Color To Dye For

Rubber band tied, hand tied, wax batik, warp resist, stitch resist and more...There are lots of ways to get the look of tie dye but all forms have one thing in common - some sort of resist is used.

Opening July, 31st - January 9th 2011 you can learn all about the history of tie dye at The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco’s de Young Museum, “To Dye For,”exhibit, features over 50 textiles and costumes from the Fine Arts Museums’ comprehensive collection of textiles from Africa, Asia and the Americas. “To Dye For" not only highlights the museum’s impressive permanent collection of textiles, but also shows how cultures across the world have used similar techniques for centuries with results that are sometimes similar, and at other times startlingly different.

Oscar de la Renta Trench coat, 2005. Silk; warp-faced plain weave, warp-resist dyeing (ikat). Photo courtesy de Young Museum.


The end result is a stunning array of textures, patterns and color that is not to be missed.

Felt rug, 15th - 17th century. Mongolia. Wool; felt, stencil-resist dyed. Photo courtesy de Young Museum.

Lunatic Art

Earlier this week I came across a wonderful jewelry designer on Etsy (where else) while I was searching for double finger rings. The accessories line is called Lunatic Art. I was immediately drawn to the natural, hammered look of the jewelry and their unique shapes and designs. The way in which the metal is shaped looks very artistic and organic, perfect for a more casual outfit, while also bringing some edginess to a very sophisticated look. There is a wide selection of earrings and rings all carrying the signature Lunatic Art style. Each piece looks very unique to the line and you would be hard pressed to find in a store. Some of my favorites are the Scratch Duo Ring and the Crop Circle Earrings.

Lunatic art’s founder has a very interesting tale. She started making jewelry throughout her travels as a means to survive and experience the world. Though she is mostly self taught, she also learned to make her jewelry by taking a silversmith course at the “Escuela de Artes Plasticas” in Taxco, Mexico. Currently she lives with her husband and son in Paris, France using her many experiences to create beautiful jewelry. She also works and creates in an art gallery funded by her husband called “Goutte de Terre” where the profits go to finance a project of an ONG working with water access problems. She also recently started selling another line of jewelry on Etsy called Dmetal. The Dmetal jewelry is slightly trendier with chain harnesses and arm jewelry. The pieces would be perfect with a simple dress for a night out on the town.

Lunatic art jewelry is all made from recycled silver. Each piece of jewelry is created with metals from a refiner who refrains from purchasing the metal from mines. The sterling silver she uses is also either recycled or refined in order to avoid new mining. All the pieces are unique, beautiful, and completely eco-friendly.

Private Red

"Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick."
— Gwyneth Paltrow

Duwop’s latest experiment Private Red, strives to be “each woman’s personal red.

Private Red is a “mood” lipstick that changes color once it is applied. The idea behind Private Red is that the lipstick will adjust to each woman’s own lip color and skin tone to create the perfect red lipstick. With conditioning ingredients, the lipstick goes on smooth and silky, and adjusting to you lips after five minutes. The red pigment stains the lips leaving a long lasting color of your own behind. Also, because the lipstick changes to suit the individual, each woman has her own shade of lipstick that can’t be duplicated or copied.

The lipstick has received rave reviews on websites like Buzzillions.com and Sephora.com. It’s also one of the top rated products at Urban Outfitters and Beauty.com. Many of the customers stay that the lip stick really does adjust to their skin tone providing the perfect crimson color. Others say that the long lasting color can be worn all day with only a few touch ups after meals.

Behind the Private Red, color-changing technology, are three all natural, eco-friendly ingredients. These key ingredients are annatto, hibiscus, and henna. Annatto provides the rich, deep red color, while the henna strengthens the pigment promising a long lasting finish. Other natural ingredients such as beeswax, castor oil, and Vitamin E condition and moisturize the lips keeping the red color vivid and new.

John Has A Good Sole Soul Sole!

"In 1882 Ida Clark, then 30 years old and single, decided it was time to leave Deadwood South Dakota. After many years in the business, "golden haired and ravishing" Ida caught the morning train and disappeared forever, leaving behind a legend of firehouse balls, suspicious murders, and a missing trunk full of money and stolen jewelry. Using soft dusty pastel leathers, or striped canvas with microfiber lining (vegan), on a 2.5" Fellowship-hi heel and tunite Bellevue sole, this ankle bootie is already legendary.*"

This is how John Fluevog describes his newest VEGGIE VOG creation. I admit to be a bit of a John F Groupie myself...but you must admit that this is pure sole genius! John sees himself as more than just a shoe designer,

"I'm an armchair philosopher, an artist and a style monger, my shoes and messages are quite simply a part of me."

