Depending on which camp you belong to, vegan or eco (and they are two completely different ones), your views on wearing animals will differ greatly.

If you are vegan, they will not only differ, they will absolutely mean you never wear another piece of clothing or accessory made from an animal again. The eco establishment will argue that recycling and using sustainable materials (ones not filled with pesticides or petroleum by-products) is the better way to go. It’s a tough consumer dilemma, and one that divides, as there are strong arguments for both.

When I came across Harricana by Mariouche, I thought the recycled fur line was tastefully done and contacted the designer Mariouche Gagné for an interview.

My two questions for her rested on the claim that the company “has recycled over 50,000 coats and turned them into new branded creations, adding up to nearly 400 metric tons of refurbished fur,” an estimated half a million animals’ lives saved thanks to recycling countless vintage jackets and pelts. While I thought the idea of recycling fur into forward designs was ingenious, the devil’s advocate in me also thought if I were an animal rights activist, I’d think the mere wearing of fur just promoted it – and I’d be angry.

Second, noticing her claim that the shops featuring her work were all over the world, I wondered if the reason they aren’t sold in the U.S. is due to a different mentality about wearing fur.

Harricana by Mariouche, Winter 2010

Mariouche has her own feelings about wearing fur: “I like to think further than just that the poor animal that died for the jacket a hundred years ago, I think about the animals I save now by recycling. That makes a lot more sense,” she says from her Montreal studio which today has international sales in 18 countries including Switzerland, France, Austria, Germany, and Russia.

“I am not for making with new,” she adds. “I recycle thousands of coats, silk scarves and army jackets every year into pieces that will last for another 100 years. I don’t design just for a passing trend.”

Amongst her cold weather designing credentials – like living at the North Pole – Mariouche has spent time in Kuujjuaq in Nunavik, where local Inuit women make clothing using traditional methods and see the killing of an animal in a holistic way where every drop of the animal is utilized from their oil to their pelt. While she does not condone the killing of animals, her message is clear: “We are all these city hypocrites and we want other people we don’t see to kill our food and make our clothes and that, is not natural.”

Harricana by Mariouche, Winter 2010

Jennifer Miller, founder of Mission Savvy, an eco-boutique that pairs eco fashion with pressing issues in animal welfare has her own feelings on recycling fur: “I’m just sort of over it. That’s all.”

A longtime animal rights activist, Miller asks why we even need to be wearing fur in the first place.

“If you live in a heated house, have the privilege of being able to cook yourself a warm meal and snuggle up in a warm bed at night, there’s no real survival purpose to owning a fur coat. Communities outside of true indigenous lifestyles really have no purpose wearing fur. And therefore if you are inclined to wear it, choose your Nordic destination, endure a season of coastal fishing, sheep herding, knitting, hunting and territorial defense and really immerse yourself in the culture of having no choice but to wear fur. Otherwise please spare me the headache of preaching about how the jacket keeps you warm in the winter, all 1.5 hours of the day that you are actually outside,” says Miller.

But from an animal welfare perspective, Miller thinks if there must be a fur industry, it should most certainly revolve around recycled fur with not a single animal being skinned alive again.

“Fur can be put to better use than fashion,” she says, “There are hundreds of thousands of homeless people that would appreciate a fur coat donation. Humane Society of the United States has a great program called ‘Coats for Cubs’ where you can donate your fur coat and it’s used to comfort animals in rehab. And what about using them as a down alternative as well? Fur stuffed blankets is another great idea for families with children that can’t afford to turn on the heat in the winter.”

Mariouche, who might agree with the multitude of uses for fur, holds the position that no matter what, people are going to buy fur.

“I offer people with money a choice though to be more ethical and I think if you can offer that in the luxury sector, giving them a choice, it’s better than nothing.”

Top Image From Harricana by Mariouche

The post Recycling Fur to Save Animals appeared first on EcoSalon.

I love silk. I love fibers. I love mixing fibers.

Thankfully silk is just one of many fibers I like to wear to add depth to outfits – or when I just want to feel effortlessly sexy and put together.

Since I own an eco-boutique I get lots of women who thumb past the silk section and I hear all kinds of strange things like “My mother wears it so I don’t want to,” “It’s too hard to take care of,” and my favorite, “Where would I wear it?”

Anywhere!

