You never know whom you might run into at the yoga studio these days. My recent move to the West Coast brought me into constant contact with yoga fiends. I quickly learned that I needed to step it up in the exercise apparel arena.

As any yoga lady knows, Lululemon is the Chanel of spiritual fashion. Hailing from Vancouver, this brand’s manifesto is to live a longer, healthier, exuberant lifestyle as organically as possible. Their wear is a little pricey but a lot worth it. The Oqoqo line makes use of sustainable fibers such organic cotton, hemp, boolux (a bamboo-based fabric), organic merino wool, and soyla (made by extracting protein strands from low-impact soy crops). And Oqoqo uses low-impact (read non-Azo) dyes, without compromising color and style. As an added bonus, the company itself is sustainable – they mandate reclaimed wood flooring, zero-VOC paint, and recycling at all facilities.

From now on, do your plank and downward dog, eco-style.

With the growing abundance of sustainably produced fashion, why would anyone still be wearing the old staples like rayon, acrylic, and polyester (unless they’re recycled)? From sporty and casual basics to sexy evening looks, there is a collection for every type of green clothing you desire. Our goal at EcoSalon is to introduce you to as many eco-sensitive designers we can find.

So, without further ado, let me introduce ecoSkin. When designer Sandy Skinner launched ecoSkin last year, her goal was to create an eco-friendly women’s line that doesn’t compromise style. And that she did.


The collection offers sophisticated basics like this hooded knit wrap made of bamboo (above) that I would throw on for a casual brunch with friends and this Cook top in deep taupe (silk hemp blend with a natural shell button detail) that would be great for the office.

Every now and then, we all need a little rock star style.

Tonight, you want to be noticed - but not for being anything less than eco-friendly. Anna Cohen’s organic cotton denim rocker jacket is just the piece. The cropped denim zip-up is gathered at both the hem and sleeves. It features an oversized collar with black hemp/silk lining that can be kept flat or popped up for some real flair.

Remembering that this is a slightly whimsical look, you don’t want to spend a fortune to achieve “star status.” That’s when Deal of the Week comes to the rescue again. This chic jacket is on sale now for only $92 (originally $230) on BTC Elements. So snatch it up, wear it with confidence, and rock out!

I last visited London, a favorite city, two years ago for a natural and organic products trade show. One of my most delightful finds there was Seasalt, a small but growing organic and eco-clothing company that makes some of the most charming, colorful, and well-made organic clothes I’ve seen anywhere.

Based in Cornwall on the English coast, Seasalt was the first fashion company to have garments certified to the standards of the Soil Association, Britain’s leading organic advocacy and certification group. Today Seasalt has nine shops and, lucky for those of us outside of England, brisk online sales.

Seasalt’s designs celebrate the casual seaside holiday lifestyle, with bright striped organic cottons, soft linens and natural rubber “wellies” for women, cool clothes for kids, and comfortable men’s clothes in organic cotton and hemp. You can almost feel the English breeze and sand under your feet. Best of all, nice people run this company, and ethical principles underscore everything Seasalt does.

Image/purchase: Seasalt

It's summer!

Now, I'm not sure England is actually going to have a summer (we didn't have one last year), but the rest of you can safely stash away the heavy-weather gear, unfurl your limbs and head out into a fresh, spring-cleaned world waiting to be explored.

Carrying what? You'll need your water bottle (and we can recommend a Steripen to accompany it), a map - or GPS, if that's your thing - and a waterproof coat, just in case the weather turns English. And why not carry all these things in a rucksack that's as eco-friendly as the rest of your lifestyle?

The Hempmania H20 mini-backpack (essentially a "daysac") is produced by a Mayan family in the Guatamalan highlands using sustainable fair-trade practices, and is tough, back-hugging, has an adjustable water-bottle pocket and comes in a variety of colours including terra cotta (a delicious hint of sun-baked brick against your back, there). I like it because it's not too granola for hemp - in fact it looks rather high-tech. It's a perfect gift for a guy, as well.


All set? Go!

Hempmania backpack is available from DailyGreenProject for $30 + $5 shipping.

Image: code poet

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Hammock and eggs. It's what's for Father's Day breakfast! After a great deal of green soul searching for the right gift for my anti-consumption husband, I cannot think of a more suitable gesture than presenting him with yet another reclining opportunity: an eco hammock.

