UPDATE:  It’s official – Congratulations to our lucky winner, MJ, aka butterflyRouge.  Thanks to everyone for entering.  If you didn’t win this one, never fear – just check out our latest Great Green Giveaway.

Thanks to the eco fashionistas at Philadelphia based, SA VA, one lucky winner will receive The Addison, a beautiful wrap, perfect for fall.  This black beauty drapes in a variety of ways; one size fits all; fair trade, made in the USA of renewable wool.  (Knit wrap retails for $99 and prize includes free delivery to anywhere in the USA or Canada.)

With a retail shop (and manufacturing next door) located in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, we asked founder & CEO, Sarah Van Aken, to tell us more about her eco and socially responsible company:

“We are trying to take a comprehensive approach to socially conscious clothing.  We have reduced our carbon footprint in half by moving our garment factory here, from Bangladesh; we use recycled paper hangers and compostable shopping bags; and even better is the local living wage job creation we have created.  As we grow, we really want to try to increase the amount of sustainable textiles we use to make the most sustainable product on the market.”

Winner will be selected in our Random Drawing, and notified by email. Contest ends Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 11:59p (EST). Winner has 24 hours to claim their prize, or that offer is null and void. Winner’s name will be included on this post.

To enter, simply:

• check out savaFashion.com
• Then answer:  What’s more important to you – how a garment is made and what it is made of… or simply, price?
• Add the following address to your email address book: m at AlternativeConsumer.com.
• Bonus Entry:  sign up for SA VA’s newsletter, (bottom right of their Web site) & leave an extra comment here to receive an extra entry.
• Here are a few more ways to receive extra credit: (more…)

Here’s an idea.  Bang-away at your laptop out on your veranda whilst sipping your morning cocoa without plugging-into the power grid — the Sun Table, a creation of designers Devang A. Shah and Mike Low of Brooklyn, NY,  is a cool idea for those in search of their own little piece of energy independence.

You can work on your laptop whether you’re in the woods, over in the north forty, or on your patio, without having to run extension cords or add any zeros to your electric bill.

The Sun Table is designed for both ease of use, and weather-resistance – you can hose the whole deal down to clean off any loose nachos – and the teak frame, stainless steel legs and outer electronics are all designed for outdoor use – but not during rain storms, hurricanes and serious inclement weather.

The solar cells charge the battery even when partially covered and will provide enough stored power for more than 4 hours of laptop use.  The coffee table-sized unit is hinged to allow for optimal exposure to the sun.

The on-board inverter allows the table to operate like a regular wall outlet.  The voltage meter displays the voltage of the battery, and the hour meter displays the total hours the table has been on.  Its electrical output is 12 volts DC and it will fully charge with 4 hours of direct sunlight exposure.

Besides being a renewable, non-polluting source of electricity, the table is designed to be re-used and recycled when its useful life is over.

H 18″ W 31″ L 54″  Materials:  stainless steel, teak, aluminum, fiberglass, acrylic, and silicon solar cells.

Get an extra charge — Sun Table would definitely be a great conversation starter at your next barbecue.

Expires tonight, Tuesday, the 7th of September:  save up to 50% off on certain items at raw guru.

• Where there’s a will there’s…pup gassing, sterilization, and bogus scientific research…Endangered or not, Wolf Killings Set to Expand – msnbc
• Indonesian Volcano Erupts Again – boston herald
• Inspired by plants…New Self-Assembling Photovoltaic Technology Repairs Itself – sciencedaily
• Wild Things Happen to Wildlife Filmmakers – aol
• Too much of a good thing? Money Can Buy You Happiness, to a Point – yahoo! news
• Economic factors and lack of education and tribal issues…just like in the U.S.…Climate Shifts ‘Not to Blame’ for African Civil Wars – bbc
• Did you just say something? Men More Susceptible to Memory Decline – livescience
• British Study: Lost Male Drivers Waste $3,000 Per Year in Gas – bbc

Australian architectural and design firm Ecologie created the light-filled Woodville residence – a four bedroom, flexible layout, family residence.  The home features an energy efficient, passive solar design that accentuates the flow between outdoor to indoor spaces and features lots of glass.

Having a cocktail party, NFL Fantasy Football draft or a batch of rowdy relatives dropping by?

Protect your beloved home furnishings and surfaces from the potential damage of that beverage guzzling crew – use eco-friendly coasters arranged in a very American fashion – the six-pack.  Designer Josh Jakus has done a nice job in the design of these simple, reusable eco coasters.

