give synthetics the boot (bag)

Icebreaker, maker of some of the finest Merino wool activewear around, will be "bagging synthetics" next week.

Starting Monday, October 5, the New Zealand based company will be taking your stinky old synthetic, petroleum-based t-shirts (think polyester) and turning them into reusable marathon shoe bags in the Paragon Sports store window, on the spot, and for absolutely free.

Bonus for marathoners and aspiring marathoners: get 26.2% off your Icebreaker GT purchase and get a free pair of Icebreaker socks (from Oct 5 to 12).

So why should you ditch your old synthetic tee for a Merino wool one?

Synthetic tees:

• stink after a run
• feel unnatural
• are made from oil

Icebreaker merino apparel:

• made from all-natural wool from free-range Merino sheep
  
• feels soft to the touch
• has natural wicking abilities
• doesn't stink when you sweat in it
• non-polluting
• biodegradable
• suitable for all seasons

Plus you can run in Icebreaker apparel for weeks without washing it, so energy costs are reduced and less detergents are put into the environment. Read more about Icebreaker's ethos.

And here are the details for the event:

Monday, October 5 to Monday, October 12
11 am – 7 pm
Paragon Sports
867 Broadway at 18th Street, NYC

design for a living world

When I look at the tag inside a t-shirt to find out its origin, that "Made in Bangladesh" label is only telling a tiny part of the story. Sure, the shirt may have been sewn together in Bangladesh, but where was the cotton grown? Where was it spun, woven, and dyed? How many hands touched that one t-shirt in order to be sold in a retail shop in the US?

Design for a Living World, a fairly new exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum developed by The Nature Conservancy, removes the mystery of origin, at least in part, of some of the items we might encounter day to day. It shows us that natural is beautiful and knowing the source and inspiration of design is powerful.

Take, for example, the organic sheep's wool rug designed and knit by Dutch designer Christien Meindertsma. We see the sheep of Lava Lake Ranch in Hailey, Idaho, grazing on pasture. We see the raw materials, the just shorn wool, all balled-up and dirty with brush. And then each subsequent stage of preparation, from the cleaned wool, to the spun yarn, to the giant knitting needles, to the finished product. Many sheep, some farmers, and one woman. There's no questioning the source, the process, the final product.


Several other materials and products are displayed, showing the region of origin, a peek at the people who are stewards of that land, who harvest the materials, and a profile of the designer. Alaskan salmon skin clothing from Isaac Mizrahi, FSC-certified red maple furniture from Maya Lin, and, my favorite, vegetable ivory jewelry of the Pohnpei ivory nut palm tree from Ted Muehling (manta ray earrings below).


Surrounded by these beautifully executed designs, all as sustainably created as possible, I still left wanting more information. How do these products compare to their conventional counterparts? Considering how (relatively) few steps are required, how few hands touched these products, does that make them more or less accessible to the general public? Of course, the designs on display are not meant to be sold in stores, but how could they serve as models for those that are?

I hope that I'm underestimating the impact this exhibit might have on a young designer, or a seasoned designer looking to turn over a new leaf. And I hope that designers like Isaac Mizrahi, who has churned out (not-so-sustainable) designs for Target, and now Liz Claiborne, will not just see this project as a one-off but as a guide for the goods they design in the years to come.

Design for a Living World
Now through January 4, 2010
Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum
2 East 91st Street New York, NY 10128 | 212.849.8400

nothing over $30 sale at the greenloop

You read that right. The Nothing Over $30 sale is on at the Greenloop, online eco-boutique. What better time to introduce some low-impact, high-style items into your wardrobe?



You can get adorable duds like this Stewart & Brown organic cotton dress for only $29.99! (it was $138)


Or this sweet fair trade organic cotton Loomstate tee for just $19.99! (it was $60)



Greenloop was recently named best online eco-boutique in Treehugger's Best in Green Awards.

house of organic sale

Ekovaruhuset (aka, House of Organic), purveyor of premium organic fashion is having a huge sale next week.

