American Rhino: A Small Business with a Large Initiative

American Rhino, it's new on the scene, well they've been on the scene for a year but that's still new to me. They are popping up at Marketstreet Lynnfield and as you probably know, I've been beebopping up there lately. I had the opportunity to visit the store and speak with the owners about what they're doing and how it all started... I was drawn to them as they are one of those businesses that I like to highlight. Businesses that aren't just giving you a fun place to shop but a business that truly cares about their world and has chosen an avenue in which they believe they can help. In the case of American Rhino it's their appreciation of the African culture while trying to save one of the continent's mightiest animals, the rhino. Through their efforts they are raising valuable funds to protect the rhino as well as other African wildlife and supporting the ground team that's doing the hard work. We as consumers have the easy task, buying cute things that support a good cause.

I met with Chris Welles, founder and "Big Rhino" to chat about the brand and one of his Summer interns inadvertantly became a babysitter and watched the Propah Toddlah while we talked (thank you, Caroline!) so holla, I got to have an adult conversation! Chris is a genuinely warm guy who just happened to take his family on safari and was forever changed by the experience. They loved the culture and immersed themselves in learning about their traditions, their textiles and then the idea of creating something new to the US came to fruition. The kikoy is a textile traditional to and made in Africa that the folks at American Rhino are using to create products that we will want to buy because #1. They are very pretty #2 They are very unique to American retail #3 The American Rhino team has visibility on their supply chain and #4 We are saving African wildlife so yes, that's wonderful. As this blog post goes live, Chris is in Kenya presenting their first grant, so their business is already making a difference (in just about a year's time!). I'm excited to watch this brand grow and make change- Currently you'll find all manner of beach wear, towels, blankets, pants, tees etc but Chris gave me a glimpse into their future and there may be some denim jackets coming down the way... that excites me! For now I am just going to crush on the kikoy towels and mkoba backpack *heart eyes*

You gotta love what they're doing at American Rhino and not to worry if you're not local to Marketstreet in Lynnfield. You can see all of their offerings online and support their business that way. I told Chris while I was visiting that I'm always saying "you vote by where you spend your money" and it's totally true. I want to feel good about my purchases and make mindful choices. I would recommend checking out American Rhino before you snag something new for yourself, you might just find your new favorite kikoy pants that only get softer and softer with every wash!

You can find American Rhino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

PS. My top picks for the whole Propah family? --->Lil Rhino Onesie,  Little Rhino Hoodie, The Rhino Full Crew and the Rhino Hoodie,

Local Lovin': Boston Baubles

Have you heard of Boston Baubles? I had seen some girls about town sporting their goods so took a moment to reach out to them about what they were looking to do. As a lover of baubles, and girl power, and local love, they are just about my favorite kind of small business to discover! I had the chance to chat with Laura, the founder of Boston Baubles about what they've got cookin' over there and just as an FYI, they have the cutest, classy and perfect gifts for that special lady in your life (hint hint husband 😉). I love a dainty necklace that's as much a statement piece as something a little more colorful. The Boston Baubles team has got me covered, obviously.

Give us a little background as to how Boston Baubles came about. What initially drove you to start your brand? 

Boston Baubles started a long time ago, but products weren't sold publicly until recently.  I had a small studio in my parents basement where I would go to make jewelry in my spare time. It started as a hobby and then grew into a small business.  I don't make all the pieces anymore and now we offer a lot more products.  The original designs were all very custom and most of them had magnet clasps.  My mom and I were training for a triathlon at the time and we came up with this design for athletes who needed a way to take them on and off quickly.  Most of our earlier customers loved this aspect, but as the brand grew, we evolved to cover more styles and went with a more generic clasp.  It's been really fun trying different things and listening to what our customers want/love.  People reach out to us with ideas and we do our best to bring them to life.  Making something custom that means something - that's the best part!

When creating your products, where do you take inspiration from? 

Our inspiration comes from other people.  We have a group of ambassadors who inspire us with their style and ideas.  The most popular jewelry are pieces that mean something.  For example, a bar necklace with a grandparent's name or the coordinates of home.  It's inspiration you can wear with you all the time.

I love that you have shaped your business to connect with a simple yet classic design aesthetic. Why is this important to you?

I think minimalist designs work with every time of person and are easy to layer with more dramatic pieces.  We have a variety of all kinds, because we recognize that each person is different and has their own style.  We love how unique you can make a product with your own initials or name.  Customization is something we try to encourage as a brand.

What do you love to do in New England, when you aren't busy running your business?

My full time job is working as a financial analyst in healthcare.  It's not as exciting as fashion, but I do love it!  I get to crunch data and work with really amazing people.

You have certainly found some fantastic early success! Where do you see Boston Baubles headed in the future?

