VideoOnly beautiful, sleek cats allowed.

This EcoSalon exclusive video by Ace Salisbury and designer Eliza Starbuck takes a look at the beauty industry, and with the help of animated character “Buttons the Cat ” and Tim Gunn, is made easier to digest thanks to a healthy dose of humor.

“These aren’t just cat models, they’re role models…”

Image: Michi Moore

The post Video: Buttons Meets the Cat Show Industry appeared first on EcoSalon.

Just look at what we are giving away this week because we love you.

“What are you, some kind of trustafarian?” your friend demands. But no. You just read EcoSalon.

This week and this week only, at least until we do this again, we’re giving away gorgeous green gear to you, Susty Spice. Five one-of-a-kind designs, one for each day, five lucky winners.

It’s easy to enter. Just sign up for our newsletter and then like us on Facebook. We’ll take care of the rest! Before the orchestra starts up, I’d better get to showing you the goods:

Exhibit A of our temporary insanity is this exclusively designed Pendleton poncho from VivaTerra. They are limited. They are stunning. You could win one. Isn’t our sister company VivaTerra nice to do this? We explained how hot this look is this fall and they completely understood. (If you want to make sure to get one instead of waiting to see if you’ve won, I recommend moving fast because these won’t last.) $395 value.

Nope, not kidding, not even a little. We’re giving this bad boy away. This gorgeous recycled leather tote is used by a number of girls on the EcoSalon team and we can’t get enough. At $279 it’s hardly a ho-hum handbag, yet I can report that it’s really rather a steal considering the superb quality. Let’s just say I wish I’d dropped for this instead of wasting $400 on a Kooba bag that spends more custody time with my tailor than with me.

Regal flash. NYC-based Bright Young Things designer and fierce girl-about-town Eliza Starbuck loves her handmade, fair trade Mirabai necklace. You could win one, too. Please note Ms. Starbuck not included. $214 value.

Now we come to the warm and fuzzy part of the story known as Hug Me. We’re giving you the blanket, the pillow, even the organic pillow insert. How hipster happily-ever-after can it get? For best results, just add a him. Or a her. Or a Pomeranian.  $187 total value.

At $89 per sheet, this is possibly the most fabulous eco-friendly toweling in existence. It’s the kind of oversized, plush luxury you’d steal from a hotel if it were at a hotel. And because we are extra-extra nice, and because one is never enough, we’re giving you two of these bath sheets, along with a hand towel and wash cloth. No need to thank us. Just promise to use paraben-free shampoo on those strands. And don’t steal. That’s wrong. Total value $226.

Winners will be informed next Monday. Good luck! We love you.

The fine print: You can only sign up for the newsletter once; multiple entries will be removed. We keep your information 100% private. In the unlikely event an item is unavailable or out of stock, a comparable replacement gift option will be made available. EcoSalon staff and family are excluded from this offer. If you have already subscribed to our newsletter and are friends with us on Facebook, you are already automatically entered in our weekly giveaways. This one here is for the newbies, sug.

All goods are available exclusively at VivaTerra.

The post This Week Only, We’ve Lost Our Minds. May We Suggest Taking Advantage appeared first on EcoSalon.

Vote today on Yoxi for team FOREVERMORE and see how a serious fashion issue can be made digestible.

Yoxi was created last year as a way to get as many people to care about social issues as possible. Their current hot topic is the sustainability of the fashion industry and getting designers, marketers, filmmakers and hard core creatives to consider solutions. With their Trim The Waste Of Fashion competition in full swing and with round two staring us all down the barrel of a loaded social media gun, six teams are now competing for a cash prize to make their solution come into fruition. Those same six teams will be reduced to two by tomorrow. My team is one of the six (that’s me on the left in this above image).

Read here to learn more about how Yoxi works.

As EcoSalon’s Managing and Fashion Editor, I’m involved with many things in the fashion industry, from coaching and writing about designers to providing you with valuable industry news, trends and ideas I hope keep you challenging yourself and the way you perceive fashion.

Today I’m asking for your help as one of the competitors in the contest under the team FOREVERMORE to watch a totally entertaining 60 second video with prolific designer Eliza Starbuck and New York city based filmmaker Ace Salisbury and I on how we propose curbing the fashion waste stream.

