NEOCOCO Loves:
8 Brands That Make a Difference
At NEOCOCO, we are driven by our mission first mentality. Our products highlight strength in femininity both in production and design.
We are constantly amazed and inspired by other brands that maintain a unique and powerful mission behind their work, and that keep positive impact and sustainability in mind in everything they do. NEOCOCO Loves is our effort to highlight companies and people who share a passion for the business for making a difference.
1. Feed (NY)
After traveling with the World Food Programme, FEED founder Lauren Bush Lauren started this effort in 2007 as a way to combat hunger. With every FEED purchase, you help provide meals to school children around the world. Each product has a unique number on it representing the amount of meals provided based on the purchase made.
Providing children with meals not only incentivises them to attend school, it aids them in their learning process by nourishing their mind and body. Since its beginning, FEED has provided over 100 million meals through product purchases.
At The Giving Keys, every product purchased helps support job creation for people transitioning out of homelessness. Founded on three ‘Keys to Unlocking Potential’, through their social enterprise model The Giving Keys provides stability, community, and identity to its employees.
Each key is engraved with an inspirational message, echoing the foundations of founder Caitlin Crosby’s original mission of spreading positivity.
Tight Knit Syria works with collectives in Northern Syria and Lebanon to work with displaced women and artisans who have fled war-torn areas, and who face the extreme challenges of living in refugee camps and extreme living conditions. This non-profit organization embraces the traditional knowledge of embroidery and crochet passed on through generations, selling handmade and sustainable products to support these women.
Founded in 2013 by Dana Kandalaft, after visiting a camp for displaced persons in Northern Syria, she realized that by selling these products she could help inspire financial wellbeing and create educational programs.
4. Epimonia
Founded by a Somali-American entrepreneur whose own family fled from civil war in the 1990’s, Epimonia was founded on a mission to make the world a better place, to spread hope and love, and to support refugees. Epimonia is a fashion apparel company that donates 50% of all profits to support this mission.
“Everything you see is handpicked, designed and/or produced hecho a mano...{by hand.}” Born on the belief that we should stand on the shoulders of those who stood before us, Petra De Luna connects with Mexican artisans and families to design and source a variety of fabrics and textiles.
Yolanda founded Petra De Luna as the namesake of her grandmother. She embraces her heritage by honoring Mexican culture in each design. “Through connecting people and cultures we hope you feel our passion and the love we have for the Mexican culture and all people...including you.”
6. Adiff NYC
“ADIFF is a female-founded design label that empowers refugees and upcycles traditional "waste" materials to create clothing and accessories.” Need we say more? As NEOCOCO is on our slow but steady mission to combine our social impact work with our passion for environmental stability - we look to brands like Adiff that are doing just that! One of their earliest and most well known item of clothing is their tent-jacket combo, designed to provide assistance to homeless and refugee populations. Better yet, for each one sold one is given to a person in need.
Adiff has been featured on numerous platforms like Business Insider, The NY Times, Forbes, CNN, and more - for a good reason. As the weather gets colder, consider going for a statement piece from Adiff for form, function, purpose, and a positive impact.
Founded by Fay Grant and Michele Chavez in 2013, The Tote Project makes ethically manufactured products crafted by survivors of exploitation, and at risk women. They also partner with manufacturers who uphold fair trade values, and who pay their workers an equitable wage in order to eliminate slave practices in the workforce.
By purchasing their products, you are supporting their mission to provide ethical work, support, and education.
Fair Trade LA is a brand on a mission to end poverty through equitable job creation. Each purchase through Fair Trade LA “improves the lives of global farmers and artisans while enriching the lives of local consumers with quality and sustainable products.” This brand and platform works to educate and empower consumers to buy sustainably and consciously.
Fair Trade LA sells a variety of different every-day products with function and style in mind. They also offer a monthly subscription package if you are interested in receiving ethical and fair trade products every month.
Click here to learn more about the Fair Trade Movement.
Ethical consumerism is the future! Join us in supporting a healthy and equitable world by supporting these amazing brands.
Sincerely,
The NEOCOCO Family