Luxury is elusive. We seek it, but it is never quite realized. It is a practice.

What better way to practice luxury than to drape yourself in ultra luxe fabrics like the trademark cashmere and long-fiber hemp blend of Viridis Luxe. The entire line is a tapestry of supple, revolutionary blends. Bamboo, hemp and silk weave through the collection like a slice of moonlight through the window, subtly luminescent in a gentle, sleepy way.

Luxury is confident yet understated, in contrast to glamour, which is hungry and loud. Viridis Luxe treads lightly in the world of eco-fashion, but carries a big (bamboo) stick.

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You never know whom you might run into at the yoga studio these days. My recent move to the West Coast brought me into constant contact with yoga fiends. I quickly learned that I needed to step it up in the exercise apparel arena.

As any yoga lady knows, Lululemon is the Chanel of spiritual fashion. Hailing from Vancouver, this brand’s manifesto is to live a longer, healthier, exuberant lifestyle as organically as possible. Their wear is a little pricey but a lot worth it. The Oqoqo line makes use of sustainable fibers such organic cotton, hemp, boolux (a bamboo-based fabric), organic merino wool, and soyla (made by extracting protein strands from low-impact soy crops). And Oqoqo uses low-impact (read non-Azo) dyes, without compromising color and style. As an added bonus, the company itself is sustainable – they mandate reclaimed wood flooring, zero-VOC paint, and recycling at all facilities.

From now on, do your plank and downward dog, eco-style.

Dallin Chase designer Jason Cauchi dares to be extraordinary, but misses by just a mark in our book. The young talent’s brilliant dress-only collection includes fabrics like cotton chambray and sporty mesh jersey, but it lacks the use of such green materials as organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, and sasawashi.

At his young age (he’s only 28), Jason belongs to the generation of thinkers and creators who are well versed in and accustomed to the language of eco. Why then, we ask, has he ignored these tenets and opted for the ordinary? True, he’s made quite the splash in all the glossies, but he’s plunked so far in the virtual green world. At press time, we were still unable to determine whether Jason has any future plans to extend his line beyond dresses and into eco. We want to love Dallin Chase, but for now, we’ll have to give the line a weak C-.

Who doesn’t love a baby? Even if you’re pre-procreation or just undecided in the “bringing a human into the world” department, it’s hard to resist the soft skin and fresh smell of a little bundle.

When my sister-in-law gave birth to my nephew I wanted to steal him, I mean buy him...every outfit on the rack. But the green in me screamed “don’t do it”. Babies are bundles only for a moment, quickly growing into little adults who walk and talk. So instead I bought three organic and unisex “onesies” from Little Lark, which she reused when my niece was born 2 years later.

Little Lark is a mother-owned and operated company based in Portland, Oregon. (Yes, another fabulous momtrepreneur!) They sell unique, hand printed baby and toddler clothes made of 100% organic cotton. Their designs are “modern, hip, fun and non-gender specific…exhibiting simplicity and style with a sophisticated edge”. They aren’t kidding, as you can see here and even better here.

Available in sizes 3-6m and 6-12m for $24 (and tax free) at fawn & forest, each onesie comes in a printed, reusable muslin bag - perfect for gift-giving.

Now that my brother and sister-in-law have confirmed “two is enough”, they’re giving their onesies and more to friends and family still in the baby-making mode. Hand-me-down has never been greener.

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Could fashion save the planet? If it were up to Phillip Lim it could.

The savvy visionary, whose offbeat tailored pieces are peddled at speciality department stores and collected by Hollywood producers' wives, looked to the North Pole this season for inspiration. He found it in the dwindling polar bear population. 

Lim says he was greatly moved by a National Geographic special on the Arctic which warned that polar ice caps are melting at a rate three times faster than they were five years ago. He decided then and there to reduce and recycle. The result is his new Go Green Go collection. I first learned of the line  while reading an Eco AID report in Elle Magazine. I stumbled upon a page featuring a drop-dead white Grecian tunic in the collection. It's so gorgeous, I cut out the image for my daughter who had to make her own toga for 6th grade social studies. "Now, this," I told her, "is a toga!"

The tunic is one of 10 pieces in the organic line, which also includes pants, jackets and bib-front tanks, all lined in organic silk with Lim's distinctive feminine touch. Lim told Elle he had been thinking about doing this collection for a while, then suddenly "it just felt right."The going green part involved avoiding harmful dyes on the sustainable cotton fabric he used. He also had each item washed with tennis balls to create a time- worn affect. Quite the Al Gore follower, Lim also has created a $20 canvas grocery tote, reading: "Smile, you have just reduced your carbon footprint." All of the money earned on the bags will go to Gore's Climate Project.

Lim plans to greenify his men's and children's lines as well.

Image: The Fashion Spot

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The days of the oversized corporate t-shirt as beach cover-up are thankfully long gone. And we all know that the standard sarong is so passé. Last year, I snagged a crochet sweater dress on sale and donned it over my suit at the beach for a stylishly sophisticated look.

