Manuel said:
"This is great news! I hope all cities pass this into law.The practice of using plastic bags just to quickly dispose of them has been going on far t..." [read]
Jay Knecht said:
"What are the performance stats for the Son of Max? ..." [read]
gazelle said:
"@ Dallas:
The book, and the supplementary videos in the "How It All Ends" youtube series, address this in detail, but I'll try to paraphrase:..." [read]
Barry said:
"Kofi Annan has about as much of a clue about electric cars and developing countries as Ann Ann the Panda.
He underestimates the ingenuity o..." [read]
JJ said:
"Very cool. I didn't thought that biodesel might be our future fuel...." [read]
Derek said:
""I guarantee you this will spark huge debates around the world," she said. "We have to delve into this in a way that hasn't been done in a long tim..." [read]
For most people, there's something particularly sad and gory about seeing wildlife killed on the side of the road--but for one British clothing designer, such critter-carnage is fodder for fashion. In an upcoming fashion show, animals whose lives were cut-short on the roadway will be hitting the runway as hats, resting atop the neatly coiffed heads of models. It strike you as a pretty morbid idea for a cap? Well, the designer, James Faulkner, kind of agrees: "It sounds very sinister, but I find it very satisfying to make something beautiful from something gruesome."
Hot on the heels of London Fashion Week there is great news for UK fashionistas on a budget. The fantastic label From Somewhere, whose founders Filippo Ricci and Orsola de Castro are also founders and curators of Estethica, is extending its sartorial influence to the mainstream consumer. The recent announcement of their new collaboration with Tesco, Britain's biggest retailer, promises a collection of upcycled dresses made from Tesco's waste textiles. Even better news, the designs are sexy body-contastic! Take a look at the designs...
Liv Tyler's DIY tote, designed for Crafts for a Cause auction. Credit: Crafts for a Cause
Binki Shapiro, of the band Little Joy, has rallied artists, designers, and musicians to create custom-made items for the Crafts for a Cause auction, benefiting earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti through Artists for Peace and Justice. The auction launched yesterday and features DIY designs by Natalie Portman, Spike Jonze, Rodarte, No Doubt, Mark Ronson, The Strokes, Kings of Leon, Liv Tyler, and many more. Click through for some favorites: Happy Bidding!
Eco Chic - Towards Sustainable Swedish Fashion, an exhibit featuring Swedish fashion designers who take an environmentally-friendly and ethical approach to their work, opens at Scandinavia House in May. The touring exhibition includes work by Johanna Hofring, whose Spring 2010 designs we recently saw at the House of Organic Spring 2010 during New York Fashion Week . Click through for more designers and details:
This is a guest post by Rebecca Kanthor, a journalist based in Shanghai.
Who showed up to Shanghai's first anti-fur benefit show on a recent Thursday night? Local indie pop band Candy Shop and opening emo band Forget and Forgive rocked, rapped, screamed and headbanged their way through an energy packed set to a almost packed house of mostly young Chinese people. Two hundred sixty people squeezed into local rock venue Yuyintang on a weeknight to hear the bands and experience the results of the volunteer effort.
Before the comments start rolling in, I'd like to acknowledge H&M for their use of sustainable textiles in the business of fast fashion. Available this month, the "Garden Collection" incorporates tencel, recycled polyester, organic linen, and organic cotton.
H&M has been grabbing headlines lately, from destroying clothes to their not-so-organic cotton (Organic Exchange clears up the controversy). So before the comments start rolling in, I'd like to acknowledge H&M for their use of sustainable textiles in the business of fast fashion. Available this month, H&M's "Garden Collection" incorporates tencel, recycled polyester, organic linen, and organic cotton. PopSugar sent over a video showing the collection; view it after the jump.
Whether you're located in Healdsburg, California or virtually--like I am in NYC--visit Arboretum for ethical fashion finds. Olsenhaus' Elizabeth Olsen told us about the boutique; they were the first to place an order for her delectable vegan shoes nearly two years ago. Click through for more green designers in store:
Suzy Amis Cameron and James Cameron reveal Jillian Granz's winning sustainable dress at Global Green's Pre-Oscar Party. Photo: Cerraeh Laykin
I know, the dress looks blue—Avatar blue to be exact. But, it's actually about 85% green. The Red Carpet Green Dress Contest was created by Suzy Amis Cameron, wife of Avatar director James Cameron, to send a message that one can wear green on the red carpet. In addition to designing Oscar-worthy gowns out of sustainable fabrics, the contest also serves as an international fundraiser event for her beloved MUSE Elementary.
