The Thread - The Official baabaazuzu Blog

Woodland Friends Visit for Worst Sweater Wednesday

May. 16, 2012

Oh how we love our forest folks here at the Zu. And we were especially excited when they appeared in our sweater stash. They left the woods for the wool.

We absolutely adore this piece, and cannot wait to provide eco-conscious fashionistas with their very own little critters along with beautiful and ethical apparel. Sadly the owl’s head is non-existent, so I drew one on there (you get the idea, right?). Lisa, Baabaazuzu’s GM has mad love for owls, so naturally it’s her favorite friend on our featured sweater. Shannon, bbzz’s Shipping Coordinator calls us office ladies, “squirrels” instead of “girls”–for example, “See ya later, squirrels.” Therefore I completely fancy the squirrel. And, Lindsay, bbzz’s Business Coordinator is crushing on Mr. Foxy.

Have a favorite forest creature? If so, share what kind and why (just type away in the comments below).

Lisa Brookfield
5/16/12

Love the OWL’S added head! Nice work Hillary. Oh and the 70′s style mushrooms bottom left, another fave.
Hillary Burns
5/16/12

Thanks Lis. Aha the mushrooms–such character.

The Little Traveler is Crazy Great

By: BBZZ Admin

May. 15, 2012

First of all, we just adore the name of this store: The Little Traveler. This extravagant, historical boutique is located in Geneva, IL. The Little Traveler has been a part of Geneva’s history since 1922 and is located at the heart of the destination town in Chicago’s far west suburbs.

And the sweet hometown of The Little Traveler is gearing up for their annual festival, Swedish Days. Geneva is full of Swedish heritage!

Every summer since 1949, the Geneva Chamber of Commerce hosts a six day festival that consists of parades, delicious food, fun rides & games, live music, and of course…shopping! Definitely visit the 2012 fest this June 19-24 (Geneva’s celebration is about the same time as the traditional midsommar celebration in Sweden).

To celebrate this very cool event, The Little Traveler sets up tents on their front lawn, and fills them with great finds from around the world. What amazing items will be priced at extremely wonderful deals? Garden furniture, summer fashions & jewelry, stylish kitchen textiles, yummy gourmet tasting all week, antiques & home decor, and so much more!

The Little Traveler is more than just a store—it’s a trip around the world and through time, as you peruse the 36 themed rooms in this historic, Victorian-era home.

Before you head to their doors (or tent) for a one-of-a-kind experience, visit their website, Facebook and Pinterest.

The Little Traveler:

404 S. Third Street

Geneva, IL

630.232.4200

Worst Sweater Wednesday Celebrates Mother’s Day

By: Hillary Burns

May. 9, 2012

Baabaazuzu fans, get ready for today’s Worst Sweater Wednesday; there’s multiple ugly sweaters modeled by three beautiful gals. Wonderful Zu Crew designer, Charlyn isn’t just talented with piecing together mittens, she’s one awesome mama to two sweet girlies.

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Lisa Brookfield
5/10/12

SUPER cute! Love, thanks Charlyn for sharing your girls with us!! I wish I had been here for the shoot.

PlanetShoes.com is ‘So This Season’

By: Hillary Burns

May. 7, 2012

All of us at the Zu Crew are ready for sandal weather! We’ve been taken by the footwear trends for Spring/Summer 2012. And we’re completely crushing on PlanetShoes.com, and their lovely ethical foot fashions.

PlanetShoes.com states they’re big fans of Mother Earth–we are too! And don’t think for a second PlanetShoes.com compromises design for ethics; the website is filled with beautiful shoes and accessories that are eco-friendly and stylish. Since 2011, PlanetShoes.com has been committed to their customers and our planet–how fabulous is that? As a customer you can even select CarbonFree® Shipping! And PlanetShoes doesn’t stop there; they are partnered with awesome charitable organizations, like Soles4Souls, 1% for the Planet and the Conservation Alliance.

Brace yourself for these beauties that are totally “So This Season.”

Art Menorca 291 – European sizing

The Art Menorca 291 is bright and fun and will surely be a hit for this spring and summer. Its wedge styling already makes it a trend favorite, but it also features a beautiful design carved into the wedge for added style. Eco-friendly materials also make this style a favorite! Get more details and your hands on these babies here.

Born Sitton – US sizing (runs true to size)

Touching on a popular trend for spring and summer, the Born Sitton is an adorable espadrille-inspired skimmer. This women’s slip on features a stylish striped fabric upper for a fun and comfortable look. Easy to slip on and oozing with comfort, the Born Sitton is sure to be a favorite for spring and summer. Check out the other adorable colors here.

