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

Fall Eco Fashion Beats the Chill In Style with Keds, Loomstate and Eileen Fisher Organics!

It’s official. Fall is off to a cool start! The best part about fall is the chance to start anew: new initiatives (turn off that a.c. and switch to eco-bulbs), new motivations (make lunch), and new clothes! You want to look street smart even when it is cold and this new apparel is both warm and eco-chic.

The limited-edition eco-conscious Loomstate poncho!

Since there’s been a chill in the air, there’s never been a better time to sport a cute overlayer. But with the season not quite winter the hustle and bustle of a thick wool coat overwhelms. Eco-Chick has a solution! In mid- October Loomstate, a men’s and women’s eco-conscious brand, presents their limited edition poncho in celebration of Barney’s CO-OP’s 25^th Anniversary.

Pair the chic poncho with organic denim and prepare to be enviable!

The poncho is made from organic cotton canvas and recycled blankets. It’s cute brown and blue colors make it an essential wardrobe piece to pair with the cutest of cotton organic skinny jeans, for they go the best with the sneaks, like these from Eileen Fisher. Not only are these jeans made from cotton grown without pesticides, they are dyed (jean dyes are notoriously polluting) under the Global Organic Textile Standard. And if you’re not into this style, Eileen Fisher offers a whole line of organic denim on their site and in stores.

Made from non-polluting organic cotton canvas, these sneaks are eco-chic.

Sneakers are a must – whether you’re running around, walking home from work, or taking a stroll in a local pumpkin patch. Whatever you’re up to, cute comfortable sneakers are essential! Keds are superclassic and come in various colors – but this month they’re eco-chic too! Introducing Keds Organic Champions, chic footwear made from one-hundred percent organic cotton, stitched eyelets, and tea-stained laces. The sneakers are 55$ and can be purchased at www.keds.com. 

Don’t back down for the fall chill. Beat it. Sport this super cute outfit and be an eco-chick.
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Stylish (and Sustainable) Saturday: Two Eco Outfits for Guys

Guest Post by Brad at the fantastic guy’s ethical style blog, Commerce with a Conscience

Ed Note: I’m loving the site, Commerce with a Conscience, a guest post from which is featured below. Brad has a classic/cool sense of style and knows where to find the good stuff, as evidenced by his frequent postings. For all my guy readers, this one’s for you, and ladies, if you’re anything like me, you love borrowing from men’s closets, especially this season, when boyfriend jeans and the like are all over the style pages. Enjoy!

The items featured in the Stylish Saturday round-up run the eco / ethical gamut; some are organic, others Fair Trade and others simply expertly made in the US. Whether you’re at the Farmers Market, or out for a night on the town, you can still look good while doing good.

Night Out

A Suit That Fits Sportcoat. 100% wool, made in Nepal by workers paid 50% over the national average.

Culturata Check Shirt. 100% organic cotton, made in Italy.

Nudie Grim Tim Dry Dirt Organic Jeans. 100% organic cotton, natural indigo dye, made in Italy.

O’Connell’s Ribbon Belt. Nylon grosgrain, made in the USA.

Portland General Store Whiskey Cologne. Made in the USA from denatured alcohol, jojoba oil and natural (organic and non) essential oils.

Allen Edmonds Wing Tips. Made in USA, purchased 2nd-hand from eBay.

Farmers Market

Velour Ralph Shirt. 100% organic cotton, made in China.

ICU Eyewear Eco-Friendly Classic Sunglasses. Made in Taiwan from 100% recycled materials.

Howies Buckle Belt. 100% organic cotton, upcycled vegetable tanned leather remnant, made in China.

Knowledge Twisted Twill Chino Shorts. 100% organic cotton, made in the EU.

Glass Architect Recycled Mesh Tote. Repurposed billboard mesh, made in Seattle.

Autonomie Project Ethletic Sneakers. 100% organic cotton upper, FSC certified natural rubber sole, Fair Trade made in Pakistan.

To see more like this, check out Commerce with a Conscience.
To see the “In the Closet” feature on Brad at Ecouterre, check this page out.

People Won't Change for the Environment (on my campus)

A recent article outlines a pretty simplistic poll conducted in London about people’s willingness to change their behaviour for the good of the planet.

