Shopping For A Good Cause

In today's economic state, there are always excuses to be made for wanting to go shopping. Though the people around us may have minor concerns about our spending habits, their judgment isn't really what bothers us; it's our own. We can all feel a bit embarrassed for spending money on things we don't really need. Luckily, there are a few ways to avoid, or at the very least ease, the shame or guilty associated with frivolous spending. Consider investing your hard earned money into products that donate a portion of their sales to charitable causes. That way, a little splurging feels, not only harmless but also quite helpful.

MAC Cosmetics

The MAC AIDS Fund has been around since 1994, donating money to support services and programs that help to prevent HIV and AIDS. The VIVA GLAM campaign associated with the MAC AIDS Fund promotes a line of lip care products through the help of celebrities. Famous spokespeople endorsing the campaign have included Mary J. Blige, Lil' Kim, Elton John and more recently, Ricky Martin and Nicky Minaj. MAC donates 100% of the money made from the VIVA GLAM lip line to assist in HIV and AIDS prevention.

Tom's

Friends of Tom's is a non-profit subsidiary of the Tom's shoe company that donates a pair of shoes to a person in need whenever a pair is sold. The founder, Blake Mycoskie, got the idea after visiting Argentina and wearing the traditional alpargata design. The driving force behind his philanthropic services is a soil-transmitted disease called Podoconiosis. The company's contributions can help to prevent the disease, providing a better quality of life for people living in poorer areas. To date, the company has donated over one million shoes and has now begun selling other products such as eyewear, which they too donate.

Rachel Roy

Rachel Roy puts her design skills to good use by creating collections that support victims of natural disasters. Proceeds of the sales also go to children's organizations. Totes were especially designed to support the victims of Japan's Tsunami and Pakistan's monsoon flooding. A clutch was made to support education in Ghana. All the proceeds from her collections are donated to relief funds. In addition to this, Roy also sells jewelry designed and crafted by Haitian natives, helping to promote jobs for artisans.

J.Crew

J.Crew, in partnership with Intiq, have begun to sell Mochila bags in an effort to preserve indigenous cultures. Each bag is handcrafted and designed by the South American women of the Wayuu tribe. They use traditional weaving techniques that have been passed down through many generations resulting in a one of a kind bag created over the course of a few days. The time and labor involved in the bag making process contribute to the hefty price, but considering that it's completely unique and supports the preservation of local customs, I'd say it's worth it. The sale of each bag also helps to raise money for the women who make them and their communities.

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