Our bud Karly reviewed our latest pair of organic crop pants, and with their vibrant embroidered feathers, they’re sure to have you feeling as Pretty as a Peacock!
Your buds at Soul Flower
Our Threads
Boho Tube Headband Video Review
Our bud, Brit, did a fun little review of our new Boho Tube Headbands. They fit a variety of personalities and are great for feelin’ pretty or gettin’ sweaty! Whether you’re a yoga chic or a biker babe doesn’t matter, they’re pretty rockin’ for anyone! Check out Brit’s video for the finer deets!
Other prints & designs available:
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| Feathers |
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| Dots |
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| Positive Messages |
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| Soulshine Bursts |
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| Paisley |
Hope you like them as much as we do! 🙂
Peace & Happiness from your buds at Soul Flower
Instant Karma Embroidered Bag = Instant Love
Before this Instant Karma bag, I shudder to think what transpired daily my dears. From my mouth I uttered “where’s my darn phone?!”, too many times to count. My friends’ response was always the same “Check your bag!” My response to their response would be “Already looked there!” And their response to my second response would be, “Check again!” Meanwhile, (in complete frustration) I had frantically torn my place apart. Then after having called out search teams in a 200 miles radius, I would decide to look in my bag just one more time. Low and behold there my phone would be, exactly where it had been the whole time, at the bottom on my enormously huge shapeless, compartment-less bag.
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| Instant Karma Bag = Instant Love |
So, it is due to this daily saga that I finally realized it was time for a new bag, a different kind of bag. One with a more functional inside, a zipped area for odds & ends, a cell phone compartment and a better shaped form so that I don’t have to use x-ray vision to see what’s lurking way, way down in the hidden crevasses! Now, I do far less stuffing, tossing & searching and much more putting, placing & finding. 🙂
Although this could be my sole reason for wanting the Karma bag, with one look you’ll know that its pretties grabbed my attention just as much! With an adorable patterned lining and beautiful embellishments, this canvas bag was made for a gypsy queen! A great look for any day and tons (TONS I say) of roominess when you need it in a cubed kind of way! Why just the other day I put a sweatshirt, a hat, four recycling grocery bags, three books, a wallet, a phone, a makeup bag, sunglasses and still had room for more! Yet to my surprise there was an even bigger, better, more amazing quality to this bag then I had known. The Instant Karma bag is giving back in a big way. A portion of the profits from selling these bags go to organizations like Oceana, Sea Shepherds, Trees for the Future and the Environmental Defense Fund. So, buying this bag is helping to clean up beaches and help animals affected by environmental disasters. Here I thought I’d be elated just for getting a cell phone pouch in a beautiful one of a kind purse!
I am a happy woman, a happy woman with a new bag… a bag that betters the world. Now that’s instant karma!
Just be, Woo
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An Elephant Never Forgets
It is said that elephants never forget. Is this true? A better question may be: How would we know?? Did some perky pachyderm spill the beans one day? I don’t know, but that saying has stuck with me my whole life.
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| Adrienne (our newest Karma Krewe member!) =) |
My love for elephants began early in life, my mom and I used to visit Packy (a longtime resident) at the Portland Zoo when I was young. I remember eating a slice of a giant sized cake on Packy’s birthday in the early 80’s.
Another great time was when my dad took me on a camping tour of Oregon when I was about 7. On that trip I had the opportunity, at a wildlife park, to take a ride on an elephant. Being that up-close with such a magnificent creature really touched me. Feeling its rough, dry skin and gazing into those big, soulful eyes…well, I fell in love right then. I have had an ever-growing collection of elephant things since then. Everyone knows I love them and I get many as gifts.
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That trip and those times with my parents are some of the greatest memories of my life. To me that’s what “elephants never forget” means – it reminds me to never forget the special times in life. I hold on tight to remembrances of my past. I can taste my Grandma Rosie’s famous strawberry jam and can still feel the wind from riding with my Grandpa Jack in his ’64 Mustang convertible to the old country store for ice cream. Many long summer afternoons were spent with my cousins running around the hills of Astoria, building forts in the woods of my grandparents’ property, and hitting the arcade & beach in Seaside.
One summer I drove cross-country with my grandparents and met many of my distant relatives in the tiniest town of Birchtree, Missouri. I got to see the cabin my Grandfather was born in and the schoolhouse he attended. I remember how hot it was that summer and the endless hours of AM country radio as my Grandma sang along. Another great trip was when my family moved from Oregon to Michigan the summer I was twelve; many fun memories were made on that long drive, the best being when we took old-timey photos in Wyoming.
For me these memories are magical, a glimpse into the happiest and most carefree days of my life. They keep me focused on my family and remind me that the most important things surround me every day…my home, husband, children, family and community. Now that I’m a parent I am very aware that every day we are creating these same sacred memories for my children. Extraordinary moments in an ordinary day can be the most special times of all. I remind myself often that “elephants never forget” and neither will I. I keep my life and heart open to accept the gifts offered to us every day.