World consumption of most common commodity triglyceride vegetable oils. Image credit:Wikipedia
Certain plant oils, especially palm oil, have a reputation of being produced unsustainably. Many plant oils are low-cost commodities (see table above for recent global volumes). Certain of the commodity plant oils are used extensively in soap and personal care products; and demand for these is increasing (a growing market segment does not accept animal fat-based product). For personal care products of the future, a key challenge is to find sustainable feedstock plant oils or alternatives to them.
Unilever has an interesting research project underway in collaboration with Solazyme, in which they are looking at the feasibility of using bio-reactors for producing pharma-grade algal oil - what you'd want in contact with skin and by your eyes. Using fermentation-type bio-reactors is already a core competency. Plus, Unilever knows how to get regulatory approvals; and, because personal care products are made with specialty oils, the algal-based versions might bring in enough money to recover R&D costs in a timely manner. Very different than dealing with say, bio-diesel price fluctuations....
+ Is Lady Gaga a stealth refashionista? The empty soda cans in her hair could be the next haute hair accessory.
+ Woody Harrelson, Food Inc.'s Robert Kenner, Suzy Amis Cameron (wife of James), and Livia Firth (wife of Colin) were just some of the Oscar red-carpet attendees decked in sustainable style.
+ How our little Herminone has grown! British starlet Emma Watson and People Tree recently launched "Love From Emma," a collection of fair-trade, eco-friendly clothes for the tween and teen set.
+ Lily Allen is quitting the music scene and opening up a boutique that will rent high-end fashions to the common folk.
Ecouterre is a website devoted to the future of clothing and textile design. We're dedicated to showcasing and supporting designers who not only contemplate cut, form, and drape, but also a garment's social and environmental impact, from the cultivation of its fibers to its use and disposal. Follow us on Twitter @ecouterre or join us on Facebook....
It has been another fabulous season for ethical fashion and all of us green bloggers are delighted to see the ethical designers' collections going from strength to strength. From New York to London to Paris there have been some truly desirable fashion forward pieces for Autumn Winter 2010. Emma Grady did an amazing job of covering New York Fashion Week, I was here for the London Estethica show and we're so pleased our friend Jasmin Malik Chua captured the extraordinary Chanel show in Paris this week over at Ecouterre - let's take a look at that imported iceberg! ...
Credit: Cecilia Cassini
Ten-year old Cecilia Cassini might just be the youngest fashion designer in the world. The California-based fifth grader has been sewing since she received her first sewing machine at the age of six. She now makes a profit from her collection of one-off garments made with fabric and re-purposed clothing found in the closets of her sister, mom, and friends. More on how Cassini is giving back and designing for good, after the jump. ...
Photos: Courtesy of Louis Rigano.
We've seen plenty of things with fused plastic bags, one of the best being the Chilean plastic bags boots we featured last year. However, few look like something that you would wear or that can be easily done. Until now....
TOMS Shoes has announced their third annual One Day Without Shoes campaign for April 8. The ethical footwear brand, who donates one pair of shoes to a child in need for each pair of shoes sold, is raising awareness about the importance of shoes in parts of the world where children's feet are exposed to debilitating diseases. Find out how you can help, after the jump. ...
Credit: hessnatur
We announced the Planet Green and hessnatur Eco-Tee Design Challenge winner, Lindsay Seligman for her One Life design, back in September 2009 and we are happy to report that the organic cotton t-shirt is available now. Click through to watch a video with the designer and to find out which animal outlines are "hidden" in the final design, above. ...
Image credit: Timberland Earthkeepers
From recycled plastic bottles to the 100% locally sourced tee, Kara's list of 7 dark green t shirts we'd actually wear showcased some of the best in sustainable apparel. But what if you could get a sustainable, 100% recycled t-shirt that could also help earthquake victims in Haiti? This is where Timberland Earthkeepers come in—launching their line of 100% recycled cotton tees that were designed by kids in Haiti last year, long before the devastating events of the earthquake unfolded. ...
