Dream. Compassion. Freedom. Instinct. Voice. These are the missions of Mission Savvy, an online eco boutique founded by green entrepreneur, fashionista and animal advocate Jennifer Miller. After years of heartache at the prevalence of animal abuse in our world, Miller put her savvy into action and founded Mission Savvy.

Featuring vegan, ethical fashions curated for stylish everyday wear, Mission Savvy donates 5% of all profits to causes that support animal conservation, health, emergency aid, and awareness. We are so pleased to offer a curated selection of designs this week, exclusively for EcoSalon readers.

Use the code “ecosalon” at checkout to receive 10% off in this very special collaboration. These are our select favorites, but the sale is happening sitewide so be sure to visit today!

Jenny Dress by Curator

The perfect warm weather LBD. The flirty A-line looks good on every figure. $110 before EcoSalon discount. $99 using promotion code “ecosalon” at checkout.

Imago Jacket by Kelly Lane

A butterfly print blazer from Kelly’s “Butterfly Collection” we love. Sweetly retro and ultra-feminine. Enough tailoring for a smart fit, and enough ease for summer’s more casual style. $170 before EcoSalon discount. $153 using promotion code “ecosalon” at checkout.

Balance by Olsen Haus

Vegan shoes never looked hotter. Sexy yet neutral to wear with everything all the way to fall. Doubly good because they’re made of recycled materials. $200 before EcoSalon discount. $180 using promotion code “ecosalon” at checkout.

Romantic Pullover by Clary Sage Organics

Slouchy pull-me-close perfection. The Clary Sage sustainable line supports local California organic cotton farmers. $75 before EcoSalon discount. $67.50 using promotion code “ecosalon” at checkout.

Abalone Dress by Feral Childe

Hello, girl! That’s Miller herself modeling this dress and the other selected items. From their Spring Collection, a journey through Roman seaside town Tarquinia, including this watercolor collage dress. $85 before EcoSalon discount. $76.50 using promotion code “ecosalon” at checkout.

Editor’s note: EcoSalon collaborations are always fresh – and exclusive for you. Visit weekly for new flash sales, deals and discounts from the best conscious brands.

The post A Curated Sale with Online Eco Boutique Mission Savvy appeared first on EcoSalon.

Ahem. We’ve been longing for this bag in a big way. Lusting for it. Pining and yearning and possibly drooling, too. We’ve more than once reminded our mothers we have a birthday coming up*. Equal parts stunning and sustainable, the Ruffled Hemp Bag by VivaTerra is the best everyday bag of the season, and today…we…give it away.

You lucky duck.

To win, just leave me a nice comment below. The contest runs through next Wednesday midnight (last week’s Apple Dutch Oven winner will be announced tomorrow), and your odds are pretty good, sweet cheeks. But in case you can’t wait, you can still get the bag for a fantastic deal – do it before it runs out of stock! – by using the discount code HEMP at purchase. $25 bucks off the purchase price of $198? Done!

It’s eco. It’s chic. It’s the kind of ruffled sweetness J. Crew just wishes it had thought of. And, I have to say, this bag reminds me of a certain not-at-all-green leather Valentino bag from a season or so ago that I really loved but wasn’t about to buy owing to its toxic credentials (well, that and the fact that it cost nearly three thousand dollars). This one is better, not just because it’s 100% sustainable, but because it’s an almost unbelievably great price for a luxury tote bag. I love that it has a (removable) shoulder strap as well as traditional bowling handles. The black leather is recycled (of course it is!) and we all know how strong hemp is. Hemp = the spidey fiber of the apparel world, so you can take this baby from the office to the beach to the art show without a second thought, all season long. The slate hue is a perfect contrast for all the red and camel you’ve got flying around this fall, too.

Good luck, and grab this bag before it goes!

*Okay, maybe that was more me than we.

(Legalese: FTC and giveaway rules.)

The post Really, Really? Yes, Really! Fall’s Must-Have Bag Giveaway appeared first on EcoSalon.

Are you here to enter to win the giveaway? Just leave a comment on this post, below.

Not quite on a Le Crueset budget but just so over combing the aisles of TJ Maxx for cheap cookware that inevitably flakes and burns? It’s time to break up with Teflon.

Make like Julia Child and get yourself a cast of (enameled iron) characters sure to make your culinary adventures more successful for years to come. Allow me to introduce a very chic – and 100% green – chef-worthy cooking set, complete with the cutest darn Dutch Oven I’ve ever seen. The whole set is affordably priced – especially if you’re looking for lifetime cookware you don’t have to replace every third crepe attempt – but what I love most is that juicy little apple Dutch Oven. That red is red.

