without quite looking at Raven, hips pressed up against the counter as her hands gripped the edge of it as though for balance, even though she was standing still. “It’s getting late,” Abby said finally. “We should both get some sleep.  Now scoot,” she added, gesturing towards Raven, still on the couch. “You’re on my bed.” “Don’t be stupid,” said Raven, exasperated, making her way into the bedroom and stripping back down to her shorts and camisole. “You’re not spending another night on a hundred-year-old couch.” Abby didn’t follow her, didn’t even move.  “I’m telling you, it’s fine.” “And I’m telling you, you’re insane. This is a huge bed, and you’re a tiny lady. Get in.” She climbed under the covers and scooted over to one side of the bed, leaving the other half pointedly open. Abby finally moved from the kitchen to doorway but hesitated there, looking from the empty pillow to Raven to the sofa and back again, her whole body taut with uncertainty. “Abby,” Raven exclaimed. “Seriously. I’m never gonna sleep if I’m feeling guilty about you on the shitty couch all night. Will you please just come in?” So Abby came in, perching hesitantly on the very edge of the bed, on top of the covers, and sat for a long moment facing away from Raven as if unsure what the next step in the process was. “You’re still wearing all your clothes,” Raven pointed out. “Well, yes.” “Is that what you sleep in?” “No.” “Why are you being weird?” “I’m not being weird.” “Take off your pants and get in bed with me, Abby,” said Raven, in a joking voice, but the joke didn’t land, and she realized, with a tiny thrill, the reason why. Abby was nervous. Raven’s heart began pounding. If Abby felt nothing – if there was nothing between them – why had she slept on the couch last night, and why was she so uncharacteristically timid now? She’s thought about this, she realized suddenly. She wanted to get in bed with me last night but she resisted and that’s why she’s afraid to now. “Abby,” she snapped, a little too forcefully, desperately fighting to conceal the flutter of nerves in her own stomach.  “Just do it.” Perhaps to escape being forced to articulate an explanation if pressed any further, Abby gave in, switching off the bedside lamps to undress in the dark. Raven could feel her hesitant, quiet movements close by, and the soft rustling sounds of fabric falling to the floor made her swallow hard. Finally she felt the covers move and the mattress shift, and then all was still. Abby was lying in bed beside her.  For a long moment, neither of them spoke or moved, just lay staring up at the ceiling in the darkness. “Goodnight, Abby,” Raven finally whispered, rolling over to face her as her eyes began to adjust to the darkness and the curve of Abby’s form beneath the white sheets and duvet became visible. “Goodnight, Raven,” Abby said back, without moving or looking at her, and Raven closed her eyes. She slept for a little while, soundly and well, untroubled by dreams, soothed by the sweet sound of Abby’s breathing. She woke only once, in the middle of the night, when an unexpected sensation of chill roused her. She opened her eyes and rolled over and saw that the duvet had become entangled on Abby’s side of the bed, while she was shivering. Raven sat up, straightened the covers, tucked herself back in, and moved herself away from the cold edge of the bed into its warm center, so when she lay back down, the empty space between them was gone. Abby did not notice – might have still been asleep – but her body was blissfully warm beside Raven, suffusing her with a marvelous, silky heat. And so Raven could not stop herself from doing the thing she did next. She lifted up her head and moved her pillow until it lay end to end with Abby’s.  Then she reached out her arm and slipped it across the velvety skin of Abby’s bare stomach, pulling her close, curling up into her. Their arc of their bodies fit together perfectly, smooth and warm and right. Abby said nothing, but Raven felt her soften, almost imperceptibly, and heard a small sigh escape her lips. Abby was awake.  And she did not pull away. Feeling a little bolder, Raven opened her palm and rested it flat against Abby’s stomach, letting her fingertips stroke the delicate skin just a little. Abby sighed again and melted against Raven, becoming liquid, pliable, and the heat where their skin touched made Raven feel dizzy. But in a lovely way, a sweet blissful safe way, with no fear or pain. Just this beautiful woman she was unexpectedly holding in her arms in the softest bed either of them had ever felt in their lives. She held her close. They slept.   You can vote for this entry, here. http://dlvr.it/PxvnJT

[piscesbag21-blog]

12 Brands Designing with a Conscience

In partnership with our friends at

It may have taken a few years, if not decades, but ideas like sustainability, transparency, and fair trade are finally part of the national conversation. And it’s not stopping there. “Low-waste-water denim,” “single-use plastic,” and “responsibly-harvested cotton” are terms that companies are now brandishing with great pride. And for good reason: Your closet and your kitchen can have a truly clean conscience.

We’ve rounded up a few of the brands that are doing good—some big and powerful, others small and mighty, and a few that are new to the scene. These lines are thoughtful, stylish, and most beautiful of all, made with integrity.

S’WELL

Founder Sarah Kauss launched S’well in 2010 with a singular mission: Rid the world of plastic bottles. The good news is that S’well’s assortment of bottles has quite literally swelled—from the standard seventeen-ounce version to include tumblers (good for on-the-go morning coffee or a smoothie), and roamers (sized right for the park or for passing around the campfire). The bottles are made using Therma-S’well technology, so drinks are kept hot for twelve hours and cold for up to twenty-four. There are hundreds of colors, ombré patterns, a special collaboration with Liberty London, metallic camos—you name it. Best yet, an ongoing partnership with UNICEF allows S’well to focus efforts on supporting water programs in Madagascar, where 50 percent of the population lacks access to clean drinking water.

BIRDS & BEANS

It’s hard not to take coffee for granted—that is, until you learn about some of the effects of its harvesting. A large population of migrant songbirds that head to central and South America during the winter has been in decline due to a loss of habitat caused by deforestation by commercial coffee farms. In an effort to fight this, the founders of Bird & Beans Coffee dedicates its resources to nurturing natural, shade-grown coffee farms, which are a thriving habitat for the birds. By using environmentally sound and sustainably-grown beans, Birds & Beans helps to preserve more than 100,000 acres for the birds to live in. And the coffee—light, dark, and medium roasts—is robust and delicious.

BIRDS & BEANS FRENCH ROAST DECAF Birds & Beans, $14.25

BOLÉ ROAD TEXTILES

Interior designer Hana Getachew launched Bolé Road Textiles with the intention of getting back to her roots. Combining the two things that mattered to her most—her Ethiopian heritage and love for design—her beautiful, minimalist textiles are not only ethically sourced but handspun in Ethiopia using ancient weaving techniques. The result is authentically crafted pillows and textured throw blankets in abstract patterns that are as soft as they are pretty.

BOLÉ ROAD MAMOOSH BLANKET goop, $125

HERMÈS

Documentary filmmaker Frédéric Laffont gets an all-access pass to the storied French house—spending time in a leather-goods workshop in Montbron, France, or witnessing the tradition of silk marbling in Kyoto. Through Footsteps across the World, a series of short films, it’s clear that the what sets Hermès apart is truly the commitment to craftsmanship and the artisans whose precise attention to detail keep the brand moving forward. Particularly charming is the story of the Prudhomme brothers, who oversee a leather workshop in Pantin, France, where they serve as equal parts gatekeepers and mentors.

LEVI’S

The most classic of classic American brands has been pushing boundaries when it comes to large-scale production, implementing techniques that use far less water than traditional methods and working to source 100 percent of its cotton sustainably by 2020. With the midterm elections approaching, Levi’s has teamed up with Rock the Vote to create a limited-edition T-shirt encouraging everyone to exercise their right to vote; select Levi’s storefronts across the US will also have voter-registration stations.

OUTERKNOWN

“We’re surfers who grew up with surf brands, but we grew out of logos. We want to make clothing that’s made better and looks better,” says John Moore, who started Outerknown with surfing champ Kelly Slater. As part of their Social Environmental Accountability program, they launched S.E.A. Jeans, using 100 percent organic cotton from Candiani and Isko—two of the most respected mills in the world. Their denim is produced in Saitex in Vietnam, a solar-powered factory that recycles 98 percent of the water used in development; they also air-dry the jeans to save energy. The collection is also backed by a lifetime guarantee, meaning they’ll repair or replace damaged pairs, too.

OUTERKNOWN S.E.A. SHIRT Outerknown, $78

OUTERKNOWN S.E.A. AMBASSADOR SLIM FIT JEANS Outerknown, $168

PARKER CLAY

Ian and Brittany Bentley were living in Ethiopia, where they’d adopted two young girls, when they had their lightbulb moment. Ian was shopping for a birthday gift for Brittany when he came across a beautifully made leather bag at a local market. After learning that high-quality, ethically sourced leather was being produced by tanneries in Addis Ababa, the Bentleys decided to launch a business that would allow them to employ local women, many of whom who previously had been involved in sex trafficking. The idea was to give the women an opportunity to sustain ethical work opportunities—and become financially independent.

The women Parker Clay works with often become the breadwinners in their homes and are able to send their children to school, prepare balanced meals for their families, and ultimately break the cycle. The line includes plenty of carryalls, leather envelopes, and Dopp kits, but we’re partial to the overnight weekend bag, which is made from the kind of super soft grain leather that only gets better with use.

