eco-chic design

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.

give the gift of giving with a nature-inspired beauty pouch

After a super-soothing massage at my favorite eco-friendly spa in Manhattan I discovered these adorable pouches on my way out. Maybe I was too relaxed thanks to the amazing treatment at Pratima Ayurvedic Skincare Spa but I really loved the nature-inspired designs. I learned that Pratima created the Beauty in Giving Bag in collaboration with The Hunger Project. The eco-chic beauty pouch is made with 100% organic hemp and lined with 100% organic cotton. The graphic pattern uses water-based paints and is naturally dried in the sun. It’s designed by Valentine Viannay and personally hand-silk printed by the artist with the help from a local women-run business in San Diego. The design reflects the pure herbs, roots, and flowers of the Pratima products. Every pouch looks slightly different and 100% of the proceeds from each purchase go towards The Hunger Project Initiative in India.

Pratima Ayurvedic Skincare Spa is LEED-certified with a décor that includes natural cork, bamboo flooring, and flaxseed or hemp carpets. The walls are coated with non-toxic paint or natural earth clay. You can also buy the natural skincare line that uses botanicals from sustainable farms in the US and India. It’s chemical and preservative free. So far I only used the refreshing mint eye gel made of a botanical blend with organic Mint, Aloe, and Triphala but really like it. Since the stressful holidays are approaching quickly I might also try the calming organic bath salts soon. And take a deep breath.

the ultimate eco-luxury in bedding that’s effortlessly chic

My last highlights from NYIGF were the incredibly luxurious and sustainable throws by Sefte. Their gorgeous knits are hand-crocheted by artisans in the high Andes of Peru made from organic yarns that include alpaca, baby alpaca, merino wool and cotton. The whole collection looked stunning and felt incredibly soft to the touch. My two favorite designs, the hand-crocheted Paya throw in cream and charcoal and the Kimsa throw in 5 different colorways are both made of 100% baby alpaca. In case you didn’t know like myself baby alpaca does not refer to the age of the animal but to the diameter of the hair. The fiber might come from the first clip of the shearling alpaca or the softest part of the adult alpaca, the chest. No wonder it’s so rare and high-end looking. The pigments used to dye the throws are environmentally friendly and Oeko-Tex certified to ensure the absence of harmful substances to human health.

What made me appreciate the elegant designs even more was to learn that the yarn for the throws is purchased through the Mirasol project in Peru. The Mirasol project is based on fair-trade to ensure that the Andean alpaca shepherds receive a better price for their yarn. It covers the cost of sustainable production plus an extra premium that’s invested in social or economic development projects. The Mirasol project encourages the continuation of ancient weaving traditions. And I can easily see any of Sefte's eco-chic throws become a family heirloom as well.

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?

sustainable pillows designed around communities at NYIGF

One of my favorite products at NYIGF this week were the Geo Spiral Embroidery Alpaca Blend Pillows by Carpenter + Company. I discovered them through the sustainability display since I loved the modern design combined with high-quality and natural materials. Once I met the designer and founder Patti Carpenter I was really impressed by the company’s mission. She mentioned that the nesting circles on the pillows are inspired by their reoccurring theme within indigenous embroidery but also represent a sense of community. And that’s what her work is all about.   

Carpenter + Company helps to conserve, sustain, and support traditional craftsmanship in Bolivia and Guatemala by encouraging younger generations to continue the skills through fair trade wages that are set by the artisans themselves. It enables indigenous men to stay with their families instead of seeking migrant work. In the case of the Geo Spiral Embroidery Alpaca Blend Collection the designer works with artisans from the Alto Plano regions of Bolivia. They use centuries-old indigenous techniques like pedal loom weaving and hand embroidery to create the beautiful pillows. Alpaca is a natural and sustainable fiber and gives those eco-modern pillows a very luxurious, almost silky look and feel. It has no lanolin which makes it hypoallergenic. There’s also a matching throw in the same color combination. My favorite pillow though was the same design in heather grey with light green stitching. It looks very chic and is something to look forward to for fall.