Wearing my wonderful clothes from Soul Flower keeps me in a positive, grounded state of mind and reminds me to live comfortably, naturally and with a conscience. These are the days that will stick with me forever. I choose to live with moxie and style and make the most of every day!
As the seasons are changing and the sun is warming the Earth, I encourage everyone to pause for a moment each day and appreciate the memories you are making. Share a moment with someone special – dance in the rain, splash in a puddle, take joy in the small moments in life and by all means, live like an elephant and Never Forget!
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Adrienne reviewed the Painted Elephant Women’s Ebb & Flow Top
All Karma Krewe posts | All of Adrienne’s posts
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How to Win a Soul Flower Summer Dress
Patience is a virtue. If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it twice. But I believe the people who have patience down pat are the ones who know how to entertain themselves while waiting in the long line. The Soul Flower Spring/Summer 2012 catalog will be released in April, but when you’re craving pages upon pages of cool threads now, April is a looong line to wait in.
But fret not, buds! Set your Sudoku puzzles aside & get your creative groove on – cuz this line just got game!
Name this dress to WIN it!
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| Embroidered Mountains & Sun |
Details: Simply comment on this blog post with the name you would give this sweet summer dress. Please don’t comment anonymously; we’ll need to contact you if you win! One lucky winner will be selected on Monday, March 5, 2012. If your dress name is selected, we’ll be sending you this very dress for FREE! 🙂
Freedom Never Felt So Good!
I love to be able to move around: dance, do yoga, play, sit on the floor at a dinner party… and I don’t want my clothes to hinder me. At the same time, I don’t want clothes that are so loose as to get in the way or are boxy; besides, my husband will complain if my clothes are too baggy. These pants are the perfect combination of loose, fun, and free, while accentuating the female figure. They hug the butt and hips just a bit without being too tight, and then the legs of the pants flow and dance around with freedom and sass. Wearing these pants feels like wearing a flowy skirt that twirls and a pair of pants at the same time!
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The tiers of heavy-duty 100% cotton fabric wave over each other to create a cool effect that’s fun to look at and to experience. Instead of the pants feeling big and clumsy, the pants are put together just right so that the fabric never gets in the way. The cotton is also somewhat stretchy, so that the pants will stretch a bit if they are a little snug in the butt and hips. However, it’s not super stretchy, so choose your size accordingly. I am 5’3″-5’4″, have 35.5″ hips, 32″ low waist, and a 29″ inseam, and the smalls fit just right with no extra room. I am thrilled about the length since I have trouble finding pants that aren’t too long for me. I have been tying them around the tops of my hipbones; and I probably could wear a medium too, and then I’d tie them up higher.
Since the cotton is heavy duty, the pants are nice and warm, but not too much so. I wore them outside on a cold winter day and inside at a dinner party and was comfortable both times. I’ve also added long johns underneath. Since cotton is breathable, they’d also be great on a cool summer day or evening as well.
You can’t go wrong with the earthy color choices that the pants come in. I got the brown and they go with almost anything. You can match them with other earth colors or wear something bright for contrast, and it still looks good. These pants do steal the show though, so be sure and let them have center stage!
Another wonderful thing about these pants is that you can go anywhere in them. They look great dressed up for a show or a party. They’re super fun and comfortable to dance in! They have this cute little hip hugger tie that ties around the hips and make me feel like a belly dancer, which encourages me to shake those hips! They’re also great if you have an office job where you need to look kinda dressy, but you want to maintain your funkiness and feel comfortable. They’d also be great for going to class since they’re so comfortable; and then they transition well to the pub after. They’re also super fun and easy to do yoga in and they’d be great for belly dancing and hooping as well.
One of the many reasons that I love Soulflower is that it is a company run with consciousness—of the environment, of human relations, and of art. The Waves of Freedom pants are fair trade from Nepal, and they are a true work of art that will accentuate the artistry of every wearer.
To celebrate the art that is you, I’ve put together a playful standing pose sequence—play with me at http://www.yogaventures.blogspot.com
Peace!
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Nothing But Nature Belt, Nothing But The Best
The Nothing But Nature Belt is nothing but the best! The bright colors are so delightful, it’s by far the prettiest belt I’ve ever had! The hand sewn flowers look like they’ve just been picked from a garden, (a garden in Peru to be exact), then delicately braided together for me to wrap around my waist. How many belts do you have like that? A belt you actually notice and better yet, love looking at?
This got me thinkerin’ about belts. For the most part belts seem to sadly get overlooked in the world of clothing. I mean, I can’t honestly say I’ve had a lot of belt excitement in my past. But why? For starters they are sometimes hidden and this reason alone could cause them to lag in funky/coolness. And yes, they serve a purpose (we need them to function correctly) and function means durability and durability doesn’t always mean good times. But who says function & purpose can’t be fun, colorful and mean good times? NOT SOUL-FLOWER!
Let’s look at some belt bennies (benefits):
1. Belts just make pants look better… and butts, too! But, it’s not about the butt…it’s about the belt, The Nothing But Nature Belt!
