Shop Affordable and Ethical Products at Hearts.com

As a young New Yorker on a budget, I am always looking for bargains, especially when it comes to clothing. So I'm a real sucker for fast fashion.

But recently I've become aware of the unethical practices used in the apparel industry. Some of my favorite retailers have been caught up in scandals involving sweatshops, pollution, and unfair labor practices. Check out the shocking list here. I was appalled! After learning more about these issues, I am making a conscious effort to support retailers who are socially responsible. However, I've found it difficult because firstly, it's hard to find brands who are transparent about their sourcing procedure and secondly, most of the products I was finding were at a price point out of my budget.

So I was thrilled when I discovered Hearts.com, an e-commerce website that curates hundreds of
ethically made products from vendors around the world, many of which are quite affordable. I love browsing through the different items and learning the stories of the people who created them. And as an added bonus, when you sign up for their newsletter, you get $10 off your first purchase! Score! Read on to see some of my top picks from Heart.com for those on a budget...

Learn Something New at Presentation Party Night

Ever wanted to know the history of the hot sauce industry? Or how stand-up comics develop their material? Maybe you're wondering how the deep web works or how scientists can create burgers using in vitro. These are just some of the many topics that have been explored at the monthly Presentation Party Night held on the 3rd Sunday of every month at Bat Haus in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The event is comprised of a lineup of ten minute presentations. Each presentation is followed by a brief question and answer session. And did I mention that there is free booze and snacks? The Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn Salsa Company, and Zico Coconut water sponsor the event and provide gratis food and drink. Many of the guests also bring snacks to share and the spread is usually plentiful.

Photo Credit: PPN Website

Photo Credit: PPN Website

I'll admit the whole idea sounds a little bit crazy and I was pretty apprehensive about going the first time. But I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the Presentation Party Nights I have attended and learned about stuff I would have had no understanding or awareness of had I not gone. The presentations are consistently intriguing, the crowd is always fun, and the free food & drink is just the icing on the cake. The next PPN is on February 16th and is rumored to be Valentines Day themed. I can't wait for the line up of presentations to be announced. Save the date!

Visit their website for more information and like them on Facebook to be notified about upcoming events.

Free Fitness Classes at JCC on January 1st

Looking for a way to jump-start your New Year's Resolution to get in shape? Or maybe just seeking a way to work off the liquid calories you are going to consume on New Year's Eve? You are in luck! The Jewish Community Center at 334 Amsterdam Avenue and 76th St is hosting their annual New Year's Day Fitness Fair tomorrow. Every year, the center opens its doors to the public and hosts an array of fitness classes free of charge. They have classes all day in everything from Zumba to strength training to self defense. Or if you're in the mood for something a bit tamer (or maybe a little hung over), you can try meditation or yoga. They also are offering free individual nutrition counseling and workshops on topics like personal finance management and overcoming trauma. They recommend you sign up online for the classes you are interested in but will accommodate walk-ins on a first come, first serve basis. Check out the list of classes here. Registration is still open so go ahead and sign up before you head out to your NYE party! I've already registered for a couple. Even if I make it to just one, it's good motivation to get out and exercise on a day that I know I would not have otherwise. Happy New Year!

Jewish Community Center

334 Amsterdam Avenue

http://www.jccmanhattan.org/

Free Sightseeing NYC: Roosevelt Island Tram

Good views in New York City are pricey! Tourists will pay about thirty dollars just to view the skyline from the top of Rockefeller Center and it costs over forty bucks to see the cityscape from the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building. But there are other somewhat less impressive ways to view the infamous skyline for a fraction of the cost! How? The Roosevelt Island Tram. After a photographer friend showed me some breathtaking shots he had taken while aboard, I was convinced to check it out myself.

The Roosevelt Island Tram operates seven days a week and provides transportation between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island. For one metro-card swipe, you can board the tram in Manhattan at 2nd Avenue and 60th St and enjoy the panoramic view that the three and half minute ride offers. The Chrystler Building, United Nations, and entire East Side are visible as you leisurely travel above the East River. The rain today ruined many of my pictures but Yelpers have posted tons of photos of the view including the ones below.

Once off of the tram, you can board a bus for $.25 that will take you around the perimeter of the two mile island. The parks at either end of Roosevelt Island, conveniently called Northpoint and Southpoint, also offer great views of Manhattan. I imagine on a sunny, warm day that picnicking would be a great idea! 

Granted, the view from the tippy top of a skyscraper is probably more impressive but if you're just looking to gape for a few minutes at the wonder of the man-made effort that is the NYC grid, the Roosevelt Island Tram is a great option!

If you're jonesing for another way to see the city skyline without paying an arm and a leg, check out my post about the Staten Island Ferry! 

#MyKiplingBag Tour Comes to NYC

As I was strolling down Sixth Avenue today on my way home from grocery shopping, I stumbled upon the Kipling Bag Tour Pop Up Store on 29th Street. As I opened the double doors leading into the temporary shop, I entered a warm, sunny, friendly atmosphere. Green grass covers part of the floor, colorful dry erase boards line the wall, and Kipling bags are artfully merchandised where ever I turned. The store will be open from November 12th to 14th and offers an array of amazing services.



Professional makeup artists at your beck and call? Of Course!
Photo booth? Step right up!
Monogramming Service? You bet!
Free Food and Drinks? For sure!

