Green Options » green fashion

Meet Eco-couturier Linda Loudermilk at Clary Sage Organics in San Francisco this October 22nd

Lucille Chi — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:29:52 +0000

What? Ms. Loudermilk will be at my favorite SF One Stop Eco Shop: Clary Sage Organics showcasing her lovely Fall and Holiday Collections!
When? 6-8pm on Thursday, October 22nd
Who? Linda Loudermilk, “Visionary couture and Eco-Designer, has been named by “W” Magazine as one of the top 20 innovators to watch. Coined as the “Vivienne Westwood of eco” by Elle Magazine.”

Check out these catwalk shots from Loudermilk fans.

Clary Sage says that Linda has spearheaded the creation of a new, luxury eco lifestyle, blowing old concepts of environmental living out of the water. Just look at these great examples.

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Can Ecouture Give Green Fashion More Style?

Jennifer Kho — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:00:18 +0000

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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Would You Consider This Sustainable Clothing?

Paul Smith — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:00:18 +0000

Writing for three green business blogs, I come across and write about my fair share of ideas. My greenwash filter is quick, swift, and merciless. And then you come across something like Wild Wool, and everything gets confused.

The front page has pleasing images of piles of soft, fuzzy fabric and clothing, made from what it describes as, “…a 100% natural fiber product made from 60% merino wool and 40% paihamu spun together to make a premium cashmere-like fabric that is softer, warmer, and lighter than plain wool.” Sounds good so far, right?

My eyebrow started to cock when I read a seemingly throwaway sentence, without a connecting justification for it: “Eco-friendly and practical - talk about a great way to reduce, reuse and recycle.”

Going to the Ecological Profile page to learn more, I was surprised to read what I can say is the most unique claim to being sustainable I’ve seen in a while - Basically, by killing them for their fur, they are helping restore ecological balance on New Zealand.

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Kelly Lane: Clothing with Color…and a Conscience

Terri Bly — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:46:56 +0000

Lately I’ve been spending way too much time at Eco-tique in St. Paul, MN. It’s a problem, because I can’t seem to leave this eco-friendly clothing and accessories shop without purchasing something way outside of my price range. Which right now includes anything more than about $7. Before the holidays, I decided I needed a new dress for the…um…one Christmas party I was planning to attend. What happened next was the acquisition of this funky, awesome, one-of-a-kind dress from Kelly Lane:

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Miss America Contestant Opts for Eco-Friendly Evening Wear

Shirley Siluk Gregory — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:08:59 +0000

Are there many things more anachronistic in the 21st Century U.S. than the Miss America Pageant? (Come on, even the term “Miss” sounds dated when applied to human females older than, say, 11.) Still, if the storied annual beauty pageant must continue, it might as well do so in a way that’s a bit more up to date.

And so it shall, at least for one contestant: Ashley Ruth Wheeler, aka Miss Vermont, is taking the pageant into modernity by choosing to wear a green — as in eco-friendly — gown. Her dress will not only be locally designed, but made with hemp, organic cotton, organic silk and recycled beads and lace.

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Expanding the Fashion EcoSphere: the eco-fashion compass points North for Vancouver Fashion Week

Gennefer Snowfield — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:36:59 +0000

While eco-fashion is becoming more mainstream with an increasing number of environmentally conscious designers serving up sustainable styles and earth-friendly frocks, the runways are typically reserved for regaling the glitz and glam of overly indulgent attire.

But this week, Vancouver turns the spotlight on sustainability with its first ever eco-focused fashion night, Friday, November 7th, 2008.

Vancouver Fashion Week, a hotbed of haute couture and leading west coast designers, is one of the premier purveyors of popular pageantry, unveiling some of the world’s most sought after styles and trends. This year, VFW is showing its support for the environment with a dedicated evening for designers to promote their leading edge sustainable artistry and eco-conscious craftmanship. From eco luxury, showcasing the art of organic handmade silk, to the unique beauty of recycled fabrics like cashmere and wool, an impressive range of techniques and designs will be featured.

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Q+A with EcoStiletto’s Amazingly EcoChic Rachel Sarnoff

Courtney Carlisle — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:41:30 +0000

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.

