For a weekend at the bucolic Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, fill your bag with comfortable yet stylish clothing that can stand a day in the fields.

When packing for a weekend stay at the bucolic Blackberry Farm, a pastoral 4,200-acre estate in the Great Smoky Mountains, bring comfortable yet stylish clothing that can stand to be outdoors in the field, veggie patch or pasture.

Victoria Knit Jumper by People Tree
A comfy sweater is a must-have on any casual getaway. This cream-colored one, by British label People Tree has a great, loose fit that scores some serious fashion points too. It’s Fair Trade certified and hand knitted in Nepal from 55% cotton and 45% banana tree fiber.
Approx. $138, People Tree

Ripegoods Lucky Horseshoe Necklace
A lucky charm to wear around your neck that is more than appropriate for a farm. This handcrafted gold fill horseshoe necklace comes in two different sizes, both hammered and brushed to a matte finish and affixed to an oxidized sterling silver chain. Committed to sustainability, Ripegoods mother and daughter design team, Kathie and Lindsey Fieldman, use recycled and reclaimed metals to craft their pieces.
$58, Ripegoods

The Lost Coast Overnight by Heather Heron
Pack all your stuff in this rustic yet stylish weekender bag by California-based designer Heather Heron. Made from recycled vintage military fabrics and dolled up with some patchwork, each bag is unique and will hold everything you need for the weekend.
$640, Heather Heron

The Vegetable Wash Skinny Jean
A good pair of jeans are practically a requirement for spending time on a farm. These vegetable wash jeans from Kaight are perfect for a day in the veggie patch. Each pair is handwoven in Romania, and absolutely unique. Customers can find out how by entering a special code located on the inside seam.
$165, Kaight

Castor Fishtail Parka by Nudie Jeans Co
This classic fishtail parka was made for the boys, but that does not mean us girls can’t wear it. Made from cotton twill with a detachable lining, drawstring detailing and lots of pockets, it’s perfect for a weekend in the countryside. Swedish brand Nudie Jeans Co has made a long-term commitment to sustainability and developed special techniques for dyeing and distressing their clothing that are not harmful to the environment.
$599, Nudie Jeans Co

Mod. 2 Scarf by Beryll
You gotta throw some plaid in there when you’re going to a farm, and this scarf is the perfect way to do that. Made by LA-based company Beryll, whose motto is “handcrafted by good people, worn by good people,” it will keep you warm through many chilly summer eves and will only look better with age.
$148, Juno & Jove

Aiglentine Natural Rubber Boots
Farms tend to get muddy, so bringing a pair of rubber boots along is probably a good idea. French company Aigle has been making rubber boots since 1853. They are all still handcrafted in France, from high quality natural rubber. These are great boots that will last you for a very long time, they’re also washable and fast-drying.
$218, Aigle

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Less serious than black, natural hues are great complements to bright colors and make for good investment pieces.

Everyone seems to be talking about the bright colors these days, but there were plenty of natural hues seen on the runway during the latest edition of fashion weeks. For those of us who like to invest in fashion that lasts for a long time, the good news is that shades of beige never go out of style. In eco-fashion, it’s always the new black. To combine some of the hottest trends this winter, mix these natural hues with some poppy bright reds, plaid or orange lips.

Organic by John Patrick Flare Pants
These flared pants are truly figure-flattering. Made from organic cotton linen they are durable, comfy and easily take you from the office to a fancy vegan restaurant as they literally go with anything.
on sale for $137.50, 11th Moon

The Cortes Blanket by Heather Heron
Made from organic hemp linen, organically dyed and hand-knotted, this gorgeous blanket becomes softer with use and with proper care (i.e. hand washing) will last you a lifetime. And there’s no reason to leave it on the sofa, make it work double-duty by wearing it as a poncho or scarf.
$395.00, Heather Heron

Dace Patience Dress
This simple, stylish silk shirt dress features a flattering shawl collar and front and back pleating detail. Made from 100% sand washed silk, it comes with a belt and looks as good worn alone or paired with a leather jacket for a bit more attitude.
$395, Dace

