eco-chic design

sustainable fashion and jewelry with a mission

NOW Showcase in NYC last month featured some of the newest trends in sustainable fashion and accessories. The location made it easy to get around this year since it was at ICO gallery. Los Angeles based eco-fashion designer Linda Loudermilk had a great quote on a banner leading up to her collection that read “nature is the original punk.” I loved her white shirts for men and women that featured a cool illustration of a water faucet on the back and are part of her water is a human right collection. I had seen the powerful icon on t-shirts, tank tops and scarves before and it’s even available as jewelry in copper, silver or gold. Her website states that more than 1 billion people worldwide do not have access to clean, safe drinking water. That’s why 17% of proceeds of her mission wear collection are donated to clean water initiatives all around the world.

Two other jewelry designers caught my eye as well. I loved Kimberlin Brown’s coral reef pendants that are handcrafted from recycled 18 karat gold. She recently joined SeaWeb’s coral conservation campaign entitled ‘Too Precious To Wear’ that’s dedicated to celebrate the ocean without harming it. And last I was really impressed by Article 22’s hand cast aluminum bracelets made from repurposed bomb metal from the Vietnam War. I guess you can tell by now that I really love design for a cause.

stylish and sustainable coffee sleeves

Occasionally I still use disposable paper cups for coffee or tea but I make it a point to opt out of the cardboard sleeves to reduce my eco-guilt. Megan Auman’s cozy/cuffs made out of wool felt are a great eco-modern alternative. Not only are they reusable and keep your fingers from getting burnt but they also double as eco-chic bracelets. I’ve raved about the sustainability of wool felt in pillows before and I’m glad to see the eco-friendly material used in a multifunctional application. It’s another way to reduce waste.

The design of the cozy/cuffs is inspired by Megan’s jewelry and sculptural objects that explore floral patterns found in textiles and decorative ironwork. They are laser cut and made of 100% wool felt imported from Germany. All designs are locally manufactured at her studio in Jonestown, Pennsylvania. I love the modern take on floral designs and the contemporary use of colors like light green, turquoise blue or simply grey and black. Not only can you color coordinate the eco-chic accessories to any outfit, but they also make a statement that you care about the environment. The eco-friendly cozy/cuffs are a great conversation starter about wasteful paper consumption. Maybe next time you’ll pick up more than fair-trade organic coffee at your favorite coffee shop.

plant a tree for christmas

The holidays are all about giving. So why not give back to the environment while shopping for gorgeous jewelry from Nugaard Designs founded by Brazilian born Alessandra Feio and Erica Pacey.

Nugaard Designs joined forces with “Trees for the Future” to help fight global warming by having a tree planted for every piece sold from their FLORA collection made with real leaves dipped in silver and gold. This way the jewelry collection doesn’t only look cool, but also helps to cool down the planet by supporting reforestation. I love the bold designs of their round leaf cuff and round leaf necklace. But if you’re looking for a more delicate version you might want to check out the leaf & crystal necklace and earrings at delight.com. Give the gift of giving - even if it’s to yourself.