Green Cotton

Its pretty darn close to that time of year again when the carved pumpkins, jack o’laterns, spooky goblins and tootsie pops start flowing from every house, home, and door in America. Bundle up and get your costume gear on for some good ole trick o’ treatin’!

For all the chocolate and candy lovers out there, this is likely your favorite holiday of the year. Yes? And for those of you who simply like to dress up, well this is your Big Day, too. But for the eco-savvy sweet tooth, well…you are probably thinking of all the ways you can skirt the jam packed grocery aisles filled with 2-pound bags of high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated vegetable oil processed concoctions. Yikes!

So what options are there to go green (and fair trade)? Well, we here at Green Cotton happen to love chocolate and therefore attempted to dig up some eco-treasures that can satisfy your sweet tooth without having to skip town. Let’s take a look:

Fair Trade and Organic Chocolate Halloween Chocolate

Turns out it is easier than one might think to find chocolate that is BOTH fair trade AND organic: Divine, Equal Exchange, and Taza Chocolate are just a few who dove into Halloween this year.

Equal Exchange is now making “Organic Dark Chocolate Mini’s”! (see above) A perfect size for trick or treaters and a perfect green, and fair trade alternative to mainstream chocolate companies. Equal exchange has also been involved in a movement called “Reverse Trick-or Treating” where they call upon children to educate adults as they make their rounds on Halloween by handing them some fair trade chocolate with information about the children who make the chocolate, or who end up laboring (To see more about reverse trick or treating go to Equal Exchange).

Divine got into the Halloween spirit with “Halloween Milk Chocolate Foils” which includes the very spookey Eerie Eyeballs and ghastly gouls! If you know any 7 – 13 year olds I am sure these will be a hit. ()

Taza Chocolate- These “Direct Traders” can be found in over 100 stores in the metro-Boston Area alone! We love Taza chocolate. See their website for local stores in your area that carry Taza Chocolate!

For more Fair Trade Certified and Organic chocolate producers see our earlier post on organic chocolate.

Why go organic and fair trade?
Organic chocolate production is good for consumers, producers and Mother Nature. Pesticides used in the production of conventional cocoa have only increased over last few decades, particularly due to changed production processes. For example, clear-cutting which has replaced growing deep under tree tops (with protection from sunlight and insects) has led to increased pesticide use. Additionally, rainforest deforestation and single-crop plantings jeopardize the survival of endangered species that live in and depend on tropical habitats such as the ones in which cocoa grows well. Ultimately, the overuse of pesticides affects local air and water quality, impacts worker health and has still unknown effects on consumers. In addition, many of the world’s largest chocolate corporations, such as Mars, maker of M & M’s, have yet to adopt fair trade practices. Many factories and farms employ young children to work the cocoa fields.

Let’s Vote with our Wallets (not to coincide with November 4th!). In 2000, we consumed 3.3 billion pounds of chocolate (13 billion dollars worth) in America. As the largest chocolate consumers in the world, we have surprisingly significant influence over the chocolate industry. Even when we don’t know it, we are voting at the checkout counter. With the increasing availability and lower priced organic and fair trade options available out there, lets give it a shot!

May your Halloween be as eco, green and yummy as can be.

Fresh and fabulous, this week’s round up brings to us breaking news in:

1) Recession-proofing: savvy shopping strategies from vintage to charity and more….

2) Beauty products: how to stay away from the green washing.

3) Designers & Agents (D&A) Show for “Green Market” LA.

4) Celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month

First and foremost, we are all slightly harried over the economy at the moment (are we not?), let alone the looming election which will undoubtedly change the course of history… so what better way to sweat of some that unwelcome stress than through retail therapy?

This week, Green Girls Global gives us some smart insights into “charity” shopping to get the most out of that experience Charity begins in the wardrobe… The golden rules of charity shopping for sustainable fashion.

Fashion, evolved takes a step further by offering some words of wisdom on buying vintage.

Meanwhile, Alternative Consumer does the dirty work for us by scouting out the best values in fall eco-coat in their Fall Coat Wrap Up. Featured top is zip up fleese jacket by NaturevsFuture.

Cul de Sac Handbag

Green Grechen also dug deep for us and found some of the coolest handbags made with recycled leather at this time of year in her post on Reclaimed Chic: The Best Recycled Leather Handbags

We also wrote about recession-proofing eco-finds last week here at Green Cotton. Check it out.