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How Organic Is Organic Apparel?

mcmilker — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 02:56:02 +0000

We have a number of loyal readers of this blog in the green apparel industry and its rapid growth is yielding rewards for ecopreneurs targeting the variety of consumers that I mentioned in my post, The 4 Green Fashion Consumers – Which One For You?

The Living Green consumer, who has embraced the whole concept of the environmental lifestyle

The Core Fashionista, “who is looking to build up the green in her fashion portfolio,”.

The Walking Green consumers, “driven by wanting to belong to a greater community. These are trend followers.”

The Spending Green profile, the shopper who buys green clothes because “that sense of exclusivity and entitlement are important to her.

The green fashion industry is exploding. More and more companies are entering the field every day and still, the consumers’ voracious appetitive for eco fashion seems to be not even close to be satiated.

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Eco Zen Boutique - Where Going Green Is The Fashion

Reenita Malhotra — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:27:32 +0000

I often think about how ‘feel good’ a one-stop shop online would be if it could really answer my call for style. Just imagine…..eco-friendly cosmetics, jewelery, clothing, all the things every girl looks for, under a single cyber roof. Folks I have good news: Eco Zen Boutique, a socially conscious, Arizona based green fashion boutique owned and operated by eco-preneur Tandy Stepp, has recently opened a new online store at ecozenboutique.com.

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Turk and Taylor’s Sweet, Soft, and Just Plain Cute New Green Fashion Looks for Fall

Lucille Chi — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:12:47 +0000

Gazing at the Turk and Taylor site I feel the comfort and softness in their gorgeous new fall collection. The following looks caught my eye:

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Coco’s Hot Shop Offers Sweet Styles We Love

Lucille Chi — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:35:05 +0000

Hop on over to Coco’s concept boutique “mingling the most coveted fashion and beauty care with sustainability and eco-consciousness. We provide a distinctive assortment of fashion, accessories and beauty products for the most discerning Fashionistas who care about how they look and their impact on our environment.” Here are a few designers we also reviewed over the summertime for example, Kelly B who’s adorable swim wear we love, has some sale items over at Coco’s:

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New Views on Green Fashion

Lucille Chi — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:21:52 +0000

The steps to take with your big green purse over at igogreen@ivillage are super. The overview encompasses the whole spectrum of how to tread lightly: buy less, read the label, support sustainable standards, look for third party verification, choose fewer ingredients, use less packaging, and buy local.
Ecostiletto has some great resources and news from the eco experts. Their definition of “Green” is to consider the word, not as label or a certification, but as a state of mind that means the product is created through environmentally and socially conscious means.
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A Beautiful Emergence of the New Green Fashion Week Stars

Lucille Chi — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:05:55 +0000

Very recently we shared the green kick off for NY Fashion Week with the opening event hosted by BeEcoChic, that in my view has BeEcoMe a fabulous place to read up on resources. For more fashion week updates, see stunning eco-collective EKO LAB (collection snapshots shown below)

which Inhabitat predicted would become the hottest in eco chic this fall together with collaborative ekovaruhuset. The beautiful lines emerged on the runways this week.

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For Your Little Monkey: Certified Organic Kee-Ka Baby Clothes

Jennifer Lance — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:22:47 +0000

My children have always reminded me of little monkeys. Maybe it is evolutionary or maybe it is my fondness of Curious George. When I discovered this Kee-Ka’s little organic monkey onesie sold by Manhattan Living Baby, I thought it would make the perfect gift for my new little cousin Avery. Avery is doing little monkey tricks earlier than most babes, and she will look adorable in this organic outfit.

Kee-Ka is named for the sweet babbling of babes, and the company is devoted to eco-chic apparel for little ones. Eco-chic translates to fair trade, fair wage, 100% certified organic, low impact dyes, social responsibility, charitable contributions, and ecological responsibility. Of course, babies don’t care about their fashionable onesies, but their bodies deserve only the purest organic fibers against their skin.

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New Eco-Fashion Mag Hits Newstands This Week

Stancie Wilson — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:02:15 +0000

I love flipping through Vogue, Lucky or Elle just as much as the next girl, but have longed for a green version. I’m so excited to learn about the new non-glossy Boho, one of the first fashion mags dedicated to eco-fashion, green decor, beauty, travel and lifestyle. It’s aimed at creative, free-spirited, independent women who love fashion and beauty, but also want to make the world a prettier place by giving back and going green. And it’s printed on 100% post consumer recycled, non-glossy paper with soy-based ink! So how do you you know if you’re a Boho girl?

