Eco-fashion | Hip Moms Go Green

Daddy Greenest

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Father’s Day is the perfect time of year to give Dad a green gift that he can use while allowing him to broadcast his environmentalism loud and proud. Plus, does he really need another ugly tie? Try these fun green gifts for your Dad this year…

Patagonia Men’s Eco Rain Shell Jacket, $125

This black two-layer waterproof and breathable rain shell represents the ultimate in sustainable style. It’s a perfect compliment to a fall hike or fishing trip with its rugged recreational comfort. It’s made of 100% recycled and recyclable polyester and is warm and durable.

Hourglass Cold Brew Coffee Make System, $49.95

This sleek space-age looking coffee maker uses no cords and no electricity. It has a lifetime stainless steel filter, is super portable and BPA free. In addition, by brewing in cold water, coffee results in 69.6% less acid, thus reducing heartburn and bitter tastes.

Bighorn Eco-friendly Backpack, $39

Made from PVC-free ballistic nylon this power pack is green friendly and coated with Environmental Pollution Omitting technology called Ecoweave. Ecoweave is an alternative to PVC chemicals and each backpack is free of chlorine, dioxin and other heavy metals. It’s also clean to recycle and creates H20 AND CO2 when burned.

Exotic and Ivory

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Alluring and inspired, Palma jewelry is both bright and bold and brings glossy rainbow and earth themes to life in its unique selection of necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Each piece is individually handcrafted, environmentally friendly and 5% of gross sales go towards fighting cancer and preserving earth’s resources. In addition, each piece is crafted from a rare palm tree nut found along South America’s coastline with locals primarily completing the crafting process. Distinctive pieces include the Chikle necklace, which appears like it could be comprised of candy Smarties, or Chiclets gum and pairs perfectly with a cheerful top and jeans. Other jewelry items are designed with fun eco-materials like wax cotton, faux-suede, vegan straps and the tagua nuts (vegetable ivory).

Tagua is viewed as a sustainable alternative to ivory derived from animals and responsible harvesting may actually augment rainforest conservation in South America. The nuts are gathered only after they’ve matured and fallen from the tree and are dried, thinly sliced and permanently dyed (non-toxic) before transforming into pretty jewelry pieces. Locals Amazonian Indians believe that vegetable ivory or tagua nuts bring prosperity, happiness, love and abundance. Tagua is a terrific alternative to plastic and can also be found in items like buttons, sculptures, figurines and even chess pieces. The Palma Collection has been featured in Lucky Magazine, Women’s Health, and GQ magazine.

Palma is this weeks Green Giveaway so be sure to enter.

Green Style Gets a Makeover

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Stylish and sustainable fashion has never been easier to purchase or admire as sites dedicated to all things clothing and chic turn an eye towards the earth. Green designers and stylists have started an “eco-revolution” and created a wave of inspiration and admiration from Hollywood and beyond. Eco-designers are thinking more like architects than activists, and are designing with contemporary and modern silhouettes. Green fashion is no longer relegated to bohemian-hippies but now is finding itself rocking the runway and making major impact on celebrity clothing lines.

Stars like Emma Watson (of Harry Potter fame) has only 100% organic and Fairtrade cotton in her label Love from Emma, which debuts in partnership with People Tree in 2010. And models are getting in on the eco-act too. Famous for her Brazilian body and her new Brady (as in Tom) baby, Gisele Bundchen has launched Ipanema Footwear. The line pays homage to the ocean in its colorful and decorative sandals and promotes the preservation of the ecosystem, specifically, marine life. Finally, tween queen, Selena Gomez started Dream Out Loud, full of fun and flirty female fashions with a focus on earth-friendliness. With all this exposure, eco-fashion is finding itself saturating the mainstream and stealing the limelight from clothing chemicals and colored dyes.

