Green Options

Tonight I am dreaming of resting under thousands of organic blossoms: sleeping (above) in a modern oasis of pure organic cotton linens, with chocolate blossoms, and soft fluffy pillows.

“This comforter is made from organic cotton fibers that haven’t been subjected to the pesticide spraying of which many farmers bear the repercussions. The EPA estimates that each year farmers in the U.S. suffer from as many as 300,000 acute illnesses caused by pesticide exposure.” ~ via Sprig

Also check out Linens ‘ n  Things : Pure Green Sanctuary Sky covers pictured here:

Check these organic cotton t-shirts designed by fashion designers Luella, Katharine Hamnett, Christian Lacroix, Betty Jackson, and Caramel for the Environmental Justice Foundation. All proceeds go to EJF’s work protecting the environment and defending human rights. These tops are so hot,

So there I was, looking through the HempTraders website.  Ah yes, I said to myself, they have all kinds of hemp and hemp blends.  Hemp knits, hemp stretch fabrics, hemp linen and muslin, hemp canvas, and even hemp / silk blends and satins.  They have hemp upholstery fabric too.

Some of the fabrics are as low as $7.25 per yard, some as high as $20, and as I’ve come to expect with hemp, I’m seeing mostly solid colors.  HempTraders has a wider variety of fabrics all in one place than some of the other online shops I’ve covered, and the photographs of the fabrics are exceedingly clear.

“But what’s a specialty weave?” I thought, and clicked on that link.

Now I am obsessed with the idea of sewing up little boy pajamas.

What do you get a kick out of in the fashion world? All who look at fashion as art sense an endocrine rush out of admiring a design they treasure. Some turned on by this, some that.

I confess that I get my kicks out of discovering “green” innovative design talent that I’m convinced has a bright future. Some friends tell me about their similar intuitions, such as predicting the fame of upcoming actors and actresses. Then others about musicians and singers. You get the idea.

The Eco-Ganik style is driven to “complement hip, carefree, eco-conscious lifestyles“. Shown here are a few examples from their upcoming collections. Each look is versatile and creative, yet, classic and comfortable.

They combine soft jersey basics, feminine tunics, dresses, fashion-forward knit and woven tops, as well as woven and knit bottoms. While collections are currently found nationwide at major retailers like Macy’s, Nortstrom, and Anthropologie, Eco-Ganik is a truly California based business that is all for US manufacturing. They also remain an active member of the Organic Trade Association, the Co-op America Business Network and OTA Fiber Council Committee. The Organic Trade Association is a membership based business association bringing together certifiers, growers, policy makers, manufacturers, shippers, processors, and retailers in North America and Mexico. The goal of the OTA is to promote the integrity of the organic standard in North America.

If you’re like me, you’ve been glued to your set watching Project Runway.  Why wouldn’t you be?  It’s a reality show where the contestants, though they may be obnoxious like other reality shows, actually showcase legitimate talent (well, mostly legitimate talent) by creating amazing garments under extreme time constraints.  Couple that with the snarky nature of at least a few contestants, the lovable Tim Gunn, the adorable Heidi Klum and a revolving door of fashion and celebrity guest judges, and you’ve got must-watch television every week. 

As the headline news continues to portray doom and gloom in the financial markets, there is nothing like sustainable fashion to brighten up your day. Brook There is an independent sustainable clothing line made entirely in Portland, Maine. Brand founder, Brook DeLorme, creates each piece personally with a variety of fabrics, including organic wool, soy, bamboo and organic cotton.

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:

Lauren Bush, niece to George W, granddaughter to George H.W. and former Tommy Hilfiger fashion model, announced last week that she will be debuting a ready-to-wear fashion line focusing on sustainable fabrics.  Dubbed Lauren Pierce, a connotation-free combination of her first and middle names, the line is tailored from hemp silk, bamboo, and organic cotton, and will hit stores next spring.

Inspired by Skye’s look back at all the Fabulous Fabrics she’s found in the past six months, I figured it was time to do the same with yarn.

The diversity of fiber that is available to use for spinning, knitting, crochet and a myriad of other purposes is quite heartening. The fact that so many eco-friendly yarns exist is simply amazing.

Many yarns come from animal fibers, while others are made from unusual materials that can be spun. I’ve found companies spinning yarn with big hearts and big companies finding it profitable to “go green.”

It seems almost impossible now a days to not have access to an eco-friendly yarn. So, after the jump, please enjoy this round up of Yearn Worthy Yarn.

Organic Yoga Pant ~ This comfy yoga pant is a must-have basic. Comfortable fit allows for great range of motion in any pose and straight legs offer flattering silhouette. 90% organic cotton/10% spandex. Low eco-impact dyes. Colors come in charcoal, black, chocolate or orchid.