Eco Fashion Friday Featured Designer Alexandra Ferguson

Today’s Eco Fashion Friday feature is all about the fashions for the home. Alexandra Ferguson, a talented member of the EcoEtsy team, stitches up some seriously graphic, fun message pillows from her Westchester County, New York shop. But the coolest thing of all? The felt is made from water bottles!

With 268 sales since she opened shop in January of 2009, and a 100% positive seller rating, Alexandra Ferguson is a true home fashion contender! With so many funky designs and an array of colorways, there is sure to be a design or two to please even the most discerning of Interior Design fashionistas. Don’t worry, they are not all as blunt as the featured photo, I just happen to love that one!

Starting at $45 the pillows go up to around $120 and range in size from 12” x 12” up to 22” and some rectangular shapes in between. Although the price may seem out of reach for some, a really fun, well placed and punchy accessory such as this will add just the right flair to a room and definitely makes a better gift than a sweater!

Custom orders are accepted, as is PayPal and all major credit cards. Each pillow is created with the custom Alexandra Ferguson tag, the recycled water bottle felt, and has a zipper closure which makes for ease of cleaning either the cover or the pillow insert (poly fill).

Because this shop is so committed to making something longer lasting out of a once-disposable resource such as a plastic water bottle, and does it with such attention to detail and flair, I am granting Alexandra Ferguson a Three Leaf Rating!

Your creativity and talent shine through your love for the planet Alexandra Ferguson! ♥love♥

Eco Fashion Friday Catching Back UP with threadUP

Good morning all you fine fashionable folks in bloggyland! Another week has passed and it is hard to believe but we’re already back around to Eco Fashion Friday! I recently got word from my friends over at threadUP that the clothing exchange website for kids is open and ready to rock!

Hooray!

We profiled this company and their unique concept back in January. The company facilitates the exchange of gently worn clothing. This particular division works with kids clothing and although I don’t have any kids of my own, I know a few people who will benefit greatly from the advent of this awesome concept!

How does it work? Easily!

Parents get on the website, list a box of clothing (that their child has out grown) to send, then pick a box to receive from another parent. Done. Plain and simple. Just that easy!

Signing up is quick and membership is free. Oh yes, that’s right. All you pay for is the shipping cost to send the box then sit back and wait for new clothing to arrive for your own little one!

With the rate at which kids grow and outgrow clothing this is just a fantastic concept.

If you’re a parent short on time to shop, looking to get rid of some clothing out of your kid’s closet and want to replace it rather inexpensively then get over to

SIGN UP

And join Ryker in packing up a box of your own gently worn clothing for another kid to enjoy!

Thanks threadUP for pioneering such a time and money saving venture for so many parents out there! ♥love♥

Eco Fashion Friday is Back!

Good morning friends! It has been far too long since an eco fashion feature happened over here and because of that I’m planning to showcase a few today. I am not assigning leaf ratings to any of these shops today but please note they are all members of the fabulous Team EcoEtsy! Over the course of the next few weeks I plan to further investigate these fun, breathtaking, funky and cool shops and do true full features on each so stay tuned!

This men’s tee comes from HorisJapanBlue and utilizes natural indigo in a Shibori pattern to transform the natural cotton tee. A great one of a kind piece for the guys at $36.

Upcycling pieces from trashed men’s suits, this hip and funky Chase Handbag comes from mandinka. $120 is a steal for a one of a kind luxe bag. This is on my birthday wishlist, hint-hint Matt!

Water based ink and canvas make up this bucket for single sock storage. Seriously inklore, this could NOT be any cuter or more functional! Hard to believe its only $30.

This organic cotton sateen dress from windyhillfibers is perfect for the upcoming warmer months. Tie in front or back, wear with a jacket or not, the $95 price tag buys multiple looks.

A recycled denim cloche hat goes with anything, dress it up with a fancy ribbon or keep it casual with shorts in the summer. AnnyMay this is an adorable piece at only $30!

