Tree planting to a more sustainable future

 

It's Earth Day and we're offering positivity and hope by supporting reforestation projects in our home state of California. In recent years our state has been devastated by wildfires.

 

But big change starts small.

 

Trees clean our air and water, create habitats for biodiversity, contribute to our health and well being and create jobs for social impact.

 

We are flipping the switch on doom and gloom.

 

Today we're announcing a partnership with One Tree Planted.  For every pair sold, we're planting a tree, starting now.

 

Our current focus?  Reforestation in Paradise, California.

 

Together, we're helping our planet, one tree at a time.

 

Supporting BENDY just got a lot better.

 

SHOP comfortable shoes

 

 

 

 

If ever there were a time for a spring refresh of our homes, it’s now.  We have been cooped up for too long and why not hit refresh in our living spaces?

 

Today we offer up a tip to freshen up our living space and make every day living more enjoyable. 

 

Our decorating tip today?  Plants!

 

Going green is always a good idea in the home.

 

There is a lot to be said for having houseplants. They provide all kinds of health and wellness benefits – doctors are even prescribing them for anxiety, depression and loneliness. They are also a beautiful, zero-waste decorating option. Why buy more stuff for decor when living green things have so much visual impact, are enduring in style, and won't end up in the landfill!

 

1.Go Small

 

Small plants look beautiful in interiors. Due to their versatility and low maintenance they are perfect for basically any space in the house. The most common small plants are: cactus, air plants, aloe, English ivy and Philodendron. Choose variation to leave colors, sizes and textures.

 

 2. Old school inspo

 

 

 

3. Mobilize a tree

 

Put a tree on wheels! This is a great way to move your tree around to get more light or get it out of an area that may be too cold ... or to keep you company in different rooms. Who needs plants in every room when you can have one plant in all of them? It also makes it easy to wheel your baby outdoors for some outside time when the weather is suitable.

 

4. Use plants in a surprising way

A pantry plant? Why not? Scattering small plants around in surprising places is a delightful way to perk up any space.

 

Indoor houseplants add so much texture and life to a space, they are a great way to decorate a home, especially  minimalist styles. It’s also super rewarding to watch them grow. There’s nothing like seeing a new baby leaf on a plant you’ve been caring for!

 

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When we created BENDY, we wanted to find the softest, and highest quality leather possible and that didn't mean going halfway. That led us all the way to Italy!

 

Why did we choose Italian leather and what makes it different?

 

Well, the Italians have been obsessed with leather for centuries. It's a huge part of their culture and has become an integral part of fashion not only here but all around the world. So much so, that Italy is actually the top innovator when it comes to tanning leather. They've revolutionized techniques and methods to help make these materials more luxurious and durable and as import, more sustainable.

 

The leather used in BENDY is softer and more pliable than most leather shoes. It's also free from flaws or imperfections that you see in cheaper leathers.

 

Women often describe BENDY as "high quality" which is one reason they love them so much. Unless you buy your shoes in the $300+ range, chances are good that you haven't felt a shoe this nice before.

 

And speaking of leather..did you ever wonder why we chose leather for our shoe?

 

Leather is an ideal material for shoes because it breathes (doesn't make your feet sweat) and forms to your foot, making them more comfortable than synthetic and man-made materials.

 

It is also no coincidence that our Italian tannery took the lead in creating a business model that put the environment first. Tanning is one of the most delicate steps in our shoes’ environmental footprint, so it should come as no surprise to you that we have partnered with this like-minded team. They are reducing tanning’s  impact on our planet through the best technology.

 

Our Italian tannery holds:

 

• • The Gold Certification of The Leather Working Group (L.W.G.). for its ethical, environmental and safety practice in the processing of hides.

 

• • Blauer Engel-Certification, for minimizing their impact on the health, and the environment during the production phase as well as in the recycling and disposal phases.

 

You may or may not  know that tanning leather isn't a very pleasant process, and if you google it, you'll find some pretty disturbing images.

 

All over Asia, there are tanneries using antiquated tanning processes - this is not only bad for the environment but also for the workers in these dangerous facilities.

 

Curious what a state of the art Italian tannery looks like?. Check out these images:

 

 

We're really excited about what we've created and we think it’s important to share with you why our shoe’s different. You see, style and comfort if only part of our journey. Each pair is a step toward a brighter future.