PARKER CLAY OMO OVERNIGHT BAG Parker Clay, $268

RAVEN + LILY

We first fell for Raven + Lily’s buttery-soft leather bags; chunky, rustic brass jewelry; and silky jumpsuits. Then we learned how the brand has been empowering women since its inception in 2008 (it was first founded as a nonprofit and evolved into a for-profit business in 2011). Raven + Lily employs female artisans—currently more than 1,500—in impoverished countries across the globe. The company provides them the chance to make a fair living by creating their handmade items for the brand, all of which are made of sustainable materials. Even more heartening, Raven + Lily gives back a portion of its earnings to help fund loans and skills training to women living with HIV.

RAVEN + LILY ANYA BRASS HOOPS Raven + Lily, $32

ROTHYS

Two guys from San Francisco spent four years figuring out how to turn plastic water bottles from recycling centers into comfortable, machine-washable flats that women would actually want to wear. The result is Rothys—line of loafers, ballet flats, and slip-on sneakers made of a sustainable, stretchy, lightweight woven fabric in bright colors such as lemon drop and persimmon, plus classic shades like navy and sand. The manufacturing process is pretty fascinating, too: Water bottles are chipped into flakes and converted into pellets. The pellets are then heated and turned into soft filaments of plastic before they’re knitted using a 3D machine, a precise process that minimizes waste. It takes six minutes. And the ethics behind the business go beyond fair labor and a state-of-the art facility in Dongguan, China—they also counteract the fossil fuels used for shipping by purchasing carbon credits to fund Project Envira, which converts carbon emissions back into oxygen.

ROTHY’S THE POINT Rothy’s, $145

SIEN + CO

Working closely with independent Peruvian and Argentinian artisans to find the best textiles (organic Pima cotton, sheep and alpaca wool handwoven on looms in their own backyards), Alexandra Gibson launched Sien + Co in 2016 with a range of ethically sourced, handcrafted knits and sustainable home décor. We particularly love the giant, handwoven decorative pillows, chunky throws, and natural rugs made with earthy pigments derived from local plants and other natural resources.

GRANA HANDWOVEN PILLOW goop, $280

ZAHAVA

Jessica Hendricks Yee is no stranger to leveraging fashion to make an impact. In 2012, she launched the Brave Collection, a line of jewelry handmade by fair-trade artisans in Cambodia, and donated 10 percent of the profits to help fight human trafficking. “The drive to create brands with a positive social mission has become a part of me and the way I think about business,” explains the serial entrepreneur. In fact, her passion for combining fashion and philanthropy is what jump-started Zahava, a thoughtfully sourced line—she works with master metalsmiths in Tel Aviv and all the diamonds are conflict-free—that explores the notion of cross-cultural heirlooms. Hendricks Yee, who recently had her own Jewish-Chinese wedding, wanted to design pieces that celebrate all cultures—and are meant to be passed down. There are pendant necklaces engraved with protea flowers to celebrate renewal, pomegranates to honor inner beauty, plus rings with engraved sayings like “The light within” and “I am here.”

ZAHAVA MINI GOLD ATLAS NECKLACE Zahava, $430

Source: https://goop.com/style/decorating-design/12-brands-designing-with-a-conscience/

[savemestucky]

Gairaigo: Happy Birthday Steve Rogers (1942)

Here’s a bitty chapter of Gairaigo for Steve Roger’s birthday~ Depending on my workload this week, I’m hoping to have another birthday chapter written from Steve’s POV. NOTE: The sections in italics are in English but represent them speaking Japanese.

Gairaigo [formerly Poppies Growing In Cartoons, the link leads to an almost full chapter]: James Bukawa doesn’t know that he and Steve Rogers went to the same elementary school or grammar school- until he’s 14 years old and he’s carrying 60 pounds of laundry to the tenement past the gas station. Steve/Bucky/Jim AU, Japanese-American Bucky Barnes

Shout out to @literaryartisan for their wild enthusiasm for this AU and for asking me real good questions that push me to keep writing!! and to @seasirpent who loves my writing even if they’re not into Marvel <3  

Bucky’s staring at the ceiling of the barrack when Yamaguchi John starts padding around and rifling through his footlocker.

“You gotta light?” John speaks with an even weirder accent than his Kyushu-Ben, John’s from Osaka and Bucky still isn’t 100% sure where he fits in with the universal rivalry against Tokyo. When Bucky doesn’t answer right away, he knocks on the wall and Nakamura Ben comes through the door flap and sleepily passes a book of matches over. Bucky’s busy wondering about whether or not Mrs. Watanabe had time to fix Steve a cake with the money he wired and decides he’ll finally roll out of his cot when he smells John and Ben brewing coffee [from the god damn can of coffee he got at the general store].

“Rise and shine, Jamie, they’re not gunna take beauty rest as a good reason to skip out on work” John gives him a crooked grin as he blows smoke out the cracked window.

“And- God Bless America!” he can’t tell whether or not Ben’s being sarcastic as he raises his tin mug of coffee in a toast, Ben’s only 19 [really too young to be housed with the other bachelors] and all kinds of snarky, but Bucky would put down money on him joining the service if they’d let in Japs.

“Yeah, happy fourth Jamie,” John says way too cheerily.

Bucky rubs his eyes and mindlessly accepts the coffee they pass him, “unnn, fuck off John, at least I get beauty sleep- you look like you could do with some for that mug.”

John snorts into his coffee and Ben gives him a little grimace- Bucky ought to be nicer to him, Ben’s parents didn’t want him to learn Japanese growing up so he barely speaks Tokyo-ben [never mind trying to figure out what the heck John and Bucky say]. They bicker a little bit about the heat: John says this is nothing to August in Osaka and Ben says you could fry an egg on the pavement in San Fransisco, Bucky silently figures the internment camp is the hottest place they’ll ever be because the water comes out of the ground warm and there’s no protection from the dust storms or the god damn lizards. He thinks about going to the mess hall and starts pulling on his trousers and realizes John’s been holding out his suspenders and saying “Jamie” for a hot second.

“Thanks man,” he mumbles as he takes them and buttons them on to the top of his pants, fiddling a bit with the clasps so they sit nicely (just like Mrs. Watanabe always told him to. he just wishes his pants were nicely pressed and misses the dry cleaners and steve so badly right then). After a long second, he realizes he ought to apologize for not answering sooner, “Sorry, got a head in the clouds today.”

“S’no problem,” John says across the room as he shaves in the little mirror they have pinned up, “you’ve always been slow with Jamie anyway.”

“I’ll never call you James,” Ben shouts through the wall, “Bukawa, maybe- you’re not that respectable.”

Bucky rolls his eyes, combing a dab of pomade into his hair, “No one calls me Jamie back home.”

“Okay, what are you then?” John quips back and Bucky thinks that for all John acts like a fast-car-bachelor and sees more than he should to get a good dig at ya’, he’s considerate in the ways that count. 

Bucky dies in his throat, only Steve calls him that really. The dry cleaning gang call him that when they speak English, but Steve gave him that name and the idea of sharing any part of Steve with them seems especially hard on his birthday when all Bucky has of him right now is a single censored letter and a little water color of the back alley. He frowns at his comb for a second, “My ma’ calls me Jeimu.”

“I can do that,” Ben strolls through the doorway, all high-school cocky with his hair sticking up and a cotton plaid shirt on. It’s easy to forget that they’ve only been living together since May: he’s already used to the sounds of the other bachelors in their barrack moving around, it’s not that different from Shizumbe’s complex morning rituals or the Watanabe’s intense hanafuda nights. He’s not sure he’d finish a fist fight for John or Ben (maybe Ben) but he’d drag them home after and help with the iodine: so far, most of what they’ve shared were long nights playing koi-koi with the creased deck of hanafuda cards that Mr. Watanabe gave him and griping about the camp.

It’s-

it’s not that Bucky doesn’t understand people here. He gets the people that say they need to keep their heads down, they need to be good American citizens- and if locking them up ‘till the war is over is the only way to win it then- then. Then gaman. Persevere. Enduring. Maybe that’s where he stands; he’d walk by and clench his fist when the neighborhood starting having “No Japs” signs- but Steve-

Steve got banned from the local barber too when he cussed them out for refusing Bucky a haircut. The letter he got from Steve was short (censored) and merely told him that all was well at the dry cleaners and that he was doing his best to stop the vandalism at the shop (which, sounds like, isn’t nearly so bad for Japs in Brooklyn. John’s office building was almost burned down in Anaheim) and Bucky- I’m with you till the end of the line. He’s almost positive that Steve would be joining in the meetings down the gangway where the Yoshida brothers were trying to organize people, to demand better wages, to join the service, to protest and get the fuck out of the California badlands. But he’s not positive: Steve so strongly believes in duty to his country, a country that has turned its back on Bucky. He wishes he could just call Steve now and ask him directly: wants to know if Steve would be ashamed he wasn’t doing more to get out of here or if Steve wants him to keep his head down and survive and come home safe.

Ben looks a little like Steve slouched in the doorway; his complexion is a little lighter than theirs (he’s still finishing high school and doesn’t have a job yet, he had to stop going when the neighbors started throwing rocks at his parent’s shop) and he’s still a little lanky and his grin is painfully (young) daring and rebellious (afraid). “Jay-mu” he tries out, and Bucky realizes he couldn’t stand it if Ben called him Bucky.

