Bringing in a sustainably fashion forward new year with…The Box!

Our exclusive EcoSalon shopping must-have, the curated product assortment known as The Box, is back. We’re offering $500 in eco-goodies for the New Year for just $99 and these won’t last. That’s a guarantee.

Just because we’re stuck in the middle of winter doesn’t mean we can’t look good and feel good. Slip on your new designer shades, crack open a thick novel and do some DIY…or indulge with a gift certificate or two! Regardless, of what you do with it, this is a curated collection you won’t want to miss and keep all for yourself or share with some friends.

(If you do miss out this time around, our friends at The Frisky are hosting a giveaway for the last remaining Fashion Box standing. Head on over to their site and register to win!)

Just look at what we have in store for you this time around:

Eco by Modo

Designer sunglasses? No, we’re not kidding. Eco by Modo pushes innovation and promotes sustainability with sunglasses made of recycled stainless steel and plastic to bring a radically new perspective into eyewear without sacrificing quality, design or price. All of the sunglasses capture attention by featuring the iconic Eco logo, a circle on the temple tip, which connects directly with the 360°-approach to sustainability throughout the entire product life cycle.

The collection carries a UL Environment Validation, certifying that the products are made from a minimum of 95% recycled stainless steel and plastic. Thanks to the One Frame One Tree initiative, for each pair of Eco by Modo frames purchased, Eco by Modo plants one tree together with Trees for the Future, a non-profit organization that has been helping communities around the world plant trees since 1989. So far over 600,000 trees have been planted…and counting.

We have 15 in black and 15 in Tort Gold just for you (above). First come first serve, so specify in comments when paying!

(Retails for $160)

P.S. – I Made This…

It’s a movement. It’s a call to action: reimagine, reuse, and reinvent. P.S. – I Made This inspires and encourages us to embrace the concept of I see it, I like it, I make it. Part designer DIY, part fashion and lifestyle inspiration guide, P.S. – I Made This was born from Erica Domesek’s wildly popular website of the same name. Domesek’s collection of unique projects will tempt any green fashionista who’s ready for serious DIY style.

The book features more than 25 projects inspired by iconic fashion looks, runway trends, and celebrated style mavens for readers to create themselves. The user-friendly “Designer DIY” projects, ranging from lucite bangles to faux-fur vests to studded heels, are featured alongside inspirational, vivid fashion montages and clear, easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions.

Erica’s projects have been featured in publications such as Glamour and Teen Vogue, among others. Based in New York City, Erica has styled numerous campaigns for big-name fashion brands.

(Retails for $18.95)

Recycled Leather Tote

Edgy street style and a designer price point, yours in this edition The Box. This buttery-soft leather bag has rectangular chevrons and pockets galore for women on the go who need a bigger bag. Large snap pockets fore and aft hold books, your trusty Moleskine or that new vegan lip gloss you just got while two stash pockets wrap around the sides. Toss the adjustable strap over your shoulder, or remove it and slip your fingers around the comfy handle. Perfect for the organized fashionista in us all.

(A $279 retail value!)

Roux Maison Laundry Detergent

Roux Maison’s eco-luxe laundry line includes custom formulated, fabric-specific laundry detergents and a stain remover.  They are all made with the finest natural ingredients and are designed to be both gentle and highly effective. Full-sized, super concentrated formulas allow for 40 loads of laundry with just 16 oz of detergent, regardless of type of washing machine used. Most of Roux Maison’s detergents are currently available in two bespoke natural fragrances, Sweet Tea and Ambrosia, that are both exclusively made from 100% pure and therapeutic-grade essential oils, with no artificial fragrances or additives. Detergents are also available in fragrance-free versions with absolutely no masking ingredients added at all. Enjoy a full-sized vibrant Lavender version in this edition of The Box.

(Retails for $14.99)

$50 Gift Certificate to Soleone + 25% EcoSalon Exclusive Promotion

Soleone garments are crafted from bamboo fibers, which makes them both incredibly soft and luxuriously comfortable. The signature fabric has built-in properties to wick away odor and moisture, keeping you dry. Besides being better for you, bamboo fiber is better for our planet. A sustainable resource grown without pesticides or fertilizers, bamboo is 100% biodegradable, while being hypoallergenic and wrinkle resistant. Stock up on fresh new year skivvies and deliciously silky-smooth lounge wear with your $50 gift certificate and an additional 25% off on any purchases beyond $50 with promo code SoleoneEcoSalon.

