A Cause Stylish apparel and accessories promote the greater good .
BY KARLEE PRAZAK AND LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE STAFF
Sea Candy Jewelry ’ s Olivia Oddo and Sean Malek craft jewelry from locally-gathered sea glass .
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he idea of using fashion , specifically women ’ s apparel and accessories , for the greater good is at the heart of charitable efforts for many Orange County businesses . It ’ s part of a national movement demonstrated by the popular “ buy one , give one ” approach used by brands like Toms and Warby Parker . Buy one item , they say , and a life could be changed for the better — it combines retail therapy with altruistic intent .
And in a town like Laguna , where there are dozens of clothing and accessory boutiques as well as an estimated 230 nonprofits at any given time , according to the Laguna Beach Community Foundation , it ’ s no wonder these models flourish . In addition to businesses that donate a portion of proceeds to charitable causes and organizations , there are many boutiques around the city with stylish products that allow customers to shop while supporting the greater good .
IN CHARITABLE COMPANY
Laguna Beach resident Liliana Burgi decided to add a philanthropic component to her online shoe company , Salt , by donating a percentage of sales to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children ( NCMEC )— a nonprofit that her husband , actor Richard Burgi , has supported as well . Burgi says that Salt started because she noticed a missing link between comfortable and sexy heels . To remedy this , she designed heels and wedges with wood bases , foam insoles and interchangeable cloth straps . As business grew , she was able to provide 10 percent of each sale to NCMEC .
Though Salt is an onlinebased company , there are also plenty of physical stores in Laguna where you can purchase products that give back . Taking care of communities and groups you love is also the idea behind the success of Don and Summer Meek ’ s The Soul Project , which has a flagship shop on South Coast Highway .
“ Every store looks to the tourist dollar , but I think in order to survive in retail you also have to be community-serving ,” Summer explains . “ In addition to [ The Soul Project carrying our ] own apparel , we carry other brands . We look to a lot of made-in-California and made-in-the-USA brands , as well as other brands that have a giveback or artist element to them .” For its own line , The Soul Project selects a charitable cause to support and begins creating one-of-a-kind merchandise that reflects the organization ’ s efforts . One dollar of each item sold — ranging from womenswear and menswear to accessories — is donated to a local charity tied to kids or the environment of a “ soul place ,” which the couple describes as a location that holds a special spot in someone ’ s heart . So far , local funds have benefitted the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach and the Pacific Marine Mammal Center .
“ As a community , Laguna Beach has been really supportive of what we ’ re trying to achieve at The Soul Project ,” Summer says . “ It ’ s also what ’ s helped with the success of the store .”
This idea of identifying impact before choosing goods is echoed by the recently revamped mission of The T-Shirt Co . at Laguna Beach , which co-owner Lauren Segal calls a “ T-shirt shop with a conscience .” Segal donates a portion of the store ’ s revenue to her nonprofit , Give a Beat — which raises awareness about economic and social inequality through
28 SUMMER 2016 CITY GUIDE