2. Belts ARE like a piece of jewelry for your jeans…a headband for your waist, a necklace for the navel! The Nothing But Nature Belt stands out in a sea of waist jewelry.
3. Belts are really starting to come into their own these days (partly due to the 1980’s return). So, show’em how it’s done Nothin’ But Nature style!
So, who says we can’t have a party ON our pants? ((I said on, just to clarify)). 🙂 I say be colorful! Be fun! Be vivacious belts and let’s see where that takes us, shall we? Yes, we shall! I’m on board with this party and another reason I picked this belt was because it’s a great piece of art…walking art. I appreciate the colorful embroidered work, the craftsmanship and the quality of the Peruvian wool. So far, I’m impressed with it’s durability (belts do get a bit of a workout) and the hardware is very sturdy, too! The uniquely shaped buckle is made of heavy duty metal (no flimsy flam here) and has a rustic brass look with a funky carved pattern. Oh! And it has that little extra free floating loop that holds any extra fabric (the extra belt fabric after you’ve buckled) against your pants. Not all belts have that feature, so yay!
The Nothing But Nature Belt proves that belts can be colorful, functional, durable and still party like it’s 1999! You go NBNB! Me likey, me likey… and me likey!
Just let the soul flow, bubs!
~Woo
Lotus Long Sleeve Burnout Review
The Burnout Tee makes me feel anything but burned out! When I put on this silky soft tee, my mind and body feel totally revived and alive.
This is yet another item from the Soul Flower line that I have trouble changing out of. When I wake up in the morning, I love pulling this soft shirt against my skin with a layer over the top. Then, for my afternoon yoga practice, I keep the shirt on because it’s yoga ready! Then as the evening chill set in, I can add a vest and a warm hat, grab a porter, and I am in bliss.
The fit of this T is what I am always looking for in a long sleeve yoga top. I actually am always looking for a long sleeve T that fits to my body while I practice, yet is not binding or constrictive. This T is like a second pair of skin that moves with me—the only time I notice it is in a moment of pure bliss as I notice the softness. The T also keeps me warmer than I thought it would, being a burnout fabric. I am very pleased with how it keeps me warm at the beginning of my practice, yet isn’t too hot as my body heats up. I also love how the lotus chakra pattern reminds me of the alignment of my charkas throughout my practice. It’s a good indicator of how my body is aligned and reminds me to feel the openness and flow throughout the charkas.
This shirt is also good for other activities, such as hiking, walking around in town, or just hanging out and looking good in the office and at home. As I’ve gotten older, I don’t go out nearly as much. I spend most of my time in my office and hanging out at home with my husband. Soul Flower’s clothes are comfortable enough that I want to wear them day-to-day, but instead of making me fell frumpy, the simplest clothes can make me feel gorgeous. I imagine it would be good for students because of this reason too. When you have so much to do, you don’t want to have to think about your clothes—you want to just put on something comfortable that you can wear all day; and with Soul Flower, you can be assured that you’ll look good wearing it.
These pictures were taken near Summersville, West Virginia on a reclaimed mountaintop removal site. For more info about mountaintop removal and the work being done, visit ilovemountains.org
Peace!
Andria
Mandala Burnout Tunic
Hey there Buds!
Crazy past couple of months with school starting, getting back to Hawaii, trying to find a place to live, moving in, starting a new job, realizing my roommates and I aren’t a good fit, trying to get out of the lease, finding a new place and settling in again DURING MIDTERMS!!! Whew…glad that’s over with…
There’s always a silver lining to every cloud, though. I have met some truly awesome people this semester and thank the universe every day for making our paths cross. It’s crazy how during the hardest of times you see people’s true colors, which could be bad, but also can be incredibly bright. One of the people who I consider an angel, along with her boyfriend, have helped me more times than I can count and asked nothing in return. They are simply happy to have my company, or at least they say they are ;). Another friend reminds what it means to be strong and stand on your own even though the road is rocky at times, she teaches me with her actions every day. Of course, there is the crazy radical (puts me to shame!) who is there to challenge authority and challenge me to get to that next level of understanding. Of course, my family has been there every step of the way! My dad flew out here a few days after I called home to help me get out of that awful living situation, I don’t know what I would do without him or my mom who helped from the sidelines and held the fort down while he was gone.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that you can’t dwell on the negatives in life. Of course bad things happen and goodness knows I’ve punched a wall or two in frustration, however, I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason. That’s why I like my Mandala Burnout Tee, the design reminds me that the universe is cyclical and our lives are just part of its cycle.
This tunic is a great length, I love shirts that can act as a cover up at the beach (like I said in my Headdress article). It works great for a yoga session, or just lounging around in your yoga pants. I can wear it to a nice dinner with the right skirt or I could wear it to class with some jeans. It’s not a snug fit but it isn’t lose either, it fits like a shirt you’ve washed a bit but is still relatively new, which makes it snug in all the right place and loose in the places you need some extra wiggle room. The fabric is thin and lightweight and very soft, however it could be a bit see through. It’s fine if you don’t wear a neon pink or green bra with it ;p
Mahalo buds!
