Last month, Pantone, the global authority on color, unveiled the 2017 color of the year: Greenery.

Fashionistas, interior designers, graphic designers, florists, retailers, beauty editors and regular Joes & Janes have been flooding Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest with palettes and how-tos for incorporating the new hue into your home, your wardrobe, your beauty regimen and your work.

The color is equally applauded and abhorred, but I for one am loving the boards and products these influencers are posting. I have always been drawn to zesty yellow-greens and have been incorporating similar shades into my home, my wardrobe and my work for years. I love the color (although I do tend to go slightly more 382c than 376c), but I think what resonated with me even more so this year than in years past was the rationale behind selecting the color:

 “Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the reassurance we yearn for amid a tumultuous social and political environment. Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate and revitalise, Greenery symbolises the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose.” – Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of Pantone Colour Institute. 

Because by the end of 2016, things were not all Rose Quartz & Serenity, but rather Opaque Couché, the “world’s ugliest color,” and we were all ready for a refresh.

 

And so, in honor of 2017, new beginnings and all that Greenery symbolizes, here are a few looks you won’t find on any catwalk: five ways you can be “on trend” AND contribute to a larger purpose.

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Love Your Melon – Lime Speckled Pom Beanie

Our North Loop neighbors Love Your Melon have been #doingood since 2012. The company that began with the altruistic idea of putting a hat on every child battling cancer in America has now donated more than 80,000 hats and 1.5 million dollars to the fight against pediatric cancer.

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Still Kickin – Original Green Tee

While the Still Kickin signature green is more Kelly than Greenery, I’m including it because I love this group. In Nora’s words, “This isn’t just a t-shirt. It’s a symbol to the world that whatever comes your way, you’re ready to kick it right in the nuts. Because we all go through something, and we are all Still Kickin. Even if some days it seems harder.

Each month, we’ll be using money from our sales and events to help support a new Still Kickin Hero.”

So, buy a shirt, attend a workout — and while you’re at it, read Nora’s book and check out her podcast. You’ll be glad you did.

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Miscoots Outfitters – The Michael Argyle Socks 

After food and water, clean socks are the most requested item in homeless shelters.

When you buy a pair of Miscoots socks (or gloves or hats), Miscoots donates an equal quality item to someone in need. Their products are manufactured in the U.S. and they provide employment opportunities for transitioning homeless. Feel good about what’s on your feet.

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Purpose Jewelry – Dawn Drop Earrings

Purpose Jewelry is a social enterprise that provides professional opportunities to young women rescued from sex trafficking. 

We work with survivors in Mumbai, India and Orange County, CA. From creation to shipping, these young women are playing a critical role in every step of the process. They are able to earn a fair wage and gain employable skills for the future.

I was not familiar with Purpose before this post, but I will definitely be purchasing some pretties (with a purpose) soon.

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 Warby Parker – Reed Sunglasses

Warby Parker has distributed more than two million pairs of glasses to people in need since 2010, but with more than 700 million people without access to eyewear, there’s still a long ways to go.

Learn more about the Warby Parker model and the next time you’re in the market for a new pair of specs, give theirs a try for the greater good.

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What are your favorite products with a purpose — and do they come in Greenery?