Stylish cycling gear that will keep you feeling safe and looking chic all summer long.

We’re all about alternative transportation here at EcoSalon, and summer is the perfect time to get out that bike and start pedaling around the streets. To help you do that in style, we’ve gathered some cycling gear that will keep you safe while still looking tres chic.

Nessa Dress by Edith A. Miller
There’s no reason you shouldn’t wear a dress just because you’re biking. Just make sure to choose a loose-fitting short one, so it’s comfortable and doesn’t run the risk of getting stuck in the gears. This classic striped dress by Edith A. Miller is ethically made in the USA, and we think it goes great with a bicycle.
$198, Juno & Jove

The Madera Helmet by Coyle
Based on a contemporary, skate-inspired helmet design, the Madera provides a great balance of coverage and visibility. Coyle helmets are made using patented technology that takes advantage of  the inherent structural properties that allow wood to absorb significant energy in the event of a significant impact, adding protective redundancy to the EPS foam or low density cork system that lies beneath. The all-natural materials resist the UV degradation that synthetic helmet materials are vulnerable to, which means you won’t need to replace a weather-worn and sunburned helmet every few years.
$375, Coyle

Blink Steady Rear Light
A good light is a must, especially when long summer days on the road turn into spontaneous picnics under the stars. Made from solid aluminum, the Blink Steady bike light turns on automatically and shuts off when you’re not riding. And you don’t have to remove it when you lock up because it’s secured by your seatpost.
$95, Blink Steady

Bike Strap-Downs by Walnut Studiolo
Let’s face it, we often end up carrying more stuff than we thought. When you’re on a bike, this can be a problem, unless you carry the right accessories with you. This set of bike strap-downs is a key tool for MacGyvering stuff onto your bike. Two buckling leather straps with eyelets running the length of it helps you strap down items of varying sizes to your bike rack. All of Studiolo’s beautiful bike accessories are made, by a couple, in their workshop in Portland, Oregon.
$38, Walnut Studiolo

Green Guru Cruiser Cooler Recycled Bike Tube Handlebar Bag
Think of the Cruiser Handlebar Bag as the missing glove compartment for your cruiser or commuter bike. It has room for all those essentials, like a just-in-case rainjacket, sunglasses and sunscreen for a hot spin to the beach, or cold beverages for a warm evening cruise. You can also take it off the bike and use it as a cooler. Made in the US from recycled or upcycled bike tubes and upcycled reflective mylar from compostable cup packaging
$44.95, Green Guru

Portland Design Works Sodapop Fenders
Made from 97% post-consumer recycled beverage bottles, these bike fenders will keep you clean and dry in any weather. They are designed to pop off your bike easily, should you want to remove them when the sun comes out. Thanks to clever hardware they fit most city and mountain bikes that have a hole in the fork crown.
$25, Portland Design Works

Recycled Innertube Stringer Cuff
The lightweight stringer cuff by Beatrice Holiday is made from soft recycled bike inner tubes, lightly sprinkled with metallic gold spray paint. Designer Holiday wants you to feel good knowing that this bracelet was made from heap of inner tubes that lay discarded outside a bike shop in Venice, CA. Now they can ride again, only on your arm instead.
$28, Etsy/Beatrice Holiday

Eastlake Recycled Tablet Sleeve
If you bring your reading tablet along for the ride, make sure it’s protected, in true biker style. This stylish, protective sleeve is constructed from recycled bicycle inner tubes, which gives it a durable, highly water-resistant exterior. It’s sized to be compatible with the iPad, but will fit other roughly 10” tablets as well.
$34, Alchemy Goods

AB Designs Leaf Earrings
You would never know at first glance, but these delicate leaf earrings are actually made from upcycled bike tubes. They’re carved by hand in Portland (by EcoSalon’s very own resident foodie Anna Brones) and look really great worn under a bike helmet!
$20, Etsy/AB Designs

The post Cycle Chic: Stylish Bike Gear to Get You Pedaling in Style appeared first on EcoSalon.

Today, we celebrate the 4th of July and the USA by highlighting some of the great design that is also made here on our home turf.

This week is all about celebrating the United States of America (and BBQs, of course), and we do that by highlighting some of the great design that is done here on our home turf. Manufacturing in the U.S. creates jobs and cuts carbon emissions from shipping, so be a patriot and support your local designers. Here are a few of our stars and stripes-themed favorites.

Amour Vert Paquerette Navy/White Stripes Tube Top
We never thought we’d wear tube tops again, but suddenly they feel kind of right, especially on a hot summer day, paired with a high-waisted skirt. This striped one, by Amour Vert is made in the USA from soft bamboo.
$34, Amour Vert

Amour Vert Audrey White Buttoned Skirt
This sailor-inspired mini skirt goes perfectly with a striped tube top (see above). The fun button-detailing in the front give it that slight nautical feel, while the side pockets and clean silhouette keep it classy. Made in the USA, from organic cotton.
$99, Amour Vert

Hovey Lee Stella Stars Necklace
If there are stripes, there must be stars. This dramatic statement necklace features large metal star charms hanging from a large brass chain, all made with reclaimed metal. The charms are hollow to make it easy to wear. You can make it work double-duty by wrapping it around your wrist as a bracelet. Hovey Lee jewelry is designed and made in Los Angeles, always from natural, reclaimed and fair trade materials.
$158, Hovey Lee

PACT Bikini Handpainted Stars Bikini
OK, so these star-spangled organic undies are not actually made in the USA, but in a fair trade factory in Turkey. PACT’s new stars and stripes-themed collection was, however, inspired by a hunky Texas farmer named Mason Arnold, with proceeds benefiting the Sustainable Food Center, which provides families in low-income communities with access to healthy local food. That just seems kind of patriotic to us.
$20, PACT

