This post may seem like eco-nepotism, but I assure you that you will not be disappointed if you make a pilgrimage to Eden's Green Closet, the
enviro-kid outpost owned and operated by my little sister, Emily. It's located on Abbot
Kinney, the hip part of Venice, where people are conscious and conscientious
about their tread on the earth (home of the green luxury beauty shop, Vert, see our past post).
The store combines the principles of recycling and reuse with organic fashion.
The new Alkemie jewelry collection has fashionistas everywhere cooing with baroque glee. All designs are made from 100% reclaimed metals (copper, nickel & sterling or gold & silver upon request); some of the pendants even utilize recycled bullet casings. Where there is leather, it's obtained from cattle ranches that use 100% of the the animal (rubber can be requested as a cruelty free alternative). Made in the U.S. from a husband and wife team, Alkemie gives new meaning to the art of transforming something common into something precious. Available at the Econscious Market, an online philanthropic marketplace where 50% of net profits go towards the charity of one's choice. And for San Franciscans, Alkemie is now exclusively at Sarlo Wick, where you can also peruse SW's spectacular antiques.
What is hip, organic and safari inspired; comes from the hands of eco-conscious designer Rogan Gregory (of Edun and Loomstate fame); and only costs $30 on average?! It's Rogan for Target, this summer's foray into sustainable fashion from the oft stylish superstore. Target is proving once and for all that looking good and going green doesn't have to break the bank! Interestingly, though, this hot line will debut at the chicest of stores, Barney's. Of course hot items move fast and you have just three days to hit up Barney's in Beverly Hills to get first dibs on the collection beginning this Thursday, May 15th. If you can't make it, however, you'll find Rogan at Target soon thereafter (yet, I'd bet you won't find it on their shelves for long). Happy eco-hunting!
Scandinavian design house FIN may well be our newest go-to brand for those elusive work-to-play essentials. Their spring/summer '08 line (which they have offset to be completely carbon neutral) uses organic cotton and fair-trade certified fabrics to create classic pieces like cardigans, dresses, and skirts with a twist....
Since we spend way more time in our bathrooms than we care to admit, Waterfall Bathroom designs has created a sophisticated way to go green. The Canadian company uses FSC-certified and formaldehyde-free wood and the lowest VOC paint possible for their sleek and stylish vanities, which combine modern and traditional tastes. Waterfall Bathroom’s optional countertops can be made from 100 percent 3-Form, which uses post-consumer recycled milk and detergent packaging. Or you can opt for CaesarStone, a quartz surface that adheres to high global environmental standards for production and materials. The line’s diverse style inspirations include a Chinese chest and a mailbox design, creating a collection with streamlined silhouettes that accommodate everyone from minimalists to those of us whose eco-friendly product obsession requires lots of glamorous drawers and storage.
I love parties as much as the next girl, but the post-celebration aftermath isn’t always so pretty (and I’m not talking about hangovers or the inevitable drama among guests). Discarded leftovers and wilting floral arrangements remind me of how much energy (both our own and the planet’s) goes into throwing these fabulous, yet fleeting fêtes. dvGreen, a sustainable event planning company, takes care of that green guilt and throws weddings, corporate retreats, bar-mitzvahs and cocktail parties with panache and a passion for the environment. Founder Danielle Venokur is a strong believer in celebrating the milestones in our lives while still honoring the planet, and dvGreen follows this philosophy for all its elegant and eclectic events. dvGreen takes a personalized approach to every event but routine eco-friendly party-throwing practices include sending tree-free invitations, choosing organic, local, and sustainable flowers, donating or composting the food leftovers (which are also organic and local, by the way), and purchasing carbon offsets to neutralize the entire event. Party on!
