la libellule

Vous êtes à nouveau chez vous

2009-11-15T08:04:00.000-08:00

I am living in Paris again.

It is love.

Scratch that. It IS.

Paris IS. To me, it is.

Inauguration Items Under $20

2009-01-19T16:37:00.000-08:00

Obama Recycled Cotton Market Bag
EcoWorks
$10

January 20, 2009: If there was ever a moment to feel proud to be an American, it will be tomorrow at noon. We are marking history, and it cannot be overstated.

For an ounce of levity, start the next four years off on a "hopeful" note with a little more Obama-ism.

EcoWorks' simple, recycled cotton tote with a free-drawn Obama visage or "Yes We Can" might just outlast your slogan t-shirt and campaign button. A lovely way to get behind the Pres at only $10 each.

Yes We Can Recycled Cotton Market Bag
$10
EcoWorks

Ooh! Boots on sale.

2009-01-09T20:10:00.000-08:00

Lauren boots
$195 (normally $295)
Terra Plana
www.terraplana.com

Capricorn boots
$175 (normally $275)
Terra Plana
www.terraplana.com

January sales huzzah!

Bundle of joy

2009-01-05T20:17:00.001-08:00

Isidoro C'cahuantico
$104.95
World of Good.com

Few things are better than a scarf that keeps out every breath of cold - and doesn't give you razor burn. My own alpaca scarf from Ecuador is fail-safe. Warm, water-resistant, and never scratchy.

This oversized red and black version by Peruvian weaver Isidoro C'cahuantico is earthy and stylish. You might find a similar pattern at Bloomingdale's, but skip the hassle and support an artisan instead!

Pano-tastic

2008-06-02T18:06:00.001-07:00

A friend took this impressive shot as he was inspecting solar panels today. That view should definitely be a selling point of the product.

Not fashion-y, mais quand même...

Hook up your solar resources with Build it Green

Top 5 of Sustainable Summer Schwag

2008-06-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

Ahhh! Summer is finally here. Well, technically not for another 20 days but I don't think that the bbq's, bikinis, tan-lines, or margaritas will take offense.

To celebrate La Libellule's return from hibernation, I've canvassed the web to bring you the Top 5 Best of Sustainable Summer Schwag:

1.All Natural Sun Shield Sunblock
$12.99 for 6 oz.<

2. Amanda Swimsuit
$122
This adorably chic one-piece is 90% organic cotton by the go-to eco-swim designer; Kelly B.
Click here

3.Plaid Straw Beach Bag by Old Navy
$10

4.Baja BBQ Firepack by Mike and Maaike (SF locals!)
Doing our part to put a dent into the 14,5000 tons of VOC emitted from 46,200 tons of lighter fluid used in the US each year. This biodegradable firestarter get your veggie burgers and carne asada grilled in 20 minutes, without the funny kerosene aftertaste.

5.Herradura Blanco - top-shelf tequila from sustainably raised agave, produced in Jalisco, the birthplace of the drink. Salt or no salt?
$45

A little lemon juice in your hair, and you're set until September!
* 2 cups water
* 2 cups chamomile tea
* 1 tablespoon of parsley
* 1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Boil all the ingredients and let it simmer for 15 mins. Strain out the tea bags and parsley (make sure to remove all of the parsley) and let it sit till room temperature. Poor on to hair over a sink and rinse two or three times.

He Doesn't Know It, But Danny Seo is My New BFF

2008-01-09T20:57:00.000-08:00

An eco heads-up from Apartment Therapy :

Eco-friendly lifestyle super guru Danny Seo has signed on create a line of green household textiles for JC Penney. Come April 2008, we won't have to surf the Internet for sweet enviro deals, just head to your local JCP.

The towels look sumptuous and cozy. And how cute is Danny?

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T16:10:00.000-08:00

Meilleurs voeux pour 2008! Best wishes for the New Year!

xo
La Libellule

re-worked tidbits

2007-12-31T16:52:00.000-08:00

These iron remnants have been re-worked and re-tooled into filigreed gems by welder Cal Lane. Take a gander at today's NY Times Real Estate section to read the full story on her metier.

It was too pretty to pass up!

enviro-sanctified

2007-12-10T16:45:00.000-08:00

Envirosax's floral patterned grocery bags are reusable and cute enough for a daily handbag! At just $8.50 a pop, get one for all your farmer's market girlfriends too.

Visit www.us.envirosax.com for more of these Australian-inspired goodies.

travelicious

2007-12-05T08:28:00.000-08:00

You know how airports only let you take 4oz containers of liquids in your carry-on? Well actually, as I found out last weekend, its only 3.2 oz. Which meant that I had to give up all my precious moisturizers and cleansers to the TSA.

Those guys won't even use them.

Any hoo. A good way to avoid the Attack-of-the-Mini-Toiletry-Snatchers is to use facial cleansing pads instead of a liquid cleanser.