Ethical chic has been made easier with many eco-conscious online retailers banking on business from socially and environmentally responsible consumers. There’s also an array of green bloggers who are taking the web by storm and giving fun and fresh energy to a topic that can seem more science than style. Sites like Haute Nature (hautenature.blogspot.com), use a combination of art and information to surprise and encourage the green fashion movement. (One recent entry shows nearly-naked models, one posed as a sheep being shorn of his wool.) Righteous (re) Style is another blog making environmental fashion seem hip and hot. The blog encourages secondhand style sources and buying vintage (righteousrestyle.com). Finally, evolvedfashion.com is a perfect site for fashion-lovers to celebrate Mother Nature and modern chic, it presents news and insight into the green fashion industry and discusses organic clothing materials.

In addition to the aforementioned sites, fashion and passion for the planet collide in the super sophisticated website-blog called ecouterre (ecouterre.com). Jill Fehrenbacher, the editor-in-chief and founder, created an uber-upscale website devoted to beauty, fashion, accessories, design and shopping. The site highlights innovations in technology (like fiber manufacturing) that make eco-conscious living more desirable and accessible. Jill currently resides in New York and studied architecture and art semiotics in college. She adores rooftop gardens, lives for vegan junk food and has been featured in Vogue, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

For more proof of the eco-revolution, a model-celebrity is making the rounds and exemplifying the eco-chic attitude. With a name that couldn’t be more fitting for her planet-preservation cause, Summer Rayne Oakes, was born into beauty and transformed her love of the land, namely her picturesque backyard in a town in Northeastern Pennsylvania into selling and seeking sustainable styles. Oakes graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelors of Science in Natural Resources and Entomology. She is also a Udall Scholar and National Wildlife Federation Fellow. Oakes has since been labeled with the title “eco-style expert” and “social entrepreneur” in her quest to produce books, blogs and fashion items like sustainable shoes. These fabulous eco-shoes by Zoe & Zac can be found at Payless Shoe Store. Oakes is helping to pique interest in the green movement by using her fabulous face and fashionable portfolio to create buzz. Her book Style Naturally: The Savvy Shopping Guide to Sustainable Fashion and Beauty is a must have for every woman. It has been offered as one of Hip Moms Go Green Giveaways before because it is packed full of valuable information and resources related to beauty and fashion.

Fashion shows and model-celebrities like Oakes, ignite interest in the environment and its causes. And more and more websites are turning green into fun, hip and accessible by documenting fashionable feats in the eco-world and transforming them into digital magazines and web videos. Hip Moms Go Green is no different, and will begin featuring videos of fashion shows, designers and lots of runway footage on HipMomsGoGreenTV.com These videos will be full of trendy footage into the fierce world of fashion as well as offer entertainment and encourage support for sustainable stylists and designers. In addition, Hip Moms TV will feature the ultra-glam CocoEco Magazine and showcase sizzling photo shoots with celebrities and green-minded fashion in action.

Go! Other Stylish Sites with Green Lights

EcoDiva- Love the mission statement and the site.

Mission Statement:
Eco = to educate and empower you to make better choices in beauty for your health, the environment and our future,

Diva = while still reflecting your inner most style and personality

Stylewillsaveus.com

A digital magazine full of high-fashion and lots of style scoop.

Ecofashionworld.com

Includes an eco-fashion finder, blogs and a ton of news on everything happening within the world of green and glam.

Hipmomsgogreentv.com

Fun eco-fashion videos of high-style runways and CocoEco photo shoots.

Thegreenloopblog.com

Features interviews with green designers and business owners as well as shopping tips.

Ecofabulous.com

Find earth-conscious places to shop, get ideas on how to “green” your wardrobe, and other style suggestions.

By: Amy Spagnola
Contributing Writer

Sunny Side

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Jamie Lim loved the skyscrapers and bamboo scaffolding that she observed in Hong Kong during her teens. The beauty of the architecture provided her with the impetus to start her own sunglass line and her first collection was entirely based around bamboo. KAYU, which means “wood” in Malay was such a hit that the collection now includes a range of bags inspired by nature, which are intricately handcrafted and composed of straw and shell.

