I can't believe it is Wednesday

I can't believe I missed my Tuesday post! I definitely have a lot on my plate and Iceland on the brain. So in honor of Iceland I'm talking felt. Not just any felt, but felted soap to scrub in the tub.

You say: "Felt in the tub! That's just wrong. Who wants wet wool that smells like wet Yak?"
Fiat Luxe says: "No worries. Our fragrant soaps are wrapped in a fuzzy little anti-fungal wool that exfoliates as you scrub and shrinks along with the soap for a perfectly sudsed wash every time."

They are green, beautiful and reusable - just cut a slit and insert a new bar. Healthy for your skin and the environment. Another win, win.

--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew

Closets & Windows

I bet your closet doesn't have a window, but it is the window to your wardrobe soul. This week I'd like to take a minute to give props to a local to me window company that has gained notoriety through President Obama.

Northeast Building Products of Phildelphia offers a range of quality energy-efficient windows and this product offering has lead the company to growth in these economically troubled times. The family owned business has increased its workforce from 185-285 employees. The company has certainly benefited from the Obama stimulus plan, but the greatest impact has come from Obama's mention in the State of the Union Address which lead to a significant increase in sales.

Founded in 1975, this family owned company has work hard to ensure innovation and a commitment to social responsibility. Their work has paid off in spades. Northeast Building Products won two of the most coveted industry awards in 2009: Window and Door Magazine's Crystal Achievement Award for "Most Innovative Plant" and the "Greenest Manufacturer" award from Door and Window Manufacturer Magazine. Investing heavily in green technologies, Northeast customers to qualify for a $1,500 energy tax credit.

Good for the environment. Good for business. Go Green!

--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew

Asos Green Lounge

UK online fashion retailer Asos launched an eco-driven section on their website on February 19th. Asos features the latest trends and celebrity looks - a bit more sophisticated and mature Forever 21.It is one of my favorite sources for that bit of something different. Sign up for their email newsletter and enjoy a real treat. They sell internationally so don't fret if you don't live in the UK.

According to their blog: "...THE GREEN ROOM will fill you in on all the latest stories from the real people behind your favourite finds on ASOS.com. We'll be asking the brands who sell in THE GREEN ROOM and anyone who plays a key roll in bringing you the latest fashion that support people and the planet.

SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE BRANDS – features amazing labels that promote people and planet, from Swedish Hasbeens much-feted ecologically prepared, natural grain leather footwear to the hotly anticipated Emma Watson for People Tree collaboration.

ASOS.COM OWN LABEL – We launched our first Fairtrade cotton jersey pieces back in December, here you'll find an ever increasing number of own brand creations designed inhouse by our super designers and suppliers - there will be some basics but well be dropping a few styles with a twist on site - search 'FAIRTRADE' onsite now - don't miss out! (check out the fab Chrissie Abbott designed tee). The Fairtrade status of these products ensures that the cotton farmers have been paid a fair price for their crop. Each farming community also receives a social premium that they invest in social projects such as building schools and hospitals (see one of our next blogs for commentary directly from the Fairtrade Foundation)

BEAUTY– a range of products that pamper without using any ingredients that are damaging to the environment - and of course your skin! Includes well-known brands such as Cowshed, This Works and Neal’s Yard. Lush!"

Ahh another reason to practice retail therapy online and feel good about your choices.

--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew.

Bodkin Just Keeps on Keeping on...

Bodkin Designer Eviana Hartman shares her favorite green items with Daily Candy on the eve of NY Fashion week.
The top 5:
1) Her own Bodkin Jedi Pant $170 from the Fall '09 collection (see image #8 for the organic wool design).
2) Rachel Comey’s raincoat with the rounded shoulder overlay piece and built-in belt (to preorder, call Frances May, 503-227-3402; $579)
3) Black and lavender geometric-printed tights from Gaspard Yurkievich and a spotted pair by Hansel from Basel.
4) Housewares from Tortoise General Store, a Japanese housewares shop in Venice, California.
5) Costa Rica
--till next week Restore, Refresh, Recycle & Renew

New Year, New Decade, New Green

According to "16 Eco-Fashion Predictions for 2010" by Jasmin Malik Chua, posted 01/04/10 on ecouterre we will see continuing interest in Sustainable and Green Fashion products.