A straw poll of 15 British men and 15 British women between the ages of 25-75 in central London, showed all were willing to make small changes for the environment, such as recycling, but few would commit to more fundamental changes to behavior.

The outcome was pretty surprising. People will “try” to drive less, and others take a shot at proper recycling. But no one is ready for a change in their lifestyle. This inspired me. I was sure I could find better numbers and results here in Toronto, Canada. We are supposed to be eco-friendly up here, right?

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We Add Up

Last month I attended a green expo in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. It was fun and there were a lot of interesting people to share stories, peddle eco-wares, and wax prolific on everything organic, local, and carbon neutral. One of the booths at the event was We Add Up.

We Add Up has a sharp design aesthetic with modern T-shirts, totes, and recycled water bottles denoting the message that we do, indeed, add up. With a number on each item, a purchase actually adds one to the count of folks who have chosen to become, as founder Jill Palermo explains, “ambassadors of the environmental message – helping to spur conversation and educate others about climate change.”

One of the initiatives We Add Up has created is having school children sell their products, instead of Girl Scout Cookies or People Magazine. This has helped to get children involved, to feel they are a part of something productive and making a difference. Being the jaded, eco-savvy, anti-consumptive consumer that I am, my initial response upon seeing the shirts was “hmmm… been there, done that, got the T-shirt?”

Is this another way to spend money so people can quell environmental guilt and appear to be concerned or making a difference? According to Palermo, the founder, the company is working to put its money where its mouth is.

We just introduced three new T-shirts to our line, which were suggestions from the public – PLANT TREES, COMPOST and VEGAN. The PLANT TREES shirt is very special because we have joined forces with Sustainable Harvest International. With every purchase, SHI will plant 10 trees in the Central American rainforest. As you probably know, trees in the equatorial latitude are much more efficient at absorbing and sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere than trees in northern latitudes, making reforestation in Central America imperative to ending global warming.

WE ADD UP is a member of 1% for the Planet. We donate 1% of sales or 10% of profits, whichever is greater. In addition, the sale of the “Plant Trees” tee directly contributes to creating more carbon sinks, as 10 trees are planted for each purchase. As a taste of what is to come with WE ADD UP, we are currently working to create exciting partnerships for each of our tee actions. We are seeking non-profits who are leaders in developing solutions to the action the tee promotes. And, $3 from the sale of each shirt will be donated to that chosen non-profit.

I know that we are not going to change the world by simply buying organic hair conditioner and carrying a canvas bag to Whole Foods. I think it is important to be mindful of what we consume and to choose wisely, but truth be told, if we see what is happening, and the speed at which it is occuring, buying a “green” T-shirt is not going to have a massive impact.

However, what about the message We Add Up is trying to convey? Can we act as ambassadors for environmentalism? Isn’t it better to have children selling eco-friendly T’s that have a message and teach them about what is happening with regard to climate change, instead of sending them door to door with boxes of lousy commercial frankenfood chocolate bars?

Is it not productive to have people see the words “buy local” or “recycle” or “unplug?” When I see these words, even on someone’s T-shirt, it does remind me that whatever trivial issues are dominating in the moment are nothing compared to a bigger, more important cause that is always calling. Acting on behalf of the earth, on any level, can instigate thought, dialogue and change. We Add Up, in the words of Al Gore, “…is a tremendous marketing tool to promote the important message about climate change.”

Prairie Underground: Refined Sweatshirt Dressing for Fall

Starre Vartan and Arina Vikdorchik model matching Prairie Underground sweatshirt/dresses at Kaight. We BOTH ended up buying these organic cotton lovelies.

I’m very excited by Prairie Underground‘s Fall collection, which is absolutely packed with pieces you’ll definitely wear as soon as the temperature dips.

Organic cotton rules the line, with some hemp thrown in here and there. Details like extra-long cuffs (to pull over frigid fingers), zippers that go both ways, and ultraflattering lines make me happy. The sweatshirt/dress I bought above will work over a knee-length dress, jeans, or with thick tights and boots.

The line is designed by the lovely duo of sculptor Devora and merchandiser/designer Camilla who live in Seattle. Will be keeping my eye on this one!