The eyewear is not only made of bamboo but fast-growing grass and other sustainable material. Women’s cooperatives and female entrepreneurs are responsible for the creation of the bags and glasses. KAYU donates all the funds for every pair of glasswear purchased to one-sight restoring surgery in the developing world. Now, that’s vision.

Check out our Green Giveaway this week, it is a pair of Kayu Sunglasses:Style, Rawa!

Beachy Green

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Summertime is all about the beach, BBQ’s and bikinis. There’s plenty of ways to show some skin and still be environmentally aware. Many companies are making beautiful bathing suits while keeping Mother Earth in mind.

Duex FM: is committed to the global movement for a sustainable future. The manufacture locally under fair trade practices and use recycled fabrics for the swimwear line.

deuxfm.com

Kelly B: Using mostly organic cotton, this swimsuit line specializes in ruffles, smocking and pretty colors. It’s grown, processed, and produced without pesticides.

Kellybcouture.com

Triumph: Using the latest in ecologically certified materials, Triumph is a UK-based clothing company that also carries lingerie and leisurewear. They are the first company to use a biodegradable elastane for their undergarments.

Triumph.com/uk

San Lorenzo: This Brazilian bikini company now carries eco-friendly, organic cotton bikinis. Two new designers for the company, Megan Spurlock and Jhonatan Figueroa, are turning to eco-friendly fabrics and creating playful and fun designs.

Sanlorenzohawaii.com

Anna Cohen: This sophisticated swimwear line uses surplus factory fabric originally intended for Olympic speed skaters to create its unique looks. The company’s business practices and collections are both environmentally and socially responsible.

Annacohen.com

Eco-Panda Swimwear: the world’s only recycled nylon swimwear line. By using recycled nylon they use 27% less natural petroleum resources, and emit 28% less greenhouse gases in its manufacturing.

Eco-Panda.com

Elementary, My Dear Watson

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Trendy and timeless describes the bags created by Vancouver designer Ashley Watson. Coveting all things thrift, Watson handcrafts her one-of-a-kind products from soft pre-worn leather jackets. Her recycled leather MO allows her to assemble eco-chic bags and wallets that retain some of the original jackets characteristics. For instance, pockets and seams are often integrated into the construction of the earth-tone colored bags. With a background in art studio, Watson’s wares are equally functional and artistic. Her designs are often comprised of hemp cotton twill and never include dyed leather. The sophisticated and sustainable Spring collection includes a range of styles from satchels to messenger bags. Watson’s bags are sold across North America and selectively in Europe. Her Spring 2010 collection can be viewed online at: http://www.ashleywatson.net/

G.Y.M Show~Pump up the Preservation

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Puridee

Though it might seem like an acronym for a new fancy workout center, G.Y.M. actually stands for Green Youth Movement and represents a group of students concerned about the environment. These young people are working together to promote an eco-conscious future while having fun in the process. G.Y.M. educates and teaches families and kids how to reduce their carbon footprint by using everything from shower timers to re-useable grocery bags.

Emily Factor

Christened the ‘green teen,’ by media outlets, Ally Maize, the founder of G.Y.M. recently upped the ante on promoting and preaching the power of personal responsibility in creating a happy habitat by organizing the “Green Initiative-Humanitarian Fashion Show.”

Lizzie Parker

This Hollywood fashion event included clothing from designers like Emily Factor (granddaughter of famous makeup titan Max Factor) and created more eco buzz in the world of style and sustainability. Factor, who claims a “passion for preservation” utilizes reclaimed materials, non-toxic dye, organic and zero animal products in her flirty and feminine frocks. Factor presented many of her ethereal designs alongside other eco-designers like Lindee Daniel’s Puridee and Lizzie Parker. It was a fashion show that spoke to saving the planet and being stylish simultaneously.

Puridee

H&M Goes Sustainable

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

H&M just launched The Garden Collection for Spring 2010. This line is made with environmentally adapted materials like recycled polyester, organic cotton, and organic linen. As the desire by consumers for organic clothing grows, H&M created a line that would please their customer and contribute to a more sustainable world. This is a store known for quick and inexpensive fashion. This looks like a step in the right direction!