“Jeimu,” John absently corrects as Bucky tosses him a clean handkerchief to put in his pocket, “ready?”

Bucky checks his watch, “we don’t get to stand in the mess hall for another 5-”

Ben clucks his tongue, “I doubt those soldiers are gunna stop us from lining up early to get grub.”

John gives him a sharp look, “they beat old men for less.”

“Oh yeah?” Ben huffed, and Bucky uneasily looked out the window to see if there were any other neighbors listening in, “bet you know all about the cold world, huh?”

John stepped forward and grabbed Ben’s arm, “Yeah, Nakamura, I know a thing or two about how this shit works. My pa’ wants me to go back to Osaka because when he came to visit- two days in the U.S. an’ he got fucking beaten by the neighbors for not minding the butcher’s wife on the street. So yeah, I know how white people can be. We’re stuck here ‘til they decide yellow people are worth a cent- you’ll fucking keep your head down ‘til they point the guns elsewhere or you won’t have one at all.” John shook him firmly for a second, “you understand me? You parents aren’t here-” his voice softened, “eh? someone needs to look out for you a little so you can go home safe.”

Ben looked at his shoes mulishly, “I don’t need anyone to take care of me... ‘n ‘sides, it’s easy for you to say, you had a fancy life before this. You got something to go back to.”

“-Is that what you’re getting out of this, Ben? We had lives? We all lost those-” Bucky breathed, sagging against the wall, Bucky felt the air getting punched out of him; in his mind, Ben and Steve snapped apart forever. Bucky didn’t need to ask anyone to take care of Steve- he knew the moment he left that Mrs. Watanabe would keep him in line as she always did, and he knew that Steve would keep doing his best to earn his keep. Steve might not know when to get out of a fight- but at least he knew what family meant. “Jesus fucking Christ- Ben-”

“- you little spoiled, Shit,” John hissed, “do you think I can go back to that? They had me in Tule Lake Ben, they took me right after Pearl Harbor- y’know why? Because I was born over there, I went to school there, because I write my mom every damn week. And now? Now I can’t hold a damn camera straight anymore, I can’t keep my hands steady enough. I can’t even go back to Osaka to suffer with my family. Yeah,” John’s voice turned snide, strangely cruel for the man who had taken Ben under his wing for the last months, Bucky suspected this outburst was a long time in coming, “your parents might be in another camp, but they’re not in Tule Lake. And they’ve made sure people are minding you, do you think it’s coincidence those Honda-s keep dropping by once a week?” He finally let go of Ben’s arm, his voice was hoarse “we can’t make sure you’re safe if you don’t help us. They want an excuse to make an example of a Jap.”

Ben looked guiltily at Bucky, John had started aimlessly (angrily) rifling through his ruck sack and they were both at a loss after that outburst. Bucky looked at his watch, “the line started a few minutes ago.”

They wordlessly left the barrack and walked over to the mess hall, ignoring the flags their neighbors had put out over their doorways. Ben lamely waved at the people who came by to chat with him (now he knew that Mrs. Ito and Doy were checking in on him). Ben and Bucky poked at their beans and rice, John scarfed it down, pulled out a book, and pointedly looked away.

“I’m sorry Jeimu,” Ben said quietly, pushing the last bit of food around his plate.

Bucky gave him a sidelong look, “I don’t think I’m the one you’re supposed to apologize to. But thanks anyway. ‘s mighty decent of you.”

“I- I know that,” Ben seemed much younger then, unsure of himself and a little afraid, he turned more towards John who kept his eyes trained on his book, “but my parents raised me better. I’m not doing anyone favors- I’ll do my best to clean up my act. I’m sorry, John. I- we don’t have many friends here. You ‘n me ‘n John, we gotta stick together, right?”

“Yeah,” Bucky said through a pull of water, “yeah, that’s right.”

“You got anyone waiting for you back home?” Ben asked timidly, Bucky saw John tilt his ear a bit.

He licked his lips, “Not a dame.” He started shoveling in the rest of his food, trying to dodge the questions about his real life- about Steve (he wanted to keep Steve to himself, try to tuck him away in an envelope to look at before he went to bed so he wouldn’t worry about his asthma in the summer humidity).

“But?” John looked up and leveled his eyes at Bucky, “what’s in Brooklyn? You got a lotta family?”

“You could say that,” Bucky hedged, “ma kicked me out in high school, but the dry cleaners took me in.”

“The Watanabes?” John prompted him, Bucky fought the urge to give him a dirty look- trust John to remember the one time he really mentioned working for them.

“Yeah, they took in the stray kids like me and my buddy Steve.”

“Steve?” Ben looked at the clock and John started putting away his book while they all tidied up their trays to take up to get washed. “Don’t know many Japs named Steve.”

“That’s ‘cause he ain’t Japanese, he’s a whitie.” Bucky stood up, piled his dishes in the bin, and left the mess hall. Back at the table, Ben tried to follow him and pester Bucky with a million questions- but John kept him back.

Bucky spent the day loading up the storage room for the kitchen: mostly bringing in sacks of rice with a few other guys as the ladies bustled around prepping vegetables for lunch and then dinner. A few women chatted with him about the night’s dance in the gym and around 3pm. his aunt dropped by to check in on him. He ducked out for a minute to check the mail and got a letter from Mrs. Watanabe (he didn’t get a chance to read it, but the envelope had a scrawled message about a fruitcake for Steve’s birthday). He ended up helping the kitchen move around pots of stew as they portioned it out and got a generous second helping in exchange. He got back to the barrack after dark: the way lit by some too-widely-spaced street lights and sparklers lighting up in the guard towers, the curfew had been lengthened for the night and he passed more than a few couples covertly making out. John was smoking a cigarette on the front step.

Bucky briefly considered trying to slip past him, but John lit up a cigarette for him and Bucky ended up sitting down next to him.

“There’s more to that Steve, isn’t there?” John said casually, stretching out his legs.

“He’s my best pal,” Bucky took a long drag of his cigarette, peering out into the other barracks and idly looking at the folks dressed up to dance, “he’s a little thing, but he’s got a good head on his shoulders. He’s gunna go places.”

“No,” John said bluntly, “there’s more than that- he's something special to you.” Bucky almost choked and John gave him a compassionate look out of the corner of his eyes, there was a long pause and then “y’know, it’d be harder for me to hide it back in Osaka. In front of my parents? They kept showing me off to nice girls, I picked up photography so I could get away. Maybe this place isn’t the best for me, but there’s others like us in Anaheim.“ He pushed his shoulder against Bucky, “tell me about this Steve.”

Bucky stubbed out his cigarette, “It’s his birthday.”

“No shit?” they shared a crooked grin.

“Nah,” Bucky snorted, “he’s a tough son of a bitch, maybe a hundred pounds soaking wet, but- he’d got a good heart and won’t let other people start shit. Last year on his birthday I took him out to Coney Island and we were almost banned after he busted a guy’s lip,” he thought for a sec, “he wasn’t too riled up when the fella was just teasing a little pussy-cat, but then that shit called me Jap and he lost it. Started hollering about America bein’ a place for everyone.”

John barked out a harsh laugh.

“I know, I know-” Bucky let out a long breath, “but my best guy, since we were in grammar school. He even learned Japanese, he’s working at the dry cleaners now.” He looked at his watch, “well, with any luck, now he’s having a slice of cake and a cuppa coffee.”

John gave him a fond look as he ashed his cigarette, they both stood up, “I was thinking of just bailin’ on this dance, I get the feeling it’s teenagers and married folk, how about you and I have a drink?” he snagged a flask from inside his jacket.

Bucky took a long pull and the two went in for a long night of cards.

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The 50 Best Christmas Gifts For Men 2018

‘Tis the season. The TV ads are getting insufferable, there’s tinsel everywhere, and with the Christmas period bearing down, a familiar complaint rears its head: “You’re so difficult to buy for.” You’d swear that Christmas gifts for men were about as hard to find as the lost Ark of the Covenant.

We’re here to tell you that it’s just not true. Even in the age of click-and-collect and same-day delivery, when most men just buy what they want, there are countless Christmas gift ideas that will plant you firmly on the good list. With that in mind, we’ve collated the finest festive gifts for men at every price point.

Budget: Under £20 | Under £50 | Under £100 | Under £150 | Over £150

Under £20

A Stylish Notebook

Talking over the boss isn’t the only way to dazzle in the meeting room. Stationery that melds eye-catching design with premium details like weighty paper is far better than using Apprentice-style buzzwords and pretending to know what they mean.

Buy Now: £15.00

Patterned Socks

Socks are a go-to stocking stuffer for men, but one many continue to get wrong. Sidestep tacky novelty versions this year and instead reach for a printed pair in a classic colourway (ideally one that matches the wearer’s suit).

Buy Now: £18.00

A Winter Hat

The bad news is that cold weather, sadly, is one thing guaranteed to come back year after year. The good news, however, is that just means an excuse to pull on some high-quality headwear, like a beanie that will keep the frost – and any fleeting trends – at bay.

