As the Happy Earth motto goes, “When it comes to the planet, we actually give a damn.” It’s a statement backed up with clothing made from natural materials and attention to every step of the product cycle.
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Calling itself a sustainable lifestyle apparel brand, Happy Earth is a Certified B Corporation, a hard-earned classification that requires evaluating the impact of business decisions on workers, customers, suppliers, community and the environment. All products are vegan, cruelty-free, organic and made from sustainably-sourced materials.
Related: These bags are made with Fairtrade Certified organic cotton
The apparel line includes sweatshirts, joggers, leggings, dresses and tees. It also sells blankets, hats, jewelry, water bottles and other accessories. Most of the clothing relies on GOTS-certified organic cotton that comes from naturally-watered fields.
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Although the leggings, traditionally made from various forms of plastic, are constructed using a touch of Lycra (6%), they are primarily organic cotton and Tencel. The blankets are woven from recycled fibers reclaimed from discarded textiles. Jewelry and hat logos are made from cork, a renewable resource that doesn’t harm trees during harvesting.
The dedication to the environment is easy to see with participation in 1% for the Planet. At checkout, customers can choose where they want donations to go. Each item in your cart can support the planting of 15 trees, 150 pounds of carbon offsets, or the removal of waste from parks, beaches, and streets.
As a Certified B Corp and a company that gives a damn, Happy Earth works with Fair Trade organic cotton farmers, sustainable cork harvesters, and artisans using reclaimed fibers. Manufacturing takes place in WRAP-certified facilities to further ensure fair prices, fair wages, good working conditions, and economic independence.
The certification also means the company is transparent about these steps toward social and environmental performance and legal accountability in the hopes to accelerate “a global culture shift to redefine business success and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.”
Along the supply chain, Happy Earth looks for where emissions occur and evaluates options for reduction. Any remaining carbon footprint is offset through a partnership with the CarbonFund.
The company identifies as a social enterprise. Inasmuch, it takes the extra step to educate consumers about environmental concerns. The company website features an impact section that discusses climate change, the fight against deforestation, the importance of reducing plastic and the steps the company is taking in the battle. The community page offers resources and challenges as well as a journal full of information.
Review of Happy Earth products
The company offered to send me a product to test, which I, of course, eagerly accepted after considering its stance on social responsibility and the statements on the clothing itself. A few days later I received a pair of joggers, a baseball cap, a sticker my son immediately snatched, a pin verifying the donation of trees, an informational card and a nice note.
The packaging is cute, stamped with the Happy Earth and planet-related logos. I was very disappointed to see the items arrive in a plastic bag. However, I did some research and discovered all packaging is made from 100% recycled materials, so I gave back the lost points on that. Plus, it’s strong enough it will be used when we scoop out the kitty litter.
Inside the bag, clothing was left loose rather than being enclosed in additional packaging. A minimalist paper strap was sufficient to hold the joggers in place and everything was in great condition.
The baseball cap is a basic one-size-fits-all design with an adjustable strap on the back. It’s a gorgeous forest green with a very white, White Fir tree embroidered on the front. The company also sells two other hat designs that feature cork logo patches. The White Fir hat is soft and pliable. The cap is made from 100% organic cotton and the flexible fit means it feels broken in from the first wear. Its unisex design appealed to my son as well, who tried to snatch it before I could review it. He might find it gifted for Christmas.
The Arboretum Joggers exceeded my expectations. They are thick and have really nice quality cotton. They feature durable stitching throughout, a soft feel and a comfortable fit. For sizing, note these are snug fitting with a short, jogger fit on the legs. They are unisex sizes so go with the sizing chart, but size up if you want a looser fit. For reference, I’m around 5’6” and 140 pounds and I wouldn’t want them any smaller but I consider the small size a perfect fit.
The cuff hits slightly above the ankle and is loose enough that you can pull it up higher to a Capri length. Generous depth in the pockets makes them a very comfortable and natural place to rest my hands. The drawstring at the waist allows ample room for tying without a lot of excess. I immediately tied knots at each end of the drawstring to avoid losing it in the wash. Perhaps my favorite feature, though, is the band around the waistline. Around three inches deep, it doesn’t dig in or fold over but offers a strong grip and a bit of support around the waist.
In addition to a great fit and quality feel, I love the look of these joggers, with the two-tone color and botanical accents up the sides. I can see myself living in these, and I probably will.
Images via Happy Earth