And let someone know that you’re grateful for having them in your life, yeah?
Beautiful & Versatile World Tree Tapestry
Soul Flower has the perfect tapestry to fit beautifully in with any home decor or festival… The World Tree Tapestry! My first thoughts were “omg it’s huge!!” I love that it’s big, it can cover plenty of empty wall space or be folded to cover a bed or couch. It measures 80 x 100 inches and is available in Sky blue or natural, I had to have the sky blue!
It’s gorgeous!!! The amount of detail put into this tapestry is amazing! You can find everything from deer to wild monkeys and flowers, and of course an enormous tree! If you are like me you can never have enough trees around you so this is a wonderful addition!!! This can be used for so many different things. Just to name a few: A bed cover, couch cover, hang on the wall, hang in the middle of dorm room for a divider, hang up while camping at a festival to mark your campsite, sit on at a festival/fireworks, and so much more!
We used this outside during a party! It was such a unique and cool decoration that I will keep it up year round! I love how light this tapestry is, it made it super easy to hang up! We hung it off the side of the deck to the underneath sitting area and it was too cool! I absolutely love this tapestry and I know it will be in our family for a long time!
Peace,
Candice
Mehndi & Heather Soft Memories
Mehndi, Mehndi so good to me…Mehndi, Mehndi it was all I hoped it would be!! Yep, find myself singing a little Mammas and Pappas whenever I wear my mehndi. Along with being particularly songstress on the occasion it’s got me thinking about my childhood, my father (who consequently sang this tune quite often himself) and my old favorite tee.
When I was a kid my father traveled quite often for his job. Although I was always sad to see him go, I knew he’d be home soon with stories to tell of his adventure. Along with these stories and photos my father would bring us home a postcard like t-shirt that we would (proudly) wear to represent his travels and feel that we too were part of the story. Upon his return from one such trip he brought home a heather blue West Virginia ringer t-shirt. This became THE TEE for an entire summer. I remember it had a super soft lived in feel from all the washing and wearing. I went everywhere in that thing until I wore it out completely and then when it was no longer wearable, parting with it was like losing an old friend. Its funny to talk about clothes that way but have you had that experience? This treasured piece of my past eventually got forgotten until I happened across the mehndi sweatshirt and it’s brought back that past, like finding a little piece of…home.
The blue in this hoody is a really pretty color and the heathering is full of awesomeness (just like my old tshirt)! I’ve always felt heathering gives a softer look to any clothing and this feels like I’ve had it for years (thanks to the recycled materials). Soul-Flower clothing always seems that way, like something I’ll wear until it disintegrates into the air. Something I’ll always remember enjoying. This mehndi is that for me and I love wearing it when I want to be warm and comfortable…like when I’m painting. Believe it or not I haven’t got paint on it …yet!
This hoody is made for Soul-Flower right here in the USA using low impact dyes (which puts less dye into the water when washed & uses less water to rinse) and an eco blend of 55% organic cotton and 45% recycled polyester. The uniqueness of this sweatshirt shows in the beautiful mehndi flower designs growing all about. “Mehndi” (the application of henna to the surface of the skin) dates back to twelfth century. The temporary decoration which uses dried ground henna leaves usually lasts one to three weeks, luckily for us these mehndi flowers are for keeps!
AND maybe you’re thinkin’ these bloomin’ flowers look familiar. If so, you’d be right! Their roots have spread all over Soul-Flower land, growing and blooming throughout the catalog, blog and website. But just how did these designs come to be? Read about it here.
Well, I’m zipped up and ready to paint the long winter away with scenes of travel and places I hope to one day be… before my mehndi blooms go to seed!
Stay warm buds, Woo
Purple Aplenty: Astral Skies Patchwork Dress
First, I’m a purple lover! If it contains even the slightest hint of it, tastes grapey, smells like lilacs, is a tune by the great purple Prince or resembles a big kid lovin’ dinosaur, it’s safe to say imma be like’n it! That was my first pull toward the Astral Skies Patchwork Dress. Purple variations o-plenty going on here! Vivid violet, mild maroon and night sky blue to (nick) name a few and all with a slightly muted pre-wash fade. Gorgeous colors and a nice weight for the cooler months!
The second gotta-have-me was the patchwork! Sewn together with neat-o exposed stitching gives this dress really great texture! I’ve been an admirer of patchwork since the days of my grandmothers hand sewn blankets. Using left over fabric from various projects she would carefully pick just the right collection of pieces to create each blanket. I acquired many of them through the years but every Christmas I looked forward to the next just to see the designs and color pallet she had chosen.