Buy Now: £12.00

Classic Sunglasses

After the financial crush that is Christmas, booking a holiday may seem like a pipe-dream. That doesn’t mean you can’t help prepare for one, though. A pair of shades in a tried and tested shape is an astute choice, and, thankfully, the high street boasts price tags far more forgiving than two weeks in Tenerife.

Buy Now: £12.00

Home Bar Equipment

It makes little sense to spend more on the receptacle than the stuff that goes in it. Which is the all-important booze. An affordable cocktail set is more than enough for the amateur barman, and better yet, the change left over from this example should allow you to buy a half-decent bottle of something strong.

Buy Now: £17.99

A Robust Phone Case

Upgrading to the latest tech then scrimping on protection is like ordering a new Ferrari and saving £20 on airbags: straight-up dumb. Opt for a sleek case that acts like a second skin, which will safeguard the gear without sacrificing on style.

Buy Now: £19.00

A Beard Care Set

Despite what the haters would have you believe, we haven’t yet reached ‘peak beard‘. In fact, we’re nowhere near it. A basic grooming kit should be standard issue for any hirsute gent, so keep your beloved and bearded stocked up for the Yuletide window.

Buy Now: £12.00

An Upgraded Umbrella

Too many men take on the elements with a substandard umbrella, turned inside-out by a gust of wind as powerful as a five-year-old’s sneeze. Christmas is the perfect time for an upgrade. Not only is it a gift few men would think to purchase themselves, but it’ll also make for ideal battle armour in advance of the January gloom.

Buy Now: £16.95

A Denim Protector

Denim-loving men know that raw and selvedge jeans are not meant to be regularly washed, while others simply forget to introduce their favourite pair to the machine’s drum. Whichever camp he sits in, a refresh spray promises to keep his kecks pristine, odour and bacteria-free, and will extend his jeans’ lifespan.

Buy Now: £13.50

Under £50

Boozy Chocolate

Nobody north of 18 should suffer a selection box. And nobody younger should be enjoying gin. So, assuming he is of age – and we certainly hope that’s the case – upgrade the worst Christmas consolation prize with a boozy box of treats that’ll keep him half-full and half-cut.

Buy Now: £20.00

A Snazzy Scarf

Anyone with an ounce of fashion sense knows that true style is in the small details. So enable him to keep warm and update his look all at the same time with a handsome scarf. This great-looking example will afford him the opportunity to add a touch of flair to any outfit.

Buy Now: £49.00

A Kitchen Masterpiece

Make a breakfast of champions one for the gods. Forget your bog standard bread-burner, this piece of kit cooks toast, eggs and beans at the same time. Simply add ketchup and a Boxing Day hangover.

Buy Now: £34.99

A Flask

Don Draper-esque behaviour will earn you nothing but a HR disciplinary these days, but you shouldn’t rule out his kit. A sleek hip flask harks back to rosier times of in-pocket boozing, and there are bonus points to be had if you get it engraved. Perhaps just keep it for the weekend only.

Buy Now: £49.00

A Coffee Table Book

There are two things every functioning adult should have in his home: enough underwear to last a full week and a few books. The latter is more likely to be on display to visitors (we’d hope) so make sure it’s something others want to pick up, like this tome which documents the most important era of hip-hop.

Buy Now: £30.00

A Leather Washbag

Airport security sandwich bags are in no way worthy of a man’s toiletries. Instead, a leather dopp kitis a simple yet effective stowaway for all his grooming essentials, especially when built with multiple compartments to keep wet and dry items separate.

Buy Now: £29.50

Modern Fit Boxers

No man undervalues his own crown jewels, so they deserve a home more akin to Buckingham Palace than Her Majesty’s prison service. A pair of premium boxer shorts is fit for a king, especially when crafted from soft, breathable cotton. A right royal treat.

Buy Now: £45.00

Japanese Whisky

Whisky isn’t all ruddy-cheeked old men swigging and spluttering. Okay, so it kind of is. But at least there’s room for the younger (and cooler) to join the ranks thanks to hyped-up Japanese blends that are more silky-smooth hipster swag than grandad tipple.

Buy Now: £33.00

A Sneaker Care Kit

Nobody will understand the quirks of a sneakerhead: that familiar beaded brow whenever box-fresh leather is threatened by a nearby puddle. Prevent any bouts of rain-induced PTSD with a shoe care kit – an essential gift for anyone with a bad habit for good shoes.

Buy Now: £29.00

A Luxury Tie

Whether he’s a greenhorn grad-schemer or a seasoned city boy, no nine-to-five look is complete without a tie. That doesn’t mean you have to settle for boardroom boring, though. Swapping traditional silk for a textured wool design will bring a touch of preppy to his office attire, no matter what his age.

Buy Now: £39.95

An All-in-One Frying Pan

There is something worse than the calorie intake of a fried breakfast. And that’s the washing up. The Master Pan Divided Frying Pan minimises the potential cleaning operation, letting you cook an entire meal with one single implement. Bon appetite.

Buy Now: £22.99

Under £100

A Signature Scent

Yes, a man’s nostrils can be picky at the best of times, but the warm reception received by Chanel’s Allure Homme has been nigh on universal since the late ’90s. Comprised of fresh notes like coriander, black pepper and Venezuelan tonka bean, there’s good reason why it’s the go-to cologne for countless gents, generation after generation.

Buy Now: £75.50 for 100ml

A Simple Bangle

Now that Mr T no longer the poster boy for men’s jewellery, the market is on the up. However, we’d still pity the fool who attempts to dive in head first. Get him started with a simple bangle that keeps his appendage on point without straying into fancy dress territory.

Buy Now: £75.00

A Cotton Dressing Gown

There comes a time in every man’s life when he has to take sleepwear seriously (do you really think Ryan Gosling hits the hay in a pizza-stained T-shirt?) Help him out with a dressing gown that’ll make reading the morning paper all the more enjoyable.

Buy Now: £65.00

A Curated Travel Kit

Those lucky enough to earn frequent flyer status shouldn’t neglect their skincare regime. A well-edited travel kit should be purpose-built for the rigours of city living, with all the products needed to combat smog and dehydration, whatever the continent.

Buy Now: £50.00

An Everyday Bag

The man bag is a tricky phenomenon. Too big, and it’s a weekend bag. Too small, and it’s definitely a handbag. And while backpacks are the go-to, they’re hardly that inventive – all of which makes a tote the perfect in-between, especially when it’s cut from a hardy material and in a colour that’ll go with everything else in a man’s wardrobe.

Buy Now: £70.00

Minimalist Sneakers

Nobody dislikes Stan Smiths. Nobody. And if there is but an utterance of disappointment come Christmas Day, he’s frankly not deserving of top-shelf white leather minimalism that’ll sit with almost everything in his wardrobe.

Buy Now: £67.00

A Traditional Shaving Set

Whether it’s the nine-to-five or just personal preference that commands a fresh face, it shouldn’t be done without the right kit. A proper shaving set includes a double edge razor and a real badger hair shaving brush – the only way to get some foam on those cheeks.

Buy Now: £90.00

An Oxford Shirt

Many men fear colour, though it needn’t be this way. By imbuing a wearable piece like an Oxford shirt with an enduring shade, there’s a guaranteed style win that’ll outlive any fleeting, ill-advised trend. A solid logo doesn’t hurt, either.

Buy Now: £85.00

Stainless Steel Knives

In a great line taken from Kill Bill: “You might not be able to fight like a samurai, but you can at least fry like a samurai”. Okay, so it was “die”. But presuming he’s more kitchen dojo than kung fu master, channel the Land Of The Rising Sun with a set of Japanese professional starter knives instead.

See More: £85.00

A Compact Cardholder

The advent of contactless payments means two things: brazen pint-buying come Friday, and little need for cold, hard cash. So, downsizing to a simple, cardholder helps keep a man’s accessories game stripped back and stylish.

Buy Now: £85.00

A Camera Drone

Unmanned aerial vehicles (or ‘drones’ to us regular folk) are no longer the preserve of the military and dystopian science fiction films. As a base level, look for a model that packs a decent camera to capture ‘gram-worthy pics and a return home function to avoid it getting lost in a tree.

Buy Now: £64.99

A Premium Cotton T-shirt

The humble white T-shirt is the bread and butter of a man’s wardrobe, so it pays to invest. This year, help him ditch shrinking sleeves and twisted hems by opting for a premium version, cut from 100 per cent premium cotton.

Buy Now: £65.00

Under £150

A Go-With-Anything Overshirt

If the man in your life is a style-conscious chap, buying clothes that will end up on him and not back on the shelf at the shop a week later is no easy feat. Eliminate the risk factor by picking up this sure-fire winner. It’s thick, it’s warm, it goes with everything and it looks the business. What more can he ask?

Buy Now: £110.00

A Polaroid Camera

Enjoy photographs the way they were intended with Polaroid’s retro 600 Talking Instant Camera. No Insta-likes, no filters and no easy way to do a selfie (thank God) – just a romantic throwback to the days pre-hashtag.

Buy Now: £109.00

An Understated Watch

Somewhere along the line, the world of watches got really tricky to navigate (they don’t call them ‘complications’ for nothing). Take things back to basics with a minimalist timepiece that delivers on one thing: straight up style.