Dickinson Witch Hazel makes pocketable astringent pads that can be easily slipped into luggage. They're also rated one of the safest facial cleansers on the market by Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety.

No more finger-crossing while stuffing your bare necessities into that dang plastic bag.

turkey-ready

2007-11-22T14:14:00.000-08:00

Tofurkey? Check. Vegan gravy? Check. Whole wheat pumpkin pie? Check. How can we make T-Day more earth-friendly? Hmmmmm...

Aha! Organic aprons!

American Feast makes a great 100% organic cotton apron for $14. Find hemp aprons in cool colors at Ecomall.com. Naturally, hemp is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. Take that salmonella!

like a san francisco risotto

2007-11-17T14:23:00.000-08:00

Using petroleum products to clean up spilled petroleum? I hear a Scooby-Doo, "Urngh?"
When you think about it, our hair is one of the best natural oil-absorbers around. Bay Area salons are contributing hair to help make woven hair pads to soak up the bunker oil in the bay.

Second part of the sustainable solution is adding the soaked hair pads to a compost pile with oyster mushrooms. The fungi will eat and absorb oil until it is broken down into hydrocarbon.

Go get a haircut, and contribute that shizz. Matter of Trust is the mastermind behind this sustainable solution. Even the SF Chronicle thinks its great! Click here for the whole story.

FUNGIII!

Barney's NY Green-idays

2007-11-14T21:08:00.000-08:00

Simon Doonan et al create a green wonderland in Barneys New York's holiday windows. The Manhattan mecca is not only stocking the flossiest Balenciaga bag, but a thousand-can strong recycled Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed-Raindeer sculpture.

Some argue it is a fantasy that purchasing environmentally-friendly apparel will have an effect on climate change. To that, I say "duh".

My goal is to spend my hard earned cash consciously, and on products which support a greener solution. If I apply this to clothing, grocery shopping, transportation, even energy consumption I like to believe this will make one-one millionth of a difference. Better than doing nuthin.

The Oil Spill At Home

2007-11-11T22:46:00.000-08:00

Safe to say, I haven't much felt like writing about fashion recently. The Cosco Busan's 58,000 gallons of oil that were spilled into my beloved San Francisco Bay last week have tainted both the ecosystem and our spirit.

Being born, raised, and currently residing in the Bay Area, this disaster is truly touching to me personally and the long term effects are gravely disturbing prospects. Quite simply, it breaks my heart.

For more information on the SF Bay Area oil spill and how to join me as a cleanup volunteer, click on Baykeeper.org.

high strung

2007-11-05T22:22:00.000-08:00

Aoki Traci Lyric Jean
$198

south pacific chic

2007-11-04T15:39:00.000-08:00

Bahay Bags creates woven handbags and clutches made from natural weaves such as raffia, pandan, sabutan, bamboo, and buntal. All Bahay products are hand-woven and inspired by the natural, vibrant aesthetic of the Philippines. The line has received attention from Daily Candy and Lucky magazine, among others.

Allyson Vivid Rain clutch
Sale $70

sweet handbag o mine

2007-10-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

All recycled leather, all the time. Vancouver style.

Junco by Ashley Watson
$250-ish

It looks like a brownie! I have dibs on this one.

boo! green your halloween

2007-10-28T17:17:00.000-07:00

Consider carving an organic pumpkin this Halloween! Blue House Farm in Pescadero Calif. grows these and much more available through their CSA. While you're at it, check out the nearby Half Moon Bay annual Pumpkin Festival! Its well worth the drive.

Save the guts!

Baked pumpkin seed recipe:

Preheat oven to 250 F.
Rinse pumpkin seeds. Use your fingers to remove all the pulp.
Drain pumpkin seeds and discard pulp.
Spread out on paper towels on a cookie sheet to dry overnight.
Line a baking sheet with non-stick foil.

Toss pumpkin seeds in olive oil, butter, or spray with cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, cayenne pepper, or your choice of seasonings. Toss to coat.

Bake about 1 hour, tossing every 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown.

from about.com

julianne moore designs: lutz & patmos exclusive

2007-10-26T23:58:00.000-07:00

Fall 2007 brings the luminous Julianne Moore to the atelier of designers Tina Lutz and Marcia Patmos. Lutz & Patmos' eponymous line has impeccable credentials and has managed to fly under mainstream's radar while garnering accolades in TIME magazine's Coolest Inventions of 2002, projects with Yves Behar, and was selected as a top ten finalist for the 2005 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award.

Sheesh! The ladies know how to work it.

Back to Ms. Moore. The fire-locked patron saint of Greenwich Village has helped create the Everyday Cardigan with a vintage feel and inspired by Julianne's own favorite cardigan.

$30 of each sweater sold will go to Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance. This unfortunate genetic disease is like having autism, epilepsy, and kidney disease all at once.

