Journal

We’ve all skimmed blogs and perused Pinterest for inspiration on creating the perfect capsule wardrobe for ourselves, but what about when it comes to our littles? As parents, shopping sustainably for our kids while maintaining a “fewer but better” mindset can be easier said than done. Kids outgrow their clothes quickly, wear holes in them after a few trips and skirmishes, and honestly, the temptation to buy cheaply made alternatives for them in an effort to keep up is real.

But at Jackalo, we’re big believers in buying fewer-but-better-made pieces for your kids that will last them through several growth spurts, keep up with their rambunctious play without tearing, and won’t hurt the planet on top of it all. In fact, that just about sums up our mission as a company.

We believe it’s possible for parents to “curate” their kids’ wardrobes in a practical and sustainable way that has less to do with fashion and more to do with practicality. With this mindset, ultimately you’ll spend less on your kids’ clothes and ensure they’re getting the most wear out of what they have. A streamlined wardrobe will allow your child to take control of choosing their own outfits (while you relax knowing that everything more or less “flows” together). It teaches them the value of minimizing and keeps your shopping trips much more mission focused.  

A quick note on colors: you may find it helpful to shop within a few color families so that when your kids pick out their own outfits, you don’t have to worry too much about things clashing. This also allows you to plan ahead and buy a size up so that your kids can grow into things and you can still be sure that they’ll work within their wardrobe. You don’t have to stick to only neutrals, or avoid bright and fun colors, but we suggest sticking to 5 or fewer colors. We love this post from Anuschka Rees about choosing a color palette for an adult wardrobe and think the same concepts can be used as inspiration for building one for a child.

Our sustainable capsule wardrobe download will give you the outline of a well-crafted, simplified wardrobe for your kids. From here, you can buy the essentials and then step back and let them be kids (in clothes that are up for the job). You may have to do a bit of shopping around to find the right brands and sizes to fill each “section”, but once you do, your kiddo will have a cohesive, easy wardrobe that will work for everything from school days, mud puddle jumping, and dinner with the grandparents.  

Depending on where you live, you may need a “warm season” capsule and a “cold season” capsule and can make tweaks as needed for things like dresses, skirts, and other pieces your kiddo may love, but with this checklist  and info as a guide, we hope the process will be much more simplified!

These are the basics of any wardrobe, regardless of age. This download will allow you to shop for pieces that fit your child’s personality and style, AND your budget and ethics much more easily.

Have you ever created a capsule wardrobe for your kids? Tell us how it went!

After two kids, plenty of time, and convos with some of my favorite parents, I’ve come up with what I think would be the best gifts for someone who is having a baby. These aren’t going to be the things you expect (no Boppy babies here.)

1. A postpartum doula — My first child was born in the US, where there’s no support for new parents after they come home from the hospital. Like many can-do young couples we felt like we could do it on our own and didn’t need someone in our house helping to care for the baby and keep things clean. How foolish we were! With our second child, we gave birth in the Netherlands where postpartum care is the norm, and covered by insurance. We had eight days of a doula helping us out at home and it was AMAZING. Want to give someone a new baby gift that will really impact their lives for the better? Gather a bunch of friends and family to pitch in for a postpartum doula. Even a few days will make a huge difference—no matter how the baby arrives!
2. All the food — When we had our first kid, we were part of a lovely synagogue that really supported people in times of need. When you have a baby, there’s a whole committee that organizes meals and brings them over. If you don’t have an existing resource like this to tap into, set up a MealTrain for the person you love. Do the work for them: make sure you know their dietary needs and preferences, and reach out to their friends and family to get the schedule filled in. If you aren’t much of a chef, look for a local store to deliver some high-quality groceries that make for easy meals (and maybe a bottle of wine.)
3. Fun for any big siblings — When you are having a second kid (or third, or more) making sure your big kid is busy and entertained is always a challenge, especially when you are waiting for the baby to arrive. Volunteer to be on duty to help out with the big kid. A sleepover with friends or cousins, a special outing, anything that will make sure the big kid has something fun to do while baby is being born or the parents need some time to get their sea-legs about them!