From Manufacturers analyzing supply-chain impacts to become more efficient and increase profit margins, to Designers using increasingly better sustainable raw materials and processes, to Consumers doing more with less - voting with their dollars for more sustainable products, purchasing less quantity and more quality and reusing, repairing and recycling more, all players in the Fashion Cycle will be furthering "going green".

Leaders in the movement will keep a strict eye on social responsibility as well - monitoring working conditions in 3rd world countries, purchasing fair-trade goods, maintaining ethical business practices, etc. will be an integral part of each business or personal decision.

My prediction? 2010 will see "Green" trickle further into our culture. The business side of the industry will continue to find greener processes for dealing with raw materials, waste, production and transportation. As we have discussed in the past, going green is good business with a positive impact on the bottom line. More exposure to 'Green' in the media and popular culture will continue to push individuals to embrace green thinking into their daily decision making process on the consumer side.

New Year, New Decade - A fresh start that is BRIGHT & SHINY Green!

--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew

Ambitiously Green

Now I know you all recycle your magazines and catalogs, but on my trip to Hong Kong I ran into an artist doing it in a really unique way - she's knitting paper! That's right. Movana Chen's first project used fashion magazines and her current project uses books.

I have a long history of knitting many materials - wire, fishing line, trash bags, ribbon, etc. Since I had most recently tried to knit pre-consumer chip wrappers while working on a project with TerraCycle, I was enthralled by Movana's work. Interestingly, I used a similar process to Movana, but I never perfected it like she did.

My Process: 1) I fed the wrappers from their pre-use rolls through a shredder. This didn't work really well since the wrapper is rather thin and the shredder was powerful. I didn't get uniform shred. 2)I tried to melt the ends together with an iron - no go. I tried to find a proper adhesive - no go. I settled on a tried and true method of tying the ends together - worked but created knots and fringes. 3) Even loose tension made the wrapper tear.

Movana's Process: 1)Tape pages into long sheets. 2)Feed multiple sheets through the shredder. 3) Connect the ends with double stick tape. 4) Knit several layers of paper as one thread.

I have lots of magazines to try so I am going to see if I can give it a go. It is the perfect project for our next really Big Snow!

--till next week Restore, Recycle Refresh & Renew-- Happy Holidays

Shop Local Shop Green

This week I wanted to focus on shopping local and green by featuring a rockin' Philly shoe store, Bus Stop and one of their green offerings, Terra Plana.

London-born owner Elena Brennan opened Bus Stop to feature fun and funky shoes for the Philly shoe addict. Featuring a variety of hard-to-find designers and selections from such far away places at Lima and Rio, Bus Stop is always a delight. The merchandise mix offers a varied selection of product in a broad (many brands) and shallow (few styles and sizes) plan so you won't be wearing the same shoes as your friends shopping at the mall.

Just in for Winter, Bus Stop features new boots from Terra Plana with accents from repurposed Pakistani quilts and low-impact materials. In the About section of their website, Terra Plana describes their company as "Inspired by ecological survival, TERRA PLANA believes in a variety of non-generic products supporting ideas of sustainability: lightness, anatomic design, disassembly and durability." They offer a wide selection of footwear and accessories for men, women and kids. Terra Plana has one US store in NYC: Terra Plana , 254 Elizabeth Street, New York NY 10012, 1 212 274 9000, 254elizabethst@terraplana.com. It is a great little shop with a wonderful selection. I strongly suggest a visit when you are in the area.

Stay local. Stay green. Buy green, Be green. Bus Stop is located at 750 South 4th Street in Fabric Row. Holiday Hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday 11AM-6PM, Friday till 7PM and Sunday 12PM-5PM.

--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew

Sheep Chic

In honor of my trip to the waterfront vacation farm for Thanksgiving, I ask you to ponder my $64,000 question: "What to do with the family farm?"

•CSA (not enough acreage and too much maintenance to be profitable)
•Organic vineyard (we have yet to protect the grapes from birds or deer)
•Fig farm (see birds and deer)
•Persimmon farm (The fruit suffers from the deer/bird issue, but the wood maybe, however, there is not enough to create a profit center).

