The past year has presented many people with unprecedented challenges and changes worldwide. During a time where thousands of people have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, doing some good and giving back to charitable causes is something small that you can do to promote some positive change — and it’s much easier than you think. To learn how you can start spreading a little love in the world, here are ten brands who have been contributing their own efforts to various causes that are worth checking out:
1. Ivory Ella
Ivory Ella is a socially conscious and environmentally friendly brand that donates a portion of their profits to Save the Elephants, an organization dedicated to protecting elephants from the ivory trade and accelerating habitat and range loss that have put their populations at risk. Not only has this brand donated more than $1.9 million to Save the Elephants, but it also supports other charitable organizations, such as the American Heart Association, Polar Bears International, and the Austin Area Urban League’s current efforts to provide relief support to Texans following Winter Storm Uri.
2. Love Your Melon
Love Your Melon is an apparel brand supporting the fight against pediatric cancer. 50% of their net profit from all product sales is given to nonprofit organizations around the world that lead the fight against pediatric cancer. They are also dedicated to giving a hat to every child battling cancer through Beanie Giving Events at hospitals around the country.
3. Shady Rays
Shady Rays is much more than your average eyewear retailer. With every order placed, the company donates 10 meals to Feeding America in their mission to fight hunger in the United States. Their donations have surpassed 10 million meals as they continue to donate to Feeding America sponsored food banks across the country.
4. Tesoro Design
Tesoro Design is a female-owned, handmade shop based in the Philly area whose mission is to empower women, minimize the carbon footprint, and raise awareness of the fashion industry’s damaging effects on the environment. Due to the circumstances of the pandemic, Tesoro is currently only selling their products through their online site. They continue their efforts to support ethical apparel and working conditions around the world, especially within the leather industry.
5. FEED
FEED is a lifestyle accessory brand whose mission is to fight global hunger. The brand receives help from their on-the-ground partners who provide school meals to the most vulnerable communities around the world. When browsing through their online site, each of their products feature a number below its picture that represents the number of school meals provided with your purchase. FEED has provided over 100 million meals through their sales and continues to lend their support to organizations like UNICEF and the United Nations World Food Programme.
6. TOMS
Toms is a shoewear turned apparel/accessory brand that invests a third of their profits in grassroots efforts that create change at the local level and seek to drive progress from the ground up. The company is dedicated to various charitable efforts, including promoting mental health and ending gun violence.
7. Casely
Casely is an online tech-accessories retailer and originated the phone case subscription box. Through their Every Case Counts initiative, the company selects a different charity each month to provide support to organizations whose needs arise in real-time. Throughout this March, Casely will be supporting the Global Fund for Women, a non-profit organization that strives to empower women around the world and ensure they are granted basic human rights.
8. Do Good Swimwear
Do Good Swimwear is a sustainable swim brand that is dedicated to supporting eco-friendly and ethical practices. Each of their swimsuits is made of recycled materials using ocean waste such as fish nets, plastic bottles, and old nylons, which are then recycled and turned into a beautiful and comfortable material. Bonus! A portion from each purchase supports various non-profit organizations who are dedicated to ocean conservation efforts, planting trees for carbon offsetting, and girls/women’s mental health and education.
9. Butterpear
Butterpear is a socially conscious lifestyle brand that sells African-artisan made goods handcrafted by artists in East and West Africa, as well as refugees in their base location of Cleveland, Ohio. Their products are made with natural materials that help pay homage to the artists’ culture, such as banana leaf fiber, sisal plants, repurposed pewter, paper beads, and so much more. 100% of Butterpear’s proceeds go straight back to those artists who handcrafted them and help fund schools for children in Africa.
10. Thought
Thought is a natural and sustainable apparel brand that creates designed-to-last style. For over five years, the company has supported Smart Works, a charity that provides aspiring, out-of-work women with interview training and head-to-toe dressing. Thought has also organized their own Thoughtful Friday campaigns, where they donate 50% of the days’ sales to charities in opposition to the trend of mass consumerism. Additionally, Thought lends their own support to grassroot charities that are focused on environmental conservation efforts, such as The Woodland Trust and Trees for Cities.
Whenever you decide to have your next online shopping spree splurge, consider shopping from companies that value sustainability, ethics and helping others as their main brand missions. Maximizing support for charitable organizations requires long-term commitments, so take these suggestions as a start to become part of something much bigger!