eco-chic design

urban reusable shopping bags that support a good cause

Every year at NYIGF here in New York I browse the sustainability display to find new eco-chic products. This year there were a lot of great eco-friendly, fair-trade and sustainable designs but what really got my attention were the Homeboy Tote Bags. These cool reusable shopping bags launched last year and are designed by Studio Artecnica and NYC-based designer Alex Lin in collaboration with Homeboy Industries in LA. I had written about Artecnica’s Design w/Conscience program before which creates contemporary products rooted in humanitarian and eco-friendly principles. Their eco-modern designs are mostly produced in developing countries but lately Artecnica seems to be more involved with local initiatives like Homeboy Industries. The Homeboy Tote Bags are reusable and keep plastic or paper bags out of landfills. But these urban-chic shopping bags do so much more since they were designed in collaboration with artists at Homeboy Industries who were formerly gang members. They are screen-printed by the Homeboy Industries screen-printing shop with provocative slogans by the organization’s founder and Jesuit priest Father Greg Boyle. All designs feature cool calligraphy with messages like “nothing stops a bullet like a job”, “hard work is easier than hard time”, and “if you hang around the barbershop you’ll wind up with a haircut”. What I love about the collaboration is that it draws attention to the gang intervention program, creates income for Homeboy Silkscreen and provides ex-gang members the opportunity to engage in a local business. A portion of the proceeds of each canvas tote goes to support Homeboy Industries.

sustainable streetwear made of bamboo-based fabrics

As a designer I love cool graphics and that’s what attracted me first to LA based Arbor Collective. I always knew that the company uses eco-friendly materials to produce their snowboards and skateboards such as bamboo, recycled glass or water based finishes. But I wasn’t aware of their amazing line of bamboo apparel until my recent visit to their flagship store in Venice. 

Arbor Collective’s bamboo T-shirts for men are super-soft made of bamboo viscose based fabrics. Most of them have a mix of 70% viscose from bamboo with 30% organic cotton blend and are made in Los Angeles. Bamboo viscose fabric is made through a process where cellulose (viscose) is extracted from bamboo and then turned into a fiber that can be spun into a yarn. The environmental benefits of bamboo are endless: it’s a rapidly renewable resource and can grow up to 4 feet per day without requiring any pesticides or chemical fertilizers. It needs less water as well as land than cotton or organic cotton and adds nutrients back into the soil instead of depleting it. But most of all bamboo has great performance benefits: it helps to regulate body temperature, is breathable, wicks moisture away and has anti-microbial properties. Many graphics on the eco-friendly T-shirts are created in collaboration with artists such as Haunted Euth. Arbor Collective also annually donates at least 5% of their profits to organizations that protect and restore the planet and makes their in-store displays with recycled or sustainable materials. I’ll be back for sure.

cool kiwi fashion designs inspired by nature

When I was at Ecostore in Auckland I picked up the handy "good shopping handbook” which is an amazing resource for green and ethical products. It introduced me to the funky and home-grown fashion designs of New Zealand based chalkydigits. Their locally made and sustainable clothes used to be hard to come by. All styles are always limited to keep the collection fresh and original. There almost seems to be a cult following around their cool graphics and eco-conscious designs.

Chalkydigits keeps all production locally in New Zealand and uses sustainable fabrics such as merino and organic cotton as much as possible. The merino wool used in their eco-friendly designs is zque certified to ensure that the production is sustainable, ethical and traceable. Their winter 11 collection is inspired by Codfish Island; home to New Zealand’s precious parrot, the kakapo. Chalkydigits’ website has some gorgeous photographs from Codfish Island and I love that the entire winter range is designed around the kakapos and their habitat. My favorite design is the women’s feathered nest merino tunic made of 100% merino wool that you can wear as a top or dress. I know it’s hard to think about winter but you can wear a lot of their eco-chic clothes all year around. Merino wool keeps you warm in the winter and has a cooling effect during the summer. Here’s the really exciting news: chalkydigits is now available online. All through April, 5% of online sales will be donated to the Red Cross Christchurch earthquake appeal 2011.

tread lightly this spring with eco-friendly footwear

Shoes just like jeans I need to try on before purchasing. That’s why I like that Naturalizer carries Naya’s selection of eco-friendly shoes. To be honest I was not aware of the toxic effects of chrome-tanned leather until my studies in sustainable design. Not only is the chrome-tanning process unhealthy for the eco-system but also humans. Instead Naya offers vegetable-tanned shoes that combine style and sustainability. The word “naya” means renewal and their eco-friendly collection is a great way to kick off the new season.