Eco Fashion Friday Feature thredUP Kids

One of the very reasons I have chosen not to have children is that those little buggers can sure be expensive haha! One item that will forever be a need and will definitely add up over time is clothing. How does a parent save money if there aren’t any hand me downs to procure from older relatives or friend’s kids? Or worse yet, what should a parent do with all of those clothes that their own child outgrew? They get on over to the thredUP Kids website, register and begin exchanging quality clothing in fabulous condition with parents all over the country that’s what!

What’s that you say? Exchange clothing with other parents? Why yes indeed and it could not be easier (or less expensive for the first 1,000 registrants!)

thredUP is a bold concept that has been working for adults for a little under a year now and was founded by three guys -- James Reinhart, Oliver Lubin and Chris Homer -- right here in the Boston, Massachusetts area. Surprised? I highly encourage everyone to check out their About Us section on the thredUP site to read the back story, its pretty funny.

So what does all this have to do with kids you might be asking?

Well the long and short of it all is that what has been working for adults is now something they are feeling out an interest in for kids as well and what is even cooler is that the first 1,000 members to register via this link will be allowed to exchange their first for free when the site launches in February! Score!

Not only upcycled, recycled, increase of the lifecycle and reused, but inexpensive too. Now how many parents could go for that? The really great news is that this service will be for boys and girls ranging in age from 0-12 so parents can begin exchanging as soon as their little one outgrows their very first size.

Obviously there are a few rules involved -- no stained or torn clothing allowed for starters -- and since this particular division is just in its own infancy stages there are more things to come but I can’t get over how cool a concept this is to exchange like new clothing that I think I might just sign myself up.

I especially recommend parents signing up that want to do their part not only for the planet but their own kid’s closet. Then sign up for yourself at the flagship site too. The only thing you have to lose is a pile of clothes you are bored with and the gain is a whole bunch of like new stuff you never had to set foot inside a mall to get.

Eco Fashion Friday Featured Website Rusty Zipper

Short and sweet today folks because its time to go get my Christmas on but I thought everyone could appreciate this website because they have taken Vintage to an excellent extreme! I highly suggest grabbing a warm cup of cocoa, some blue eye liner and a can of the strongest hairspray you can locate while you peruse through the selection of Christmas sweaters from the 1980’s. Oh yes, appliqués, fuzzy collars, plaid and huge gold buttons abound!

They don’t just have Christmas sweaters though, check out Rusty Zipper for all your Vintage shopping needs from men’s hippie clothes to women’s suits to sew it yourself patterns for both sexes and just about everything in between. Their prices are reasonable and the photos are clear enough to get a great idea of the item for sale. Their selection is wide and varied and I plan to spend a bit of time checking out the whole site tomorrow.

But for today…Enjoy your day and for those who are celebrating today along with me, Merry Christmas!

Eco Fashion Friday Feature: Baby Its COLD Outside!

Good morning readers! As I write this in my semi-warm home office (temp set at 64 during the day to conserve) it is only twenty two degrees outside. Of course with a thirteen mile per hour wind speed, what we call the wind chill, brings the temperature into single digits. Holy crow that’s cold!

New England in December tends to usually hover in the 30’s - 40’s during the day but this is extreme temperatures even for late winter like February. Brrr!

Because I write from home and do not want to crank the heat (so I can not only save those precious natural resources but a little bit of cash in my wallet as well), I thought it would be fitting to do a nice feature on some of the Green items that could keep me warm and toasty during extreme situations like this!

Fingerless gloves -- Nothing beats this item for a person who types all the time. They keep the majority of the hand warm while the fingers are still free to bang away on the keyboard. I found this pair from Etsy seller AnnyMay made out of renewable bamboo fiber. Very chic!