Visit www.tsalliance.org to give your support. Purchase the Everyday Cardigan online at www.lutzandpatmos.com.

blame canada

2007-10-24T20:48:00.000-07:00

Canucks Passenger Pigeon have mastered the effortless, sexy, comfortable, niche dress. Enough sass and decolletage for Friday night on the town; tailored for a board meeting or chatting around the water cooler.

Using all natural textiles isn't enough for these girls. Noooo. Designers Heather Schibli and Wendy Traas renamed their label in homage to the extinct passenger pigeon . They also support various conservation organizations;

Sustainable Cotton Project
Pesticide Action Network of North America
Organic Trade Association
Ecochoices

So, if we manage to reverse global warming, do as South Park did and blame Canada.

chuck taylor, meet your match

2007-10-22T20:17:00.000-07:00

No Sweat
Olive High-top
$42 - on sale $37

Yeah, Chucks are cool. They're cool when they're fresh out of the box, even cooler when they've walked through beer and put out a few cigarettes. They're kind of like punk-pearl-earrings; they never go out of style.

Good thing there's always room to improve on a classic. No Sweat flips the switch on the iconic high-top sneaks with a 100% fair trade, union made version.

No Sweat's first and foremost objective is to provide quality working conditions and a decent living wage for the garment workers, "We believe the only way to protect
workers anywhere is to defend workers’ rights everywhere." Coming soon, environmentally friendly and organic merchandise.

Longer, Thicker, Fuller, Greener, Lashes.

2007-10-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

Ecco Bella $13.95

Mascara's origins were concocted by cosmetic alchemists whose names we still see in Sephora; Rimmel, Maybelline, and good ol' Helena Rubenstein. At its genesis, mascara was used as a coal-vasoline combo or as a cake of colorant and carnuba wax. Modern mascara production has evolved to include solvents, shellac, and lacquer to the mix.

Ecco Bella has come to the rescue with their all natural black and brown mascara. It lengthens and thickens as well as any Lancome product and is fantastic for sensitive eyes.

Total 360

2007-10-18T23:16:00.000-07:00

360 Vodka is possibly the most environmentally friendly booze on the market. The spirit's Quadruple Distillation process is exceptionally energy efficient and is filtered five times. Sound impressive? Da.

According to the company website, 360 has conserved a veritable laundry list of resources in their packaging and labeling:

26 million tons of BTU
36 trees
1,715 lbs of solid waste
2,924 average miles by car
3,345 lbs of greenhouse gas
15,337 gallons of water.

Spasibo 360.

Parisian Valhalla

2007-10-15T22:48:00.000-07:00

Norse fashionista Leila Hafzi was one of two designers featured in Paris' Ethical Fashion Show last weekend. Her creations are so ephemeral and mermaid-like, I nearly expected a model to fling her hair back and break into "A Whole New World".

that's class

2007-10-11T22:06:00.000-07:00

Next time you're hosting a swishy to-do, you might wanna consider custom letterpress invitations. This one from Studio Olivine is printed on handmade paper using soy based ink, each card is hand fed through the letter press. Each is lovingly created one at a time with meticulous attention to detail and design.

Their boxed notes are equally adorable with a touch of whimsy.

paris hosts: ethical fashion show

2007-10-10T20:30:00.001-07:00

ETHICAL FASHION SHOW® 2007, 4ème Édition
du 11 au 14 OCTOBRE
au Tapis Rouge 67, rue du Faubourg St-Martin Paris (Xe)

Now the REAL fun begins! Four days of runway shows will cover the most au courant and avant garde in sustainable fashion. The firestarters include Veja, Tudo Bom, Ethos, Article 23, Makabu, et des nombreuses autres coming from every continent (sauf Antarctica).Rencontrez les exposants 2007.

Can you FEEL it?!

Lotus Moondance

2007-10-08T21:19:00.000-07:00

Sliding into Lotus Moon's detox bath equates a day at the spa, chez toi! Their website literally lists the contents of this bath for eight paragraphs. Read all about it here: http://www.smbessentials.com/item--Organic-Seaweed-Detox-Bath-24-oz--seadetox

Organic Seaweed Detox Bath $36
$36

www.smbessentials.com

Life Less Ordinary

2007-10-07T22:11:00.000-07:00

The Life Imagined stationary company is tucked into a tiny town east of Santa Cruz, likely surrounded by organic vegetable farms and far off the beaten path. Their products range from eco & animal-friendly handbags, rooster flasks, to greeting cards of Saint Paris Hilton.

Set of 6
$24

My favorite is the art-deco wasp flask.
$35

Le Mur Vegetal et Stella McC

2007-10-06T19:03:00.000-07:00

J'adore Patrick Blanc. The French botanist has garnered press for his creations known as "vertical vegetal walls", installed on the faces of offices buildings and inside the homes of hoity-toity aristocrats.