My favorite looks from this collection include the adorable blue short with ruffles paired with a floral blouse and this tunic with the khaki short below. See the H&M fashion video and view the The Garden Collection line.

Sexy and Sustainable

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Eco clothing is gaining lots of momentum in the mainstream, but Sarah Ratty took the trend to the bedroom with her line of sweet, soft and sultry line of lingerie. Ratty, who also designed Conscious Earthwear (her first label) has worked with the likes of Cate Blanchett and Sienna Miller and been featured in style bibles Vogue and Elle. She stirred up a sexy storm with her organic cotton panties, bras and boyshorts when she created a luscious lingerie line for Ciel.

Fine French lace adds a feminine touch to many of the pieces in the Ciel collection and all the undergarments are created with environmentally friendly Oeko-tex dyes and 100% organic cotton. The looks in the collection are comfortable, cute and classic with 3% of the company’s profits going to animal and environmentally-oriented charities. In addition, the company uses a small family owned factory in Portugal to produce the line. Lingerie often denotes love and Ciel definitely has a heart.

A gorgeous Ciel bra and pants set is our green giveaway this week!

Eco-Fashion~Label it!

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Green living is a conscientious and impactful choice, but environmentally friendly threads are labeled with lots of different seals and stamps and can result in a dizzying array of choices. Even savvy environmentalists get fuzzy about all the terms used to label sustainable goods.

The creation of clothing starts with the use of lots of environmental resources. 25% of all pesticides used globally are used in cotton production. It’s crucial to consider purchasing clothing, which is reused, recycled or created with environmentally sound practices.

Fashion Fabrics Seals and Certifications:

100% Organic-All components are organically grown and certified, including the sewing threads and the processes used to manufacture and create the garment.

Green Seal Certified-The Green Seal indicates that a product was made by a company attempting to minimize the use of toxins and the waste of natural resources.

Fair Trade-The FLO (Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International) is the worldwide fair-trade setting standard and certification organization. Buying fair trade is an important as it condones fair labor conditions, environmental sustainability and community development.

Carbon Neutral-Carbon Neutral Clothing works with clothing wholesalers in existing supply chains to estimate the environmental impact of the cost of clothing manufacturing and provides an equivalent offset, thus, rendering the clothing carbon neutral.

EU Eco-label-Administered by the European Eco-labeling board (EUEB) with the support of the European commission, this flower label indicates a product or service has met certain criteria and is considered more environmentally friendly and complies with strict ecological and performance criteria.

Sustainable Cotton-Reducing chemical use and minimizing environmental impact is the rallying cry of Sustainable Cotton. Clean cotton is more biologically based and utilizes organic farming practices.

Agriculture Biologique-Products may qualify for this label if they contain more than 95% organic components, were produced or processed in the EU, and were certified by an independent inspection body.

1% for the Planet-Inspiring members of the business community to donate 1% of sales to environmental groups, this organization strives for businesses, consumers and nonprofits to connect through philanthropy. 1% sells backpacks, hammocks and hoodies, among other items.

Reading a clothing label is not so simple anymore. In order to find sustainable styles, there has to be recognition of certain fibers, certain buzz terms and certain eco-designer names. The main objective should be to find clothes made with renewable resources as opposed to petroleum-based synthetics. Corn, soy and bamboo are excellent new materials that compose many of the green garments on the market. Have fun and shop green!

Going Green with Hip Moms Go Green is fun and attainable. We're dedicated to empowering you to simultaneously effect a healthful difference in the lives of your children and planet. Whether you're looking for tips on how to make your existing home green, want to identify creative ways to share environmental and social responsibility with your little ones, or incorporate nutrient-dense foods into your family's diet in a delicious way, HipMomsGoGreen is your ultimate resource. We bring all of your favorite eco-topics and products to the table to make going green part of your everyday life.