The best part? You guessed it, everything is free! Seriously...everything! I could hardly contain my glee when Megan, one of the makeup artists, offered to do my makeup. Whilst getting pampered, an employee offered me a cold drink and when I was done, I made my way over to the monogramming station where I got to custom design a pen case to take home. To say I left happy is an understatement!

If you are in the area, I highly suggest checking it out since tomorrow is the last day they will be there. They are open from 12 to 9 PM and will be serving "sips" after 7 PM.

835 Sixth Avenue at 29th St

#mykiplingbag

Best Shoe Repair in New York City

Fall in New York City means two things to me:

1. Unabashedly consuming copious amounts of pumpkin flavored goodies

2. Wearing boots ALL the time

I will leave my love of all things pumpkin for another post and focus on my affinity for sliding on a great pair of boots and listening to the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot as I traipse down the street. Few things bring me greater joy. Unfortunately, all my traipsing does a number on my footwear. I realized a few weeks ago that on two of my favorite pairs, the heel had completely worn out. Not wanting to retire my beloved boots to the trash and unwilling to buy another pair (did I mention that I purchased both of them just last winter!), I decided to look into getting the heels re-soled. At the suggestion of my roommate, I decided to check out Hector Shoe Repair.

Hector Shoe Repair is a hole-in-the-wall establishment located at 11 Greenwich Avenue in the West Village. Open 6 days a week, they offer several services including heel repair, shoe stretching, and polishing. I was doubtful that they'd even take my boots since they were in such bad shape. After looking them over, the attendant (wish I had asked his name!) assured me that the damage was fixable and told me to come back in a few days.

I did just that, and the results were AMAZING! Not only did they completely replace the heel, but they polished my shoes free of charge. They looked better than the day I bought them! At only $20 dollars per pair, it was well worth it! Getting shoes repaired a really wise financial decision. First, because it saves money on buying new shoes and prolongs the life of footwear. And second because it could save you medical expenses. Seriously, though! I got tendonitis in my knees from the strain caused by walking on uneven shoes. It's a thing, I promise. 

So before you decide to chuck a pair of your favorite kicks because they're worn out, stop by Hector. You won't be disappointed! 

Hector Shoe Repair

11 Greenwich Avenue

(212) 727-1237

Shop to Support Fair Trade and Labor!

Ever wondered how some of your favorite clothing stores are able to sell merchandise at rock bottom prices? Walk into any fast-fashion retailer and you're bound to see dresses, tops, bottoms, and shoes all with price tags below $20. As a consumer, this is great! For as much as it costs to buy a fancy drink at Starbucks, you can easily get a cute top or fun pair of earrings that can be replaced when they go out of style next season. But who is really paying the cost for our obsession rampant overconsumption? The sad truth is that the garment industry relies heavily on outsourced labor to meet the high demand that the western world has for throw-away fashion. And sadly, many of the factories that produce the clothing we so incessantly consume are not complying with fair labor laws.

I was shocked to find out how extensive this issue is and mortified at the conditions of some factories. Just last week, a report by the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights, exposed factories in Bangladesh producing Gap clothing for their unlawful labor practices. The facility's 3,750 workers are routinely forced to work over 100 hours a week for only 20 to 24 cents per hour. By the third week in a month, many do not have money left to buy food.

The conditions observed at the Gap factory are common in the garment industry. The International Textile Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation put out a list of 60 retailers in 2011 that sourced merchandise from factories that routinely broke labor laws. In fact, none of the 83 factories they examined paid a living wage to their workers, and that some were below the legal minimum wage for that region. The report concludes that their findings “indicate that widespread violations and abuses of workers’ rights continue to be the norm in the industry.” You can see the full list of retailers named here.

And sadly, this does not just an issue in third world countries. In 2000, more than 11,000 sweatshops in the U.S. violated the minimum wage and overtime laws, while over 16,000 had broken health and safety laws

So what can we as consumer's do to halt the detrimental direction the garment industry has taken? We can demand that the companies we patronize uphold their duty to provide safe and clean environments for their workers and pay them a living wage. Doubling the salary of sweatshop workers only increases the consumer cost of an item by 1.8 percent. We can also support businesses who specifically create jobs in third world countries. I highly recommend stopping by the Be.The.Voice Pop Store in Soho. It's a boutique selling fair-trade and slave free products. The assortment of merchandise is beautiful; from leather bangles, to hand knit mittens, to woven bags, it took me a good hour to decide what to purchase. I ended up getting my mom a beautiful handmade silver necklace. They are also hosting a panel discussion on Labor Trafficking this Wednesday. I went to one of their other panel discussions and it was it was great to hear directly from people who are working to solve this issue. I also enjoyed complimentary wine and appetizers.

Some of the beautiful merchandise
 at the Be.The.Voice Pop Up Store

I'd be a hypocrite to say that I will never shop at H&M or Gap again. But since learning about the unfair labor practices used in factories around the world, I'm reevaluating my shopping habits. I just can't look at a $10 dress without envisioning the woman who made it toiling for 20 hours a day in an unclean factory supervised by an owner who abuses her  just to earn so little money that she is unable to sufficiently feed herself or her family. It makes the act of shopping a whole lot more meaningful when I know that I am not contributing to such a serious yet easily fixable problem.