Wildlife Works: a cause and comfort clothes we can embrace

In a world of finite resources, an increasing number of us are considering terms like “socially responsible” and “sustainable consumption” when it comes to our material purchases. Practicing responsible consumerism is hard to ignore these days and companies like Wildlife Works puts the power to do the right thing directly in our hands.

The company, based in Marin County, was founded in 1997 with the goal of finding a solution that would bring economic stability to a chaotic and violence-prone Kenyan community with jobs and decent pay. In turn, the hope was it would save the dwindling wildlife that had become the cause for strife between poachers, rangers and residents.

Founder Mike Korchinsky, a former Bay Area management consultant who discovered his passion and a mission during the 1997 vacation to Kenya, quickly established Rukinga Sanctuary on 80,000 acres of land in South East Kenya. He saw it as one
possible solution to help a community develop economically and stay in peaceful balance with their surrounding wildlife.

Wildlife Works is also a successful model for responsible commerce, offering garments made of raw materials that come from sustainable sources and made in eco factories by fulltime employees or artisans with no “middleman” that cuts into profits.

The company recently relaunched a collection of shirts, hoodies, sweaters, scarves and tanks, all made of fair-trade fabric that comes from Chetna Organic, a business collective owned and operated by small and medium sized farmers in two India states.

Some of the pieces, made for men, women and kids, feature gorgeous design elements from the khangas worn by East African women. I personally love the longer length of the tees and the (almost) guilt-free spending I can do while adding a practical piece to my wardrobe. Prices range from $28 for a tank or tee to $75 for a men’s hoodie, available at www.wildlifeworks.com/shopcollection.

Category: Fresh Style