Florida mom and former surgeon, Bibi Rogers, discovered a reality that she wanted no part of, or at least wanted to drastically change, one day walking along the beach: the water was littered with plastic bags. Her idea was to create an easy way to reuse those plastic bags and help others do the same. She began stitching up bag carriers from old sails, vintage clothing, and organic materials she could find locally. 4U2ReUse sells a few different versions and they can be used as a convenient place to store plastic bags for reuse, or as doggie doo bag carriers (sold empty, of course). They are all designed to easily attach to handbags, backpacks, belt loops, or pet leashes, are made from fabulous fabrics and are delightfully portable. Dr. Rogers says: "By reusing, we reduce. And by reducing, we make the world a cleaner, safer place, one bag at a time." These also make great little change purses.
While New Native Inc.’s baby carriers may not function as paparazzi shields for us like they do for all the celebrity customers we’ve seen wearing them about town, we love the idea of keeping our little ones close to our hearts (or hips or backs). New Native Inc.’s 100% organic cotton baby carriers use non-toxic and non-metallic fiber reactive dyes and come in more patterns and trims than your baby has moods (our favorites include the jungle mingle print and the zebra print). For the inquisitive infant who need a little boost, New Native also has an organic cotton support pillow with 100% organic cotton stuffing. And because the carriers are ring and buckle-free and easy to put on and take off, wearing your baby may just be the easiest wardrobe decision you’ve made since becoming a mom.
Kiel Mead’s Apt Chair is sleek and modern. Aptly named, this simplistic piece of furniture may call to mind a pared down, bohemian lifestyle (or send you back to the 80's). Made from Richlite, a pulp material derived from certified managed forests, the chairs are then upholstered in organic cotton fabric from Mod Green Pod. Richlite is much more stable than wood so these would likely do well outside, though I would first treat the organic fabric with NexSystem's protective coating.
The story behind Liz Lovely has a familiar ring (if you live in the Bay Area), with a bit of a twist: two high school sweethearts, former dot-comers and city dwellers, hightail it to Vermont where they make their dreams of running an ethical business of delicious, decadent vegan baked goods come true. Liz Lovely’s handmade cookies come in traditional flavors like chocolate chip and peanut butter as well as a few for those who favor more exotic tastes, including ginger and molasses snapdragons and coffee, macadamia nut, and chocolate “mochadamia mountains.” The company’s mission has always included using organic, non-GMO and fair trade ingredients, and their line of tasty treats has recently expanded to chocolate covered pretzels, nuts, and dried fruit. Another of Liz Lovely’s latest endeavors is green packaging: gift samplers come in cute and endlessly reusable steel buckets, most of the chocolate-coated goodies are packaged in compostable containers made from corn, and the company uses 100% post-consumer recycled and shredded paper from local businesses as fill whenever possible.
What could be a more fabulous way to begin the day than by sipping tangerine champagne and
trying on layers of Stella McCartney’s organic spring collection? Rebecca, one of our LA ecofab correspondents spent Thursday
morning at a private show in Stella's Beverly Hills Boutique, where guests oohed
and awed over silk floral jumpsuits, vegan stilettos and wool mini-dresses. In
every gorgeous line Stella uses 4 to 5 organic materials, which is music to our ears. Laurie
David of StopGlobalWarming walked away with a stunning navy blue bag with
ever so subtle white tie-dyed spots. Rosanne Arquette and Amber Valletta seemed obsessed with the sumptuous sweaters. But most exciting
was when Stella came out of the back room with a special dress and stilettos
and insisted that our our savvy ecofab representative try it on…With the room's reaction, I just hope she doesn't leave us for a career in eco-modeling! Paul, looks like it is time to hand down your vegan crown. 
I admit it, I'm a fanatic about keeping my home sparkling clean - but just looking clean isn't enough. The always charismatic Method boys, Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan, just released their coffee table cool book on eco-friendly, safe approaches to cleaning. On Wednesday evening they signed their tongue-in-cheek books for swooning fans at Spring home store in San Francisco (one of my favorite spots to find green products). Cleanophiles lined up to get personal notes memorialized on their new guide, Squeaky Green: the method guide to detoxing your home. True to the Method spirit, this book is fun, witty and smart. I was hoping to catch a few people dancing on the reclaimed tables at this late afternoon event where the Veev was flowing, but everyone behaved and indeed... kept it pretty clean!