Third, the Astral Skies unique look! I like seeing the variations in each patch and beyond that, knowing every Astral Skies dress out there is doin’ its own thing! The little bleached spots sprinkled throughout this dress remind me of snowflakes and stars. As if I’m looking up while they fall towards me from a pretty purpley patchwork sky.And just as no two snowflakes or stars or grandmothers blankets were ever the same, the Astral Skies dress can claim that too! It’s in these variations, the way each piece is chosen, cut and placed that brings theone of a kindcreation together. How very far out of each Astral Skies Dress to have its own vibe. We all have ours, seems fitting that our clothes should too.
Peace to you all! May your new year be filled with love and kindness.
~Woo
P.S. I’m looking forward to wearing this soft-n-comfy dress for the holidays! Maybe my nephew can count the snowflakes and stars? At three, I bet he’d be up for that!
Takin It Easy In the Take It Easy Fleece Pullover
I recently was bombarded by life issues, and I found that my energy was depleted. I really didn’t have time to do much besides deal, and my body felt run down and tired. In times like these, I like to turn to cuddly clothes, resting at home, and restorative yoga.
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| Ahhhhhh – Release! |
Good thing I had Soulflower’s Take It Easy Fleece Pullover to put on to keep me cozy as I tried my best to take it easy as life threw it’s swings. When you put on this sweatshirt, get ready for some serious downtime! Put on some soothing music, grab a glass of wine or a hot cocoa, and take some time for you. You’ll confront life’s difficulties much better if you are well rested and calm.
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| Be sure and smile during your yoga practice–don’t take yourself too seriously! |
As you’d expect, this Soulflower label sweatshirt is super soft. The cotton and rayon are soft on your skin, and the polyester locks in that warmth from your body. I love how the wide neck reveals the collarbone making the sweatshirt feel sexy. I love this about all of Soulflower’s designs—I can feel comfortable and sexy—why settle for frumpy? I love all of these features, but perhaps my favorite is the warm fuzzy little hand pouch on the front of the sweatshirt. I have cold hands, and this makes it so convenient to warm them up! Plus you can put stuff in there, like say, tissue for when you get the inevitable winter colds and flu; or maybe some lip balm to soothe dry lips from winter’s fury. Even more, as the long, dark, days of winter envelope you, the warm, sunny design on the sweatshirt will remind you to enjoy taking it easy.
For yoga, this sweatshirt is the bomb. You can wear it over a short sleeve or yoga tank until your body heats up and then put it back on to cozy up for savasana. You don’t have to worry about it flopping around on you either—it has a band around the bottom and around the wrists to help it stay put. As you slide in and out of poses, the soft elastic fabric is non-binding.
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| Peace |
Because this time of year tends to be stressful and busy, and it’s also a time when we often get sick, I put together a Take It Easy Restorative Yoga Session for you! Check it out at yogaventures.blogspot.com
The bolster used in the photos is from Inner Space Yoga: innerspaceyoga.net Support small business!
Peace!
Warm Threads Video: Scarf Tutorial
We have several stylish scarves here at Soul Flower, and they can be super fun and versatile once you know more than one way to wear them. So, we compiled a video of some of our favorite ways to keep those scarves looking sassy no matter what you’re wearing! 🙂
The Joy of Soy Coy Skirt-Pants
The best part of owning these Soy Coy pants is feeling like a kid again! Yes, it’s true! Something about wearing a pair of pants under a skirt brought my mind right back to grade school just like the description says. I had to laugh remembering many days gearing up for recess by throwing on a pair of sweats under my skirt. Such an empowering feeling! I’m indestructible! I can do anything and wear a skirt, too! — I could climb any mountain ( or jungle gym), swing from the highest branch (or monkey bar) and play kickball with the best of them all while maintaining a “you go girl” attitude!! All these years later and I still want to do that as much as possible. 🙂
What I love most is that the skirt is a completely separate piece from the pants. Of course, together they are an amazingly dynamic duo but one never knows when an urge to go skirt-less (and sport the nifty nomad pants alone) could in fact happen. I think they are just way cute and ridiculously rad! The fit is extremely body friendly, creating very nice lines and a comfy but flattering fit. The feel is pretty unreal, they are luxuriously soft, move well with the body and nicely constructed.
Checking their genetic makeup, the tag says more then 50% soy material. I didn’t know much about soy in clothing but found that these fibers are stronger then cotton (or wool) and have pretty awesome absorbency and better ventilation then cotton. It’s also light, resists perspiration & wrinkles and dries quickly. Soy has the most lavish appearance among plant fibers (kinda the cashmere of the plant world). The fibers are even said to have antibacterial qualities and to be sunlight/UV resistant. Soy’s may even possess a super power – it’s natural amino acids – which are said to have a positive vibe effect on the wearers skin. Cool, we like vibes, right buds?
So now that we know soy makes these little coys extra strong, cool, dry and health helping, I want to talk about details. Yeah, definitely not coy in that area with all the beautifully detailed stitching throughout. A slight flare in comfortable pants is always welcome! The ruched pockets on the sides of the pant and skirt add great style. The color is neat-o too! The slate grey sometimes looks more brown and seems to change with whatever I’m wearing – love that! All in all, a whole lotta pzazz!
