This post was generously sponsored by Good Threads and I received items for review.
Meet Lyle.
Lyle is a corgi mix who loves to cuddle on the couch and go for walks. Sometimes he’s so excited that he stamps his little feet on the floor for minutes at a time. Sometimes this means that Lyle just isn’t taken seriously. So he asked me where he could find an ethically produced accessory that would convey to others how serious he really is.
I suggested Good Threads.
Good Threads is a Haiti-based company that specializes in colorful and quirky hand-embroidered belt, collars, and key chains. When they first reached out to me, I was really excited to see that they had a line for pets, because I don’t see a lot of that on the fair trade market. Incorporating ethically produced goods into your lifestyle is hard enough, but finding the thing you need is often just as hard as making the habit change.
Good Thread’s pieces are exceptionally high quality, too, ensuring that you won’t need to run out and replace things every few years.
About the production process:
Because needlepoint is a highly individualized process, Good Threads’ artisans work from their homes and receive a wage per piece, which allows schedule flexibility to take care of kids and do other household tasks at their own pace.
Artisans receive 3-7 times the standard wage, dependent on skill level, which is equivalent to the wage of a mid to high end teaching salary. As affiliates of non-profit, the Joan Rose Foundation, their children are provided meals and educational opportunities, including full tuition to a private school in Jacmel, Haiti. The Joan Rose Foundation, in partnership with Good Threads, also does their best to provide for immediate needs, such as emergency medical care and procurement of household goods.
I admire this holistic approach to care, encompassing access to resources, employment, and the meeting of basic, material needs. At the thrift shop I manage, I’ve often been struck by how important it is to embrace people living on the margins with a variety of resources. We offer physical goods to our clients in partnership with social service agencies and those umbrella agencies, in turn, provide access to safe housing and employment opportunities. This multi-fold approach is necessary, and it’s the only sustainable way to help. I’ve seen people get their lives back after receiving the loving care they need, and it’s a humbling thing to behold.
About the Products:
Skull & Crossbones Needlepoint Dog Collar
A substantial piece with close stitching and backed with full grain leather. Lyle’s owner was struck by the quality of this piece and I was, too. $55.00. Available in 4 sizes.
Tribal Print Needlepoint Belt
Like the collar, the needlepoint work on this one is intricate and impeccable. The belt holes are spaced well to allow me to wear this at my natural waist and a bit lower (I’m wearing the size 32 with a 28″waist). $125.00.
Dash the Dog Needlepoint Keychain
It’s like a mini-Lyle in white! The cutest little keychain that would make a great stocking stuffer or housewarming gift. $24.50.
My friend, Holly, recently mentioned to me that one of the most important lessons she’s learned as a conscious consumer is that ethically made, high quality pieces cost less in the long run because they don’t wear out. I have to agree with her. Small investments can make a big difference, and I can confidently recommend Good Threads to fill gaps in your – and your dog’s – closets.
SHOP GOOD THREADS
Leah Wise is the founder of StyleWise Blog. She has been writing, speaking, and consulting on sustainable fashion, the fair trade and secondhand supply chain, and digital marketing for over ten years. An Episcopal priest, Leah holds a B.A. in Religion from Florida State University and an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School. When not working, you can find her looking for treasures at the thrift store.