Our team believes that it takes more than just a good idea to alter the perception within the fashion industry about textile waste. It takes action, marketing and a a talented designer to lead the way. Yes, the industry needs to re-use pre-existing clothing and materials. Yes, fashion industry workers need to be educated on how they too can trim the waste of fashion. Yes, it will take more than just one contest to alter anything but every step we take is genuine progress.

This is exactly what FOREVERMORE intends to do. How? Education X3. Our designer Eliza Starbuck, a seasoned and celebrated  fashion industry professional has the vision of how we will assemble our sewing centers, how we can actually upcycle old clothing and even create monthly patterns that people can buy or learn how to make. (After watching the video please note she has never made a pair of pants for an owl.)

My intent is to support Eliza and make sure the FOREVERMORE message comes across clearly and in an authentic way to the public so that regardless of how serious the fashion industry’s waste stream, with the right message and lots of hard work and collaborating, we can move mountains. (I half-heartedly pledge I didn’t write the swearing in this video.)

Our team’s expert filmmaker, Ace Salisbury continues to make our videos that encourage people to think of the alternatives to buying fast fashion, and not to mention, adds a heavy dose of humor. (All the swearing in the video is completely his fault.)

Will you be part of our solution? We’d love to have you cast a vote our way. Please go here to sign up and vote (or at the very least, be entertained).

The post Vote for FOREVERMORE in #yoxifashion (And Get Owls To Wear Pants) appeared first on EcoSalon.

ExclusiveEnter to win a free Summer Luxe Edition of The Box on Refinery29!

Our exclusive EcoSalon shopping must-have, the curated eco product assortment known as The Box, sold out in 11 hours. We’re thinking it’s probably because we offered $600 worth of sensational summer eco-goodies for just $99! We did bank one very highly coveted Box, however, for a Refinery29 giveaway. Yes, I said we have one Box left you can get for free. Just follow this link to Refinery29 and sign up for the giveaway. The winner will be announced on July 18th.

Now what are you waiting for, see what’s in The Box here and then get over to Refinery29 to register for it!

Juice Beauty’s Organic Kisses

Summer is the perfect time to increase your pucker potential with Juice Beauty’s Organic Kisses, a 4-pack of glossy color including a light champagne, pretty pink, sumptuous fig, and juicy sweet guava. Juice Beauty’s products are all organic and are made without parabens, artificial dyes or synthetic fragrances.

These lip glosses are part of The Box but if you purchase something from their site and use the code “EcoSalon,” you’ll also receive a full size hydrating mist.

(Retail value of $16.50)

Kayu’s Bamboo Rawa Sunglasses

Kayu’s sunglasses feature 100% UV gradient lenses framed elegantly in bamboo and includes a case and cleaning cloth. For every pair of sunglasses purchased, KAYU donates $20 to fund one sight-restoring surgery in the developing world. The collection has received rave reviews and has been featured in Vogue, InStyle and Elle, but this month it is all EcoSalon. Peruse the Kayu site for beautiful bags as well.

Go here to participate in an exclusive EcoSalon only sale with Kayu!

(Retail value of $130)

Bright Young Things Everything Halter Top

Eliza Starbuck, designer and founder of You Bright Young Things, recently created a capsule collection for Urban Outfitters and this Everything Halter is one of the pieces. Known for her inspiring creation of the LBD for Sheena Matheiken’s Uniform Project, Starbuck is offering her micro-tencel halter which converts into a number of different pieces (including a skirt), to us for The Box and we love her for that.

One size fits most and half will be black while the other half come in a burgundy (see the link to the Urban Outfitters site to see colors) – specify which one you’d prefer. First come first serve on this!

(Retail value of $89.00)

Recycled Cement Sack Tote

I’m not sure I can write this piece about the Recycled Cement Sack Tote better than the Global Girlfriend site did: “Make a concrete statement about your support for women in need in Bangladesh as they work to cement a new future! This shopper tote is a great bag for trips to the grocery or for daily use and you’ll feel good knowing your purchase has enhanced the lives of women artisans.” Handmade and fairly traded from Bangladesh and now, ready to hold all your summer 2011 beachy items.

(Retail value of $16.50)

Lucy Siegle’s To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out The World?

Author Lucy Siegle is a weekly Observer columnist, an environmental columnist for Marie Claire and a regular contributor to a number of other publications, television and radio. Her recent book To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out The World? is a look at the inhumane and environmentally devastating story behind the clothes we so casually buy and wear. Luckily, you’ll be reading this on a beach coated in non-toxic sunblock and in a skimpy bikini when you get to read about the impact your wardrobe choices make.

