Please shop us for the best committed eco chic style designers, superb and conscious artists, and smart/cool products and brands, featuring these eco-conscious brands commitment to sustainable practices and chemical-free materials and ingredients:
Edun | Loomstate | Beth Springer | Josh Podoll | Topo Ranch | Alkemie Jewelry | Prairie Underground
Stewart + Brown | EcoSkin | John Masters | Kelly B | Eco Nvey | Zoya Organic Nails | Meiling Chin
Souchi Una | Melissa Kergan | Juleselin | Lara Miller | Lizzie Parker | Eco-Ganik | Honey House
Pelcor | Entermodal | Viridiis Luxe | Eco-Ganik | Beau Soleil | B Green | Covet | Chantler | Teich
Ecoist | Naturally Knotty | Sworn Virgins | TiVi | Fine Design | Margaret Russo | Hovey Lee | Ashley Watson
....and more. Browse and enjoy.
Reduce the use of animal hides or toxic leather-making processes and finishing with:
• Corkskin leather made of cork bark.
• Veggie dyed leathers replace toxic dyes.
• Reclaimed leather products are repurposed from discarded leather goods.
Sustainable Wood Alternatives:
Reduce the destruction of valuable trees and toxic wood conversion processes with:
• Tree-free paper made of leaf, plant and fruit byproducts, or recycled paper with a large amount of post-consumer waste.
• Choose sustainable wood products that are easily replaceable like bamboo, which is also harder and lighter weight.
• Choose woods from naturally harvested trees. Sustainable certified woods are best choice.
NOTE: We recommend making non-plastic choices to reduce the need for landfill. When using plastic, be sure to choose recyclable and biodegradable plastics.
Sustainability of Bamboo:
Bamboo minimizes CO2 gases and generates up to 35% more oxygen then equivalent stand of trees, and:
• is the fastest growing woody plant in the world, although it is defined as a "grass"
• helps mitigate water pollution due to its high nitrogen consumption
• requires little attention during its growing/production cycle
• is well suited for agroforestry and healthy ecosystems
• helps retain water in the watershed
• can be harvested annually
• needs no replanting after harvesting
• no need for pesticides when growing bamboo. Bamboo grows so rapidly there is no need for fertilizer.
Modern bamboo clothing is clothing made from either 100% bamboo yarn or a blend of bamboo and cotton/organic cotton yarn. The bamboo yarn can also be blended with other textile fibres such as hemp or even spandex. Modern bamboo yarn is a regenerated cellulose fibre.
Bamboo clothing is:
• hypoallergenic
• natural sheen and softness that feels and drapes like silk
• soft and non-irritating, even to sensitive skin
• highly absorbent and wicks water away from the body 3 to 4 times faster than cotton.
Doesn’t stick to the skin in hot, humid weather. Bamboo fabrics more breathable.
• naturally more wrinkle-resistant than cotton
• easy to launder in a clothes washer and dryer. Shrinkage during washing and drying is minimal at warm temperatures.
Reasons for Use of Organic Cotton:
Organic cotton is an alternative to cotton farming which accounts for 24% of the world’s insecticide market and 11% of the sale of global pesticides. Many of these pesticides are hazardous and toxic. Four types of the top nine pesticides used in treating cotton are considered by the EPA to be highly carcinogenic. These are cyanide, dicofol, naled and propargite. Textile processing may add other chemicals. An estimated 1 million to 5 million cases of pesticide poisoning occur every year, resulting in 20,000 reported deaths among agricultural workers and at least 1 million hospitalizations. Acute respiratory symptoms and other health effects in communities surrounding cotton farms are correlated with high use of defoliation chemicals.
Organic cotton is grown on land that is certified to be free from any pesticide, insecticide and defoliants for at least three years. Farmers maintain their crops using time-old methods of crop rotation, cover crops, beneficial insects and human labor (not to mention organic fertilizers) to care for their plants. Organic is not grown from genetically modified cotton seeds.
People with allergies and chemical sensitivity especially benefit from organic cotton clothing, as conventional cotton may retain harmful toxic residues. Even if you don't have sensitive skin, organic cotton will just feel better against your skin.
Other Eco-Friendly Fibers:
Tencel is a brand-name for
Lyocell, a fiber made from wood pulp cellulose. This strong, easy-care fabric is made of cellulose extracted from wood pulp that is harvested from replenished tree farms. It's environmentally sensitive and washable. This elegant eco-fiberis derived using a non-toxic process, which spins it into a buttery-soft machine washable textile, both luxurious and upscale. Tencel is 100% biodegradable, durable, dyeable, and machine washable/dryable. It is elegant and ultra-soft, offering an incredible draping and versatile
rayon.
Other eco friendly fiber choices include: Hemp, Soy, Organic Silk, Peace Silk, Organic Wool, Milk, Corn, Banana Leaf, Coffee, PLA, Recycled Cotton, Recycled Polyester, Recycled remnants and piece goods. New eco-friendly textiles are being made of algae, soya and milk casein. Ingeo is a natural synthetic fiber made by distilling plant sugar from plant starches such as corn.
Ethical Benefits of Natural Dyes and Finishing Operations:
Herbal dyes can help prevent diseases and common sensitivities due to contact with the skin. Synthetic dyes are used on conventional clothing and leather goods for applying colors, various finishes and properties. These are often known to result in problems like skin rashes and symptoms in children include red cheeks and ears, dark circles under the eyes.
Vegetable, insect (Cochineal) and herbal-based dyes are safe. Good quality natural pigments produce visibly superior and lasting colors — very strong yields, resistance to fading, relatively fast colors along with easy availability. Natural dyes are environmentally sound and can be grown by organic methods. They are inherently carbon neutral.
Eco Resins and Veneers -
Eco-resins are a group of polymer coatings that are all based on plant or vegetable extracts.