If you want to get them something you can wrap, here are some of my favorite gifts (from ethical sources of course!:

1. Perfectly picked hand-me-downs — Go through your kid’s clothes or hit up your favorite consignment store and find a lovely collection of secondhand clothes for your friend’s little one. Or if you are in Australia, you can shop from Pure Bundle which curates bundles of high-end baby clothes and donates what doesn’t meet their needs to local charities.
2. A gorgeous Moses Basket from the Kind Label. The Kind Label works with Ghanian micro-producers to source beautiful fair-trade baskets. And if you live in the Netherlands, they even have a rental program.
3. A modern handmade quilt from Kindred. Mother and owner Kayleigh makes beautiful minimalist quilts that would be at home in any decor. These quilts are instant heirlooms. A gorgeous quilt like this is worth the investment.
4. Grow-pants from Nuage Kids. I love how these pants have plenty of room to grow for little ones. Owner Jade is a thoughtful maker who produces darling clothes in adorable prints.
5. A Cosilana baby bonnet from Mama Owl. Americans often find the European use of baby bonnets a little “precious” (and not in the good way.) I have to say, I’ve been swayed over to the use of them. I love that they are thin, they stay put, and fit under a bike helmet (once you start riding with them on the bike, which happens very early over here!) The Waldorf/Anthroposophical nursery our younger son goes to even swears that they reduce overstimulation in babies. I don’t know about that, but I do love both how they look and their utility. The ones I’ve linked to are a little heavier, but you can also find ones that are a wool/silk blend or cotton ones.

I lean towards the experiences that help people cherish those early days, but a beautiful responsibly-sourced item can be lovely as well. What are your favorite baby gifts?

By Olivia Youngs

Let’s preface this post by saying there’s no “magic formula” for raising children of any sort. Parenthood isn’t a one-size-fits-all task, not by a long shot.  You may find that one method that worked for someone else failed for you. That’s ok. But since you clicked on this article, chances are you’re in the throes of modern, conscious parenting and are hoping to raise your own children to be full of awareness of the big issues facing the planet.

Raising socially and environmentally conscious children, as complex as it seems, is actually simpler than we may think. I know what you’re thinking, so bear with me. How can approaching issues of environmental justice, sustainable living, and social impact be a simple task? How can a child understand these complex issues most adults can barely tackle?

First of all, the fact that you’re already thinking of ways to integrate conscious living into your children’s lives puts them ahead of the pack. They won’t have to unlearn years of harmful habits like most of us did. Luckily, children are pros at mastering the things we underestimate them for. You’ll be amazed at how much your kids understand, how deeply compassionate they can be, and how easily they can take initiative on their own. All you have to do is foster an at-home atmosphere encouraging their budding environmental and social passions.

1. Lead by example

First and foremost, the best way to effect lasting change in your children is to lead by example. Show them what it looks like to care for the planet in real day-to-day life. When your children see you bringing your own water bottle and coffee mug, reducing waste, and recycling, it will be more impactful than simply having a conversation about it. Be honest about your mistakes and celebrate your successes with them.

2. Have conversations about responsible living early on

In addition to leading with your actions, having intentional conversations with your kids, no matter their age, about how their actions can make an impact is important. When they see you bringing your own bags to the market, using cloth napkins and towels, air drying your clothes, and acting with the environment in mind, and ask you why, you can explain, in terms they’ll easily understand, how we have the power to care for our earth instead of harming it. You can talk to them about littering, caring for our oceans, choosing to bike or walk over driving -- the possibilities are endless and each conversation will have a lasting impact.

3. Attend events, marches, and classes with your children

Although some may assume that public marches and demonstrations and classes about environmentalism aren’t suitable for children, we beg to differ. Our founder Marianna recently attended the Students Strike for Climate march with her son (pictured in Jackalo pants, of course) and his friend. They were so excited to use their voice to create positive change and joined right in with the teens (who loved seeing two kids leading the chants!)

4. Let them take the lead

Once you’ve had a few conversations and have led by example, give your kids the opportunity to choose environmentalism for themselves. You’ll be surprised at how observant your kids are as they pick up trash off the ground, ask to walk instead of drive, or ask if they can join you for the next march or trip to the recycling center.

5. Immerse your kids in nature

Perhaps most importantly, letting your kids experience nature firsthand and often is paramount to raising children who care about the planet’s future. If you live in an urban area, take them to botanical gardens, conservation areas, or on quick out-of-city trips to experience nature. If nature is in your backyard, even better! Encourage your children to play outside often and, as they do, teach them that they have the power to care for their playground for years to come. Looking for a way to get kids excited about the nature around them? Try our free Noticing Walk download.  

Raising environmentally conscious kids seems complicated, but we hope these simple steps will give you inspiration on where to start.

How are you helping your kids learn to care for the planet?

The sun is rising earlier and setting later, which means one thing: Spring is here! And, so are new Spring styles. We've gotten great reviews on our first products, and now we are building on those styles. We're not ditching the old ones, just adding on for the coming warm weather (please come soon!) The items are all available for pre-sale starting today, and will be delivered in late April/early May.