So, I say go jump on that swing in your soy coys and remember the joy you had as a child, everyday of your life! Everyday a new story begins… look at it with wonder and curiosity.
Big hugs ~ Woo
What T-shirts are Telling Tweens
These are the words that come to mind when I think of a young girl:Blog Image 
These days, I step into a mall and wonder where all the young girls have gone. A tween should not be a rude, sassy, sexualized t-shirt paired with a mini skirt, and hot pink lipstick; and I don’t think this is a case of being old fashioned. It seems like this shouldn’t even be up for debate, whether tarting up a child with negativity is right or wrong. Kids are starting to look like little Bratz dolls, and it’s weirding me out. But, that’s just me. I was born in 1984. Growing up, all of my favorite outfits were the playful ones: princess-like night gowns, skirt-pants, black mary janes, bibs, tie-dye, and let’s not forget, anything that sparkled. I wore makeup when I played dress-up. As a tween I was wearing baggy Disney t-shirts, and I concerned myself with trying to hide the fact that I still liked to play with Barbie dolls; I had no anxieties whatsoever about my level of sex appeal. No tween girl should.
Take for example Urban Outfitters “Eat Less” T-shirt. Thankfully, due to blogger outrage, this shirt was pulled, but the fact that it was being marketed and sold to anyone is troubling. What kind of educational message is a shirt like this giving a young girl; a girl just beginning to acknowledge her reflection in the mirror? Sadly, there are many shirts out there with messages similar to this that aren’t being pulled; there are more trendy, mean t-shirts out there than I’d care to count.
So, when did we start forgetting how to let kids be kids? Innocent, playful, goofy, optimistic, kids…
What we wear says so much to others. On a no shower and sweats day I would prefer not to believe this, 😉 but it’s true. Our clothes are like a public letter, so we might as well invest our time (and money) in some positivity.
That being said, kids have such worthwhile, colorful, cheery messages to send! Why on earth would we want to sabotage that? One thing that makes me super proud to work for Soul Flower is that our clothes have such upbeat, encouraging messages. The Soul Flower Originals teach us to embrace ourselves, the Earth, confidence and happiness. There’s no negativity here! Just simple messages of “Be Yourself,” “Take it Easy,” and “Love your Momma.”
Kids absorb things like sponges, so why feed them such rude unhealthiness? It’s completely unnecessary! I think it’s time to take back innocence and playfulness, and encourage little girls to be just that – little girls. No padded bras. No provocative clothes. No more mean messages! It’s time for the good vibe. After all, these little girls will grow to be women someday; let’s teach them to be strong; let’s teach them to be happy. Just please, for the love of playgrounds, don’t rush them! What positive message/quote would you put on a t-shirt for all to see?
Wander Trucker Hat Out…Wandering
My husband and I are a good pair, even though truthfully we’re very different. We don’t agree about politics, religion, food, or music. But we both have a deep bite from that old travel bug. We wander the world together debating the merits of social policy and eggplant and kombucha and never really come to an agreement. But that’s because we both realize and savor the journey, literally and figuratively. So when I saw this hat, I knew he had to have it.
“All who wander are not lost,” is a phrase that gets tossed around in many contexts. But J.R.R. Tolkien fans will know it’s from the The Fellowship Of The Ring. My husband is a big fan of these books so I knew that would hook him in. He’s usually not a fan of hats or t-shirts with messages, so I was a little tentative that this hat would get nowhere with him. But he went for it – Score!
Of course he wears it on all kinds of wandering journeys from kayaking to sailing to geo-caching with our 7 year old son. Here he is in the cockpit of our boat checking the GPS. Are we wandering honey or are we really lost?
It’s made from organic cotton and recycled poly mesh which is all good earth loving stuff to me. He loves that it keeps his eyes shaded and his hair hidden on those big hair, roll out of bed days. And we both love the sentiment. If there is one thing we can agree on it’s that wandering it good. And if you can find good threads like these to wander in, well who can argue with that?
Cheers,
Cindy
Karma Krewe’s Lil Treehugger
I have always had a strong connection with nature, in mind, body and soul, so for me the saying “Tree Hugger” goes way back. I respect nature of all kinds and couldn’t be more in love with the outdoors. Yes, I’m a tree hugger to the fullest extent.
| My lil Treehugger |
I believe that all things living should never be cut down or destroyed in any way. I try my best to do my part in taking care of the environment. You see we wouldn’t have anything without Mother Earth. She provides us with food, oxygen, and endless resources. Why wouldn’t I want to protect and take care of her?
On a less serious note, my daughter is my little mini me. I’ve been raising her to enjoy all that the outdoors has to offer. She loves going for adventures, or “venters” as she says in the “jungle.” Be it digging in the dirt, helping me plant flowers, swimming in a lake, or riding her 4 wheeler, this girl is 100% nature girl!
