Truth

Truth Belt: The Westie

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0000

As more companies are becoming earth and animal-friendly, and the DIY movement has seen resurgence in the past few years, I have been on the lookout for a good selection of quality vegan belts. I’ve encountered a lot of hemp and vinyl belts, and even some belts made out of bicycle inner tubes, but I still haven’t found one company that offers a wide variety of both classy and funky vegan belts. Enter: Truth Belts.

Truth is an animal-friendly accessory company based in Canada. Started by Renia Pruchinicki in 2001, who originally started making belts from non-leather material, Truth began as a side project in making long-lasting belts from vegan material grew into a full-time business. Her business website also hosts an informative links page in which readers can find businesses, groups, journals, magazines, and other vegan and vegetarian-friendly information.

The belt that I was sent to review is from the hemp-woven line of belts. This particular design is called The Westie. The belt is constructed of polyurethane with a navy blue and khaki colored woven hemp outer layer. The buckle is an antique nickel color, and the whole thing looks wonderful with a pair of jeans. I’ve been wearing the belt around for the past month, and nothing about it has started to fall apart. It’s a very well designed vegan belt, and I’m excited to have another vegan clothing accessory in my life to prove to my friends that you can look good without having to wear parts of animals.

Aside from the casual woven belts, Truth also makes fake-leather looking classy belts, as well as funky elastic belts with argyle, stripes, and plaid designs. Truth also hosts a line of fashionable wrist cuffs and belts for kids.

Overall, I’m very satisfied with my vegan belt, and will probably buy some of Truth’s other belts for friends and relatives. Aside from supporting a company that promotes veganism, I’m also happy to be supporting a business started and run by one hard-working woman.

Written by: Chelsey Clammer, January 20th 2010

Ladies Live Truth T-shirt

admin — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:52:00 +0000

By Truth

I had never seen a T-shirt made out of bamboo before, so I had no idea what it would feel like or how it would fit. This particular shirt is sixty-six percent bamboo, twenty-eight percent cotton, and six percent spandex jersey—and it is one of the softest I have ever worn in my life. The shirt drapes nicely over my body, and does not cling to my chest. The cut is flattering and tapers in towards the waist with a scoop neck that dips slightly below the collarbone. It can be worn during the day or as a workout T-shirt. While it did absorb more moisture than other workout shirts, my back still felt a tad wet after forty minutes of cardio.

A note on the sizing. The T-shirt was labeled a size large; however, it fit like a medium at the shoulder. It is slightly longer than some shirts, reaching down to my hips. But the longer length does come in handy if you choose to wear it during a workout.

The Ladies Live Truth T-shirt can be put in the washer and dryer, like any other shirt. After at least five washes, the T-shirt has not shrunk in size, nor has there been any color bleeding. Instead, it has even gotten softer. Besides being environmentally friendly, it is also an incredible fit and one of my favorite shirts.

Written by: Elizabeth Stannard Gromisch, December 25th 2009

BooBoo Unisex Wrist Bracelet, Orange

admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:35:00 +0000

By Truth

Functional. Fashionable. Fun. The BooBoo wrist cuff from Truth is oh-so-cool—according to me, anyway. It’s a deep orange—a colour that has grown on me over time—and has an almost faded look. Created from distressed acrylic and cotton webbing, this BooBoo is size small, fitting me with ideal precision.

These genuine non-leather bands, amusingly named “BooBoos,” are manufactured in Canada by a company called Truth. Appealing to the vegan audience, designer Renia Pruchnicki takes an environmentally friendly approach to her many products, which include t-shirts, belts, and necklaces in addition to these trendy wristlets. All come in a variety of colours, textures, and looks—woven, mess, faded, and shiny prints—and can be fastened with a simple click of two adjacent buttons.

The BooBoo gives the wearer a definite punk rock air, and the great part is that it’s unisex! There have been times when I’ve disliked that tag because I’ve found, especially when shopping for t-shirts, that the unisex label really means "made for men," as these products tend to cater to a larger, male-shaped body. Whilst most of my friends loved the orange band around my wrist and the way the shade contrasted well with my turquoise outfit, one comment went like this: “That looks like a guy’s band! It’s manly, and it doesn’t look like it should be on you.”

But so what? It’s interesting how we assign things to that “masculine” or “feminine” construct, the implication of that comment being that a female should stick to “feminine” products. Don’t you just get frustrated when people absentmindedly think like that? I do! Especially since men seem to get the best commodities sometimes. On this occasion, I don’t feel the BooBoo is “manly”; it looks equally stylish on a girl!

Truth values vegan and vegetarian lifestyles. The company’s website reads, “Live your truth, and respect others”—a simple yet powerful philosophy.

Written by: Payal Patel, December 7th 2009

Ladies Certified Organic White T-Shirt

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:32:00 +0000

By Truth

Green is the new black, and no, we’re not talking about that vintage Chanel dinner party dress. From cosmetics to clothing, the determination to be more earth friendly is not just a celebrity fad, but a way of honoring Mother Nature. Many may not understand or care about what going green means, but if we research what really went in our daily couture, perhaps we would think twice before spending our green.

