Seeing the World Through Green-Colored Lenses

Date: October 31, 2007 | Category: Accessories, Fashion

One of our big plugs for bamboo, besides it’s sustainability, is the extreme durability of the grass. With a tensile strength superior to steel, it’s the strongest growing woody plant on Earth. Well, add flexibility to that, as evidenced by bamboo swaying in the wind (yet rarely breaking), and it seems we’ve come upon the perfect material for eyeglasses. We want them to form to our faces, but we don’t want them to snap when we accidentally sit on them. The new Amy Sacks bamboo eyewear collection by designer Ann Sacks will hit the market in the coming weeks, with two sophisticated frames offered in two colors each. Unfortunately, the Masa Mahogany and Masa Moss have acetate lenses, the plastic commonly found in eyewear, so our eco pick is definitely the two Takehs. Whether you’re looking for a pair of reading, sun or prescription glasses, you can enjoy this novel use of our bamboo bud. Pre-order a pair now from their site or be on the lookout at Saks Fifth Avenue.

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Fight For Your Right To Party…Right

Date: October 31, 2007 | Category: Events, Lifestyle

While Zem was in LA last week for the Environmental Media Association awards (EMAs), the rest of the the ecofab girls attended the 8th Annual Brower Youth Awards in San Francisco. The Earth Island Institute, an amazing organization that incubates a diverse array of environmental projects, dedicates these awards to its founder and eco-pioneer, David Brower. As a believer in equipping our youth with the knowledge to affect change, Brower’s message was not lost on this crowd. The six honorees, ranging in age from fourteen to twenty-three, have accomplished more in their years than most do in a lifetime, and the night was imbued with their fiery, ambitious energy. From sixteen-year-old Erica Fernandez, who helped mobilize her Latino community to resist a multinational billion-dollar corporation from routing a 36-inch pipeline through their neighborhoods (and won!), to twenty-three-year-old Jon Warrow, who developed and deployed the internet strategy behind Step It Up, an organization that coordinated the National Day of Climate Action and rallied 1400 communities nationwide to implore congress to cut carbon emissions (coming up again on November 3rd, so check it out!). Suffice it to say, their actions are inspiring, and their speeches were passionate, energized and optimistic. The night’s dance performances were equally so! Though this isn’t the sort of thing we normally post about on ecofabulous, we were so moved by these youth in action, we felt compelled to share this experience and thank these youngins for reigniting the fire under our asses. As David Brower said, “People have alleged that I have inspired many young people over the years, but I say that it was just the opposite.” In this case, they definitely had the upper hand. Check out their speeches online for a taste of the event’s oomph. And hats off to our beloved John Knox - one of the great forefathers of the environmental movement!

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Painting A Greener World

Date: October 29, 2007 | Category: Green Building

When a paint is marketed to pregnant women, parents of small children and people with allergies or asthma, it’s pretty safe to say you’ve struck eco-gold. After all, in considering the health of the planet, we invariably improve upon the health of humanity as well. An Arizona-based boutique color house is churning out handmade clay paints that are safe for everyone and everything at all times (as long as you don’t guzzle down a gallon). Using ancient Mayan pigments and a soy resin - among a disclosed  ingredient list that numbers under a dozen - Green Planet Paints provides a soft, silky clay finish in deep, complex colors. You can even create a smooth plaster finish by waxing the surface. Entirely free of Volatile Organic Compounds, these paints will smell only of soy, so you can be sure you aren’t degrading your Indoor Air Quality (or outdoor!). I’m breathing easier already.

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What Speesees Is Your Baby?

Date: October 29, 2007 | Category: Clothing, Kids

Using 100% organic sherpa cotton from Skal-certified yarn that is also Agreco Certified to ensure the knitting, dyeing, stitching and printing processes are green from top to bottom, there’s no need to resist the temptation to dress your little one up as a cuddly animal this winter (could even act as an easy eco-costume for Halloween). The Lamb Jacket from Speesees is pretty irresistible all on its own, but the company’s ethics are just as endearing. Members of the Organic Trade Association, Co-op America and engaged in fair-trade with India, Speesees makes sure not to taint our kid’s duds with any dirty practices (Next step: domestic production). And if lamb’s are a little wimpy for you, they’ve got a bear coat that’s wildly cute too.