When it comes to finding clothes to fit her personality, that’s not always so easy. I have found her some cute peace tees, but nothing that truly stated, “I’m a baby environmentalist!” I was checking out Soul Flower’s new toddler tees and I found THE cutest tee!
| Soul Flower’s Hug Me Toddler Tee |
It’s too darn cute! This organic cotton tee screams “outdoors kid” and I just adore it. My daughter loves it too, she says, “Mommy, I wear tree shirt please!” The tree on the shirt reminds me of a Disney movie, it’s a big eyed gentle part of nature. It’s super versitile, if fact she’s had several spills on it already and they came right out in the wash.
What I really love about this shirt is the message it sends. Not only is it a darling shirt, but when adults see it they’re instantly drawn in to read it. So it’s also putting the message out everywhere to be kind to mother earth. I’ve already received so many compliments on it, asking me where in the world I found a shirt like that, I reply “Soul Flower of course!” Soul Flower has a variety of like minded toddler tees and onezies.
| Lost in the Jungle |
My lil nature girl had a blast outside the other day wearing her Tree Hugger tee. She blew bubbles, played kick ball, went on an adventure, but most importantly she enjoyed the great outdoors!
Sincerely,
Candice O.
Kid’s Patchwork Pants
The Kid’s Patchwork Pants should be renamed “Mom’s Favorite Pants”. Here’s the lowdown on these threads. First, they are stinking cute! They are the perfect combination of unique enough for mom to fall in love with and cool enough for the little guys to want to wear. The patches are done in fun forest colors that work in any season or setting.
Next, these pants are “sooooo comfy mommy!” That’s a direct quote from a 7-year old who rarely notices IF he’s wearing clothes when he walks out the door, let alone how they feel. Made of cotton and hemp they’re airy, but still sturdy enough to stand up to kid play. So far he’s worn these at the beach, in the woods, at the park, to a birthday party, out to lunch, to the museum, they work in every occasion.
Finally, these pants are awesome because they hide dirt. Yes, the pants have magical powers to make kid goop disappear. Ok, maybe it’s not magic, maybe it’s the wonderful color and pattern combination that manages to keep your kid looking decent even after a romp in the great outdoors. Oh, and they have pockets to hold stones, shells, dead bugs, and toy cars.
So what d’ya think, rename these pants? Or just get them for a kid you know and see for yourself.
Soul Flower Originals: More Eco-Friendly
Soul Flower Originals are our exclusive designs that feature original artwork and reflect positive messages of peace, mother nature and music. We choose organic cotton and other natural fibers, like recycled PET, whenever we can, and this fall we’ve just released our “greenest” line-up yet!
While the Soul Flower line has always been environmentally focused, the Fall / Winter 2011 catalog has improved even further on fabric selections and manufacturing techniques that impact the environment even less. As our X-Factor Mike says —
“We’re proud to be ‘Treehuggers’ at Soul Flower!”
Soul Flower’s line of original eco-friendly styles are now dyed and manufactured in the good ol’ U.S.A., while the screen printing is done locally in small batches to reduce waste. This season’s line includes fashion forward styles like concave T-shirts, long sleeved scoop dresses, soft hoodies and lounge pants.
Our organic clothing concept comes from the idea of getting back what you give – simply put, karma. We love both you (our customer!) AND our Mother Earth – so we work hard to please you both by creating unique, quality products and focusing on sustainable fabrics and earth friendly practices.
Be Kind, Be Soulful, and always Be Yourself,
Soul Flower
The Soul Flower Fall/Winter 2011 Catalog is Here!
It’s finally happened! The Soul Flower Fall/Winter 2011 Catalog is here! We are so excited to introduce you to our newest line of clothing and accessories! We’re also proud to say that this season’s line of clothing is more eco-friendly than ever! Many of our products are organic, eco-friendly, US made or Fair Trade, and we continue to incorporate purposeful messages that give our cool threads for kind heads that funky, positive attitude we love so much. Watch next week for our blog post, “Soul Flower Originals: More Eco-Friendly than Ever” to learn more about the earth-friendly fabric improvements we’ve made.
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| Be Kind, Be Soulful, and always Be Yourself |
If you’re already signed up, you will be receiving your catalog any day now. If you would like to receive a free Soul Flower catalog in the mail, and haven’t signed up already, click here to do so. However, if you’re too antsy (like us) or prefer viewing the catalog online, simply click here and ENJOY!
The online version of our Fall/Winter 2011 catalog is especially exciting this season with a newly added Quote Hunt. Follow the catalog’s quotes to find a special surprise – our own easter egg hunt. Find all 14 quote designs for an extra dose of daily inspiration.
All in all, we hope you love this collection as much as we do!
Your buds at Soul Flower
Hello Little Flowers Dress
If you are going to buy this dress you better be a people person. Everyone, and I mean everyone from old ladies to burly dudes to squeaky tweens, will stop you and tell you just how cute this dress is and how adorable your daughter looks in it. You will do a lot of chatting, so be ready to meet and greet and share the love for the Little Flowers Dress.