I love this question!  I think it's a hard one to answer, because I have so many hopes and dreams for the company.  Ideally, I'd love to find a way to create a community of women who inspire and empower each other.  From there, I'd like to figure out a way to give back to the community.  My mom is a two-time breast cancer survivor, so I'd really love to help raise money for cancer research and other charities in the area.

You can shop all their goodies here. More good news, they're on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Bonus: They're also accepting applications for ambassadors which seems so fun, right? So if you're a blogger or influencer, head over and introduce yourself!

Barreless Barre + Crane and Lion Event

On Wednesday night, I grabbed my yoga mat, my camera and a little bit of motivation, meeting some Boston Bloggers at the Crane and Lion location on Harrison Ave in Boston for a Barreless Barre class... and then SHOPPING, all hosted by Jenna of Boston Chic Party!

I'm always looking to take advantage of a fitness class so when the invite came across my desk I didn't hesitate, that is until right before heading out when I re-read the invite, taking note of the words "high", "intensity" and "interval" in regard to the workout. I practice yoga, and I run (jog) but I don't really go to barre classes. I don't know what I was so worried about! Our Barre(less) instructor, Jessica Diaz was super inspirational as well as cute+friendly+and all the things you want in your fitness class so that you're not intimidated.... and just like that, I worked my legs like a boss and we moved onto the shopping with the Boston Based Athletic/Leisure wear brand Crane and Lion.

The space is in the hip SOWA area but the brand will soon be opening new spaces in Beacon Hill and on Nantucket, which, I mean, is exciting! The clothes really do speak for themselves. They are oh so soft and buttery, or like we say in my family, "like buttah!... And I did ask about where the clothes are made. The team has a firm grasp on their supply chain and love the manufacturers that they partner with, actually visiting the sites in Peru and Taiwan. I think that it's important to be mindful about where your clothes are being made. I love that when I asked the question, the answer was immediate. The racerback tank and long sleeve tee came home with me but I just can't stop thinking about the MGH Cancer Center tight (more to come on that, I promise!) which 100% of the proceeds go to the Mass General Cancer center. A brand that makes it their mission to help? Simply lovely of them.

I'm definitely going to keep my eye on Crane and Lion because not only are they creating really versatile athletic wear but they have a vision for a brand that gives back, which is something that I am a huge fan of. You cast your vote where you spend your money so why not support brands that represent what is important to you.

*I attended this barreless barre class for free but all opinions are 100% my own.

I can't remember exactly when I first saw the first Descriptive Apparel tee come across my Instagram feed but ever since then, I seem to see the white tees with positive + affirming messaging at every turn. Maybe since we travel in some of the same blogger circles, our paths were destined to cross and I am certainly glad it was sooner than later. Founder Kerri Koen is one of those gals who had an idea and when the creative juices are flowing, sometimes you just can't stop them! Her vision is coming to life and her tees' messages are resonating with gals just like me. Her Mama Bear tee allows me to show the people of the world that I am proud to be a mother + I will protect my lil' cub with a fierceness you don't even realize... but, well, the t-shirt makes it simpler to explain than that. I had a chance to ask Kerri a few questions about her brand and where she sees herself in the future. 

Give us a little detail as to how Descriptive Apparel came about. What initially drove you to start DA as a brand? 

The idea of the “Fire Wife” tee has been on my mind for a while.  I had this daydream of a crisp, white tee with black script.  No red or firetrucks, just something cute and classy that I could dress up or down.  Last September, I was right in the middle of this really busy orientation at my office when I realized that my husband knew a screen printer that could bring my idea to life.  It was the worst possible timing, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it.  Starting with something as specific as a shirt for wives of firemen seemed too small, so I went back to the drawing board and came out with “Over Achiever.”  I was doing designs and building a website at night, taking calls between meetings, and sending my husband all over town to get it off the ground, but it was so worth it.  I love the creative outlet that DA provides, and the community of women that I’ve been able to connect with is simply amazing. 

When creating your products/tee phrasing, where do you take inspiration from? 

I want the descriptions on our tees to always be positive and motivating, and to reflect how real women feel about themselves.  My inspiration comes from the women all around me that are doing amazing things every day.  We work, play, and love.  We raise babies, support our partners, and encourage our friends.  I want there to be a Descriptive Apparel tee for all of these things.  Currently, we have Over Achiever, Mama Bear, Fire Wife, Wanderer, and Like a Girl, but the list of upcoming descriptions is so long!  And, of course, I am always open to requests.

Who do you hope to reach with your Descriptive Apparel messaging?