Shawl -- Again, something bulky like a blanket with sleeves is not always practical. Sure they are lovely while on the sofa relaxing but during the day when I just have a slight chill and want something warm on my shoulders I’d rather reach for this organic cotton shawl from Enuwbe. The piece can be used all year long -- use it as a belt around a sleeveless sundress in summer & when the temps drop at night it’s a cozy little shawl again.

Hat -- What was that statistic our moms used to tell us? Something about losing 40% of our body heat through our heads? Well I don’t know if the number was that high or not but when I wear a hat, I do feel warmer. This braided wool hat from quarks would certainly help retain the heat through use of natural fabrics, and the vintage flowers just give it a cutsie touch the UPS delivery man can appreciate.

Warm & cozy socks -- You can ask Matt, even when it is in the seventies out my hands, nose and feet are perpetually cold so its no surprise that I am drawn to wool booties. These versatile slipper socks are made by OfftheHooks and are constructed from what once was a sweater. They suggest wearing a pair of socks under them for added warmth. Now we’re talking!

Warm and comfy sweats -- I admit it, most of my indoor wardrobe consists of sweatpants and hoodies. Don’t put me on that TLC show though, it generally isn’t what I wear out. But these eco-fabric pants by branchhandmade in organic cotton/recycled poly/natural rayon are so cute I might be tempted to do so! Or maybe I’ll just wear them in my chair next to the window; since they’re available in black they can soak up all the passive solar rays of the sun.

How are you staying warm this winter?

Eco Fashion Friday Featured Designer The Hempest

This morning I was doing research into what this week’s Eco Fashion Friday feature could be so I put the question out to some friends and one simply said ‘Hemp clothing’. It occurred to me this is one area we haven’t covered very generously over here at GLR as primarily bamboo or organic cotton seems to be the fabric of choice for most eco conscious designers. So while researching clothing made from hemp I came across The Hempest and was so impressed I may just pick up some of their cozy looking fashions for gifts in the near future!

The Hempest, founded in 1995, provides environmentally sound fashion choices made from organic hemp for both men and women. In addition to their cool clothing they also provide a line of body care, accessories like purses and fedoras and even hiking shoes (not to mention books, hacky sacks, lip balm journals and other fun stuff)! For the more adventurous types they even sell their own spun yarn so you can make your very own hemp statements.

The one drawback of the clothing is that it is pretty pricey for the average consumer considering many of the pieces are hemp/cotton or hemp/bamboo blends. The sweater in the photo above is 45% cotton (not noted if it is organic) and listed at $98.00, the fedora at $45.00. Although it is important to point out the tensile strength of hemp fabric so these items are definitely going to last when they are cared for correctly, making it an overall great investment.

I like the colors and styles available as they resemble more mainstream fashions but make use of an unconventional material such as hemp. Additionally, other than the one brick & mortar location in Vermont, all three of their other locations are right here in Massachusetts! Because of their commitment to using rapidly renewable resources such as hemp, cotton and bamboo I am granting a Four Leaf Rating to The Hempest!

Nice job bringing this environmentally responsible fabric choice into the mainstream consciousness Hempest. You might just see me in your Harvard Square location one of these days!

Eco Fashion Friday Featured Designer Jonano

We gals love to feel enveloped in something luxurious, even women like me who tend to wear sweats and hoodies most of the time! There is something about pulling an all natural, fine fabric from our closet for those special occasions that can give us a feeling of total heart rush. Jonano is a company that recognizes how a lady likes to feel pampered every once in a while and they sent me one of their gorgeous silk and linen scarves to try out.

The weave is tight enough that even the sheerness of the fabric does not threaten the strength of the item. The fabric is soft and it drapes beautifully. I tried wearing it in a couple of ways -- over my head to protect my hair from the rain as well as around my neck. Here in the northeast United States it is vital to have a warm scarf all winter long. I was not disappointed, my neck was toasty warm but I didn’t need a super bulky item to ensure it.

