Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

Vampire Weekend are Kombucha Lovers!

Members of Vampire Weekend with Buchi Kombucha founders in Asheville, NC.

I am totally in love with Vampire Weekend; from their adorable mod-dapper Ivy League style (they attended Columbia University when I was at grad school there) to their fun-fun-fun Afropop tunes, these guys turn plenty of musical conventions on their head.

Being totally 21st Century, they prefer to quaff healthy kombucha drinks from Asheville’s own Buchi Kombucha rather than go the rock-god route of drunken debauchery (or if they do, they use the fermented-awesomeness powers of kombucha to cure their hangovers). The naturally fizzy low-calorie drink boosts immunity, aids digestion, and balances the system, and can be flavored or added to other juices, though I find it to be way tasty on its own.

Buchi is made with organic tea and mountain spring water and is some yummy stuff, as the boy band found out when they were visiting Asheville this spring and had a chance to try the beverage. They liked it so much, they had some shipped back to their homes. Adorable, health-conscious and their music is perfect for working out to or for go-to party tunes…..

Vampire Weekend’s video for “Cousins” from their newest album, Contra.

Thanks to Craig McAnsh for the tip!

Artful Undergarments: Rio Wrenn’s R.A.W. Eco Lingerie Collection

Portland, Oregon based textile designer Rio Wrenn has a unique vision for lingerie, combining modern eco friendly materials and dying techniques, antique constructions and ethical manufacturing to create her line, R.A.W. “I started R.A.W. in 2007, which is inspired by vintage undergarments ranging from the 1800’s to the 1950’s to modern day,” says Rio. Her collection of corsets, bras and undies has a special look, and with the Summer and Autumn 2010 trend of exposed undergarments, she’s right on target with perfect base layers for style mavens and lingerie fans alike.

And not only is Rio a conscious creator of unique pieces, she’s an advocate for women’s bodies and all the curves that go with them, and explained that her corsets aren’t meant to be restrictive or to reshape a body (she’s a fan of hips especially). “Corsets are actually very therapeutic, they make you stand up straight! I think people have a bad vision of corsets, but I don’t make them to be oppressive, they should be comfortable and supportive,” she says.

Each piece in R.A.W.’s collection is also a work of art and are handmade in Portland. Rio is a visual artist, but found that fine art was often out of reach to many people; fashion is a way to take a creative project and make it more accessible, wearable and affordable, she says.
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Eco Fashion Makeover: Sex & the City, Sustainable Style!

SATC 2 Sustainable Style. The second Sex and the City Movie was a much anticipated style forecaster. Now, hot summer days are heating up the summer street scene and the cast of SATC was no exception!

Capture Kim Cattrall’s balanced sultry look with an organic bamboo and cotton blend dress from Jonano, vegan shoes from Cri de Coeur and handmade earrings from the human trafficking survivors in Vietnam. Traffic-stopping fashion never looked so good!

EcoSalon Shops in NYC Highlights Local and International Green Designers

EcoSalon Shops- New York City 2010 from EcoSalon on Vimeo.

Check out this great recap video by Greta Eagan!

I had a great time at the first Ecosalon Shops event at Greenspaces in NYC; hosted by Editor Sara Ost and her team of fantastic writers and contributors. Designers included: H. Fredriksson, Feral Childe, Ecowrist, Doucette Duvall, Cri de Coeur, Ryann, Mission Savvy, Feisty Elle, Lara Miller, NatureVsFuture, Rebecka Froberg, RESTORE, Tara St. James’ Study
T-Luxe Lingerie and Foundfuture. (See Ecosalon’s page on the event for links to them all.)

Treehugger fashion writer Emma Grady and friend, wearing vintage Chanel and Pucci, respectively.

Fiesty Elle was just one of the many accessory designers at the Ecosalon shops event; I bought a pair of their handmade boiled wool and bamboo earrings, similar to those below.

Fiesty Elle Earrings up close.

Eco Chick Editor Starre Vartan and Ecosalon Editor Sara Ost.

Top Seven Online Eco Boutiques

One of my favorite things to do while travelling around the world is to seek out the local eco boutique or sustainable store, as is inevitably includes a new designer I’m not yet familiar with and great local knowledge and resources.

Whether you live near one of these brick-n-mortar shops or live in the middle of nowhere (lucky you!), thanks to the internets, you too can dress in ethical style, even if the only one watching is you. Several of these stores are online-only, while some have ‘real life’ locations, but it hardly matters if you’re a savvy (and responsible) Web Citizen.

Kaight has New York City’s best curated selection of ethical and sustainable fashion, hands-down. I visit regularly, and not only do they carry some of the top eco labels out there, like Feral Childe and C. Marchuska, but there’s even a Melissa Plastic Dreams shoe pop-up shop within the store, so you’re always sure to find some cute kicks to go with your outfit.

Shift is the Hyannis, Cape Cod-based eco boutique owned by Amy DuFault, who runs her ship with a great eye and keen sense for detail, featuring designer-faves like Canada-based Frei and the easy to wear Kelly B. Amy is not only a sustainable fashion lover and purveyor, she is also the Fashion Editor at Ecosalon and is writing for an upcoming issue of CocoEco Magazine. 

LabelGazer offers eco friendly and fair trade clothing and accessories as well as those made through ’social enterprise’ which means that items have been produced through a direct partnership between the designers and the creators. From the tribal-motif Osei Duro bag to the Samantha Pleet Osborn ankle boot everything here is of-the-moment fabulous.

Envi Boutique is located in the best shopping district in the city of Boston – Newbury Street. And it’s pretty indistinguishable from the other gorgeous stores that line the historic road, except that it’s unabashedly green (that is, ALL clothes and accessories are eco-friendly). Callie Smith, who owns and chooses the contents of the store, has a great eye for easy, but fashion-forward labels and I found plenty to love on my last visit.

The Greenloop is online-only, and has a huge selection of all the most popular ecodesigners working today like EcoSkin and Lara Miller. Run by the multitalented Aysia Wright, who also blogs and is the mastermind behind Project Green Search, this store offers men’s and kid’s clothes too.

Juno and Jove has what must be the complete collection of Karla Collatto’s bathing suits and beachwear, as well as dresses by Stewart + Brown, Bahar Shahpar and Linda Loudermilk. Carrying men’s and home stuff (and pet accoutrements!) too, the boutique offers free shipping for orders over $250.

Beklina has a very closely edited selection of dresses, outerwear and separates, as well as accessories and bathing suits. Mostly smaller, high-end labels are represented here with faves like Mociun, John Patrick Organic, Mr. Larkin and Ashley Watson represented. Only the coolest of the cool prints and cuts are found here, but all are as sustainable as can be. 

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