by Maureen O'Connor @ 4:36 pm post a comment »

Rustic chic. Allison Cecil makes these woodsy, personalized bark rings out of 100% recycled sterling silver. Depending on your ‘crunchy’ quotient they could even serve quite nicely as wedding bands.
$104 (one ring) @ themonkeysalwayslook Etsy shop
Monday, February 6, 2012
by Maureen O'Connor @ 4:30 pm 1 comment »

Show your boy in the hood some eco love … BUC’s hoodie is made with genuine earth-friendly values and delivers affordable style:
- 100% certified lightweight organic cotton
- low impact dyes (choose either grey or black)
- printed with water-based PVC-free inks
- Fair Trade made
- $34.99
What’s not to love? Hoodie Oxford @ ideologie.com
Friday, February 3, 2012
by Maureen O'Connor @ 1:06 pm 1 comment »

Swedish designer Helena Fredriksson creates modern, elegant and classic garments (see photos above) that feature gorgeous draping. Her fusion of the romantic and the mysterious is seen juxtaposed in a soft color palette with both oversized and body tailored designs. Believing in sustainable consciousness, Helena produces her pieces locally, in Brooklyn, NY, and uses only the finest, eco-friendly fabrics to create her Bergman inspired collection.
See more of the H Fredriksson line @ junoandjove.com where many of the dresses are now on sale.

(above) Is your honey the literary type? If so, one of these lovely bracelets made from recycled letterpress type might make the perfect Valentine’s Day gift. $95 @ the nBreed Supermarket shop

Not every guy- or gal – can pull-off wearing a bow tie, but for those who can, these handcrafted adornments are made in limited numbers using recycled fabric remnants, vintage deadstock or special found fabrics. The bow ties must be hand tied – a small price to pay for this level of style. They’re adjustable in length and feature discrete hardware. $68 @ poketo.com

Handcrafted in wooden-eyewear-specialist Shwood’s Portland, Oregon woodshop, these snazzy Canby sunglasses feature a timeless design. The wooden frames come in a choice of Cherry, East Indian Rosewood, or Zebrawood – all sustainably sourced from authorized and supervised plantations in different African countries. The shades feature Carl Zeiss or polarized lenses that offer 100% UVA/UVB protection and lots of style.
related: more eco-fashion on The Alternative Consumer
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
by guest @ 2:02 pm 2 comments »
Rather than buy a dozen roses for your sweetheart, here’s a bouquet of treats, all made from ethically-derived precious metals … give a heartfelt, sustainable and stylish keepsake …

From top, left to right:
Love Is on the Inside Engraved Ring
14K rose gold and sterling silver, 2mm-8mm widths, $195-$325
Jesse Chamberlain of Jesse Danger, Salem, MA
Three Pair Hoop Set
14K rose gold, $68
Kristin Mulholland of Kristin Noel Designs, Atascadero, CA
Braille Love Wedding/Commitment Band
10K rose gold, $385
Nicole Zahour, Rye, NY
Round Wedding/Commitment Band
18K rose gold, $ varies with width
Benjamin Manning of Utopian Creations, Kensington Park, SA, Australia (more…)
Monday, January 30, 2012
by Maureen O'Connor @ 11:23 am 1 comment »


Swedish designer Elin Sagen’s lovely jewelry is created from discarded china and porcelain. The nostalgia and elegance inherent in the designs and patterns of the recycled porcelain evokes feelings of things both old and new. Inspired by fond memories of family dinner gatherings, they have a nice homespun quality and appeal.
(more…)
Friday, January 27, 2012
by Maureen O'Connor @ 1:05 pm 2 comments »

(above) Funky chic — designer Stephanie Teague’s Pretty Birdie’s Hemp Silk Layer Dress is made from gathered layers of gorgeous, sustainable hemp silk. The dress features hand sewn flowers made from organic cotton gauze or peace silk and trim that’s organic lace. The hemp muslin belt is hand dyed with eco friendly dyes. Quite a departure from the scruffy hemp-laden fare of yesteryear … find it @ stephanieteague Etsy shop

(above) Sign of the times … Eco-fashion visionary Gary Harvey creates his high-fashion works from the most unlikely, and often mundane, recycled materials — like the 30 folded copies of the “Financial Times” literally used to construct the gown above.

Right in step … Mohop Shoes makes their cherry wedge sandal from Pará wood that is harvested from sustainably managed plantations and has been dyed a cherry color with eco-friendly, water-based dyes. The sandal features durable black rubber soling with (more…)
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
by guest @ 3:25 pm post a comment »

Andrea Williams of Bound Earth is devoted to nature in all aspects of her life, from collecting seedpods on her frequent outdoor hikes to using only non-mined materials in her work and encouraging other jewelers to do the same. Her goal is to share her sense of wonder and reverence for the earth, and to help develop a communal sensitivity and respect for the gifts that it provides. Her pieces bear that message beautifully…bold balanced designs, gently uniting person to place.
Andrea seamlessly unites her playful creativity and her love of nature with her holistic work ethic. She uses metals from reclaimed and recycled sources, and she never uses mined gems…instead she chooses alternative materials such as smooth cool beach pebbles. Her New England home was designed by a green architect and is powered by renewable energy. Her studio was built in a renovated barn alongside her beloved bees, chickens and organic garden, and it too uses renewable energy. In her practice she opts for organic solutions such as citric acid in place of the harsh chemicals often found in the metalsmithing process. Her message to other craftspeople is to do the same…question the process, educate yourself and change what you can to better align your work with the natural world.

Andrea’s commitment to truly ethic-driven craftsmanship is inspiring, and her talent for elegantly harmonious designs is remarkable. In fact in 2011 she won (more…)
Monday, January 23, 2012
by Maureen O'Connor @ 2:20 pm 1 comment »

This compact messenger bag serves as the perfect container for transporting your netbook or iPad. Nice and tailored, it’s a tasty exterior of chocolate (color) that’s handsomely crafted from organic cotton canvas, and lined with sunny yellow organic cotton. Kick up your eco quotient as you journey to your next meeting looking stylish and streamlined.
$75 @ Bag Du Jour’s Cargoh shop
Friday, January 20, 2012
by Maureen O'Connor @ 11:00 am 2 comments »
This weeks ‘Finds’ is focused on accessories, those little accents and touches that can make an outfit come alive. Enjoy.

Going clubbing? This unisex Steampunk cuff (above) made from the upcycled remains of a vintage watch and compass might just might get you past the doorman at your local punk club or dive bar. The cuff’s band is faux leather and adjustable.
$169 @ the justuspunks Etsy shop

Need a snappy eco-friendly scarf to finish off that outfit? Check out this great 100% bamboo Bambi Abbie scarf (above) from Nepali by TDM Design.
$125 @ tdmdesigninc.com

For you warm weather types – these Genesis peep-toe booties (above) from Naya Shoes make a fabulous style statement…and they’re on sale!
- Some features: vegetable tanned linings, an outsole containing 10-15% cork or rice husk and a beautiful wedge heel made from sustainably grown bass wood.
On sale for $48 (70% off) @ naturalizer

Designer Dean Dyment made this eye-catching, one-of-a-kind ring by hand from polymer clay he created himself. (photo above)
Very cute and very affordable: just $12 @ Dean’s cargoh.com shop

For that new wave of stylish urban biker pedallers (thank you Portlandia) — we bring you this belt made from recycled bike remains. Steel Toe Studios hand-finishes the recycled bike cog buckle which is affixed to a belt made from a recycled bike tube. for guys or gals $75 @ steel toe studios
Related: more eco fashion friday finds on The Alternative Consumer