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.

recycled paper transformed into eco-modern home accessories

Last week at ICFF the colorful cushions made out of recycled paper by Japanese company Qurz Inc. caught my attention since they were surprisingly soft. I couldn’t believe that they were made of recycled paper. It turned out that the structured looking paper cushions are made by weaving together recycled twisted paper after a softening process. The smooth surface looks very unique and almost feels like paper with a satin sheen. 

Qurz Inc. was founded by the Japanese designer Takumi Shimamura in 2005 after he spent some time as a car designer at Subaru. The recycled cushions are part of his product line cuiora. All cuiora products are made from woven bands of 100% recycled paper that traditionally were used for carrying heavy rice bags in Japan. Now these sturdy bands are skillfully used to create contemporary home accessories such as paper cushions, striped fruit bowls and striped lampshades. The eco-friendly fruit bowls and lampshades are made by firmly rolling the paper bands into a spiral shape. In both cases I was amazed that post-consumer recycled paper can look this beautiful. Especially since I’m quite guilty myself of creating paper waste on a daily basis. It’s great to see a company value recycled paper by artfully turning it into useful everyday objects.

Swedish sustainable fashion inspired by activism

The opening of the exhibition “Eco Chic – Towards Sustainable Swedish Fashion” at the Scandinavia House proved Tuesday night that sustainable fashion can look stylish. I’ve always loved the simplicity and smartness of Swedish design. It was enlightening to see the same sensitivity in sustainable fashion. All Swedish designers were carefully selected based on their eco-friendly and ethical approach. I loved watching the short film “Globalization” that raises the question if there’s such a thing as sustainable globalization. It follows Annika Axelsson, one of the founders of Dem Collective, starting her own manufacturing facility for her sustainable clothing line in Sri Lanka. All employees are paid a living wage based on actual living costs, three times higher than the national minimum wage.

The video set the tone for the rest of the exhibit by illustrating that ecology, ethics and well-designed quality can coexist. Some of my favorite eco-designs at the exhibition were by Dem Collective, Camilla Norrback and Zion Clothing. Camilla Norrback calls her ecological line Ecoluxury and skews more upscale like her modern black coat made of organic cotton. Currently 75% of her collection is made from organically certified materials. Zion’s line is inspired by street fashion and music like the dark green hooded sweater and T-shirt made of organic cotton. All dyeing and printing is water-based without the use of heavy metals. It was a fun surprise to see the hand-made wooden shoes by Swedish Hasbeens based on the original 1970s models that complement any eco-outfit.

from fire hose waste to fashion accessories

Prompted by a visit to the London Fire Brigade Kresse Wesling, the founder of Elvis & Kresse learned that a fire hose can’t be recycled. That’s how the idea to turn reclaimed waste into fun and functional life-style accessories originated. Since then Elvis & Kresse has been sourcing waste materials from brigades all over the UK. It’s only fair to give discarded fire hoses a second life after they saved the lives of so many people. The upcyled line of life-style accessories encompasses bags and wallets but the belts and iPhone cases are my favorites. The belts make great sustainable summer accessories with their colorful designs in red and yellow. The unisex ladybird belt has a solid rectangular buckle, made with 100% reclaimed pewter. Not only is the outer skin of the Elvis & Kresse iPhone case made from discarded fire hose but the inside is lined with reclaimed parachute silk. Expect irregularities on the outside shell since the hose itself is vintage. But that’s what makes them cool.

Elvis & Kresse is always on the lookout for new, or may I say old materials to upcycle them into eco-modern fashion or home accessories. The company looks at the full-life cycle of their products by ensuring that shipping materials are reclaimed or reused such as old tea sacks and end-of-line labels. Plus it donates 50% of their of profits to the Fire Fighters Charity. All this gets me thinking what else I can reuse.