FEED Haiti Oscar swag bag. Credit: B3 Oscar nominees, presenters, and performers took their pick of goody bags last night at the Academy Awards; attendees were offered gifts ranging from a Tiffany crystal-studded cat collar to tickets on an African safari, according to the Daily Mail. One swag bag that didn't break the bank-- this years bag worth £61,000 is the most expensive in history--was a FEED Haiti by Lauren Bush gift bag worth $200 given to 100 of the attendees, including Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Sarah Jessica Parker, and others. Find out what else is in the bag, after the jump....
Jillian Ganz overlooking Suzy Amis Cameron's green dress fitting. Photo by Jim Peck
Even with Linda Loudermilk and Stella McCartney's high-end sustainable clothing, it is still an effort to get eco-minded celebs into black tie worthy gowns. A couple years ago, retro Chanel was all the rage, which was a great idea, until Reese Witherspoon discovered hers wasn't a one-and-only dress, as she'd been told, and her '50s number showed up on somebody else. These are problems we don't have to worry about, thankfully. To avoid the whole thing, actress Suzy Amis Cameron (wife of Avatar's James Cameron) held a contest for her Oscar "green" gown. Guess what color it is? ...
EVO barefoot running shoe by Terra Plana. Credit: Terra Plana
Ethical footwear brand--and Best of Green winner--Terra Plana has launched lightweight, barefoot running shoe the EVO, just in time for spring. Terra Plana owner Galahad Clark (whom we sat down with back in October to discuss glueless shoes and reusing shoe lasts) and Asher Clark, his cousin and head designer, collaborated on the minimalist design. Click through for details: ...
UltraTouch Jean fiber insulation. Credit: UltraTouch
Today through March 14, bring your worn down denims to Gap stores across the United States and they will be recycled into UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation. The retail chain has teamed up with Cotton Incorporated for their COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.® denim drive; once jeans are converted into insulation they will be donated to communities in need. Click through for discounts and more on the process: ...
Photos: AirDye, Tristar.
We're all familiar with green fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo and hemp, but which new materials and practices are moving fashion forward to a greener, brighter future? Here are eight processes and fabrics paving the way....
Credit: Think Act VoteThink Act Vote and UK-based ethical fashion label, Komodo have launched a t-shirt design competition with the goal of inspiring people to engage in politics through fashion. The campaign coincides with the coming election in the UK and Katharine Hamnett -- the Katharine Hamnett who created the first slogan tee in the '80s -- will select the top design. She says, "Thousands of people have died and are dying all over the world for the right to vote. It is one of our most precious possessions. Use it before we loose it." Click through for details, approaching deadlines(!), and more: ...
Photos: AnaLivni.com
As we mentioned on a previous article, Uruguayan brand Ana Livni works with the concept of slow fashion: collections that don't follow seasons, timeless clothes, local materials and slow manufacture.
For the 2010 southern cold season, they've revealed a set of new creations under the name 'Entrevero' at the latest edition of Buenos Aires Fashion week (their previous collection was in 2008). Even if it's getting hotter in the north, take a look and get inspired for next winter....
Photos: Zkano
Socks present one of those design conundrums. It's hard to attain pure technical or environmental nirvana with socks, because to do their job well, they need to be durable. No-one appreciates holey socks.Yet robustness normally requires the judicious blending of some petrochemical nylon.
It's the same hoop that new sockwear brand Zkano have had to jump through. They make a hosiery line using 100% certified organic, ring-spun cotton, grown without the use of pesticides, chemicals or toxins. They even eschew the use of heavy metal dyes and sweatshop labour. They knit the socks in a family factory in Alabama, USA. But 87% organic cotton is still the maximum content they can achieve, with nylon and Lycra making up the difference to provide stretch and longevity. ...
British model Agyness Deyn with her preferred mode of transportation. Credit: David Vasiljevic, VogueBarneys' environmental campaign "Go Green Go" has joined forces with British model, fashion designer, and cycling aficionado Agyness Deyn on a collection of sustainable clothing. A portion of proceeds will be donated towards the planting of trees in inner Mongolia, WWD reports. The collection consists of 11 items; dresses, knits, scarves, t-shirts, and leggings, and prices range from $212 to $307, click through for a preview of the collection:
...