(Retail value of $25.00)

Yala’s Bamboo Dreams Beach Towel

We think something you just can’t be without this summer is a great beach towel and when we saw these from Yala, we knew we’d found the perfect one. Enjoy your time beachside, poolside or at the spa with your own natural towel made from bamboo and organic cotton. We love the Koi fish swimming among water lilies in cheerful colors. If you choose to purchase The Box, one of these three towel colors will be yours.

Go to the Yala site now and get 25% off these beach towels with EcoSalon25 code at checkout (expires July 31st).

(Retail value of $39.50)

VivaTerra Flowered Thermos

This lightweight, reusable enameled picnicware from VivaTerra is 34 ounces of double-walled thermos heaven. An antique look bows to a long gone era’s ornate enamelware design but still borrows from today’s technology to keep liquids hot or cold for many hours. Which, when you’re enjoying the beach all day and need liquids, this is vital (so is looking stylish drinking from this while there).

(Retail value of $55)

Blissoma Amend, Antioxidant Sprayable Lotion

The last thing we want to promote is ruining your delicate skin, and the summer sun will take your luster away if you let it. Irie Star let us give you Blissoma’s Amend, an antioxidant spray lotion designed to replace those sticky aloe gels with a power-packed formula of superfoods and herbs to regenerate skin. Organic Rooibos tea, Acai oil, organic Linden flower and Comfrey soothe and rebuild skin cells to be more resilient to resisting UV damage. Soak its minty-fresh cooling sensation in, sister.

Go to the Irie Star site now and get 2o% off Amend with EcoSalon code at checkout (expires July 31st).

(Retail value of $16.99)

Pawling Print Studio’s Geometric Notebooks

Sometimes sitting under a shady beach umbrella or taking a hike on your favorite trail gets you inspired. Pawling Print Studio’s notebook will help you make those thoughts linger in private (we hope) infamy. Their 32-page notebooks are printed with soy-based inks onto a chipboard cover and feature a wrap-around, hand drawn geometric illustration. The Box will have two of these mini notebooks which are perfect to jam in your back pocket or beach bag.

Go to the Pawling site now and get 15% off these notebooks with EcoSalon code at checkout (expires July 31st).

(Retail value of $8.00)

$50 Gift Certificate For Vegan Eco-Boutique Mission Savvy

Mission Savvy is a vegan eco-boutique that curates ethical designs for the conscious consumer. 5% of all sales go to animal rescue and wildlife conservation projects around the world so you can double up on feeling good about your purchases. $50 can go towards any item on the site over $100 which could include an organic cotton dress or pants, vegan heels, bamboo top or great accessories. You decide – but you’ll have a hard time doing that with how many great options there are!

Send us pictures.

Got to Mission Savvy’s site now to get 20% off all spring/summer. Enter ecosalon at checkout.

(Retail value of $50.00)

Coola Chemical Free Sunblock

Coola’s mineral sunblock with an SPF of 30 is a sheer and natural mineral sunblock that delivers broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection for the whole body. Says Coola: “This unique formula gives your skin an army of time-released Vitamin C – nature’s powerful antioxidant that helps reduce visible aging by battling damaging free radicals.”

Rated by EcoSalon Beauty Editor Katherine Butler as one of her top eco-friendly suncare products!

(Retail value of $34.00)

FluffyCo T-shirt

FluffyCo’s premium apparel line unites organic cotton and eco-heather blends printed with FluffyCo’s signature graphic prints. Printed in small batches in the Bay Area, some styles using water–based inks. All shirts have a fabulous soft, luxe feel and cute hand–printed hangtags. They did this adorably hip bird pattern tee on an eco-heather exclusively for The Box and we now love them even more (if that’s even humanly possible).

(Retail value of $34.00)

Skincando Luxe Brew Lip Balms

Each Skincando lip balm is filled from small hand spun batches and is guaranteed to give your lips a magical glow. We loved how they were described to us from the company as smelling and tasting like Pizzelle cookies. The key essential oil in the balm is Myrrh, which has been used by royalty for centuries to heal and beautify the skin. I imagine this might be the best pre, during and post sun lip balm we may ever try.

