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.

Who doesn’t love a baby? Even if you’re pre-procreation or just undecided in the “bringing a human into the world” department, it’s hard to resist the soft skin and fresh smell of a little bundle.

When my sister-in-law gave birth to my nephew I wanted to steal him, I mean buy him...every outfit on the rack. But the green in me screamed “don’t do it”. Babies are bundles only for a moment, quickly growing into little adults who walk and talk. So instead I bought three organic and unisex “onesies” from Little Lark, which she reused when my niece was born 2 years later.

Little Lark is a mother-owned and operated company based in Portland, Oregon. (Yes, another fabulous momtrepreneur!) They sell unique, hand printed baby and toddler clothes made of 100% organic cotton. Their designs are “modern, hip, fun and non-gender specific…exhibiting simplicity and style with a sophisticated edge”. They aren’t kidding, as you can see here and even better here.

Available in sizes 3-6m and 6-12m for $24 (and tax free) at fawn & forest, each onesie comes in a printed, reusable muslin bag - perfect for gift-giving.

Now that my brother and sister-in-law have confirmed “two is enough”, they’re giving their onesies and more to friends and family still in the baby-making mode. Hand-me-down has never been greener.

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I’m not one to knock working hard and rewarding yourself with a few indulgences from time to time. I do draw the line, however, at overindulgence. You’ll still catch me rolling my eyes at anyone who aspires to one day own the infamous Hermès Birkin bag. Not only does the price tag start at $7,500, but the wait list to get one also averages two years.

Why, oh why, I ask myself, would anyone want to wait that long and pay that much to own something that isn’t even unique anymore? Yet, just as I say this, I discover the latest hot ticket. And yes, ladies, it just happens to be green. The Kooba tote, which is making its second exclusive debut at Barney’s, is made of unbleached organic cotton canvas with recycled metallic cork trim.

I have to admit, it is tres stylish and much more reasonably priced than the Birkin (only $245), but it's yet another “it” bag. If you’re lucky, you may be able to score yourself one online, but from what I’ve heard, the wait list for this summer’s most wanted bag may just rival its overpriced couture counterpart. To each is own, but I say get your own style and bypass this bag.

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I’m not one to shy away from showing a little skin, but my older, wiser self realizes that midriffs works best by the beach. I feel that I’ve matured beyond belly flashing to more appropriate show-and-tell, like the shoulder (see Show a Little Shoulder) and the back. But backless gowns can sometimes be too dressy, which is why I love this organic cotton Rondinara dress by Machja. The understated back cutout and serigraph print give it that little bit of edge without making you look socially clueless while you're just going out for groceries. The cap sleeves and basic shape keep it subtly sexy, just how I like it. ($85.)

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I’m a giver. Finding an item that seems perfectly suited for a friend is like happening upon a buried treasure - I can’t pass it up! I buy and give and it doesn’t have to be any one’s birthday or anniversary. (This in no way makes me immune to the talent of taking, by the way).

As an example, this t-shirt designed and made by Supastarr, my newest Etsy find, has "man" written all over it. Four forks. No hidden meaning, just four pieces of flatware printed on a sweatshop free, 100% organic cotton t-shirt. It is hand silkscreened using water-based textile inks. Fabulously original and just the thing for my friend, John.

Supastarr is a husband and wife team - they run a small fair trade coffee shop during the day, and create the green-stuff of their Etsy store at night. The Forked Mens Organic Tee is available in S, M, L, XL for $22.

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Mark Twain once said the coldest winter he ever experienced was summer in San Francisco. I can attest to the truth of this, and, coming from a climate where layering is essential, I thought I would share a few tips on how to stay bundled in style using a few of my favorite eco-friendly basics.

Start with a tank. It’s the building block for all layered looks. You can never predict when the wind will stop and that burst of sun will make you oh so hot. You’ll love this “Breathe Easy Plant a Tree” option by C&C California.
Go long. I like a contrast of lengths, so opt for a longer tank or tee, and add a shorter layer over top. Longer, fitted layers hug the body, accentuating curves. Looser looks go great with leggings and heels. Either way is a great excuse to add chunky low-slung or high-waisted belts. I like the basics by Skin and Threads.
Show some skin. Let me clarify – I’m talking about some shoulder or collarbone. I love a wide neckline or off-the-shoulder top over a tank. It’s very subtly sexy. Edun’s edgy feminine styles are always a great choice.
Pick a pattern and/or add some color. All those solid layers can get pretty boring. Jazz it up with fun patterns or contrasting colors. Go dark to light if you want a funky print to show through a white top or light to dark if you’re looking for a color block effect. Yellow is hot right now, so I’m suggesting this tee from C&C.

Top it off with a hoodie. That wind sure can be nippy, so I always carry around a warm hoodie. Not only will it keep you toasty, but it also perfectly completes the layered look. Try this Skully design by Stewart + Brown. (Nevermind that they use 12-year-old models, evidently.)

