Cyber Monday is the new big thing in retail bargain shopping and a day you don’t want to miss.  In participation with this post-Black-Friday event, Nimli is practically giving away silk scarves just to earn you as a new customer.  Don’t worry, just because they’re only $1 doesn’t mean they are unethical.  The scarves are actually

Fair Trade and made with genuine silk…but Nimli is eating the cost of them in an attempt to win you over as a new eco-customer.  Who can pass a deal like that up?

Visit Nimli on Monday, November 30th to snatch up your $1 scarves and any other eco-holiday gifts you happen to fall in love with.

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With an underwear expert on staff and Yves Behar on the team, mastermind of the Fuse Project a widely acclaimed  industrial design firm with products to its credit including One Laptop Per Child and the Jawbone headset,  PACT may have the product to back up its initial appeal.

A quick read of the web site reads like many start-ups - casual, fun, informative.  10% of each sales goes to non-profits.  And in a nod to the transparency indicative of the category, they tell you what they’ve figured out (just about everything) and what they haven’t (how to “recycle” the underwear when you’re done). They say there’s a video coming in September.  Watch for more revealing information on PACT underwear then.

image credit: PACT

“With Indigenous Designs, we haven’t created just a charity situation,” says co-founder Matt Reynolds.  “It’s about taking responsibility to better our communities.”

This Fourth of July, Indigenous Designs and Feelgood Style are giving you the opportunity to win a gorgeous piece of clothing, constructed from all natural and organic fibers and eco-friendly dyes!

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The list of new styles and materials in eco-friendly fashion from the promotional items industry continues to grow. Bodek & Rhodes has now introduced a sporty camp shirt made from Tencel.

Never heard of Tencel? Well neither had I. When asked, Bodek & Rhodes sent this statement on the material:

“Tencel is made from cellulose in wood pulp, which is harvested from tree-farmed trees. Cellulose is the natural polymer that makes up the living cells of all vegetation. The tree farms have been established on land unsuitable for food crops or grazing.  The fiber is produced via an advanced ‘closed loop’ solvent spinning process, with minimal impact on the environment and economical use of energy and water. The solvent used in the process is toxic but 99% is recovered and continually recycled.”

So these are shirts from trees? Interesting.

The specific shirt in question is the UltraClub Adult Short-Sleeve Tencel Pattern Camp Shirt. These 4.6 oz 100% Tencel shirts are very soft with a hex pattern in the weave. They also have an “enzyme-washed finish” for softness. The shirts are currently available in Blue, Ivory, and Black in sizes S-3XL.

As you can see from the image the shirts are a traditional camp cut, very relaxed, very casual but formal enough for uniforms or casual wear for ecopreneurists or their businesses. It is certainly a different look than the many polo cuts on the market.

These shirts EQP at around $33. For most promotional product distributors that price will include the standard 7,000 stitches of custom embroidery for name or logo. Like many of the other eco-friendly shirts on the market they are designed to compete against traditional top shelf apparel. The UltraClub Adult Short-Sleeve Tencel Pattern Camp Shirt certainly holds its own in this category.

To learn more about Tencel and the process of making it Marc Seiler is the ASI contact to talk to at Bodek & Rhodes. If you are interested in these items to promote your own business contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

If ecouture has its way, your home — and your closet — will soon be a lot greener. The San Francisco-based startup believes that consumers would buy far more eco-friendly clothing, gifts, baby products and décor if they could only find enough stylish and high-quality options.

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We have the best brand name in the business…Organically Grown…it speaks for itself. It is instantly understood by the consumer as to who we are, what we stand for and what we are offering.

We are proud to deliver a high quality product at a value to the consumer made from 100% organic cotton.  There is a direct connection between what we wear and the effect it has on our planet.

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Another reason for recognition is because the Product Manager, Sanda Nevjestic, is third runner-up as the Best Eco-Creative Men’s Fashion Designer in a recent poll contest conducted by Chíc Eco. Sanda happens to be very modest about this because varied street designers are the actual inspirations for Germany’s Social Fashion Company GmbH.

