It starts here. Tibetan nomads collecting fiber from their goat herd to create Fibre Tibet’s luxurious cashmere line. Did Keats have the secret to sustainable shopping sewn up when he wrote, “a thing of beauty is a joy for ever?” 

As Earth Day nears, we can’t help but approach the task of shopping with an expanded sense of consciousness. Trying to find something with any gravitas amidst racks, search engines, and top ten must-haves is challenging; when we come across a product that is different, it’s a thrill.

When I came across Fibre Tibet’s collection of super fine, cashmere shawls, I was stopped dead in my treasure trawling tracks. While the last thing the world needs is another pashmina, Fibre Tibet’s high quality and finely woven cloth is an elemental experience in what luxury fiber production can create.

The international cashmere production market has boomed in recent years leading to widespread use of antibiotics and hormones, which has caused the loss of pastureland and degenerated cashmere quality in parts of China and Mongolia. Today, Tibet is known as the source for the most pure, fine cashmere in Asia.

Fibre Tibet cashmere, collected directly from Tibetan nomads, consists of only grade A fibers that are extremely strong and soft. In comparison, the average department store cashmere we’re used to might use grade B or C or create a mix with silk and wool, which tends to piling or breaking.

As the ultimate accessory, worn by celebrities from Richard Gere, Uma Thurman and Naomi Watts, the versatile items can be worn as a shawl, scarf, belted gilet style or used as a travel wrap. Not only does it look and feel amazing, all the profits from the line go back to the Tibetan nomads and Himalayan women weavers to support the local economies.

My favorite piece? The Ocean Waves shawl by Jill Platner. It’s normally $189 and now on sale at $108.

All Images: Fibre Tibet

The post Fibre Tibet Offers Luxurious Cashmere from the Top of the World appeared first on EcoSalon.

SuperLove Cashmere Panties are handmade in Los Angeles out of upcycled cashmere sweaters. Cashmere is a deluxe fiber that acts as second skin, making these panties “like a hug for your bum,” as designer Theresa Roth says.

What’s the most comfortable, lavish and earth-friendly Valentine’s Day gift you could ever want or give? Read on and you’ll be adding SuperLove Cashmere Panties to the top of your list! These eco panties are the most luxurious underwear you could imagine, as their sexy cut, adjustable fit, comfort level and wearability make them the most appealing eco underwear out there. Made from upcycled cashmere, hand washable, and manufactured locally, SuperLove Casmhere Panties are the ideal green gift for any woman, or the perfect treat for pampering yourself. EcoSalon caught up with SuperLove designer and founder Theresa Roth to learn the story behind SuperLove, and hear all the reasons why these sustainable skivvies really are as lush as lingerie gets.

ES: How was SuperLove set up?

TR: SuperLove came about when my boyfriend and I were living in Malibu, which should be really warm and sunny but is actually cold and foggy, I kept saying ‘I wish I had a pair of cashmere panties.’ So I decided to make some! I took one of my cashmere sweaters that had a hole in the sleeve and made a couple pairs of panties. I started wearing them and telling people about how amazing they were and got such a good response. I made a test run of 50 pairs, which were beach themed, sold a lot of them and then decided to make a bunch for the 2012 holiday season.

ES: Are SuperLove Cashmere Panties form fitting? Are there different styles for different body shapes?

TR: They do have adjustable side ties because I really wanted to make sure that they would fit everyone. When you receive a pair of panties they are not tied, so when you put them on you tie them to your perfect size and then cut the excess string off. I do have more ideas for different styles and shapes and a lot of men want these too, so cashmere briefs are down the line.

ES: Where do you source your materials from?

TR: I buy the lace from a company in Alabama that sells all remnants and for the most part I hand dye the lace to get the colors that I want.

The cotton for the gusset is organic cotton purchased locally in LA, which I also dye myself.

I get the cashmere from various places, such as the Goodwill and a woman in upstate NY that has a barn full of cashmere. I did explore buying new cashmere but I don’t want to buy cashmere from China because I cant be sure how the cashmere was collected and what kind of manpower and processing was used, so I don’t want to contribute to that.

ES: What is the production process of a pair of SuperLove Cashmere Panties?

TR: I do everything except for the sewing. I source the cashmere, wash it, depill it, cut out the patterns that I designed. I also source the cotton for the gusset, and the lace trim, and dye them to get the colors I want. I then deliver all of this to the sewers who have the machine that works best with sewing cashmere.

ES: How durable are a pair of SuperLove panties?

