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.
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.
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).
It's certainly getting easier to find organic threads for kids, but finding fashionable clothing is a recent revelation. Sprout is adding a little bit of cute with a healthy dose of hip to the sustainable children's fashion world. The super soft clothing is made of rapidly renewable bamboo, organic cotton and other organic and sustainable fabrics such as kira (made from corn) and soy. They use low impact dyes and screen prints to add a little bit of eco-flare to their clothes. Owner and designer Maegan shares her vision, "Anyone who can remember joyful outdoor play and wants to leave the Earth clean for our little sprouts and grandsprouts is an honorary Sprout." Click here to find out where you can purchase these adorable duds. Or, if you happen to find yourself in Los Angeles on Abbot Kinney, stop into Eden's Green Closet to feel the collection for yourself.
April has been all about the earth (as every day should be). Now we're launching into the inaugural Pregnancy Awareness Month. Join founder and ecofabulista herself, Anna Getty, for the kick-off event in Los Angeles. On May 1st "Motherhood Begins Now" will be joined by an amazing line-up of individuals including Dr. Alan Greene, author of Raising Baby Green, Josie Maran (of her aptly named cosmetics line & mother to Rumi Joon) and Christopher Gavigan, CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World (who will receive a portion of the event's proceeds). Parents and parents-to-be, come get coached in all that is pre and post natal, enjoy a delicious organic lunch and take home a gift bag for baby. All in the name of bringing healthy, happy babies into the world (one that supports them).
Finding products that are fun, safe and effective for kids hasn't always been easy. TruKid's line of soaps, washes, sunscreens, lotions, shampoos and conditioners are all natural, organic, non-toxic and paraben-free. TruKid is kid-friendly to the core - they've even implemented a learning system! Each bottle is color coded, with a fun symbol and pattern to help identify which product is for their bodies, hair and faces and whether or not they need their parent's help to apply it. You can read more about their products on the Healthy Child Healthy World site, or if you live in LA, you can pick up the sunscreen and sunsticks at Eden's Green Closet.
When I was setting up my first baby's room I scoured all of the the stores in my area and the web to find furniture that didn't compromise my aesthetics nor the health of my child. It was a futile experiment. Thankfully for any new ecofabulous moms, there are now a number of excellent options. Lullaboo line from Celery is firmly committed to providing nursery digs that are good for parents (think easy assembly with NO hardware needed), good for baby (healthy and safe) and good for the environment (no deforestation or nasty emissions here). Selecting bamboo with non-toxic adhesives and 100% recycled formaldehyde-free medium density fiberboard with zero to low-VOC finishes, you won't have to worry about damaging the Indoor Air Quality of perhaps the most important room in the house - the nursery. And it converts into an adorable bed for toddlers, extending its useful life! The Lullaboo Crib comes in quite a few color configurations and has complimenting accessories, such as the chic changing table, a kid-sized rocking chair and a modern take on the classic rocking horse. For an even earlier start, check out Celery's cool cradle. Celery focuses on creating great furniture but the website definitely leaves something to be desired, however, Lullaboo is easy to find on the web so I encourage you to buy from a dealer you trust and one that promises to deliver in time for your special delivery (with eco-packaging options, too)!
Organic sheets have been around for a long time, but kids want bold colors and patterns, and finding that in an organic option has been next to impossible, until now, that is. I like Pixel Organics because they meet my stringent environmental demands while quenching my children's thirst for fun. Made in the US, the organic cotton, sustainable and regenerated fibers are spun into pajamas and sheets. Dyes are solely water-based, and the company relies on eco-friendly materials like REFILL - regenerated PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate) fibers from
processing discarded bottles, recycled into the fill for their pillows and mattresses - and Pure Grow Wool. A member of 1% for the Planet, Pixel Organics also produces pillows and mattress pads for the younger crowd. If you live in LA, you can pick up Pixel Organics at my super stylish sister's new store on Abbot Kinney - Eden's Green Closet (named after my adorable niece). I will post about it in the next few days, so stay tuned!
The Uncle Goose Alphabet Blocks are a chic take on this iconic children's toy, and are sustainable to boot. The blocks are carved out of Basswood that is planted and harvested domestically (around the Great Lakes), and the company has taken strides to minimize waste in production and packaging. They also utilize non-toxic inks that adhere to the stringent guidelines put forth by European EN-71 regarding toy safety - Important when there's little doubt these blocks will make their way into your child's, or even your pet's, mouth (don't worry; replacements are available). Showcasing impeccable craftsmanship with embossed numbers, letters and animals, here's a tried-and-true learning tool that builds upon imagination in classic and eco style.
Not so long ago four toy designers joined forces after being disappointed by the negative environmental impact their toys were causing. Their new company, Sprig Toys, uses recycled and reclaimed materials and relies on children’s activities to power the toys. The adventure cars are crafted from SprigWood, a bio-composite material made of recycled wood and reclaimed plastic. No batteries are required to power these stylistically minimalist toys, instead, kids push and pump the vehicles to trigger movement, lights, and noises (imagine that). The headlamps of the eco-explorers light up when placed in the vehicles, and they can be swapped from car to car to hear different adventure audio tales. Not only do Sprig Toys have a smaller impact on the environment than typical plastic playthings, but they’ll turn couch fingerling potatoes into active youngsters. My daughter, who is mortified by phthalates, will be thrilled to drive into this wiser world.