Saami Bracelet
Based on traditional techniques from Sweden’s native Sami people, this handcrafted leather bracelet features delicate tin-silver alloy braiding. If beige is not your thing, don’t worry, it comes in 23 colors and is available in reindeer leather or lambskin.
approx. $147, Saami Crafts

Kork iPad Case
Made from recycled and recyclable natural cork, this cool case will keep your trusty iPad safe. It has outputs for everything you need to plug in and is ergonomically shaped for a natural feel. Available for the iPad 1 and iPad 2.
$39.95 – 49.95, A Produkt

Desert Antilope/Duna Boots by El Naturalista
Spanish shoe brand El Naturalista is inspired by nature and people. The company requires that all suppliers, the factory and agents and sales people adhere to their eco policy. Walk the talk in these stylish yet comfy desert boots, which will only look better with time.
approx. $220, El Naturalista

Izzy Lane College Cardigan
British designer Izzy Lane combines ethical fashion, luxury and animal welfare by sourcing wool from her own flock of rescued sheep, who get to live out their lives in a sanctuary in North Yorkshire. This short Wensleydale wool cardigan features side pockets and recycled nickle buffalo buttons.
approx. $469, Izzy Lane

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The quest for sustainable textile sourcing is surely front and center on every conscious fashion designer’s agenda for 2011. Thanks to new resources like Source4Style, identifying and acquiring sustainable fabrics is becoming less time consuming and arduous in terms of research and supply checks. In addition to recycling and upcycling textiles that are all ready in the waste stream, several resourceful fashion designers have targeted the massive global stockpile of military surplus garments and fabrics. Heather Heron and Christopher Raeburn are standouts in this latest phenomenon, as their chic and functional designs transform high quality fabrics into timeless signature pieces that just might out maneuver sustainable strategies of the past.

Heather Heron  For Environment Furniture

We are not talking about “military chic” here, or the glorification of war-mongering attitudes, but given the fact that our troops have been deployed somewhere at some time for as long as hemlines have been shifting, it is inevitable that there is a hefty surplus of military fabrics on standby for reuse.

As British fashion wunderkind Christopher Raeburn described in an interview with Fiona Sibley of The Guardian, it makes sense that a designer looking for durable (often waterproof) fabrics would choose to tap into a cache of military ponchos, parachute fabrics, and field tested canvas/woolen gear.

“…The military always has to overproduce its garments, so there are warehouses with thousands of square feet of military surplus sitting around. For me, giving that a new lease of life is very interesting. What is available depends on political issues: I use fabric from the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic, but also from the former East Germany, which has a post-cold war feeling. After the first Gulf War there was a fall-out of desert camouflage. I spend a lot of time researching the supply, and now my challenge is to find quantities to make my production scalable, to be able to make 100-200 garments, not a handful.”

Raeburn, who studied at The Royal College of Art and was a February 2009 recipient of the Ethical Fashion Forum’s Innovation Award, works first and foremost as a precision-driven craftsman who artfully transforms military garb into beautifully tailored garments that Vogue, Barneys, and numerous fashion glossies have latched onto. All of his designs are made in Britain, something that allows him to monitor scalable production as well as maintain ethical standards. In the end, Raeburn’s designs are first and foremost about fashion with a production process that just happens to be ethical and conscious in its smart use of materials and built-in functionality.

Comme des Garcons

As the folks at BurdaStyle recently pointed out, designers like Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons have been working with reclaimed garments and dry goods for years. Khaki fatigues patched together with military tent fabric and jackets serve as iconic collage elements for street style dressing. Designer Heather Heron might fall into this camp with her eco-luxe accessories that highlight the raw beauty of vintage military fabrics transformed into sleek clutches, computer sleeves, and totes that are ideal for modern living.

Heather’s most recent collection on view at Environment Furniture’s New York showroom demonstrates the beauty of transforming one basic style of vintage army sack into five functional and smart looking pieces. A pleated clutch crafted out of Swiss army textiles definitely sends a message that sustainable style is more than an attitude; it’s a gorgeous testimony to accessories that just get better with age and personal adventure. Add to this the fact that Heron produces all of her designs locally in California with skilled artisans, and the reports from the field just seem more and more promising. The military “trend” is here to stay and it is up to us to find the most sustainable way of addressing and demobbing the issue.

Lead Image Christopher Raeburn

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