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This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of ProformaGreen, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy. John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry.

SanMar, one of the largest shirt manufacturers in the US, just got into the eco-friendly apparel game in a big way.

The SanMar green site at http://www.sanmar.com/Green.html boasts 27 items, many that are eco-friendly versions of their very popular Port Authority band.

Port Authority is normally ranked #1 or #2 in the promotional market industry for sales. It is the shirt most Proforma offices recommend to clients.

SanMar also is offering bamboo shirts but as yet does not seem to have a product to go up against the e.c.o. Fleece items from AshCity, however I suspect they will come out with something to compete in this area.

AshCity offers in-house embroidery services. SanMar does not (of course Proforma Green can embroider any item from any supplier).

What does all this mean for the Ecopreneurist?

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Long hours, an increasingly saturated playing field: it’s not always a walk in the park for young, green entrepreneurs. But Jack Short and Daniel Lyons make it look easy.

The dynamic, 20-something Missouri businessmen run Factory Green, where they roll out sexy and carbon neutral apparel, accessories, and housewares to college students, a demographic that isn’t too hot on green poster products like low-consumption washing machines or hybrid cars.

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Macy’s newest campaign called “Turn Over A New Leaf,” kicking off April 20 and running through April 27, is “designed to support, educate and inspire sustainability and eco-friendly practices in everyday life,” says the retailer.

This spells opportunity for eco-entrepreneurs. While organic food and natural cleaners have gained some mainstream appeal, as awareness of the benefits of natural living grows, consumers look to use organic and green products in all aspects of their life.

So where is the biggest opportunity? I see a couple of areas in which green entrepreneurs might focus.

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As a recently-established brand, they first focused
on making sweatshop-free t-shirts (printed with water-based inks), but
will soon be offering their popular styles on organic cotton,
furthering their commitment to bettering the planet. By signing up for
the company’s e-mail newsletter, you are entered into a monthly drawing to win a free Wisdom Tee.

WT’s
first three designs, sporting text statements, have been featured in a
wide variety of media outlets and still get oodles of attention.
"Buddha is my homeboy," "peacemaker," and "one planet, one karma" are
still available in the company’s online store, as well as four new
designs. Three of the new graphics available feature artistic images of
the most well-known social and spiritual legends: Mother Theresa, Dalai
Lama, and Ghandi.

Last but not least, the company’s first organic
cotton shirt for men and women displays a delicately simple list of
inspirational and centering words, no doubt representing the purity of
the organic cotton the tees are made of. Prices range from $28-$36 for
women’s t-shirts and $26-$34 for men’s styles. Ten percent of all money
made from purchases is donated to Kiva,
a non-profit website that loans money to small businesses in developing
countries, "helping the world’s working poor make an important step
towards economic independence."

"Whether you buy organic fruits and veggies, drive a hybrid car, or teach kids to recycle, our products are another way to celebrate your way of living. Little Green Star is about inspiring kids to learn about the world around us and to develop their own ideas on ways to care for the earth," says the company's website, where you can peruse and purchase items from their entire collection. Though the graphics are simple, they are also adorable, featuring statements like "My dad recycles more than your dad," "Water pollution makes me crabby," "Future geologist," "Growing up green," and a number of others.

On top of their swank designs, LGS' website also features a collection of links to green activities. "[We are] on a mission to provide families with unique educational resources that promote the exploration of nature and the interest in science. We have gathered some information for you, so have fun!" Special links are devoted to major metro areas, specifically San Francisco, LA, New York, Honolulu, Chicago, Atlanta, and Portland. Spending "quality time" with your kids doing sustainable and educational activities will empower them more than any eco-documentary could ever hope to, and these resources do a great job of getting the ideas flowing.

With affordability a consistent factor when clothing your kids, I'm happy to say that Little Green Star's line is quite accessible. Priced at $24 for any item, free shipping is provided on all orders shipped within the United States (extra bonus). Still unsure about ordering? Check out the many positive reviews for LGS on OrganicPicks.com.