So on my Facebook page the other day I wrote: “Do you think silk is for young women? Seems like so many younger women are afraid to wear it!” And 21 comments later, I was surprised to see some of the responses:

“Afraid to wash it is probably more like it.”

“Silk can’t handle my lifestyle.”

“It’s the stain and care factor that kills me.”

I was happy to see the support for silk too, and the advice the different women – both eco-fashion writers and designers – had for on the fencers.

“Twill silk is a good bet for the wary… a coarser weave, more durable. Maybe it’s washing it that concerns them… it’s best to hand wash (won’t shrink) in lukewarm water with non alkaline soap (baby soap) and a touch of white vinegar in rinse water. Easy!”

“Silk is not that difficult to look after. You can either dry clean or hand wash and iron on low heat. Also satiny silk stains less than most other fabrics.”

“I wear tons of silk, winter and especially summer, my skin seems to love it. I’m not sure what you mean by younger, I’m 33 and wore it throughout my twenties, but then again, I was raised by my grandma who also wore it a lot and taught me how to wash clothes (not just throwing it in the machine!) so I’m more informed than average I think. I really love silk and am wearing a new silk top right now actually! In the summer the perspiration dries really quickly, a godsend for sweaty girls like me!”

Silk is rearing it’s delicate head more and more as seen in the recent sustainable collections of Gretchen Jones’ Mothlove, Dahl by Alison Kelly, H Fredriksson and Feral Childe, each with a very different spin on the fabric.

Obviously young, hip designers are creating and wearing it, but how do you feel about silk? Do you think it’s only for your mom or grandma?

Image: Batik Ella Dress from H Fredriksson

The post Are You Scared to Wear Silk? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Based in Brooklyn where all the cool girls hang, Foundfuture is the brainchild of The 400 Showroom’s saucy Shannon Lorraine.

Cruising around Foundfuture is like being a kid in a candy store as your eyes get fixated on colorful headbands by Love from Hetty and Dave, eclectic charm bracelets from Mi Asunta, and comic book like statement necklaces that might just give you super powers. Lorraine definitely has an eye for fun and that’s why it’s a welcome respite from all the other eco-sites out there when you pop into shop.

Her about us statement says Foundfuture “brings you the best kept secrets in fashion. It also just happens to focus on sustainable practices.” We’re happy she’s able to do both.

Juno & Jove

Based out of Sarasota, Florida, Juno & Jove launched in 2006 and has emerged as a premier shopping destination for the socially conscious consumer, both online and at their brick and mortar shop. Looking through their carefully curated list of designers, you might be surprised by how many eco-talents you don’t know (which is very refreshing!)

We love that they offer women’s as well as men’s clothing and shoes, and beautiful pieces for the home as well. Once I started perusing the site, I really couldn’t stop. Give yourself some time here!

Mission Savvy

When we found out hip new eco-boutique Mission Savvy was on a Green City tour and will be joining us at EcoSalon Shops! on June 4th, we were flattered to say the least. Especially since she was coming from Mission Savvy headquarters in Charleston, West Virginia.

Founder Jennifer Miller is a pretty amazing entrepreneur hailing from a past life as an animal activist who now fuses eco-fashion and animal protection in a way that’s compassionate as much as fashion forward. Five percent of profits generated by sales from Mission Savvy’s clothing collections are donated to a select group of animal welfare and conservation groups who work on the front lines of tough issues. Peruse her missions and tap into what drives Miller to create awareness about more than just sustainable fashion.

The post EcoSalon Shops! Presents: The Boutiques appeared first on EcoSalon.

When eco-boutique Nimli contacted us for this week’s giveaway, we were so excited, not just because we’re fans of this cute romper, but because we love Nimli as a company. If you’re not familiar with the retailer, visit the site for all the best in sustainable clothing, accessories and beauty products from some of our favorite independent designers.

For those of you jumping on the jumper trend and wishing to do it sustainably, this Elwood romper is the ultimate for spring. Made from bamboo cotton french terry, it’s available in white or in shadow for slinking around at night or stepping out in lively fashion during the day.

The eco factor extends beyond the materials used. It’s versatile, as well. Think beach cover up. An excuse to wear those gladiator shoes. An early morning boyfriend’s-back-to-home staple. Something tells me it could even involve roller derby.

