Olive + Splash / olive and splash

Words will never express the gratitude I have for all the families who support and assist with Olive + Splash. I am extremely fortunate to have met some of, if not the BEST people around and all through the journey of this small company. 

For the past 2 weeks I have trekked around Bosnia, Serbia, Prague and Switzerland gathering experience and inspiration for life and Olive + Splash. I mentioned in a previous post the opportunities and relationships that have been sewn through this company and how incredibly blessed I am to cross paths with some and keep others forever. I am so fortunate to be able to do what I love surrounded by the best families who become family. 

I was invited to meet the extended family members of some Olive + Splash team mates and experience their culture in the heart of their hometown of Bosnia and Serbia. I stayed on their amazing farm fetching water from a well for morning ‘Kafa’ and collecting fresh eggs for breakfast (doručak) and using google translate to join in conversation 🙈 The friendships formed will last a lifetime and I can’t wait to go back. 

After Bosnia and Serbia I flew to Prague and I am so happy to have seen the breathtaking architectural design and literally eat everything...like everything. Prague you are a beauty and I will be back. 

I finished my trip at the top of Zermatt, Switzerland (Thank you Mary). This part of the trip was particularly cool because I skied the most picturesque mountain and tested Olive + Splash’s base layers and new products at altitudes and climatic temperatures that it was designed for and I am happy to say our apparel performs in all environmental conditions. 

This trip would not have taken place in this manner, if it was not for the relationships formed through this small company. I am forever grateful and thank you for having me. 

#familyfirst 

#hospitality #love #travel #family #oliveandsplash #productdevelopment #bosnia #serbia #prague #switzerland #zermatt #matterhorn #ski #farmlife #streetstyleinspo

What is a base layer and why do you need to wear one?

A base layer is an insulating layer worn next to your skin. Base layers help regulate your body temperature by  moving perspiration away from your skin, which will help keep your dry. Staying dry allows you to stay warm and happy in the winter. Base layers come in many forms, from t-shirts to leggings, tights, briefs and sports bras. Some are designed to contour to your body while others are more loose fitting. Base layers also come in different weights or thicknesses to suit different temperatures and activity levels. 

Bamboo apparel is a great base layer for any winter activity weather dressing for skiing, skating, snowshoeing or hanging out in the cold, bamboo provides the best insulation and temperature regulation.

Bamboo is a powerhouse when protecting the planets resources, it has built in temperature controls to keep you warm in the cold and cooler in the heat. It's a breathable material that does not contain harmful chemicals and is hypoallergenic with a similar feel to silk. It's proven to have a 99.98% antibacterial rate keeping your material odorless and just as important, it is UV resistant.

Olive + Splash provides a full line of children and adult apparel for all of your outdoor activities and base layers.

Need help sourcing the perfect layers, we're here to help. Email or DM us your questions. 

Summer is fast approaching and it is that time of year when we need to take extra caution to protect our skin from harmful UV rays and toxic overload from chemically filled sunscreens. The sun can sometimes hide behind loose clouds or disguise in a cool breeze, but do not be fooled, it's still there. Here are some healthy tips and tricks for safe sun protection this summer. 

Some sunscreens contain so many chemicals you would never think to ingest them, so why would you smother your largest organ in them, its pretty much the same thing.

Almost everything you apply to your skin seeps into the bloodstream and depending on its toxic make-up, it can harm us with free radicals and wreak havoc on our bodies.

Important things to know about sunscreen:

1. Most traditional sunscreen products contain cancer-causing chemicals

2. Majority of the population is vitamin D deficient, sunscreen actually blocks vitamin D production

3. Be aware most "chemical free" sunscreens are loaded with chemicals 

You can boost your internal sun resistance by what you eat. Foods that are high in anti-oxidants and carotenoids will naturally protect your skin from sun exposure. 

Here's a list of some super foods to live by:

Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene. Beta-carotene helps protect the skin against the free radical damage and reduce sunburn intensity. Drink fresh carrot juice daily to get maximum benefits.

Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C. Research has found that a long-term diet of vitamin C, together with vitamin E, can reduce the potential for sunburn. Citrus fruits contain limonene, which has been known to lower risk of skin cancer. Citrus fruits also contain antioxidants, which work to protect your cells from free-radical damage that could potentially lead to skin cancer 

Green tea is full of catechins, which prevent disease and protect against sunburn inflammation and long-term UV radiation damage.The most abundant type of catechin in green tea is called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and this is the one that provides sun protection

Watermelon is a great source of water packed with vitamins A and C and electrolyte potassium. The powerful antioxidant lycopene is found in watermelon and reddish-colored fruits,which tends to act as a natural sunscreen. Lycopene allows your skin to act as a natural filter, admitting enough sunlight through for your body to produce vitamin D 

These are just some of the super foods that play a role in sun resistance, here are some more foods to protect against the sun. If you haven't had enough edible sunscreen in your diet, make sure to protect your skin with UV protectant clothing. Olive + Splash is a Canadian made, eco-friendly clothing company that has made a whole selection of children's bamboo clothing, which are a stylish and easy fix to protect your little ones skin from harmful UV rays. 

Think twice about the products you lather yourself and little ones in, it might not be as safe as you are lead to believe. Sunscreen comes in all forms and we are loving the natural ones.

Next time you're at the grocery store or out for a bite, ask yourself have you eaten your sunscreen?

There are many personal and environmental benefits to wearing bamboo clothing, Olive + Splash has designed a whole bamboo children's clothing line that gives back to the David Suzuki Foundation, which is only more reason everyone should be wearing this powerhouse material and support the movement.

The benefits of bamboo outweigh any other material out there, it features built-in temperature controls, which keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, it's chemical-free processing does wonders for the human body and environment we live in, the hypoallergenic fibers are allergy friendly and make a great clothing choice for anyone with sensitivities or require calming sensory clothing, the UV resistant material is a blessing in disguise when it comes to the sun's harmful UV rays, the antibacterial bio-agent 'bamboo kun'; a natural anti-fungal fiber found within bamboo reduces bacteria that thrives on clothing and skin, in addition to its highly moisture absorbent properties it is also biodegradable allowing the textiles to return to the earth in an organic and Eco-friendly way.

The reason we love this material so much goes deeper than its cashmere soft surface. Bamboo fibers itself are naturally round and smooth without any chemical treatment as opposed to some textile fibers that naturally have sharp edges and spurs that irritate the skin and can only be softened with the harshest of chemicals. The scary part about these highly toxic chemicals resting on your skin is they will be absorbed into the blood stream in less than 26 seconds and will be filtered into the your major organs, which can lead to hormone disruption, disorders and even some cancers. When we wash these toxic clothes the chemicals seep into the water and back into the Eco-system which will then be turned into our drinking water, soil for our food and breathing air. Therefore the less chemically processed material is a win for both our bodies and environment.

The best part is, the more washes the material has, the softer the garment becomes making it a pleasure to buy and wear on a continuous basis. Olive + Splash has designed a Canadian made, Eco-friendly garment to protect your precious little ones from the inside out that will last numerous washes, wears and generations to come.