Buy Now: £139.00

A Nine-to-Five Satchel

Whether valedictorian or class clown, Ivy League threads are available to all. If the full sweater vest and tartan scarf look is just a little too Hoorah Henry though, opt for a satchel instead. ‘A’ for effort and, better yet, an ‘A’ for style.

Buy Now: £149.00

A Printed Pocket Square

If ever there’s an appropriate time to inject some colour into a suit, it’s the festive season. To allow him to do so without going the full Leto and showing you up, opt for a silk pocket square in a bright shade that means he can tone up or down his two-piece when he sees fit.

Buy Now: £110.00

An E-Reader

Despite what Donald Trump would have you believe, reading is cool. Especially when it’s on a slick E-Reader. With an insane battery life (up to six weeks) and the capacity to store thousands of books on something lighter than a paperback, every man can now boast of a library in his own pokey apartment.

Buy Now: £119.99

A Cool AF Cologne

Often labelled as one of the best men’s fragrances of all time, Dior’s Eau Sauvage is deserving of the praise. Long-lasting notes of citrus and wood are a classic combination designed to suit most tastes, while 200ml of the good stuff will keep him in stock for months, if not years, to come.

Buy Now: £115.50 for 200ml

Shearling Mittens

There’s a reason people don’t wear flip-flops in winter. Aside from the fact they’d look like total tools, the cold weather is not kind on our extremities. The same goes for our hands, which makes a solid pair of gloves an absolute no-brainer.

Buy Now: £120.00

Iconic Loafers

Although it started life as a shoe made for Norwegian farmers, the humble loafer has become a must-have footwear style – and with good reason. An added Snaffle detail lifts the iconic design with a single metal bar while also helping nail that difficult smart-casual territory.

Buy Now: £110.00

Over £150

A Standout Shaver

What’s worse than an unkempt beard? A badly-maintained one, resplendent with scorched patches, uneven hairs and stray stragglers. Granted, the model names usually sound like sports cars, but that’s because the electric shaver is the Aventador of the grooming world with a head that can flex in all different directions whether wet or dry, long or short.

Buy Now: £310.00

A Party-Ready Speaker

In this day and age, nobody can excuse tinny, crappy music at a party (the house or dinner variety). Every man should aim to give guests to a higher quality of sound, delivering crystal clear music that sets the mood or annoys the neighbours, however the user sees fit.

Buy Now: £199.00

Wireless Headphones

Wireless headphones are the new MiniDisc. Except, they serve a purpose and people actually want them. This year, audiophile heavyweights have stepped up their games with sleek designs complete with monster battery lives and intuitive controls that respond naturally to music-listening habits.

Buy Now: £329.00

A Sleek Overcoat

No well-edited wardrobe is complete without an overcoat, but considering it’s an investment piece, it pays to get it right. Darker colours like black and navy skew smart, but neutrals such as camel and brown lend themselves to being dressed down with jeans and sweatshirts. Whichever you choose, opt for soft and insulating wool to beat low temperatures in high style.

Buy Now: £180.00

Adult Gaming Gear

Buy a console, lose a boyfriend/brother/husband. Which, depending on how you look at it, is no bad thing. The Xbox One X 1TB is Microsoft’s latest upgrade to the family that 1) doesn’t look like a radiator from the Alien franchise, and 2) offers 40 per cent more power than any other console. It was nice knowing you.

Buy Now: £396.95

A Powerhouse Toothbrush

Unless you want to risk a mouth full of teeth that look like corn kernels, a state-of-the-art toothbrush is essential. Look for one that packs multiple functions into a streamlined, easy-to-use design that wouldn’t look out of place in a man cave’s bathroom.

Buy Now: £168.95

A Getaway Holdall

What would Christmas be without people shamelessly boasting about their new Mulberry bag on Instagram? Better, that’s what. But we’re still huge fans of the label’s scotchgrain holdall – an incredibly masculine, incredibly sharp weekend bag that requires no #girldonegood post.

Buy Now: £695.00

A Chromebook

Turns out all that glitters really is gold, especially when it’s a Chromebook. This pocket rocket from Acer comes with full HD resolution, 12 hours of battery life and a 1600 MHz processor speed that shouldn’t be sniffed at. Try to take the shine off that.

Buy Now: £229.99

A Natty Blazer

Blue: the safest shade on the wheel. A blazer: the most versatile smart-casual piece a man can own. Combine the two together, and you’re left with a menswear essential that sits just as pretty with a white T-shirt as it does a shirt and tie.

Buy Now: £230.00

Source: https://www.fashionbeans.com/article/christmas-gifts-for-men/

[accomplishings-blog1]

Get rid of body acne!

Summer’s here and I know from experience how annoying it is to want to cover up your back and chest despite the hot weather. It really takes a toll on your self esteem. After years of trial and error, I’ve found things that have worked wonders on my skin, although I do get spots every now and then. 

1-SHOWER. EVERY. DAY. I know this sounds pretty obvious, but some people (younger me..yikes) think that if they haven’t worked out or sweat a lot that you’re clean. No. Wash your body every day. I recommend at night because of the following reasons/products. 

2- Use a new towel every time or every FEW times. The moisture in the towels creates bacteria. Don’t put that on your sensitive skin. 

3-Shower RIGHT after you’ve worked out or are getting sweaty. Say if you work out at a gym and can’t shower right away, use wipes to wipe off the sweat that will clog your pores.  3a-Cleansing wipes work, or wipes that are made for acne prone skin will work great too. EX. Neutrogena grapefruit wipes/knock off version which is 1/2 price

4-Exfoliating is key. Exfoliate with an actual exfoliator once a week and every couple of days use a loofah/wash cloth for a gentle exfoliation, but remember cloths and loofahs build up bacteria, so clean them very regularly.  4a-The Body Shop’s tea tree exfoliator is a good gentle exfoliator for your chest and face because the beads are small. Buy one with bigger beads for your back because your back isn’t as sensitive.

5-TEA TREE OIL EVERYTHING. I swear this saved my life. I use tea tree oil clay face masks from The Body Shop (a little pricey, but 100% worth it), tea tree oil cleanser for my face, chest, and back; tea tree oil exfoliator; tea tree oil toner; and just plain tea tree oil for blemishes. 

6-Apple cider vinegar. I use it as a second toner (you can dilate with water for a less harsh toner, but I like it strong and undiluted) for my chest and back - I don’t like to use it on my face, but try yourself and see how it works.

7-Body wash with Salicylic Acid Acne treatment!!! I use the Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Body Clear Body Wash Grapefruit. 

8- (OPTIONAL) I have topical acne medication wipes prescribed by my doctor my face that I also use on my chest. I have no idea if that is safe, so talk to your doctor or dermatologist first before you guess and hope it’ll work like me (it works for me tho....) 

9-MOISTURIZE!! I feel like this gets overlooked. Frickin moisturize everything. Your face, chest, back, just everything. I like to use Cetaphil because it doesn’t clog your pores. It’s specially made for acne. 

10-Masks. Tea tree oil clay masks are amazing, but a lot of natural masks from the Body Shop work wonders. I use them on my face, chest, and back 2 a week.

10-ROUTINE! This is my routine; shower every night. 2 a week I use a tea tree oil clay mask and let it sit on my face, chest, and back for 15-20 minutes. Wash with warm water, and cleanse with a bar of soap for sensitive skin. Then I cleanse with tea tree oil cleanser. Then I exfoliate either with the cleanser and a loofah or the tea tree oil exfoliator, or weekly I use a harder exfoliator for my back. Then I use the Neutrogena Grapefruit body wash on my BACK ONLY. I lather it up and let it sit for a minute. Then I rinse it off with warm/coldish water. I dry my face first, then chest, then back with a CLEAN towel. I let my skin air dry for a minute, then I tone my face, chest, and back with the tea tree oil toner. I let it dry for a minute, then tone with apple cider vinegar on my chest and back. I let it sit for a minute, then use my topical acne wipes on my face and chest. NOT MY BACK. I let it all dry and then moisturize with Cetaphil lotion. Then I wear a cotton shirt to bed and go to sleep. 

I HOPE THIS WORKS FOR YOU!!!!!!!! We all have different skin and skin can be sensitive, so maybe don’t use all these products at once out of nowhere? I don’t know. And depending on yout skin type, these might not work. But try it! I recommend trying one thing at a time to see what has the biggest impact. Stay cleansed my beauties :)

TLDR; You gotta, sorry. Don’t you want clear skin?? Fine, I’ll make it easy-read the titles of each step, then just read step #11. You’re welcome. 

[angelrichsoft20]

The Environmental Impacts of the Polyester

The Environmental Impacts of the Polyester

When it comes to fashion, polyester is a popular choice. It’s not just versatile but also cheap, and for that reason, it has become omnipresent in the garment industry. Polyester is a synthetic petroleum-based fiber made up of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol.

Polyester has wrinkle-free attributes due to which garments that are made from this fabric need not be ironed to keep their shape. It is also very easy to wash, and dry polyester made clothes in winters. The clothes tend to last long if made from superior quality polyester. However, most manufacturers use cheap quality polyester to meet the demand and make more money.

The fabric is not just limited to the fashion world but is also used in the production of electrical insulation, industrial fabrics, recording tapes, and home furnishings.