El Naturalista Wood N167 – European sizing

Boasting an eco-friendly story and good looks, the El Naturalista Wood N167 is sure to be a favorite for this spring and summer. Its casual clog style makes it easy to wear and the vegetable tanned leather upper features three beautiful colors. This stylish sandal will look great with any outfit. Snag a pair now.

Miz Mooz Sammy – US sizing (runs true to size)

Capturing two popular trends, the Miz Mooz Sammy is a stunning stacked wedge sandal that also features a platform. Three buckle details add extra style and adjustability. Also featuring a rich leather and canvas upper, this sandal is sure to be a popular choice for spring and summer. Also comes in red; get them in both colors!

Merrell Dash Glove – US sizing (runs true to size)

Barefoot running continues to be a popular trend with the Merrell Dash Glove. This fun and vibrant running shoe boasts zero drop cushioning to align your body and strengthen muscles. The DWR-treated upper repels water and resists staining and is offered in fun colors that will surely brighten your day! Its features and style will certainly make it a top pick for this spring and summer. Run on over to PlanetShoes.com fast.

We love PlanetShoes.com! We’ll sign off with a little message from our eco-fashionista friends:

CMPL
5/7/12

While using more ‘green’ technology for shoe construction is good, how beneficial is it when the product is being shipped from China to the U.S.? A couple of the styles/brands I looked at were coming from China. Still a lot of fossil fuels being used to get the product here. Not as ecological as they should be.
Hillary Burns
5/8/12

Yes, cutting down on fossil fuels is a wise idea. PlanetShoes.com certainly has the best intentions of providing eco-conscious products. Reaching a 100% “green” product line is in progression for a ton of businesses these days. Sadly most materials and manufacturing is internationally outsourced. We hope the popularity of producing goods in the states grows. Cheers!
Patty
5/10/12

looks like some links are broken – i noticed because i want to go shopping! xoxo great post
Hillary Burns
5/12/12

Nice eyes! Just fixed the link. Happy shopping, Patty!!!

Cloe & Company is Crazy Great

By: Hillary Burns

May. 4, 2012

Looking for a boutique with the mission of shop local, live healthy and be joyous? Then look no further than the lovely Cloe & Company of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.

This tiny brick and mortar shoppe spreads its beautiful passion of keeping handcrafted American goods thriving. All of Cloe & Company’s wares are unique, and created by grass roots artisans. Hands down this store is a Crazy Great Boutique!

Cloe & Company founder and owner, Donna Czarkowski [featured in image to the left], explains why she opened her retail space, “I like to teach people about the power of their purchase. It’s important to make an effort to boost the economy of this nation by supporting brick by brick, shoppe by shoppe, and customer by customer.”

Donna is a proprietor who has fashion and ethics all under one roof.

And it’s certainly never too early to start teaching the importance of the shop local movement; take a look at little Ben, who just so happens to be wearing a baabaazuzu billed hat and infinity scarf–he totally rocks them!

Cloe & Company is a happening place; here are some dates you should stop by:

May 5, 2012 (this Saturday) – Cloe & Company’s First Annual Trunk Sale – visit between 10:00am and 4:30pm to rummage through reduced items (there really will be a trunk to find treasure in), and indulge in the three ‘f’s – food, fun and fabulous finds!
May 25, 2012 – Customer Appreciation Day at Cloe & Company! Each customer will receive a free flower–hurry while supplies last!
June 25, 2012 – Cloe & Company’s One Year Anniversary! Definitely wish them congrats if you stop in the store this date!

And guess what? Cloe & Company has been selected to be a vendor for August’s Girls Night In, a benefit for Marley’s Mission–an organization that heals children with the assistance of horses–Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy. For further information on this event, please contact Donna, as Cloe & Company is an avid contributor to Marley’s Mission.

Ready yourself for an amazing one-of-a-kind experience as you walk through the doors of Cloe & Company! And before your visit, head on over to Cloe & Company’s Facebook.

Cloe & Company:

410 S. State Street

Clarks Summit, PA 18411

570.587.2563

Sue burns
5/4/12

I love seeing our retailer’s store fronts and interiors. I also enjoy seeing the eclectic mix of merchandise featured, learning more about our buyers’ personality and their passion for their shoppes!
Donna Czarkowski
5/6/12

I must say that we are a grateful bunch of artists and we so appreciate your story on what we are trying to do in our little town here in America . Thanks again and if you are ever in the area please stop in !!!!!

BBZZ Blog Team

Lisa
12 year Zu Crew vet, Lisa takes GM to a whole new level—Glamorous Manager is more like it. Lisa fancies product development, evolving the bbzz line and organizing office parties. She has an eye for design and a knack for conserving.
Hillary
Original bbzz trendsetter (made the brand hip in Kindergarten), and avid eco-fashionista, Hillary is right at home at baabaazuzu. Hillary gets giddy about connecting with creatives, and especially loves bbzz spottings.