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

Handmade Hair Accessories Trend: Matching Themed Pins

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by Starre Vartan · 12/09/11

I have had long hair since I was a little girl; and on those days when it looks pretty flowing down my back, I am joyous. But those days are few and far between, and the rest of the time, I wear my hair in a bun or updo on top of my head. Whatever way I wear my hair, I love to keep pretty little hair clips or pins in there somewhere; there’s a lot of it and I need to control it a bit even when it’s down. Recently, I lost my last few fave accessories (they always disappear eventually, a fact you just have to accept) and so I thought Etsy might be a good place to find some uncheesy new ones. And I found several matching themed bobby pins, which I thought were really sweet.

(Above) iluxo has a number of handmade-from-veggie-tanned-leather hair pieces, like the matching octopus and bubbles (and there are a bird and feather, and a skull and flower, both of which I also love).

This sweet set is from prettyplsmpls, and is made from vintage materials.

Made from old books pages, these pins from Bits and barley are perfect for a writer or book lover.
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bobby pins, Etsy, hair accessories, hairdo, Handmade, updo

Video: Heritage Donegal Tweed from Molloy and Sons

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by Starre Vartan · 12/07/11

Molloy & Sons: Heritage Tweed on Nowness.com.

This video is incredibly beautiful; I’ve been wanting to visit Ireland for years now, but this would most certainly be a wonderful reason to go – to check out authentic Donegal tweed. I would love a menswear-style vest with a satin lining and old horn buttons to wear over dresses and tights this winter.

Handmade, heritage fabrics are the way forward, as we look back.

Video via nowness.com, an absolutely gorgeous site.

Filmmakers Jamie Delaney and Keith Nally’s beautiful short, made in collaboration with heritage enthusiast and Acne Paper Editor Charlotte Rey, profile one of the last surviving weaving mills, Molloy & Sons. Based in the windswept County Donegal, Ireland, current father and son duo Sean and Kieran Molloy have a pedigree dating back over six generations and weave premium tweed from the famous Donegal yarn. “I think that with old crafts which are indigenous to areas like this, it’s really hard to divorce them from their landscape,” says Delaney. Over the course of three days’ filming, Delaney and Rey captured the family’s impressive artisanal skill and dedication to a dwindling industry. Amidst the bleak but beautiful scenery surrounding the mill, the textile masters explained how their authentic Donegal weaves were inspired by the muted tones and flecks of color in the local heather, bracken and wild flowers. “Tweed is part of the cultural DNA in a sense; it’s been there for generations and it’s a pillar of a fabric industry that is now disappearing,” says Rey. “What should really be shining through is the love and the passion of these people.”

artisan, Handmade, heritage fabrics, Ireland, tweed, wool

Alabama Chanin’s Studio Style: More DIY Projects from the Southern Handcrafting Guru

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by Starre Vartan · 02/15/10

Natalie Chanin’s new book, Alabama Studio Style.

A CFDA finalist and long-time Eco Chick fave (see our coverage of S/S ’09 here), Natalie Chanin’s designs are, in these global times, truly Local. Made in the Southeastern United States by women crafting from home, each piece is a work of art, created by hand.

Instead of protecting the design techniques which render her looks specifically hers, Natalie has gone the open-source route, and with her second book, Alabama Studio Style (the first book was the Alabama Stitch Book), she expands upon the (your) hands-on projects that you can create from recycled materials from wherever you call home.

The designer, Natalie Chanin.

Says Natalie of the new DIY tome, “It is wonderful to see a book come to life. Two years ago, when I received my copy of Alabama Stitch Book, it felt like a letdown the first time I held it in my hands. [My publisher] was excited to know how I felt and I just said, ‘It looks exactly like it is supposed to.’ Her reply was that a book ‘comes to life in the hands of the user.’ She is so right.”