TR: A cashmere sweater is supposed to last a lifetime with proper care. Most people don’t know that cashmere is washable, and most Americans take their cashmere to the dry cleaner, but my French friend turned me on to the fact that you can just wash cashmere by hand or put it on a cold, hand wash cycle in the washing machine.

ES: How would you define the SuperLove collection? 

TR: I think it is really fun since the panties are like a treat for yourself or a loved one because they feel so amazing when you put them on. When I first wore them I had this sassy feeling and a small hop in my step because I was doing something really luxurious and good for myself.

ES: Where does the name SuperLove come from?

TR: It’s pretty funny. I always wanted a great big love in my life. Before I met my life partner Bradford, I used to say I’m holding out for my “super love,” and so that’s where the name came from.

ES: How much interest have you received in SuperLove Panties?

TR: Surprisingly enough, 85 percent of my Christmas orders and Valentine’s orders are from men. When I worked in the lingerie business I would see this thing happen: a guy would come in to buy a gift for his significant other and would always go for the red lace teddy or thong. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a red lace thong…no woman ever buys that for herself. So, a few days later the woman would come back to return the thong and the man sometimes even got into trouble for getting this sexy gift. So these cashmere panties are a sexy gift that’s really sweet and doesn’t get you in trouble! I was actually very touched by a lot of the men that bought Super Love panties this holiday season, because all these guys were just trying to get it right, which was really awesome.

ES: How sustainable would you say SuperLove Cashmere Panties are?

TR: I’m glad that I’m helping to make something new out of something old and keeping these sweaters from landfill, but on the other hand I don’t know how scalable this is. But I’m inspired to do more with less and so I think about what I can do with something that someone else has given or thrown away. I didn’t start trying to make this business a sustainable one, but through doing it this way I really learned a lot about awareness and how much people care about the Earth and things being sustainable.

Cashmere as a fabric is very strong and provides insulation without bulk, but so many people aren’t familiar with cashmere and they think it’s itchy or hot. Cashmere is kind of like a second skin. The cashmere goats aren’t harmed during harvest, because the cashmere comes from the belly of the goat, which re-grows every 4 years. The goats also eat natural shrubs in their indigenous area, so it’s really a sustainable fiber if the animals are raised well.

ES: What can we expect in the future from SuperLove?

TR: The next thing will probably be the cashmere thong because they can be one size fits all and are super comfortable. I am going to do some other items as well like a top and even a boxer short that could be worn out in the summer time. In terms of working with cashmere, there’s no end to it; a bodysuit, a camisole, a bralette…the possibilities are endless.

I’m also going to spin it off and do a t-shirt line that brings awareness to sustainable living, so I’m in the middle of sourcing materials for that. I’ll be using recycled materials and doing all my own silk-screening. So a SuperLove cotton t-shirt line is up next!

ES: Thanks Theresa and good luck with everything!

Make sure to subscribe to EcoSalon’s newsletter for a chance to win a pair of panties of your choice from the SuperLove store!

Images: SuperLove

The post Spread Some SuperLove This Valentine’s Day with Cashmere Eco Panties! appeared first on EcoSalon.

Cashmere has long been associated with luxury, but that’s not the case anymore with affordably priced cashmere currently saturating markets. While you might consider this a gift, mid-priced chain stores like Banana Republic and Target (who are buying the fiber) are part of a larger sock in the gut to the Mongolese people and the place they call home.

In addition to consumer’s demand for cashmere, the biggest culprit of the Mongolian countryside desertification are the goats themselves – eating roughly 400 square miles of grass a year (including the grass roots).

Ecotextile News reports that this over grazing of the high plains goats, in some instances has resulted in a “desertification of the land,” from nomadic herders looking to make a buck.

“The ever increasing demand in the west for cheap cashmere has encouraged such growth in the goat population so that there are real fears over the ecological balance of the region,” says Ecotextile News.

In the same article, China’s Ministry of Nature and Environment estimated that “grassland is thinning out across 75 percent of this vast country, two thirds the size of Western Europe, while 7 percent is already desert.”

With the Cashmere World Trade Fair taking place November 23-25, a Cashmere Sustainability Conference will encourage attendees on industry and environmental threats – from the fiber to the overgrazing, scouring and dyeing.

Image: Left-Hand

The post Move Over Steinbeck: Inner Mongolia Becomes a Modern Day Dust Bowl appeared first on EcoSalon.

Is there a hole in the heart of that beloved camel cashmere from your freshman year at Stanford?

Don’t become unraveled! The crafty set – people like Stefanie Girard, who wrote Sweater Surgery – take the green approach to spinning yarns, reconfiguring new objects d’smart from those ratty pullovers that once warmed our bones.