(Retails for $50)

$50 Gift Certificate to Future:Standard

Future:Standard is an online boutique that provides ethical clothing and accessories (eco-friendly, fair trade, locally made, and anything made with respect to the planet and those who are making it). Owner Jessica Althoff explains it best: “is waiting for the day that what we purchase does not need to be described as sustainable or fair trade. This assumes that all products are made in the most sustainable way possible and with concern for those making the products. That all of this is standard. This is our Future:Standard.”

(Retails for $50.00)

United by Blue Shark Fin T-Shirt

United by Blue founder Brian Linton attributes “The Blue Movement” to deepwater explorers like Jacques Cousteau, “an avid diver whose own passion for the underwater world transformed a generation,” and to Dr. Sylvia Earle, “whose groundbreaking research continues to inspire a new generation of scientists and discoverers.”

With Cousteau an obvious pick for inspiring ocean love and research, who are the new Blue Movement pioneers? They’re people like Linton and his United by Blue team, who not only sell sustainable apparel and jewelry that contribute and support their cause, but get down and dirty themselves. For every product sold, UBB removes one pound of trash from oceans and waterways through company organized and hosted cleanups.

This super cute shirt is a little longer than most tees, perfect for layering or wearing on its own and flattering to all figures. Specify S, M, or L – first come, first served!

(Retails for $25.00)

AB Designs Upcycled Bike Tube Earrings

From afar, these bike tube earrings look like they might even be made from metal, but in actuality they’re flexible and incredibly lightweight, just the thing for when you want an easy-to-wear statement piece. Handmade in Portland, Oregon out of old bicycle tubes, these earrings represent upcycling at its most stylish.

(Retails for $19.00)

Fisherman’s Daughter Organic Cotton Head Bands

Fisherman’s Daughter is a Cape Cod-based boutique as well as house for sustainable designer Taylor Brown Armour, whose line Fisherman’s Daughter is made from all sustainable materials. Armour’s unique collection of handmade organic clothing  and accessories give a strong nod to ocean themes and is collected by women all over the U.S. who appreciate her one-of-a-kind and bespoke pieces.

(Retails for $36)

Wildlife Works’ Mraba Scarf

Wildlife Works’ mission is to harness the power of the global consumer to create innovative and sustainable solutions for wildlife conservation. They call it Consumer Powered Conservationism. When you buy a Wildlife Works product, you become an agent for conservation. You’re wearing the brand that says you won’t sit quietly by while the last wild things in the last wild places disappear forever.

(Retails for $28.00)

PACT Organic Socks

The PACT organization partners with lots of different causes to promote awareness. Their current Share the Love collection helps bring awareness to Citizen Effect. Citizen Effect is driven by the idea that anyone can make a real and significant impact in the world. Their mission is to provide Citizen Philanthropists the tools and networks they need to work directly with communities in need around the world.

In partnership with Citizen Effect, PACT is sharing the love all over the world. When you buy PACT this Spring, you’re helping them raise money for community projects in Uganda, India, and America. PACT thinks what the world needs now is a little love. And no better place to start then your underwear. And in this case, your socks! Super comfy, one size fits most women’s feet.

(Retails for $10.00)

Orders are processed through Paypal. Simply click to buy!

Notes to EcoSalon

The fine print: Please note there will be an additional $30 flat charge which covers all shipping, handling and sales tax fees. Packages are processed and shipped with love within 7 business days of ordering via UPS Ground. We cannot ship internationally (we wish we could!). You’ll receive a confirmation email once your order has gone through. Due to the extremely limited nature of these special assortments, we regret that refunds are not possible if you change your mind. If any items you receive are damaged, the participating brands and EcoSalon are happy to replace them for you as soon as the item(s) is available. If the exact item is not available, one of similar value will be offered. Enjoy your assortment of green goodies! We’re excited to send them your way.

Slip into some conscious shades and protect your eyes from age.

Made of all recycled materials, these sunglasses from MODO are polarized and ready for speed. MODO plants a tree for each frame sold which, based on the style factor of these shades, we think forests everywhere are booming.