As a supporter of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Bonnie Siefers created this scarf for the Daffodil Collection. 10% of all the proceeds go to support the cause. Nice!

I know that many of you might be thinking ‘but creating silk kills the silkworms’ and typically that would be true, however, Jonano uses peace silk in their garments which ensures the silkworm is unharmed in the creation of the fabric. Instead of creating one continuous silk thread by not allowing the creature to emerge from its cocoon as a moth, the moth emerges and the cocoon is then harvested to be spun into fiber instead.

The price for this scarf is somewhat beyond the reach of many women at a suggested retail of $69 but it is a well made item that will be a versatile piece meaning it will potentially get a lot of wear. The one thing I was put off by was that the fabric shed. I tried it on first with a white button down shirt, then the green shirt seen in the photo above, and the scarf left behind tons of pilled fibers. Sadly because I was asked to return the item to the company after testing it out I was unable to wash or dry clean it to see if it would eliminate the issue.

Overall I am impressed with the humanitarian efforts to support breast cancer research as well as the ethical treatments of the silkworms used to create this item and I am awarding a Three Leaf Rating to this chic scarf! (an array of cool fashion is available online, I highly suggest checking out the website for more!)

Thanks for proving that couture can be Green, Jonano! ♥love♥

Eco Fashion Friday Feature Organic Cotton is All the Rage in Band Tees

A couple weeks ago a bloggy friend of mine sent me the link to a sale going on in the tee shirt shop** of one of GLR’s favorite eco-conscious musicians, Jason Mraz. Back on October 10th, all tees in the shop were to be listed at $10; it was called the 10-10-10 sale. I decided to give a look as it had been a while since I had purchased a tee, least of all from this guy’s cool shop and what I found had me really excited!

This tee is made from 100% organic cotton, as are many in the online shop, but best of all it showed off Jason’s strong commitment to a healthy environment through the wind turbine and mountain graphic; something I would wear proudly about town. I placed my order right away.

When it arrived I was excited to try it out but as with all clothing I buy, it was washed first. The tag indicates “This EarthPositive shirt was manufactured solely using renewable green energy from wind and solar power.” Sweet!!

Flipping the tag over for washing instructions however I was slightly confused as it suggests to “save the climate wash cool - line dry”. It did not indicate that it should not go in a dryer, just that it was a suggestion for a more Earth friendly alternative. Since line drying is not possible in my apartment building, I opted to set the dryer on the lowest setting.

When the shirt came out I was definitely disappointed. It appears that the fabric pieces were not cut on the correct line of the weave and the side seams had turned about an inch and a half toward the front / back of the shirt (a semi bias cut). The neck and shoulder placement maintained alright and the graphic remained intact (I also always turn graphic tees inside out) but I was wholly disappointed by the shrinkage. Luckily I had snapped the photo prior to washing and I was happy to have only spent $10 on this tee (although shipping was almost as expensive at just under $8).

I will continue to wear this shirt but sadly it would never have fit as comfortably as it should have due to the fabric twisting incorrectly because of the cut, it is just more noticeable now after going through a low dryer. In the future, I will likely reserve my band tee purchases for after the show and will always remember to check the fabric weave for any signs of ill construction prior to purchasing!

** Please note all tees are temporarily sold out.

Eco Fashion Friday Halloween Costume Final Reveal

The final installment in the October Eco Fashion Friday Halloween Series is finally here! We have reviewed tips and tricks on how to have a more Earth conscious holiday from goodies to eat and give away, to ways we can create our own trick or treat bags from reusable canvas bags.

I promised one last tutorial on how I created one of my accessory items before I show the final look so here it is -- Legwarmers from an old sweater:

I bought an XL sweater at the Salvation Army Store, brought it home and laid it out flat on the floor.


With shears I cut off the sleeves along the main seam.

From the armpit angle I then cut straight across to create a tube from the lower portion of the sleeve.

