Green Options

With bike weddings, bike parades, hundreds of naked bicyclists, bike fashion shows, popular & interesting cargo bikes, and travelling bike pubs, Portland is #3 on this great bicycle city photo tours list.

Portland has great bicycle facilities (colored bike lanes, bike boxes at intersections, great bike signs, off-road bicycle paths, etc.), a large number of people using the bicycle for transportation, and a bike culture that brings the fun of bicycling to another level.

As a result of these factors and more, Portland was the first large city in the US to achieve the Platinum level Bike Friendly award from the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) — the Platinum level being the highest level possible (above Gold, Silver and Bronze). It is truly a world-class bicycle city now, and the amazing photos in this photo tour help to show that.

Burning Torch has long been a pioneer in recycling clothing. Karyn has been buying up old cashmere sweaters, having them cleaned, sorted, cut up and re-sewn into new sweaters here in Los Angeles for many years. Over the years, she has expanded her recycled offerings to include army fatigues and even beaded antique gowns, to great effect. She also has some organic cotton pieces. One might think I’m biased because [...]

Emma, who helps run the Internet’s numero uno fashion recycling website, contacted me to ask if I could imagine opening my wardrobe and choosing from over 10 million outfits? Of course I replied with enthusiasm and she said “welcome to the future of Bigwardrobe.com.”

Emma explains that it’s like a small environmentally-friendly version of eBay. Yet the merchandise is strictly apparel with three categories of men, women, kids. Love the tailored coat offering pictured.

Okay, so, I feel sheepish. The last article I posted I claimed that American Apparel is not eco-friendly. To my delighted surprise, American Apparel carries an organic line called The Sustainable Edition. This is not new news, but well, it’s new to me. I love American Apparel, so I’m incredibly pleased to know that this huge well known company is slowly trying to make the switch to carry only organic clothing.

If you’re about to be engaged, the engagement ring and wedding band can offer an excellent opportunity for true positive social and environmental impact. Check out these reputable “green” jewelers to start your search.

A Place to Feel Eco-Fabulous

The  ecofabulous lounge at Opportunity Green was appointed with gorgeous sustainable furniture used throughout the conference space, and is a flawless manifestation of Opportunity Green’s commitment to design. I’ve been to a few sustainability-oriented conferences in my time, and this is the only one that celebrates sustainable design, and helps designers and clients alike to better understand sustainable design. It was so uplifting to see so much creative talent using sustainable principles to make gorgeous clothes and accessories.

The ecofabulous lounge is that chic yet welcoming boutique where you want to just hang out and be surrounded by gorgeousness. The lounge has a corner dedicated to Vie Bungalow, another corner for Arcona facials and product sampling, and the uber-eco PACT underwear, repping for the men, with his & hers boy-cut briefs.The Ekla sofas were gorgeous and seemed a great place to relax and chat with people.

If you are looking for beautiful eco-friendly earrings to wear for your wedding or for upcoming holiday parties, then look no further than Rebekah Green’s sustainable styles.

Rebekah Green has eco-elegant studs, leverback drops, dangling leverbacks, hoops, chandeliers, and even children’s earrings all made from 100% recycled 14K and 18K gold, along with fair trade gemstones and cubic zirconia.

Who is king on stinging nettle fabric? Well, Brennels claims to be the only company in the Netherlands to grow stinging nettles on a large scale. Driving forces are sustainability, fabric and fashion.

What’s new is the digestion process to produce lighter and more delicate nettle fibers to spin into fine yarns. The company has around 70 hectares of agricultural farmland in the north of the country dedicated to production with three years of extensive research under their belt.

The Dazzle Dry Nail Polish System is made for the “on the go lifestyle”. The really great thing about the quick drying Dazzle Dry Nail System is that it contains no harmful chemicals. It is free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, and camphor and is also nitrocellulose free (this is the stuff that turns your nails yellow).

The Dazzle Dry formula is also Vegan and Non-Toxic.

Last spring, my best friend got married. Three weeks before her blessed wedding day, a bachelorette party was held. Two days before that, I purchased an American Apparel black dress for the party. It was skin tight, short, and featured a scoop neck in the front as well as the back. I looked good. However…we all know, that American Apparel is NOT eco-friendly, but at this point in my life I was dang poor (being a bridesmaid does that to you) and decided to purchase a new garment at the last minute. So without apology, I tell you openly, I bought a cheap black sexy dress from American Apparel.

Yesterday, while searching on Etsy for “modern clothing” I fatefully came across mydearthing and instantly fell in love. Designer Lauren Jones definitely named her line well- her garments immediately became dear to me. Today, while searching “eco-friendly clothing” on Etsy, I came across mydearthing once again! To my surprise, mydearthing is eco-friendly (apparently I was absent minded yesterday and stared at the photos of the perfect frocks as opposed to reading the fabrics used!) Watch out American Apparel, Lauren has created the perfect organic double v-neck dress that puts my bachelorette piece to downright shame.

Rock Angelina Jolie’s leather look without the guilt by exploring eco-friendly alternatives and how to wear them with sophistication for a sexy fall ensemble.