Our mission is to maintain the essential nature of life by providing exceptional apparel that promotes healthy lifestyles while preserving the environment for future generations. We recognize the need to balance quality and eco-conscious living. This is why our company designs and manufactures stylish organic clothing using certified organic or eco-friendly fabrics and sources according to Fair Trade standards.

Using internationally certified organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp fabrics, the brand is well-known for its ecoKashmere collection. Made from a blend of bamboo, organic cotton, and a small percent of lycra, ecoKashmere is made into classic, diverse affordable wardrobe pieces for women, men, and babies. A monthly drawing is held through the website, giving everyone a chance to win their own piece of ecoKashmere. The Daffodil Line is a unique, limited edition organic cotton t-shirt for $29.95. When you buy one of these shirts, $10 will go to one of three non-profits (you choose which one) to fund the fight against cancer. Also available is a unique line of Eco Scrubs for medical workers, made from 100% organic cotton in calming colors.

Currently, the only items available for men are short- and long-sleeve shirts in a variety of colors, ranging in price from $17-32. The Sami Baby collection features some truly adorable items for newborns, including blankets, booties, hats, onesies , tees, pants, bath items, and more. The women's line is expansive, as expected, with a variety of top styles, as well as skirts, pants, dress, shorts, and tanks, with prices ranging from $9.99-52. All orders over $100 get free shipping, so feel free to splurge.

Chabah offers stylish, unique products for a surprisingly low price. We believe in making a fair profit, not exploiting consumers or our workers. Through such reasonable pricing, we encourage our customers to make multiple purchases - you receive more goods, and our workers receive more compensation for their efforts. The rustic fabrics such as hemp, woven grass, and sack cloth are locally made and have been used in daily life for centuries.

A number of special promotions are available on the company's website - if you are looking to update your shoe collection or buy gifts for friends, these are great deals. All shoes come in a small cotton bag, almost made under fair conditions in Northern Thailand, and all orders places in the US over $20 (over $40 for any other country) receive free shipping. The company's sizing guidelines are explained clearly as well, making it easy to order a comfortable fit in minutes. Yahoo! Shopping has over 80 reviews from customers, many with glowing testimonials.

Seven designs are available for women, but factoring in the heels, straps, and fabrics, over 40 unique choices are available. As with most brands, the options for men are fewer, but by no means less stylish. Each style is named after a character from Greek mythology, adding extra personality to these lightweight slides. All sandals are priced at an affordable rate of $20 per pair, making it all the more tempting to splurge on a few styles - at least you know your money is funding an honest business.

Working as a Chinese medicine practitioner and a roofing company founder, Natalia and Adam didn't have much experience with the clothing industry, but that didn't stop them from wanting to make a difference. "We differentiated our product just by being different, and that was enough. I experienced the pleasure of taking market share from well established outfits by doing nothing more complicated than trying to treat everyone the way I would want to be treated. And I began to wonder if this notion could have broader applications. Bienestar International is my answer to that question," says Adam, the company's President and CEO.

The concept behind the brand is quite simple: function as an open source, sweatshop free, union made apparel company.

We are the first - we think, the first of many - apparel maker to go open source. We will tell you about our sources, highlight them, show them off. The workers who make our clothes will have living wages and decent working conditions; they will have unions. Will that lead our competition to the same shops? Excellent. We want our sources to thrive. That's the whole point. Or a good part of it, anyway. The other part of open source apparel making is a challenge to our competitors: let them, too, reveal their sources. Let them suffer shame and loss of revenue for favoring sweatshops. Let them reap the rewards of choosing union shops and respecting workers rights.

The previous quote is taken from the company's website, serving as a perfect, direct explanation of the brand's goals and benefits to the industry as a whole. As expected, this open source model has garnered the brand a due amount of attention from the media, including the New York Times, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, NPR, and al Jazeera TV. Celebrity support has come from a number of unique sources as well, from a Nobel Peace Prize winner and Oscar winning screenwriter to a British folk singer, all of which are highlight on the company's "News" page.