Handwash your old sweater (I like to use baby shampoo) and treat it for unsightly coffee or red wine stains. Then circumvent those Jarlsberg cheese holes in the wool and make something cool!

Here’s a look at 10 reclamations, from Ugly Dolls to pretty petal pins:

1. Stuffed Toys

A favorite project at Brandeis Hillel Day School in San Francisco, parents are asked to contribute old sweaters for the students to conjure their own, arty Ugly Dolls. My own 10-year-old, Lauren, made this creature in just a couple of days and they instantly became BBF’s.

2. Bitchen Boatneck

Deborah Lindquist makes her groovy dog wraps from recycled cashmere sweaters, and you can do it, too. Just find a square without holes and make two for the front legs. Then your pet can walk the walk!

3. Beaded Cuff

I love this upscale take on the 70s tennis sweat band. The beaded cuff woven by Olive Brown is simple to make, by cutting your own elongated rectangle from your rescued sweater, stitching the borders and embellishing with beads or other hot glue glam.

4. Pet Bed

Lately, my pug has taken to sleeping in the laundry basket. Why not take your old sweaters and other scraps and make a patchwork pet bed, like Apartment Therapy suggests? Gather an assortment of old sweaters and a pillow and get working on that soft place for your pooch to land.

5. Pullover Coasters

Olive Brown made these from a shrunken woman’s fair aisle v-neck pullover. The set of eight, sold at Etsy, is something you can also try to make by cutting the circles and top-stitching the front, leaving a zigzag stitch on the back. The edges are finished with an overlock stitch.

6. Snuggly Slippers

Follow the footsteps of Craft Stylish, and avoid booties made from yucky  synthetic materials. These old woolen slippers are stitched with love. All you need is paper, a pen, scissors, an old sweater, thread, a machine, a scarp of yarn and a crochet hook. Have fun padding around!

7. Doll Clothes

If you or your child can knit, this book from Amazon provides patterns and ideas. I always loved sewing my own Barbie clothes from discarded items that wound up in our rag box. Let your kids try their hand at Project Runway ensembles using old sweaters. Try some lederhosen for that Heidi doll!

8. Flower Brooch

Thick rose wool felt from a rescued cardigan is paired with a heavy vintage bronze shank button in this classic flower. Found at Etsy, you can arrange your own floral jewelry with scissors, glue and a pin from your neighborhood craft store. Add a center flourish and attach to blazer lapel. You grow, girl!

9. Cell Phone Cozy

Craftbits is calling! Pick up and read the steps for making your own, fetching felted mobile phone pouch with a key ring at the top for attaching to jeans or your purse.

10. Teapot Cozy

We adore these at EcoSalon and even touted the beauty of the pot sweater for Mother’s Day this year. This one from Etsy is ideal because the pretty blue yarn is washable. Accented by a handknit multicolored flower with a vintage button for the center, it’s about 19 inches around and stretches over a 4″-to-6″ teapot. Not handy with a needle? Ask a friend to help.

Main Image: Amazon

The post Operation Old Sweater: 10 Great DIY Rescues appeared first on EcoSalon.

Have a bun in the oven? Maybe some friends who are expecting? Well, it’s never too early to get that baby started on the path to a green lifestyle. Kistner Supply recently launched three brand new eco-friendly product lines that are sure to make you the sustainable star at any upcoming showers (even your own)! Before that tiny bundle of love enters the world, apply your impeccable taste in decor to the nursery. From the pages of their 100th anniversary edition of Mother Stork’s Baby Book, their beautiful baby art includes seven charming prints and three Victorian frames to delicately adorn walls and tabletops. As safe as they are soft, the recycled cashmere chime balls and baby blankets make for 100% natural sleep and play time.

The post Forget Pink and Blue: Nurseries are Meant to be Green appeared first on EcoSalon.

It’s early Sunday morning in late November and I don’t want to leave the cuddly warmth of my down duvet. If I had special powers I would wiggle my nose and a handsome prince would appear with a cup of hot coffee and the New YorkTimes. But since my nose doesn’t wiggle that way, I crawl out from under the covers and head toward the closet for a favorite pair of jeans, a tee and my heather grey sweater-coat.

Then I’m out the door and headed toward the Farmers’ Market. I can’t live without that sweater. Well, of course I can“¦but you know what I mean. It works with most outfits, dressed up or down, and keeps me toasty and looking presentable when I may not be (especially early Sunday mornings).

So if you’re in the market for the perfect fall to winter to spring cover up, the sweater-coat is the way to go. VivaTerra has two that tickle my fancy.