Women!  To be more specific, hardworking, butt-kicking, non-stop women.  I see so many of us working our way to the top of a company or industry, or starting our own business, or raising amazing little people.  Too many of us are afraid to say just how amazing we are.  Why not WEAR how amazing we are?  The roles that we play every day – and there are a lot of them! – make a difference in the lives of so many.  I love the idea of being able to describe ourselves with something as simple as a t-shirt.

What do you love to do in New England, when you aren't busy running Descriptive Apparel?

I am a lake-girl at heart, so in the summer months you can always find me on my parents’ boat up in Maine.  In the winter, I mostly hibernate!  I am such a home-body, which I am learning to embrace as I get older (maybe a new t-shirt idea?).  I love to visit restaurants, whether it be at my favorite local spot with my husband, or grabbing a few cocktails & appetizers somewhere in Boston with the girls. 

You have certainly hit the ground running! Where do you see Descriptive Apparel headed in the future?

Right now, I am excited to expand options beyond our signature tee.  A muscle tank is currently available for pre-order, and a long-sleeve is in the works.  I definitely do not want to exclude the men in our lives forever, because I know they are out there doing amazing things as well.  But expect lots more options for the ladies before we take on dressing gentlemen. 

I am excited to watch Descriptive Apparel grow and reach new audiences. Want to get in on the action? You can find Descriptive Apparel 

on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter so be sure to join the conversation and follow Kerri's journey! 

I first found Cause I Run through the JUGS/ Boston Green Blog as I often find good things in and around town (Boston). I was immediately like "I WANT TO KNOW MORE" because coming off of the WELL Summit, I am all thinking about who makes my clothes, what am I putting on my body, where was my food grown and all the questions that you ask yourself because you should actually care about these things... Cause I Run is just getting started but creator/doer/magic maker Amanda Yanchury is hoping to create a sustainable athletic/leisure line that will stand the test of time and help you develop a mind set that has you making thoughtful purchases, even for your workout gear. Not only that? Amanda plans to "give back" to worthwhile organizations, developing lasting relationships so that this small business of hers can be a kindness powerhouse. I had the opportunity to chat a little with Amanda and am excited to see what is in store for Cause I Run. I sincerely hope that you will sign up for their email list so you can be the first to know about their upcoming Kickstarter!

Give us a little background on what Cause I Run is all about. What was the inspiration the sparked the creation of CIR?

I've been running for just over 5 years, and I was always the fashionista of my group of friends growing up -- and my mom used to call me her "personal shopper." Then I started working from home for a year and a half, and one day I realized that "athleisure" was my entire day-to-day wardrobe. I started thinking about the clothes I was wearing. As runners, the clothes we wear represents us and what we stand for in the most public of ways, when captured in race photos (and let's be honest, shared on social media). There are lots of runners who are altruistic and generous by nature, as evidenced by the multitude of running events with a charitable giving component, and yet the clothes we wear might not necessarily reflect those values. Most are constructed by workers making pennies on the dollar in sometimes unsafe conditions. Runners deserve athletic wear that is ethically made. Aside from producing ethically and sustainably, I also wanted to help people in a real, tangible way -- so runners can give back even before they line up at the starting line. A percentage of each purchase will go toward one of our chosen causes. The name just came to me one day, and there was no going back. 

What is one easy tip that you can give about how to make educated and ethical purchases?

​

Buying ethically is tough, but it is possible. My advice is to start by picking one big-ticket item that you'll intend to wear for years. Search around for independent brands and save up for that one purchase. Then tell all your friends. :-)

Can you give us a little peek at what CIR is going to be offering and when we can start giving back with our purchases?

I'm so excited to say that we have our first prototypes in hand and our production partner is 

​working on perfecting​

 them as we speak! We'll have a line of women's athletic wear available for pre-order in early 2016 via Kickstarter. This first collection will include a tank top and running capris -- and we'll have unisex t-shirts available too in the interim, until we're able to get started on the men's collection!

When you aren't "running" your super sweet business, what do you love to do for fun in New England?

I moved to Boston from San Diego last June, so I mostly spend my time preparing for winter. Just kidding (sort of). When I'm not training for a race, I enjoy exploring my new 'hood (Cambridge/Somerville) and connecting with fellow women and/or product-based entrepreneurs. 

I love what you are doing with Cause I Run. Where do you hope to see the brand go in the future?

Thank you -- I can't wait to share it! My hope for Cause I Run is to create lasting partnerships with a few really amazing organizations who are listening to communities in need and enabling them to lift themselves up. Aside from using recycled materials, another way we can value sustainability is to help make lasting positive changes for people. And I already have big plans for the next three collections, including expanding to men's active wear, and more athleisure items like sweatshirts, joggers, and more. Make sure to sign up for the email list to know when we launch!

Be sure to catch Cause I Run on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!