ColumnHere are 9 sex tips for giving you and your partner an organic sex-lift.

Sex is natural, sex is good, but not everybody is doing nearly enough of what they should. We’re busy, we’re stressed out, and we’re tired, but that’s precisely why we should be having more sex. Being intimate cuts heart attack risk, burns calories, increases endorphins and boosts immunity. But in a technology-addled world where we’re often more intimate with our iPhones than our active or would-be lovers, sometimes you need a few tips. It’s time to slow down and put some eco into your sex. Here’s a guide to getting it on au naturel.

1. Fall in Love With Your Own Body

Eco-Sex starts with your own body. Practice being Cleopatra from the moment you wake in the morning until your lover arrives to pick you up (or just comes home from work). If you haven’t already begun excising toxic chemicals from your beauty routine, let better sex be your clarion call. Cleansing and moisturizing with EWG-approved products or DIY organic essential oil blends will make you look and feel beautiful. Falling in love with your own body is step number one for a healthy sex life: give your temple the respect it deserves.

2. Entertain Aphrodisiacs

Nibble on vegan and organic aphrodisiacs. Skip the heavy, artery-clogging, erection-killing steak and champagne dinner. Try a vegan and/or raw meal laced with aphrodisiacs like asparagus, ginger, avocado, and artichoke (to turn on women) and cinnamon, mango, squash, pumpkin and cayenne (to turn on the guys). Ginger and basil do double-duty, seducing both sexes.

3. Light it Up

Let there be candlelight. Particularly if you’re in a long-term relationship where it seems as if you and your partner are having a threesome with the television. It’s nice to ditch the grid, at least for an evening. Turn off all the electric lights and create a sensual, subtle, skin-flattering glow. Conventional candles are often made from toxic paraffin, so go for ethically sourced, eco-friendly, fair-trade varieties when possible. Cheekily-named (“Morning Wood” and “One Night Stand”) candles from A Scent of Scandal are vegan with cotton wicks. Essoya Candles use non-GMO soy and stimulating essential oil blends. Or try doing a craft night with your lover: make candles together before you make love.

4. Slip Into Something Natural

Wear sustainable skivvies. When sex gets too routine, the old cliché about lingerie really does work – especially when your panties are made from the good stuff. Forget the mass-produced Victoria’s Secret or even the Agent Provocateur – slip on underwear made from natural textiles like organic cotton and bamboo, and let the fireworks begin. Enamore, Araks, and Urban Fox make gorgeous, simple and sexy bras, panties, and teddies that both you and your lover will fancy.

5. Stay Ethical Right Down to…

Make your safe sex sustainable sex. The amazing folks behind Sir Richard’s Condom Company have created the first ethical condom. Vegan (certified by PETA), and sourced from sustainable latex, Sir Richard’s donates a condom to a developing country for every one you buy. Consider them the Tom’s Shoes of the sex industry. Luckily your pleasure is just as important to them as ethics are: the ultra-thin variety are seriously thin condoms that feel barely there. They’re also stylishly packaged and available at Whole Foods.

6. Oil Up Your Libido

Rub on some DIY massage oil. Coconut oil, the magical elixir that can be used in your hair, as a makeup remover, as a vegetable sauté, or in your smoothie is also a wonderful massage oil. Include a few drops of lavender and ylang-ylang essential oil (for stress-reduction) or neroli oil to stimulate libido.

7. Make Things Slippery

Make your lube organic. The conventional lube you find in the corner drugstore likely includes endocrine-disrupting parabens. Even some of the “natural” brands still have glycerin, which isn’t necessarily a toxic ingredient in other products, but not something you want near your nether regions. Glycerin strips the vagina of moisture, making it raw and more susceptible to yeast infections and even STI’s. Experiment with organic brands like Sliquid Organics or the UK-based Yes. Note: only use water-based lube with latex condoms – oil will degrade latex, rendering it useless. Keep your coconut oil away from your condoms.

8. Create An Adult Toy Box

Try sustainable sex toys. Yes, they require power. But that doesn’t mean they’re less than natural. The pleasure-pioneers at JimmyJane have created a line of sustainable, medical-grade, rechargeable silicone sex toys that last practically forever, unlike the throwaway, pthlalate-laced, plastic dildos of yore. These toys are gorgeous pieces of high-end design that belong on top of your night table instead of hidden in the drawer.