Sure, the red sectional sofa in the TV room is comfy for re-watching John from Cincinnati episodes. He's mad about the coral twill daybed under the window in the master bedroom.  And you can't beat those gold Ralph Lauren fabric club chairs with the slipcovered ottoman in his little library off the living room. Does that guy like to kick his feet up, or what? But sometimes, an outdoorsy guy needs to hang his hat - and his torso - on the green, green, eco grass of home.

Tethered to trees or perched on a stand, hammocks bring a resort appeal to our environments, and can be found at sites like (fittingly) Hammocks in  variety of eco friendly materials like living hemp ($180) or natural eucalyptus ($350). The models include their own hanging hardware, which is handy if you happen to have large trees in your yard.

Since my San Francisco yard is more formal than forest, I'm in the market for a hammock with a stand. I also like the idea of a hammock for two, so occasionally we can cuddle when he wakes up from his naps. If there's the slightest chance your hubby might enjoy sipping beer while doing nothing for hours in his hammock, throw in the Rope Drink Holder ($13), a little mesh sling that attaches to the hammock for cradling daddy's drink. Yes, we don't want him to move a muscle...except when it's time to fix the faucet, kill a spider, fire up the grill or help pay the bills.

Image: wisemandarine

Bean bags make me nostalgic for something. Perhaps for childhood sleep-overs or pillow fights - or even just the sense of curling into a deep, textured pillow with no cares in mind. 

Snuggling into a bean bag adds a sense of playfulness to lounging around. It's wonderful to "take it down a notch" by sinking into these natural-materials chairs - but most bean bag chairs are made from such toxic materials, I feel like I'm suffocating inside a PVC shower curtain. These eco-friendly versions are far better:

Pictured above, a rather contemporary take on lounging around - the ecopod by In Mod. Would look great in an office or a casual entertaining area ($1,199).

For an eco update, try this bean bag filled with "polybeads" made of reground beans from Turning Life, or this sophisticated hemp "ottoman" (all zippered for easy washing; $200 and $85).

These "kids' landing pads" are bean bag chairs covered in eco-fleece made from 87% recycled soda bottles, and can also be used to add dimension and color to your family room or den.

Ahhh!

Image: In Mod

Where to begin with this line of environmentally friendly hemp products? For starters, the traditional linens are made from a combination of recycled vintage fabrics and hand-woven hemp, using the same weaving and embroidery techniques that have been used for generations by the women in Transylvania.



Textile designer Cara Spinelli is the woman responsible for bringing these products to a larger audience. A fair-trade arrangement guarantees that the artisans, as well as the small, family-run farms where the pesticide-free hemp is grown, are all paid a living wage.  Not only do the artisans benefit, but my picnic table does too!


But what about carrying home the leftovers? You can find these wonderful tote bags made from vintage grain sack through Rare Device for $65.


And clean up those spills without resorting to throwaway paper products. These soft, absorbent striped kitchen towels from Branch are just $19 each.

Learn more about Transylvanian Images here.

Image: *susie*

Strong, versatile, highly renewable hemp fiber can truly be a “straw into gold” story in the hands of a talented textile artist and designer like Anne Kirk of San Francisco.

Anne Kirk Textiles specializes in custom hand-dyed and handprinted fabrics for interiors, and while all of her natural-fiber fabrics are gorgeous, her “Diamonds” pattern on 100% hemp truly outdoes any hemp fabrics I’ve seen. The pattern is sophisticated and modern yet has an old-world decorative feel, and the hemp base means the fiber required minimal or no chemicals on the farm. Anne Kirk Textiles was named Best Custom Fabric by San Francisco Magazine in 2004's Best of the Bay Area issue; her scale of production ranges from a few yards for a lucky homeowner to 2,000 yards of hand-painted muslin for the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.  

Even without "help" from global warming, the sun can be hard on skin. I love the beach and the summer rays - and I have, on more than one occasion, been sunburned to a brilliant shade of lobster red. These days I’ve learned to avoid extreme exposure, but the risk of skin cancer and rapid aging also goes up with everyday sun in the garden, market, or outdoor cafe. Fortunately, there are sun hats that protect, flatter, and are made from earth-friendly materials.

Amy Hamilton of Granville Millinery Company makes elegant, feminine artisan hats; the wide-brimmed Sand Dollar, at $148, is a blend of hemp and organic cotton with a William Morris print scarf as band, while Field Hands is a contemporary version of a classic Panama hat, styled with a Japanese Mokuba leather band.

At Yardiac, the Rainbow Sun Hat is made from raffia harvested from palm, for just $39.95 (thanks to the wonderful Greener Penny blog for the tip). For your man, the nice hemp-loving folks at Rawganique offer three styles of highly functional, all-vegan hats.