Who: Lolë – Montreal, Canada

What: Syrah Tunic

Where: Lolë – $70

Why We Love ‘Em: Move over Lulu, there’s a new girl in town–Lolë, a ‘gal’ who shares our passion for nature and an active lifestyle and, in 2002, created a fashion label to follow suit. So it’s about time we met starting with the Syrah Tunic.

Perfect for hopping from bike to brunch to the game or for tossing in a suitcase for a last minute trip. It’s got a flattering shape–hello ruching and cinched waist–and comes complete with a neon reflector to help keep you safe while on the road. Plus, it’s made from a sport-friendly blend of blend of organic cotton, Tencel™ and elastane that’s naturally anti-bacterial, odor inhibiting, and naturally wicking so you’ll look and feel fresh no matter where the day takes you.

Who: Naya – New York, NY

What: Tatiana Sandal

Where: Nordstrom – $134.95

Why We Love It: When it comes to shoes, comfort and style should not be mutually exclusive, and Naya’s Tatiana gladiator sandal is the perfect example of how to achieve both. Featuring a trio of colors (love the coral
!) in a geometric basket weave pattern, these comfy t-strap sandals–thank you oh so cushiony sole!–have just enough heel for a flattering lift without compromising walkability–yes, ladies, walkability–so you can walk all day or dance all night. Truthfully–but not recommended–they make you feel like running.

Naya puts sustainability at their core using natural and eco-friendly materials whenever possible as evidenced by the use of vegetable tanned leathers, a cork and rice husk outsole, a cork footbed, and a bamboo heel–just a few of the eco-friendly materials found in the body of this shoe. In addition, they have partnered with Souls4Souls to provide shoes to those in need and to divert shoes from landfills.

NAYA

*Note: Naya kindly sent us a set a pair of Tatiana shoes to take for a spin, and we’ve been quite pleased! But, we assure you this in no way influenced or swayed our review. As always, we are honest in our opinions and reviews of the products featured on Urban Sherp.

Who: Brooklyn Industries – Brooklyn, NY

What: Java Tote

Where: Brooklyn Industries – $124-134 (Bonus: click here for 5% off all full priced merchandise!)

Why We Love It: As the saying goes, waste not, want not, and Brooklyn Industries’ head designer, Nancy Phan has certainly taken that to heart. After a visit to the Brooklyn Roasting Company, she found inspiration in a stack of discarded jute coffee bags. The resulting totes are a far cry from the shapeless sack they once were thanks to details like the contrasting cotton lining, the genuine leather trim, and the sturdy leather base. And because each tote is made from salvaged materials, no two are alike, so you just don’t know what you are going to get. You could wind up with a bag that once carried beans from Bali, Brazil, Mexico, Ethiopia, or Peru. You can, however, specify the lining color–choose from black, pink, or blue.

But hurry, these totes are limited edition, so get them while you can! And you can feel good about your purchase–a portion of the profits from each tote will go to Kiva a micro-lending organization that helps fund projects around the world to combat poverty.

Who: Melissa Joy Manning – Berkely, CA

What: Occo Agate Post Earrings

Where: MJM – $165

Why We Love It: It was love at first sight when we laid eyes on these agate earrings–sparkly mini-geodes for your ears! Inspired by a recent visit to Iceland, you can feel the dynamic beauty of the landscape captured in this organic design. And what girl wouldn’t appreciate the fact that no two stones are alike, so each pair is unlike any other, sure to become an heirloom piece.

Of course, we appreciate that each piece of MJM jewelry is handcrafted in their Berkely studio from 100% recycled silver and gold using traditional metalsmithing techniques resulting in less waste than traditional methods. Any metal scraps generated from the creation process are returned to the refinery to be recycled anew! The stones themselves are consciously sourced from reputable companies throughout the US and abroad in search for people and planet sensitive stones.

Who: CHART Metalworks – Portland, ME

What: Wear Your World Pendants

Where: CHART Metalworks – $75-$100

Why We Love It: Such a sweet way to commemorate those special places in our lives with a custom pendant with the coordinates, image, or chart of that location at its center.

Designer and sailor Charlotte Leavitt collects nautical charts and maps as the launching point for her handcrafted pendants, belts, and cufflinks. Simply send her the address or the coordinates of a place near and dear to your heart and she’ll search her collection for a suitable match and will send along options for you to select from with that location which are then embedded in resin to create a one-of-a-kind piece specifically for you. The original map is not used, but rather a printed copy.