9. Take It Out of the Bedroom

Do it in the woods. You can, and you should change sexual venues. Find a safe, secluded spot in the wilderness and surrender to the wind and the leaves and the trees.

Stefanie Iris Weiss is the author of Eco-Sex: Go Green Between the Sheets and Make Your Love Life Sustainable (Ten Speed Press/Crown Publishing, 2010) and eight other books. Stefanie keeps her carbon footprint small in New York City, where she writes about sustainability, sexuality, reproductive rights, dating and relationships, politics, fashion, beauty, and more for many publications. Learn more about her at ecosex.net, follow her eco-sex exploits on Twitter or join her on Facebook.

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An interview with Enamore founders Rachel Braund and Gauruv Malhan.

The sustainable fashion market is growing, making it easier for conscious consumers to access responsibly made clothes. But what about sustainable underwear? Although several brands have jumped on the bandwagon of bras and panties made from organic cotton (even well-known brands like H&M and Victoria’s Secret), there is a need for more innovative materials and versatile ranges in sustainable underwear. UK-based lingerie company enamore is definitely on this track with its affordable new line of basics, and a fantastic attitude towards experimentation. With the aim of “changing the way people perceive eco-underwear,” this brand is on its way to doing just that.

Starting out as a pin-up inspired eco-lingerie brand, enamore has evolved in a completely different direction. The brand now adheres to the aesthetic of luxury basics, establishing their new collection on the concept of “effortlessly eco.” Enamore’s aim is to provide the highest quality, everyday range of underwear at affordable prices, hoping to wean the lingerie industry and its customers off petro-chemical textiles and harmful production processes. The collection showcases bras, panties, lounge pants and tops that are simple and designed for fit and comfort. All the materials used for this new range are produced from certified fabrics, in certified factories, and can even be washed at 30 degrees celsius. EcoSalon caught up with the Director Gauruv Malhan and Creative Director Rachel Braund to learn more about the business of sustainable skivvies.

How was the enamore label set up?
Gauruv: The label was set up initially in 2004 when there was a lot of destruction in the fashion industry, especially with the production of garments: sweatshops using synthetic materials and people not looking for alternatives. The label was supported by several charities at the time, and in 2011 went through a management change. Myself, Nina and Rachel took over, and we rebranded the whole company to make it into the simple and sexy pieces you see at the moment.

Are you using any specific, new technologies or materials for the development of the garments?
Gauruv: We’ve got a lot of innovation going on behind the scenes. For example, replacing the nylon liner that you have in bras with a completely sustainable, upcycled or organic fabric. That’s never been done before. We are about a year away, or at least two seasons away from using it in our garments.

To what extent do you directly collaborate with the factories producing fibers and garments for enamore?
Gauruv: We don’t use agents in any of our sourcing. We talk directly with our manufacturers and fabric suppliers. Cutting out the middlemen ensures a quality garment as things don’t tend to get lost in translation.

So you know your factory managers? Are you completely aware of their labor standards?
Gauruv: Absolutely. Our factories and our manufacturers adhere to standards set by organizations like WRAP and SEI. Those organizations have different grading systems and all of the manufacturers we use meet the highest possible quality standard that these organizations set.

How transparent is enamore? Are you planning on providing information of where exactly all of your materials and production are coming from on the website?
Gauruv: If any customer ever wants to see any of the certificates, authentication or see how our factories comply to different standards, we are more than happy to send those certificates across.

But you are not using transparency as a marketing strategy?
Gauruv: No, we’re not, and that’s an important factor for the new direction of enamore. Even though we’re an ethical underwear company, we mainly want to market the design and fit of the garments as opposed to being eco. Being ethical is close to our hearts but we feel that it’s being pushed in everyone’s face far too much. So if someone just buys our garment and sees that it is of really good quality, that gets rid of all the stereotypes of buying it with the knowledge that it is an ethical garment.