(Retail value of $15)

$50 Gift Certificate From A.D.O. Organic Clothing

A.D.O. designer Angelika Krishna infused her spring line with impressionistic pastel hues derived from turmeric, sandalwood, pomegranate and Indian basil. 100% Organic knits and cottons are then treated to Ayurvedic ingredients to make buttery yellows, summer blues and hues derived naturally, from nature. The end product is a non-toxic, sustainable soiree of comfortable, breathable separates for spring and summer. $50 towards a beautiful dress or breezy tunic will go a long way here towards having something extremely beautiful in your warm weather wardrobe.

Go to the A.D.O. site now and get 25% off with EcoSalon code at checkout (expires July 31st).

(Retail value of $50)

Global Girlfriends: How One Mom Made It Her Business To Help Women In Poverty Worldwide

From the Global Girlfriend site: “In 2003 Global Girlfriend founder Stacey Edgar had a $2,000 tax return and a deep desire to help provide economic security for women in need. She knew that of the 1.3 billion people living on less than $1 per day, seventy percent are women. What she didn’t have was a business plan. Or a passport. But that didn’t stop her from creating a socially conscious business that has helped poor women in five continents feed their families and send their children to school. ”

It’s true, Global Girlfriend has since grown into a multi-million dollar enterprise that specializes in handmade, fairly traded, eco-conscious apparel, accessories, and items made by women all over the world. Stacey’s Global Girlfriends book is her inspiring story of following ones convictions. Sounds like a perfect summer read while snuggling in a hammock, oh, and then going to take over the world.

(Retail value of $24.99)

Aurea Golden Grass Earrings and Mini Box

Aurea is a fair trade business that brings jewelry and accessories made of golden grass handwoven by skilled artisans in Brazil to women all over the world. The company sources directly from artisans and producer-owned associations that decide on their prices and are in control of their production. The result is a collection of jewelry that has its own shimmer and shine from nature itself. Sustainable fashion writers Abigail Doan, Kestrel Jenkins and others (cough, us, Sara Ost and Amy DuFault), are often seen wearing Aurea jewelry. Light and pretty, they’re the perfect piece paired with a pretty summer dress.

The box below is a good place to store them so no sustainable fashion writers can sniff them out and try to steal.

(Retail value of both is $90)

Aurea’s Golden Grass Mini Box

How to get it + the fine print:

The Box is available now through July 31 or until supplies last and can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. (International shipping is not available at this time.) There is a $20 shipping and handling fee. All sales are final. Please allow up to two weeks for shipping. To purchase The Box, email thebox@ecosalon.com directly with “The Box” in your subject line. Supplies are extremely limited – this debut offering is available to the first 25 shoppers only. Please limit 2 orders per person. Payment accepted through Paypal or credit card.

The post EcoSalon Exclusive: Refinery29 and EcoSalon Partner for The Box Giveaway appeared first on EcoSalon.

ExclusiveIntroducing the Summer Luxe Edition of our dreamy discount shopping offer, The Box.

Our exclusive EcoSalon shopping must-have, the curated eco product assortment known as The Box, is back. We’re offering $600 worth of sensational summer eco-goodies for just $99 and these won’t last. This is a guarantee.

Featuring full-size gorgeous green goods, we advise you hop on this now or miss out!

Whether you’re off to one of our favorite eco tropical retreats or not, every sustainable babe needs these cool summer finds:

Juice Beauty’s Organic Kisses

Summer is the perfect time to increase your pucker potential with Juice Beauty’s Organic Kisses, a 4-pack of glossy color including a light champagne, pretty pink, sumptuous fig, and juicy sweet guava. Juice Beauty’s products are all organic and are made without parabens, artificial dyes or synthetic fragrances.

These lip glosses are part of The Box but if you purchase something from their site and use the code “EcoSalon,” you’ll also receive a full size hydrating mist.

(Retail value of $16.50)

Kayu’s Bamboo Rawa Sunglasses

Kayu’s sunglasses feature 100% UV gradient lenses framed elegantly in bamboo and includes a case and cleaning cloth. For every pair of sunglasses purchased, KAYU donates $20 to fund one sight-restoring surgery in the developing world. The collection has received rave reviews and has been featured in Vogue, InStyle and Elle, but this month it is all EcoSalon. Peruse the Kayu site for beautiful bags as well.