Who: TOMS – Los Angeles, CA

What: TOMS Ballet Flats

Where: TOMS – $74-$84, plus get $5 off with coupon code ShareToms

Why We Love It: We are super, super excited about the arrival of TOMS Shoes new ballet flats. They are perfect for spring temps whether at play or at the office, you can wear them with anything. We are partial to this two-tone burlap and canvas version–it’s got that extra touch of something different–but the solids are great too, and oh, so versatile. And of course, they all feature the signature blue TOMS logo telling the world that you are a part of One for One–helping to bring shoes to those in need.

But be warned, these flats are not very comfortable for those of us with wide feet–still too tight around the top and painful after a week of wear with absolutely no give–bummer! Alas, the narrow-footed will likely enjoy the snug fit and the cushy comfort of EVA foam and latex insert that will make it feel like you are walking in sneakers without looking like it. Also, they tend to run large, so if you are between sizes, order a size down.

Their ballet flats are manufactured in China, where according to TOMS, they “require factories to operate under sound labor conditions, pay fair wages and follow the International Labor Standards set by the International Labor Organization.”

1.  Baseball Bat Bottle Openers – $85-$125 @ Uncommon Goods. Handmade from authentic big league baseball bats.
2.  TOMS Classic 301 – $145 @ TOMS. 100% UVA/UVB protection, hand-painted striping on walnut wood temples. Plus, for each pair, TOMS will give the gift of sight to someone without.
3.  Siggs Water Bottle – $21.49 @ Amazon.com. In fire engine red to keep him well hydrated during all active pursuits.
4.  Helix Snowboard – $545 @ Venture Snowboards. Made in the USA from FSC-certified wood in a wind powered factory.
5. Vers Audio Earphones – $49.99 @ Lumens. Warm, natural wood meets warm, natural sound with built-in noise cancellation.
6.  6-Pack Frame Cinch – $24 @ WalnutStudiolo. Handtooled leather cinch makes it easy tote lax sticks, shovels, or 6-packs by bike.
7.  Hearts Boxer Brief – $24 @ PACT. Show your love for your man and the world with these organic cotton unders–each purchase supports community projects in Uganda, India, and America.
8.  FEED Unisex T-Shirt – $33 @ FEED.org. Each 100% organic cotton purchased provides 10 meals to children in need.

Who: VivaTerra – Pueblo CO

What: Recycled Leather Tote

Where: Vivaterra – $279 $195, plus now through Feb. 1 take an additional 10% off with coupon code 10EX121

Why We Love It: This carry-all has that well-traveled look, like it’s been around the world and wants to take you along for the ride. The butter-soft reclaimed leather and sophisticated chevron stitched patchwork on the main body make this a standout in a sea of leather bags. It’s rugged and durable and roomy without overwhelming so you can fit all of your travel or daily needs without feeling like a well, like a sherpa… And if you like to mix up your hold on a bag, you can choose between an adjustable over-the-shoulder strap or a pair of generously sized handles, so no worries about your tote ever slowing you down.

Available in camel or charcoal.

A few notes about Vivaterra — they are focused on sourcing eco-friendly goods including organic textiles, and products crafted from FSC-certified or recalimed wood and recycled metals and glass. In addition, as a company, they have built wind generators and planted over 25,000 trees to offset their carbon footprint.

Who: Boris Bally – Providence, RI

What: Traffic Sign Key Ring

Where: Eco-Artware.com – $12

Why We Love It: With temperatures dropping to the single digits, it’s nice to have a reminder of sunnier days like these surfboard-shaped key fobs by designer and metalsmith, Boris Bally.

Each keychain is arftully handcrafted, or “humanufactured”–as Bally likes to call it–from salvaged metal traffic signs. The colors and patterns of each one is determined by the sign from which they are cut and means that no two are alike, and you’ll enjoy the suspense of not knowing what you are going to get until you open your package–surprises are good!

Who: Foe & Dear – Toronto, Ontario, CAN

What: Rock Crystal Pendant

Where: Etsy – $50

Why We Love It: Most of the pieces from Foe and Dear are one-offs, so if not officially one of a kind, they are certainly one of a few. Designer Katherine Huie crafts her jewelry from salvaged deadstock or vintage chains breathing new life into jewelry that had been left for well, dead. This crystal necklace is made from a cluster of vintage deadstock brass and gold plated chains capped off with a lovely rock crystal for just the right mix of elegance and earth mother.