Summer Rayne Oakes for The Uniform Project
Date: March 9, 2011 | Category: Fashion, Women
Huge advocates of The Uniform Project (more than one ecofabulous lady owns her own Pilot #1 dress), we were thrilled to catch up on their latest development - a collaboration with eco-model, Summer Rayne Oakes. This time the dress is a fifties flair style with flattering curves, made by Carasan Designs. The fabric is a 70% silk - 30% hemp blend with a pink handwoven thai silk and hemp-organic cotton blend "peek-a-boo" underneath (sourced from Source4Style, of course!). We're already loving the looks that Summer's been strutting so far, including the latest styles from her zoe&zac for Payless line. Summer's chosen cause is charity: water, a non-profit dedicated to bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. The goal with this month's Uniform Project is to raise $10,000, enough to build two wells. As an added plus, for everyone that donates to the cause, Payless ShoeSource will be matching funds dollar-for-dollar up to $10K, and will give a coupon for 50% off the zoe&zac line to anyone who donates more than $10 - a pretty sweet deal, if you ask us! *Photo credit: TheUniformProject.com
Lu’-crative Opportunities
Date: March 9, 2011 | Category: Accessories, Home Furnishings, Men, The Home, Women
"There is an intimacy inherent in the architectural form of woven fabric," says Eve Blossom, founder of Lulan Artisans, a sustainable and responsible for-profit organization unlike any other you’ve heard of. It's through Eve that we've learned not only the architectural appeal in the rich cultural art of weaving, but the ability to create structural standards to improving the quality of life through the industry. Such structure can be found in Lulan’s efforts to exercise sustainability in every aspect of its business—economic (abundant wages for artisans), cultural (sensitivity to nuanced style and texture), environmental (natural/organic materials and low-impact dyes), and social (reliable income benefits children, a community’s future). Successfully merging traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, Lulan endeavors to intimate today’s modern women with appreciation of an ancient art form. Take for example the “mandarin [with] a mod touch” Silk Tailored Jacket ($395), for high fashion with an eastern appeal, or the rich and luscious Chocolate Gloss Ruffle Me Skirt, an ultra-feminine interpretation ($349). If you’ve got eyes for accessorizing, check out the aptly named Classy Carryall Wallet ($59) in Gold Cobra for spring, or for your worldly travels, the Classy Passport Wallet ($64). Your body needn’t be the only place woven whimsy appears—Lulan also offers a environmentally-holistic home line, comprised of beautifully patterned pieces like the Interwoven pillows ($123.75), throws (from $268.20 and up), window panels, and, in the March spirit, St. Patrick’s Day green napkins ($15.30) all of which are made with the same authentic, attentive artistic detail that only Lulan artisans are capable of. *Photo credit: Lulan.comLooks to Love: Amour Vert Spring/Summer 2011
Date: March 7, 2011 | Category: Fashion, Women
Palo Alto-via-Paris designer Linda Balti's first line for Amour Vert ("green love") caught our eye with its well-cut collection of dresses, shorts and colorful sashes. Believing that elegance and eco-consciousness need not be exclusive, Balti looked to dye fabrics locally in the Bay Area (with vegetable dyes for peace silks and low-impact dyes for jersey apparel). The price is right, too: the new Airelle wide pants ($109) and Bouquet belted dress ($129) are among the great sub-$150 items that the company is likely to win fans with. When Amour Vert describes the natural pant fabric, tencel, as "soft as silk, cool as linen, warm as wool," they're not fibbing - the pants can be worn year round. But don't let us be the ones to tell you how good waste-free production will look on you. *Photo credit: AmourVert.com; (via Two Birds Boutique)Looks to Love: H&M Conscious Collection
Date: March 2, 2011 | Category: Fashion, Men, Women
With eco-friendly styles for men, women, and children, H&M's Conscious Collection is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Similar to last year's garden collection, the line boasts organic cotton, Tencel®, and recycled polyester, though this time around there's less color involved. Instead of the bright fun & flirty feel, the Spring 2011 collection has a romantic, yet sexy "white hot" look for the summer months - draping, frilly tunics for the ladies, a tailored crisp and preppy feel for the guys. The collection is part of H&M's ongoing goal to incorporate more sustainable fabrics into their apparel, an initiative that started in 2004. The company aims to increase the amount of organic cotton used by 50% each year until 2013. The collection hits stores in April so check out your favorite looks and get ready! Photo credit: H&MTrend Watch: 2011 Academy Awards Glamour
Date: March 1, 2011 | Category: Fashion, Women
Let us count the ways that the 83rd Academy Awards have been both eco and fabulous: a red carpet produced from recycled water bottles, 100% renewable energy sources powered the event, and local, organic food was served. With the greening of the 2011 Oscars, it is only fitting that many celebs wore vintage, upcycled, and eco-friendly fashions.