Leave a comment below expressing your ideas so we can envision. (For complete contest guidelines go here. We are FTC compliant.)

The post Nimli ‘Strange Fruit’ Jumper Giveaway appeared first on EcoSalon.

I was sad to learn the news that eco boutique Camilla will be closing, but when life gives you lemons, make hard lemonade, sister.

Come on, let’s send Camilla off in style by shopping her site which is crazily discounted. One of my favorite pieces is the Durban Jacket by Loyale. With a flattering shape accentuated by a belted waist and high collar, the jacket is made from super soft organic cotton and it’s only $100 – down from $270. Perfect for spring’s occasional gusts and chills.

And reason enough to get clicking now.

The post In Love with Loyale’s Durban Jacket appeared first on EcoSalon.

As Fashion Editor of EcoSalon and owner of an eco-boutique I talk to a lot of designers. This was my first time going to Market Week in NYC as both and it was as thrilling as it was tiring.

Market Week, if you haven’t been, is where clothing designers worldwide show their seasonal collections in New York City. Buyers from stores large and small come here to buy what best represents their brand. It is a tough, tedious job and forges a deeper appreciation for the fashion industry beyond hitting the shops with a girlfriend to check out the newest duds.

D&A, Coterie, Train, NOW Showcase and two individual appointments in studios kept my boutique partner, Amanda, and I busy as devil’s advocates representing an eco-boutique. (I admit, it surprised me how many people raised their eyebrows when we said that.)

Since we knew we’d really have to grill the designers about their knowledge of their lines for our eco-minded purposes, we anticipated this process was going to be a hard pill to swallow for some.

We were right.

If the price is too low, somebody’s getting paid to make it with rice.

On at least three occasions when we asked eco-designers why their price was so low, they didn’t have a real answer except, “We just like to keep the prices low.”

One designer in particular, looming over me at 6’2″ in her super chunky platform heels, couldn’t offer me much in terms of information and fumbled with sheets of paper as I inquired. Her heavily made-up eyes and fierce Frankenstein eyebrows finally communicated the message loud and clear: get the hell out of her booth. (I’m not kidding about the eyebrows.)

But cheers to my two new favorite eco-designers, Ethos and Toggery, who seem to keep it all in balance, designing truly beautiful pieces as well as producing at amazing prices. I’ll be telling you their fantastic stories soon – can’t wait.

Some eco-designers think just tossing up a sign that says you’re a sustainable designer makes you part of the eco pack.

Note to designers: one organic piece out of many does not an eco brand make. Thank goodness my partner and I scrutinized each and every label to make sure we stood by our boutique mission, which is to sell 100% sustainable materials. 10% soy and 90% conventional cotton? Thanks, but no thanks.

A caveat, though. I actually believe a compromise like that is fine if you’re just starting out with eco manufacture, because it takes time to learn and test. But for experienced designers, claiming eco status when you’re really not is just greenwash. (I wish I had the cojones to name names.)

To that point: Evolving into a sustainable designer is not a bad thing!

In one vendor’s booth (many of you would recognize the label) they’d pushed all their eco-apparel into a corner that was being dripped on from a malfunction in the ceiling. When asked about the eco-friendly part of their line, they were timid to show us what they had. Sensing their embarrassment, we walked away.

Highlights?

– Meeting Howard Brown of Stewart & Brown and getting to hear about his and his partner’s (Karen Stewart) passion for their line. And the fact that they were actually there instead of letting reps do all the hard work!

– Meeting Doucette Duvall in their studio and their offer to search remnant fabrics for us to create the pieces in their line that are not yet eco because they “love going on a hunt.” (Hunt more, ladies, and make it all eco!)

– Meeting Kate D’Arcy of Toggery, who designs from the perspective that every woman deserves to wear sustainably designed clothes made in the U.S. (that means beautiful and fairly priced).

– Learning from the ever-exuberant Celeste Lilore of Restore Clothing just how the plastics used in her line are recycled and made into fibers with touch bowls and great literature.

– Meeting the one and only Starre Vartan, founder of Eco Chick, editor of Greenopia and author of The Eco-Chick Guide To Life. Thanks to all her great social media head shots, she was easily identified.

– Eating as much delicious ethnic food as possible.

– Sitting and spending time with eco-designers I love and support.

