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.

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.

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.

detoxify your body, mind and mat

Still new to yoga I finally bought my very own eco-friendly mat before my trip to a yoga retreat in the Bahamas last week. Now I’m back here in Manhattan trying to give my mat its first cleaning. Part of me still wants to hold on to the smell of the ocean breeze. But let’s face it: pranayamas (breathing exercises) are much easier without any distracting odor from previous sessions.

The yoga and fitness cleaner from Stirlen does just that thanks to its natural and plant-based ingredients that are citrus scented but won’t linger. The proprietary blend contains coconut surfactants to remove body sweat, body oils and floor dirt, citrus oil to remove body oils and deodorize and potassium sorbate to extend the life of your mat. Not only are the ingredients non-toxic and break down when released back into the environment, but also the wipes are 100% biodegradable and the packaging is recyclable. I love how clean and simple the bottle design is – it gives you room to breathe. And luckily with the Stirlen Chi Mat Cleanser you can make that a deep breath.

saves space and the planet

A few weeks ago I had to visualize a future commute as sustainable as possible without petroleum or other fossil fuels being burned in my class for sustainable design at MCAD. The exercise was quite simple because 82% of Manhattanites like myself go to work by public transportation, by bike, or on foot as per “The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook”. Since I love great modern eco-design I chose to commute on the very cool Strida 5.0 folding bike.

What I love about the Strida 5.0 as a space deprived New Yorker is that it’s perfect to be stored in small apartments. Its triangular frame of lightweight, rustproof aluminum lets you fold it in 5 seconds. You can’t beat that. If you go to Strida’s homepage there’s a cute little animation that quickly shows you how it works. The Strida 5.0 weighs only 22 pounds and can be rolled once folded. You can easily carry it inside an office or take it on a train since it’s about the size of a stroller. I really love the idea that I could take it anywhere, since I had my bike stolen once before here in the city. And best of all it would help me stay in shape with green style.

sporty green bottle design

This weekend I rediscovered my CamelBak Better Bottle that I had received as a promotional gift from google last year. Being a devoted Sigg fan I haven’t used it since, but I decided to give it a try at the gym and really liked it.

The CamelBak Better Bottle is spill-proof thanks to its innovative “flip, bite-N-sip” design. It’s made out of Eastman Tritan copolyester and completely BPA-free. In case you’re a creature of habit and can’t let go of lifting and tipping the bottle, simply remove the straw on the inside. Or get the Better Bottle with a classic cap. The opening is big enough for ice cubes during the summer. My CamelBak Better Bottle is a gorgeous blue, but they come in many vibrant colors. If you’re looking for attitude check out the stylish designs ranging from graffiti to houndstooth. Either way I love that you can see what’s on the inside. You won’t have any excuse anymore to not hydrate at the gym or hikes since it comes with a loop that easily clips to a backpack with a carabiner. And think about all the disposable water bottles that you’ll keep out of landfills while exercising. I can finally say: thank you google.

sustain yourself this year

One of my resolutions for the New Year is to start yoga and I already found my first exercise. Inhale: check out the great designs of yogoco yoga bags. Exhale: notice they are made of recycled t-shirt scraps.

The yogoco yoga bag was designed by Avi Woolman to have a mat section with mesh fabric to keep the mat aired and another section to hold your towel, bottle of water or keys. All patterns are fun, whimsical and motivating, but my favorite design is buddha's garden in red and black floral. The best part though is that the fabric is made from pre-consumer T-shirt scraps, discarded during the apparel cut and sew process. This reduces incinerator and landfill use plus it saves water, since it requires no new dying and adds no pollutants. Yogoco prints all bag tags, business cards and brochures on recycled paper with soy and vegetable-based inks. I can’t think of a more stylish way to take better care of myself and the environment. Please leave a comment once in a while to make sure I follow through.