At the Vanity Fair Pre-Oscars event, then oscar nominee (and now best actress Oscar winner) Natalie Portman looked gorgeous, baby-bump and all in an H&M Conscious Collection frock. The price tag: $49.95, meaning we can all get this look (on April 14 when the collection debuts, that is).
As for other stars? Rather than buying new and expanding their carbon footprint, these ladies re-worked vintage finds for high style with low impact. Did you know that buying a pre-loved silk dress saves 95% of the CO2 needed to make a new one?* Since we're always talking with our friends over at eBay Green Team about how "the greenest product is often one that already exist," we couldn't have been more pleased with this year's red carpet presence.
Photo credit: JustJared.BuzzNet.com, eBay.com
Marisa Tomei wore a circa-1950 Charles James dress from Lily et Cie. Copy her look in vintage style with fun, tulle skirting (current bid $24.50).
Photo Credit: Jason Olive, eBay.com
Livia Firth, always an ecofashion favorite on the red carpet, wore an upcycled creation made especially for her by South-East London based designer Gary Harvey, who used eleven vintage dresses to construct this gown! In case you don't contain the same sewing prowess as Harvey, you can re-create this look with just one dress - try this neutral-peach tone, free flowing satin gown, circa 1930 (current bid $9.99).
Photo credit: SmallScreenScoop.com, eBay.com
Oscar co-hostess Anne Hathaway wore a stunning red vintage Valentino gown. We're thinking that the only gown to compare to this vintage Valentino is the vintage Valentino. But, we've found this once-worn prom dress that just might do the trick (current bid $150).
Photo Credit: StyleBistro.com, eBay.com
Elizabeth Banks may have skipped the main event, but this vintage Versace dress must have wowed the crowd at the Vanity Fair Oscars after party. Get this go-go glam look with a vintage cocktail mini dress, covered in white lace and silver sequin details (current bid $189).
Top Photo Credit: Popeater.com
*calculation provided by Cooler, Inc. and commissioned by eBay Inc.
Shop Talk: Fashion-Conscience.com
Date: February 28, 2011 | Category: Accessories, Bags, Fashion, Jewelry, Shoes, Women
A UK-based web-shop for women's ecofashion finds that are "seriously stylish, seriously ethical," Fashion-Conscience.com has some of the smartest looking styles available online - which is no surprise considering that the founder's background is in fashion and celebrity journalism for the UK's high end women's magazines.