Shoe guru Adidas goes green with its spring/summer collection this year. New to its Originals line, Adidas introduces Grün, a collection of shoes that takes its name from the German word for “green.” The three guiding principles of the line are “made from,” “recycled,” and “reground.” The collection features classic styles like the Form and the ZX 500 runner, only made with recycled and natural materials. You’ll want to keep your eyes peeled and your credit card poised for the launch of these stylish sneaks. I cannot wait to get "my Adidas"!
We raved about the mkLotus at West Coast Green last September, and now we're going to do the same with the mkSolaire. This fabulous prefab from Michelle Kaufmann Designs just opened its sustainably-minded doors at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) exhibit, Smart Home: Green + Wired. The fully functioning modular home gives museum-goers the opportunity to learn about the future of green building! With environmental considerations taken through and through, the mkSolaire showcases the latest and greatest technology. Using smart design, a range of eco materials and striving for the best in energy efficiency and water conservation, this is 2,500 square feet of eco-goodness. For all the juicy details, click here. The mkSolaire is taking the windy city by storm...so brace yourself!
Looking for an alternative to that tacky diaper bag chock full of PVC and other harmful materials? Ecofab moms and dads will love Fleurville’s Re-Run Messenger Bag. Begun by parents Steve and Catherine Granville, Fleurville is a certified San Francisco Bay Area Green Business and is committed to crafting stylish, functional, and environmentally friendly products for parents. The Re-Run bag is a smaller version of the original MotherShip bag, but still functions just as well for parents on the go (and is better for the more petite parent). Made with Re-Run, a recycled plastic bottle fabric, the bag saves 10 plastic water bottles from the landfill and is available in six styles. The PVC- and Teflon-free Re-Run Messenger Bag also includes a Re-Run changing pad, wipe case, and carabiner (in case you need to go climbing with baby, or just a really sturdy place to hold your keys).
We know that beauty comes from within. But that doesn’t seem to stop blemishes from popping up right before big date nights and important meetings. And call us shallow, but when you’ve woken up on the wrong side of bed and there’s no beauty radiating from inside, a little makeup goes a long way. For a natural look, stock up on fresh finish mineral cream makeup from sukicolor. Made without synthetic materials, the line is comprised of ingredients purchased from ethical, fair trade and small business sources. The glass packaging cuts down on harmful plastics, and the paper packaging is recycled stock printed with vegetable ink. And, as sukicolor shows, sometimes beauty comes from within the makeup — just take a look at the pure cream stain for lips and cheeks, made with 100 percent natural crushed mineral pigments. Pretty nice!
Mother's Day is just around the corner (May 11th, for the truly preoccupied). In our experience, if there's one thing a mom really wants, it's to spend the day with her kids. So we're thinking, what better way to celebrate than a beautiful, organic meal from an eco-eatery?
Raising a baby can amass copious amounts of belongings as they grow... and grow out of everything. This Sunday, in addition to appreciating your own mother, you may consider another's. Baby2Baby, a Los Angeles non-profit, provides essential baby gear and clothing to mothers affected by homelessness, domestic violence, poverty and drug abuse through a recycling program. Donating your gently used baby belongings will not only free up space, but will save resources and make someone's Mother's Day a little brighter. Love that!
Nacional Records and Voto Latino have teamed up to release a benefit album exclusively on iTunes. The 15-track album features songs by Pitbull, Don Omar, Aterciopelados, David Garza, and Ozomatli and costs only $3.99. By using celebrity voices, technology, and the power of youth, Voto Latino promotes positive change in the Latino community—one of their most important platforms is voter empowerment. Proceeds from the album will be directly donated to the organization to help with voter registration, education and other initiatives. Plus, by downloading your music from services like iTunes, you’re drastically cutting down on the amount of waste a typical CD produces. And, you get to skip the frustrating task of removing that long sticker at the top of the case.
