Hip Moms Go Green

JOSH DORFMAN, the Lazy Environmentalist, named POLARN O. PYRET’S “Dad of the Year”

Josh and Shep (small)

New York-Polarn O. Pyret, the premium children’s wear brand from Sweden, has named Josh Dofman, environmental author and award-winning television host, its “Dad of the Year” in the United States.

“Josh is revolutionizing the way Americans make ‘greener’ choices. In today’s world, making good environmental choices is critical, and it’s helpful when those choices can be easy for today’s busy parents,” said Jennifer Athanason, U.S. master franchiser for Polarn O. Pyret. “Once thought of as difficult, time consuming or expensive, being environmentally conscious can often be the more attractive and easier choice.”

Dorfman, best known as the executive producer and host of Sundance Channel’s “The Lazy Environmentalist,” is author of two advice books on a cutting-edge green lifestyle: The Lazy Environmentalist: Your Guide to Easy, Stylish, Green Living and The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget. As a new father to his two-month old son, Dorfman practices what he preaches to parents. He and his wife are raising their son as a ‘green baby’ by buying organic clothes, cloth diapers and homemade reusable baby wipes. Dorfman grew up playing, and practically living, outdoors and wants the same for his son. By spending time outside in natural surroundings, he believes the younger generation will better understand what they are trying to save first hand.

“When people have children, I believe it becomes easier to kick the bad habits and make greener choices because you’re no longer making those choices just for you. You’re now making them for your children,” Dorfman said. “I am honored to be recognized by Polarn O. Pyret, a company that has been ‘greening it’ for more than 30 years. Green clothing for kids is very important, but it can’t only be organic-it has to also look fantastic otherwise the wider segment of the consumer market will not buy into the concept. ”

Good environmental choices should require little or no sacrifice in quality, convenience or style, he adds. “As a new dad, I can see how easy it is for parents to fall into the trap of buying cheap clothing for kids. What parents should be looking at is making smarter purchases. By spending a little more on quality clothing, you can actually spend less in the end, especially if you can hand it down to a sibling, cousin or neighbor. Less clothing in landfills is better for the environment. It’s an easy choice to make.”

The timeless design-driven approach of Polarn O. Pyret makes it easy for parents to make the investment in both their children and the planet. The online boutique offers parents one-stop shopping for all their children’s needs-everything from diaper covers to rain boots and dresses to jeans.

For more than 30 years in Sweden, Polarn O. Pyret has strived to combine high quality products with consideration for the environment. The ECO collection is manufactured from 100 percent organic cotton. The entire supply chain has received the Nordic Swan Eco-label (“Svanenmärkt” to Swedes), an indication of its environmentally friendly manufacturing. In addition, 30 percent of the entire collection is designed around a UNIsex premise so clothes can easily be passed down from brother to sister or even from one generation to the next.

“We hear stories from parents who have held onto clothing from their own childhood and now have their children wearing the same clothing they wore as a child. The clothes are designed to withstand wear and tear from a curious toddler or an energetic child and still be handed down from brother to sister. That to us is green living,” Athanason said.

Launched in the U.S. last year, Polarn O. Pyret has made great strides in the children’s fashion arena and aims to make production even better for the environment in the future. “We believe it is vital for children to be given the chance to just be children. We want to instill the importance of play, the spirit of fun and love for nature for both kids and parents. Josh’s commitment to green living and sustainable consumption is the perfect embodiment of Polarn O. Pyret’s values, and we’re thrilled to announce the honor.”

Polarn O. Pyret USA presented its first “Mama of the Year” and “Dad of the Year” awards this year to honor those who inspire children and their parents to live healthy, responsible and generous lives. Annika Sӧrenstam, best known for her storied golf career, was named Polarn O. Pyret’s first “Mama of the Year” in May. Sӧrenstam decided to step away from professional sports two years ago to spend more time focusing on her family and her business endeavors.

Polarn O. Pyret is having a 30% off Summer Sale so be sure to check it out!



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The Brightest Star~Baby Star

babystar jeans

Baby Star shines the brightest of any star! This clothing line has a goal to blend style and functionality in a very modern way. Baby star respects our planet and honors future generations of babies by creating products that are safe for baby and the environment, including their new soy/organic cotton and denim collections. I am a huge fan of Baby Star’s 100% organic denim. My boys look so great in Baby Star jeans and they fit to perfection. The jeans come in dark denim with a green star topstitched on the back pocket. They are super stylish, modern and very functional.

If I had girls I would snap up the Lucy Skirt in a heartbeat! This skirt has an adorable ruffle down the front and has two stars topstitched in green on the back pockets. This skirt is perfect for the weather all year long if you pair it with a cute pair of tights in the cold winter months.

Showing a commitment to sustainability Baby Star is greening the way to kids fashion and footwear now that they are selling Simple Shoes. Simple is the leader in sustainable and eco-friendly shoes. Find organic denim clothes and Simple Shoes for babies and children online from Baby Star. Baby Star is our Green Giveaway this week so don’t miss out. They are giving away a pair of Simple shoes along with an organic denim to the lucky winner!

Special offer to HipMomsGoGreen readers is 20% off!  Use discount code: star20

Had to share a picture of my baby Finn in Baby Star denim!




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Green Style Gets a Makeover

emma-watson-people-tree-4

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



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Sexy and Sustainable

Ciel_LaceFrench_Knic#10579B

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!



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