I put them on with the widest part around my ankle so they would fit over my boots and the finished edge of the cuff was at my calf so they wouldn’t slip down. The main part of the sweater will be lined and then used to create a soft throw pillow (I’ll share that project later).

Any idea what I am going as?

Well I’m sure you have all figured it out by now but my outfit was inspired by Madonna’s Lucky Star video!

Here’s Madonna:

And here’s me:

I had such a blast creating this costume and going for that big hair, lace gloves and lots of layers look that Madonna made famous. Tomorrow night we will be attending a party and I can not wait to show off my costume. I opted for sleeves and not a mesh shirt because Boston can really be cold on Halloween night and I wanted to be comfortable all night long.

The only items that were purchased brand new were the jewelry pieces and the wig. Every single piece (except likely the wig) will be worn again (frequently) because separately they are all just great clothing items that fit well and are functional. But every once in a while I think it will be a little fun and toss on my 80’s revival outfit. Minus the big hair of course!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Eco Fashion Friday Halloween Costume Creation

In our continuing theme of creating as eco friendly a Halloween as possible this year, I promised to share some of my own tricks and treats when designing and building my very own costume.

Last week I shared a video for Fashion by David Bowie indicating that the decade it was released was a hint for what I was going to be this year. This week I will be sharing where I picked up the goods for my costume, photos of de and re construction of one of the items and a video of my pictures detailing how I put one of the pieces together in well under twenty minutes!

The photo above shows most of the pieces I will be using to create my costume. From left to right, top to bottom row:

1. Women’s XL sweater -- Salvation Army; will use scrap to make a pillow
2. Lace bottom leggings -- purchased retail, will reuse for workout after Halloween
3. Men’s 2XL neck -- Garment District (second hand shop in Boston); will use neck scrap as winter wind headband
4. Women’s S cotton ribbed tank -- Salvation Army; will use often after Halloween
5. Ruffle Large maternity shirt -- will use as a dress over leggings; Garment District (not to be used in Halloween costume after all, found a skirt that will work better and will also be reused as an everyday item after Halloween)
6. Bangle bracelets -- retail, Garment District, will reuse as fun jewelry
7. Hobo purse -- Garment District; will get a lot of use after Halloween!

First and foremost I must stress that I washed everything before working with any of it. With that said today I am going to share a quick video detailing how I turned #3 into a really cool slouch shirt.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

In the video I suggest using a zig-zag stitch to close up the neck opening if needed. Here is a little explanation -- turn the garment inside out, take the ruler and place one end at the neck center point while the other rests on the shoulder seam. Mark with chalk line and pin together. Zig-zag stitch along this line then cut off the excess fabric above the stitch. This will keep the slouching shape but close the neck opening if it is too wide.

Next week I will share a pictorial on creating costume accessories from #1 as well as the final finished outfit! Have you guessed what my costume is going to be yet?

Eco Fashion Friday Off to Shop and Create

Hey friends and fans, this week I am taking Eco-Fashion Friday off to work on a few things for my own home made Halloween costume.

Next week on Friday I will be posting the early stages of my home made elements. My costume is slated to be comprised of pieces which I intend to repurpose, upcycle or reuse in other ways after Halloween is over. With that in mind today will be spend plotting and planning the perfect costume functionality.

While I take some time to draft up a plan why not take a few minutes to listen to an oldie but goodie on our favorite Friday topic over here at GLR -- Fashion by David Bowie. Bear in mind the decade this song was released as a hint on what my costume will be…hahaha!



Come back next week to find out what my costume is!

Eco Fashion Friday Featured Designer Bamboo Couture

Pink ruffles, skin hugging fabric, dresses and undies. These articles rarely conjure up visions of the bamboo plant but the ultra mod company Bamboo Couture, based out of Los Angeles, California and run by Tanya Marie, is making their mark on the fashion industry by changing all of that!