This week, Blanc contributed an enormous curtain of vines and living greenery to Stella McCartney's Spring 2008 Paris runway show. After the show, the gorgeous living mass will be donated to a low-income housing project in the banlieu of Boulogne. The joint effort is designed to promote ecology at a street level.

Oh yeah. Stella McCartney's collection wasn't half bad either.

patty cake

2007-10-04T22:34:00.000-07:00

$98 Chypre organic perfume

Old world yet modern and new-school. All Patyka's frangrances and body care products are certified organic by Eco-Cert and Cosmetique Charte Cosmebio, and are close to heavenly.

The Chypre fragrance captures the exoticism of ylang ylang with a touch of geranium in a refined apothecary-style bottle. Gotta be careful about what you spray near your lymph nodes. At the one-and-only baptism I've ever attended I broke out in hives after wearing a perfume gone bad.

Patyka's products do not contain silicone, petroleum, PEG, sulfates, parabens, or phenoxyethanol. They also grow and extract all their own organic materials! Green thumbs, they have.

Online at www.patyka.com and www.luileiny.com

LLL: libellule loves loudermilk

2007-10-03T00:10:00.001-07:00

Yeah yeah, I know ponchos are soo 2003. Somehow, Linda Loudermilk has reintroduced the concept with this poncho/cape from her Fall 2007 collection. Embroidered flames on organic wool makes a solid elemental matchup.

Its reeaall small, but go to www.lindaloudermilk.com for the full sized image.

recogniizze!

2007-10-01T22:41:00.000-07:00

Fair trade front page in today's New York Times, fo sheeze:

Fair Trade in Bloom
By ANDREW DOWNIE
Published: October 2, 2007

VARGINHA, Brazil — Rafael de Paiva was skeptical at first. If he wanted a “fair trade” certification for his coffee crop, the Brazilian farmer would have to adhere to a long list of rules on pesticides, farming techniques, recycling and other matters. He even had to show that his children were enrolled in school.

“I thought, ‘This is difficult,’” recalled the humble farmer. But the 20 percent premium he recently received for his first fair trade harvest made the effort worthwhile, Mr. Paiva said, adding, it “helped us create a decent living.”

More farmers are likely to receive such offers, as importers and retailers rush to meet a growing demand from consumers and activists to adhere to stricter environmental and social standards.

Mr. Paiva’s beans will be in the store-brand coffee sold by Sam’s Club, the warehouse chain of Wal-Mart Stores. Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonald’s and Starbucks already sell some fair trade coffee.

“We see a real momentum now with big companies and institutions switching to fair trade,” said Paul Rice, president and chief executive of TransFair USA, the only independent fair trade certifier in the United States.

The International Fair Trade Association, an umbrella group of organizations in more than 70 countries, defines fair trade as reflecting “concern for the social, economic and environmental well-being of marginalized small producers” and does “not maximize profit at their expense.”

According to Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International, a group of fair trade certifiers, consumers spent approximately $2.2 billion on certified products in 2006, a 42 percent increase over the previous year, benefiting over seven million people in developing countries.

Like consumer awareness of organic products a decade ago, fair trade awareness is growing. In 2006, 27 percent of Americans said they were aware of the certification, up from 12 percent in 2004, according to a study by the New-York based National Coffee Association.

Fair trade products that have experienced the biggest jump in demand include coffee, cocoa and cotton, according to the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations.

Dozens of other products, including tea, pineapples, wine and flowers, are certified by organizations that visit farmers to verify that they are meeting the many criteria that bar, among other things, the use of child labor and harmful chemicals.

There is no governmental standard for fair trade certification, the same situation as with “organic” until a few years ago. Some fair trade produce also carries the organic label, but most does not. One important difference is the focus of the labels: organic refers to how food is cultivated, while fair trade is primarily concerned with the condition of the farmer and his laborers.

Big chains are marketing fair trade coffee to varying degrees. All the espresso served at the 5,400 Dunkin’ Donuts stores in the United States, for example, is fair trade. All McDonald’s stores in New England sell only fair trade coffee. And in 2006, Starbucks bought 50 percent more fair trade coffee than in 2005.

Fair trade produce remains a minuscule percentage of world trade, but it is growing. Only 3.3 percent of coffee sold in the United States in 2006 was certified fair trade, but that was more than eight times the level in 2001, according to TransFair USA.

Although Sam’s Club already sells seven fair trade imports, including coffee, this will be the first time it has put its Member’s Mark label on a fair trade product, which Mr. Rice of TransFair called “a statement of their commitment to fair trade.”

He added, “The impact in terms of volume and the impact in terms of the farmers and their families is quite dramatic.”

Michael Ellgass, the director of house brands for Sam’s Club, said the company could afford to pay fair trade’s premium because it has reduced the number of middlemen.