A recent _Seattle Times_ report claims that common fabrics, such as cotton, nylon, and polyester are either grown with a strong dose of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or are even petroleum-based. Consequently, how can our Sunday sweats, a fall sundress, or silky lingerie made with insect poison make us look or feel good? Going green does seem like a pain, or is it? What if there’s an all-natural thread made from the fastest growing plant in the world that can sooth problematic skin, is breathable in even the hottest temperatures, and can please nearly any budget-conscious shopper? Pandas thrive on it and one Canadian designer believes it’s the key to discovering the Truth.

“When I started this company, I was not a vegetarian and was not even thinking of pursuing anything along those lines in terms of a market,” explains Reina Pruchnicki, owner of clothing company, Truth. “But the path that I took opened my eyes to many things and over the years my diet slowly became mostly vegetarian. I have become more aware of making healthy and sensible choices when it comes to food and I love how much better I feel!"

Truth, which began in 2001 in Toronto, first started as a line of leather-looking belts, which became popular among the Canadian vegan community. However, it’s her t-shirts that are gaining attention for being made with bamboo. According to the Truth website, this biodegradable fibre has “natural antibacterial properties and prevents allergies and skin irritation.” In addition, these t-shirts can reportedly absorb and evaporate up to four times quicker than other alternatives without losing its silky smooth feel. Unfortunately, these claims aren’t enough to make Truth t-shirts a must-have.

While Truth t-shirts are famous for being made with bamboo, it isn’t fully accurate. They’re actually produced with “Bamtex,” making them 66% bamboo, 28% cotton, and 6% spandex. Yes, Truth t-shirts are so velvety that you just want to wrap yourself in them, but it seems that only pencil thin girls can truly appreciate this irresistible benefit. More voluptuous women must suffer the wrath of spandex, creating a tight, snug feel that accentuates every undesirable curve, making even the most confident female self-conscious about being exposed. While Truth t-shirts seem perfect for hitting the gym or bearing sizzling hot temperatures, sweat can actually cause them to ride up. The thickness of a Truth t-shirt feels as if it’s retaining more heat even though it’s not. The top’s too-tight collar can easily smudge makeup and anyone who can’t leave the house without applying foundation for a flawless face understands how annoying this can be.

Most importantly, why is it that Pruchnicki’s latest line isn’t 100% bamboo when a few clicks of a mouse can lead shoppers to a vast world of designers providing this feature for a similar or more affordable price? If clothes make the man, then what of women? Should they suffer in the name of beauty and their environment? With so many independent online vegan shops to choose from, the troubles one must face with Truth t-shirts are unnecessary and may even discourage others in thinking that bamboo clothing is uncomfortable when it’s supreme compared to standard cotton.

Pruchnicki’s Truth t-shirts may leave eco-friendly fashionistas disappointed, but her new invention shouldn’t be tossed aside like dirty socks. Her willingness to provide healthy choices for women are admirable and hopefully she’ll offer shoppers a more improved version of her line in the upcoming future. For now, it’s certain that the truth indeed hurts.

Written by: Stephanie Nolasco, December 1st 2009

BooBoo Unisex Wrist Bracelet, Woven

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:48:00 +0000

By Truth

The story behind a company and its products really makes or breaks my decision to purchase. Yes, aesthetics are a key determining factor, but my criteria goes beyond this alone. I want to know the who, what, where, when, and how behind it so that my money supports my values. Truth, as it turns out, is a company with a great product and a great story.

I’d heard a bit about this Canadian company, but didn’t know what they were all about, so I was especially excited to review Truth’s Woven Wrist BooBoo. Given the unisex cuff style and my extra-dinky wrists, I hoped I’d be getting the S versus the other size, L. Indeed I got the S woven style Booboo in the “brown/pink” combo and instantly loved the contrast between the serious snaps set in a pewter-colored faux leather and the soft baby pink, raspberry pink, and ivory threads tightly woven with burgundy, brown and taupe threads.

I like that it’s not woven into a perfect checkerboard-like basket weave. It’s totally cute, but has an edge. Browsing their website I could see a range of tastes going through their wares, from preppy to punk. The materials are all vegan and their line includes several style of wrist cuffs, belts, bamboo fabric t-shirts, and clean, simple necklaces.

The story behind Truth is especially interesting. When owner and designer Renia Pruchnicki started the company in 2001, she was used to working with technical fabrics as an outerwear clothing designer and naturally gravitated toward a “technical” faux leather fabric. Truth's "leather looking" belts became very popular within the vegan community and their website reads: “When I started this company, I was not a vegetarian and was not even thinking of pursuing anything along those lines in terms of a market. But the path that I took opened my eyes to many things and over the years and my diet slowly became mostly vegetarian.”

As an activist-minded consumer it’s heartening to find such a great example of the power consumer demand has to actually change the marketplace. In this instance not only did demand directly influence the company’s products, the personal values of the company owner were also affected. And for this I love wearing my stylish, comfy, cruelty-free Woven Wrist BooBoo even more!

Written by: Matsya Siosal, November 2nd 2009