Check out the lookbook below, and shop the new styles now!

Jackalo contributor, Olivia Youngs doesn't just share her best sustainability and parenting tips here, but on her own well-loved blog Simply Liv & Co. There she writes about living more simply and sustainably. Liv's family lives in a converted school bus in Colorado, so she knows a thing or two about living with less stuff. Recently she published a blog post featuring Jackalo and how finding a sustainable and practical clothing brand for your children is possible. She says:

"...they’re truly doing their part to create conscious and practical clothes for kids who play hard."

Thanks Liv for supporting Jackalo! 

Read the full post>>

Olivia's girls wearing the Ash lined pants in Engineer's Stripe and the Jax pants in Berry

Raising environmentally conscious children in a world where plastic, “grab and go,” and convenience is the norm is no easy feat. As parents, our biggest tool for instilling positive morals in our children is modeling by behavior, but a few “supplemental materials” to reinforce what you model at home can go a long way. Kids, like sponges, soak up information like it’s their job, so if you’re wanting to instill a love for nature and caring for our environment in your children early on, these kid appropriate books and movies about Environmentalism will help any socially conscious parent do just that.

Each of these books and movies have a slightly different focus - some center around protecting animals, others on being responsible stewards of nature, others have a more general “love for all” theme - but each of them will tug at your heartstrings and stir up a desire in your children to care for our planet.

We suggest reading these books and watching these films with your child and then having a discussion afterward to hear their thoughts and help them process what they’ve seen. This discussion guide from the Australian Psychological Society is an incredible resource for parents on how and when to discuss climate change with your children.

Have you and your children chatted about protecting our environment? These books and movies are the perfect place to start!

Books

1. The Lorax by Dr. Suess 

Both a classic book and a newly made film, The Lorax is about a creature who speaks for the trees long before environmentalism was mainstream. Both the book and the film are great for kids of all ages and introduce topics like deforestation, activism, and caring for our trees.

2. Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers

This #1 New York Times Best Seller combines wit, humor, and awe in this “guide for living on Earth”. It’s a picture book, but includes themes deep enough for older children as well.

3. The Last Polar Bear by Jean Craighead George

By the author of the beloved My Side of the Mountain, this story penned for younger children follows a boy desperate to save a polar bear cub whose mother has died as a result of climate change in the Arctic.

4. Pax by Sara Pennypacker

This story of a boy and his pet fox will pull at your heartstrings while teaching children about the relationship between animals and humans.

5. Leo and the Lion Learn of Love by Holly Rose

Written by one of our favorite eco-conscious bloggers, Leo and the Lion Learn of Love tells the story of the lion who teaches a young boy how to care for the world around him.

Movies

1. WALL-E

A beloved Disney film about a loveable robot who’s the last of his kind on the, now-uninhabitable, Earth. WALL-E sets out on a space voyage that will change the fate of humanity. It’s heartwarming and approachable without shying away from big issues.

2. Disneynature's Oceans

This stunning film dives deep into our oceans showing viewers a never before seen look into the depths of the ocean and what inhabits them. It’s the perfect jumping off point for a discussion on protecting our seas.

3. Ferngully: The Last Rainforest

A 90s film with a focus on protecting the rainforest, Ferngully: The Last Rainforest tells the story of a bat and his mythical friends who set out to save their habitat from destruction, with the help of Zak, an empathetic human who aids them along the way.

4. Happy Feet

Although the film’s main focus is love for self and those around you, Happy Feet, about a penguin who feels out of place, has environmental undertones perfect for starting a discussion.

5. Over the Hedge

A humorous kid’s movie with sobering flashes of reality, Over the Hedge teaches kids about human over-consumption and its negative impact on animals.

Got any favorite books or movies to add to the list? Please add them in the comments below!

Jackalo is inspired by many kids and families that are filled with an adventurous spirit, love of the outdoors, and creativity. One family in particular stands out in my mind as a real inspiration: Tara Garofano, her husband Tony, and their two kids Vita and Finch. In an effort to inspire more families, I interviewed Tara about her family's adventures and how she nurtures her own creativity in motherhood. 

In my early years of motherhood, I didn’t give much thought to the clothes I purchased for my kids (or myself!). After simplifying my kids’ wardrobe, and bagging up the excess, I knew I needed to make some changes. I wanted my kids’ wardrobe to be more sustainable and ethical.

At Jackalo, they focus on durable design that strikes a balance between strong and comfortable. My boys would wear their pants every. Single. Day. if I let them.

And her kiddos, clearly do enjoy their Jackalo pants. I love this moment between her boys. This is what it's about: chilling with your brother and just having fun. 

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