What We’re Up To

Want to know a little more about us, where we’ve been, what we’re doing and where we’re going? The snippets below provide a snapshot of our journey, and the events, partnerships and news happening at Barefoot Eco Outfitters!

WITH HEARTS BROKEN, A MESSAGE OF HOPE, LIFE AND FREEDOM FOR UKRAINE

We are emotionally devastated by the unspeakable tragedy that has unfolded in Ukraine, and it just doesn’t feel right to carry on with business as usual. We are in awe of the courage, strength, and determination of the Ukrainian people and the willingness of nations around the world to come to their aid. We are at a loss for words and we feel so helpless, but in the heart of this darkness we wanted to create a message of hope and life and solidarity. Life is precious. Freedom is precious. They are worth fighting for. We stand with Ukraine.

TRACY STRANDNESS PODCAST INTERVIEW/DEREK NIELSEN’S ART OF ACTUAL CHANGE

Derek Nielsen is a renowned wildlife photographer who is passionate about conservation, sustainability, ecofriendly fashion and saving the planet. Barefoot Eco Outfitters Owner/Founder Tracy Strandness was honored to sit down with Derek to talk about the sustainable fashion industry, the pros and cons the industry has to offer and why the pros far outweigh the cons. She shares the intimate details about her very personal encounter with domestic abuse and how through that painful experience she and her children found strength and inspiration in the heart of nature. Derek and Tracy open up to each other about their own journey as survivors and how therapy, reflection and determination has lead them both to unforeseen positions of strength. If you are triggered by conversations about domestic abuse or sexual assault please hold off on listening to this episode until you’re are ready. You can watch it here:

ONE HEART WILD EDUCATION SANCTUARY’S GOATS & FLOATS FUNDRAISER, AUGUST 2021

We had a great day at One Heart Wild Education Sanctuary’s Goats & Floats event benefitting all the rescued animals that call this special place home! Not only was the setting beautiful and serene, but the staff were all warm and welcoming, and the new customers we met were so wonderful! We were very happy to support this cause! Whether animals be domestic or wild, we fully support their respectful care and every effort to protect them. You can find out more about their work at https://www.oneheartwild.org/

WE’RE OFFERING A FREE HEMP CORD BRACELET WITH EVERY PURCHASE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – our customers are the best! If you’ve ordered from us before, you know that we like to include a little something special with every order. It’s our way of saying thank you for choosing to shop with us and for supporting small businesses! Starting May 3rd, we’ll include a free hemp cord bracelet with either an ocean-themed or woodland-themed charm (depending on your order). Hemp is an environmental superstar! It naturally helps to regenerate the soil by transforming contaminated materials; some say it can help reduce global warming because it takes out larger amounts of carbon dioxide per acre than most plants. Hemp is a hardy plant that has a high yield and also helps prevent erosion. The 100% hemp cord in these bracelets is colored with acid-free and lead-free dyes, and is eco-friendly and biodegradable. The lead-free charms feature bear, moose, a backpack, whale tail, sea turtle and surfer girl.

BAREFOOT ECO OUTFITTERS NOW CARRIES CITY BONFIRES – MINI, PORTABLE BONFIRES AND BAMBOO ROASTING STICKS!

In a first for us, we’re now carrying an item not created by us, but we felt the connection of this made-in-the-USA product to our celebration of the outdoors was too perfect to ignore! City Bonfires is the brainchild of two Maryland dads whose jobs were financially impacted by the pandemic, and who came up with this charming, eco-friendly way to help people create fun memories, especially during the pandemic. City Bonfires are 4″ X 2″ tins containing FDA food grade non-toxic soy wax with a total burn time of 3-4 hours, and are reusable. Paired with their re-usable bamboo roasting sticks, this setup is the perfect way to roast marshmallows and make not only S’mores, but memories to last a lifetime, in the comfort of your own backyard, or wherever you’re inspired to take this portable little campfire! It’s the perfect accompaniment to our camping mugs, and our cozy, comfort earth-friendly apparel!

SQUALICUM BEACH CLEANUP,  BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON, JANUARY 2020

We were excited to organize our first group cleanup at Squalicum Beach in Bellingham, WA and it was a great success! As usual, cigarette butts were a big part of the trash collected, which is problematic as they do not biodegrade and leach many toxic chemicals. Other common trash offenders are styrofoam, plastic wrappers, lids and bottles, and this awesome group of volunteers climbed, dug and braved thorny bushes to get to the garbage that would have likely ended up in the Salish Sea. A day well spent! You can watch a little video of that cleanup here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5q3xwb_2sk&t=5s

2019 VICTORIAN COUNTRY CHRISTMAS

Barefoot Eco Outfitters Co-Founder Skyler Strandness at the 2019 Victorian Country Christmas

We spent five Christmassy days at the 32nd Annual Victorian Country Christmas festival on December 4-8th. Vendors dress in Victorian era clothing, and storefronts are decked out with lighted garland and Christmas decor. Shoppers enjoy shopping, food, wine bar and a full schedule of entertainment!