$129

Look for Lustables daily at EcoSalon. 100% gorgeous green finds, and never sponsored. Submit your favorite to tips@ecosalon.com

Summer is a hard time for shoes. Why? Well, because of the heat, all you want to wear are sandals showing off your pretty toes but what if your toes aren’t pretty?

These Coral Flats from Brazilian brand Melissa Shoes, are your perfect answer to non-painted or lackluster nails hiding behind a coral front.

Sandal meets flat? Yes my sister.

Hypo-allergenic, recycled plastic, smells like bubble gum (not kidding) and completely cute for at least three seasons. Sold.

It took me years to realize that not only were sunglasses necessary to do the basic job of keeping the sun out of my eyes, they were also meant to protect the fine skin around my eyes.

Now, with sun damage lines grooved deep into the corners of my eyes, I wish I’d always worn sunglasses while out in the sun and thrown all care away for sunglass lines. According to All About Vision, an eye care journalism site, the UV Index developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) has made many Americans more aware of the risks of sunburn and skin cancer from the ultraviolet radiation, but when it comes to eye protection are we just not listening?

FYI, extended exposure to the sun’s UV rays has been linked to eye damage, including cataracts, macular degeneration, pingueculae, pterygia and photokeratitis that can cause temporary vision loss.

Thanks to a slough of really hip sunglasses out there, you can protect your eyes while still looking hip and yes, even sustainably so.

Here are four lines I love and seven more from Eco-Chick Starre Vartan on MNN:

iwood

Made in the U.S. from FSC certified, reclaimed exotic woods, these glasses are feather light and offer 100 percent UVA/UVB protection.

icu

Made from recycled plastic and metal (and bamboo), this sunglass line (and this particular style) is a favorite with Oprah.

Moonwoods

Made conscientiously without harsh chemicals out of mill ends that would otherwise be discarded from a small (but growing) company based in Portland, Oregon.

eco

Utilizing recycled plastic and metal, eco plants a tree for each frame sold. A sunglass line doing double duty makes us smile.

Image: orangeacid

Is it just me, or does summertime beckon you to move your living space into the outdoors? Who doesn’t love soaking up all that the sunny weather has to offer? This brilliant company called Loll Designs creates colorful, affordable and modern 100 percent recycled plastic outdoor furniture to make the transition from indoor living to outdoor reveling easy and appealing.

From Adirondack rockers and chairs sized for adults and children, to sun loungers, table and chair sets, birdhouses and dog bowls, it’s time to cozy up to the notion of spending quality time in your backyard!

All of Loll’s sustainably designed outdoor furniture is made in the USA from 100 percent recycled post-consumer HDPE, and Loll furniture is also 100 percent recyclable. You can sit pretty knowing that “for every pound of weight in a Loll chair there are an estimated eight recycled milk jugs being used, saving natural resources and reducing land-fill waste.” The furniture is also easy to clean and requires no upkeep!

Kids will love indulging in green art projects under a calm sky, at the cheery, kid-sized Loll table seen above. And parents can relax in the sleek de Luge sunbed while reading a great novel or writing in their eco gratitude journal.

Bird lovers will delight in Loll’s chirpy birdhouses, which come in a variety of punchy colors; and the dog bowls perched in convenient stands will help welcome furry friends to enjoy some R&R as well. The folks at Loll certainly have nature’s best interest in mind. To offset their carbon emissions, they spend one day per year planting trees for each order they received during the previous year!

“What is that?” I asked my housemate.

He was doing his online banking, and next to his pad of scribbled finances was a small rectangular box of bright plastic, about the size of a credit card. He opened it up and slid out a few credit cards.

“Who needs a wallet?”

Who indeed. There’s the fact that most wallets and purses use leather, and our feelings are mixed on that issue. But how about functionality? How many modern money-holders are too big to fit in our pockets – or get too big, because the larger capacity they are, the more they accumulate stuff? Opening my wallet (yes, leather), I find stubs, used train tickets, receipts, brightly-colored paperclips and a gift-card with no credit left on it. Junk.