The Cashmere & Merino Wool Luxury Sweater Coat is versatile and tres chic. It has a large, sculpted collar – wear it open or use the kilt pin to close it and heighten the warm and cozy factor. Available in a gorgeous berry as well as black in sizes small through large. $339 at VivaTerra.

Also available to sharpen your wardrobe this winter is the eco-friendly Lambswool Sweater Jacket. Subtle and stylish in winter white with a fluffy collar, this piece is selling out fast and currently available in large and xtra large. It’s on sale at VivaTerra for $95.

The post The Perfect Fall to Winter to Spring Cover Up appeared first on EcoSalon.

I can’t help but feel more like a girly-girl when my ridges have ruffles. Maybe that’s why the layered trim look is so alluring for fall. The eye-catching Juicy Couture modal dress from S Sense proves y’all can be a Georgia peach and hot tomato at the same time. You grow, girl!

Now, you won’t catch me in lacy bloomers but I’d certainly don any one of these frilly dresses and separates. The reason? They’re frilly but not silly. Instead, they flaunt soft and sophisticated lines.

Demure meets knock-out in Kate Organic ‘s Julianne Dress ($150) at The Green Loop. And what could be more angelic than the ruffled sleeve of this choirgirl’s tunic from Camilla Noorback?

Keep warm and trendy in these ruffled wraps, including a Lilac cardi from Indigenous Designs, a fair trade and organic line; an elongated and ultra flowy red Alpaca Duster ($249) and Tweedy Wrap scarf ($59 from VivaTerra), and the White and Warren Ruffle Wrap in black or camel ($275).

 

The Ruffled Cloud Scarf ($89), also from VivaTerra (below) makes a soft, ethereal statement in a watercolored palette. The Lilac ruffled tank from Soul Flower ($18) is great for layering, as is the Stewart+Brown eco cashmere cami ($75) at The Green Loop.

Even if you’re preggers you can still crave ruffles. Slip on this two-tiered, Tutu dress by Nest by Swanky ($75) and it’s just like when you went to the prom with that guy with the afro in platforms (of course, now it’s okay to have a bun in that chiffon oven).

The post Ruffles Around the Edges appeared first on EcoSalon.

Luxury is elusive. We seek it, but it is never quite realized. It is a practice.

What better way to practice luxury than to drape yourself in ultra luxe fabrics like the trademark cashmere and long-fiber hemp blend of Viridis Luxe. The entire line is a tapestry of supple, revolutionary blends. Bamboo, hemp and silk weave through the collection like a slice of moonlight through the window, subtly luminescent in a gentle, sleepy way.

Luxury is confident yet understated, in contrast to glamour, which is hungry and loud. Viridis Luxe treads lightly in the world of eco-fashion, but carries a big (bamboo) stick.

Sara’s shameless plug: Hi, it’s your editor. De-lurk, dear reader, and leave this fabulous writer a comment. (We love chatting.) You can also share this post with friends – just click your favorite social bookmark listed below. New reader? Be sure to sign up for the weekly newsletter to win free eco goodies! You can also subscribe to any RSS feed your heart desires.

The post Tread Lightly in Luxury and Carry a Big (Bamboo) Stick appeared first on EcoSalon.

A girl can never have enough wraps, especially a girl who always finds herself chilled to the bone. To me, the wrap is a stylish and essential choice. When it comes to wraps, I like to think of myself as an equal opportunity shopper. As luxurious as a high-end eco cashmere wrap is, I value my vintage sidewalk purchase just as much. This Azuri Sparkle Wrap looks and feels indulgent in terms of quality, but it’s a steal right now in terms of price. They’re on sale for $80 from an original $240. The collection uses the finest natural fabrics including cashmere, wool, and silk – no petroleum-based synthetics or conventional fibers.

Image/purchase: Nimli

The post Deal of the Week: Azuri Sparkle Wrap appeared first on EcoSalon.

I was once dating a man who couldn’t believe his ears when he learned that I didn’t own cashmere. He was simply appalled that the fashionista and lover of luxury sitting in front of him had never splurged on the famously lavish wool. Lo and behold, for Christmas he bought me my very first cashmere sweater.

Of course, I was instantly hooked (on the cashmere). I now seek out the especially soft fiber – eco, of course. And right now, my eyes are on this short sleeve cardigan by Stewart + Brown. Made of 100% Mongolian cashmere, you can pair this sweater with a skirt, jeans, or even shorts to create many different looks. For a fresh yet ladylike look, you can even wear the sweater with the buttons in back. On sale for $183, it’s a cash-miracle!

Image: Pangaya

The post Eco-Cashmere by Stewart + Brown appeared first on EcoSalon.