Thanks, John! I do think you are AWSOME!
...and by the way, John is running a 10th annual John Fluevog thinks we are all AWSOME too SALE right now so check it out for all of your JF cravings.

Posh Polish

Its like “lip gloss for your nails,” says the creative director Nonie Crème. Jelly, the new line of sheer, glossy nail polishes by Butter London, is perfect for the summer months. True to their name the translucent polishes can be worn as a subtle pop of color or they can be layered for a darker tint. The tangerine, grape, and raspberry colors are bright and refreshing, each labeled with a cute British name like chuffed or twee. The Jelly polishes were designed so that you can chose the intensity or your own nail color. Also, the different colors can be layered over top of one another to create unique summer colors of your own.

What could make these adorable nail polishes even better? All Butter London nail polishes including the new Jelly brad are three-free. You might be wondering, as I was, what three free-means? There are three very toxic chemicals in most nail polish and treatments, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde, Toluene. These chemicals are harmful to the environment and the rival of any eco-friendly shopper. Many companies have recently tried to eradicate these chemicals from their polish formulas, some more successfully then others. Luckily, Butter London was one of the first to eliminate these chemicals and perfect their polishes.

Check out the new Jelly polishes as well as there existing line of polishes (which also come in beautiful, trendy colors) at Butter London!

They Call her Leather Girl

In her workshop she'll be humming away while hand working the one of a kind leather cuffs, bags and belts that Kayrene Kelley fashions in her Portland farm studio – all the while french press brewing away in her large country kitchen chock full of dogs of all shapes and sizes.




This setting is heaven on earth for the artist’s creative mind to emerge as evident in Kayrene’s latest creations.



Biker chic and Hippie hot? Why not! Any as Kayrene says, “If its not custom, why do you have it on?”

Kayrene chooses recycled and veggie tanned leather to fashion her lovelies and the the most vivid and beautiful turquoise one can find.

This leather and lace corset is a one of a kind to die for for any eco biker chic lady on the go.


We can't wait to see what is ahead for you Leather Girl!

Tecbor

While I was writing my last blog post about the Tecbor rubber, I became very skeptical of whether this process was truly eco-friendly. I have always been taught that producing rubber and plastic was one of the most harmful processes to the environment. If this technology is really "out there" why isn't being used all the time? So, I decided to do a little bit of research. This is what I found.

Tecbor is a new type of eco-friendly rubber made and produced in the Brazilian Amazon. The eco-friendly process of congealing the rubber without the harmful chemicals was first invented by Professor Floriano Pastore at the University of Brasilia Latex Laboratory. The key ingredient in this new technology is pyroligenous acid which is used to produce the rubber sheets. Before this technology the only way of coagulating the latex material was through acetic acid in combination with a substance derived from wood smoke. Also. this new process cuts the stages of grinding and rinsing, which in the past, used a large amount of water and electricity. The rubber tappers are able to dry the latex panels outside which saves a lot of energy.

Greenpeace, an environmentalist and peace associated organization, has collaborated with 40 rubber tapping families in the Jurua Valley, an extractive reserve in the amazon, to launch The Amazon Tecbor Project sponsored by the University of Brasilia, the National Council of Rubber Tappers, and the National Centre of Traditional Populations. Greenpeace chose this location for the pilot phase of the project because the region faces the threat of large scale logging operations. Greenpeace along with it's collaborators use this project as an example to prove that the rain forests can be economically useful while they're alive. The rubber produced during the first phase of this project was used by Greenpeace to produce completely eco-friendly mouse pads.

Using this process to produce rubber has also helped the small, native rubber tapping communities in the Amazon. The people of these communities have taken the technology and adapted it to their own practices in order to improve the rubber making process. The Brazilian rubber tappers are able to produce the rubber sheets on their own, eliminating the middlemen, which directly helps the residents of these communities.

Despite my initial skepticism, I have been completely converted after doing the research on Tecbor. It's a wonderful new technology that helps us use the rich resources of the rain forest without destroying it. Also, this technology helps the smaller communities rather then the large rubber producing companies. This research has also given me a new appreciation of Flavia Amadeu's rubber bracelets. She has found a way to make this new rubber stylish and fashionable.

Tecbor Tribal

One of the biggest trends to stride the runway this season was the "tribal" concept we so often see during the spring and summer. However, this spring's "tribal" styles had a new, hard-edge. Fierce models looking more like warriors, took on the runways with painted tattoos and armor style jewelry, providing the perfect inspiration for every summer wardrobe.

