Green Options

Angelina Jolie knows how to rock a steamy leather look, but can eco-conscious fashionistas do the same without abandoning principle? Absolutely! In this 3-part series, learn where to find ethical leather options and how to put them together to create a hot fall ensemble.

With autumn in full swing, I caught up with Deana Bracken, designer and owner of Green With Glamour, to get a take on this season’s eco-stylish trends.

Check out her top picks to get a read on what’s current..

The need to green up industry has never been more urgent. From rapid global warming to a disconcerting rise in a whole bevvy of nasty diseases, progress in technology and industry is trashing our little planet. In other words: it’s time to make some serious lifestyle changes, stat. In case you didn’t know (and I’ll admit - I had no idea until very recently), the textile industry is one of the most dangerous, most destructive, and most toxic industries in the world. The greater the demand for cheap, disposable fashion, the worse the situation becomes.

But don’t get glum, chum! Cleaning up your wardrobe doesn’t have to mean replacing your funky tops or flirty skirts with half a dozen beige t-shirts and drab, shapeless dresses. The proof - if you need it - can be found at Ecouterre, the new online magazine from Inhabitat founder Jill Farhrenbacher.

As a young girl, I was in love with Nancy Drew. Being inspired in sixth grade by Nancy’s sleuth skills I wrote my own mystery (starring myself) and called it, “The Mystery of the Purple Polka Dot Pajamas.” Lizz Wasserman, owner/designer of popomomo, herself inspired, created a fall fashion line with Miss Drew in mind. For some reason, and please correct me if I’m wrong, I think popomomo’s fall line will kick my sixth grade book’s buttocks.

Once upon a time, a young woman, oh let’s just call her Emily, was vintage shopping. She tried on garment after garment, in love with their colors, styles and worn appeal, yet nothing fit. She held handfuls of fabric behind her back, yanked hems up a couple inches, glared at long droopy sleeves and was saddened by puckered torsos. The girl, completely frustrated, left the store in a huff, dreaming of vintage items that couldn’t be bought.

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as finding that beautiful vintage item that no one else owns. However, it’s disappointing when it doesn’t fit quite right. Maybe it’s too long, the sleeves are too big or it’s shaped like a large square. Deborah Brosenne, owner of Taxi CDC, a.k.a. vintage re-constructor extraordinaire, excels in making vintage items new again by deconstructing and designing them into a perfect fit.

Not long after working for Eco-Tique, an eco-friendly fashion boutique in St. Paul, Minnesota, I began rummaging the internet for fantastic eco-friendly designers that struck my fancy. About a day or so into my search I came across She-Bible; my heart stopped. I had found my organic soul-mate. All of us ladies at Eco-Tique went a bit gaga for She-Bible and immediately began selling the spring garments at the store.

Since finding She-Bible I’ve had my eye on quite a few items, pining over them each day with or without drool running down my chin, a couple of them being The Faithfull Pantsuit and The Bandit Scarf. I’m pleased to announce, for my birthday, I purchased both these items and am overflowing with bliss. Everything I’ve bought from She-Bible (six items- I like to keep track of my She-Bible closet count) has exceeded my expectations, always modern, artistic, unique and inspiring. 

Necklush is quite possibly a gift from God made by the hands of two men, Stephano Diaz and Troy Mattison Hicks. The Necklush (patent pending) was created in Brooklyn, NY and was first sold on the streets of NYC. Now available on Etsy, Supermarket, online retailers, and the duo’s very own site it’s sure to win over any accessory addict, like myself.

Necklush can be worn by males or females all year round making it an essential eco-friendly accessory. Each scarf (print included) is handmade to order, use only non-toxic inks and many colors are available in organic cotton!

• Natural with any print
• Dusty Blue with any print
• Creamy White
• Black with Silver
• Brown with White
• Banana

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.