Coffee usually passes from farmers through roasters, packers, traders, shippers and warehouses before arriving in stores. But Sam’s Club will buy shelf-ready merchandise directly from Café Bom Dia, the roaster here in Brazil’s lush coffee country.

“We are cutting a number of steps out of the process by working directly with the farmer,” Mr. Ellgass said.

Some critics of fair trade say that working with thousands of small farmers makes strict adherence to fair trade rules difficult.

Others argue that fair trade coffee is as exploitive as the conventional kind, especially in countries that produce the highest-quality beans — like Colombia, Ethiopia and Guatemala. Fair trade farmers there are barely paid more than their counterparts in Brazil, though their crops become gourmet brands, selling for a hefty markup, said Geoff Watts, vice president for coffee at Chicago’s Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea, a coffee importer.

But in Brazil, a nation with little top-grade coffee, the partnership between small producers and big retailers is a better blend, Mr. Watts said.

Fair trade coffee farmers in Brazil are paid at least $1.29 a pound, compared with the current market rate of roughly $1.05 per pound, said Sydney Marques de Paiva, president of Café Bom Dia.

Most coffee farmers are organized into cooperatives, and some of that premium finances community projects like schools or potable water.

Like most of his cooperative’s 3,000-odd members — and three-quarters of coffee growers worldwide — Mr. Paiva, the coffee farmer (no relation to Mr. Marques de Paiva), farms less than 25 acres of land. He produces around 200 132-pound sacks for the co-op, with 70 percent of that sold as fair trade to Café Bom Dia.

The company would buy more if there were more of a market for fair trade coffee, it said.

The fair trade crop brought Mr. Paiva about 258 reais ($139) a sack, compared with about 230 reais for the sacks that were not fair trade. For the latest crop, that meant an additional 3,920 reais ($2,116) for him, a huge sum here in the impoverished mountains of Minas.

“It’s been great for us,” Mr. Paiva said with a huge, toothless grin. “I call the people from the co-op my family now.”

Mr. Ellgass, the Sam’s Club executive, said the chain hoped to expand its fair trade goods.

So do Brazil’s farmers. “Everybody is doing their best to come up to standard so we can sell our coffee as fair trade,” said Conceição Peres da Costa, one of the co-op’s growers. “Everybody wants to earn as much as he can.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/02/business/worldbusiness/02trade.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

www.transfairusa.org

herbes de provence

2007-09-26T22:37:00.000-07:00

Lavender is one of my favorite things, period. Earthy, delicate, lingering in the back of my nose, its scent is an instant reminder of Provence. Whoever said that scent is the closest sense tied to memory was onto something.

Lavender Eggling
$12
A little lavender eggling will bring you one step closer to France.

At www.branch.com

london calling

2007-09-25T20:35:00.000-07:00

ESTHETICA is UK Fashion Week's response to the sustainable style movement. Designers are selected according to three criteria; fair trade, organic production, and usage of recyclable materials. On the platform are designers AgainNYC, Ciel, BlueBretzel, Davina Hawthorne, Element23, my fave Enamore, Fifi Bijoux, From Somewhere, Gary Harvey Creative, EJF, Hetty Rose, Intoxica, Junkey Styling, Katharine Hamnett, Makepiece, Mumo, Noir, Nature vs. Future, People Tree, Samant Chauhan, Shyam Narayan Prasad, Sonya Kashmiri, Terra Plana, Veja, and Viridis Luxe.

From Somewhere

Mumo runway show

Kimiko by Hetty Rose

puppies are adorable

2007-09-24T21:06:00.000-07:00

Tikuna by Hush Puppies
$172

The Harmony collection by Hush Puppies uses hemp, jute, bamboo, natural rubber and recycled foam with protective manufacturing practices and recycled packaging. To boot, any company that uses basset hounds in their ads deserves a second look.

www.hushpuppies.com

Basset Hound Rescue
www.bassethoundrescue.com

esque-isite

2007-09-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

Esque's Root Light $525

This table lamp reminds me of octopus tentacles rather than roots, but meh? Tomaytoes, tomahtoes. Esque creators and glass blowers Justin Parker and Andi Kovel make custom pieces for clients including Lenny Kravitz, Jim Dine, Kiki Smith, Eva Ziesel and Robert Rauschenburg. Check out their new fish bowls on the set of Sex in the City, and in every suite at the Tribeca Grand Hotel.

www.esquedesign.com

deal orno deal

2007-09-16T23:25:00.000-07:00

ORNO's sculpted earrings are reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. Earthy and fluid with just enough structure and clean lines.

$42
Black Walnut Earrings

Available at www.etsy.com and www.sodafine.com.

NY Fashion Week Wrap-Up

2007-09-10T22:38:00.001-07:00

Behnaz Sarafpour certifiably stole the show at New York's Olympus Fashion Week. She introduced her Spring 2008 collection filled with organic cotton and natural dyes. One step for style, one giant leap for sustainable style!