American Apparel Unisex Swim Trunk
American Apparel has been the mainstream poster child of bringing local manufacturing to downtown LA, which we think is pretty cool. We just wish they would commit to organic fabrics too. These mid-length unisex swim shorts have vented legs, a drawstring waist and come in a variety of different colors.
$34, American Apparel

Giant Dwarf Astral Crown
Celebrate independence day by channeling lady liberty with this headpiece made from German glass glitter (which is pure silver and real glass shards). There’s no way you can avoid having fun wearing this. Astral Crowns are an original Giant Dwarf design – each piece is carefully crafted and assembled by hand, with lots of love and sparkles.
$48, Olivine

Edith A. Miller Cotton Boatneck Striped 3/4 Tee
This classic boatneck tee is as timeless as it is all-American – a perfect summer wardrobe staple. The versatile knits by Edith A. Miller are all made in a 100-year-old mill in Reading, Pennsylvania, which originally specialized in making men’s undershirts. In late 2010, former investment banker Nancy Gibson and designer Jennifer Murray convinced the mill to start making women’s shirts, which have ever since been a favorite of stylish women everywhere.
$70, Bird

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Classic and timeless, nautical stripes signal the arrival of warm summer days.

It seems like every year, when summer rolls around, stripes in all shapes and forms reappear. Maybe this is because of the summery nautical vibe they inspire or simply because they are timeless and never go out of style (just ask Jean Paul Gaultier). Nautical stripes also made their way back onto the runway for spring and summer, especially in classic red, white, blue and gray. Avoid the “ship ahoy” look by pairing your stripes with tougher garments like a biker jacket or be unexpected and dress them up with bright colors, floral patterns or animal prints.

TOMS Navy Stripe Nautical Women’s Biminis
These Nautical Biminis are designed for serious maritime adventures, at sea or perhaps your favorite nautically-inspired pool bar in the city. For every pair you buy, TOMS donates a pair of shoes to a child in need.
$69, TOMS

Lemlem Gama Woven Tee
Supermodel and former WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Liya Kebede started Lemlem as a way to preserve the ancient craft of traditional weavers in her native Ethiopia and provide jobs that could inspire economic independence. This handwoven top features bold sailor stripes, available in four different colorways. It looks great with white jeans, even if you’re not a supermodel.
$200, Lemlem

Black Stripe Henley Tank by Edith A. Miller
This simple striped tank by Edith A. Miller features button detailing in the front that makes it a highly versatile piece. Button it up and pair with a skirt for a sweet retro look or unbutton it all the way, pile on some necklaces and a leather jacket for a tougher vibe. Edith A. Miller works toward preserving the American knitwear industry by manufacturing in a sixth-generation knit factory in Pennsylvania.
$68, Juno & Jove

United By Blue Braided Sailing Bracelet
This black and white knotted bracelet sports some great sailing hardware and is an easy way to add a bit of nautical vibe to an outfit without being over the top. Designer Jill Kauffman is a medical student by day and draws inspiration from her favorite leisure activities: sailing, skiing, and kayaking. Many are even handcrafted onboard her 1967 Albacore. For every product sold, United By Blue removes one pound of trash from our worlds oceans and waterways.
$35, United By Blue

Organic by John Patrick Mini Dress
Practical, comfortable and highly wearable, this striped navy and white mini dress by Organic by John Patrick has all the ingredients for becoming a go-to summer wardrobe staple. The cotton sweater knit fabric makes it feel like you’re wearing your favorite sweater, and the vegetable tanned leather elbow patches add some unexpected attitude. It’s also made in the USA.
$345, Beklina

The post On Trend: Nautical Stripes appeared first on EcoSalon.

Sustainable style news from EcoSalon’s West Coast fashion correspondent.

You’re Beautiful – Don’t miss the Beauty Culture exhibit at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles which opens on May 21. Over 600 images by the world’s most renowned fashion photographers, including Herb Ritts, David LaChapelle and  Ellen Von Unwerth, document the evolution of the definition of beauty throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. The thought-provoking exhibit illustrates the power of the still image in our lives and its ability to inform cultural ideals and expectations of feminine beauty. The exhibition will run through November 27.

True Summer –  Doing their best to forget the rain, the Bay Area’s most stylish fashion lovers are excited to swap their cool weather styles for the latest arrivals at EcoCitizen this week. Shop your summer essentials from new sustainable brands such as A Peace Treaty, Edith A. Miller, H. Fredriksson and Lina Rennell. A visit to the Polk Street store, the unofficial San Francisco headquarters of the local green fashion scene, is essential to those ready to gear up to the next sartorial season. Owner, Joslin Van Arsdale has a stylist’s eye for helping you create a number of looks from a few sound picks from her skillfully curated racks. On my list is a nautically striped boatneck t-shirt from Edith A. Miller, Bodkin’s ultra flattering and lightweight skort, and a pair of trendy, laced up boots from Penelope+Coco, handmade in L.A. in distressed grey leather.

Green Scene – After wrapping up dates in San Francisco and Chicago, the Green Festival will be returning to Seattle’s Qwest Event Center on May 21st and 22nd for its 10^th year anniversary. Festivities include presentations by more than 125 renowned authors, leaders and visionaries, informative how-to workshops, cutting-edge films, kid’s activities, organic beer and wine, organic vegan and vegetarian cuisine, diverse live music and over 350 green local and national businesses and organizations. Guaranteed to be a green weekend of family fun, make sure to catch AJ Snapper, Alchemy Goods and Seattle Goodwill for some sustainable fashion inspiration.

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