Naya’s designs reflect their commitment to the environment through material selection and process. Their eco-chic shoes use vegetable-tanned leathers and natural or recycled content fabrics. Even the footbeds contain natural cork and the heels are made of the renewable resource bamboo. Naya looks at the full life-cycle of their eco-chic shoes by ensuring that the boxes are made with 80% recycled paper pulp, soy-based inks and water-based glue. I personally always opt out of boxes to save space and natural resources. But reusable shoe bags I love and theirs are made with recycled PET. Many of Naya’s designs take inspiration from nature such as the Natural Leaf collection. My favorite new styles are the Halima Slides and Alpine Sandals. Both are made with vegetable-tanned leather and the Alpine sandal has a recycled cork outsole with a bamboo heel. The cute designs are a perfect incentive to leave a lighter eco-footprint this spring.

ethically designed organic sportswear from New Zealand

Before my trip to New Zealand I didn’t know much about Maori culture so that I started reading Richard Bang’s “Quest for Kaitiakitanga”. The one thing I learned so far is that they live in harmony with their eco-system. While scouting sustainable fashion in Auckland I was excited to realize that Untouched World’s logo represents a Maori kite to symbolize an ideal relationship between man and nature. Instinctively I loved the design before I even knew what it stands for. 

Untouched World was the first fashion company in the world to be recognized by the United Nations for sustainability in 2007. The sustainable fashion and sportswear brand looks at the full life cycle of their products in regards to their environmental, social, cultural and economic impact. Their garments carry the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UN DESD) logo on their labels - made of organic cotton of course. Untouched World uses materials such as GOTS certified organic cotton, Biogro certified organic merino, sustainably farmed merino, and chemical free bamboo fabric. Even the finishing process includes sustainable materials such as recycled cotton buttons or nut buttons. I love their sportswear collection like their rei hoodee that has some super-cute kangaroo pockets with a tapered waistline for women or the zip shirt for men. Both sustainable garments are made of Untouched World’s Organic Mountainsilk from 100% organic Merino fibres grown without the use of toxic, synthetic pesticides or herbicides. Check out the performance cycling collection as well.

modern outdoor apparel inspired by New Zealand merino

On my plane ride to Auckland I learned that New Zealand has about 4 million people and 44 million sheep. No wonder Wellington-based company Icebreaker has such an amazing collection of merino fiber garments. It was the first outdoor clothing company to develop a merino fiber layering system that now covers sustainable underwear, mid layer and outerwear. I love how the design of the eco-friendly garments is based on simple observations in nature. 

The merino sheep is a perfect example of nature-based innovation. It lives high up in the Southern Alps of New Zealand where a lot of other species can’t survive. This led to its finer fibre wool that increases insulation for winter and breathability during summer. Usually the Merino sheep is shorn in summer leaving it with a thin layer before it bulks up again for winter. Now apply similar principles to humans and you get Icebreaker’s merino wool layering system that combines high-performance with sustainable style. A very knowledgeable sales person at the Icebreaker store in Auckland explained the design system to me. Basically all base and insulation layers come in different weights depending on their warmth so that each garment is labeled with a number. For example the L/S Chase Zip layer in the color belize/silver is part of their performance sports product line in lightweight 200. The bigger the number, the warmer you’ll be. It’s a really cool idea and I agree with Icebreaker’s philosophy: nature is the world’s best designer.

layer up for winter in sleek and sustainable style

The hardest part about going green for me has been to find contemporary clothes. That’s why I’m always glad to see a company with socially and environmentally responsible business practices create more stylish designs like the Patagonia Women's Down With It Vest. It has a great contoured fit with a removable hood and is made of all-recycled polyester.