You’ve mentioned the quality as a key point several times. Why are enamore garments specifically of such high quality?
Rachel: From the design side, every detail is thought about, and I will produce garments over and over again to get that right, like all the stitching details. The design has to be perfect when it goes to the producers.

Gauruv: To add to that point, we source quality manufacturers. We’re now paying three times the amount than enamore was with the original manufacturer, just to ensure the quality. At the moment, we’re barely breaking even with our wholesale stock, because we would rather pay more for the quality to ensure that our customer is going to receive well-made products.

What kinds of difficulties has enamore faced?
Gauruv: One of the difficulties is actually showing people the quality of the garments. A lot of other lingerie companies aren’t as consistent in quality, and so when stockists see our garments, they are very surprised with the quality.
There is also another issue we’ve had, which is the concept of how “eco” our garments are. About 95% of our garments are completely eco, but the problem is that not enough research is going on in eco underwear and eco lingerie. Rachel has been working very hard to incorporate new eco innovations into our garments, but we’re still receiving feedback and criticism for not being 100% eco, and I find that a little bit harsh.

What exactly is preventing you from making 100% eco garments?
Gauruv: The liner, for example, is often made from a synthetic material but there is no other eco material that has the same durability. There are some materials, like plant-based nylons and polyesters, but they have never been trialed before and Rachel is working very hard on looking at these other options. So making 100% eco garments is only about a year and a half away for us, and no one in lingerie has done that before.

What is enamore’s long-term aim?
Gauruv: Our long term aim is to offer an alternative in the market for ethical, eco and sustainable underwear. We also want to bring down our prices. At the moment we’re charging 25 pounds for a bra, which is very reasonable for an ethically produced garment, but we still feel that we should bring that down a little bit more as the line improves.

The post Interview: Lingerie Line Enamore Promotes Design Over Eco appeared first on EcoSalon.

When you hear the term ‘eco lingerie,’ do you think: beige, bland and boring? We hate to break it to you, but you’ve been out of the game too long. Summer flings, vacations, weddings and sultry nights are on the horizon, and we’re here to loop you in on red hot green lingerie that will knock your partner’s socks off. From the playful and coy, to the sexy and seductive, here’s your guide to the best sustainably crafted unmentionables that are sure to help you ring in a season of frolicking good, green fun.

Eco-Boudoir

With the belief that lingerie is like a second skin, Eco Boudoir designs gorgeous lingerie crafted from certified organic cotton and silks that are cultivated sans harmful chemicals. Their spring/summer 2010 collection, Tropical Paradise, will equate to many mini-vacations in the boudoir. A Bird of Paradise organic silk gown, ‘butterfly dream’ prints across slinky bras and panties, and a ‘peacock blush’ organic cotton and silk chemise round out this breathtaking collection.

Knickers in a Box

Handmade in the UK using organic and end of line fabrics, vintage, or UK sourced fabrics, Knickers in a Box are playful and unique panties that are perfect for a special occasion. Detachable broach flowers, organic silk side ties, tassles and beads add up to make these knickers an event in and of themselves.

Enamore

Also designed and crafted in the UK, Enamore lingerie employs organic, sustainable and vintage fabrics to produce their show-stopping collection of va-va-voom underthings. On the prowl? Then don’t miss the highlight of their camisoles and nighties collection, the Bedrock Betty camisole, which boasts leopard print topped by a candy pink bow.

Loup Charmant

Two words: white hot. Loup Charmant lingerie proves that white is far from plain with their organic cotton see-through slip and barely there short nightie top and bloomer set. This luxurious collection of eco-lingerie drips with femininity and grace.

Perfectly Imperfect

If you’re looking for sexy lingerie that also translates to daily wear, Perfectly Imperfect lingerie has a wow factor while also being down to earth. Their organic cotton Sweetie Lace Nightie screams both seduction and comfort, making it an ideal addition to your green lingerie collection.

Luva Huva

Employing remnant fabrics and cut-offs that would otherwise go to waste, designer Joanna Ketterer of Luva Huva makes every garment in her collection herself, by hand. The utterly romantic Magnolia Bra and Knickers set is perfect for a wedding night, your own or someone else’s. Each piece in this exquisite collection has an old-fashioned vibe that is anything but straight-laced.

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