Usually if someone says Sustainable or Eco-friendly fashions the first thing that comes to mind are patchouli donned hippies at a grateful dead concert.
Erase those images from your head!
Sustainable/Eco friendly fashions have made some serious fashion forward changes in the last few years. There are a growing number of fashion conscious people out there that care about the environment, animals and conditions under which their products are made! They are armed with a determination to smash the “Hippie” stereotype while producing quality fashion forward products that are also sustainable!
What is Sustainable Fashion?
“Sustainable fashion, also called Eco fashion, is a part of the growing design philosophy and trend of sustainability, the goal of which is to create a system which can be supported indefinitely in terms of environmentalism and social responsibility”-Wikipedia
What makes something sustainable?
Any or all of the following:
- focuses on the reuse and recycling of materials
- produces according to fair trade standards
- produced using animal friendly practices
- supportive of smaller/local industries
- produced with environmental awareness
Here is a look at some of my favorite Sustainable lines that are breaking the stereotypes on Eco-fashion:
WEN by Chaz Dean. Natural Haircare. Unlike many ordinary shampoos, Wen cleansers are made with natural ingredients and contain no sodium laurel sulfate or other damaging detergents that will not only hurt your hair, but are also bad for the environment. They don’t lather; instead, they create smooth foam when mixed with water for shinier, healthier-looking, more manageable results.
Wen® is an industry-changing product line that is the first ever to exclude ordinary shampoo. What sets Wen® apart from the rest is its cleansing conditioner, a single-step process that cleanses and conditions the hair simultaneously. Its gets even better! WEN is cruelty free! NO ANIMAL TESTING! Pick up WEN at http://www.chazdean.com/
(above: WEN by Chaz Dean)
ecoSkin. Sustainable Fashions. “ecoSkin is a privately-held California apparel company offering chic, contemporary designs for the Eco-conscious but fashion savvy woman. Core to its planet-friendly mission, ecoSkin uses only environmentally sustainable luxury fabrics woven, dyed and sewn in the USA.”
“ecoSkinproves that you don’t have to compromise style to be Eco-friendly. The use of rayon made from bamboo fibers, organic cotton, Tencel and hemp in their fabrics give the garments a sexy elegance and buttery-soft texture that feels like a second skin. Find them at http://www.ecoskincollections.com/ecoskin/index.html
(above: ecoSkin “Martin” dress)
Happy Cow. Recycled Leather Bags and Belts. If you have read my Blog before you know I am a HUGE fan of Happy Cow!
“Completely Environment-Friendly: The entire range of bags & accessories are handcrafted from recycled leather. We purchase off-cuts of leather from high-end furniture manufacturers, anything that is too small to make furniture out of is sold to us. Effectively meaning we are using brand new, high-quality leather that would otherwise be thrown away. This means less pressure on the environment and no unnecessary suffering. ”
“Happy Cow is often referred to as a provider of “responsible fashion”. This is because we pride ourselves on setting an example for others in the fashion industry as to how to be both environmentally-friendly and profitable. Our leather and all the paper we used in all aspects of our business is 100% recycled. We also try to constantly reduce our carbon footprint in the office, warehouse and with our distribution channels. Among other things; we use only environmentally-friendly light sources and our custom-made packaging is also bio-degradable.”
(above: Happy Cow Hobo Bag)
(above: Happy Cow Overnighter Bag: I’m dying to get this one!)
(above: Happy Cow Vintage Hipster)
Palma Collection:Vegitable Ivory Jewlery. “The inspiration for Palma came to us from the desire to make a positive change in our society. We believe that we are making a difference and will continue working our best to share with you an exotic, exciting, and original jewelry inspired by nature’s beauty. Our artisans carefully and masterfully handcraft each individual piece of jewelry into stunning, colorful, and stylish designs that are dazzling the fashion industry. Each unique piece is made from a rare palm tree nut found only along South America’s coastline.” All of the gorgeous pieces are handcrafter with care and environmentally friendly. Get some of thier beautiful collection at http://store.palmacollection.com/
(above: Chinkle Necklace from Palma Collection)
(above: Shimonsay necklace from Palma Collection)
Supayana: Upcycled clothing . Upcycling is a process in which disposable or discarded items are re-purposed to make them valuable, useful, or simply aesthetically pleasing. Upcycling is designed to work in opposition to consumer culture, encouraging people to think of new and innovative ways to use things, instead of simply buying new consumer goods. It also benefits the environment, by promoting reuse over discarding whenever possible.
Supayana is the brainchild of 26 year old Russian born Canadian designer Yana Gorbulsky. Strongly influenced by vintage style, this clothing line is both quirky and feminine. She uses recycled or eco-friendly materials for all of her collections and all garments are made ethically and locally.
I am CRAZY for this line!! Visit her Etsy shop at http://supayana.etsy.com/
(above: Supayana organic cotton Night Sailing dress photo ; Matthew Kristjan and model: Marcela Lazaro)
(above: Supayana Aurora top and Pom Pom skirt; photo: Matthew Kristjan and model: by Marcela Lazaro)
Mink. Mink is a vegan shoe line that sidesteps leather for eco-friendly, animal-free materials. Every pair of Mink Shoes has personality of its own. Since 2004 they have adorned the feet of some of the most famous women in the world.
“Rebecca Mink, a native of southern California, has devoted her entire life to the mission of preserving the planet and the humane treatment of animals. Rebecca was torn between the high-end fashion she loved, and the animals and planet she adored. Noticing the lack of luxurious vegan shoes in the marketplace, she made it her mission to create the choice. Rebecca conceived the ultimate alternative and Mink was born!” Check out all the hot styles at http://www.minkshoes.com/home.html
(above: MINK “cock” t-strap spike heel)
(above: Mink “Bull” black pump)
Palma Collection and WEN want to introduce you to fashionable sustainability!
1 Lucky winner will receive: a set of WEN by Chaz Dean Products including: Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner, Oil and Re-Moist Hydrating Mask AND a beautiful Arozollo necklace and earrings from Palma Collection!
To Enter:
If you haven’t already, Subscribe to this Blog. (You can subscribe in the top left hand corner of the sidebar).
AND
Leave a comment on this post between Sept. 13 and Sept. 18 telling me how you do your part in contributing to a more Sustainable World.
(comments can be left by scrolling to bottom of post or comment icon at beginning of post at top right depending on your browser)
Good Luck and Thanks for Reading.
Spread the love….Please Repost on your Facebook and Twitter!
(last weeks lucky winners are: Jamie D., Krystle R., and Dena T. Congrats!)