(Retail value of $130)

Bright Young Things Everything Halter Top

Eliza Starbuck, designer and founder of You Bright Young Things, recently created a capsule collection for Urban Outfitters and this Everything Halter is one of the pieces. Known for her inspiring creation of the LBD for Sheena Matheiken’s Uniform Project, Starbuck is offering her micro-tencel halter which converts into a number of different pieces (including a skirt), to us for The Box and we love her for that.

One size fits most and half will be black while the other half come in a burgundy (see the link to the Urban Outfitters site to see colors) – specify which one you’d prefer. First come first serve on this!

(Retail value of $89.00)

Recycled Cement Sack Tote

I’m not sure I can write this piece about the Recycled Cement Sack Tote better than the Global Girlfriend site did: “Make a concrete statement about your support for women in need in Bangladesh as they work to cement a new future! This shopper tote is a great bag for trips to the grocery or for daily use and you’ll feel good knowing your purchase has enhanced the lives of women artisans.” Handmade and fairly traded from Bangladesh and now, ready to hold all your summer 2011 beachy items.

(Retail value of $16.50)

Lucy Siegle’s To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out The World?

Author Lucy Siegle is a weekly Observer columnist, an environmental columnist for Marie Claire and a regular contributor to a number of other publications, television and radio. Her recent book To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out The World? is a look at the inhumane and environmentally devastating story behind the clothes we so casually buy and wear. Luckily, you’ll be reading this on a beach coated in non-toxic sunblock and in a skimpy bikini when you get to read about the impact your wardrobe choices make.

(Retail value of $25.00)

Yala’s Bamboo Dreams Beach Towel

We think something you just can’t be without this summer is a great beach towel and when we saw these from Yala, we knew we’d found the perfect one. Enjoy your time beachside, poolside or at the spa with your own natural towel made from bamboo and organic cotton. We love the Koi fish swimming among water lilies in cheerful colors. If you choose to purchase The Box, one of these three towel colors will be yours.

Go to the Yala site now and get 25% off these beach towels with EcoSalon25 code at checkout (expires July 31st).

(Retail value of $39.50)

VivaTerra Flowered Thermos

This lightweight, reusable enameled picnicware from VivaTerra is 34 ounces of double-walled thermos heaven. An antique look bows to a long gone era’s ornate enamelware design but still borrows from today’s technology to keep liquids hot or cold for many hours. Which, when you’re enjoying the beach all day and need liquids, this is vital (so is looking stylish drinking from this while there).

(Retail value of $55)

Blissoma Amend, Antioxidant Sprayable Lotion

The last thing we want to promote is ruining your delicate skin, and the summer sun will take your luster away if you let it. Irie Star let us give you Blissoma’s Amend, an antioxidant spray lotion designed to replace those sticky aloe gels with a power-packed formula of superfoods and herbs to regenerate skin. Organic Rooibos tea, Acai oil, organic Linden flower and Comfrey soothe and rebuild skin cells to be more resilient to resisting UV damage. Soak its minty-fresh cooling sensation in, sister.

Go to the Irie Star site now and get 2o% off Amend with EcoSalon code at checkout (expires July 31st).

(Retail value of $16.99)

Pawling Print Studio’s Geometric Notebooks

Sometimes sitting under a shady beach umbrella or taking a hike on your favorite trail gets you inspired. Pawling Print Studio’s notebook will help you make those thoughts linger in private (we hope) infamy. Their 32-page notebooks are printed with soy-based inks onto a chipboard cover and feature a wrap-around, hand drawn geometric illustration. The Box will have two of these mini notebooks which are perfect to jam in your back pocket or beach bag.

Go to the Pawling site now and get 15% off these notebooks with EcoSalon code at checkout (expires July 31st).

(Retail value of $8.00)

$50 Gift Certificate For Vegan Eco-Boutique Mission Savvy

Mission Savvy is a vegan eco-boutique that curates ethical designs for the conscious consumer. 5% of all sales go to animal rescue and wildlife conservation projects around the world so you can double up on feeling good about your purchases. $50 can go towards any item on the site over $100 which could include an organic cotton dress or pants, vegan heels, bamboo top or great accessories. You decide – but you’ll have a hard time doing that with how many great options there are!

Send us pictures.

Got to Mission Savvy’s site now to get 20% off all spring/summer. Enter ecosalon at checkout.

(Retail value of $50.00)

Coola Chemical Free Sunblock

Coola’s mineral sunblock with an SPF of 30 is a sheer and natural mineral sunblock that delivers broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection for the whole body. Says Coola: “This unique formula gives your skin an army of time-released Vitamin C – nature’s powerful antioxidant that helps reduce visible aging by battling damaging free radicals.”