I write all this and wonder if it’s interesting to you, this behind-the-scenes detail. I hope it is. I want you to understand how much work goes into those shops you love. All those online eco-boutique shop owners were there in the throes of Market, picking out some really great things for you.

You see, it’s not just a shopping free-for-all. They’re personal shopping for you.

Image: The Train New York

The post To Market, to Market, to Market We Go appeared first on EcoSalon.

While 2008’s holiday buying was a vicious sting for many retailers (read: overstocked store shelves with far more supply than demand), the buyers of American retail circa 2009 have evidently learned their lessons. We saw many stores tightening their inventory belts while others held off on any sales until after the holidays to generate more revenue and keep themselves afloat.

Angelina Rennell, owner of Beklina (and the designer behind the label Lina Rennell), says buying practices for her eco-boutique were of a much more cautious nature this holiday season.

“I ordered in lower numbers, and was maybe just a little more sober when it came to ordering,” Rennell says, adding that favoring “tried and true” designers that she knows sell well was also a big consideration this year versus taking risks with designers she wasn’t so sure of.

As for the discount-loving consumer, according to CNN, “in a surprising trend,” larger department stores like Macy’s and JC Penney beat out discounters as the destination of choice over 2009’s Black Friday weekend.

“Nearly half, 49.4%, of holiday shoppers visited at least one department store over the weekend, a 12.9% increase from last year,” reports the article.

Perhaps this is a sign of consumption with more thought?

Only gift cards, usually an impersonal holiday gift,  turned out to be one of the hottest gifts going, allowing for extra sales post-holiday.

But while retailers usually see customers spending well over what the gift cards are worth, post holiday spending has been reigned in, a trend shop owners are cringing at.

Image: Scalleja

The post Cautious Retailers Don’t Get Burned appeared first on EcoSalon.

Stella McCartney Spring 2010 RTW

Identifying trends only draws attention to the need for the masses to fall in when comes to uniform chic, despite the artistic license we all have to strut our stuff with individual flair.

Eco-designers are out there, in more ways than one, often pushing the envelope with fabrics and structures, making the term trend less significant than the term evolved. So check out the nearest eco-boutique and find the sustainably designed must-have that best fits you, and your lifestyle.

Looking ahead to 2010 and back over some 2009 trends we predicted, a few fashion gems have stuck while others refreshingly, went away. While we don’t go in for every fast fad, we wouldn’t be a very good eco fashion blog if we didn’t keep you up to date on the best eco fashion trends, would we?

Totally Turquoise

While more mainstream neons and jewel tones seem to have usurped last year’s neutral tones, one color stands out most for 2010: turquoise.

Rifle through your jewelry drawer and find those chunky rings, beaded necklaces and vintage blouses with the cool blue hue and you’re sure to be the girl of the moment.

Cynthia Steffe Spring 2010

Corsets Galore

Corsets anyone? Designers love them this season and are pairing them with equally form-fitting bottoms for a tough look and feminine A-line skirts for a bit of romance.

Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2010

Gilded Warrior

Were you going gaga for folk dresses and bohemian tops last year? Well my friend, strangely, we’ve gone from happy-go-lucky flower girls to hardcore warriors who dress like they’re angry about it.

Sass & Bide Spring/Summer 2010

Leather, not Pleather

Vegan? This is the year of the anti-green for you with leather being the skinny everywhere, from form-fitted turtlenecks to biker jackets.

Kate Moss

Any Denim Will Do

I feel ashamed to say anything about denim. I write this with a pair of ripped jeans on (and yes, distressed is still in) but my jeans are five years old and just happened to give way round the knees.

Do I have other pairs? Of course: organic denim leggings for under flowy tops and too short dresses, boot cuts to go over my signature Frye boots and pocketless skinny jeans to erase as much weight as possible off my hips and derriere.

Black, blue, grey, faded and torn are all in my drawers. Hey! I just listed the last 10 years of denim!

Oscar De La Renta Spring/Summer 2010

Play Clothes

Full skirts have been replaced with something even better: Short shorts, jumpsuits and playsuits! Get your Seventies on! (Note: tongue firmly planted in cheek.) Now, before you cringe, consider this romper from Prairie Underground. Of all the shows I’ve attended, this one stood out as a piece that might actually be doable, especially with the leggings underneath.