It’s about time I found a solution for this year’s “body beach blanket.” I recently spotted the Juul blanket top at a knockout clearance price on Kaight (now $132, originally $265). Made of 100% bamboo, the style is a casual, flattering drape with a deep v-neck and metallic detail running down the center. Buy it now (the site estimates 1-2 weeks for delivery) so you’ll have it in time for a hot July weekend getaway.

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Camilla Norrback believes that skin should be exposed.

Exposed - that is - only to nontoxic textiles. The Norwegian designer aims to fuse responsibility and freedom in her designs. Think sophisticated cuts with a childlike charm.

Norrback's designs also fuse decades, drawing patterns from the transition between the '80s and the '90s and emphasizing the best of both worlds. Off-the-shoulder designs meet fitted waists and wide, flowing sleeves and pant-legs. Detailed eco-luxury features like Corzo nut buttons in lieu of plastic are featured throughout the collections.
 
  

With this post, Camilla Norback can consider herself exposed (to us, at least).

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I’m not one to knock working hard and rewarding yourself with a few indulgences from time to time. I do draw the line, however, at overindulgence. You’ll still catch me rolling my eyes at anyone who aspires to one day own the infamous Hermès Birkin bag. Not only does the price tag start at $7,500, but the wait list to get one also averages two years.

Why, oh why, I ask myself, would anyone want to wait that long and pay that much to own something that isn’t even unique anymore? Yet, just as I say this, I discover the latest hot ticket. And yes, ladies, it just happens to be green. The Kooba tote, which is making its second exclusive debut at Barney’s, is made of unbleached organic cotton canvas with recycled metallic cork trim.

I have to admit, it is tres stylish and much more reasonably priced than the Birkin (only $245), but it's yet another “it” bag. If you’re lucky, you may be able to score yourself one online, but from what I’ve heard, the wait list for this summer’s most wanted bag may just rival its overpriced couture counterpart. To each is own, but I say get your own style and bypass this bag.

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With the growing abundance of sustainably produced fashion, why would anyone still be wearing the old staples like rayon, acrylic, and polyester (unless they’re recycled)? From sporty and casual basics to sexy evening looks, there is a collection for every type of green clothing you desire. Our goal at EcoSalon is to introduce you to as many eco-sensitive designers we can find.

So, without further ado, let me introduce ecoSkin. When designer Sandy Skinner launched ecoSkin last year, her goal was to create an eco-friendly women’s line that doesn’t compromise style. And that she did.


The collection offers sophisticated basics like this hooded knit wrap made of bamboo (above) that I would throw on for a casual brunch with friends and this Cook top in deep taupe (silk hemp blend with a natural shell button detail) that would be great for the office.

Summer seems to call for clutches, diminutive bags that rest ever so lightly on our laps at the Hollywood Bowl or on the side of our chair at a favorite outdoor cafe.

With all the hype about the dangers of resting our hefty handbags on the ground (a filthy habit when you think about what collects on that floor) the strapless little clutch is the way to go when paring down for hot weather. Raffia is becoming a popular fabric for green designers producing decorative bags. A trend is to pair the organic raffia with wood, tiger's eye, crystal or other jeweled adornments that really stand out against the understated canvas.

A great example are the raffia cuties from Mad Imports. (Sara, Kim and Larkyn are major fans.)  I'm truly mad for the site's stunning assortment of clutches like the GiGi design which comes in seven amazing shades with cotton lining and a highly tactile, oversize wooden button accent ($69). The yellow bag is to dye for!

A bit more dressy are the hand-embroidered Heather bags ($79) featuring wildflowers and a snap enclosure, available in four shades. Or go totally groovy with the Opal bag ($75) in a rainbow of pretty colors and adorned with a massive oval wooden button.

More upscale but still green is the Eco-Clutch from Simply Soles, a chic little black number forged from recyled water bottles. The darling clutch ($195) even has a detachable black and white silk floral pin to add or subtract panache.

Even more delicate, the Franchi Rue Raffia Floral Flap Clutch ($97) of woven raffia with a lacy macrame trim in either pink or blue from Zappos. This is a great choice to pair with a cotton dress for an afternoon event.

If you have a big budget for a swank event, splurge on the Raffia Clutch by Anya Hindmarch ($385) at Vivre. It's studded with faceted tiger's eye and a gold diamante snap. The same designer makes a similar raffia clutch with crystal adornments and a tassle.

If you have no budget, fool them with the Limited Edition Straw Wristlet Clutch from standby source, Target for a mere $10.49. It's black and tan and pretty darn chic with a little flower in the corner so you still come out smelling like a rose.

Sara’s shameless plug: Hi, it’s your editor. De-lurk, dear reader, and leave this fabulous writer a comment. (We love chatting.) You can also share this post with friends – just click your favorite social bookmark listed below. New reader? Be sure to sign up for the weekly newsletter to win free eco goodies! You can also subscribe to any RSS feed your heart desires.