Embrace Only Love

Actions based in love result in love.

That's the heartwarming message behind the new Embrace Only Love eco-friendly clothing line.

Embrace Only Love makes its graphic t-shirts and hoodies out of materials such as hemp, bamboo and organic cotton -- and does a nice job explaining the eco-benefits of each type of fabric.

Founder Kheng Chow got the idea to start Embrace Only Love after completing a ten-day silent meditation course, so it's no surprise she's decided to donate 7% of all profits toward helping others attend free Vipassana meditation courses.

We had a chance to review two products first-hand. The men's organic cotton t-shirt is light and comfy, well-made and nicely fitted. We liked the design and the "Find Your Center" message ($26.90). (Would our center be our belly button?)

We also had a chance to check out a women's limited-edition "Attain Peace Through Balance" long-sleeve hooded t-shirt made from ecoKashmere - 70% Bamboo, 25% Organic Cotton and 5% Lycra ($36.90). The shirt really is nice and versatile - light, warm, stylish, durable, machine-washable and so forth. (Frankly, we'd prefer not to see any of the synthetic lycra in the product. Sure, it adds a bit of sexy clinginess and helps the garment keep its shape, but we'd rather have an all-natural shirt...)

The hemp t-shirts - like this "Respect Your Place in Nature" version - are made of a 55% hemp, 45% organic cotton blend. We didn't get a chance to try one of these in person, but based on our experience with a similar mix of fabrics in a Royal Robbins shirt, we're confident that the hemp and organic cotton blend will deliver a nice mix of strength (hemp) and softness (organic cotton).

One thing that's interesting about Embrace Only Love is that the company tries to make its sourcing a bit transparent. So you can learn on the website that the hemp/organic cotton t-shirts are supplied by Hemp Traders. The ecoKashmere(R) products (not just the women's hoodies, but also the men's long-sleeve t-shirts) come from Jonano. Continental Clothing Company makes organic cotton t-shirts for men and women.

We're not sure if the transparency is good for Embrace Only Love's brand strength, but we like the fact that the company has apparently partnered with some really nice ethical and high-quality suppliers.

Of course, the suppliers only provide the 'canvas'. Embrace Only Love comes up with the designs and the messages, and then turns to Spreadshirt.com to hand-print its shirts using water-based inks.

Where to buy:

Order your clothing directly through Embrace Only Love's website. Since fabric content varies for each item of clothing, be sure to check carefully to make sure you're getting organic cotton, bamboo, hemp or whatever else you want. Be aware that the totes do not seem to be made from organic material.