Let us first talk in brief about recycled polyester.

What is recycled polyester?

The only good thing about polyester is that it can be fully recycled, and it’s feasible to produce polyester from reused plastic bottles. This means it’s possible to manufacture polyester without needing fossil fuel stocks as a result of which we can reduce waste and keep the ecosystem away from the harmful impacts of polyester. That being said, you need to be mindful of fleeces as reports show that fleeces produced from reused polyester might be a greater source of pollution than polyester itself.

Considering the widespread presence of Polyester, it makes sense to understand the environmental impacts of polyester and how sustainable this fabric is.

It’s Non-biodegradable

The majority of polyesters present in the market are non-decomposable and will persist in the environment for 20 years and, depending on conditions., even 100 years. Still, want to buy the polyester shirt you saw at your favorite store the other day?

It causes pollution

Polyester is a synthetic petroleum-based fiber, and apparently, petroleum refineries are infamous for contributing to large amounts of pollution in the atmosphere. Moreover, synthetic clothes are known to pollute the oceans and cause microplastic pollution.

It’s toxic to plants, animals, and humans

The coloring of polyester takes disperse dyes, which are indissoluble. Just like polyester, the production of disperse dyes require harmful chemicals that are non-biodegradable and, if left untreated, can cause a serious threat to the environment. The majority of polyesters are produced in Asian countries, including Indonesia, Bangladesh, and China, where laws related to the environment are almost negligent; hence harmful chemicals that can lead to severe air and water pollution are often discharged untreated. This toxicity causes pollution as well as damage to flora and fauna.

Apart from causing significant environmental issues, the dyes used in the manufacturing of polyesters are also harmful to humans. Dye workers around the globe are at higher risk of cancer and other lung diseases than the rest of the population.

The manufacturing of polyester is water-intensive

Polyester is manufactured through a rigorous energy heating process, needing huge measures of water for cooling. In fact, the water-intensity required for the manufacturing of polyester is way higher than for natural textiles.

If not handled efficiently, this can cause the water table to drop and reduced access to clean drinking water, especially in countries where polyester is usually produced.

Final words

Polyester has a substantial effect on the environment. In regard to the sky-high environmental cost of the vogue, poor quality polyester is likely the biggest culprit. If you are in favor of maintaining an eco-friendly closet, we advise you not to buy polyester made clothes unless the fabric is produced from recycled polyester.

Try to purchase garments that are made from natural fibers, including organic cotton and hemp. But if you still prefer polyester, try to limit your purchase to recycled rainwear or sportswear garments though the microfibres will still pollute the oceans. If you want to throw away the old and torn polyester clothes, make sure you first get it recycled. Recycling of old polyester is becoming prevalent; however, you will have to do your homework to find out whether or not you have a recycling program active in your neighborhood. Stick to these practices, and you can surely contribute to lowering the effect of polyester on the environment.

[kadobeclothing]

How To Wear A Hoodie In 5 Modern Ways

There was a time, along with balaclavas, swag bags and black-and-white striped tops, when a hoodie was something that would instantly mark you out as a would-be robber and all-round wrong’un.But, as much as this humble sportswear staple has the potential to send passers-by straight to the other side of the street, right now we’re urging you to take style tips from David Cameron (remember him?) and hug a hoodie.Why? Well, practicality aside, thanks to a designer overhaul the hoodie has gone from de facto uniform of angry adolescents to the item most likely to be covering the backs of well-dressed men.The only loser here is Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg, whose normcore hoodie has just gone full #menswear. Bad luck, Mark.The History Of The HoodieLong before it found itself a witness to dodgy deals in darkened alleys, the hoodie was the uniform of champions. OK, so that’s over-egging it a little, but sports apparel company Champion Products does lay claim to creating the world’s first hooded sweatshirt in the 1930s.It doesn’t take a genius to work out that — lo and behold — the hoodie was designed to keep athletes warm and dry in miserable weather. Since then it’s been adopted by hip-hop culture, skaters, snowboarders, angry young adults, stag parties, university students and (the reason we’re here) the runway.The Return Of The HoodieEven though come fashion week, many news outlets delight in ridiculing the most outrageous runway looks they can find, in truth most menswear pieces were born out of practicality. And that’s exactly what the hoodie offers: comfort, comfort and more comfort.The return of the hoodie signals that we’re now at peak athleisure. Having successfully broached upscale sportswear in its various forms, it was only a matter of time before menswear got its mitts on the near-century-old staple.Everyone from streetwear peddling upstarts (Off-White, Vetements) to more established menswear heavy hitters (Balenciaga, Versace) have begun pushing out high-end versions in their collections, meaning hoodie hysteria is set to continue for some time yet.To get in on the look early, here are five expert-approved ways to wear yours.How To Wear The HoodieAs Part Of A Layered LookAs much as we’re trumpeting the power of the hoodie, don’t think that wearing one is all about making a statement. When used as part of a layered look, the hoodie can be surprisingly unassuming.Mr Porter style director Olie Arnold says: “A cosy cashmere hoodie is a great layering piece for a day in the city, which will leave you looking sharp while keeping you warm at the same time.”To get this look right, wear a zip-up hoodie over a simple white crew-neck T-shirt, then add an overcoat or jacket, slim jeans and a pair of box-fresh trainers.As Part Of An Athleisure LookWhenever comfort and coolness go hand-in-hand, you can be sure that we’ll be enthusiastic cheerleaders. Such is the case with athleisure and, thanks to those clever menswear designers, you won’t run the risk of looking like you were too lazy to change out of your gym gear.Jaeger’s head of menswear, James Jee, says: “Gone are the days of the baggy, oversized logo-emblazed hoodie. Fabrics are softer and heavier — a sign of a better yarn quality and a lot more of it. The fit is a little sharper and clean.”To go full athleisure, team a black hoodie with black, fitted joggers and slip on a pair of minimal leather sneakers. Done.Under A Leather JacketIf you’re not sold by the high-low mix (it’s not for everyone), then it’s okay to stick to more familiar territory. A leather jacket and hoodie combination is one of those low octane pairings that work well, season after season.Reiss head of menswear design, Alex Field, says: “Hoodies have dramatically improved in terms of quality and fit. Therefore, guys are looking to invest in well-fitting, well-made casual designs that can be worn in various situations. Whether that be to the gym or as part of a stylish off-duty look.”Using a black leather jacket and black or indigo jeans as the base, experiment with hoodies in different colours beneath your outerwear and combine with a pair of leather or suede Chelsea boots to smarten up this look.With TailoringIf you’re going to wear a hoodie with a suit or blazer, you’re channelling a “look” and will instantly mark yourself out as a card-carrying member of Club Menswear. That’s no reason not to give this high-low combination a whirl, though.As Giles Farnham, head of River Island’s Style Studio, points out: “Sure, a hoodie teamed with a pair of straight-leg jeans and sneakers is a tried and tested combination that just works. But if you’re looking to sharpen up, try layering under an unstructured suit for an outfit that rips up the traditional rule book.”To nail the sports-meets-suit look, try a mid-weight grey hoodie with a charcoal grey suit and choose white lace-up sneakers in place of your normal work shoes.With Tailored TrousersFor a slightly less committed way to mix smart and casual, a hoodie worn with a pair of smart trousers is your best bet. Again, it’s an easy way to avoid that dreaded overgrown adolescent territory.Head of menswear design at ASOS, Nick Eley, says: “We’re seeing a real move towards ‘high-low’ dressing, so team your hoodie with wider-leg trousers or a longer formal coat.”Get a grip on this look by opting for a neutral colour hoodie, then add a pair of trousers and sports luxe sneakers. If you’re feeling brave, try a little pattern on the bottom half, such as pinstripes or checks.General Hoodie GuidelinesDon’t dig out your old Linkin Park hoodie. You’re not an angst-ridden teenager, and it’s not the 2000s anymore.Look for pure cotton designs for optimum quality and longevity (bonus points for brushed cotton and loopback construction).Pullover designs typically look smarter than zip-up designs.Don’t chase the latest must-have hoodie if you want to get the most wear out of it. Instead, go for a timeless, versatile design in a colour that complements your existing wardrobe.A fitted hoodie is a good way to make sure you look sharp rather than sloppy.If in doubt, leave the logo. Flecks or mottled weaves are a good way to add interest.Unless you’re on campus, university hoodies are a no-go.Personalised comedy hoodies are always a fail.Over the age of 40? A hoodie in a luxe fabric worn with tailored separates will make sure you look suitably grown up.Key BrandsHigh StreetIf you’ve got too much month at the end of your money, the high street has plenty of decent entry-level options. Topman offers reasonably priced hoodies in practically every shade under the sun, as does Swedish mega-chain H&M with its sporty L.O.G.G. range.For something more pared-back for the gym, Uniqlo should be your first port of call. Looking to make more of a statement? Head straight to online giant ASOS, where you’ll find oversized and longline options that are ideal for reverse layering.Elsewhere, the styles turned out by Spanish fast-fashion kings Zara run the gamut from simple everyday throw-overs to designer brand ‘homages’ complete with cut-out sections and on-trend prints.StreetwearBy rights, streetwear hoodies should prioritise quality (heavyweight, pure cotton is a minimum) and performance over design. Despite this, among streetwear circles, the logo is everything.Hoodies by skateboarding brand Palace are excellent (if you can get your hands on one) for those who want to appear laid-back, while higher up the chain you’ll find Tokyo-based BAPE and cult New York firm Supreme, which both offer oversized streetwear hoodies with distinctly un-streetwear price tags.Of course, if you want the best, go to the OG. Champion’s Reverse Weave line, with its classic handwritten logo, has been to hoodies what Levi’s is to denim for almost 90 years. Subsequently, the American firm has inspired many other key names in the sector, including Carhartt, Stüssy and even Vetements.PremiumHigh-end hoodies are ideal for pairing with smarter pieces and often come in fabrics such as lambswool, cashmere and premium cotton for an addictively strokable wear.Bond-favourite label Sunspel is our tip for solid loopback construction, while fellow Brit brand Derek Rose and Italian firm Brioni are worth exploring if you’re looking for timeless designs in ultra-luxe materials.With more than 200 years’ experience producing knitwear, it’s little wonder that Derbyshire-based John Smedley’s simple merino wool zip-ups are some of the best on the market. Though more surprising is Suitsupply’s 100 per cent cashmere offerings, which come in at less than £150.Having made their names in sportswear, collections from designers like John Elliot, Alexander Wang and Neil Barrett are also rarely without an elevated version of the loungewear essential. Source link