 

Thanks for giving this a read, Shop our stylish comfortable shoe

It’s International Women’s Day and as we speak 98% of factory workers in the fashion industry are not paid enough to meet their most basic needs. 75% are women between the ages of 18-24.
 
Now this has been going on for decades.  Most of our clothes and shoes are made in countries in which workers’ rights are limited or nonexistent. In fact, production sites are regularly moving locations, and big brands are on the lookout for ever cheaper labor costs.
 
So you might hear some say "for these workers, it is better than nothing”, or “at least we give them a job”, and to a certain extent, they are right.  But it is also right to say that they are exploiting the misery and taking advantage of poor populations who have no choice but to work for any salary, in any working conditions.  
 
By yours and my standard, these are slave working conditions. 
 
Does anyone really feel good about slipping a on a pair of shoes or a dress made this way?
 
We envision a fashion industry where every woman earns a living wage and works in a safe environment.

We started our company to offer an alternative way to shop. Now we were in the business and we were exposed to this before the media and influencers started talking about it. We had a hunch that if it was disturbing to us that others would feel that same way.

Here is why our shoe-making process is different:
 

Here at BENDY, our shoes are made in our home state of California by some pretty dedicated ladies (and gents). We can ensure that fair wages, safe working conditions and no child labor is used in making our shoe. We support a community of shoemakers in Los Angeles.

So today, we bring this important issue forward to shine a light on the women all over the world working in difficult conditions. We encourage you to get curious about where and how your goods are made and use your purchasing power to support ethically made products.

 

Shop our stylish comfortable shoes.

 

It takes a lot of guts to spearhead the conversation, but that's exactly what Ariel Green does through her podcast and community, Sustainable Brown Girl.

 

Sustainable Brown Girl is a place where women and color can showcase the positive changes they're making for the planet. 

 

Through this outlet, Ariel has been able to highlight environmental activists, climate justice lawyers, and small business owners galore—but we can't forget just how much Ariel herself is doing for the greater good. 

 

"I created the Sustainable Brown Girl community to highlight, connect, and inspire black, brown, and indigenous women within the sustainability movement."

 

No change is too small for Ariel, who features brown girl influencers making sustainable choices on a personal level. Think going vegan, shopping second hand, or reducing waste.

 

Based in Atlanta with her husband and houseplants, Ariel is an avid gardener, home cook, and content creator. 

 

She also manages a personal brand, Naturally Mermaid, where she gets the chance to review sustainable purchases and talk about her own experiences with environmentalism.

 

"I'm passionate about finding new ways to live sustainably in order to improve the health of the planet and our bodies."

 

The "stubborn whiteness of environmentalism," as Inside Higher Ed puts it, is nothing new. Back in 2018 when Ariel first began her low waste journey, she immediately noticed the white women at the forefront of the community—but she knew she wasn't the only person of color interested in saving the planet. 

 

"The goal of Sustainable Brown Girl is to share these incredible womens' stories to support them and inspire other women of color to make better choices for the health of our planet and the health of our bodies."

 

Black history month may only make up February, but movers and shakers like Ariel are changing the tides with every season. Building communities by and for people of color—and women of color specifically—help make space for the voices that have historically been left out of the conversation.

 

Now, Ariel is one of the amazing women of color who is fueling the conversation about climate change and the health of our planet. This talk only continues to spread.

 

For BENDY, it is an absolute honor to witness the Black joy, the joy of people of color, that's working to save a planet we all inhabit.

 

From the perspective of our own small, women-run business, there is something so deeply altruistic about this that it's hard to put into words. 

 

Ariel's Sustainable Brown Girl podcast and community—as well as her Naturally Mermaid brand—continue to propel change for the planet. All the while, she's providing a platform for women of color who have so much to give to environmentalism. 

 

Ariel on her BENDYs:

 

"With most slip-on flats, the shoes usually rub against my achilles tendon making them too uncomfortable. But I don’t have that problem with the BENDY shoes. The shoes are so versatile and have quickly become one of my favorite pairs to wear. And it doesn’t hurt that I’ve gotten several compliments while wearing them!"