Julie knew what she was talking about: nothing cooks, grills, bakes, braises, sweats and sears like enamel cast iron. And you know how wonderful it feels in hand: substantial, forever, legit. It’s not going anywhere no matter how many times you scrape, scrub or scratch it.

The apple, however, is: we’re giving one away this week to one of you lucky commenters, so tell us what dish you’d whip up, and you may just win.

Can’t wait? I have been loving this piece so much, and think you will too, so I asked our pals at VivaTerra to offer a special, serious discount just for you. We’re not talking some puny 5% off promotion, either. Nope, just cold, hard cash! This versatile oven goes for $129 but if you click to buy and use the promo code APPLE, you’ll get $25 off, instantly. You’ll notice the promotion on the site for the next week, and if you think it’s a cool deal, let us know!

As for me, you can find me spoon-deep in the garlicky buttered mashed potatoes, curried sweet potatoes, roasted rosemary stuffing, minted couscous salad, claypot ginger chicken, wait…where was I?

Leave a comment here to win. One comment per person, and this giveaway ends next week (Wednesday, August 25th, 2010) at midnight. Good luck!

(Official obligatory rule part: you can check out our sponsored giveaway, contest, legalese FTC compliance stuff here.)

The post A Giveaway and a Steal of a Deal: So Long Teflon, Hello Cute appeared first on EcoSalon.

I’ve learned the best way to find earth-friendly products at a discount is to surf the web. My most recent find: Ecobunga! A well-stocked portal of green deals, sweepstakes, coupons and downright free green goodies.

We link shoppers to great bargains and prizes while helping companies get the word out about their eco-friendly products and services, says their website.

After only a few moments I found deals on:

Seventh Generation products – buy one, get 50% off the second

Simple Shoes for as low as $10

40% off of a home wind generator system, and free shipping

10% off of the purchase of an electric bicycle from Currie Technologies

Bulk savings on Eden Organic Foods

Save a buck coupon for Knudsen Organic Juices

There are also contests to win items such as:

Sigg reusable bottle

A Ford Fusion car

Bamboo Sheets

Eco Mist cleaning products

The Modern Vegetarian Cookbook

Good luck, and let us know if you come up lucky!

Image: AMagill

The post Boost the Green with Eco-Friendly Giveaways & Deals appeared first on EcoSalon.

Forgive me, but I never fail to get excited about pretty green things. And while it’s not breaking news that vintage is a fabulous way to shop, I can’t help but shout when something old becomes new again – especially when it’s something made with an exquisite emphasis on craftsmanship rather than mass production.

The Gustavian Vintage Bed at VivaTerra caught my eye for just that reason. The sensuous curves of its arched headboard fit perfectly with the strength of its frame. Made of reclaimed Douglas fir that grows more beautiful with age, the bed reveals all the special details of weathered wood.

The designer uses only “low VOC, water based materials and water based, non-toxic stains” on its furniture as well as water soluble, formaldehyde free glues. There’s a whole lot of eco-friendly going on here.

The Gustavian would look comfortable in a country home or the sleekest of modern abodes. Dressed in anything from these sheets to any of these, sweet dreams are only an eco-second away.

Available in sizes Queen, King or Cal King at VivaTerra for $1675 – $1775. (That’s 15% off until February 5th!)

The post Gustavian Dreams appeared first on EcoSalon.

There’s nothing I dread more than moving. Even if you’re just coming from the other side of town, a day of lugging furniture and countless boxes of accumulated items is more of a workout than the most grueling spinning session. So, when one of your gal pals relocates, welcome her to the new digs with a stylish housewarming gift that won’t break your budget.

The Kitchen Essential set from ARE Naturals will imbue this room with some much-needed personal warmth. Stylish salt and pepper shakers and an eco-friendly towel woven from cotton and bamboo come in a seagrass box that can be used for decoration or storage.

Get her off to a good start by purifying this living space with the Himalayan Salt votives from VivaTerra, made with ancient crystals that give off negative ions to wipe away those stray remnants of previous tenants.

Crafted from pliable bamboo, the Wine arc from Zanisa is sleek and chic. And, to help her unwind after hours of exertion, you’ll definitely want to complete this piece with a bottle of her favorite sauvignon blanc.

The post Fabulous (and Affordable) Housewarming Gifts appeared first on EcoSalon.

The post Special Last Minute Deals on Green Gifts: EcoSalon Readers Only! appeared first on EcoSalon.

I love Indian food with its various curries, aromatic basmati rice, and fluffy, warm nan bread. Fortunately with a few good spices and fresh vegetables it’s not too difficult to create a tasty meal in a tolerable amount of time. But for those days when product over process is your mantra, enter Tasty Bite simmer sauces.