source https://www.kadobeclothing.store/how-to-wear-a-hoodie-in-5-modern-ways/

[mendooutdoors]

New Post has been published on Men Do Outdoors

New Post has been published on https://mendooutdoors.com/backpacking-checklist/

Make Backpacking Easy With This Ultimate Backpacking Checklist

Thinking about going overseas and backpacking for a few months, but you are not sure where to start with your packing? Check out this ultimate backpacking checklist to assist you in the preparation. Using it will take away all the stress and provide you with some ideas for nifty gadgets that will make backpacking a breeze.

Backpacking Checklist

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1. Universal Adapter

These days it’s almost impossible to travel the world without one of these beauties in your arsenal.

After all, you most likely will have a camera, phone and laptop on your journeys.

If you want to make sure that you can use them anywhere you go, you are best off getting a universal adapter which will connect to every country power supply.

Here are a few things you should consider when getting a Universal Adapter:

It works in over 150 countries

It has a fuse to protect your gear from possible power spikes which could ruin the battery of your device or even worse, fry them completely

It has a USB outlet to simultaneously charge your phone while charging another device.

USB C Outlet, These days more and more devices use this outlet, which is great for fast charging

Small and not too heavy ( you don’t want it weighing you down

For a more power hungry person, think about getting a universal power board to supply power to multiple devices. Or even simpler a Universal Adapter with a normal power board.

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2. Backpack

Being a minimalist traveller I manage to pack my whole life in a 24L backpack.

I like it this way and by having such a restriction I prevent myself from buying unnecessary things and find it very difficult to pack more than 12kg.

Which in turn makes it possible for me to have a standard backpack.

In saying that not everyone is as extreme as I am.

So that is why you need to take into consideration getting a backpack that is comfortable for you.

You need to think about the size you need, what you will need it for and the harness systems.

When I worked as an outdoor instructor one thing we really needed to take into consideration is how comfortable the backpack was for someone as if worn incorrectly it could do permanent damage to a person back and shoulders.

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3. A Mobile or Tablet

Having one of these is an absolute lifesaver. You can literally have all your documents and information in 1 convenient place.

In saying that make sure to have a security code to get into them as again all your information is in one convenient place.

In most cases, a tablet with a Bluetooth keyboard could replace the need for a laptop and save you so much space and weight.

Additionally, Most things are on apps, and websites are mobile ready.

So the need for laptops is really diminishing while travelling unless you are interested in Video editing and storage of your pictures.

Quick Ultimate Backpacking Checklist Tip: In some countries, people will want to steal your devices.

For extra security use a cheap phone or tablet that you wouldn’t spend weeks crying over as one to use in public and keep your expensive gear safely tucked away in your bag.

Another great thing is that WIFI is so readily available in most countries, you don’t even need to buy sim cards to keep in contact with the rest of the world.

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4. A power bank

Nothing more annoying than spending the whole day adventuring and as you are checking your phone for directions back to the hostel you quickly realise you have 1% battery.

This would mean you need to talk to people for directions…

That could be scary (just kidding) but at the same time, it’s always a good idea to have a spare battery for Just in case.

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5. Take photos of your important Documents

I never had to use them but knowing that if something happened to my passports and documents I could have a simple back up makes me worry less.

Of course, they do not replace the passport but if you have the documents on hold. E.g. In your email, you can show them to the police, consulates etc and get better assistance.

Documents I would consider making a back up off.

Passport

Driver’s licence

Accommodation papers

Flight tickets

Emergency phone numbers

Best of all, these days you can set up a free google drive account, create a folder in it and store everything in the cloud nice and securely.

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6. The Cloud

While travelling, people tend to get a common disorder called the happy trigger finger which makes you take insanely huge amounts of photos and videos.

Now, 64gb Might seem like a lot of space, but seriously after a few months you probably will fill that up and be stuck deleting amazing memories of your devices.

I would usually recommend carrying a portable hard drive but these days you can literally have 100gb of cloud storage for as little as $2 a month.

Not only is that cheap but it also means that whenever you have wifi you can put your photos and video’s in a safe place which you can access from any device, anywhere in the world.

Saves on space and weight in your bag and gives you peace of mind that the most important memories are chilling in a nice safe place.

7. The Ultimate Backpacking Checklist

Use the Ultimate backpacking checklist which has taken me days to compile.

I scoured the net to find out what the most common items are for backpackers and put it into a simple checkbox document which you can send to yourself.

It’s also free to use and you do not have to subscribe to use it.

If you want to use this backpacking list then click on the image below and it will take you directly to the page

Ultimate Backpacking Checklist

If you are human, leave this field blank.

Step 1:

Backpack

Bags

Comfortable Waterproof Hiking Bag

Day pack

Reusable shopping bag

Dirty clothes reusable bag

Toiletries

Toiletries

Toothbrush

Toothpaste (100ml max)

Microfiber towel

Shampoo (100ml max)

Conditioner (100 ml max)

Body soap (100ml max)

Sunscreen (100ml max)

Cotton Buds

Tissues/ Wet wipes

Razor with spare blades

Shaving Gel (100ml max)

Deodorant

Condoms

Any Medication you might require

Clothing

Summer or Winter Summer Winter Summer and Winter

Summer

Dark shirt (hides stains)

Lightweight quick drying hiking pants

Underwear (or freeball)

Socks

Jumper (fleece or down Jacket)

Rain Jacket

Comfortable Hiking shoes

Broad Brimmed Hat or a Hat

Neck Warmer or a Buff

Evening wear

Sunglasses

Sandals/ Flip Flops

Winter

Dark shirt (hides stains)

Lightweight quick drying hiking pants

Underwear (or free-ball)

Socks + Thermal Socks

Thermals

Evening Wear

Jumper (fleece or down jacket)

Rain Jacket

Comfortable winter hiking boots

Beanie

Scarf or a buff

Waterproof Gloves

Winter Jacket

Documents

Documents

Valid Passport

Driver's Licence

Flight, Train, Bus tickets

Address of your first accomodation

Some cash in the currency of the countries you visit

Student ID

6 Passport Photos for Visas

Insurance Information

Back up copies in a Google Drive Folder

Credit Cards (travel cards)

Debit Cards (travel cards)

Electronics

Electronics

Universal adapter

Camera

Laptop

Battery pack

Spare batteries

USB card reader

Mobile

Tablet

Bluetooth Keyboard

Other

Other Necessities

Plastic (aluminum) drinking bottle

Small sewing kit

Pens and Notepad

Waterproof bag liner

Cable ties

A combination lock

Water purification tablets or pen

First aid kit

Compression packing bags

Travel Security belt

Next

And best of all if you have any suggestions I am more than happy to listen.

Just write in the comments below what you would like included and I will consider it

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8. Learn the Generic names

A very useful tip which will make a world of difference when travelling to another country is to learn the generic/chemical names and dosages of medication that you are taking in your country.

The reason behind is that not every country uses the same brands and if you are in a country that uses a different language it could make it difficult to get the meds you require.

Thank you @angie_fishie for the tip

9. Pack light, you can do laundry anywhere the world!

We are all guilty of doing this, we pack more than we need.

But usually, end up carrying the additional things for no reason.

Something to keep in mind is that no matter where you go, you will be able to find some water where you can clean your clothes.

If you invest in quick-drying clothes such as pants, shorts, underwear etc. then you could technically wash your clothes last thing at night and have them ready again for you in the morning.

Thanks for the tip Seven Cinematics

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Obviously, that is super minimalistic packing but it gives you an idea of how little you could pack with you.

After travelling a few times, you will quickly learn how much you should pack.

If you are interested in minimalistic packing, then pack all the things you think you need, then keep having that amount until you get to a point where you think 100% you can’t do without the remaining things.

More tips will be added over time, so if you have any backpacking checklist tips make sure to put them into the comments below and if it’s useful we will add yours to the blog with a link back to your website/social pages etc.