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Atone for your Environmental Sins

Date: October 26, 2007 | Category: Lifestyle, Stores & Resources

Don’t get me wrong, thrashing jet-set celebrity eco preachers is sometimes warranted and provides an undeniable relief from our own self-deprecating behavior, but from time to time it’s important to step back and really recognize that nobody is perfect. I try to be ecologically-minded in as many areas as possible (and even set an example for my family and friends), but at the end of the day there are certain aspects like Indoor Air Quality and Green Design that I am steadfastly passionate about and some others that may unfortunately get overlooked. That doesn’t mean I’m not hyper aware of how every little thing I do affects the environment! This “green guilt” that results from the occasional slip-up finally has a constructive means of atonement - our newest outlet for purging our souls of their eco-mishaps - True Green Confessions. Let’s recognize our efforts by commiserating over the imperfections that make us human! It’s also a great way to see where our weaknesses lie and how to address them…so confessing your eco-sins might actually end up being a pretty eco-friendly practice. And maybe your favorite well-intentioned celebrities will follow suit.

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EcoTop of Its Game

Date: October 26, 2007 | Category: Green Building, The Home

EcoTop may be a brand new product, but it comes from a solid background of and dedication to designing bio-based composites from Klip Bio Technologies. They’ve been assessing, refining and redefining the eco surface for some ten years now (with it’s predecessor being PaperStone), and the culmination is the release of EcoTop. Composed of a 50/50 blend of our rapidly renewable friend, bamboo (FSC-certified), and recycled wood fiber salvaged from demolition sites, the materials are bound to one another with a water-based resin formula that has neither petroleum nor VOCs. A lot of work went into creating a resin system that is extremely durable, available in a color palette that ranges from Snow White to Jet Black (customizable) and is UV stable to prevent any fading. The longer bamboo fibers make EcoTop highly scratch- and stain-resistant with water absorption of less than 1%. Perfect for countertops, tabletops, floors and walls, EcoTop isn’t just rivaling other eco-friendly surfacing products, but it’s poised to match granite, engineered stone, Corian and the conventional likes in both form and function.

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A Fabric Frenzy of Innovation

Date: October 24, 2007 | Category: Lifestyle, Stores & Resources

Being the most widely used fiber, statistics regarding the conventional production of cotton are nothing short of shocking - suffice it to say it’s the most pesticide-intensive crop on the planet. That’s why it’s imperative to shop, not just organic fruits and veggies, but organic cotton too. Your eco-options for fabrics need not be limited to cotton alone, though. The market has expanded into greener territory with even some seemingly odd innovations, sometimes called “new organics.” Perhaps the most publicized has been Ingeo, a company that makes a fabric from corn. After fermenting the sugar from corn (much in the same way as yogurt) it’s transformed into polymers that create a durable yet biodegradable fiber. Check out their website for more info, to see where it’s being used and who’s supplying it. Tencel is the brand name for a type of fiber called lyocell that is produced from the cellulose of wood pulp. The process of creating lyocell has been heralded as environmentally friendly - garnering a European Union’s Environmental Award - as it’s manufactured in a closed loop of constantly recycled additives and minimal waste. It spins out totally white, so bleach is unnecessary. Plus, the fiber degrades in just eight days in waste treatment plants. A company called EcoSpun keeps three billion plastic bottles out of landfills each year by transforming them into a fleece-like fabric. Although the process is energy intensive, we commend their use of post-consumer materials. Another notable fabric making headway comes from the byproduct of soybean oil production. Called SPF for Soybean Protein Fiber, these amino acids are said to be as good for your skin as their ingestible counterparts. Bamboo pulp can also be converted into a naturally antibacterial fabric that wicks sweat away from the body and rivals hemp in its superior sustainability. But perhaps most bizarre is Seacell, made from a seaweed base. The company claims this Oeko-Tex certified fiber promotes activity and creates a sense of well-being. Sasawashi is another fabric purported to deliver health benefits such as improving circulation and healing inflammation. A blend of rice paper and kumazasa leaves grown in the highlands of Japan, it’s an ancient wisdom being put to good use. Lofty claims for mere fabrics, but given such ingenuity in the world of textiles, we’re tempted to broaden the scope of our wardrobes (though shopping vintage is always an environmental boon). Lastly, I’d like to say, watch out for wool. While it is an eco-friendlier option (when compared to cotton), wool is not always as natural as it seems to be. Commercially, wool is cleaned by a chemical carbonization process that essentially puts it through a toxic bath. Best to buy organic wool or get it from small, family operations.

