Green Cotton

Photosource: http://pipeline.refinery29.com

Beth Ditto, favored mascot of the fashion world, has recently developed a clothing line for Arcadia Group devoted to plus size women such as herself. She is featured in the front page story of the “Style” section in the New York Times. The article focuses on how for the most part high fashion has left out larger women from their collections, but as the number of women in this group grow, this group of women cannot be avoided. About 17 percent of teenagers are overweight now, three times what it was only a generation ago according to the surgeon general’s office. So of course, smart designers are figuring out the best ways to tap into this market. But it seems that for the most part these women want the same styles that their thinner women friends wear, but just in sizes they will fit.

A few prominent women (such as Beth Ditto) want their voice to be heard and make great designs available in plus sizes. She was finally offered the opportunity to test out her own creativity with her latest collection for Evans, the plus size division of Arcadia Group.

Girls have learned to become comfortable in their own skin and want to accentuate those areas they are most proud of. More chic designers such as Karen Kane and Kiyonna have started a plus size line for sale at boutiques, as well as larger chains such as Forever 21, Target, and H & M. So our question of course remains, has this general trend in growing plus size clothing and styles transcended general fashion and reached the eco-fashion world?

We are glad to report the answer is yes, eco-fashion is increasingly inclusive of the plus size market as well! There are a number of companies who now supply plus size eco-friendly clothing. While some may not be as close to young high fashion as Karen Kane and Kiyonna, they are still styles I could love! BellaOnline’s Large & Lovely’s editor, M. E. Wood, has complied a list of plus size eco-designers that we can’t begin to cover.

One of our favorites was Diane Kennedy, who offers clothing up to 3X made from not only organic cotton, but also Soy, Bamboo, Tencel and natural Silk. As a bigger girl herself, Ms. Kennedy worked backwards starting as a plus size designer and just expanded to making normal small, medium and large sizes last year. Her designs are classy, beautiful and soft, and can make any woman feel comfortable in her own skin.

Photosource: www.splendicity.com

Another amazing eco-chic plus size designer is Blue Fish Barclay Studios. Blue Fish is based in Taos, New Mexico but is available for sale online. Blue Fish specializes in offering organic cotton and hemp clothing in free flowing design and earth loving colors to bring out everyone’s inner beauty. They offer regular and plus sizes up to 22.

Photosource: http://www.barclaystudio.com/

Last but definitely not least, Lundstrom offers eco-chic clothing up to sizes 18-24 that do have a younger high fashion feel. While all Lundstrom clothing is not eco, their bamboo line is a favorite for eco-fashionistas. This jacket, for example, is crafted from a recycled corn polyster blend, and is available in sizes up to 24.

Photosource: www.lundstrom.ca

So the first steps toward plus size eco-fashion have certainly been taken, but we can always do more!

For complete larger ist of eco-chic boutiques offering plus sizes, see M.E. Wood’s article on BellaOnline.

By: Julia Rea

Photo Source: END Footwear

END Footwear symbolizes the beginning of a new generation of environmentally conscious shoe manufacturers. They go to the extreme to ensure that their products meet the demands of sustainability. The symbol of END was developed as a vision of a line being drawn in the sand between the old way of manufacturing shoes and the new sustainable way, and bringing and END to the old way: “Our name is our promise to work everyday on designing & manufacturing world-class footwear whose environmental impact is lessened and lessened every season.”

END offers a couple different styles of men’s and women’s running shoes appropriate for ‘road’, ‘trail’, and ‘water’. In all shapes and styles, END stays true to their environmental sustainability commitment. All END shoes are made from 100 % post-consumer waste. But how do they do it?

END keeps their shoes oh-so-environmental by using rice based glues, soy based inks, 100 % certified recycled PET for the laces and webbing, and a 25 % Bamboo infused collar and tongue lining, to name just a few. All of these materials lead to END Footwear being some of the lightest to ever grace the market. The running shoes weigh in at only 9.3 ounces, making exercise less of a strain on the body and the environment.

Photo Source: Souls4Souls

But END goes beyond sustainable shoes to give back to their community and others around the world. They have teamed up with the NGO Souls4Souls to hold shoe drives, and have donated over 400 shoes to children in the developing world who do not have any shoes of their own. END is also devoted to the four R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Responsibility. END sees their commitment to corporate responsibility and transparency as one of the most important aspects of running a corporation successfully.

Check out their styles. Everyone deserves a lighter run and with so many unsustainable shoes out there that can never be used again, END products are a refreshing choice for the environmentally conscious consumer.

END’s goal is to eventually manufacture shoes that are compostable (e.g. biodegradable), and they have hired one of the best teams in the world to achieve this goal. For now though, they are pretty darn close to being the most eco-running shoe we have ever seen.

For more information, see END’s website as well as the recent post by TreeHugger focused on END.

Bamboo Velour Changing Mat Satsuma Designs

With the arrival of a new bundle of joy comes a lot of love, but also a hefty amount of concerns. Health. Nutrition. College? Ok, maybe not yet. But as you tackle so many new mommy issues, know that you won’t have to search long and hard for safe, eco-friendly products for your little one. Satsuma Designs has you covered with organic bamboo baby gear that can keep Baby clean, comfy and happy!

Satsuma’s adorable products are made with all-natural materials like bamboo and organic cotton. Onesies are decked out with cute slogans like “Go Green” and “Small Carbon Footprint.” Satsuma’s signature item, the bamboo swaddling blanket, is soft, antibacterial and machine-washable. Most of the products are 100% bamboo, but a few, such as the velour blankets and onesies, are also made with an organic cotton and poly-blend that adds durability and ease of care to the fabric.

One handy product is the Baby Booty Bamboo Barrier (featured above), a changing table pad cover that boasts germ-fighting properties to keep the diaper table clean and fresh. The nursery starter kit comes with this genius item, along with a swaddling blanket and a bamboo jersey infant hat—all for $60.

Satsuma began as co-founder Jennifer Porter’s quest to “turn over a new green leaf” following the birth of her son, Jimmy. Porter “started taking a hard look at buying decisions in every category,” especially “the clothing and accessories that went into our son’s nursery… I felt that organic materials and baby products were both well aligned and started doing my homework.” Armed with a background in marketing and consumer product development experience, Porter decided on bamboo for her company’s products.

“Bamboo is what I consider a super resource for all its positive characteristics, and that’s how things got started,” Porter says.

Bamboo has been getting a lot of press in the last year as the hottest eco fabric on the market. No longer known to just the hippie set, it’s getting plenty of wear in designer collections, from Diane von Furstenberg to eco-fashion labels like Jonano. Some people are surprised when learning that bamboo can be spun into fabric, but it’s more than just a meal for pandas or a clever option for furniture. With its rapid growth rate (1.5-2 inches an hour!), bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant in the world, and arguably the most sustainable plant on the planet. It’s also an eco-friendly and less expensive alternative to conventional fabrics. For more on Bamboo, read our post on Bamboo: The Miracle Fiber and post on the processing of bamboo to make it into a fiber.

Organic bamboo is soft and drapes like silk, yet is even more durable than cotton. As Satsuma’s collection attests, bamboo is naturally anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, water-wicking, wrinkle-resistant, odor-fighting and hypoallergenic. Plus Satsuma doesn’t use any harsh chemicals or dyes, which is great for sensitive skin. Eco-conscious mommas, are you keeping track? Those are seven less things to worry about!

Check out Satsuma’s cute baby gear at Satsuma Designs. And if you are looking for bamboo clothing for Mommy too, you can find gorgeous bamboo and organic cotton tops, dresses and pants at Jute and Jackfruit.

By Erin Dale