Behnaz Sarafpour

Behnaz Sarafpour

Behnaz Sarafpour

Noir

Noir

Rag & Bone

Rag & Bone

Rag & Bone

Rag & Bone

boy's toys

2007-09-04T21:51:00.000-07:00

One for the homies! Or, er, three for the homies. These awesome sneaks and raffia fedora are my homage to my honey. Eco-friendly and a such cutie pie. I'm the luckiest girl on terra plana!

Raffia Fireball Fedora $38
at sustainable-style.org

Worn-Again Escapes by Terra Plana £65

Lion by Terra Plana
£85
www.terraplana.com

eco chic for the masses

2007-09-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

Ta dah dah! Lancome is launching a carbon neutral campaign in two stages: (1) offsetting the environmental footprint of their models' travel by planting 10,000 trees, (2) designing limited edition tees with Rag & Bone. 100% organic, lightweight, and a wicked promotional piece for the masses.

Retails for $50

www.lancome--usa.com/clothing/eco-chic-tshirt.htm
www.carbonfund.org

working girl

2007-08-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

at last! i've finally landed a new job. of course, this calls for a few new additions to my wardrobe!

Mociun tie dress

Jack & Marjorie boy peter handbag

Terra Plana flats

SF Fashion Week Highlight: Velvet Leaf

2007-08-29T15:02:00.001-07:00

SFFW has come and gone in a flurry of air kisses, long lines, press passes, and after parties. As always, SF's FW straddled the line of accessability and avant garde. Of the dozen or so designers, just one line stood out to the organic eye; Velvet Leaf.

The sisters' Spring/Summer 2008 collection had shooort short jumpers, blousy 60's minidresses, and lots of hair extensions. (Unfortunately, the extentions kinda covered the clothes during the show, so pics were somewhat limited.) My pick is the organic cotton loose fitting white blouse paired with uber skinny high-waisted pants and black ankle boots.

If you look real hard and squint, you'll see what I'm talking about.
Velvet Leaf Spring/Summer 2008 Collection at SF Fashion Week
August 26, 2007

And this one I want to wear this Fall.

www.velvetleafclothing.com

dolla dolla bill, y'all.

2007-08-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

Tope? Like rope, right? Nope. Not quite. Kinda like vinyl, minus the PVC, chlorine chemicals, and heavy production footprint. Pluses are numerable and include its durability and water resistance. Also, the ink used to stamp these babies is eco friendly.

The fruit of Portland company DB Clay's loins, these wallets are, without a doubt, my new favorite find. They are ingenious outside and in. The Dammasch wallets are all silkscreened by hand by a man named Pluto, and the design inspired by linoleum in a defunct mental hospital. Thats right, you heard me, a mental institution.

Dammasch Ms. Frey
$85

On an idyllic note, flip open the Feather billfold to find an image of peacock feather backed by damask!

Version 3 Feathers
$48

Oh yeah, and they're vegan. Thats putting your money where your mouth is!

ooh la la!

2007-08-22T20:00:00.001-07:00

ma cherie, ow sexy jhoo are wis your leetle hemp lingerie!

Mon Cherie hemp silk collection
£42 bralette, £36 panty

Eye mask with hemp/silk backing
£16

Enamore by Ayten Gasson makes the flirtiest, sexiest, Betty Boop-esque, lingerie. Who knew that soy jersey and hemp could make a girl feel just like a '40s pinup? All handmade to order, the line is currently available in the UK. Shop online at www.thenaturalstore.co.uk.

juicy juice

2007-08-21T16:14:00.000-07:00

Instead of a now-ubiquitous Frida Khalo grocery bag, why not spend your cash on this tote? Philippine women recycle juice boxes to make these funky all purpose bags.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle tote
$29.95

Now thats juicy couture, for real!

Find it at www.worldofgood.com and help fight poverty with your checkbook.

meunster's ball

2007-08-20T12:51:00.000-07:00

Jewelry designer Kirsten Muenster is an unyielding believer in the Kimberley Process. Meaning, she uses stones naturally found in the U.S., instead of designing her wares with "blood" diamonds. Her pieces often include vintage stones and chains from the 1940's, 50's, and 60's.

Kirsten Muenster Montana Agate Ring
$500

Kirsten Muenster Owyhee Jasper Necklace

The agate used in her designs, like ring above, comes from gravel deposits and lakeshores, mostly along the Yellowstone River. Since it comes from a federally protected area, corporations are prevented from inflicting large-scale mining on the area. Traditional corporate mining practices have left stretches of Montana's riverbeds nearly devoid of fish and clogged with tons of sediment.

Ms. Muenster's collection satisfies my unrelenting lust for large rings. Particularly those that I can wear all day without feeling like Lady Macbeth.

You can find more info on Kirsten and her entire line at www.kirstenmuenster.com.

The NRDC has supplemental info on mining practices.

my perfect thursday.

