Monthly Archives: February 2021

 

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!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello,

 

We hope you are doing well. 

 

The shoes we chose to wear all day should provide a comfortable base for our busy lives, but let’s face it, comfort does not always mean cute and stylish.  

 

We all have those bulky shoes in our closets that are comfortable but we prefer not to be seen in them! That’s  why we created BENDY. We were shooting for the comfort of a sneaker AND the style of a flat. 

 

But we also knew there were a gazillion shoe brands. In fact, we believed the world needed another shoe like it needed another coal burning power plant.

 

We had a hunch if we could create one that put planet and people first AND be stylish and comfortable, we could stand out from the crowd.

 

And guess what?

 

We succeeded.

 

Now we can tell you that positive reviews NEVER get old.  We still jump for joy when women tell us they love our planet-friendly, comfy shoe.

 

Today we thought we would share a few with you.

 

Because of customers like you, we are able to do our part and offer women an alternative way to shop for comfortable shoes. 

 

Take care and thanks for your continued support of our small, sustainably-minded, 100% women-owned business!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shop our stylish comfortable shoe

 

Stay safe and well,

 

Caroline and Mary Sue

Yes you read it right, we suggest you break up on this Valentines day!

 

And by that we don't mean to break up with your loved one, don't worry.

 

What we ask you to consider, is a break up with fast fashion.

 

First, let's see what fast fashion actually is? 

 

• Fast fashion is clothing that’s made quickly and cheaply so it will sync up with trends and what consumers want right now.

 

• And when the trend of the moment has passed, new clothing appears on the racks, and people buy more...

 

 

Lucy is right. It sounds fun, and it often looks fun and is something so many people love to buy. But there's a dark side of fast fashion.

 

• Fast fashion is not only made to be disposable, worn for a season or less and discarded, but is incredibly energy consuming, polluting and wasteful.

 

• And sadly 1 million tons of apparel and shoes ends up in landfill each year.

 

That's a lot!

 

Labor rights violations run rampant in countries where fast fashion is made and they have for many years.

 

And over the decades, fast fashion went from a minority player in the industry to becoming the new normal.

 

Take a look at these stats from China, where the majority of our shoes and clothes are made.

 

 

We know, this is overwhelming information, but we are here to tell you that we can do something about this!

 

In fact, we started our company to offer women an alternative way to shop. We created BENDY to help women break up with fast fashion.

 

• BENDY is handcrafted in our home state of California, by artisan shoemakers.

 

• We can ensure that fair wages, safe working conditions, and no forced or child labor is used in making BENDY.

 

•  We stitch our upper to the soles instead of using glue. This reduces workers exposure to toxic glues.

 

• BENDY is made in small batches with shorter lead-times. This means we can more easily predict demand & avoid the dangers of over production associated with fast fashion.

 

They are simple, comfortable, stylish and more planet friendly. This last element has never been more important.

 

What else can you do to break up with fast fashion?

 

Shop BENDY here