On a recent visit to the Natural Products Expo East convention in Boston I was drawn to the Tasty Bite booth much like a sailor to a siren. I watched the demo chef cook tofu and vegetables on her tiny stove, gently stirring in the Good Korma simmer sauce. One thing in particular that I like about this product line is that they aren’t too salty like many packaged sauces are. And you have to love their sense of humor. The Good Korma container reads:

Meditating on dinner? Look within. An entrancing serenade of spices, cashew, coconut and the gentle ringing of a sitar. Your souls will want seconds.

I also recommend Tikka Masala simmer sauce, with chilies, cumin, cardamom, coriander, clove and onion. Find all four simmer sauces in stores from Acme to Whole Foods, or online at Tasty Bite. Then rent some Bollywood flicks and have a Punjab party. Your taste buds will thank you.

TastyBite is offering EcoSalon readers a discount of 15% off any order over $30 made on the Tastybite.com website. Enter ECOSALON in the code box during checkout.

The post Ecosalon Recipes: Curry in a Hurry appeared first on EcoSalon.

If I’ve heard it from one client, I’ve heard it from 10. “We can’t spend any more money.” Well, that ain’t no fun. Woefully, my plans to do that Far East theme took a bad turn when the economy went south. Now what?

Here are a few tips from your resident EcoSalon designer on how to squeeze the remaining juice from your bruised budget.

Prioritize Adequate Lighting

Highlight the items you can’t live without and can still afford with your new budget constraints. If you can’t read without good lighting in the family room, purchase floor lights to flank that sofa you splurged on. There are many good green options, like the Brookfield┞¢Deluxe Full Spectrum Floor Lamp from Verilux, which has the profile of a turn-of-the-century design with 21st Century efficiency. For $150, you might as well buy a pair. We can’t go blind just because corporate greed messed up our investments.

Paint Works Wonders

Table your plans for new dining furniture for now and paint, instead, using natural milk paint. Most clients have decent breakfast room and dining room furniture but seek replacements as part of their stylish redux. Good dining furniture can be quite costly. Instead, why not paint existing kitchen wooden tables a mod or warm shade to color you happy until things pick up and you can splurge? Chairs can be great accent pieces with fun shades.

No Beddy Buy

   
New headboards and beds may be a luxury right now. If you have one on your to-get list, save it for when you’re feeling flush and focus on the bedding for now. I cannot live without nice sheets and duvets and there are super chic organic choices that won’t set you back too much. You might as well be swathed in soft cotton to shelter the storm. See Purists Give a Sheet for a glimpse of what’s out there.

Pricey Art Not Smart. Do Photos, instead

I’d have art over furniture any day, but I began acquiring pieces years ago as an art writer. Now isn’t the time to invest in large, expensive works. Sure, you can always pick up great finds at various sales and auctions, but for now, why not do a photo wall to cover that wonderful space? I do photo walls all of the time for families. You can have vintage shots enlarged at Kinko’s or other office supply stores, and pick up frames at discount frame stores or even good thrift shops. I often shop at Photograph, a new source that offers affordable, high-quality, do-it-yourself frames and matting.

Opt for Xeriscape Landscaping

Usually, the landscaping comes last in a home remodel or redesign and can sap whatever cash you have left. Bids for large jobs can come in at $50,000 to $100,000 for elaborate lawns, plantings, fountains, swimming pools and trees. Go for the green option, choosing low water use grasses and herbs. You can plant a veggie garden with your kids or neighbors to cover a healthy plot. I also love cactus and other desert blooms as design elements in the creative garden. You can pot great shrubs to maximize volume outdoors. You’ll be saving water and helping the planet stay more beautiful at the same time. Check out ideas at for low water use plants at Laspilitas.

The post Redux on Hold: Finishing Decor During the Recession appeared first on EcoSalon.

You may have noticed that I’ve been touting the decadent styles created by Viridis Luxe and I’m not going to stop now. Typically on the more expensive side, you can now indulge in this eco luxury at a price your wallet can handle. Jump onto the Nordstrom site and see what suits your fancy. Here are two pieces on sale now that I see fit for fall.

Jersey Sleeveless Top: The bamboo/organic cotton blend may be sleeveless but would look great with a figure-fitting cropped blazer, slim pants, and ankle booties. Add even more flair with some long, layered gold chains and you’ll look like you stepped straight off the runway. (only $60, from an original $147)

Halter Minidress: Shape is back, so show it off in this mini number. Arm yourself with a chic blazer, a boldly colored scarf and knockout stacked heels. Be sure to pop the collar on this one and you’ll attract stares all day long. (only $50, from an original $167)

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