Prairie Underground’s Romp Around the Clock Spring 2010

Shoulder Pads Go Ultra Mod

Just when you thought the trend of shoulder pads was gone, some designer took acid and decided, “Let’s go Battlestar Galactica and put points on our shoulders,” (see warrior dressing also).

I was at a clothing swap recently and grabbed myself a really cute vintage, black blazer and it just happened to have shoulder pads. I tried to convince myself I could wear it but with broad shoulders I looked like an idiot. Designers, please: stop it with the pads!

From New York Magazine

Color Me Mine

One thing I love for 2010 is that you can fake it – dress like you know something about fashion and get away with knowing nothing.
Mix prints and funky graphics with florals and stripes, throw in some color and a long necklace or two and you’re likely going to be right on trend.

Dries Van Noten Spring 2010

Varsity Girl

One of the strangest trends looking forward is the “I want to be a high school boy in the locker room” look, or more formally, the “Sports Fashion Trend.”

Always wanted to wear a sport bra alone in public? How about football pants? Well, you’re in for some fun.

Raid your son’s football duffel bag for inspiration or go to the nearest tennis court and see how outfits might translate into street fashion. Tomboy cool? No thanks – I don’t need a jock strap to be hip.

Alexander Wang Spring 2010

The post 2010 Fashion Trends: A Round-Up of Seasonal Structures and Shapes appeared first on EcoSalon.

At the Shift launch party Friday, November 6th

For all the eco there is, it still isn’t easy being green.

I say that knowing this will change, but I needed only to open my own sustainable boutique to discover, “Houston, we have problems.”

My background is such that I write, market, sell and do coaching with and for designers who seek to prove they are just as good as any other designer doing forward fashion out there. That’s been great for many years.

The tables sure turned when I started my own shop, Shift, and I had to buy from them: I wanted things like reclaimed or organic silks, prints and the ever elusive non-skinny pant.

How about color from water-based dyes?

How about knits that are affordable?

The pieces of my boutique’s puzzle are slowly coming together to form a whole. But, here are a few things I found out along the way that has made living the eco-entrepreneur life very challenging:

A tired Amy DuFault ringing in the eco-goods at the launch party

Patterned fabric

There’s not much patterned fabric out there at an affordable price. If it’s out there, it’s typically very expensive. A few designers I spoke with said they can’t all buy the same print because they want to be creating different pieces from each other (but of course).

Thanks to a lack of demand for the small amount of sustainably printed fabrics out there, suppliers simply choose not to offer many. Think about that the next time you hit the local eco-boutique and you see all solids and heavy accessories buying.

I have a new appreciation for all my eco-boutique buying comrades out there.

Knits

In a perfect world, we could all buy chunky sweaters and luscious scarves at digestible prices. The handful of knit designers out there I love, like Lars Anderson and Souchi, ring in at different price-points that seem fair to me – but what will the shoppers tell me when they’re confronted with the tag? Well, on Cape Cod in the winter, they’re going to tell me plenty.

The knits ring in at a higher price point ($250 and up) because the designer often contracts locals, pays them a fair wage, finds pesticide free yarns and so on. $19.99 does come at a price, just one that consumers don’t see.

Construction

The last thing I want to be guilty of is using standard paints, virgin-paper business cards and bags, incandescent bulbs or anything, frankly, brand new. Being eco through and through means even the building has got to be green.

Thanks to a local carpenter/artist designing a wall unit and dressing rooms from reclaimed wood, and a steady influx of consignment furniture from a local eco-home store, we got there!

Recycled PET plastic hangers? Check.
Dress forms off Ebay? Check.
Recycling bins? Check.
Vintage mirrors and merchandising accessories? Check check!

Goodness, by the time all is said and done, my business partner and I will be running a green business initiative making other businesses on Cape Cod comply with a green certification. (For real. We’ve just been hired.)

And thanks to undergoing my own “greening” I will feel no sympathy.

This is all so worth it. Moreover, despite the challenges, it’s doable. The more we all support the people willing to conserve energy, reuse materials and be part of the solution when it comes to lightening their carbon footprint, the better people we will be.

At the very least, we’ll have some nice sweaters.

The post Walking the Talk: Adventures in Launching My Eco Boutique appeared first on EcoSalon.