Animals - now that is where it's at. Did you know that the Eastern Shore in Maryland is home to more than a few Llama and Alpaca farms? Maryland is home to 12 Llama farms, 6 of which are located on the Eastern Shore. Add my knitting expertise and this opportunity just might have legs.

•Raise the Llamas and/or Alpacas (I'm good with animals)
•Harvest their wool(This would require some research and help)
•Create the yarns(I already have the family heirloom spinning wheel)
•Sell the yarns(I am definitely a Merchant) AND
•Products made from them(No problem, I have been knitting since I was 3)
•Don't forget the workshops(I've been teaching for over 20 years).

Thanks to Daily Candy and model Lily Cole's, The North Circular project, I even have the business plan with all the right built-in buzz - eco-friendly, animal-friendly and charitable. Saving sheep, employing (mostly) knitting grannies and supporting charities through the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF). A little modification could make for an interesting retirement plan.

--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew

Green Specs

I have always thought of glasses as a great accessory, but I haven't given much consideration to whether or not they are green. Recently TrendCentral devoted a newsletter to this very topic and featured several designers and products worth talking about.

Lenses
Essilor has introduced the Airwear Lens. Using 100% recycled water in the production process and 100% recycled packaging, Airwear offers a 100% UV protected lens that is lighter and more impact-resistant than standard plastic lenses. The company is also committed to educating their customer on their green initiatives, as well as, how to live greener.

Frames
When German furniture designer, Andreas Licht succumbed to his need for glasses, he began carving his personal frames from wood and a new business category was born. According to the website, "HERRLICHT eyeglasses are crafted entirely from either maple or cherry-wood. No metal or plastic parts for hinges, screws or reinforcements are used in the design." The frames are durable, flexible and underscore individuality.

Chicago based Urban Spectacles takes another approach offering custom designs from wood, recycled record vinyl, recycled bike parts, plastic, metals, etc. The process begins with precise measurements and a collaboration with the customer on preferred shapes and materials. Wooden frames are hand carved and finished with natural wood oil for a durable finish.

I often search ebay or etsy for vintage frames. It is another way to get a unique frame at a reasonable price and the re-use is eco-friendly.

Good for your eyes, good for you Personal Style and Green to boot - No Brainer.

--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew

She's Crafty

Ah November. The season of craft shows is in full swing. It's time for holiday shopping, gift giving and the party extravaganzas. Here's some thoughts about doing it green.

Look to nature for decorations. Fallen branches can be painted with metallics and arranged in a container with some floral foam to create a stunning "tree", "bush" or festive arrangement.

Here's an idea for easy DIY "ornaments". Pull fruit sections out of citrus fruits and then cut the skin into shapes with kitchen shears - stars, half moons, suns, whatever you heart desires. Let them dry naturally and then coat with a thin layer of watered down white glue to seal them. Tie with raffia and voila instant decorations or garland to use or give. These items could also be arranged into a fantastic center piece around a log with a few drilled holes for candles - just make sure to keep the flames away and don't leave the candles unattended! Holiday fires are bad for you and bad for the environment;)
•Best bet for natural items in Philly - Fairmount Park

Holidays parties are the perfect time to go vintage. You can find really unique and show- stopping pieces. With this years trend toward shine, look for items from the 40's and 80's to get you through. Beading, sequins, metallic jacquards and stretch are must haves. Throw in a "real" boyfriend jacket and some shoots (shoe/boots) and you are on your way to being the belle of the ball. There are a variety of vintage and thrift stores in all areas of Philly. Some places to check live - Vintage Connection, Retrospect, Decades Vintage (615 Bainbridge/South Street Area), Sugarcube, Forbidden Planet (10 N. 3rd basement in Olde City), the Second Mile and online Vintage Looks and Etsy.

Gift-giving should be a treat for both giver and receiver. Look for interesting handmade or eco-friendly options to suit the receiver's interests. If you are feeling really ambitious, make things yourself. You will feel immense satisfaction giving something that you have made. It comes from your heart and hands and will be cherished by the recipient. There are so many things to make to meet any skill level.
•Some sites to check for ideas and directions - DIY Network, PioneerThinking and Make-Stuff.

