Of course, I never wasted my hard-earned cash on something I didn’t need*. But in case you ever have, now there’s a good reason…to go useless.

Useless, in this situation, is guilt-free: sustainable, charitable and fashionable. It’s got good written all over it.

The eco-friendly brand Useless sells stuff people need and use and gives 10% of profits to water and sanitation projects in developing countries. (Find out more about these projects on the Useless website). The company’s small list of products includes messenger & tote bags (image above), hats, tees (image below), hoodies, reusable water bottles and notebooks. All are useful. Everything is 100% sustainable.

And fashionably cool, of course. But the emphasis is on making a difference and having a positive impact on the planet, because no one is exempt.

And with a name like Useless, I’m hoping more people actually take to heart the obvious play on words, and make more of an effort to…use less.

Shop for something Useless at their online store.

* okay, I’m lying.

via MaxGladwell

These have to be the cutest kids ever. Not just because they’re, well, adorable children, but look at what they’re wearing! Soft, comfy, organic cotton striped clothes! If these aren’t the happiest little munchkins you’ve ever seen…well…don’t tell that to their moms.

And just what are these tykes wearing? Clothes made by Happy Green Bee, a manufacturer of Fair Trade Certified, organic cotton children’s clothing. I found them at a trade show and got sucked into their happy little hive. Not only was it the bright, fun colors that attracted me – but the softness of the clothes, as well. And don’t be intimidated thinking that organic cotton has to be expensive – they’ve got a great sale page too.

Now if only they made this stuff in my size.

Unless you’re one of those people who can’t stand the itch, are a designer who realizes labels mean a lot to the overall presentation, or like to shamelessly buy for the sake of, labels pretty much float below the radar. But, as with anything that’s created nowadays, they add up.

To eco-designers and manufacturers of apparel labels like Avery Dennison, labels have always been important. It’s their business.

At next month’s IMB meeting in Cologne, Germany, Avery Dennison will show a range of their eco-friendly clothing labels and water-based transfers for performance fabrics.

According to Eco-Textile News, Avery Dennison proposes to create labels made from 100% recycled PET bottles, recycled tickets and certified paper tags that carry Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.

Avery Dennison also proposes that their Heat Transfers, (the manner in which the label is imprinted), can be made 100% water-based and PVC free and “suitable for a broad range of applications including performance fabrics.”

For those of you who carelessly free them from your clothes for fear of being scratched all day, that means sustainable cutting.

It sounds so trite, but the more I’ve learned to love myself, the greater my capacity is to open my heart to others. One way I practice strengthening my self-love muscle is through self-care, which includes buying myself lingerie rather than waiting for someone to buy it for me.

There’s something special about treating myself to a sexy, skimpy outfit. It feels good, just because. It’s satisfying in a simple way and doesn’t involve trying to satisfy someone else.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m big on satisfying sex and lots of it, but who could resist a little sexy for the self? And who could resist this Organic Cotton Bralette and Bloomers ($54 – pieces sold separately) from ClareBare’s shop on Etsy?

Seriously sweet and best of all, 100% eco-friendly. Both pieces are made of organic cotton purchased from “a small, sustainable farm in Texas, as well as Clare’s collection of vintage fabric and trimmings”. She makes everything by hand and “thinks of underwear more as an accessory than an undergarment – it makes dressing yourself a lot more fun.”

Find this outfit and other adorable items – just in time for Heart Day – at ClareBare.