Just tear out the individual coasters for use, then put them back in the ring for storage.  The black version is made of SBR rubber – 100% recycled tires. The color sets are made of EPDM rubber – 30% post-industrial waste.

You can buy a six-pack at Fuz Farm for $15.

Catch the media buzz – our latest green stimulus package for your eyes, ears and mind:

• McKibben mania — Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org was a guest on David Letterman the other day.  See on youTube why Dave said, “well, you just scared the cr-p out of me.”
• McKibben’s penned a new work, Eaarth. (Along the lines of:  We’ve got too much carbon in the air – warm air holds more water vapor than cold, no wonder India & Pakistan are experiencing so much flooding; and Greenland & other icecaps are melting…become part of the solution before it’s too late, get involved in what’s going on politically.)
• Wed., September 8 – NYC.  McKibben’s Solar Road Trip from Maine to Washington, D.C. makes a stop on Manhattan’s eastside:  Solar1, 2420 FDR Drive, Service Road East in NYC (10010).  5:30-10pm  FREE.  McKibben guest speaks and catch a free screening of A Road Not Taken, a documentary about Jimmy Carter’s installation of solar panels on the White House, and Ronnie Regan removing them seven years later.  RSVP @ dina@solar1.org

It’s that time of year – roundup of September Eco Fashion Events

• The GreenShows in NYC Sept 12-14.  We’ll be there, bringing you highlights!
• Ethical Fashion Show Paris September 25-28.
• Vancouver Eco Fashion Week September 28-30
• London Fashion Week – Estethica September 17-21.

More upcoming eco expos here and there…

• Eco Life in Atlanta, GA 2 Day Event:  Sept 25 – 26, 2010.
• Palm Beach State College’s Green Institute is hosting the third annual Green Expo. FREE.  October 9, 2010; 10a-4p.  Free seminars, green living workshops; learn about eco friendly products & services from over 50 exhibitors.

Personal best read of the summer:  OFF THE GRID Inside the Movement for More Space, Less Government, and True Independence in Modern America by, Nick Rosen (paperback, $15; Penguin Publishing).

A miniature Citroen 2CV made entirely from tin cans…very nice.  This toy car isn’t really a toy, it’s more of a display piece, or work of art – designed to appeal to collectors, cult classic car fans, or doting parents who want to invest in collectibles for their kiddies.

Hand crafted in Madagascar, each car has its own individual character and a colorful roof design – it’s so carefully detailed that even the little wheels go ’round.

Made by artisans working for Bezalila, a co-operative providing sustainable employment in disadvantaged areas, enabling local people to provide for themselves and gain independence.

Not intended as an everyday, bang-around toy, or for kids under 36 months, due to small parts.  You can find it @ naturalcollection.com

On the cusp of Labor Day weekend, I’m torn between letting go of summer and looking forward to fall, my favorite of all seasons.  So, here are a few pieces from both seasons for this week’s small, edited collection of things that caught my eye.

(above) As usual, Nixxi exudes the epitome of uber cool, sustainably chic fashion…the autumn/winter 2010 collection is tailored from organic cotton, organic wool and hemp jersey.  Designer Jada-lee is featuring more coats and outer layers than ever before…(prices range from $76 for the Lounge Pant to $430 for a winter wrap).

(above) As featured on SheFinds.com, beautiful pieces of sea glass become cool necklaces and pretty mementos of summer!

(above) Get 2 looks in this versatile piece – have fun choosing how you’d like to wear this handmade, 100 percent recycled silver necklace, with a lightly hammered edge; ($39) — from Australian based epheriell (on Etsy).

(above left to right)

• Emily Ryan is Portland, Oregon based and she loves designing made to order, like this Gathered Jersey Tunic in black; ($88).
• Tel Aviv-based, PopLoveDesigns takes once-loved clothing and reworks it into one of a kind wonders.  Would you wear this sleeveless, fitted, teal tunic? It features custom screen print of wacky Macdollars…on sale now, ($29) @ PopLoveDesigns on Etsy.

(above) From Brooklyn-based, Samantha Pleet (who’ll be on the upcoming GreenShows runway in NYC) — Dirty Librarian Chains vintage jewels for planet-friendly accessorizing.  Current bids – Green Bead Earrings, $25; Groovy Tiered Pendant, $50; and the silver canoe pin is only ten dollars (plus $5 delivery).

Before signing off & wishing you an enjoyable, low carbon impact weekend, please remember to love what you have, and only buy what you need…there’s only one, inhabitable Earth.