“Seeing that others have taken our point-of-view to heart has brought me so much satisfaction and real pride. Part of my mission has always been to advance the traditional arts in my own way, using my modern day perspective. It is always gratifying to see that people have really heard what you have to say and are continuing the process. It has been great to see all the projects, spin-offs and inspirations that have come from that book over the last two years. And more exciting now to see how the two books will play off one another.”

Check out some of Natalie’s favorite projects inspired by the books below:

“I love this onesie from projectecoart for the modeled color, the layers of embroidery to add texture and the sweet flower. I love to dress my own daughter like this!”

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DIY, Handmade, local, south

Elemental Threads: Sweet Bags for Type A's (Design It Yourself!)

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by Starre Vartan · 03/22/09

Emily Worden

I’ve known the lovely and talented Emily Worden (that’s her, above!) for years now; she is one of the super-progressive, fabulously positive and creative women I have met while living in southern Connecticut. Not only is she a music-loving ecofashionista who has long made her own (damn cool) clothes and sister of environmental lawyer, Jessica Worden, but she throws incredibly parties with said sister (I’m proud to have attended Wordenstocks in both ’04 AND ’06).

Oh, and she’s the ecopreneur behind Elemental Threads, where you can design your own bag! I have a pouch already, and am trying to decide what larger bag would stand me in good stead for all the travelling I do.

The blank bag choices

It works like this: you pick out a bag style from those above, then choose your fabric, from the extremely HUGE collection Emily has available on her site. There are so many choices, and there are organic cotton (I got one of those) and bamboo options to choose from, as well as some vintage and conventional fabrics.

Pretty bags!!!

But that’s not all! LOL. You ALSO get to pick your zipper color and inside lining color- which is where the Type A in me gets really happy, because you can get exactly what you want! How often does that happen these days? LOVE IT!

The Round Wristlette

The Large Tote

The Ring Pouch

Emily and a local seamstress handcraft each bag from Emily’s homebase in Connecticut, so they’re certainly fair-trade (unless Emily works herself too hard!) and American-made.

Emily also makes these Glass Bead necklaces which I have one of, in a black and white pattern. I get tons of compliments on it every time I wear it!

And you can even offset your purchase with eThread’s offset program. Emily told me:

eThreads will be offering customers the option to purchase carbon offsets to reduce the CO2 emissions produced with each order. The concept is very neat, customers can choose between one of
eight different projects and they see how much CO2 pounds their donation will buy. It is a new web application called ShopGreen, which is produced by GreenWorld, a business seeking to work with other
businesses by reducing their carbon footprint.

Some of Emily’s designer creations: these are already made and aren’t part of the design-yourself bags above, and sure are gorgeous!

accessories, American made, bags, Handmade, necklaces, Organic

Under the Root: Playful, Sexy Eco-Lingerie

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by Stephanie Rogers · 03/03/09

What could be more enticing than saucy recycled and vintage handmade lingerie inspired by Vaudeville, Parisian Can-Can, burlesque and cabaret? Under the Root creates stunning sustainable lingerie sets and accessories from light, airy fabrics like jersey knit and cotton voile. The materials used to create these textile confections are recycled, reclaimed and repurposed. These Under the Root designs are so pretty and flattering, you might be tempted to become an exhibitionist just to show them off.

Under the Root designs are available in sizes XS-XL and can even be custom-made to your measurements. Colors range from soothing pale hues to vibrant, sassy brights. And the prices are extremely reasonable for such beautiful hand-crafted goods!

Pictured above: Sprite Lite Nite Lingerie Set – Brassiere/Bloomers

Pixie Patch Set – Halter/Tap Pants

Hush Satin Halter

Blasphemous Blumen

Makes you long for warm weather, doesn’t it? This is lingerie for impromptu backyard photo shoots, frolicking in the grass.  Way too cute to stay hidden. Perhaps they should start designing swimwear!

Check out the full selection at the Under the Root Etsy store.

ecofashion, Etsy, Handmade, lingerie