This is my ultimate backpacking checklist with a few tips on quality gear you should definitely consider while going overseas.

If you have any other backpacking checklist additions I should consider or if you like this post make sure to Comment and Share below.

[shirterrific]

Reasons I Became A Teacher T-Shirt For Women

“6 Reasons Why I Became A Teacher” printed graphic tee from the Shirterrific graphic job tees collection.

A lightweight and comfortable shirt made with 100% fine jersey cotton, the American Apparel 2102 Fine Jersey Short Sleeve Women T-Shirt is a classic-cut shirt known for their premium quality with a durable, vintage feel.

4.3 oz 100% fine jersey cotton

Form fitting

Double stitched

Durable rib neckband

Vintage feel

Combed for softness

WHY CHOOSE SHIRTERRIFIC?

Shirterrific was born from the love of funny t-shirts and good humor, we specialize in funny t-shirt designs inspired by Pop Culture for Men, Women, and Children with a wide range of styles and accessories including Men’s T-Shirts, T-Shirts For Women, Funny Baby Onesies, Kids T Shirts and more.

FAST SHIPPING

We offer FAST SHIPPING with 97% of our orders shipped within 5 business days.

More than a half of our orders are shipped within 3 business days or less.

MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

We are committed to making sure you are 100% SATISFIED with your order.

We know you’ll love the quality of our clothes, so please have no fear and try us out today!

100% FINE JERSEY COTTON

The American Apparel t-shirt is the smoothest and softest t-shirt you’ll ever wear. Made of fine jersey, it has a durable, vintage feel. These classic-cut shirts are known for their premium quality, as well as ability to stand up to a washing machine (will keep size and color after many washings). This women’s t-shirt is made form-fitting to flatter a woman’s curves.

Heather Grey is 90% fine jersey cotton / 10% polyester, Neon Colors are 65% polyester / 35% fine jersey cotton, Heather Colors are 60% polyester / 40% fine jersey cotton.

VARIATIONS

Garments are as unique as you and me. Garments are not like other products that are made by machines. Shirts, sweaters, hoodies, etc, are all sewn together by human hands and it’s because of this Human element that variations in the garments may occur.

For example, two shirts of the same size, may actually be cut and sewn differently causing a slight variation in actual size. We try to inspect each shirt for obvious variations and/or defects due to the garment’s manufacturing, but sometimes these issues slip through our hands. If you receive any garments that you are not 100% satisfied with due to rips, holes, or inconsistent seams, please let us know and we will work with you to correct the problem.

FABRIC AND CARE

These should be only washed with like colors. You can certainly machine wash the garments in warm water that is around 104°F/40°C. Keep in mind that you should only use non-chlorine bleach if necessary and do not iron the decorated (printed) areas. If the garments require dry-cleaning, you can use any solvent except the trichloroethylene. Tumble-dry these garments on medium.

SIZING TIP

To get an accurate size, your best bet is to find a like item you own and love at home, lay it flat, measure it in inches then match those measurements to the manufacturer’s recommended Size Chart.

SIZE CHART – 2102 FINE JERSEY SHORT SLEEVE WOMEN T-SHIRT

S M L XL 2XL Length (inches) 30-32 32-34 36-38 40-42 44-46 Width (inches) 25-26 27-28 30-32 33-35 36-38

 

Buy Now Here: Reasons I Became A Teacher T-Shirt For Women

Shirterrific was born from the love of funny t-shirts and good humour, we specialize in funny t-shirt designs inspired by Pop Culture for Men, Women, and Children with a wide range of styles and accessories includes Mens T-Shirts, T-Shirts For Women, Funny Baby Onesies, Kids T Shirts, Youth T Shirts, Hoodies, Sweatshirts, Unisex Tees along with other Fun Gifts, Posters, Phone Cases, and more!

Reasons I Became A Teacher T-Shirt For Women was originally published on Shirterrific's Graphic Tees.

[lamurdiparasian]

The Evolution of High Solids Acrylic Ink

With consumers demanding the softer feel of water-based prints, the time is now to take the leap.

Two apparel trends, which have been evolving over the past decade, have been changing screen printer’s choice of ink.

Performancewear has increased in popularity because it’s comfortable to wear; wicks moisture away from the body; and, in many cases, its lightweight breathability feels cooler than 100% cotton. While performancewear started out as an athletic and activewear garment, it now has evolved into everyday streetwear as well.

The basic T-shirt also has evolved to meet consumers’ preference for a soft feel and natural drape. To make shirts softer, yarns are ring spun, treated with enzymes and finishes, and are knit from finer gauge yarns. The result is fabric with a butter soft feel against the skin.

With the greater demand for these two types of apparel, screen printers have had to change their inks and printing techniques so that the softness of the garment is not negated by a thick, heavy bulletproof print on the front. While techniques have emerged to print a softer hand using plastisol ink, many printers are opting to switch to water base.

The transition from plastisol to water base for some is not an easy one. These two inks behave and perform differently and require changes in procedures and practices to be successful. Probably one of the biggest challenges with water-base ink is how quickly it dries. While you can leave plastisol ink in a screen overnight and simply resume printing in the morning, with water base, you may not even have to time to use the bathroom before it begins drying in the screen.

The drier the climate your shop is in, the more challenging water-base printing can be requiring screens be misted with water to keep the ink open and flowing during a job. They have to be cleaned up immediately after use, and their fast-drying properties can result in more waste than is typical with plastisol.

Water-base inks require a different type of stencil, one which is water resistant, and will require post exposing. It also is ideal to use a coarser mesh. It is easier to keep a coarse mesh open than a finer one. So if you need to print fine lines, this will be more challenging with a water-base ink than plastisol.

Discharge inks, which are water base, are popular for dark shirts, because they bleach out the shirt dye, eliminating the need to print a white underbase. This allows for a softer hand on darks. But these inks contain zinc formaldehyde, an unfriendly chemical that not only smells bad, but if a splotch accidentally gets on an unintended part of the shirt, it bleaches that spot, making that garment a reject.

It prints transparent, which makes it very difficult and sometimes impossible to see the print until it’s gone through the dryer. This increases the chances for error, and discharge works only on 100% cotton shirts colored with reactive dyes.

The Next Generation of Water Base

With apparel trends driving printers to water-base ink and more printers wanting to use them, this set the stage for ink makers to come up with a water-base product that provides a soft hand with fewer hassles. And that product is a high solids acrylic water base, also known as HSA.

HSA inks address the biggest challenge of traditional water-base inks; they dry slower, keeping screens open. You can go away for half an hour and after a couple strokes, you can reopen it.  We’ve run it at several trade shows where there’s sometimes 20-30 minutes between prints and with a couple strokes, it’s good to go.

They also provide a solution for dark shirts that are not reactive-dyed 100% cotton and cannot be used with discharge ink. And you can see the print before it goes through the dryer.

HSA inks are more opaque than water-base inks. HSA White bases often require a second stroke to achieve the desired degree of opacity. In most cases, its opacity is similar to plastisol.

They also are more elastic than traditional water base, more closely resembling plastisol’s stretchiness and ability to bond to itself. Traditional water base can be brittle and crack. While a single layer of traditional water base is fine, multiple layers can create a harsher hand.

Depending on the brand, the cost of an HSA ink may be slightly more or the same as plastisol. There are inexpensive plastisols on the market, which are lower quality, but they are not comparable.

Who is switching to HSA?

Although HSA inks are easier to use than traditional water-base inks, they still are not as easy as plastisol. For someone switching from plastisol to an HSA, they will need to learn how to work with it. But as regulations continue to tighten on plastisol inks with PVC, more people will be willing to make the switch.

In their favor, HSA inks have a softer hand than plastisol, and the appearance and aesthetic, which is smoother and flatter, is different. For a printer with a mindset of “I’ve got 20 orders to do today, and the customer is fine with this, and I just want whatever is faster,” that person is going to stay with plastisol. But for printers who want to produce a better product, they are converting easily. Eventually it’s going to come down to owners who want high quality, and those whose customers are going to force them into it.

Printing Tips

For faster curing at lower temperatures, it’s recommended to add a low-cure catalyst to HSA ink, especially if the dryer does not have forced air. A lower curing temperature also saves energy as the dryer can be turned down. Note that any inks that have a catalyst added need to be used within eight hours.

When printing polyester with HSA inks, a dye blocker is advised. A black blocker is used as an underbase and stops dyes from migrating through the inks, changing the desired color. It will create a heavier hand than without the blocker, but still softer than a traditional plastisol print with an underbase.

For dark shirts, you’ll want to do the usual white underbase, flash, white base and then print your colors on top. This creates a surface like white paper and helps colors to pop.

When printing spot colors, especially if they are big areas, it’s best to flash between colors. This helps avoid pickups. Simulated color can usually be printed wet on wet.

HSA inks are making it easier than ever before to get into water-base printing. If you have been thinking about it, now may be the time to get a quart of ink and try experimenting to see how it works for you.

See Also: Stepping Slowly Into Water Based Printing 7 Reasons You Should Consider Switching to Water Based Ink How to Screen Print Water Based Ink from Green Galaxy

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