To further explore innovations in green fabrics check out Treehugger’s Mini Directory of Green Fabrics

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The Runway and Beyond

Date: October 24, 2007 | Category: Fashion, Women

As reported, designers are striking the runways with eco style. From New York to LA (to green fashion weeks in Portland and Seattle), I thought I’d give a brief rundown of some of the best I’ve recently come across. But this is by no means an exhaustive list, so look for more to follow. Designers like Linda Loudermilk, Anna Cohen and Carol Young’s Undesigned label are true pioneers of high-end sustainable wear, and their collections seem to get more gorgeous (and innovative) every time I see them. A fresh face (and local bay area hipster), Kelly B offers a line of 90% organic cotton, 10% spandex bathing suits among her eco-chic womenswear line. If you have an event and need something truly special, consider having the talented Christina Hurvis customize something to your needs - that way you have a hand in every step. For more everyday attire, the list grows each season. Nau from Portland, Oregon and Bono’s line, Edun have great men’s lines in addition to their women’s. For denim, Del Forte and Loomstate use 100% organic cotton and have a range of styles. Loomstate also designs a line exclusively for Barneys. If it’s a solid set of basics you’re after, check out Sameunderneath’s bamboo/cotton blends and the organic line from C&C. Of course, sustainable style has not left the kiddies behind. Fig for babies comes from parent company, Twice-Shy for adults, and Bossy Baby makes fabulous outfits from organic cotton, hemp and recycled, vintage fabrics. Together, these designers are driving fashion down greener avenues; one we at ecofabulous expect to see grow.

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Shop ‘Til You Drop Your Guilt

Date: October 24, 2007 | Category: Fashion, Women

In keeping with the fashion spirit, we feel compelled to provide you with various places where you can actually pick up some of these ‘fits we’ve been raving about (though you can usually find links to stores from a designer’s site). San Francisco recently saw the launch of two chic boutiques: Wildlife Works and Eco Citizen. Wildlife Works, the store, is the depot for the larger organization that works to protect wilderness habitats, create jobs and build schools in rural communities in Africa. By sporting their tee-shirts you are practicing what they deem “Consumer Powered Conservation,” putting your dollars to work. If you are looking for something a little more sophisticated, stay tuned for Wildlife Work’s pret-a-porter ensembles that recently debuted at London’s fashion week. Or check out EcoCitizen, which carries many of the designers I’ve posted about - such as Edun, Kelly B. and Loyale. They strive for a high quality, fair trade and environmentally sound take on classic designs. Jumping across the country, New York City’s Lower East Side is home to some gems of green panache. Organic Avenue, aptly named, offers all things organic from fashion to food, catering to the “natural lifestylist.” They also have couches, so you can lounge and indulge in some of their raw chocolates while trying on a bamboo shirt and browsing their library of books. Nearby Kaight carries an impressive list of eco designers (some exclusively) and is decidedly hip: Linda Loudermilk, Undesigned by Carol Young and Lara Miller to name a few. For those who prefer to do their shopping online, Beklina and Coco Shoppe are two retailers who devote their sites to sustainable styles for women. For men, I’d check out Greenloop and BTC Elements, both members of 1% for the planet and devoted to earth-friendly goods. Mainstream chains are also latching on to green and offering some select organics (such as H&M and American Apparel). Voting with our dollars, it’s up to us to convince them sustainable is just that.

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Finally A Pacifier That Doesn’t Suck

Date: October 23, 2007 | Category: Care, Kids

Making their stateside debut, not only are these European pacifiers all natural, but they’re softer than their silicone-based counterparts. Free from all the nasty things you would never consciously put into your baby’s mouth, such as artificial colors, chemical softeners, parabens, PVC and phthalates (often found in conventional pacifiers), these are made from pure rubber tapped from the Hevea brasiliensi tree. They’re also molded in a single piece, eliminating any nooks and crannies where dirt and bacteria can fester, making them ultra safe for your child’s sensitive grin. Available exclusively online through Zoe b Organic, Natursutten’s helping new parents comfort our babies with a clear conscience.

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