Many people, yes, even ecofabulous contributors, have been known to get their shower running, tend to other matters and then return to a steamy stream of gushing water - all the while two-and-a-half gallons of water per minute have been funneling down the drain. Our house has a d'mand system, but costing $500 and requiring professional installation it is an investment (one that renters might not be up for). The fact still remains that water heating is the 3rd largest energy expense in a typical American household (14% of the average utility bill), which is why I like the ShowerStart feature from Evolve. Evolve showerheads get the water warm and then go into "trickle mode" until you are ready for your rinse off. It has a low flow setting, which is another water-saving feature. I suddenly feel like I need a little spritz!
Palm Woven is a recent (and my favorite) addition to Smith & Fong's Durapalm repertoire. This un-wood comes from plantation grown coconut palms which grow abundantly throughout the world. After a palm's useful life (about 100 years for nut production), they are replaced by younguns. Smith & Fong utilizes these felled oldies but goodies (otherwise generally discarded) while also providing supplemental income to the farmers. With non-toxic adhesives and formaldehyde-free finishes, Durapalm also meets LEED criteria for low-emissions. Palm Woven comes in easily interlocking panels for a unique textural surface that makes a serious statement. I can see this as an accent wall or a back splash, but I would love to hear your ideas for use!
The countdown to Mother's Day has begun. If you are as busy as I am (or just plain forgetful), you still haven't organized a gift! Luckily, you still have time to get your mom/important woman in your life a thoughtful gift. Not only are the gorgeous bouquets from Organic Style void of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, FedEx Next Day Service means they arrive in their freshest form and deliver nothing but the sentiment of love. Plus, ecofabulous readers get a 15% discount. The Lavendar Bath Spa Kit is a relaxing alternative or addition to flowers. My children are still making craft paper creations, but some day I hope to receive an eco-abundant gift from them! Click here to receive your ecofab discount.
We had tons of reasons to love Nau: a corporate code of social and environmental responsibility, a commitment to making stylish and sustainable clothing, and a program that enabled buyers to choose a charity where 5% of their sale went. So why, oh why did they go out of business? It is definitely not because they were on the road to righteousness. It is simply the fate of many internet-based business...they raised too much money (but not enough) and tried to scale too quickly. The clothing industry is tough and trying to sell garments on the internet before launching stores where people could try on the incredibly comfy and flattering pieces was a fatal error. Writing this post brings tears to my eyes. The team was so passionate and committed. There is good news in all of this bad news, however, because you can get all of their rocking outerwear at 50% off. Had my husband not ordered two more pairs of the sexy organic jeans and a gorgeous jacket to match just a week before this announcement, he would be the first to click. Nau it is time to say farewell and hope that the team brings their vision to another endeavor. With admiration and sadness, Zem and the ecofabulous team.
*Photo by Ben Moon
The last couple of weeks have been even busier than usual, thanks to Earth Day. April 23rd I hosted a Benefit with Nadine Weil (Heart of Green), co-sponsored by ecofabulous, 7x7 magazine and Veev to present the launch of the Healthy Child Healthy World book, a resource guide that promotes toxic-free living. The reigning heiress of eco-chic fashion, Linda Loudermilk, showed her sustainable, seriously sexy and very wearable designs at a trunk show at Eco-Citizen, followed by a reception at the home of the eco-home, Spring.
Unveiling contemporary, custom furnishings, the Moe Design Studio in New Mexico has taken what was once probably slated for landfill and turned it into timeless possessions for the home. Talk about extending a life! From such obscure places as a tobacco barn in Tennessee and an old textile mill in Massachusetts, discarded architectural elements are reshaped with non-toxic, eco-friendly adhesives and finished with materials mostly sourced through a local company, BioShield (see our recent post here). We've got our eye on the Olathe Table in particular; available with a variety of insertable tops (glass, stone or wood) and in reclaimed hickory or oak, this is a table easily influenced by your personal tastes, available from Vivavi.