Rated by EcoSalon Beauty Editor Katherine Butler as one of her top eco-friendly suncare products!

(Retail value of $34.00)

FluffyCo T-shirt

FluffyCo’s premium apparel line unites organic cotton and eco-heather blends printed with FluffyCo’s signature graphic prints. Printed in small batches in the Bay Area, some styles using water–based inks. All shirts have a fabulous soft, luxe feel and cute hand–printed hangtags. They did this adorably hip bird pattern tee on an eco-heather exclusively for The Box and we now love them even more (if that’s even humanly possible).

(Retail value of $34.00)

Skincando Luxe Brew Lip Balms

Each Skincando lip balm is filled from small hand spun batches and is guaranteed to give your lips a magical glow. We loved how they were described to us from the company as smelling and tasting like Pizzelle cookies. The key essential oil in the balm is Myrrh, which has been used by royalty for centuries to heal and beautify the skin. I imagine this might be the best pre, during and post sun lip balm we may ever try.

(Retail value of $15)

$50 Gift Certificate From A.D.O. Organic Clothing

A.D.O. designer Angelika Krishna infused her spring line with impressionistic pastel hues derived from turmeric, sandalwood, pomegranate and Indian basil. 100% Organic knits and cottons are then treated to Ayurvedic ingredients to make buttery yellows, summer blues and hues derived naturally, from nature. The end product is a non-toxic, sustainable soiree of comfortable, breathable separates for spring and summer. $50 towards a beautiful dress or breezy tunic will go a long way here towards having something extremely beautiful in your warm weather wardrobe.

Go to the A.D.O. site now and get 25% off with EcoSalon code at checkout (expires July 31st).

(Retail value of $50)

Global Girlfriends: How One Mom Made It Her Business To Help Women In Poverty Worldwide

From the Global Girlfriend site: “In 2003 Global Girlfriend founder Stacey Edgar had a $2,000 tax return and a deep desire to help provide economic security for women in need. She knew that of the 1.3 billion people living on less than $1 per day, seventy percent are women. What she didn’t have was a business plan. Or a passport. But that didn’t stop her from creating a socially conscious business that has helped poor women in five continents feed their families and send their children to school. ”

It’s true, Global Girlfriend has since grown into a multi-million dollar enterprise that specializes in handmade, fairly traded, eco-conscious apparel, accessories, and items made by women all over the world. Stacey’s Global Girlfriends book is her inspiring story of following ones convictions. Sounds like a perfect summer read while snuggling in a hammock, oh, and then going to take over the world.

(Retail value of $24.99)

Aurea Golden Grass Earrings and Mini Box

Aurea is a fair trade business that brings jewelry and accessories made of golden grass handwoven by skilled artisans in Brazil to women all over the world. The company sources directly from artisans and producer-owned associations that decide on their prices and are in control of their production. The result is a collection of jewelry that has its own shimmer and shine from nature itself. Sustainable fashion writers Abigail Doan, Kestrel Jenkins and others (cough, us, Sara Ost and Amy DuFault), are often seen wearing Aurea jewelry. Light and pretty, they’re the perfect piece paired with a pretty summer dress.

The box below is a good place to store them so no sustainable fashion writers can sniff them out and try to steal.

(Retail value of both is $90)

Aurea’s Golden Grass Mini Box

How to get it + the fine print:

The Box is available now through July 31 or until supplies last and can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. (International shipping is not available at this time.) There is a $20 shipping and handling fee. All sales are final. Please allow up to two weeks for shipping. To purchase The Box, email thebox@ecosalon.com directly with “The Box” in your subject line. Supplies are extremely limited – this debut offering is available to the first 25 shoppers only. Please limit 2 orders per person. Payment accepted through Paypal or credit card.

The post EcoSalon Exclusive: The Box Is Back, Baby (and It’s Summer Luxe) appeared first on EcoSalon.

ExclusiveBright Young Things launches a sustainable capsule collection at Urban Outfitters.

The Bright Young Things first season collection is debuting at Urban Outfitters with a four-piece capsule collection. The versatile collection can be worn in multiple ways and includes: The Converter Pant, The Everything Halter, The Wrap Skirt-Dress, and The Coat-Dress. Designer Eliza Starbuck says the collection was inspired by the idea of updating American classics in an effort to offer basics that are multifunctional.