2007-08-15T16:01:00.001-07:00

Bamboo Tank by Stewart+Brown
$130

Number Necklace by Lulu Frost
$295

Lulu Frost uses vintage room numbers, keys, and other accoutrements from the old Plaza Hotel in NYC in her designs. A tad on the pricey side, but it's a great way to wear a piece of history.

nice ananas

2007-08-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I have a gripe. And ladies, you'll feel me on this. Its harder than nails to find a cute, eco-friendly handbag!

Luckily for all of us, I happened upon this lovely creation by Ananas. That its aesthetically pleasing is obvious. But what makes it sustainable, you ask? The fabric was woven from fibers harvested from the trunk of the sturdy abaca plant, a renewable resource native to the Philippines.

Abaca Momo bag by Ananas
$231
Snap up your own piece of paradise at www.ananascollection.com

Enough room to fit a girl's daily necessities and then some, and a heckuva lot less hefty than your standard leather hobo. Whats not to like?

Click here to read more about the under-the-radar abaca plant.

bleu belle

2007-08-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

Were I in the market for a new, make that old, armchair, this beaut from Lotus Bleu would be in my living room toute suite. Using reclaimed 1960's furniture, the folks at Lotus Bleu in San Francisco individually reupholster them with stunning fabrics by Robert Le Hero. Retro, whimsical, yet polished.

Pretty groovy.

Slipper Chair
$1250

www.lotusbleudesign.com

cage-free eggalicious update

2007-08-13T01:10:00.000-07:00

Looks like cage-free has officially gone mainstream! Today's New York Times sports a front page article on the subject of my post from last week;

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/us/12eggs.html?_r=1&oref=slogin#

and the Humane Society of the US, www.hsus.org

bamboo shoots.

2007-08-12T11:07:00.000-07:00

The wonders of bamboo are no surprise to sustaina-geeks. Bamboo is renewable, 100% biodegradable, and naturally antimicrobial. Its also possibly the softest fabric I've ever encountered.

Natural High Lifestyle in Santa Monica, Ca. designs low-key yoga wear for men & women. Actually, a visit to their boutique last year inspired my interest in sustainable textiles!

I love the store's organic vibe and helpful salespeople. Their products have been featured in Elle, YogaJournal, and Yogi Times, and are available at both yoga studios and Fred Segal.

Natural High Lifestyle boutique
2400 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA

Men's Bombay Track Jacket
$88

My all time NHL favorites are the women's sarong, the (incredibly supple) tanks, and the men's basic tee.
Ooooh, me want!

Visit www.naturalhighlifestyle.com to buy, and http://www.rootedtonature.com/categories/NaturesThreads/fiber/Bamboo.aspx or http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/01/top_five_bamboo.php to learn more about the benefits of bamboo.

2 b pvc free.

2007-08-09T14:59:00.000-07:00

Running, mind-numbing as it may be, is my thing. Its my preferred form of exercise, torture, what have you. In some way, the further and harder I run, the more I feel like I've conquered something. Even if its only lap #3 around Lake Merritt.

Shoes are an integral and vital part of the running equation. The wrong footwear can mean the difference between gliding like the wind and hobbling for days afterwards.

An equally substantial part of traditional shoe manufacturing is the widespread use of PVC. Woe be those who encounter this hazardous substance. Polyvinyl Chloride, or PVC, is also known as the "poison plastic". Likewise, it has been called one of the most hazardous consumer materials ever produced. Human exposure to dioxin via PVC poses a serious threat of developing into cancer when accumulated in the body. Its also proven to wreak havoc on the environment. Yucky stuff indeed.

Thankfully for all us with an athletic bend, companies including Asics, Brooks, and PUMA are phasing out PVC in their product lines. Brooks has developed a trail running shoe that is as environmentally friendly as it is is aesthetically pleasing. Dare I say, its darn cute. Designed by vegan marathoner Scott Jurek, it uses silicon insead of petroleum, has sturdy support, enviable traction, and is constructed for blisterless adventures.

Brooks Cascadia 2
$95
www.brooksrunning.com

I couldn't resist posting these toddler-size PVC-free soccer cleats by Nike.
A-dorable.

Nike First Total90 Laser (0c-4c) - Youth Soccer Cleats
$25
www.nike.com

Visit www.g-forse.org for info on eco-friendly, non-PVC sports gear, and www.besafenet.com/pvc/ for info on PVC's affects & properties.

les soldes!

2007-08-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting all summer for this moment - end-of-season sales!!
After some serious eco-website scouring, I whittled my top picks to these three:
Red Regal Top $59
by Some Lucky Cat
Repurposed vintage materials make this top feel a little '70s meets Louis XIV.
Find it at www.greenwithglamour.com

Carol Young Swerve Petra Skirt
now $105 (from $210)
Un coup de foudre! Petal-like and equally au courant.
Find it at www.thegreenloop.com

Myrtle Burl Glamour Glasses
by iWood ecodesign
now $235 (from $316)
These puppies are my favorite. Eco-sustainable sunglasses. Who knew?
Find them at www.greenwithglamour.com

greenmarket chic

2007-08-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

Ahh Saturday morning. Birds chirp, we smugly sleep in an extra two hours. The one and only thing on today's agenda? Hit the farmer's market!