House of Organic is an itsy-bitsy boutique at 123 Ludlow St (just south of Rivington), but it's jam packed with lovely organic dresses, denim, tees, and more. Details on the sale below:

We are having a massive ONE WEEK SALE next week and we want to invite you to enjoy 50% off of nearly everything in the store. All Veja Sneakers, Bergmans shirts, Fin dresses, Kuyichi jeans, Pjux shoes, Katherine Hamnett Tees, Knowledge Cotton Apparel ... just about EVERYTHING (excluding designer items) will be 50% off!

Sale will last from Wednesday, June 3rd until Sunday, June 7th. Come quick to enjoy these amazing prices on our amazing organic goods!

loomstate sale at greenloop

This Swan's for You!

These days, I'm trying to focus on buying less, especially new things. But there are a few things I'll buy new - underwear and Loomstate 100% organic cotton t-shirts. They might be the softest t-shirts I've ever owned.

I just got myself one on sale (along with some Pi organic cotton undies) at Greenloop.


And in case you didn't know, Greenloop recently won best online fashion shop from Treehugger's Best of Green Contest.

So take advantage of this great sale and stock up on some super soft organic cotton goodies at the Greenloop!

spawn of punky

Remember little Punky Brewster, cute and sassy chica -- snazzy dresser of 80s sitcom fame?
Alright, her name is Soleil Moon Frye and I think she's long been past the Punky phase. Anyway, a couple of years ago she launched an online kids' shop stocked with adorable eco frocks and essentials for the little ones. It's called The Little Seed. Frye and her partner (Paige Goldberg Tolmach) have created a marketplace where environmentally savvy parents can stock up for baby and learn about ways to create a safe, non-toxic space for their child.

They carry high-quality brands like Under the Nile and Kate Quinn Organics. Products include clothing, furniture, baby carriers, and toys. They also have a blog to keep you up-to-date on the shop and related eco stories.

(Psssst... Thanks for the tip, Ali!)

toms = awesome

TOMS shoes not only look super cool, they help people, too. If you don't know their business practice it's this: for every TOMS shoe you buy, a pair is given to shoeless, poverty stricken people who would otherwise be vulnerable to disease.

If that doesn't move you, watch the following video. And if that doesn't move you, you might be missing something (it's called a heart).

loomstate & kaight celebrate spring this friday

I'll be heading over to eco-fashion hotspot Kaight -- 83 Orchard St -- this Friday to celebrate the first day of Spring with the guys behind Loomstate & Rogan.

I'm looking forward to seeing their new Spring line, and getting a free custom made organic tee with a Loomstate purchase. Not to mention the drinks and music to welcome the new season.

Get more details at Kaight's new blog.

cleaning up dirty: a web roundup

From the oxymoronic "clean coal" to green clothing care, here's a little collection of articles and ideas on how to keep the world a little cleaner.

The no 'poo method: Wash your hair the non-toxic and economical way, with these tried and true baking soda and vinegar recipes
[One Green Generation]

Lighten up in '09: A buyers' guide to the most energy efficient (ie, less carbon-spewing) and least mercury containing CFLs
[Environmental Working Group]

Butts for fashion: Keeping cigarette butts out of the wastestream by creating yarn from it for knitting, crocheting
[Treehugger]

Goody gum drops! Tips for removing chewing gum from clothing, the eco-friendly way
[Planet Green]

Dirty snow: It's an energy-sucking industry -- tips on choosing ski resorts with a smaller carbon footprint
[Care2]

Dirty, dirty coal: It'll never be clean!
[GOOD]

It becomes a game of rhetorical bait-and-switch. Point out that there are exactly zero commercial power plants in the U.S. that sequester any carbon emissions, and “clean coal” advocates talk about how they’ve reduced “emissions” (though not greenhouse gasses). Mention that coal-burning power plants are still the country’s largest source of acid-rain-causing sulfur dioxide pollution and airborne emissions of birth-defect- and brain-damage-causing mercury pollution—or that they’re responsible for roughly 24,000 deaths every year in the United States—and ACCCE will tell you that they’re a mere ten years away from perfecting the art of carbon capture.

how to make a loomed scarf or belt

One of my fondest art projects as a kid was making a cardboard loom and weaving a little piece of textile (it was too small to be called a rug and there weren't any computer mice at the time to make one of those silly rug mousepads).