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How to Make Green Fashion an Everyday Choice

Paul Smith — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:04:41 +0000

What do you do if you’re a marine biologist with an entrepreneurial streak who wants to indulge it by opening a business, but you want it to be part of the solution, rather than adding to the problem? Open an online eco fashion site, of course.

That’s what Adrian Desbarats, up in Prince Edward Island, on the far east edge of Canada, decided to do. Far from being yet another boutique green fashion site in an obscure location, Desbarats is about to launch a site with high ambitions: To make the buying of sustainable fashions an affordable, quick, painless experience, at great prices.

It’s easy to find expensive green fashion like Natalie Portman’s vegan shoe line and other such boutique items, or on the other side, hippy skewed hempwear. But what if you want fashion for the more everyday, that looks good, wears well, and is reasonably priced? This is where Fashion & Earth aims to fit.

Now the question that came to my mind is, isn’t there other sites out there that do just that? Desbarats was on the case, with a well thought out response:

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Global fashion or Global Warming consciousness?

Martha Soto — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 19:22:18 +0000

New t-shirt company Bangledox uses environmentally friendly materials in their clothing line

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

June 21st, 2007, Chicago, Ill
–With emerging standards in mind as well as combining cool styles, and
the company’s deep concern for the planet , Bangledox Clothing was
created.

Introducing Bangledox [ban'gel-dox] Clothing® , a new
Latino owned t-shirt company is helping set the standard while
incorporating environmentally safe materials such as organic cottons
and earth friendly inks and dyes in their clothing line.

Organic
clothing and green eco friendly fashion have entered mainstream
consumer consciousness with a slew of media attention, and for good
reason. Its great for the environment and it helps draw attention to a
very important topic.

After a humble start at local flea markets in St.Roberts,MO in 2003 the company decided to launch its first online store recently to the public.

The
company was determined to roll out a new t-shirt line that they could
be proud of and know that they were not harming the planet, as well as
help draw attention to a very important topic.

They feel they are achieving this.

The
new site will also have helpful tips on saving energy as well as other
useful environmental information that its visitors can use to help do
their part.

Bangledox is grounded in the concept that the
clothing industry and environment can co-exist, all of their clothing
is sweat-shop free and produced in U.S.

Bangledox.com

We’re more than just a Brand. We’re a movement. ®

Green Style How-To: Adorn Magazine’s Fall 2007 Issue

Victoria Everman — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:18:33 +0000

Even after the flood of publications covering green issues and eco-living around April, recycling is still newsworthy. Adorn, the "crafty girl’s guide to embellishing life," is the newest title from NYC’s Soho Publishing, which also publishes the ever-popular Vogue Knitting Magazine. Released quarterly, Adorn’s Fall 2007 issue proudly exclaims "We Love Recycling! Thrift Your Way to New Fashion." With second-hand shops by the dozens here in San Francisco, it’s easy to see why buying and customizing vintage finds is much more affordable and stylish than ever. Already pleased with fellow Soho Publishing title Knit.1’s green issue (which is still available on newsstands), I was eager to see Adorn’s take on how us crafty crusaders can help save our planet.

Published as the first editorial feature in the Fall issue, "Renew, Repurpose, Reuse, Redo, Refashion" features a smattering of stats related to crafting garments from second-hand finds, starting on page 48. Four projects set the stage, but only three of them are wardrobe-related. Also included is a pattern for an ottoman covered with thrifted sweaters, great for amping up a footstool you already have or a somewhat-sustainable but bland new piece from IKEA. My first look at the fashion projects made me a bit hesitant, thinking "would I ever really wear that?" Quickly, I reminded myself that I could use any color or texture of second-hand garments, making the projects all the more exciting to undertake.

Shown first, the pieced jumper is stylish all on its own, but could be easily customized to have a longer length, no pockets, sleeves, and more. The sampler scarf, featured second, doesn’t even need a pattern or directions to follow - simply cut up some sweaters and sew them together. Adding a vintage or hand-knit piece of costume jewelry would lend even more personality to this particular creation. The third and final project, the felted bolero, teaches us how to use small elements of nature, such as marbles, shells, river rocks, or hazelnuts, to create a spectacularly textured vest. Adding sleeves from another sweater, pockets, a zipper, or button closure would be as easy as spending a couple extra minutes in front of the sewing machine.