These cute, unisex canvas totes by Fresh Eggs will hold all the arugula and chard you'll need.

Yo, bring your own bag.

The answer my friends..

$15 each at www.fresheggshere.com. Made of 100% natural cotton.

Spread the word, without being preachy.

Visit www.localharvest.org for more info on hormone-free cage-free eggs, local farmer's markets, and CSAs.

rapper's delight.

2007-08-01T23:05:00.000-07:00

Kelly B is turning up the heat on eco-conscious style. Her 90% organic cotton bikinis and swimwear turn any girl into an environmentally friendly video vixen.

NYCers visit Kaight and Organic Avenue for more Kelly B. Online, check out this Braid Bikini at www.btcelements.com, on sale for $68!

Holla atcha girl!

www.kellybcouture.com

raw talent.

2007-08-01T14:29:00.000-07:00

My love affair with raw foodism is one that has spanned coasts, bulk bins, and flax seeds. Our trysts often involve raw almonds, agave nectar, and on occasion, the best damn salsa ever.

Aiding our forbidden love is One Lucky Duck Inc. The proprietress of New York's Pure Food & Wine restaurant has, with incomparable raw alchemy, created a line of natural beauty products that make your outside look as lovely as you feel inside.

Her online inventory includes living body and face creams, exfoliants, and purifying facial cleansers. With ingredients like bee pollen, (providing natural antibiotics), rosehips, clay, calendula, and algae harvested in Oregon, you can be sure your skin is in good hands.

Personally, I can testify to the powers of the Bee Yummy Skin Food, which even in the dead of New York winter kept my skin soft and healthy.

Bee Yummy Skin Food
$45

Can it be bad if it feels this good?

www.oneluckyduck.com
www.purefoodandwine.com

Read more about adding living enzymes to your diet at www.rawfoodlife.com

nailed, naturally.

2007-07-31T15:55:00.000-07:00

I get nailed for a solid hour every three weeks or so. This monthly menage-a-trois involves me, a trusted nail technician, and my O.P.I. Lincoln Park After Dark. Also an US Weekly if I'm especially lucky.

Sadly for Lincoln Park, my O.P.I. will soon be meeting la poubelle. I have discovered a fabulous, mind-blowing alternative! All these years, using nail polishes containing carcinogenic chemicals such as formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalat, I've unknowingly been tempting fate.

Anise Cosmetics specializes in nail care products that specifically address this issue: no bad stuff! None of the aforementioned chemicals or animal testing. Phenomenal.

Since I habitually select polish color based on its name, I adore Anise's cheeky monikers. Check it out below:

Sheer Blouse

Flowerbomb

Spicy Florals

Night in the City

I'm bringing these guys to my next nailing appoinment. Its always nice to have a pinch hitter, especially for $6 a bottle.

Visit www.safecosmetics.org and www.anisecosmetics.com for additional information on non-carcinogenic cosmetics. You'll be glad you did!

the basics.

2007-07-30T13:10:00.000-07:00

My inaugural post! I thought I'd start with the basics. Meaning those precious clothing commodities that every girl has in, minimum, one form. Or ten. Makes sense, no?

Denim:

Del Forte Denim
Straight outta San Francisco! Miss Tierra Del Forte's line of organic cotton creations rock my world. The fit could not be better for girls who are packing an extra handful in the badunkadunk.

Price isn't too shabby either; $130 for the Willow trousers, shown.
www.delforte.com

Tootsies:

Twenty Two Shoes.
Leather closer to caramel than textile, meticulously crafted exterior, athletic insole, and chic as hell. With a flagship store in Oakland, Ca. , their product manufactured in La Marche, Italy, and worn by starlets like Sienna Miller, these puppies were meant to be flaunted. Check out www.twentytwoshoes.com

Oh, and all their packaging materials are recyclable. Yay!

Tops:

Stewart + Brown
Oh how I love them! Visiting their website is a spiritual exhale. I'm in organic cotton nirvana. Ommmm.

www.stewartbrown.com

A la prochaine, ma poule!

la libellule est arrive.

2007-07-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening." -Coco Chanel

"In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." -Iroquois Confederacy

The catch about style is this; as posh, creative, and expressively chic as one can be, the nature of the beast requires that it be superficial. C'est clair.

Creating this little blog-o-mine, I will strive to seek out products that help others, help the planet, and ultimately, help us feel fabulous.

If its possible to combine the vision of the sentiments quoted above, then by god, I will do my darndest!

On y va.

la libellule.