Patagonia’s website has a section called The Footprint Chronicles that lets you track the environmental impact of some of their clothes. You can view the supply chain of certain styles and see how far they travel to end up in your closet. I applaud the company for their transparent approach. For example the Patagonia Women's Down Sweater uses down from humanely raised geese and has a light shell of recycled polyester. But the product is not yet recyclable. Then you can even view the travel distance, energy consumption, carbon dioxide emission, and generation of waste. I couldn’t find the vest on their list. But I’ve been wearing it for the last few weeks and really like it. It has been great for fall and will carry me through winter with its 600-fill-power premium European goose-down insulation. You can choose between black and two plaid colors: Goji Berry and Raven. The eco-friendly vest has been perfect for running errands on the weekends and spending time in Central Park. It really motivates me to go outside and get my daily dose of sunshine vitamin.

eco-fabulous make-up bags from Australia

It’s always a nice surprise when the design of a product catches my eye first and then it turns out to be eco-friendly. That was the case with the sleek and sustainable make-up bags by Australian based company apple & bee at NYIGF last week. What I loved about the bags was their envelope shape so that they easily double as a purse. And multi-functionality is a big part of sustainable design. The make-up bags are made from 100% organic cotton, non-toxic plant dye, and lined with hemp. I love that they close with a zipper and a flap with a magnetic clasp. They are incredibly well made and come in 5 charming patterns. 

Apple & bee is a Sydney-based company founded by Brett Pattinson, the founder of the natural skincare line bod and designer Claire Morris, the former art director of Marie Claire. Their products combine everyday functionality with contemporary design that’s considerate of the environment. The entire line includes cosmetic, travel and baby bags made from materials like certified organic cotton, bamboo silk, hemp, and burlap/calico. The company is carbon neutral through the organization Climate Friendly. Apple & bee also created the Bee Foundation to support the study of Colony Collapse Disorder affecting honeybees that are needed to support crops and eco-systems. All this sounds pretty amazing to me. Now I just need to decide which eco-friendly make-up bag to get. After all a green life-style is all about being kind to the environment while being good to yourself, right?

eco-design in action at the LOHAS Insight Tour

Last night I returned from my very first LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) Forum and it was beyond awe-inspiring. Of course you can’t beat the setting in Boulder but I’ve never seen such an amazing bunch of entrepreneurs, scientists, and marketers trying to do the right thing. During my first day I attended the LOHAS Insight Tour that took me behind the scenes of several sustainable businesses such as Eco-Cycle, Celestial Seasonings, Gaiam, Ellie’s and the new Tesla Motors showroom. It was great to see “single-stream recycling” at Eco-Cycle up close. The visit reinforced to cut back on paper and plastic consumption to begin with or to recycle responsibly. Andy from ChicoBag was on the tour as well sporting one of his reusable messenger-style bags. His bags are the perfect example how to upcycle waste into useful everyday items that also look cool. The Sling rePETe is made of recycled PET mostly found in plastic drinking bottles and contains other recycled materials like a carabiner made of 97% recycled aluminum. Other styles within the rePETe collection are ultra-lightweight backpacks or produce bags.

My personal highlight of the LOHAS Insight Tour was a Tesla Roadster test drive that was quite exhilarating. I had always admired the sleek design of the electric car and was happy to learn that the company will release the new Tesla S in 2012. It’ll be more affordable and seat 7 people. Sustainable design is definitely more fun when shared. Stay tuned for more LOHAS updates.

yoga apparel that combines style with sustainability

Quite fittingly my favorite jacket these days is called the Nirvana Jacket by Soybu. There’s no better way to describe the state of bliss after making it through my yoga practice. I bought the eco-friendly jacket at the onset of spring at Paragon for exercising or running errands on the weekends and absolutely love it. It has a great sleek fit and never seems to wrinkle plus it contains 44% recycled polyester made from recycled PET.

Not sure why but lately I seem to be on a recycled PET kick. According to Soybu’s website PET is one of the most common consumer plastics used in packaging such as soda or detergent bottles. The Nirvana jacket also has 12% spandex to give it a contoured fit and it feels super-soft. So far I’ve it in black and I’m flirting with the thought of ordering a second one in blue glass for summer. The cute belled arm sleeves make it fun to wear. Most of Soybu’s apparel line combines style, sustainability and performance through their choice of materials. Other eco-friendly fibers include soy, organic cotton or bamboo that’s used in their inner voice tank. The Nirvana Jacket is the first product I bought but I’ve a feeling I’ll be back for more.