eco-chic design

the master of organic hair care

While working as a salon stylist in the 80s John Masters set out to create the ultimate organic hair care line to establish a toxin-free salon environment. Since then he launched John Masters Organics, which was the first comprehensive, luxury-organic hair care line. I love the smell of his rosemary & peppermint conditioner with organic plant oils, protein and vitamins that comes in a sleek, slightly elongated bottle. It doesn’t only detangle my hair, but also clears my head – something I can really use these days.

All his products are paraben-free, contain no petro-chemicals and use plant extracts and essential oils that are 75% - 100% organic. In addition all essential oils are steam-distilled and all plant oils are cold pressed. His ingredients are biodegradable and the packaging is recyclable.

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.

a modern take on eco-travel

In case you’ll be visiting friends or family for the holidays you might want to take your eco-conscience with you in one of these fabulous, leather-free travel bags by Matt & Nat. The company is based in Montreal and was founded in 1997 by creative director Inder Bed. He has been on the cutting edge of innovative materials with his spring 08 nylon collection made entirely of recycled plastic bottles that he converted into felt for his fall 08 collection. Matt & Nat has a great selection of structured looking, eco-friendly bags ranging from shoulder bags to diaper bags. I love the vegan leather overnight bag “Bauhaus” in  plum, black, or brown with faux suede lining, vintage tone on tone trim and antique silver and brushed nickel hardware. It has multiple pockets for your cellphone, PDA or passport. And if you’re feeling really fashion-forward you might want to check out the new pool collection that will add a little shine to your holidays.

get into the green holiday spirit

I wish I could redesign my apartment with sustainable furniture for the approaching New Year, but for now a good eco-chic cleaning might have to do. Luckily there’s Minneapolis based Caldrea with its line of earth-friendly products to clean your home without harsh chemicals or harsh fragrances.

Instead they use finest plant-derived ingredients and essential oils to create their signature scents. Their products are biodegradable and not tested on animals. The packaging looks gorgeous and is recyclable. To give your home a festive scent for the holidays you might want to try Ginger Pomelo, which has hints of citrus and ginger. This bright, juicy citrus family has cheering and energizing qualities in aromatherapy – a spirit that might come in handy for the holidays.

the ultimate open air office

There’s nothing solo about the SOLo lounge table, since once plugged in you can surround yourself with your latest gadgets charged by renewable energy. The SOLo lounge table is an incredibly chic outdoor table by Intelligent Forms with a built-in solar panel surface.

The table top's glass panel contains silicon-based solar cells that can produce 73 kilowatt hours of solar energy per year based on sunny California. It comes with USB, lighter, and 3 electrical outlets so that you can charge your laptop or phone. I love the stainless steel for the table shell and legs in combination with the tempered glass for the table top. After a work day in eco-style you can enjoy the soft glow of the internal LED lights in the evening. I call this the workplace of the future.