Here's an idea for a quick and easy dessert stand idea I got from the Sunday London Times Magazine last year. Find 2 beautiful plates and a pair of candle sticks (preferably vintage or second hand). Get some epoxy or bonding glue that will work for ceramic and glass. You will need to read the label or go to a local hardware store where the merchant can give you the correct adhesive. I like to use E6000 which is readily available at craft stores. Glue on of the candle sticks to the center of one of the plates. Weight the stick while it drys. Bake or buy some holiday goodies. Put them on the stand with a festive doily or vintage napkin. Wrap with colored cellophane. Include a note with instructions to hand wash the stand and handle with care. This is a great holiday or hostess gift for any occasion. You can alter the includes based on the recipient - make a two tiered stand for a High Tea theme, include napkins and place mats or a runner for those with new homes, etc. Easy, fun and unique.

Now for some shameless self-promotion - check my rocklava shop for some vintage treasures and a variety of handmade items to give.

--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew

Have a Green Halloween

Ghosts and ghouls. Witches and zombies. And don't forget the Vampires! Halloween is my favorite holiday. For one night, each of us can recognize and unleash our dark side and our creativity. We get to publicly celebrate our fantasies and fetishes and alter egos without fear of judgment. Instead of buying that disposable costume made overseas, out of nasty raw materials, why not open up your creativity, your closet and basement? Whatever you want to be, I bet through your old clothes and items that you have tucked away you can make a rocking good outfit. Need to supplement - try the neighbors garage and when all else fails, the thrift store.

Don't forget the decorations! Treat them like your Christmas decorations, cherish and recycle the old and selectively replace or purchase new. Consider natural decorations - pumpkins, gourds, shrunken heads from apples like this one from "theapplecarver"...the list goes on.


Not creative you say? Organize a costume swap. Like a clothing swap, you and your friends or your kids can pile organize a costume trade, or better yet, throw all the costumes and accessories into a big pile and put together new costumes from them. Suddenly you are a zombie pirate or a vampire nurse.

Don't forget the make up. Most women will have a dark eyeliner and mascara in their arsenal. Use foundation or moisturizer as a base for baby powder to whiten your face. Fake blood is a breeze with food coloring and corn syrup.

No need to add to the landfill to get your inner-freak on. You've got it all happening at home;) Have a spooky, safe, fun and GREEN Halloween.

--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew

Sephora & San Fran - Of Course It's Green!

Image: courtesy of Sephora, San Francisco, via vmsd Pulse
According to a recent article in vmsd Pulse, Sephora's Stonestown Galleria store is seeking gold or platinum LEED certification. This is the first time Sephora is seeking certification and plans are in the works for more LEED certified stores. Who knew Sephora has been making green choices for years - FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood flooring, LED lighting...? Good to know.


"According to Wendy Hawkins, Sephora’s store planning and design manager, this store uses 15 percent less energy; houses Energy Star-compliant equipment and appliances; and has high-efficiency plumbing fixtures that reduced the retailer’s water usage by more than 40 percent. The retailer also recycled all materials from the fixture install, including the protective packaging used during shipping." And they are doing it all, while keeping their signature black and white brand image.

Now if they can make sure that all their product offerings are equally sustainable they will really be doing something special;)

--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew

Sustainable accessories of Note

One of my favorite sustainable living stores is Sustainable-NYC. Located at 139 Avenue A at 9th Street, it is one of the boutiques I was introduce to last year on a Green Shop Tour. This shop offers up a variety of sustainable home and fashion products, as well as, offering workshops and seminars. Here's a look at some new product the shop is featuring for Fall from their newsletter:


"The Mighty Wallet™ made from Tyvek®(think express mail envelopes) is tear-resistant, water-resistant, expandable and, most importantly, recyclable.

-Printed with SGS Certified environmentally friendly Ink. 100% recyclable packaging made from recycled PET plastic.

-2 interior pockets, 2 credit card pockets (holds approx 16 cards) and 2 quick access business card pockets.

The Blow Out Wallet is re-purposed from recycled bike inner tubes from mountain bikes and bike shops around the country.

-Unique, waterproof, non-marking inner tube exterior.

-Interior is made from 100% Recycled P.E.T. equipped with 6 sleeve pockets for cards and ID's 2 full-length bill pockets for cash & receipts.