2019 TACOMA HOLIDAY FOOD AND GIFT FESTIVAL

The Tacoma Holiday Food and Gift Festival is a super fun event, chock full of holiday magic and over 500 amazing vendors! We were glad to be back at the 2019 festival in October, and had a great time connecting with customers old and new! Our earth-friendly apparel is the perfect gift for the nature lover, and we have some new cozy new items for the 2019 holiday season!

WASHINGTON YOUTH CLIMATE STRIKE, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019, KIRKLAND, WA

We stand behind our youth in supporting the climate strike movement started by Swedish teen Greta Thunberg, and were proud to participate in the multi-generational global climate strike on September 20th in Kirkland, WA. We will continue to support this effort and the push for a Green New Deal as we fight for the survival of our planet.

WATERLAND FESTIVAL PARADE WITH SR3

We love to be in support of our donation partners, and so were happy to walk with SR3 Sealife Response + Rehab + Research in the Waterland Festival Parade on July 20, 2019. It’s an honor to help spread awareness about their important work on behalf of marine wildlife in the Pacific Northwest! You can find out more at www.sealifer3.org.

“DRINK LIKE A FISH” BENEFIT CRUISE ON THE HIYU, SEATTLE

We had a great time at our booth on May 26th aboard the refurbished ferry the Hiyu, for the “Drink Like a Fish” cruise benefiting NW Film Forum, sponsors of SIFF film, ‘The Wild’ by Director Mark Titus. What a fun venue! This film focuses on the urgency to save the last intact salmon habitat in Bristol Bay, Alaska, and begs the question, “How do you save what you love?” Many thanks to all our new customers for their warmth, good humor and kindness at this fun event!

KOMO SO NORTHWEST WOMEN’S SHOW 2018

Barefoot Eco Outfitters had a great time sharing our earth-friendly products and mission at the KOMO So Northwest Women’s Show March 9 & 10th 2019! We are born and raised Pacific Northwest natives and we love celebrating the best of Upper Left, USA!

VOLUNTEERING ON BEHALF OF SR3 FOR CURIOSITY DAYS, PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER, SEATTLE

We love to support our donation partners, and so were happy to volunteer with SR3 (www.sealifer3.org) at their educational booth at Curiosity Days on November 10, 2018 at the Pacific Science Center. It was a pleasure to share information on our regional marine wildlife, and the important work that SR3 is doing in terms of rescue, rehabilitation and research. They are looking to build the region’s first dedicated marine animal hospital, as currently the closest one available to injured sea mammals in the State of Washington is in California – a perilous journey to make for an already fragile animal. This is exciting work, and you can donate to their tireless efforts at the link above!

PUGET SOUNDKEEPER ALLIANCE SEATTLE SUMMER CLEANUP

As part of our support of the efforts of the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance marine debris program in 2018, we were happy to participate in their first Seattle Summer Cleanup event on June 16, 2018. In just two hours, volunteers in kayaks, canoes and on foot cleaning the shoreline collected 656 pounds of trash! That’s both very rewarding and discouraging that so much trash was able to be collected in such a short period of time. Trash cleanups are great, but they are a bandaid – the real solution comes in being mindful of our use and disposal of plastics, and general thoughtfulness about trash disposal when outdoors, on boats, etc. We crossed paths with bald eagles, great blue herons, turtles, ducks, red-winged blackbirds and more, and we pulled all that trash from their homes. We can do better! You can help too! If you’re in the Seattle area, check out the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance website (www.pugetsoundkeeper.org) or on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pugetsoundkeeper/) and look for their volunteer opportunities! All watercraft are provided, and you get a free t-shirt and lunch afterward! They are happy to have you help, or to join as a member for just $20/year! 

NEW TO OUR MIGHTY MOUNTAIN COLLECTION

COMING SOON to our Mighty Mountain Collection:  we have new earth-friendly items in production that we can’t wait to add to the website! Look for a new mountain-inspired unisex organic cotton/RPET hoodie, a new color for our Mountain Lovers caps, brand new Mountain Lovers Headbands, and lightweight bamboo muscle tees with a mountain-inspired motif to jumpstart your adventurous spirit! Always eco-friendly, always supremely comfortable, and every purchase supports www.wawild.org and the preservation of the wild places of Washington state. Stay tuned!

