Green Cotton

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

Above: Diane Von Furstenburg Collection

Here at Green Cotton, we look at fashion from an eco-eye, discussing sustainable fabrics, fair trade practices, and eco-friendly options for the most discerning fashionista. New York Fashion Week, hardly an all-green event (yet), gives us an opportunity to spy the trends and find “greener” ways to rock them.
I’ve been peeking at the collections all week, and my favorite designers have not disappointed. While there haven’t been any eco shows since last week’s Be EcoChic event, plenty of designers have been showing boho-chic looks that unite the “haute” and the “hippie.”

For a brief fashion history lesson, the term “boho-chic” was coined in the early 2000s to describe the style of British It-Girls Kate Moss and Sienna Miller (fashion lovers to this day continue to dispute which one actually started the trend). Some sources (including a Wikipedia entry) claim that this trend reached its height in 2004-5, and the derivations we’re seeing now can be classified as “boho rock,” even “goth-rock.”

You’ll notice hints of gothic in this fall’s fashions, carrying over from the Fall 2008 collections shown this past spring. But the free-spirited boho look was even more prominent on the runways. Badgley Mischka and Just Cavalli took a trip to the 1970s with relaxed fits and floppy hats. D&G showed tartans, checks and plaids that had a playful, down-home feel. But Gucci best embodied the “haute hippie” and elevated her to rock star glory: right at home with earthy prints and flowing scarves were fringed boots, black skinny pants, bare shoulders and chunky chains.

Despite the debate over its dwindling relevance, boho-chic is clearly still alive and well on the Spring 2009 runways!

Diane Von Furstenburg (featured above) showed plenty of bright colors and dared to mix prints, giving her line a flower child vibe that she dubbed “Rock Goddess.”

Photo: Charlotte Ronson Collection

Charlotte Ronson’s flowy dresses and floral patterns are simple yet chic, exuding peaceful, natural beauty.

Photo: Miss Sixty’s Collection

In Miss Sixty’s very 70s spring collection, scarves, sunglasses and denim onesies abound, with loose silhouettes and bright patterns reminiscent of groovier times.

Photo: Jill Stuart’s Collection

Jill Stuart used a pastel palette to transport the wearer back to the 70s, complete with butterfly sleeves, asymmetrical hemlines, draping scarves and the occasional chunky knit.

Photo: Anna Sui’s Collection

Photo: Anna Sui’s Collection

Anna Sui’s boho girls were sweet as Swiss misses, but still had a rock-and-roll edge. The collection displays a wide range of shapes, from prairie blouses and skirts to sheaths and caftans, along with a dizzying array of colors (orange, fuchsia, royal blue and more rainbow brights compete with a few all-black ensembles) and patterns (floral, geometric shapes, beaded embellishments, even a paisley “peacock” look). There are so many looks, it almost appears the designer couldn’t make up her mind, but the overall bohemian spirit makes the collection feel cohesive.

Photo: Nanette Lepore’s Collection

Nanette Lepore gave the earthy girl a new level of sophistication. She’s grounded her in floral patterns and earth tones but dressed her up in blazers and high-waisted shorts, giving her polish and a slimmer silhouette. This collection shows, perhaps, where the boho-chic trend is headed, but not without a nod to the past: a few baby-dolls and crocheted knits peeked out from bright trenches and slinky silks.

What do you think of the boho-chic trend? Do you think it will still be going strong next season? How do you think it coincides with (or not) the eco-fashion movement? Let us know your thoughts….

Post By Erin Dale

Growers of traditional, chemical dependent cotton would like us to believe that pesticide and fertilizer residue do not persist in the clothing we wear.  However, when gallons of chemicals are used on cotton plants – the oft-quoted ¾ pound of chemicals to grow enough cotton for one pair of jeans…not surprisingly some chemicals are absorbed by the cotton and then into our skin.

Is it possible to remove every trace of these toxic chemicals? And what effect do these chemicals have on our skin and bodies? While we know the answer the first question is yes, through the advent of certified organic cotton production and textile manufacturing, the latter remains to be answered. In the meantime, if you could eliminate harmful chemicals from any of the clothing you currently wear, which would you choose first?

Given the above information, I would have to choose intimates. Worn next to our most sensitive skin day and day out– bras, camisoles, underwear… well, they seem like a good place to start.

So here’s a round up of organic intimates: from the staples to the sublime

Faerie’s Dance carries plenty of well-priced basics. They have ethically sourced and manufactured hipsters, thongs, boyshorts and classic panties. Stock up on three-packs of bamboo/organic cotton panties here, plus a selection of bras and camisoles.