These folks carry dresses, Capri pants, gloves, bloomers, bra tops and tank tops in their line. The current offerings could not be more feminine as the latest collection includes a flirty ruffle on every piece they sell.

In addition to organic bamboo, some of the other materials utilized in creating their funky fashions are organic cotton and low percentages of spandex. Embellishments tend to be sourced from recycled materials and they even claim to use as minimal (or recycled) packaging as possible for shipping. Speaking of, they will ship anywhere in the world!

As far as price is concerned they are surprisingly moderate for an eco-couture collection line but it is still a bit out of range for the everyday gal. Their most expensive item is the Dreamcatcher dress at $198 and prices go down to $32 for the gloves.

The available items are somewhat limited as most collection couture tends to be but each piece does come in a variety of sizes and colors which helps to somewhat expand the options.

With all of this in mind I am granting a Four Leaf Rating to Bamboo Couture!

Thanks for keeping an eye on the planet while still providing some seriously funky fashions Bamboo Couture! ♥love♥

Eco Fashion Friday In Keeping with Bicycles

Last week we talked about Peter Mulvey and his music tour, which he is completing by cycling 1100 miles. It got me thinking about the many accessories that come with a bicycle and how we can possibly create them ourselves.

Belts made from bike inner tubes have been featured here and I have even shared a video of an extreme biker, Danny MacAskill, who uses the urban jungle as his challenging obstacle course. To keep up the bike trend for Eco Fashion Friday, I turned once again to a favorite, Threadbanger, and discovered they have a killer tutorial video for how to make a cycle cap.

When the helmet comes off sometimes hair can be messy so what to do? Create a one of a kind cap that’s what! For those who like to keep the wind off their hair it is a nice item that can be created over and over making as many unique hats as you like. But be warned, this is not a beginner project.

Now go find your fabric and get started!

Eco Fashion Friday Featured Company the Andean Collection

The Andean Collection is a collaborative effort of jewelry designer Amanda Judge and the artisans who utilize sustainable materials from the jungles of South America to create one of a kind items that are simply, out of this world, cool.

This socially conscious company not only fairly compensates its artists for their work, but allows them to take part in a profit sharing program where they become part owners of the organization as well. Right on!

When my Classic Tagua bracelet in the color grape arrived in the mail my jaw literally hit the ground. Created from the harvested tagua nut (a renewable resource growing on the outside of the ivory-nut palm tree, not harvested until after it has fallen), I was immediately impressed with the durability of the beads. Because of the inherent strength of this material it can be carved and polished to achieve a beautiful sheen.

It takes dye remarkably well and comes in 13 colors (three are currently sold out). All dyes used are designed for use on textiles and are non-toxic as well as environmentally safe. In addition to this every last drop of material is utilized either as jewelry, feed for animals, as fertilizer or even as fuel in kiln style ovens.

These bracelets do double duty, not only does their sale provide income to the artists who create them but because they reside within the rainforest, selling these beads is a way to stop further razing of this precious resource as well.

In addition to the tagua, there are five other sustainable materials utilized in the Andean Collection - coconut, Açaí berries, huayruro seeds, jaboncillo seeds and Pambil seeds.

The best part of all? The bulk of the collection is well under $50. The tagua is only $18; well worth the cost! Similar synthetic versions would likely be more expensive and would not come close to the unique appearance of this naturally occurring material.

In addition to the materials, the company as a whole is striving to lower their carbon footprint by recycling, using recycled paper for marketing materials and tags, using energy efficient lighting and they will also continue Fair Trade practices.

With such a strong eye on providing not only a beautiful product, but an environmentally and socially conscious one as well, I am granting Andean Collection a Four Leaf Rating!

It is great to see a local company persevering in such a human friendly way, keep up the trend! ♥love♥

Eco Fashion Friday Featured Company Novica

This review of Novica is being completed on an Eco Fashion Friday because the item I acquired from the company is this beautiful hand stamped, hand made, batik dress called “Travel Dreams” (made in Indonesia by Mayda).