I just got all nostalgic watching this tutorial on ThreadBanger. Barbara of Bobbi Clothes shows us how to make a simple loom and then weave a scrap fabric scarf or belt. I'm inspired to whip up one of these beauties myself!

save now at nau

Today's the last day to save big time at nau (one of my favorite eco clothing designers). Get 30% off purchases with offer code 'GIVE' and get free shipping on all purchases over $150 -- it's an incentive to get you to ship via ground, a less carbon intensive method versus air. Plus, via their Partners for Change program, they're increasing their donation amount from 2% to 10% on all purchases made today.

Here are the details:

We'd hate to have you miss out, so we're just going to say it one more time:
Order before midnight tonight and you'll save 30% on all our Men's and Women's styles. Just enter promotion code "GIVE" at checkout, and you can save 30% on everything we make.

Take advantage of these savings and you won't just be doing a good thing for yourself: Remember, for the rest of the day, we're donating 10% of every sale - up from our usual 2% - to the Partner For Change of your choice so it's a great opportunity to get a great deal and do a lot of good in the process.

And with free ground shipping on all orders over $150, ordering by December 15th will get that gift there on time with the least impact on the environment. Air shipping isn't only more expensive; it generally uses six times more energy than sending it by ground.

Share the "GIVE" code with your friends! Act now, and you'll enable them to take advantage of significant savings and help generate much needed donations for change.

wear wool and win

Does the idea of wool underwear make you itch? It shouldn't if it's deliciously soft merino wool from New Zealand. The only thing high performance, machine-washable, and eco-friendly merino wool clothing from Icebreaker will have you itching to do is hop the next plane to New Zealand to meet the sheep who wear this wool full time.

And a contest from Icebreaker is giving you the chance to do just that. Here's how it works:

1. Get yourself an Icebreaker garment. Find its unique Baacode (that's not a typo!). This tag will trace all of the steps of manufacture (see step 3).

2. Type in your Baacode number in the box provided on the site.

(If you can't find a Baacode on your garment, you can use their demo Baacode: 213C3F390.)

3. Watch as your Icebreaker will be traced back through the supply chain -- from animal welfare to the way the fabric was sewn together -- to its birthplace in the Southern Alps of New Zealand.

An entry form will pop up once your Baacode has been traced. Then just submit your details and you'll be in the draw to win a trip to a merino ranch in New Zealand!




Icebreaker is the real deal
Learn more about their commitment to sustainability.

You can get Icebreaker at these retailers.

byob @ kaight

A discount -- what better incentive for bringing your own bag? (Well, aside from knowing you're not creating waste.) If you BYO bag to eco-fashion store Kaight, you'll get 10% off any purchase in the store. Love it!

Dear Friends,

In these times, even the smallest things can make a big difference. For instance, being wasteful simply isn't good: not for our wallets and certainly not for our environment. So, going forward, refuse a bag with your next purchase at Kaight, and we'll give you 10% off, no matter how tiny or large the purchase.

We've got some incredible scarves, mittens, coats, shoes -- the list could do on forever -- in stock. So grab one of the gazillion totes you've got lying around and receive 10% off your next, and then your next, and your next (see where we're going with this?) purchase.

See you soon!

Sincerely,

kate mcgregor
kaight inc.


Kaight
83 Orchard Street
New York, New York 10002
212-680-5630
www.kaightnyc.com

eco skivvies

What do you hold closest to your nearest and dearest parts? How about pesticides or polluting synthetic materials? Next time you're in the market for unmentionables, make the switch to pure organic cotton, bamboo, recycled polyester, or eco-friendly silk instead.