This has been our go-to dress for summer time because it’s so light and cool made from gauze cotton and a beautiful crocheted top. But with the weather cooling we can not bear to say goodbye to this little beauty for the season just yet. So we pair it with leggings and a cardigan and voila! We can still go out and and chat with strangers in the cooler fall weather.
I love that this dress is Fair Trade, which is hard to find in baby dresses! A little further reading revealed that some families of Inca descent make these dresses in South America. Hey cool, we are from Inca descent too.
No wonder we love this dress so much.
The best part is, this dress is not just for babies. It goes all the way up to size 6! You can bet I will be getting the next size up. And the next one. And the next one. Afterall, we like meeting new people, and my little girl loves her beautiful dress!
Cheers,
Cindy
Allium Dharma Pants, More than a Pretty Name
The Dharma Allium pants first caught my attention with the word Dharma in the title description. Yes, I must confess I was a LOST TV show enthusiast (dharma initiative). So, yes indeed these cozy pants had me at “dharma” however the name has a much deeper meaning then that of a television show. The term Dharma is of central importance in Indian religion/philosophy. It is essentially the notion of upholding the natural order of things. Interpretation of India’s ancient text reveals a divinely instituted natural order of things and
that justice, social harmony and happiness require humans to exist in a manner appropriate to the requirements of that order. In various Indian religions (i.e. Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism), living according to ones dharma will move them more rapidly toward personal liberation – nirvana.
Giving even more meaning to these pants is the sweet Allium flower growing up the right leg. According to the book “Garlic and Other Alliums” by E. Block, the flowers name comes from the Latin word for union, unio or unity. Pretty cool! I will happily carry unio on my pant leg and wish for a seed to blow off into the world and create more unity! 🙂 If that isn’t enough inspiration, I’ve got a hunch the adorable ruffle at the hemline, and the super soft, light, airy organic cotton might be! I especially dig the fold over waist band that allows you to adjust the rise. They are superb for days when I feel like curling up with a good book, but just as great for running a few errands or heading to yoga class. A true go anywhere kind of pant, something I’ve been looking for for a long time. They are super duper comfy wear that will carry you though the day in a whimsical, zenful way.
These Dharma darlin’s were also custom made for Soul-Flower by Earth Creations, (a front runner in creating environmentally friendly clothing). I wanted to know more about this company so I did a little research. The Earth Creations story begins with a bike ride. Joy (co founder) went off roading one day and ended up covered in Alabama red dirt. No matter how many times she washed it the color was there to stay. Years later, still intrigued by the strength of that clay, her partner (Martin) saw it’s potential and began experimenting with the clay as a dye for T-shirts. That was 17 years ago and the clothing is still colored using Martins original process. Earth Creations has grown into a full line of organic tees and casual wear (made with sustainable fibers like cotton and hemp and non-PVC ink) dyed in a plethora of colors! They, like Soul-Flower, believe in protecting the earth, giving back to the community and supporting environmental efforts. They are indeed worthy of their tagline, Eco. Pure. Simple.
Be pure…be simple, buds!
Woo
Summer Dresses For Real Bodies
Summer can be a challenge for us busty-ladies who want to indulge in current summer dress trends, but are limited by our need to wrangle D+ bras and the obligatory bra-straps. Especially when fashion favors those who can sometimes pull off going braless – for the sake of an adorable criss-cross spaghetti-strap dress or a super low back halter top.
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The smocked dresses at Soul Flower are fantastic options for handsome, comfortable, full coverage and boob minimizing dresses. This of course assumes you have a working relationship with the elastic architecture of a hearty strapless bra. (My current favorite is Victoria’s Secret Bio-Fit. No uni-boob! Plus custom strap options!)Blog Image
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Milkshake Organic Maxi Dress: I have already regaled my love affair with this dress in an earlier blog, but the length and the weight of this dress is still perfect for late summer. The smocked top stays-put over the “girls” and the color looks awesome with a tan.
Vintage Stone-Washed Dress: This dress is comfortable like a swimsuit cover-up and has just enough detail to give you an air of girly-girl on a date or just canoeing (or a canoe date!?! Even better!). WARNING! It’s a short dress – which can cause some panic-at-the-disco (especially if you’re tall like me), but I’ve never had any problems with it.
Sanya’s Scarf Dress: Again, my previous blog gushed about how wrinkle free this dress is – but also you can pull off a black bra underneath – assuming the bra structure is a little more balconette – pushing the straps closer to the armpit. The dress is tea-length, making it great for picnics, biking, shopping, napping, you name it!
Mudmee Tie-dye Tube Dress: A great dress-up dress. The full skirt makes you feel completely feminine in that “this-is-what-a-dress-used-to-feel-like” sorta way. The dark color is minimizing and the centered neck tie creates a nice neckline, especially for those who rarely wear halters. Great for any body shape!
I’ve spent a good portion of my life wrestling with the fact that I’m not lithe like those chickies that model fashion and haircuts, I’m swarthy and my hair is usually disobedient. Having an arsenal of comfortable and carefree dresses that do me (and my body) justice has really kept my summer cool and flirty. Who doesn’t love that?!