House of Organic at New York Fashion Week; Mika Machida, Johana Hofring, Eko-Lab (left to right). Credit: Jason Wyche House of Organic (Ekovaruhuset) showed fall 2010 collections by Johanna Hofring, Renata Mann, Eko-Lab, Meiling Chen, Kaori Yamazaki, Mika Machida, and Tor Soderin, at the GreenShows during New York Fashion Week. Click through for photos from the certified organic collection and out top picks from the runway show:
...
All Photos: Khunu.
The other day we mentioned outdoor clothing company Icebreaker. They started out as a small New Zealand company, but almost single-handedly created the burgeoning international market for fine merino wool sports clothing. Might Khunu achieve the same success with their collection of Himalayan yak wool garments for active use?
Based in Beijing, China, but run by American Aaron Pattillo, an ex-Clinton Foundation staffer and Julian Wilson, former British Army officer, this fledgling business recently picked up some headlines for sponsoring Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, (aka "Snow Leopard") Ghana's first skier to compete in the Winter Olympics. They kitted him out with pieces from their modest line of yak fibre men's tops. A product they feel has several distinct performance and environmental advantages over even merino wool. ...
All images by Paul Persky for Ada Zanditon AW10
Of all the fantastic ethical fashion labels that we've seen over the last few seasons at the London Fashion WeekEstethica show Ada Zanditon is without doubt the stand out talent in terms of drama, creativity and concepts. Each season she has chosen a stunning environmental theme and meticulously built an incredibly beautiful collection around it, complete with fitting accessories of jewellery and shoes. Last season she wowed the crowds with her bee colony inspired collection, this season her work highlights the mystical twilight beauty of bats with a collection entitled Echolocation. Here are our favourite pieces from her show......
We'll be working on better category archives soon. In the meantime, take a look at the weekly archive if you really want to dig around, or use the search box at the top of the page.
on 03.16.10
Photo via the Telegraph
World consumption of most common commodity triglyceride vegetable oils. Image credit:
+ Is 
It has been another fabulous season for ethical fashion and all of us green bloggers are delighted to see the ethical designers' collections going from strength to strength. From 
Credit: 
Photos: Courtesy of Louis Rigano.
We've seen plenty of things with 
Credit: hessnatur
We announced the 
Image credit: Timberland Earthkeepers
From recycled plastic bottles to the 100% locally sourced tee, Kara's list of 
FEED Haiti Oscar swag bag. Credit: B3
Jillian Ganz overlooking Suzy Amis Cameron's green dress fitting. Photo by Jim Peck
Even with Linda Loudermilk and Stella McCartney's high-end sustainable clothing, it is still an effort to get eco-minded celebs into black tie worthy gowns. A couple years ago, retro Chanel was all the rage, which was a great idea, until Reese Witherspoon discovered hers wasn't a one-and-only dress, as she'd been told, and her '50s number showed up on somebody else. These are problems we don't have to worry about, thankfully. To avoid the whole thing, actress Suzy Amis Cameron (wife of Avatar's James Cameron) held a contest for her 
EVO barefoot running shoe by Terra Plana. Credit: Terra Plana
Ethical footwear brand--and 
UltraTouch Jean fiber insulation. Credit: 
Photos: AirDye, Tristar.
We're all familiar with green fabrics like 
Credit: 
Photos: AnaLivni.com
As we mentioned on a 
Photos: Zkano
Socks present one of those design conundrums. It's hard to attain pure technical or environmental nirvana with socks, because to do their job well, they need to be durable. No-one appreciates holey socks.Yet robustness normally requires the judicious blending of some petrochemical nylon.
It's the same hoop that new sockwear brand Zkano have had to jump through. They make a hosiery line using 100% certified organic, ring-spun cotton, grown without the use of pesticides, chemicals or toxins. They even eschew the use of heavy metal dyes and sweatshop labour. They knit the socks in a family factory in Alabama, USA. But 87% organic cotton is still the maximum content they can achieve, with nylon and Lycra making up the difference to provide stretch and longevity. ...
British model Agyness Deyn with her preferred mode of transportation. Credit: David Vasiljevic, 
House of Organic at New York Fashion Week; Mika Machida, Johana Hofring, Eko-Lab (left to right). Credit: Jason Wyche
All Photos: Khunu.
The other day we mentioned outdoor clothing company 
All images by Paul Persky for Ada Zanditon AW10
Of all the fantastic ethical fashion labels that we've seen over the last few seasons at the 