For the Guys

Boxers or briefs from Patagonia ($25 - $32)
(organic cotton or recycled polyester)

Hemp boxers at BuyGreen.com ($24)


Boxer briefs by Red Dog Sportswear ($50 for 3)
(organic cotton)




For the Gals

Bras and undies from Patagonia ($20 - $50)
(recycled polyester)


Perfectly Imperfect undies at The Greenloop (sale $15)
(organic cotton and lace)



Louella Bloom boyshorts ($22)
(soy & organic cotton, made in USA)



AngelRox wing brief ($30)
(organic cotton, made in USA)


Bra and pantie set by On the Inside ($58)
(organic cotton, sourced and made in USA)


Bra & pantie set by On the Inside ($70)
(organic cotton, sourced and made in USA)

tomorrow at brooklyn indie market

I won't be able to make it, but maybe you can go and support some local artisans tomorrow from 11am to 7pm at the Brooklyn Indie Market (Smith & Union, Carroll Gardens).

The theme tomorrow is Steampunk, which according to wiki editors at Wikipedia is a "subgenre of fantasy and speculative fiction that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s." Think Victorian England mixed with sci-fi fantasy (Jules Verne, HG Wells).

Two designers of note:

• Sylvia Holden whose deconstructed fashion is made from recycled materials
• Wren of Purevile whose often macabre one-of-a-kind jewelry is fashioned from antiques and such (like bones and doll parts)

Looks like I'll be missing out!

[via Brooklyn Based]

nau is back!

Eco-activewear makers Nau are back! Check out some of their new designs (see Flection Wrap Skirt and Men's Riding Jacket below), as well as some of their classics, like the Urbane Jacket (for women, last pictured below).





Related post
welcome back, nau!

learning events @ AMNH

Some great opportunities to learn more about the world that's changing around us are coming up at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), in conjunction with the new Climate Change exhibit.



Future events @ AMNH

The museum plans to host several programs related to the exhibit including:

• International Polar Weekend celebration (February 7-8, 2009)
• World Water Day celebration (March 21, 2009)
• A series of interactive exhibits introducing kids ages 9-12 to the science of climate change and possible solutions to global warming
• A series of panel discussions bringing together world experts to discuss and debate the implications of climate change for our future (starting in January)
• Additional programs focusing on the effects of global warming on the wine and coffee industries

Upcoming programs for adults

These selected programs examine both personal and industrial responsibilities regarding sustainability.

FutureFashion: Connecting an Industry to Sustainable Practices
Thursday, October 23, 6:30pm
$15 ($13.50 Members)

Industry experts, Julie Gilhart, Fashion Director of Barneys; Scott Hahn, President of Loomstate; and others, participate in a discussion with Leslie Hoffman, executive director, Earth Pledge, and Greg Loosvelt, Earth Pledge’s carbon footprint assessment expert, about ways the fashion industry is working to reduce its environmental footprint. Learn about Earth Pledge's FutureFashion initiative, which encourages sustainability by working within the fashion industry to promote renewable, reusable, and nonpolluting materials and processes. On exhibit will be one-of-a-kind creations made as part of this collaboration by a few top designers, including Stella McCartney, Calvin Klein, and Rodarte.


Global Kitchen: Wine and Climate Change
Tuesday, October 28, 6:30 pm
$20

What consequences will global warming have on the wine industry? In this discussion and wine tasting, climatologist Gregory V. Jones, Southern Oregon University; author and blogger Tyler Colman, DrVino.com and Wine Politics; and Evan Spingarn, wine importer and distributor, will address such topics as redrawing the wine map, wines and their cultural identities, and calculating wine’s carbon footprint.


Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival
Friday-Saturday, November 14-16
$10 ($9 Members)

This sidebar to the international documentary film festival will include two sessions on climate change and global culture. Post-screening discussions with filmmakers and specialists will follow these films. Selected works will circulate in the Traveling Film Series domestically and internationally.

