Green Options

Terri Bly, president of The Nature of Beauty (www.natureofbeauty.com), raves about eco-friendly clothing line, HT Naturals.

In the past, when you’ve thought about helping the environment, things like recycling, using rechargeable batteries, cutting back on your power and water usage, and carpooling or bicycling to reduce pollution probably leapt to mind. 

I doubt that carrying a chic, designer bag topped your list. 

But with all of the eco-minded designers popping up, using alternative materials to craft high-end, contemporary creations worthy of a runway romp, you can do your part to save the planet, and look stylish doing it.

Here is a list of the must-have sleek and sustainable haute couture handbags available for the eco-savvy shopper:

In the short time since she has launched the haute green newsletter and site, EcoStiletto, which encourages all the ladies to stiletto-size their carbon footprint from an Ugg Boot to a tiny Manolo, Rachel Sarnoff has made a huge impact of her own.

I got a chance to get the scoop on her inspiration and objectives and couldn’t wait to share them with the FGS readers. Keep reading to hear about her Fashion Week eco-find and what gets her going to inspire other green fashion mavens.

One year after debuting their clothing collection for the eco-fashionista, Toggery founders have just launched LuxGreenLiving.com and will promote an easy-to-adapt eco-friendly lifestyle to her contemporary consumers. “With the explosion of the green movement, it is now possible to not only dress in organic fabrics, we can also apply organic and natural products to our skin (our largest organ!), and furnish our homes with organic and sustainable textiles as well,” says D’Arcy.  Beginning Fall 2009 lines from other organic designers and eco-friendly products will be offered as well. 

“LuxGreenLiving.com stemmed from the increasing consumer demands we have experienced with each new Toggery collection; our goal was to find a way to provide consumers with the best selection and to make it as easy as possible for them to purchase online. It then occurred to us to take it one step further and create a site that could become known for offering the best quality and style in all things organic. 

Dig ‘N’ Swap is a fun fashion trading game. D&S has the ultimate goal of lessening strain on natural resources by allowing a fashion item to go through several lives. Above is a black dress and a hot pink gown that may need altering but will definitely be an eye catching party dress given a new life! What a wonderful way to feel good about dressing up in glamorous fashion.

Dig ‘N’ Swap has a new solution

Conceived to raise the fashion industry’s collective ‘green’ conscience, Aveda are partnering with some of the hottest young designers in town and renowned editorial stylists to create an earth-friendly front-row, backstage and overall green fashion week environment. Rodarte, Phillip Lim, Preen and Alexander Wang are all participating in the innovative “Green Backstage” program.

Models, designers and media will all be offered emission-free transportation to and from the shows courtesy of Aveda branded petty cabs; organic & locally sourced food is being served to models, stylists, makeup artists and production crews backstage; all use of fur is being eliminated; show invitations and programs are being printed on post-consumer recycled paper; and they’re replacing all bottled water (400 p/show on average) with reusable SIGG bottles that will be filled with NYC tap water (which is actually some of the most pure in the US believe it or not).

Literally and figuratively, these are the Best Green Dresses Of Summer that can easily be integrated into an early Fall wardrobe as well.  Find out where you can snag one or all for yourself below (at great prices too):  

1. Perfectly Imperfect: “Cecielia” dress in Leaf.  This dress is so popular that every vendor whose carried it has sold out.  If it’s a must-have for you too, contact PI directly to find out if there is one out there that hasn’t been snatched up yet: www.pi-tees.com. 

2. deux fm: “Betty Long” dress in Teal.  Tencel/lycocell blend.  On Sale: Was $150/Now $75 at Kaight. 

Healthy Child Healthy World contributor, Stop Global Warming campaigner, breast cancer survivor, new single mom, and now fashion designer, Sheryl Crow is teaming up with Western Glove Works (aka Silver Jeans) to create casual eco-chic looks that are both eco-friendly and affordable. It comes as no surprise that this country-girl-at-heart will focus the line around denim, while integrating organic cotton and fair trade materials.

The collection is said to be vintage-inspired and will be named “Bootheel Trading Co. by Sheryl Crow”. No launch date has been announced, but rumor has it she’s flying to Australia this October to meet with her partners about the line.

Karen Stewart and Howard Brown, partners in life and work, call themselves “Organic Pioneers” because when they began in 2002 there wasn’t much demand for things like sustainable fabrics and eco-conscious style.  They decided to break out of the typical textile mold, had a vision for something greater and have undoubtedly been trailblazers in the industry. 

I was given an exclusive sneak peak of their Fall Collection which hits stores within the next couple weeks.  You can expect the same quality craftsmanship and romantic looks that are quintessential Stewart+Brown. 

Last week I had the opportunity to interview Howard Brown.  Check out the interview below…

Florida-based, Retroactif, re-purposes promotional banners to craft great looking handbags in a variety shapes and styles. From their sturdy Hobo shapes to their exceptionally useful messenger style bags, these great looking, vibrantly patterned bags make great purses, laptop totes, beach bags and grocery totes for the bold and fashionable.

Fashioned from street banners, billboards and wallscapes used at events and typically made with non-biodegradable materials to withstand wind and rain that [...]