The perfect way to bring this trend into your wardrobe is with accessories. A chain mail bracelet or a spiky metal ring can be just the right amount of edge with a pretty summer dress. I was on the look-out last week for more accessories like these to toughen up some of my girly looks, when I found just the thing.

As I scanned countless pages on etsy, (with zealous I probably should have been directed towards the rest of my work), I came across an accessories designer that has a very new take on this popular spring trend. Flavia Amadeu, a member of etsy, sells amazing jewelry made from a rubber material produced in the rain forests of Brazil. The unique material, called Tecbor, is an eco-friendly rubber made with a new technology of coagulating the material with out the smoke acid chemicals used in making other rubber products.

Flavia Amadeu makes everything from bracelets to bookmarks with this interesting new eco-friendly material. The pieces I found most interesting were the "zig zag” and "rectangle" bracelets and arm bands. These bracelets are bold and tough with a tribal feel that’s perfect for the the summer trends. Also, because it's made from rubber the jewelry is comfortable and flexible and comes in vibrant summer colors. They would even be the perfect accessory to wear with a bathing suit at the pool or beach.

Check out Flavi Amadeu’s great pieces on etsy and bring the tribal trend into your wardrobe.

Bags With A Past

Like a proud mom, I set my favorite hand bag on the coffee shop counter. As I foraged threw my ole friend for some spare change for a morning joe, the very patient cashier complimented, "What a great vintage find!" Any compliment on a vintage find is usually a great start to my day, which would have been today, if I hadn't purchased my great, slouchy doctors bag last year, brand new. I could almost hear it whimper as I examined its well-loved shape beginning to crack and peal away. My favorite classic bag had become something of an old withering hag. I have never been one to replace an old friend with something new…..unless it is something really fabulous.

With upcycling on my mind from the latest ecoCouture post, I was searching the web for something new when I came across a great accessories line, Hoakon loves Helga. The Canadian designer, Andi Strand claims she’s, "obsessed with anything vintage", from her unique line name inspired by her grandparents to the her vintage-made-new bags. The Hoakon/Helga designer has a background in Fine Arts and Textiles and is also the editor and founder of online magazine, Antler Magazine. The magazine features different designers from all over the world who have the same flair for vintage and eco fashion. Antlermag is full of great editorials with vibrant fashion photography.

At Hoakon/Helga, Strand combines vintage and recycled materials to create chic, “new” eco friendly bags and clutches. For the designer's current collection, she hunts through thrift stores and vintage shops searching for vintage leather jackets that have been tossed aside as the base for her designs. She creates a variety of bags with similar styles and silhouettes; however, because of the nature of her design process, each bag is unique with its own identity. Each jacket has its own details which the designer tries to incorporate into her own bag designs. Strand says that she "strives to achieve a respect for the past and future using sustainable approaches." Each bag is one-of-a-kind with different colors and patterns as well as unique shapes and pocket styles. The bags and clutches range in price from $25 for a simple clutch to $129 for some of the larger more detailed bags.

While many of these eco friendly accessories might not be an option for the vegan customer, they are great for people who are trying to be cautious about their fashion impact on the environment. For those that don’t like the leather, Hoakon/Helga has a selection of bags made from recycled denim and other materials. Pair one of the “Furrow” totes from Hoakon/Helga with the Jonano “Bloom Puzzle” dress and you have a perfect, completely eco-friendly, day to night look.

I’m afraid I may have to give my sweet, old doctor’s bag a rest for a bit in exchange for something that was made to weather my busy days…and when a cashier commends my find I will thank her with a smile.

Runway Trend: Upcycling!

If the eco fashion lines had one thing in common with the rest of the conventional collections strutting runways this spring, it’s that they could be just as outrageous, glamorous, and fabulous as the best of them. Yes, organic and sustainable clothing is breaking through the image of baggy beige pants and “I Heart the Earth” t-shirts, reinventing itself into the multi-layered, far-reaching and diverse aesthetic that is necessary for this once pocketed trend to explode onto the mainstream. From JoAnn Berman’s fierce and feisty upcycled streetwear designs, to Deux FM’s and Gary Harvey’s Hollywood gala gowns, designers have accepted the challenge that is a more sustainable style and are running, waltzing, and breakdancing with it.