I have worn the dress a couple times and it is super comfortable. I have a short stature (5’-2”) and the dress fell right at my knee; the perfect length to not shorten me further! The cap sleeves and empire waist show off what I want and help hide the rest.

The cost was reasonable as well; at approximately $50 with a shipping cost of only $3 I was impressed by the quality for the cost comparison of a hand made piece.

In addition to the clothing line (men, women & kids!), Novica offers many, many, options of items for purchase from their Artisans such as Home Décor, Jewelry, Handbags, Fine Art paintings, Eco-Friendly Gifts and an entire line specifically dedicated to Corporate Gifts.

The Artisan who designed my dress, Mayda, lives in Bali and designs for Bali and Java, but the company helps to employ a wide range of Artisans in a wide range of geographic locations world wide from the Andes to West Africa. This socially conscious method allows the Artisan to sell directly through Novica, who also claims to be a Fair Trade company; each individual Artisan sets their own prices on their items. Cool!

I was concerned that the Eco-Friendly gifts were not better described as far as what their Earth friendly benefits actually were. There are two categories in this heading: Sustainable & Natural and Recycled & Reclaimed. Some were clearly obvious such as belts made from soda pop tops but others in the Recycled & Reclaimed category such as glass pitchers were not as readily describable.

Due to the overall socially conscious nature of this company, their effort to provide such a wide range of hand made products and their unique approach to doing so through Eco and Corporate Gifts, I am awarding Novica a Three Leaf Rating!

I am looking forward to shopping from your talented artisans again in the future, keep up the fantastic work Novica! ♥love♥

Eco Fashion Friday Featured Video from Threadbanger

If you have been reading Green Leaf for a while it is no secret I have fallen in love with Threadbanger. They have provided me with tons of inspiration to make simple yet adorable clothing out of recycled, upcycled and unconventional materials. This video is no exception to that rule!

In this video they share the secrets for creating a shirred dress. For those not in the sewing know, shirring is created with that elasticized thread and can frequently be found on the top of dresses (like the photo above taken from the video) or tops for the gals.

Now I have two dresses that must be created as soon as possible! I know just the fabric this one will be created from too, it will drape great and be a perfect little black summer dress!

Get creative with this if you sew -- make it longer, create a halter with wider straps, make spaghetti straps for both shoulders, criss-cross the straps in the back -- the opportunities are endless which means by using the same base pattern, we ladies could create an entire summer wardrobe of super cute dresses. I’m in!

Eco Fashion Friday Featured Designer Enuwbe

As a member of Team Eco Etsy it pleases me to locate and feature other team members who showcase their amazing work, so when I came across Enuwbe’s shop I was immediately impressed. Using only organic, sustainable and recycled or reused items throughout the shop, Jen states that she is attempting to toss absolutely nothing into a landfill. Nice!

Personally, I am a nut for comfy clothing - cotton, bamboo, any fabric that is soft and will move with my body - so to see that organic cotton is the number one material of choice here definitely draws me right in. Normally I need to touch an item but for some reason I can just tell how comfortable these clothes will be simply from a photo. It makes me want to curl up and drink some Yerba maté tea on a cool fall morning, come home from the beach all cozy and comfy, or cover up after a relaxing yoga class. Simple comfort.

Enuwbe has the right idea with shipping by utilizing recycled materials of all kinds from business cards to shipping boxes. When selecting the fabrics she uses, Jen does not simply see that it is organic cotton and grab a bolt, she researches the company for their own sustainability and consciousness prior to purchasing. Then she utilizes every last scrap of material she purchases by creating the item, using scraps for appliqués and the teeny pieces unusable for clothing she turns into stuffing for pet beds. Very cool.

