Stylish, comfortable, warm, ethical clothing to fit your life | LNBF

Hi everyone. As I write this we are about a month into social distancing and an encouraged self-quarantine here in Canada. As an outgoing introvert I have found staying home to be OK most of the time, but I am careful to manage my mental wellbeing and monitor it closely. I have regular video chats with friends, have had a few socially-distant coffee dates with friends and colleagues at the park, spend a lot of time on my creative projects and have managed to get dressed most days in order to maintain some semblance of normalcy (my hair is another issue altogether, though).

One of the brands I have been wearing frequently is LNBF – which stands for Leave Nothing But Footprints – a Toronto-based and women owned and operated fashion brand. I partnered with them back in the fall to showcase a few of their pieces and am totally thrilled to do so again because they are ethically made and environmentally conscious.

Wearable and versatile

I believe that brands like LNBF, who sell clothing that’s easy to style, can be dressed up or down with little hassle and that work really well with current mainstream North American tastes are super important for making the ethical and sustainable fashion movement accessible to a wide range of people. Take the Diane Midi Dress (I’m wearing size large in the color Dusty Rose) and Camille Shirt Dress (I’m wearing size large in the color Forest), as perfect examples. While I opted to style these in a way that leans towards edgy (hello, black!), either could easily be more casual, more flirty, more professional, more boho, you name it. I think this is because of how effortlessly the fabric hangs while still looking high quality. With that in your closet, the possibilities are almost endless.

And on the note of wearability I must get on my soapbox for a second here. As much as I love me a block print and some flowy linen, not everyone is into prints and linen. It’s just not everybody’s jam, and that’s OK. But beyond that, everyone isn’t even necessarily allowed to wear those things every day, especially if they need to go to a professional office environment for work. If we want sustainable living to be normalized, we have to make it as easy to buy as possible which means all styles need to be represented. Alright, rant over. Let’s carry on.

Comfortable and warm

LNBF’s clothing is shockingly comfortable and wonderfully warm, which is important for us Canadians! In the last few months since my first Instagram collaboration with LNBF, I have found myself reaching for their pieces in my life at least weekly (sometimes daily) whether I’m heading out to meet friends, on my way to work or lounging at home. These days I’m especially loving the Fiona Pintuck Denim pant (which feels more like a jegging), and have worn it a number of times this week. Yes, in a row. Don’t judge me – that’s how it goes in quarantine!

Anyway, this practicality is deeply satisfying. I am a busy person who wants to look my best with minimal effort (just keeping it real here, haha!) and be comfortable and warm and look put together. That’s a tall order, especially when you factor in the fact that I want to find all of that ethically – but LNBF delivers! If I throw on either of these pieces it immediately looks like I tried, thanks to the fit and detail.

Fair pay and transparency

This is the biggest factor in whether I choose to work with a brand, since my biggest goal in life is to make people’s lives better. That’s it, full stop. So, a brand must be committed to fair treatment and pay for their workers for me to even consider partnering with them.

And, again, LNBF delivers. Every single time I have pressed for more information about where they make their clothes or the wages at their factories, they have delivered quickly and in detail, which is exactly how brands should respond if they are committed to ethical practices. And, while I can’t disclose their workers’ exact wages, I can share that even the lowest entry-level wages are considerably higher than the local minimum wage. Plus, while LNBF is not currently fair trade certified, they report that they are working towards earning this designation.

Environmental responsibility

LNBF clothing is made from bamboo viscose, organic cotton, and Tencel and uses non-toxic Oeko-Tex 100 certified dyes that are free of heavy metals and allergens. And while one of their fabrics – bamboo – is a bit of a controversial topic in the sustainability circle, I consider it a “grey area” fabric that I’m OK with if it helps people feel more comfortable stepping into the ethical and sustainable fashion world.

LNBF also supports women who are doing good for the planet with their Earth Award, which awards one woman per year who is “actively engaged in environmental and community leadership” with a $1000 grant for a “a community initiative, project, social-enterprise, or business that is making a positive impact on society and the environment.” Nice!

So, ready to fall in love with LNBF just like I have? Check out their website to shop their styles – you’ll be glad you did!