The OWL Taxi Wallet is made with 100% recycled post- industrial leather, renewable natural rubber, natural tanning oils, and lead-free dyes.

- A clear pocket on the back keeps your ID or transit card handy. An interior security pocket holds credit cards.

- The easily accessible outside pocket is perfect for business cards and receipts. A snap pouch keeps a pocketful of change from jangling in your jeans.

A new line of beauty products has arrived at Sustainable NYC! IntroducingSustainable Fair Trade Skin Care " Alaffia".

Alaffia was founded as a way to empower communities in West Africa through the Fair trade of Shea Butter. Fair Trade is the fundamental foundation of this organization, which is made up of the Alaffia/Agbanga Shea Butter Cooperative in Togo, West Africa and Alaffia Sustianable Skin Care in Olympia, WA USA. Visit us at Sustainable NYC to check out our sustainable skin care."

Good on ya Sustainable-NYC.
--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew

5 Barriers to Greener Sales

According to an article by Sheila M. J. Bonini and Jeremy M. Oppenheim dated October 2008 featured in the McKinsey Report Quarterly, there are 5 barriers—lack of awareness, negative perceptions, distrust, high prices, and low availability. Overcoming these 5 barriers is crucial if consumers are going to accept and support greener products. While the article did not focus on fashion products, the lessons learned are certainly applicable to the Fashion/Lifestyle industry.

Barrier 1 - Lack of Awareness
Resolution: Consumer Education. Companies, non-profits and government must not only educate consumers on specific products but also the larger issues of pollution, climate change, overfishing, and other environmental problems. The Energy Star program is a successful example of this partnership. Launched by the EPA and the US Department of Energy in 1992, Energy Star educates consumers about the way suitable products can cut energy use, save consumers money, and protect the environment. Every appliance that meets government energy-efficiency standards can carry the Energy Star label, which has gained widespread consumer recognition and trust through the education process.

Barrier 2 - Negative Perceptions
Resolution: Offer well-designed products made with quality raw materials. Fashion is an area that has worked to overcome negative perceptions and our discussion of Sam's Club organic cotton program illustrated this. Although this is not the case, much of sustainable Fashion is still clouded by the perception the 1960's hippie movement. In the Sam's Club case study, we discussed the tenet that green products must be equal to, or better than, conventional alternatives. In Fashion, people make their purchasing decisions based on style, color, hand (the feel of the fabric) and price. Green is the added value.

Barrier 3 - Distrust
Resolution: In an effort to gain the green consumer, some companies mislead consumers by highlighting a single positive product feature while ignoring the negative ones. Bamboo is a great example of this. Bamboo is a sustainable natural resource. It is easy to grow and replenishes itself very quickly, however, the process that makes bamboo into fiber (Bamboo Rayon) is one of the dirtiest processes in the Fashion industry. Companies must come clean about the true environmental impact of their products and their attempts to reduce it.Only then will consumers believe a company’s green claims. As we have mentioned before H&M, Patagonia and Timberland are examples of companies who do this.

Barrier 4 - High Prices
Resolution: This is a difficult one to overcome unless you are a huge company like Walmart or Payless that can keep prices low through the sheer volume of units they sell. Quanitfying the savings and environmental returns for the consumer on their investment is a good start. Creating a design or positioning a brand in such a way that the consumer is known to be environmentally conscious on sight is another way to help them justify the higher cost. For example, a person wearing the Patagonia label will be seen by others as environmentally conscious by wearing that brand.

Barrier 5 - Low Availability
Resolution: Make the products easy to buy. Advertise where they can be purchased. Invest in enough units to make a statement. Display items prominently at retail. Place Green products in prominent locations. On the fixtures, place them in the sweet spot "eye level". Provide educational materials or signage whenever possible. Make sure your employees are aware of the products and where they are placed so that they can help direct consumers through the store.

As a consumer, you have the power to overcome these barriers as well. Educate yourself on green products, production processes and producers. Research new green products for design - especially look and feel in Fashion. Consider the higher price against the benefits. Demand green products from your local retailers and support those retailers that supply them.

till next week --Restore, Refresh, Recycle and Renew