Peace with Seals
Saturday, November 15
Directed by Miloslav Novak. Peace with Seals (Mir s Tuleni) tells the story of biologist Emanuele Coppola’s hunt for the Mediterranean monk seal. Conversations with marine biologists and philosophers, as well as the beachgoers on the Mediterranean shores, who have supplanted the seals, lead him to believe that the only monk seals left are those preserved in Coppola’s extensive collection of archival footage. (U.S. Premiere)

Recipes for Disaster
Sunday, November 16
Directed by John Webster. Recipes for Disaster features the filmmaker and his family in a quest to reduce their carbon footprints by going one year without using oil-based byproducts. Their goal of “green living” seems manageable at first, but surviving without everyday essentials, like goods packaged in plastic, becomes increasingly challenging. (U.S. Premiere)

March Point
Sunday, November 16
Filmmaker and producer in person
Directed by Annie Silverstein. Intent on finding solutions to the pollution caused by two oil refineries in their native land, three teenage members of the Swinomish Tribe arm themselves with cameras and travel across the country to meet the politicians who can help. Following the screening will be a discussion with the filmmaker and producer. (NY premiere)
Co-presenter: National Museum of the American Indian

Upcoming programs for kids and families

Adventures In Science: Climate Change Sundays
11 am–12:30 pm
(for 4th and 5th graders)
1:30–3 pm
(for 6th and 7th graders)
$30 each; $75 for all three

In conjunction with our new exhibition, these hands-on workshops introduce young audiences to the science of climate change and potential solutions. Participate in all three sessions and earn a certificate.


What Is the Difference Between Climate and Weather?
AS101908
Sunday, October 19

When people ask about the weather, we know what they mean: is it sunny, rainy, or hot? But what does climate mean, and how is it different from weather? In this workshop, we’ll use fun activities to compare their differences and similarities and learn why climate is so important.


What Is Climate Change?
AS102608
Sunday, October 26

Is Earth really getting hotter? Will a polar bear one day be your neighbor? Using the new exhibition Climate Change: The Threat to Life and A New Energy Future, we will examine the elements of climate change, its impact on Earth, and what that means for animals like polar bears, penguins—and us!


What Can We Do about Climate Change?
AS110208
Sunday, November 2

We know that Earth’s climate is changing—but what can you do about it? Is recycling enough? What exactly are greenhouse gases? Discover just how much energy you use in your daily life, and learn ways you can reduce your personal impact on the planet and help others to do the same.


To register for these programs, call 212-769-5200 or visit www.amnh.org.

save on eco-fashion at the greenloop

Save up to 60% on great sustainable threads at Greenloop -- eco-friendly clothing for men and women from big name designers like Edun, Linda Loudermilk, Loomstate, and Stewart+Brown. The sale starts today and ends Sunday 10/12.

kaight loves fall -- sale!

Save on some great eco-friendly fashion for Fall.

Visit www.kaightshop.com and enter coupon code "fall" at checkout to receive 25% off your purchase. Valid through Oct. 15.

this weekend in bklyn...

If you're in Brooklyn this weekend be sure to take advantage of one of these cool eco happenings:

Clean out your closet!

Collecther Clothing Swap
What: Dig in your closet for some tired old duds (12 of them, to be precise) and bring them to the swap. You'll get 100 fake bucks to bid on some "new" get-ups. $15 gets you in on all the action.
When: Saturday 10/4 @ 6pm
Where: Franklin btwn Lafayette and Clinton, Bed-Stuy

My So Called Swap
What: One lady's old sweater is another lady's treasure. Bring some clothes your willing to part with and mix with fellow swappers while swooning over Jordan Catalano as “My So Called Life” plays in the background. Drink specials, cupcakes, and Tarot readings are also in store.
When: Sunday 10/5 from 4-8pm
Where: K&M Bar, 225 North 8th at Roebling, W'burg, 718-388-3088



Bring out your read!

The Great American Book Drive
What: Dust off those old books you never read and bring them to the drive to support some worthy organizations, like Better World Books.
When: Saturday 10/4 from 10am - 3pm
Where: Brooklyn Central Library, Grand Army Plaza



It's open, come on in!

NYC Green Buildings Open House
What: GreenhomeNYC’s annual guided tour of green buildings all over NYC. Learn about sustainable building features like energy saving and indoor air quality while touring unique residences and businesses via bus, bike, or your own two feet.
When: Saturday 10/4, times vary
Where: Locations vary, check here for tour details

[Image: Greenbelt]

[via Brooklyn Based]