Jeesh. Yesterday I was flooded with friends’ and colleagues’ emails begging me to write a rebuttal to what they thought were one or two writers slamming the eco-fashion industry.

It had already gone pretty viral by the time the emails came in and only this morning did I really take note. Sometimes knee-jerk reactions can prove disastrous, even if you want to be the first to herald the crappy news and the news is simply: nobody knows what eco-fashion is. Big deal.

For those of you who care what I …

Tags: Anya Hindmarch , carbon footprint , eco fashion , eco-branding , Financial Times , Frida Giannini , greenwashing , Gucci , I am not a plastic bag , organic fabric , Oscar De La Renta , sustainable , water based dyes

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Maria Moyer and Julie Gilhart

Just when you think you’ve met the most amazing woman, three more walk through the door. In this case, I’m talking about a whole Bureau of Friends consisting of some of the smartest women in the sustainable world.

When I say “sustainable,” I mean it in the fullest sense of the word – for all these women are participating in something balanced, whether coaching people on how to love and sell their work or personally creating something of significance in a studio. …

Tags: Alabama Chanin , Architecture For Humanity , Barneys , Bureau of Friends , Heath Ceramics , Julie Gilhart , Maria Moyer , Natalie Chanin , social networking , sustainable , Wink Communication

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It might be gray and raining outside, but a few days into 2010 and I’m already looking forward to spring designs. This might be because as far as fashion goes, more and more designers and big names in the industry are opting for sustainable materials. Today’s spotlight is on fashion-giant H&M, which this week announced the spring Garden Collection.

They tell me it’s all about floral patterns this spring, and fortunately, looking fresh and fun will also be eco-friendly. All of the garments in the new line have been …

Tags: design , eco fabrics , eco fashion , H&M , Hennes & Mauritz , linen , organic , organic cotton , organic linen , recycled , spring 2010 , spring fashion , sustainable , sustainable materials , tencel

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Every time you leave the water running while brushing your teeth, you vow you will break the habit soon because you care deeply about the planet’s resources. Eating meat makes you feel sad, knowing we are no longer hunters who cannot survive without animal protein, yet those subliminal burger ads are bringing out the Edward in you. And every time you leave the TV on all night, you wake up without the proper REM sleep and a higher power bill.

Be compassionate with yourself. …

Tags: antibiotics , appliances , bamboo , beauty , biking , bottles , compost , detergents , disposables , eco , eco fashion , farmer's markets , food safety , fresh , glass , green , hormones , household chemicals , idle energy , local , meat , nail polish , organic , organic cotton , phantom energy , plastic , public transportation , recyle , sustainable , waste , water

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Badgley Mischka Red Carpet (2008)

As an international icon, Barbie has been lucky enough to have designers like Anna Sui, Diane Von Furstenberg and Derek Lam custom-create both lavish ball gowns and wardrobe essentials. I can only hope that of these hip designers, there will be one or two visionaries helping the immortalized Barbie evolve into something more substantial – if she has to be part of our toy line-up, at all.

In April 2010, Barbie will get …

Tags: Barbie , Diane Von Furstenberg , eco-Barbie , Elle , excess , fashion industry , green trend , little black dress , marketing , Mattel , sustainable , TFI New Labels , Toronto

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I remember remodeling my master bath and thinking – wow, I need to hang some new towels on the bars over the tub to accent this very personalized home spa of mine. Where were you, Amy, when I needed you and those coral damask print terries?

Well, you’re here now, and that’s all that really matters, you prolific Midwestern designer you. As striking and exotic as her new organic bedding, Amy Butler’s new gorgeous green towels are super soft to the touch, absorbent when wrapped around your goddess bod, and …

Tags: Amy Butler , bath , certified , cotton , decor , design , dyes , eco , green , organic , sustainable , towels

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My best friend got the holiday bonus gift she dreamed of from her dentist employer this year: A new food processor. It replaces the worn out one that came with her husband when she got married 20 years ago.

Susan is a great cook, but so much of what she grinds in her processor is better done without electricity.

Enter the mortar and pestle, said to date back 5,000 years when hungry people figured out grain could be separated from chaff to procure digestible food. It has since been …

Tags: ancient tools , bamboo , cooking , decor , design , eco , energy , food , gadgets , green , guacamole , home , kitchen , marble , Mexican food , Mortar and pestles , stonewear , sustainable , tools , wood

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Who’s on your gift list? This year, spread the holiday spirit of giving beyond your family, friends and coworkers to people, animals and places in need. With these green gift ideas, your money can go towards preserving the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, bringing food to Darfur refugees, helping struggling artisans of Bangladesh, supporting pandas and much more.

Sponsor a Wild Place in honor of a loved one through the Sierra Club. Here’s how it works: choose from 10 national parks, and your gift …

Tags: artisans , charitable , donation , eco friendly , environment , gifts , green , lifestyle , organic , recycled , renewable , sustainable

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This holiday season, avoid succumbing to advertisers brainwashing us to believe that Best Buy and Macy’s are the only acts in town because of rock bottom sales and coupons. Instead, think local. Sure, we’re a global people, but neighborhood businesses need our support to survive.

The backbone of our small towns and cities is local business, and without them, we have main street vacancies, dark buildings, for lease signs, and people moving elsewhere. It all adds up to a good reason to  shop locally this year….

Tags: Evolution Green , Fashion Takes ACtion , Kelly Drennan , local minded , shop local , ShopSustainable , sustainable

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