For those with a passion for chains and baubles, check out page 64’s jewelry making "Lost & Found" feature. Sent a collection of vintage and new materials, three indie jewelry designers use their one-of-a-kind tastes to create unique pieces on the cheap. Though the feature focuses on necklaces, this concept can easily be embraced with any sort of accessory you are looking to craft: rings, bracelets, earrings, brooches … etc.

These two articles are the particular ones that lend themselves to green style, but the rest of Adorn magazine’s Fall 2007 issue is more than worth a look for more ideas and inspirations on how to create great new items or customize and update the ones you already own (but haven’t worn in how long?).

Green Style Spotlight: Yoga, Tribe and Culture

Victoria Everman — Thu, 10 May 2007 12:34:47 +0000

Off the Mat, Into the WorldIn just the past 30 years, yoga has grown from being seen as a hippy-like hobby for bored housewives to a widely prescribed, physically and spiritually taxing experience that helps people of all background balance their lives. Embracing the specific yogic concept of ahimsa, or non-harming, Yoga, Tribe and Culture has created a clothing company that inspires others to use the 6,000-year-old knowledge of yoga in their daily interactions. Also in line with the same principle, the brand's items for men, women, and children are made from fair-trade, organic cotton. "Buying organically produced food and wearing organically produced clothing is the way of the future. As consumers, we have a tremendous amount of power to direct the future of our world. We have a choice regarding where we put our money and what kind of products we purchase. The right choices can positively affect our earth for generations to come."

The company was started only three years ago by Carmena Su and James Wvinner, who both shared a love of yoga, art, and fashion.

[Our] dream was to create a line of clothing and media products that was hip and authentic while using consciously sourced materials. Yoga, Tribe and Culture arose out of living in this day and age – to make sense of our identity consciously (or not) by the way we dress, what and who we listen to and where we devote our energy."

This passion for change has attracted some of the most well-known faces on modern day yoga to the brand, such as: Shiva Rea, Duncan Wong, Seane Corn, and the AcroYogis. YTC is also a major supported of YouthAIDS, a global, action-based initiative, working in more than 60 countries to educate and protect young people from HIV/AIDS. A limited edition women's tank top and men's t-shirt (featured in the image above) is available, which gives $10 of each shirt sold directly to YouthAIDS.

Yoga means Union – it is a worldwide spiritual and physical practice but you don’t have to have a yoga mat or go to a yoga class to practice yoga. Skaters, surfers, dancers, knitters, musicians, couch potatoes can all be great yogis. Our goal at Yoga, Tribe and Culture is to speak to the urban yogi, combining ancient yogic concepts and intentions with a strong, modern, bold design. Ideally a yogi is someone who is engaged with the world and who dedicates their practice to the betterment of others.

As previously mentioned, items for men, women, and children are available from the company's online store. Currently, there is only one design available for both babies and toddlers, for $30. Three different collections are available for women, mostly comprised of tank tops, but some long sleeve tops are available as well, with prices ranging from $40-42. Men have 3 collections available as well, ranging from $32-40. If you join the company's e-newsletter mailing list, you received 10% off your first order.

TV Review: Sundance Channel’s Big Ideas For A Small Planet - Wear Episode

Victoria Everman — Mon, 07 May 2007 12:47:22 +0000

Expressing the importance of eco-fashion to the general public is no easy task. The entire clothing industry is often seen as flagrant and a secondary part of life - something that we have to be a part of in our society, but many would rather do without.

For the fourth episode of their Big Ideas For A Small Planet series, the Sundance Channel takes on the challenging topic of dressing green. The first three episodes of this original documentary series have gotten a large amount of critical acclaim for bringing environmental issues to the millions of Americans who tune in. So far, the topics of fuel, building construction, and city development have been examined, offering up three different topic-specific ideas of how to enhance our lives and reduce our carbon footprint at the same time in each episode.

Premiering this Tuesday, May 8th at 9pm Eastern and Pacific, the Wear episode features commentary from Ali Hewson (Bono's wife and founder of Edun Clothing), Simran Sethi, Carson Kressley (the wonderfully flamboyant blond fashion guru from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy), and Graham Hill (founder of TreeHugger.com). I must admit that when I saw Carson come on screen, I was worried that the episode might end up being less than serious, but he had a unique point-of-view to add to the subject of green fashion, acting as a voice for the many that see style as an integral part of their life, just like eating or sleeping. Helping to show people that wearing sustainable fabrics has little, if anything, to do with tie-dye and hippies is one of the most important factors for the growing green fashion market, and this episode does a darn good job of getting that point across.