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We all have a unique genetic code that differentiates us from everyone else. That's the driving concept behind Genetic Denim, a cutting-edge, eco-sensitive denim brand that's on our radar screen. The masterminds of this label recognize our individuality and create denim styles that don’t force us all into the same mold. I had the chance to sit down with Ali Fatourechi, Creative Director of Genetic Denim recently.

EcoSalon: How did you choose denim as your fabric of choice?

Ali Fatourechi: I’ve always been a denim guy. Growing up, I would scour the country looking for vintage Levi’s.  I think denim is the only article of clothing that transcends seasons and borders. It is a timeless article of clothing.

EcoSalon: When you launched Universal Denim, your mobile retail business, what was your vision for the brand?

Ali Fatourechi: I wanted to create a brand that had longevity. My purpose was to make jeans that would become staples in everyone’s closets while catering to many body types.

EcoSalon: How did Universal Denim morph into Genetic Denim, and did your vision change as the brand evolved?

Ali Fatourechi: After selling to college students across America, I realized what was missing in the marketplace and what people looked for in a pair of jeans. I sold to over 20,000 people and had a chance to hear them talk about their likes and dislikes of competitive denim brands.  The Universal Denim “research project” evolved into Genetic Denim, but I’ve stayed consistent with my vision all the way through. I have real conviction in what I do.

EcoSalon: How is Genetic Denim a global brand?

Ali Fatourechi: We have been approached by several distributors around the world and have successfully launched the Genetic Denim brand in Japan, Canada, and Australia. We will soon be expanding to Italy, Russia, Germany and Sweden as well. Currently, our materials come from Japan, Italy and Turkey.

EcoSalon: Where is your denim sourced and what is the production process?

Ali Fatourechi: Our materials come from Japan, Italy and Turkey, but all production takes place in Los Angeles. Making denim is an extremely unglamorous process, but the results are amazing.  As creative director of a denim brand, fit is the most important aspect, but washing comes in as a close second - it’s what makes a jean look natural and worn. We spend days in wash houses to achieve a sleek or vintage distressed look. 

EcoSalon: How are your designs sustainable and eco-friendly?

Ali Fatourechi: My designs are sustainable because they’re timeless. Jeans have become a staple in everyone’s closet, and we’ve created classic styles such as boot cut, straight leg and cigarette that will last through the seasons and the latest trends. Our new eco jeans (straight, bell bottom and twisted seam) are made from 100% organic cotton and the production process uses no chemicals. In addition, we hand-sand the jeans for whiskering and fading details, and then we just rinse the jeans in water.

EcoSalon: Genetic Denim is about presenting consumers with the best possible fit for their body type, but your jeans are not custom made. How did you conduct research to find the best fits that would cater to most body types?

Ali Fatourechi: I spent a year in a U-Haul traveling from New York to Texas and interviewing over 20,000 people on the perfect-fitting jeans. During this project, I saw all different body shapes and sizes. From there, I had a pretty good gauge on women’s silhouettes and came to Los Angeles to design two distinct fits that would cater to most shapes and sizes.  The result - my Dominant Gene and Recessive Gene.

EcoSalon: Your lineup now includes the Dominant Gene, Recessive Gene, Mutated Gene, and Genetic Denim Legging.  Describe the fits of these core products and what body types are best for each.

Ali Fatourechi: The Dominant Gene is a relaxed style.  The waistband is not contoured, which means that it rests on women’s hips as opposed to hugging them. The Dominant Gene works best on curvier girls. The Recessive Gene, on the other hand, is a tighter fitting, sexier style. This fit has a contoured waistband that hugs at the high hip and molds to a silhouette from the waistband down. The Mutated Gene is any jean that we take and cut up into a fashion-forward style. And the legging needs no explanation - tight, tight, tight and looks best on the "supermodel" - tall and thin.

EcoSalon: You have a great celebrity clientele.  Who are your favorite celebrity fans and what styles do they wear?

Ali Fatourechi: Sienna Miller wears the Recessive cigarette, Jennifer Garner wears the Dominant straight leg, and Ali Larter wears the Recessive boot cut.

To learn more about Genetic Denim, including pricing and ordering information, visit the official site.

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve had a thing for those Brits (I think I must have been English in a past life). So savvy and fashion-forward, they’re always one step ahead. This can be said especially of the eco-design scene. The country is overflowing with shops and designers offering green goods, a phenomenon I find progressive and, well, cool. EcoSalon’s own Carlie Partridge turned us on to ROMP and Elaine Lipson highlighted a few goodies - check out her posts on Davina Hawthorne, Sharkah Chakra, and Hetty Rose.

So, I decided, as a tribute to my true loves (fashion and anything hailing from the UK) to highlight some of my favorite brands from across the pond.