GRAND OPENING RAGING RIVER TRAIL SYSTEM WITH EVERGREEN MOUNTAIN BIKE ALLIANCE

We like joining with our recreational communities to celebrate exciting festivities such as the May 19, 2018 grand opening celebration for the Raging River mountain bike trail system with the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. One thing we’ve learned through the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance about the mountain biking community is that they are a family. The sense of community, support and camaraderie around this sport is palpable, and has enabled EMBA to become a leader in both establishing trails and working with local government on issues of conservation and sustainability. The recent grand opening of the Raging River trail system is another example of that. You can find out more about them here: https://www.evergreenmtb.org/

MIGHTY OCEAN COLLECTION PHOTO SHOOT ABOARD THE HISTORIC SCHOONER LAVENGRO

We’re all about connecting with and celebrating local businesses! We were fortunate to be able to do the photo shoot for our new earth-friendly Mighty Ocean apparel aboard the historic Schooner Lavengro on a beautiful spring day on Lake Union in Seattle, as the sunshine and clear blue sky brought her nautical details to life! This 1926 wooden gaff rigged schooner is full of regal charm and is owned and operated by the Northwest Schooner Society. Excursions are available through Lake Union Charters & Adventures: http://lakeunioncharters.com/

2017 TACOMA HOLIDAY FOOD AND GIFT FESTIVAL, TACOMA DOME

Barefoot Eco Outfitters had a great time celebrating the holidays at the 2017 Tacoma Holiday Food and Gift Festival at the Tacoma Dome. This annual event is jam-packed with great gift ideas, cooking demos and live performances, and draws a huge and festive crowd! We were happy to share our earth-friendly apparel in celebration of the great outdoors, and to talk about our giving back mission!

KIRKLAND WEDNESDAY MARKET 2017

From June 5th through September 27th 2017, Barefoot Eco Outfitters is enjoying the lakefront views and lively vibe of the Kirkland Wednesday Market. You can find us there every, well, Wednesday from 2 pm – 7 pm! Save on shipping and get first dibs on new product when you stop by our booth, plus you get to touch and feel our super soft and comfy earth friendly apparel for yourself! Find out more about the Kirkland Wednesday Market here: http://kirklandmarket.org/

EVERGREEN MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL, DUTHIE HILL PARK

We spent a great weekend sharing our earth friendly apparel at the Evergreen Mountain Bike Festival at Duthie Hill Park on June 11 &12, 2017! Hosted by the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance whose mission is to create, maintain, and protect sustainable mountain biking opportunities in Washington state, this action packed weekend featured bike demos, skills clinics, trail riding and 50+ vendors. You can find out more about this awesome organization here: https://www.evergreenmtb.org/

2017 NORTHWEST PADDLING FESTIVAL

Barefoot Eco Outfitters was excited to be a part of the 2017 Northwest Paddling Festival  May 12-13th, the largest event of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, which brings together paddle sports retailers, manufacturers and athletes in one awesome 2-day event! The festival is great for both first timers and seasoned pros, and offers a fun-filled weekend with kids activities, demos, over 80 vendors and even a boot camp for FITT Yoga aboard the new Flow Motion Fitness Mat! You can find out more here: http://northwestpaddlingfestival.com/

HIKER RALLY DAY WITH WASHINGTON TRAILS ASSOCIATION AT WASHINGTON STATE CAPITOL, OLYMPIA

Barefoot Eco Outfitters attended Hiker Rally Day in association with the Washington Trails Association on February 15, 2017 at the state capitol in Olympia. Without proper funding, many of the trails Washington hikers love could be closed or neglected. Our goal? To advocate for No Child Left Inside, a program that provides invaluable grants to Washington state outdoor education and recreation programs for youth, increased funding for trail preservation and support for our state parks. With a record turnout, it was an exciting day!

LAUNCH AT ECOLUXE CELEBRITY LUXURY LOUNGE, SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL, PARK CITY, UTAH

(Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for EcoLuxe)

Barefoot Eco Outfitters headed to Park City, UT January 21-22 to be a part of the EcoLuxe Lounge Celebrity Luxury Lounge event at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. See our video about our road trip to this great event here. There’s so much we love about this event – its eco-friendly platform, its partnership with Shriners for Children Medical Center, the inspiring indie film vibe and the beautiful mountain setting! We were super excited to share our eco-friendly products and mission with this exciting crowd in one of the most sustainable cities in the world! A Durkin Entertainment event.

CELEBRITY GIFT BAGS, ECOLUXE CELEBRITY LUXURY LOUNGE, SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2016

One more time! Barefoot is honored to again share products for the celebrity gift bags at the EcoLuxe Lounge at Sundance 2016. Why do we love Durkin Entertainment’s EcoLuxe Lounge? Simply put, because of their commitment to a sustainable platform showcasing eco goods and services, and their heartfelt work with charity partners – in this case, Shriners Hospitals for Children/Los Angeles. They hope to promote awareness/support for their new $77 Million medical center launching in Pasadena in 2017, dedicated to making medical miracles possible for more than 1 million children and counting. We also appreciate and honor the indie spirit and the passion and creativity that defines Sundance!

CELEBRITY GIFT BAGS, ECOLUXE CELEBRITY LUXURY LOUNGE, SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2015

We strongly supports the passion that drives the indie spirit, so we were excited to share a little Barefoot love in the celebrity swag bags at the EcoLuxe Lounge at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival! This two day invite-only event showcases the best in eco-luxury lifestyle and green products and services, all while raising funds and awareness for charitable causes. Sustainably produced by Durkin Entertainment, the EcoLuxe Lounge is always a standout event!