One very brightly colored and visable trend to grace the greener runways this season is working with upcycled materials. Dresses composed of copies of the Financial Times, beauty cream sample packages, old laundry bags (laundered themselves, we hope), and knotted souvenier scarves from around the world were transformed into red carpet ready gowns by designer Gary Harvey. Joann Berman took a different take on the trend, stitching everything from old t-shirts to brightly painted football shoulderpads together for an electric look ready for bold rockstars to rock them. Of course one of the great or unfortunate things about these upcylced pieces, is that each is one of a kind, its own unique work of art defined by the limitations of what the dumpster, or bargain bin at the Goodwill, or limits of your creativity, allows as fabric fodder.

Jonäno Lingerie Auction and Fashion Show for the Cure

Pittsburgh's Firehouse Lounge came alive with belly dancers, lady rappers and fine eco fashion and art at the Susan G Komen benefit party for the cure. A cornucopia of local talent, the night raised funds for the Komen Foundation, raised spirits of the survivors and supporters present, and raised glasses all around as part of Couchange's Drink for the Cure event.

Jonäno presented a fashion show showcasing some of the line's favorite classic pieces, such as the Convertible Bandeau Dress, alongside fresh blooming pieces from their 2010 Spring and Summer Collection. With amazing flower nymph inspired hair and makeup by innovative stylist Marta Anyse Napoleone, and a whimsical introduction by newly relocated rapper/storyteller Bamboo, the models helped highlight fashion that not only looks and feels amazing, but contributes to the healthier world we all work towards through Jonäno's sustainable growing practices and innovative textile production.

The show was capped off by an auction of three EcoLux lingerie looks in eye popping shades of raspberry, ocean aqua, and chartreuse, raising additional funds for the Komen Foundation, which works in the realm of breast cancer education, advocacy, and research. A favorite charity of designer Bonnie Siefers, who lost her mother to breast cancer at a young age, Jonäno raises additional money for breast cancer research year round through the sale of their Peace Silk and Linen Scarves available at www.jonano.com

Designer Spotlight: Hafsteinn Juliusson

Milano- It's green, it's fuzzy, it's ALIVE! Up and coming Icelandic designer Hafsteinn Juliusson's living jewelry incorporates growing moss into sleek, streamlined stainless steel rings and necklaces. Described as designed for the metropolitan among us, Juliusson's Growing Jewlery is a self described "experiment in drawing nature toward man, as nature being the presupposition of life."


As a designer with no claimed specific focus,
Juliusson's projects have a common
thread of simple subjects and fun outcomes.

One of my other favorite projects of his, "Ride it to Light", incorporates community, bikes, and light into one underscored ecological message that is both participatory and relevant to the streets of Milan. Head over to http://www.hafsteinnjuliusson.com/ to see more of Juliusson's innovative creations.

The Story of Stuff

Please watch this video...
The Story of Stuff

Earth Day is April 22nd. You can give some love to Mother Earth by changing simple things in your daily routine. Instead of trashing all of the stuff you no longer want take a moment to see if any of it can be recycled. Unplug your cell phone chargers. They use just as much energy dangling from the outlet as they do filling up your battery. Turn off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth. Most importantly educate yourself. Simply knowing the damage you are doing to the earth and yourself will make you think twice about your shampoo, dish detergent, the lettuce you ate for lunch...


Show how much you care this Earth Day and everyday.

Please watch this video
http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Seventh Generation's New Eco Campaign

Seventh Generation, a maker of eco-friendly household products, is promoting a campaign in Washington called "The Million Baby Crawl". The goal of "The Million Baby Crawl" is to demand toxic chemical policy reform from Congress. Since 1976, the Environmental Protection Agency has only required safety testing on 200 of 80,000 products. Seventh Generation allows users to become active via their website and create a "crawler" to simulate a signature on a petition. Seventh Generation claims to have no partisan involvement, and anyone can get involved!

Jonäno merges eco with chic cosmopolitan at NY Fashion Week

Jonäno debuted their first collection in collaboration with award-winning Design Director, Henry N Jackson, at New York Fashion Week this season. Jonäno’s signature eco fabrics and attention to sustainable and ethical practices combined with Mr. Jackson’s eye for sophisticated yet feminine design came together beautifully in a fall collection comprising signature ecoKashmere® knits and viscose from bamboo cocktail dresses, hemp denim and organic cotton herringbone ensembles in a collection that was inspired by the culture rich city of Vienna. M A Orito, Artist and Crafts person designed the jewelry pieces that accompanied the looks on the catwalk. Tones of heather gray mélange combined with mauve and pops of deep red rich indigo, complimenting the neutral palate Fashion Week goers saw at shows across the city.

