Green Options

I do love recycled clothing. Because I am semi-crafty I can even make my own. For those who just don’t have the time (or the desire) to repurpose clothing, RE-DEWIN has the answer.

“Redewin garments are made from vintage recycled garments. REstore individuality. REvive character. REnew expression.”

All of Redewin’s clothing is made from previously loved (Ah-hem, VINTAGE) clothing which is pieced together to make something new. Our favorite is the patchwork dress pictured here. My three year old is jumping up and down saying, “I need that dress”.

In addition to the adorable children’s clothing, Redewin also carries many fashionable women’s items. Each item is unique and has only one size available, so you are sure to have a one of a kind! The prices are reasonable (of course, shopping second hand is always the lowest cost). Children’s items range from $18.99-$34.99, Women’s items are a bit pricier but look to be well worth the cost.

“Word to Your Mother” reads my son’s new organic t-shirt from Solid Threads, a company well known by t-shirt connoisseurs for their random, funny, vintage shirts.  Their new “Solid Threads To Live By” line features 100% organic cotton t-shirts and onesies for kids, as well as adult tees.  15% of profits are donated to environmental groups. With slogans like “I’m Not Trashy, I Recycle” and “Don’t Hate, Meditate”, who says eco-friendly clothes can’t be fun and deliver a message too?

Organic tees are popping up everywhere these days, but one distinction I look for in companies to see if their heart is really in it is social responsibility.  Solid Threads participates in “CommuniTEE Service“. How it works is Solid Threads chooses a charity, designs a custom organic t-shirt on their behalf, donates 50% of proceeds, and raises awareness.  “This is an exciting initiative that harnesses the power of the t-shirt medium and uses it to give back.” I never thought of the t-shirt as a medium, but I certainly notice interesting ones when I see them.  If you would like to nominate a charity for this CommuniTEE service, you can email brian@solidthreads.com with a brief description of the cause.

I am really excited about Kice Kice organic children’s clothing!  In fact, if I had an organic children’s clothing company, which is a secret dream of mine, I would want my line to be just like Kice Kice.  Kice Kice is a partnership between twin sisters Karen Kice and Lesley Nishigawara, and they created their distinctive line of children’s clothing after making clothes for Lesley’s daughter (another dream of mine).

I’m giving my niece the Kice Kice oval dress. This dress is made from 100% certified organic combed cotton jersey, and the oval pattern is printed using water-based pigments.The contrasting bright pink serged edge is a nice detail, and the fabric is light and soft. The bold pattern is subtle with the grey print, and this dress looks really comfortable to wear. I wish I could dress in Kice Kice clothing!

When I was a child, my family would search high and low for clothing that was unique and fashionable, which simply wasn’t available. Parents today have many opportunities to fashion their children in beautiful clothing. Zazou.eu is one such company, offering “Colorful, trendy, funny, retro, stylish and often sustainable.”

Do you know who the Zazou were? During World War II, the Zazou were a subculture in France comprised of young people that dressed garishly and danced wildly (hmmm…sounds like a subculture I was a part of in my youth). The Zazous were inspired by Jazz and Swing music. Of course, like any subculture, the Nazis and Fascists detested the Zazous and had a slogan, “Scalp the Zazous!”