On Beauty -  Eco Chick reminds us that greenwashing of “natural” beauty products is alive and well…so BEWARE. I agree! Seems everywhere I go now I see “All Natural” and organic….but what does it really mean? Is there a certification? Thank you Eco-Chick for keeping us on our toes and asking the right questions.

Also, Victoria Everman writes about Clean Beauty and Conscience with Yes to Carrots + EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY! Victoria offers a good review of “Yes to Carrots” brand products.

On the very hot D&A scene GreenGirls.tv reports live from the first ever sustainable D&A event at Green Market in LA…looks like it was a ton of fun. Check out their post as well as some live coverage of the event (including live bands) on their site.

Last but not least, Hooray for Fig & Sage for celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month!  Fig+Sage Celebrates Breasts is giving away an Organic Breastfeeding Support Kit (worth $50). As someone who practices public (in my other job:), I am very excited to see their push for breastfeeding….we have known for a while now (thanks to dozens of studies) that breastfeeding is inordinately more beneficial than formula or complimentary feeding, especially in the first 6 months. So lets get on the bandwagon and support this noble cause for women worldwide!

Hope you enjoyed this week’s wrap up and stay tuned for next week as we unpack Halloween festivities from the eco-perspective and delve deeper into fall fashions.

Autumn has always been my favorite season, especially when it comes to shopping. Growing up, I actually looked forward to summer’s end; to me, dropping temperatures meant it was time for a new wardrobe! My yearly back-to-school shopping fest was a chance to completely reinvent myself.

Now that I’ve graduated, I no longer have school as my excuse to create a new wardrobe every autumn. Throw in the economic recession, and I know I’m not the only one scaling back my fall shopping plans. Budgeting can be tough, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay on top of fall trends— and be eco-chic!

The six following items are swoon-worthy finds: perfect for fall, eco-friendly, and priced under $99!

Del Forte Calla Jeans
These dark blue, organic cotton slim fit jeans will work for any season; they just happen to be on sale for $57 at shopenvi.com. Pair them with your favorite cardigan and chic ankle boots.

Terra Plana Bronte Bootie
You can count on sustainable shoe company Terra Plana for the perfect pair of eco-friendly shoes. They even have vegetable-tanned leather ankle boots—exactly on-trend for fall. Even better? They’re on sale for $69. Shopenvi to the rescue, again!

Red Angel Dress by Jonano
This irresistibly soft ecoKashmere Angel dress shirt is a marvel. Made with organic cotton and bamboo, you will not want to take this number off. Perfect with leggings,  denim or just “as is” (eg for all you lucky people in California), the dress or shirt, if you will has limitless uses. The avocado wrap top is also a deal at $72 (featured top). Both are available at juteandjackfruit.com for only $80 and in black too.

Urban Renewal Fair Isle Sweater Vest
Yes, you can shop vintage at Urban Outfitters! I’ve been a longtime fan of the Urban Renewal line: scraps of vintage fabrics are reworked into eco-chic masterpieces, assembled right in the U.S.A. The Fair Isle Sweater Vest would look beautiful over summer-light jersey dresses or turtlenecks. And for $58, it’s practically a steal!

Circle of the Sun Absolutely Alpaca Scarf
This handknit Bolivian scarf is fair trade, organic and chemical-free. It will only set you back $35, and the proceeds go back to the artisan family that crafted it.

Purple Candy Wrapper Bags
OK, so we know that purple is in this fall, so lets just get right down to it. The perfect way to pop that color into any outfit? You guessed it, accessories. The very hot (and eco) Nahui Ollin candy wrapper bags have a gorgeous purple collection—all of which are under $99. You might try the Itsy Bitsy coin/credit card purse (just $24) or the larger camera bag ($36) for outings, and for those dolled-up nights on the town, try the Grand Ball ($90).

Eco-fashionistas know that shopping for organic, fair trade and sustainable clothing can be pricier than settling for conventional clothing. But with a little savvy and a nose for sales, you can find gorgeous clothes and accessories that help protect the environment and support communities for reasonable prices. And if you want to splurge on investment pieces, like wool coats or sturdy leather bags, remember that you can find eco-luxe goods that are just as fancy as designer brands—but are actually committed to social and eco-consciousness. Have you found some other fabulous fall finds? Let us know if so, and stay tuned for next week’s sequel with more recession-proof, trendsetting items.

By Erin Dale