My one and only concern is the cost of her items. Not to say that for the time and effort Jen puts into this shop and each hand made piece that the prices are not reasonable, they are, just for the average gal they are a touch high. Most tops hover in the $40 - $69 range, dresses and skirts from $65 - $95, pants $47 - $69 and her cuffs are $14 (they have a pocket too, sweet). There are also maternity clothes, shorts, accessories and one formal dress available in the shop.

With such a strong focus on the planet and sustainability I am awarding Enuwbe a Four Leaf Rating!

Keep up the amazing work Jen, I can not wait to test drive that hoodie pictured above!
♥love♥

Eco Fashion Friday Featured Designer Billabong

As a staple provider of a slew of athletic gear, Billabong is a company most surfers, snow and skateboarders are intimately familiar with. Well surfers can now feel even better about their impact on the planet as Billabong is now offering a recycled wet suit!

Created from 90% recycled polyester the material used to create these B9Platinum suits is sourced from old fishing nets (available in full style, men’s). The remaining 10% is textile created from flax which is said to provide an exceptional softness on the skin.

The suit comes standard with cool features like a hidden key pocket, a watertight neckline and seams placed specifically to ensure the surfer has total comfort and flexibly to glide on the water, not to mention a triple enhanced knee pad area (PFRE).

The cost for this item might seem a bit steep as they retail for $650 - $699 depending on the model purchased. The next full suit in Billabong’s line, the Platinum-X (also with the PFRE knee technology, comfort seam placement and hidden key pocket) also sells for $649 but is created using all new materials.

After completing an additional cost comparison at $389.99 for a similar style (men’s full suit) and a direct Eco competitor, Body Glove’s Eco2 (non petroleum based but not created from recycled materials), I was a little concerned with the cost of the Billabong suit at first.

The general information I seemed to receive through further research is that the old adage “you get what you pay for” happens to ring completely true. The general rule is that with additional cash outlay comes more flexibility in the suit. Very important for any surfer.

Due to all factors -- use of recycled materials, lack of a women’s version, added comfort, high upfront cost -- I am granting the B9Platinum a Three and a Half Leaf Rating!

As a leader in the world of comfort gear for surfers who find their waves in chillier waters I am fully impressed by this eye on the planet, keep up the innovation Billabong!
♥love♥

Eco Fashion Friday Featured Designer Zulugrass Jewelry

Recently I was introduced to an amazing product, Zulugrass jewelry, a part of the Leakey Collection. I was immediately impressed with the product as well as the company model and I figured it was high time for an accessory feature on Eco Fashion Friday!

The Leakey Collection offers employment to over 1200 Kenyan women and men, which helps to further support upwards of 10,000 people, so the utmost care is paid to the current lifestyle of the Massai peoples (they call the shots on if a work location is placed in the area). The company supports the communities as 5% of each purchase is given back in the forms of education, health and infrastructure.

The company also utilizes environmentally sustainable materials. The primary being naturally dyed, sun dried beads made out of local grass. Cool! Coordinating Czech glass accent beads give extra sparkle. They are water and sun-fade resistant, stretchy (one size fits all) and come in upwards of 150 different colors. Oh yeah, and the company boasts the elastic will wear up to six years worry free. Nice.

I tried two together, wrapped them around my wrist and put them to the test wearing them in the shower, rain and sun and they still look marvelous! I will likely wear them all summer, casually draped around my ankle.

The jewelry is showcased in shops and boutiques in over twenty countries internationally as well as in their online store and retails for around $3 - $11 per strand. Due to the humanitarian and philanthropic efforts, and considering each strand has upwards of 180, hand strung, Zulugrass and 40 plus glass beads, the cost is well within reason.

I am hard pressed to find anything not fantastic about this company or the jewelry as it is a simple, inexpensive design that is universal (dress up or down) and the efforts to support formerly failing communities go above and beyond amazing. With that said I am granting the Zulugrass jewelry line the prestigious Five Leaf Rating!

Keep up this amazing work promoting awesomeness, Leakey Collection, I am happy to be a part of it ♥love♥