“If I were to pinpoint the icons that are behind the style inspiration I’d say they’re a mix of Laurence of Arabia, Katherine Hepburn, and Carmen Miranda, although I certainly hope they don’t come off that way,” says Starbuck. “I wanted them to be for today’s versions of these characters.”

The New York-based line debuted at The GreenShows in September at the 2010 New York Fashion Week with just one little black dress. The dress itself has encouraged thrifty, creative dressers everywhere to embrace the fact that less is more and no better was that celebrated than through Starbuck’s creation of the first LBD for Sheena Matheiken’s The Uniform Project.

As for the Urban Outfitter collection, expect to see a pant with fun twists like a basic trouser with side entry that allows the wearer to wear it at three different levels on the waist (high-waisted, a slouchy-cuffed slack, or a drop crotch harem style pant), and an Everything Halter which was designed to be twisted and wrapped into different looks or flipped upside down and worn as a sexy skirt or beach cover up.

Producing the line in Manhattan’s Chinatown allowed Starbuck to closely monitor production and make adjustments to the production if necessary.

“It was really cool to get to know the factory workers,” says Starbuck. “There were days when I was in there working side by side with them.”

When asked if she thinks more women are getting creative with their clothes, Starbuck says it really depends on the individual.

“I know some amazingly creative dressers, women who inspire me to get dressed in the morning,” says Starbuck. “Then there are so many women who don’t have the confidence to stand out and assert their own sense of style, who tend to imitate the style they see on celebrities or that they see on TV or in magazines.”

There’s also the matter of personal priorities.

“Of course there are those women out there who really can’t or don’t care about fashion and have other things they focus on,” says Starbuck. “I try to design clothes that would work for any of these types, but I think the women who like to experiment will have the most fun with it.”

The Bright Young Things capsule collection can be seen now at Urban Outfitters, with pieces priced from $89-$240. Materials include tencel and hemp blends.

The post Bright Young Things Debuts At Urban Outfitters appeared first on EcoSalon.

The Uniform Project launches a monthly pilot series with sustainable movers and shakers.

It’s amazing what a little black dress can do.

Ever since Sheena Mathieken’s virgin exploration into the wardrobe unknown, which entailed wearing a single dress for 365 days, women have taken on similar challenges, some to see if they could do it, others to raise money for charities. Eliza Starbuck’s Bright Young Things are chronicled on her site; The Uniform Project also attracts ultra-spartan dressers. The term “sustainable fashion” is certainly apt when your wardrobe revolves around one little black dress.

Enter Summer Rayne Oakes. All this month, the green model-turned-consultant’s project, Payless ShoeSource (with whom she has had collections), will support Oakes as she takes on the Uniform Project’s first “Pilot Series” challenge. Each month, a new fashionista will wear just one LBD on repeat to promote sustainable fashion and world causes.

Oakes’ is hoping that her charity of choice, Charity: Water, can make at least $10,000 to build two wells for communities that don’t have access to clean drinking water. Payless is pitching in as well, matching online fundraising dollar-for-dollar (up to $10,000).

Oakes says of her Mad Men-inspired LBD created by Carasan:

“I wanted to create a dress with fifties flair – partially because as you’ve found out, I LOVE that era but also because I think that 50s dresses were so flattering for a woman’s body. I have curves and think the dress we created “loves” the feminine form in all the right places – no matter what your shape or size. I enlisted my good friends – Terri and Sandy Rosenthal (a mother-daughter couture-trained design duo) of Carasan Designs to take my original sketches and make a highly versatile and functional piece that can be worn at least a dozen ways (and also equipped with comfy pockets – a must in a dress in my opinion!) I decided to source a 70% silk-30% hemp blend and a handwoven thai silk and hemp-organic cotton blend to give a little peak-a-boo of pink on the underskirt.”

While Oakes’ month has just begun, stay tuned for more inspiring women raising money for causes and pushing the envelope when it comes to maxing out a dress.

My favorite dress to date from the Uniform Project is from their very own social media and blogging guru Jessica Engle, who had her friend and designer at Edelweiss create an office appropriate LBD that you can unzip into two different pieces and wear in myriad ways.

The post Summer Rayne Oakes and the Uniform Project Pair Up for Charity appeared first on EcoSalon.