Stella McCartney: A fashion icon and lifelong vegetarian (not to mention my personal idol), the company does not use any leather or fur in its designs. Stella offers an organic fashion collection, including lingerie, and launched a luxury organic skin care line in 2007. Of course we all remember yesterday's debate, don't we?

People Tree: The brand’s UK designers work closely with 50 Fair Trade groups in 15 countries. Their cotton is mostly certified organic and their clothing is colored using only safe and natural dyes. People Tree’s collections emphasize traditional, local skills through hand-woven fabrics, hand screen-printing, and hand embroidery unique to the regions where they are produced.

Ciel: Eco-designer to the stars, Sarah Ratty for Ciel has dressed the likes of Cate Blanchett, Sienna Miller, and Zoe Ball. She uses organic cotton, alpaca, and faux fur, Azo-free dyes (Azo by-products are toxic and potentially carcinogenic), and recycled fabrics. She also works only with factories that comply with fair labor laws.

Alchem1st: Alchem1st is a small family-run label, headed by an English and Indonesian partnership. The fair-trade garments are produced in Bali. The collection is designed and created entirely by Indonesians, using locally sourced materials and helping preserve the traditional skills of this developing nation.

   

   

Top image: 13bobby

Momtrepreneur is the latest buzzword defining a growing minority of talented women who've left the traditional workplace to have families and simultaneously start successful home-based businesses. Luckily for us many of them are using their entrepreneurial powers for good by starting eco-friendly businesses. 

Momtrepreneur Kira Solomon founded Baby LaRue, her eco-conscious baby boutique, after leaving a lucrative career in the fashion industry. With the birth of her baby daughter, Rowan (such a cute name by the way), fueling her passion for green products, Kira's focus turned towards healthy and safe alternatives to otherwise unhealthy products.

Baby LaRue's growing inventory includes bpa-free and phthalate-free baby bottles (Green to Grow) and organic and paraben-free baby wash and lotions (Little Twig) along with Kira's own line of hand drawn silk screened 100% GOTS certified organic cotton onesies.

Kira has a great eye for unique and adorable items and she is committed to selling only organic, recycled, handmade, fair-trade or locally made creations like these handmade monsta's made from recycled fabric and organic cotton.  For you busy moms who want stylish and responsible alternatives for your babies, Baby LaRue is a great place to get started!

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Images: Baby LaRue

1. Start with an eco-friendly bed and mattress. The most earth-friendly option is to go without a frame, or refresh the frame you've already got with a little TLC (vintage and antiques are smart choices). If you are in the market for a new bed, look for a frame made from sustainable materials such as reclaimed wood or recycled metal. And don’t worry about sacrificing style. You’ll find an array of chic frames that are 100% green, such as the Jianni bed by Cocopa that we recently featured and the Gustavian vintage bed (shown below) everyone adores at VivaTerra.

Next up: the mattress. It's really not very eco-friendly to rush out and buy a whole new mattress, so wait to spring for the healthy, organic version when your existing mattress is worn out (no jumping to speed the process). Most organic mattresses consist of quilted layers of organic cotton and wool for supreme comfort, with a range of firmness options available on sites like Green Nest to suit your personal preference.

2. The bedding, of course: it’s easy to see why eco-friendly sheets from sites like Satara have recently gained popularity among green shoppers. Made with organic cotton or bamboo fiber, they are both hypoallergenic and unbelievably soft. And for something bright and cheerful, check out the Woodland duvet cover.


3. Pillows made from organic natural fibers, such as cotton, kapok, and buckwheat and millet hulls, are free of contaminants and synthetic materials, so they're a smart choice. Make sure to wash your pillow at least once a year to keep it fresh and clean. (Check out The Proper Way to Wash a Pillow.)


4. The squish: for a little extra cushioning, try an earth-friendly memory foam pad. Made from renewable, plant-based raw materials with an organic cotton cover, these green finds from Bragada will help you sleep better with comfort of mind and body.

5. The wash: use eco-friendly laundry detergent to wash your sheets and duvet cover. At Naturally Home, you’ll find a list of nontoxic, biodegradable products that won’t harm the environment.

6. The room: you'll get your best night's sleep if you keep your room hotel-dark and very quiet. (Eye masks really do work wonders.) If your home doesn't reduce the noise outside, invest in a CD of gentle nature sounds, or good old earplugs. And be sure to turn off all gadgets, electronics and appliances, and unplug them, as well. This saves energy and also cuts down on noise. It's also a good idea to keep something scented nearby that promotes relaxation - such as lavender sprigs in a satchel under your pillow, or a favorite essential oil.

7. You: you won't sleep well if you aren't well, no matter how eco-friendly and healthy your bed is. Shut off all distractions (email, phone, television) at least an hour  before bed, drink some Sweet Dreams Elixir, and if you're the type to lie awake with racing thoughts, journal it out or practice guided meditation for a serene night's sleep.

Image: blmurch