Feel-Good Fashion

Shop with purpose: 6 clothing and accessory brands committed to good looks andgood causes

Chooze shoes help lift people out of poverty.
Edun hopes produce 40 percent of its seasonal collection within the Africancommunity by 2013.
Sales of Eye on the Sparrow jewelry help support the Carter Albrecht MusicFoundation.
Roma Boots distributes boots to children living in poverty.
Warby Parker donates funds and eyewear to nonprofits who distribute them tothose in need.
LemLem helps promote economic growth in Ethiopia.

Who doesn’t like to feel as good about their purchases as they do about wearing them? From fashion-forward Edun to playful Chooze shoes for kids, these brands are as covetable as they are committed to a cause — whether it’s combating poverty or supporting local musicians. We call that fashion with a perk.

Edun
The luxe line of men’s and women’s clothing and accessories, started by Ali Hewson and Bono (yes, that one), has an ongoing trading relationship with Africa. To help alleviate poverty, the company aims to produce 40 percent of its seasonal collection within the community by 2013. The laid-back rocker chic collection is well worth the investment. Available at Nordstrom NorthPark and edun.com.

Eye on the Sparrow Designs
We love the bracelets, earrings and necklaces that Abbie Chesney churns out of recyled donated guitar strings. Proceeds fund the Carter Albrecht Music Foundation, which supports the Dallas music community by helping local musicians move one step closer to their dreams. Rock on. Available at the Dallas Museum of Art gift shop, Talulah Belle and on the eyeonthesparrow.com.

Roma Boots
This Dallas-based business, founded by Samuel Bistrian, elevates the practical rain boot while helping those in need. The knit-lined classic hunter-style rubber boots come in fashion-savvy shades like glossy plum and matte gray. For every boot sold, subsidiary Roma Provisions distributes weatherproof boots to children living in poverty — predominantly in cold, wet climates like Romania. Warm your feet and your heart by supporting this good cause. Available at romaprovisions.com.

Warby Parker
Buy a pair of these vintage-inspired frames for just $95, and Warby Parker provides funding or glasses to nonprofit partners that distribute them to those in need. The online-only retailer offers a convenient Home Try-On Program, so you can test out five frames for five days free of charge before selecting a suitable pair of specs. Vibrant, fashionable frames that you not only look good in, but also feel good about? You can see why we like it.

LemLem
The women’s and children’s clothing company founded by supermodel and actress Liya Kebede preserves the ancient art of weaving while promoting economic growth. Made in Ethiopia, the hand-woven breezy boho cotton dresses, tops, skirts and scarves make great gifts as well as appealing additions to any wardrobe. Available at Cabana and online at lemlem.com.

Chooze Shoes
Artistic doodles grace these (purposely) mismatched children’s shoes designed by Dallas-based artist and founder Sharon Blumberg. Packaged in a recycled-cardboard art box and available in a variety of styles that both kids and moms adore, the environmentally friendly shoes give kids the freedom of expression as well as a do-good attitude. Chooze invests profits to programs that provide training, support, education and loans to women to help them out of extreme poverty. Available at Whole Earth Provision Company, Stride Rite and choozeshoes.com.

Like what you see? Then check out online retailer Juno & Jove for a well-edited selection of consciously crafted products and brands.

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Shopping News

Where to shop in Dallas right now: 7 zany new stores to check out

Thrifted Threads

Thrifted Threads chill vibe

With the holidays on the horizon, shopping is on the rise. This November edition of Where to Shop, CultureMap's monthly roundup of new shops, sales, and alternative shopping, has five unique new openings, ranging from fashion to skin care to sports apparel.

The roundup also includes two non-traditional entries, including a new benefits program at an area mall, and a place to get your passport — in case you're planning on shopping abroad.

Here's where to shop in Dallas for November:

Baseballism
Baseball camp that transformed into an off-field baseball clothing brand is now open at Allen Premium Outlets. The store offers baseball-themed clothing, hats, and accessories. Their collection features collaborations with several big league names, including MLB, Babe Ruth, Vin Scully and Field of Dreams. Caps and hoodies are especially popular items, such as the Junior's Silhouette for $36 or the short Sleeve Yankees hoodie for $79.

Firewheel Town Center
Garland shopping center is in the giving spirit with its latest Shop, Dine & Save program. Visitors can shop or dine at select stores, including Buckle, DSW, and Razzoo's, Ferah Tex-Med Kitchen, and receive a $25 Simon giftcard when they spend $150 or more. To get the giftcard, receipts have to be shown at the mall management office and include at least one shop and one restaurant from the same day. The special lasts through November 27.

Hill House
Originally a bedding company that launched in 2016, Hill House has extended their collection to offer home, accessories, baby & kids, bridal, and apparel. They opened a location in NorthPark Center at the end of October — their first in Texas and only their fifth store. Hill House is best known for the "Nap Dress," a flowing dress made for day or night wear. There's also a short version of the dress, such as the Scarlett Long Sleeve Mini, a plaid dress for $188. Just in time for season, they've launched holiday pajamas, featuring pajama sets, robes, and children's sets.

Glossier
Skincare, beauty, and fragrance concept just opened a 1,000 square-foot store at NorthPark Center, featuring its trademark whimsical displays that one might mistake for an art supply or paint store. They sell fragrances, scented skin creams, balms, cleansers, moisturizers, makeup, eyelash curlers, and other beauty products, a little on the pricey side, but they make the shopping experience fun with an immersive shopping experience. That stuff doesn't come for free. This is their 12 location in the U.S., joining Atlanta, Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, DC, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, NYC, Philadelphia, and Seattle.

Rally House
Sports apparel chain opened a location at Rockwall Crossing Shopping Center in Rockwall, with merchandise — headwear, accessories, collectibles — dedicated to Dallas-area teams including Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, and college teams like the Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders, and Texas A&M Aggies. They also offer locally-themed apparel and accessories that celebrate Dallas destinations and landmarks, such as an Uscape Pom Mens Knit Hat with a graphic of the Dallas skyline for $30 or a long sleeve Dallas sweatshirt for $42. This is the 22nd location in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Thrifted Threads
Houston-based vintage clothing reseller just made its debut in Deep Ellum at 2646 Main St. #620, next to Vidorra. Thrifted Threads was founded by Laith Awad, who began reselling clothes in 2017, initially as an online store until he opened a location in 2022 in Houston's Montrose District when he was only 18. He opened a second store in College Station in 2023. Deep Ellum is the third. They're known vintage apparel from jerseys to sweatshirts and hats, as well as collections of color-sorted clothes from the 70s to the 2000s. It's more than a store, with arcade games that don't require coins to play, a motorcycle display, and ice cream.

Collin County Passport Office
If you're "shopping" for a passport, a passport office just reopened in the Collin County Courthouse at 2100 Bloomdale Rd., McKinney. The new passport acceptance office will initially be appointment only, with bookings available through the District Clerk's website. Plans are underway to introduce same-day and walkup services in the near future.

openings where to shop