Rawganique’s is another good place to purchase basics. As well as panties, there are camisoles and a selection of bras like this lightweight gathered bra.  For guys, they carry hemp boxers, reportedly exceptionally soft and comfortable.

Ecoland’s soft bras and hipsters are undyed organic cotton, available in underwire and wireless styles. And for guys, Ecoland also offers men’s boxers and briefs.

Spirit of Nature, a UK based company, has a huge range, from basics, in bamboo and organic cotton, to silk, and even organic maternity and nursing bras.  They cater to men with boxer shorts too.

For something a little more special, Ciel make silk and cotton lingerie, like these lace-embellished boyshorts and matching cache coeur bra which are ethical with zero style sacrifice.

Ciel boyshorts featured above.

Enamore’s organic silk bras, panties, camisoles, and bridal lingerie are sure to cause a sensation!

The Oko Box has custom-made vintage style undies, made from deadstock vintage and new organic fabrics, like these darling paper bag waist bloomers.

And speaking of bags… Triumph created a bra for the Japanese market which converts into a shopping bag. The bra’s padding unfolds into the bag, which is hooked together by the underwire. The No! Shopping Bag Bra is actually quite pretty, but I’m not sure I grasp the concept… undressing in the grocery store? It’s really designed to highlight the 30 million plastic shopping bags thrown away in Japan annually.

I’m staying with my conventional reusable shopping bags, and hoping that someone special will treat me to something from Stella McCartney’s organic lingerie collection!

Photo top: Stella McCartney’s lingerie collection

Post by Brit

Some good or bad news came out this week– depending on your perspective: Steve & Barry’s, retailer for low cost brands, filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday. Despite the ethical and environmental questions that many of us had in recent months (see Green Cotton’s Part I and Part II of the Cheapest Dress in the World), I must admit that I was shocked by the news.

Given their tremendous growth over the past two years (opening more than 200 stores) coupled with high profile draw of their celebrity lines such as Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker, I was not under the impression that they were about to go under. Rather, I thought they were enjoying a price-driven surge amidst our economic downturn that would last for years to come. As a privately held company however, it appears we were not given the whole story until recently.

According to this weeks NY Times article and CNN reports, it appears that Steve & Barry’s may have miscalculated cash flow on a couple of fronts: 1) increasing lease costs (due to lapses in temporary landlord incentives put in place to incentize entry into resource-poor areas); 2) decreasing revenue from certain items such as the Jessica Parker dress (featured in Part I and Part II) associated with temporarily lowered prices; 3) high celebrity licensing fees and 4) all of the above combined, creating an inability to pay off immediate debts.

All these factors, combined with rising oil prices, tightening of credit markets and decreased retail vitality, create a sure-fire formula for a downward crash. Steve & Barry’s is not the first company to run into these problems.

Yet what is unique about Steve & Barry’s story for me, and perhaps some of you, is that the company’s downturn represents yet another example of conventional input-focused models (driven almost exclusively by price) failing to deliver over time. To me their story was inevitable, it just happened to be a lot sooner than I expected.

It is becoming increasingly apparent to me (as oil prices increase and ice caps continue to melt) that when businesses adopt environmental sustainability criteria and fair wage practices from the beginning of production to the storefront, a more sustainable business model is created, not only for our generation, but for generations to come. Even when this means passing some increased cost onto consumers, ultimately this is a good thing, since it creates a market based on “true costs” rather than partial or imagined ones.

The other benefit of increasing product cost (eg in the case of organic clothing), is that ultimately that means we will buy fewer dresses or other items for the season. Plus, we are more likely to appreciate the items more since we invested more in them and will likely not throw them away as quickly. By the way, 80% of garments end up in the landfill within a few years of their purchase (!).

On the other hand, countless companies are currently pioneering social and environmental programs that actually save them money over time and therefore do not lead to increased customer costs. For example, Patagonia, Stoneyfield Farms, Eileen Fisher, Seventh Generation, Timberland, the list goes on….have all proven in one way or another that environmentally sustainable practices (recycling programs, renewable energy investments, waste management, organic fabric sourcing) can all be profitable - in addition to sustainable. See Stirring it Up by Gary Hirschberg for more details. (By the way, I just finished reading that book - and it is great, highly recommend it!).

By creating more holistic business practices that factor in natural resources which are not finite as well as human resources, the fabric of global communities, perhaps our companies will stay in business longer too. Margins may be higher and we may simultaneously create stronger linkages between the land we cultivate, the workers and artisans that produce our goods and those of us who buy them.

May the Steve & Barry lesson be one that others learn from in carving their path into the retail future.

Photosource top: Mark Lennihan/Associated Press as seen in The NY Times

Photosource below: Tony Ciola for the NY Times also noted in Green Cotton post on the Cheapest Dress Part I