Particularly passionate about changing the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills, Fashion-Conscience.com loves highlighting brands like RELUXE that use recycled or reclaimed fabrics to create on-trend, one-off pieces. Showcasing the fact that "ethical fashion can be just as high-end and must-have as your favorite labels," we love the "my ethics" tab on each item, where you can see info on the type of fabric and where/how the piece was made. Here are a few of our top picks from Fashion-Conscience.com:
| Camilla Norrback Tromp L'oiel Bow Jumper Dress: Oeko certifed organic wool and with a fabulous oversize bow (£60). | |
| Noir Cyril Cropped Blazer: 100% organic cotton tailored to perfection for that perfect white hot rocker look (£186). | |
| Cardboard Safari Recycled Cardboard Fred Jr. Moose Head Trophy: Fun for the office or home - great to hang jewelry on (£29)! | |
| Enamore Peek-a-Boo Bikini Bra: Made from soft silk hemp, and finished with silk ribbon, this bikini bra is at the intersection of chic and cheeky (£34). | |
| Olsen Haus Yellow Heeled Vegan Shoe Boots: Non-toxic paint, and natural rubber soles, and 100% vegan faux suede make for one sexy heel (£230)! |
*Photo Credit: Fashion-Conscience.com
Crochet, Never Cliché
Date: February 22, 2011 | Category: Fashion, Women
Prefer subtlety to showcasing it all? Shimmy confidently under an extra layer between you and the sun, beachcombing babes—Surfmonk’s vintage crochet mini-caftan ($148) is crafted from fabric that would have met a lamentable fate in a landfill. Suited for your saunter back from the sauna or even as an extra touch of texture over a tee, as Surfmonk suggests, the caftan is also available in vintage black sheer and striped earthtone as well, if neutral’s not your niche. An extension of the inspiration born out of the Bunny robe, Surfmonk’s fashionable, eco-fiber cover-ups are an authentic, aesthetically refreshing change from your average synthetic beach wrap. *Photo credit: SurfmonkDon’t Be a Bully
Date: February 21, 2011 | Category: Fashion, Women
Instead, help support the finding of “forever” (permanent) homes for Chicago pit bulls by purchasing one of Jus Animalium Culture Apparel’s American Pit Bull Pink Ribbon tees for $30, and JACA will donate $5 from every tee sold to Midwest Rescue of Illinois, Inc.. Made from 100% organic cotton and made rosy with low-impact dyes, the shirts are a delightfully sensitive and unconventional way to show a little love for man's best friend. Made especially authentic by hand-printing’s slight variations, these tees are what we call animal-friendly apparel. *Photo credit: Jus AnimaliumTrend Watch: Fingerless Gloves
Date: February 17, 2011 | Category: Accessories, Fashion, Women
Mobile-friendly mitts are on every working-girl's list... keep palms toasty and still pushing emails at the same time? Yes please! Choose wrist-length cuties or go for a little full-arm flavor - Object Mythology offers all in 100% baby alpaca, handmade by local artisans in Peru ($45-$125) For chic New York style like Rachel McAdams, check out these hip arm warmers from Una. Made of organic cotton they're super lightweight and easily washable. Though technically listed as arm warmers, the cute little thumb hole makes them fingerless gloves in our book ($25)! Annie O. Boutique's fair trade alpaca hand warmers have a gorgeous chunky knit and support a women's cooperative in Central Peru, available in light beige or charcoal gray ($48). For paws that pop, there are plenty of conscious styles that are still full of rich color. From left to right: Mayu fingerless alpaca gloves ($70), Indigenous Designs urban fingerless gloves in rose ($36), and Stewart+Brown's torrey handwarmer's (reduced to $48!). And lastly, looking for fingerless gloves that will warm your heart as much as your hands? Check these sweet things out. *Photo credit: top left: StyleFind.com; Rachel McAdams: SplashNewsOnline.comThese Beantown Bags Mean Business
Date: February 15, 2011 | Category: Bags, Fashion, Men
Whether you’re rushing across campus or on your way to a business lunch, keep calm and carry all with these very masculine eco-friendly messenger bags by F. Rock. In answer to the dreaded, stigmatized man-purse, F. Rock has crafted remarkably streamlined yet classic bags made 100% from reclaimed fabrics and leathers from top-brand menswear industry factory scraps.
In four exceptionally metropolitan styles, the organic cotton-lined bags are available either fully customizable (we love the Charcoal Pinstripe or Tommy Cranberry Plaid fabric and brass hardware) or ready-made at the same price point ($285), an excellent investment in sustainable travel and mobility.
The 15” long, 12” high Brattle showcases a bolder, more antique aesthetic with a working buckle on its leather flap (though you can request a magnetic snap instead), and the Franklin ($265), though the same size, differs in its smaller fastening options (choose either a brushed nickel tuck lock or antiqued brass turn lock). Both bags offer a 3” or 4” width if you prefer, though the standard is 2.25.”
Though this sexy satchel is intended to mitigate a man’s fear of over-the-shoulder bags, it will look great on working girls, too—just like these plaid beauties.
*Photo credit: F. Rock Bags