So, what are the items really like? Wonderful, of course! Happy people make quality, long-lasting garments that you can appreciate. Though the company is only using a limited amount of sustainable fibers (read more about why here), your dollars do have an impact on the quality of life for their workers around the world. Also, 7.5% of the businesses' pretax profit is donated to anti-sweatshop organizations and union organizing funds in developing countries. Tess and tanks (both blank and with logos), hats, work apparel, sweats, athletic wear, and more are available for men, women, and children. The company's most popular item is their footwear collection, ranging from $40-55 a pair.

Sustainable underwear is a branch of the green style market that is still developing, but there are a few companies that have been around since before being green became "trendy." One of them is bgreen. Based in Southern California, bgreen has been family-owned for three generations. Before you worry about what your jeans or sweaters are made out of, start with the first thing you put on - undies.

"We strive for performance and endurance. Simply put, each of our garments is built to last. Our designs are simple and bold, yet soft and sexy. Our embellishments add a playful, curious and youthful feel to our garments. We support local communities, fair trade and environmental preservation. We exclusively use certified organic cotton and low-impact dyes to make our fabric. We believe our planet earth is the only home we have. It is everyone’s responsibility to contribute everything they can to protect and preserve our delicate planet for this generation and many more to come," says the company's website, which also provides images of their sweatshop-free California factory. Men's and women's intimatewear are the most popular of their creations, though bgreen is now also making activewear for both genders as well.

Within their intimates line, colors are very limited, with most items available in white, natural, and black. For men, they offer three styles of underwear: tank tops, crew neck and v-neck tees,pj shorts and pants, and a thermal top and pant. As one might expect, the women's line has more options, including nine styles of underwear (three with lace), a bra top, two camisoles (one with lace), tank top, sleep dress, two styles of lounge pants, two different length leggings (one with lace), short sleeve and long sleeve tees, and a thermal top and pant. Reasonable prices make it all the easier to start replacing your older, tattered undergarments with healthier, organic cotton versions. Men's and women's undies range from $9-$16, and basic tops and tanks run from $16-25. Within their athletic collection, prices are still within everyone's reach: pants range from $30-$52, and tops and jackets are $25-$57.

Via the company's wholesale page, you can request a list of local retail stores that carry their items. If you are a fan of shopping online, check out the bgreen items available at LotusOrganics.com and OrganicSelections.com (men and women).

Launched a few years ago, their organic cotton line began with only a few tops for men and women. Since then, 21 of their classic styles have become available in some of the softest and smoothest fabric around. Men, women, kids, babies, and even the family dog can get in on the organic cotton party with this brand. Oh yeah, there is one topic I haven't mentioned yet: how much does it cost?

Your wallet will smile and your closet will open its doors for American Apparel's more-than-affordable organic cotton line. The stylish dog tee that you see in the above picture is $14 and comes in six different sizes. For fellas that enjoy the classic t-shirt and jeans look or prefer to wear a shirt under their business attire, a 3-pack of t-shirts are $36. If you happen to be a briefs kind of guy (don't worry, we won't tell anyone), AA's organic men's briefs are on sale for only $8 a pair. Keeping those nasty chemicals away from babies is ever so important and easy to do with the infant short-sleeve one-piece for $14. Don't worry ladies, I personally own two of the short-sleeve tees with green thread and they are beyond cozy; at just $15 each, I'm pretty sure you can afford one, no matter your fashion budget.

Though the rest of the brand's offerings are sweatshop-free, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that their organic line continues to expand. At the 2006 San Francisco Green Festival this past November, AA had a sizeable booth, selling custom-dyed items from their organic cotton collection. What kind of dyes they used is beyond me, but no news on if they will be adding colors to their current eco-line.

Which green fashion brands would you like to know more about? What part of your wardrobe needs an eco makeover? Leave a comment and you'll help inspire my future posts. What can I say; I love to be interactive.

Image courtesy of American Apparel