Mr. Jackson yields from the world of couture and high fashion, dressing celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry, and Whoopi Goldberg for the red carpet in his designs. Coming on board with Jonäno as Design Director represents a new project for Jackson, resulting in a ready to wear line that all involved hope will “take green mainstream.”

Orgnx Haircare

I have used many a hair product that claims to be organic yet leaves my hair falling flat. However, on a recent shopping trip I discovered a FANTASTIC organic product that lives up to its eco-claims and works great! Orgnx by LaCoupe is a wonderful organic product that's also afforable (around $5.00 a bottle). LaCoupe believes what you don't put into a product can be as important as what you put into it, so Orgnx is sulfate-free, paraben-free and DEA-free. Orgnx has been salon-tested and approved, and is always cruelty-free. Each Orgnx product focuses on a different hair care challenge common to modern life. There's an Orgnx regimen for every hair type.

Emma Watson Teams With People Tree

Yep, that is Hermione from the Harry Potter movies. All grown up, Emma Watson along with People Tree has developed a fresh new line of fair trade fashion made with 100% certified organic cotton. Using slow fashion, made by hand knitting, hand embroidery and hand weaving in fair trade factories 'Love From Emma' creates livelihoods for disadvantaged people in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Launching in February 2010 the new line includes jersey t-shirts, dresses, knitwear, woven skirts and pants for both men and women. Also, Emma included hand embroidered bed throws, recycled sweetie paper jewellery, banana fibre slouchy beanies and head scarves. The new line's bohemian style frames the outline for caring what you wear. We are all becoming increasingly aware of the importance of conscious choices. 'Love From Emma' provides an alternative to fast fashion and a huge nod to personal style.

Eco Nail Care

Keeping beautiful nails while maintaining an eco-conscious lifestyle can be tricky. Many nail polishes contain harsh chemicals and artificial ingredients like formaldehyde and smell noxious right when you open the bottle. Zoya nailcare offers a solution! Zoya nail polishes are formaldehyde, toluene, camphor, and DPB free. They're even safe enough to use during pregnancy! Zoya products nourish the nail instead of depleting it of moisture. Zoya has its own line of polish removers that are free from harsh chemicals and are also safe for moms-to-be!

The Green Lifestyle Guide!

How many times have you been going about your normal daily activities and wondered about your effect on the environment? The Green Book by Thomas M. Kostigen is a handy little guide that offers eco-conscious alternatives for everyday activities. Each section is broken down by by categories according to the activity. This book takes a holistic approach to suggesting environmentally sustainable practices regarding the purchases we make, the food we eat, the money we invest, and the vacations we take. The writers of this book present green living in an easy-to-read and easy-to-live format. It CAN be easy to be green.

Fashion Forward: Helping Haiti Relief and Eco Efforts

By now we've all seen the pictures of the destruction caused by this week's massive earthquake in Haiti. While fashion, ethical or otherwise, may be the last thing the mind conjures when faced with images like this, there are a handful of designers, boutiques, and creative houses putting their efforts towards doing what they can to act in solidarity with the relief efforts now underway. So, if you were already planning on purchasing something stylish this weekend, take a look at a few of these platforms for sustainable style that are donating a portion of your purchase towards help for Haiti.

Fashion Philanthropy has just extended their deadline for donating 100% of profits or 50% of revenue (whatever is greater) from purchases at their eco chic site. Donations will go to Hope for Haiti.

Resurrection Vintage is putting 10% of all sale purchases towards the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund from their online site, NY and LA boutiques. The sale takes 70% off vintage finds and lasts through January 31st. Resurrection specializes in vintage and "historic modern" collectible fashion, with many unique pieces for the vintage vixen in us all.

In the same vintage vein: Rice and Beans is donating 10 dollars from every purchase through this January 17th to the Red Cross efforts in Haiti. In the spirit of rebirth, I think this cheery Adrienne Vittadini skirt is fabulous, and at $50 it's not a bad deal.


Soles4Souls has set up collection points for gently used shoe drop-offs all over the US. With all the broken glass, raw sewage, jagged metal and other rubble exposed after an earthquake, a good pair of shoes can make a world of difference. You can donate money online to their cause or click here to find a drop off point for your own shoes in your area.

Of course the most direct way to donate is to give money directly, but be sure to check out one of the charity watchdogs out there to be sure you know what you're contributing to. One of the most popular and credible sites currently is Charity Navigator, which has a wonderful post on things to consider before giving to make the most change with your change.

Any more suggestions to share, please do!