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

H&M’s Spring 2011 Conscious Collection: Eco Fashion Breezes into April

H&M is making good on its promise to continue expanding their commitment to using sustainable fabrics. Their upcoming Spring, 2011 collection, Conscious Collection is the follow-up for Spring 2010′s Garden Collection. Utilizing organic cotton, Tencel, and recycled polyester, the all-white collection means that it will work with everything from denim to silks.

“It’s no longer just about organic cotton. The possibilities for creating a complete fashion statement with eco smarter materials are huge now. By designing recurring Conscious Collections we have the opportunity to show in a variety of ways what’s possible using more sustainable fabrics,” says Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M head of design. “Shades of white are the season’s biggest fashion trend. White creates a romantic feeling with lace and broderie anglaise, but it is also the basic color in a sporty, relaxed style and in a preppy tailored look for men.”

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Walk in OMBU Shoes and Reforest Our Planet

I’d wager that you never thought you could purchase a pair of shoes while helping with the world’s reforestation efforts. But it’s true. We now live in an age where more and more consumers recognize the merits of products made responsibly. OMBU is a fresh, young company intent on providing a product that you can feel proud of, with each and every stride.

OMBU shoes is committed to giving back to the planet and helping their customers do the same. The company provides a tree seed with every purchase of their shoes and also plants a tree on the customer’s behalf for one of the Trees for the Future Foundation Projects. To date, the eco-conscious shoe brand has planted thousands of trees around the globe!

But back to the shoes. The Miami-based company gave a traditional Argentinian shoe called “Alpargatas” a complete makeover. OMBU transformed the ugly duckling into a sexy, irresistible flat. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, and shopping their site is like walking through Dylan’s Candy Bar. The shoes look so delicious and enticing, you’ll want everything you see in your size.

And with prices between $35 and $45, you can indulge in a pair or two, guilt-free. Their sequins pattern are perfect for a night on the town while the polka dots and checkers are a bit more playful for day. If you’re feeling bold, go with their camoflouge pattern. And the classic solid will go with everything, I promise. Whichever OMBU shoes you decide on, rest assured they’ll be delivered right to your door in recycled fabric bags rather than wasteful boxes.
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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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Ethical, DIY and Just Plain Fun Bags and Purses

Guest post by Donna on behalf of TestFreaks website

Something that always makes my palms sweat, my heart beat faster and my gets me breathing heavy is…. accessories! Now if you thought I was going somewhere else – shame on you.

Which got me to thinking: Why do we gals love shoes and handbags so much? At one time it was a statement of a lady’s status in society. For example, one might conclude the character of a woman from the type of purse or handbag she carries.

There may still be some truth to this today. But maybe it’s about more than that. Today’s environmentally-minded woman thinks about the planet and those she loves more than she does her image. Now, don’t get me wrong – there’s a lot to be said for presenting a positive image. But when it comes to accessories, a lady can look sharp and be eco-friendly.

To help with making some great ethical handbag choices, we have rounded up some of our favorites. Some of these you can go out and buy, and some you can make yourself.

Candy Wrapper Handbags

Nahui Ollin offers a very stylish line of handbags that are made from candy wrappers. A Mayan technique of paper folding (not unlike those gum wrapper chains we made as a child) gives a strong and colorful end result. The bags offered vary from the shoulder bags and totes to our favorite, the handbag. The style is sure to get some attention, and the brightly decorated accessory will accent any outfit you decide to pair it with. The lighthearted video below shows the process of making a very nice looking handbag.

And if you are feeling brave with a do it yourself desire, Mylinda shows us how to make a candy wrapper purse with step by step directions. While many websites state that making a candy bar bag is not a complicated process, I would suggest that you at least look over the process that Mylinda has provided carefully before committing. You may find it easy if you have the skills, and daunting otherwise. But whether you buy it or make it, the candy bar wrapper purse is a great way to accent your looks while being eco minded.

Duct Tape Purse

Duct Tape – real do-it-yourselfers absolutely love the stuff, and you can find it used in any number of situations. However, did you know that duct tape can make a great handbag? MonkeySee.com has a great tutorial on making just such a purse, shown in the video below.

The end result is a fun accessory item that could fit anywhere. But the best news is that the end design is limited only by your imagination and the color of duct tape, which has apparently expanded well past the old standard of gray.

Recycled Leather Jacket Bag

If you like leather, then there is no better feeling that a well worn leather jacket that has gotten soft and comfortable. Taking this concept to heart, Remade USA offers a wonderful selection of bags (as the example above shows) made from recycled leather jackets. By doing this they end up with a quality soft leather accessory item that feels great and is earth friendly by upcycling the leather.
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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!