In contrast, the Jimi Wallet – “the wallet for people who hate wallets” – holds your credit cards, a driver’s license, a few reward cards and nothing else (although you can also buy a version with an external money-clip). If you always know where your keys are, hang the Jimi on your key-ring! It’s rainproof and sturdy, solid yet light, and it’s both recycled and recylable. As a further eco-incentive, the manufacturer invests 1% of profits in environmental causes.

A wallet that actually fits in your pocket. Now that’s progress.

Images: Branch

Considering that the average American now consumes over 28 gallons of bottled water each year, all packaged in single-use plastic, it’s a good thing that many companies are now incorporating recycled PET (the stuff those bottles are made out of) into their lines.

Yes, recycled PET has made its way onto the mainstream runway along with a bevvy of other smart eco-friendly materials. But it’s not just about innovative technology or drool-worthy duds from the likes of Linda Loudermilk. Stylish picks in eco-friendly materials are well-suited to daily life – everything from yoga to yardwork. Check out some of our favorites:

Outerwear

A longtime household brand in the sailing and yachting community, Henri Lloyd has also made its way onto fashion lists. Now the company known for its all-weather sporty yet fashionable jackets is another big name to join the list of brands that use recycled PET.

Henri Lloyd has teamed up with Japanese textile factory Tejin Fibers Ltd. (a factory that also works with brands like Patagonia and Nau) to launch the first program worldwide for the collection and recycling of used marine apparel, as well as incorporation of Eco Storm recyclable, waterproof fabric made from recycled polyester fibers. Henri Lloyd’s 2010 Blue Eco Range of sailing wear will feature the new material, and we’re hoping it spreads to more of the brand!

Workout

Yoga-based apparel company prAna has an extensive line of workout gear, perfect for your morning asanas, that uses recycled polyester fibers. Favorites include the Lolita Pant and the Bella Sport top.

Beyond recycled PET, prAna is a sound and environmentally conscious company. In 2005 prAna launched the Natural Power Initiative to raise awareness about renewable energy amongst customers, retailers and the outdoor industry. This year, the Natural Power Initiative is expected to prevent the emissions of 17,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases.

Footwear

Ok, so I’ll go ahead and admit that these shoes aren’t made with recycled PET, but they’re too distinctive and eco-friendly to go unmentioned. Although it might not save any plastic bottles, El Naturalista’s Recyclus line does use recycled rubber and footbeds. In fact, the line is built on the idea that the entire shoe should be recyclable at its end of life.

“The name will be Recyclus; you will only need to pull a thread, and the sole, the in-sole, the leather, and the laces will separate into independent pieces to be deposited in special recycling bins that we will offer to stores.”

Bag

Hopefully your new year is going to be filled with lots of plans for intriguing adventures, which means you’ll need a sleek bag that can still carry a lot. Welcome the Motil Ped by Nau. The shell, lining and shoulder webbing are made of 100% recycled polyester. With a laptop pocket and ample zipper pockets inside, this can be your go-to back for any occasion, be it casual or fashionable.

For the home

Complete your sustainable wardrobe by adding a few key items around the house. As always, consuming less means more, but if you’re home is in need of a little freshening up, the Teppas stackable containers (made, natch, with recycled PET) from IKEA are a fun way to kick off a more organized lifestyle in the new year.

Main image: Adria Richards

I’ll get my mind out of the gutter and onto the green, where it belongs, and tell you about my latest obsession – plants in pockets.

I’d heard of hanging plants and plants that are potted, but the idea of putting a plant in a cloth-like pocket wasn’t in my repertoire. That is, until I came across the Woolly Pocket Garden Company.

It’s genius, really – a breathable container that can be hung vertically to cover an unsightly wall or spruce up a small space. Create yourself a lush little garden just about anywhere.

Woolly Pockets are made from recycled plastic bottles and are safe for indoors and out. They come in vertical or horizontal versions; small and large sizes. Try the Wally One, Three or Five; the Knoll, Wee Woolly or Meadow. Combine them to create an atmosphere like no other (see top image).

Best of all, you can leave your green (or brown) thumb in your pocket because you won’t need it with a Woolly. These pockets were made for planting.

Learn how easy it is to pot a pocket on the website at Pockets 101. And check out the blog (aptly named What’s growing in your Pocket?) for ideas and inspiration. As seen at Apartment Therapy.