eco-chic design

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.

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.

green your workout routine with sustainable materials

Lately I’m fascinated with greener gyms like The Green Microgym in Portland that turns energy created by the use of exercise equipment into power for the building. It made me wonder how else I could green my workout. That’s how I discovered the company Natural Fitness. I’m particularly interested in their professional burst resistant exercise balls since their use as part of a workout is so diverse. Some people call them balance balls since you have to constantly adjust your balance. It’s great for building core strength and the lower back. The best part is that they are made of non-toxic/phthalate-free material that’s safer for your health and the environment. They come in various colors such as slate, moss or flame and go perfectly with the resistance tubes made of natural rubber. The adjustable resistance tubes are a great workout tool for eco-friendly homes or travel since they don’t take up much space. The benefit of products made of natural rubber is that they are phthalate-free, contain no PVC and are biodegradable.

One of Natural Fitness’s founding principles is to offset the impact on the environment that results from the manufacturing and distribution of their eco-fitness products through their Zero Impact Program (ZIP). Their sustainable initiatives include the planting of a tree for every item sold, a full line of 100% eco-friendly yoga products and the use of recycled content paper in all their packaging. It’s great to see a company that helps to balance my body as well as our planet. Now I just need to do my part.

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.

bottled water design with an environmental cause

Finland has some of the world’s best water on tap and you might wonder why anyone who lives there would want to buy bottled water. Unless it looks as cool as the donut shaped bottle from Plup that donates 10 euro cents from every purchase to the Baltic Sea Action Group to help with the cleaning of the Baltic Sea.

The Finish company Plup was founded by designer, artist and director Stefan Lindfors. The innovative donut shaped design allows for the bottle to be stackable, durable and portable which makes it easy to reuse. Even that the 0.4L bottle is made from the highly recyclable plastic HDPE the company would rather see you refill and reuse it. The HDPE bottle looks modern with its clear round body and the starfish-shaped cap. It almost functions as a hip accessory so that you’re less likely to forget your reusable water bottle at home. An optional beltclip makes it easy to carry for hiking or boating. So far the Plup bottle is only available in Finland. Soon it will come in different colors and transparencies depending on other content such as juice. Plup is planning an expansion to other countries like the US and Australia and is on the lookout for charities that fight major local environmental problems. It might be worth checking out.