"Can we imagine a world that is both green and stylish?" was the question presented at the very beginning of the 25-minute documentary. Following this, three ideas are given to make this imagination a reality: organic fibers, recycled fabrics, and reusing fashion. While the concepts of recycling and reusing are much less polluting, I'm not surprised that new, sustainable fabrics were covered first. The underground craft movement has been growing to a mainstream level, but not enough so that taking the time to modify or reinvent items in your closet has become chic. Buying stylish, green clothing right off the rack is still the easiest and most timely option for the bulk of consumers. Linda Loudermilk, the main feature of the first segment, is a great representation of being chic and sustainable.

There is no denying that the market for green fashion is growing rapidly, and one of the first facts presented in this episode proves it: since 2000, manufacturer demand for organic cotton fiber has increased an estimated 93% per year. Loudermilk in particular has shown that looking good and doing good can go hand in hand seamlessly. "We're not going to get rid of the ego, so to use it in a positive way is what I decided I wanted to do [eight years ago]." The downside of her line is that it is out of reach for a large portion of consumers due to cost. No other green fashion brands are featured in this segment, adding to the myth that new, eco-style has to be expensive (which we all know is not true thanks to the many affordable brands I have featured here at Green Options during recent months).

Idea two focuses on recycled fabrics, particularly on the efforts of outdoor mega-brand Patagonia. The concept of being able to break down an old garment to its molecular level and spin new fabrics that are just as effective as its first life truly embrace the Cradle to Cradle process. "The Ecospun recycling process has the potential to keep more than 2.5 billion bottles and containers out of the world's landfills each year." Considering the fact that our culture is having a tough time learning to live without plastic bottles, this tidbit of information is all the more pertinent. Other brands have been taking this idea and running with it, openly accepting old, used garments to be recycled back into their supply chain, saving the company money and protecting the planet's resources. Something that is rarely considered when clothes shopping is the true cost of the items you are buying: not just the price tag, but the environmental, social, and shipping costs as well. Buying items made from organic, sustainable, recycled, or fair-trade materials often have these factors built into their retail price, helping your purchase speak for more than just your personal style.

Last but by no means least, idea three centers around reusing fashion. "We get bombarded by magazines, newspapers that tell us that we have to be in the trend and we have to get new clothes every year, but it's actually not true. I think people are tired of looking like everyone else," says LoriPetitti, organizer for one of over 40 Swap-O-Rama-Rama events in cities around the world. Adding personal creativity back into fashion is what reusing is all about. While some are content while blending in with the crowd, many individuals, especially those under 30, are striving to be unique by modifying and creating their own garments and accessories in a variety of styles. I can honestly say that at least 50% of my wardrobe is rarely worn, either due to size or change in personal taste. Embracing the concept of reusing fashion allows you to adjust a piece to your liking, or even overhaul itcompletely by, for example, turning a pair of jeans into a skirt or combining two different tops to create one. The only extra resources used in this process are thread and a little bit of electricity to run a sewing machine; everything else comes good old human power. While this idea may not be the first choice for those that fancy the stores of New York's Fifth Avenue, it is a wonderful money-saving option for the average American.

"One of the biggest problems about fashion is that it's a really disposable industry. We have marketers, retailers, designers - all working towards creating new styles for every season," states Simran Sethi towards the end of the program, and I couldn't agree more. In a broad sense, the deceiving concept of disposable living is the issue for all of the subjects covered within the Big Ideas For A Small Planet series so far. All of our resources, from fuel and building supplies to clothing fibers and community, are ever depleting and can not be guaranteed. While this episode only begins to scratch the surface of what sustainable options and brands exist within the fashion world, it is concise enough to help inspire people to continue to investigate what is available within their price range.

For more information about the Wear episode, including clips and air times, click here. If you do not have cable TV (like me), you can download the full episode after it airs via iTunes.

What did YOU think of the Wear documentary? After viewing the full episode, come back and leave a comment for us with your opinion and feedback.