Amsterdam International Fashion Week (AIFW) and the Dutch ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) launched the Green Fashion Competition this past week for the International Year of Biodiversity. The competition, which consisted of eight designers hailing from all over the world and picked from over 180 participants included sustainable sweetheart and New York City mover and shaker Eliza Starbuck. Starbuck, who you might know from the famed Uniform Project and You Bright Young Things, was there to promote biodiversity with her own NYC spin.

While the Green Fashion Competition is a challenge for seasoned entrepreneurs in the fashion industry like Starbuck, each participant was asked to provide a vision of what the future of fashion could look like while sustaining biodiversity.

EcoSalon was fortunate enough to catch Starbuck and have her answer some questions before the competition finale yesterday and a quick follow up after. Starbuck, although disappointed with her third place win, says she feels very good about the overall experience.

“The competition was fiercely steep but I think we’d all agree that the first prize winner deserved to win. The second prize however might be questioned. Granted they were a shoe company, but I thought sending the models down the runway naked was taking eco fashion a bit far!”

So as a designer, how does she intend to promote biodiversity?

Starbuck says via email from Amsterdam: “I promote bio-diversity by promoting diversity in style and slow fashion practices. That may seem like a stretch, but just imagine a world where everyone’s style is individualized! All things made local, upcycled, recycled, custom, and one offs would be ideal for supporting biodiversity because it would support slow fashion. So to support that vision I produce multifunctional clothes that encourage my customers to play with their personal style and to buy less. I also produce locally, in New York City, and I use materials made of renewable materials, recycled accessories, or materials salvaged from the local fashion industry run off. I also managed to use all of the scraps in the garment’s under structures, making these zero wastage looks.”

While her now well worn black frock has become a wardrobe staple with Bright Young Things everywhere, Starbuck says for this competition she’s presenting some new looks that represent BYT’s “heirloom” fashion.

“This capsule is a bit dressier for the “Lady of the 21st Century”. The trick will be that the two runway looks I’m presenting are actually the same three items in different colors, but all of the items will be styled so drastically different that to the average viewer it will appear as six items. Of course I’ll be wearing my infamous LBD as my travel item of choice,” says Starbuck.

While the immediate prediction for Starbuck’s fashion will most certainly always include her LBD, she says the future is all about diversity.

“I think the mass produced look of the second half of the 20th Century is going to fade away like a boring memory. People are going to start coveting items that customize and differentiate their own style from others, which means a lot more people will be DIYing and searching out one of a kind items. Sure it sounds like an idealized dream now but with today’s resource limitations, social media info sharing, and the economic downturn, it could quickly become a reality,” says Starbuck.

Eliza Starbuck dress images courtesy of Team Peter Stiger

Top Image, Eliza Starbuck walking the Amsterdam Green Fashion runway, from Closet Pique

The post Eliza Starbuck Takes on Amsterdam’s Green Fashion Competition appeared first on EcoSalon.

Attending The Green Shows during New York Fashion Week feels like a departure from the haughty attitudes as well as the not-so-sustainable practices of the mainstream fashion industry.

Backstage, models sit easily while natural products are applied to their skin and hair. The front of house is mingling and chatting sociably without a halo of status hanging over each person. In other words, the eco-scene is… well, good.

“Showing at the Green Shows is so wonderful because it is such an intimate setting,” says featured eco-designer Krystal Hoffacker of Dress Reform.

(Looks above from the Dress Reform show. Photo credit: Greta Eagan)

The Green Shows may be intimate with only a couple hundred attendees up against the vast numbers squeezing into the tents at Lincoln Center for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, but one thing is certain – sustainable fashion is on the map and catching the interest of new designers as well as the public and press.

(Looks above from the Bright Young Things show. Photo credit: Greta Eagan)

A packed house for Day Two at the Metropolitan Pavilion, where the Green Shows was hosted this year, turned out to see versatile pieces from Dress Reform, a live exhibit of the Uniform Project in conjunction with the new Bright Young Things line, and topped the day off with an evening presentation and party for New York’s little sustainable star, Samantha Pleet.

Watch our EcoSalon Exclusives NYFW Spring 2011 Highlights Day 2 at The Green Shows video for an inside look at the green scene that is quietly and confidently making its presence known!

The post EcoSalon Exclusives: NYFW Spring 2011, Highlights Day 2, The Green Shows appeared first on EcoSalon.