Often when you see images of the earth, recycle signs and other eco-slogans on t-shirts, you just assume the t-shirt itself is made from sustainable materials, right?

Rarely.

In fact, next time you’re out, take a look at the tag and you’ll see that most are made from conventional cottons and toxic dyes. It makes me wonder who should be held more accountable, the manufacturer pushing the blatant greenwashing or the consumer who fails to be conscious?

To prove the point that most t-shirts aren’t eco at all, I did two basic searches: …

Tags: conventional cotton , eco slogans , Fashion , Green propoganda , greenwashing , organic , sustainable materials , t-shirts , toxic dyes

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There are many levels of eco-fashion at this point in the game. So many people are trying to make us understand why we should support it, what we shouldn’t buy and what we should. Then there is the ultimate question of whether the very notion of eco-fashion is a paradox itself?

Honestly, there are times when I too feel like taking a happy pill to get away from it all but the only way to be a part of it is to be educated. So don’t stop now.

These 15 books will …

Tags: bamboo , books , cotton , denim , design , designer , environment , Fashion , green , organic , recycled , sustainable

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Meadow Compton-Gerrish is a beautiful designer inside and out, living in Costa Rica on an organic farm in an architecturally pleasing tree house. The company is currently working on making their organic farm into a welcoming spot for tourists wanting an altogether different vacation experience (read: pleasant dreams in cabanas and riding horses into the quaint village of Pavones).

A wife and mother of two, Meadow, whose eponymous line embodies the spirit of seaside sexy, says:

“i am meadow.

i am natural. organic. eco chic. … a nomad part time in the concrete jungle….and …

Tags: hand dyed silk , Meadow Compton-Gerrish , Meadow eco-clothing , organic farm

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It’s true. Sometimes everything starts with a pair of lederhosen, especially with this outfit.

By ‘lederhosen’ we’re not referring to Bavarian leather pants, of course, but a particular style of trousers in a variety of fabrics. No beer stein and braces required!

Printed pants are a trend staying strong into the fall and so when you find a pair this great on sale, you should scoop them up. Leggings aren’t going anywhere, so get a variety of colors and prints to take your summery tunic tops into fall paired with …

Tags: bamboo , Beau Soleil , Erica Weiner , feral childe , Kind Boutique , lederhosen , NeuAura , organic cotton , printed pants , vegan shoes

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We recently had Peter Ingwersen, founder of Noir on record, saying, “Technology will save us all. I think that man-made fibers are truly amazing and will be the new hot thing in eco-materials. We will all need to overcome our prejudice that natural made fibers are more eco-friendly.”

Not to worry, Peter, you know as well as I do that there are mad scientists, I mean pioneers, out there pushing the boundaries for all kinds of fabrics. Take this new one made from tea, of all things.

The …

Tags: bacteria , cellulose , Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design , clothing , eco-materials , fabric , Fashion , green tea , Imperial College , lifestyle , manmade fibers , natural fibers , Noir , Peter Ingwersen

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When a new crop of shoes comes out, I start blubbering.

The Naya shoe line is completely drool worthy, and it’s also completely sustainable. The brand was “born from the belief that shoes should be beautiful on your feet, soft on your step and gentle on the environment. Because you should never have to choose between what looks good, what feels good and what is good for you and for the earth.”

Hear, hear!

The current Fall collection includes “Origami Rose,” “Tailored Temptation,” “Beautiful Bows,” ”Super Soft Suedes,”  “Rugged Resource” …

Tags: cork , giveaway , Naya Shoes , PET , recycled content fabrics , reusable shoe bags , vegetable tanned leather

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Nicole Mackinlay Hahn knows there’s an artistry and ethic behind how your clothes, shelter and food get to you, and she wants to show you.

While base operations are at her site Reap What You Sew, her recent video book at the Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World’s exhibit titled “Fashion Footprints: Sustainable Approaches,” is one of many collaborations she’s been active in when it comes to African artisans.

Her Mirror/Africa launch in Barney’s New York in 2008, as an interactive public art installation (see the Mirror/Africa video …

Tags: African artisans , Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World , Clif Bar , Earth Pledge , EDUN , interview , Mirror/Africa , Nicole Mackinlay Hahn , Product (RED) , REap What You Sew , The Breast Cancer Fund , The One Campaign , video , video book

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Trying on a new trend like the ethnic/tribal vibe can be a big step out of one’s comfort zone, but with baby steps you can capture the vibe and what? Do it on sale?!

Yes ma’am. This dress and the shoes below are both very reasonably priced and just put on sale.

When perusing Nimli’s site, I was actually astounded to see all of their sale items, and came up with this little outfit for you ladies that don’t want tattered and beaded bib necklaces, wild prints, harem pants and a …

Tags: cri de coeur , Doie , dress , eco fashion , ethnic/tribal , Mad Imports clutch , Nimli , organic cotton , stylish steals , vegan heels

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I love a good sale and I’m going to take a wild guess and say you do too.

Here’s another round of Stylish Steals to take you into the next season, based mostly out of Body Politic in Vancouver (belts from Beklina and shoes from Juno & Jove).

I started with the pants, because of the name (Spine Pant) but also because of the sexy ladder like stitching up the back. On sale for $179.

This Dani Tunic by Lara Miller top (made from bamboo) with a cute poof on …

Tags: bamboo , Beklina , body politic , Juno&Jove , Lara Miller , Lina Rennell , Maggie May earrings , Olsen Haus , organic cotton , recycled leather belts , Teich handbag , vancouver

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In an overly consumptive American society, it shouldn’t be that hard to figure out why we’re so far behind other countries when it comes to zero waste. We consume so much, that we never take inventory of what we already have.

So it should be no surprise that according to a recent New York Times article about Fashion Tries On Zero Waste Design, “Nearly every leading zero-waste or less-waste designer hails from another country, including Mark Liu, Julian Roberts and Zandra Rhodes in England; Susan …

Tags: fashion industry , loomstate , Mark Liu , New York Times , Parsons New School For Design , Scott Mackinlay Hahn , Timo Rissanen , Yeohlee Teng , zero-waste

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