When the sleeve is this beautiful, why shouldn’t you wear your heart on it?

Buying fashion for a good cause seems like a lovely idea, doesn’t it? You could say it’s like lifting two spirits with one swipe of your credit card. You buy an item and the designer donates some money to a good cause. That is until, like me, you’ve got enough charity printed tees to hold a small rally in your closet benefiting workouttopsforever.com. Or your new, not so environmentally-friendly storage unit…And don’t get me started on those tacky plastic wristbands. (Surely there are enough of those by now to fill a dedicated “What were they thinking?” landfill.)

As the industry witnesses a profound shift in the way we consume and use products, the world of fashion for charity is also experiencing a timely rethinking and redesign. More and more, environmentally friendly companies are creating some truly beautiful things that stylish people will use beyond the latest environmental disaster’s news cycle.

Check out Mat and Nat’s limited edition Ikat collection in honor of Earth Day. The bags are made from an average of 21 recycled water bottles and will be available in the U.S. exclusively on www.mattandnat.com until April 25th. The perfect accessory for your spring Boho-inspired looks, each bag purchased will generate a $21 donation to a non-profit organization that brings clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

Jennifer Bennett, the San Francisco-based designer of the brilliant Jendarling garment bags recently created a dry-cleaning bag benefiting clean and safer beaches. The Bondi bag, named in honor of the pristine Bondi Beach in Sydney, was created in partnership with the Surfrider Foundation’s Rise Above Plastics campaign after Jen became dismayed at the amount of litter she found on the early morning beach walks she enjoys with her dog. Like all the pieces in the Jendarling line, this bag is beautifully crafted and has to be the chicest way to drop off your dry cleaning.

For those who desire a more enduring commitment to a good cause, take a look at Berlin designer Christine Mayer’s extraordinary Peace Collection that benefits a series of children’s charity projects in Nepal and India. Consisting of carefully constructed and imaginatively fitted separates and tailored jackets, the evocative line is made from recycled materials such as flour sacks from the 1850’s, antique table linens and aprons. It reminds us of the long-lasting service made possible from a hand-crafted treasure.

As those plastic wristbands unfortunately prove, doing good doesn’t always mean you’re looking good. However, when charity looks this stylish you’ll get a generous dose of both.

The post When You Feel Good, You Look Good appeared first on EcoSalon.

Anyone who’s ever bought a garment bag knows they’re a necessity to have to protect your fine clothing when traveling or seasonally pack clothes away. If you’re a clothing sales rep, they’re your life.

But have you ever considered the fact that they may actually be harming your clothes? Just think, they’re trapped inside non-breathable plastic.

I recently had a conversation with Jennifer Bennett, designer and founder of Jendarling bags about her garment bags and and how she ranks them in terms of fashion necessity.

Here’s what she had to say.

Where do you get your materials?

Mainly local suppliers in San Francisco and Napa. Our organic fabrics come from a supplier in San Francisco, our leather comes from Napa and Marin (always an excuse to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge). When we use silk, we work with an American company in North Carolina. Our fabrics are all purchased locally here in the U.S. We’re proud of that. Our buttons come from Germany – only because we like the style and quality, Dill Buttons, a great company to work with.

What’s the problem with using traditional plastic garment bags? Do you think they leave a strange smell?

Exactly – but also, over long term use plastic suffocates the fibers. Delicate fibers like silk, bamboo and cashmere should not be stored in plastic. Same with leather. Not to mention, plastic is harmful to our environment. PVC (polyvinyl chloride), often called vinyl, is the second most commonly used plastic in the world. It is also the most harmful to the environment.  The more knowledge people have, the better off their favorite clothes and the environment will be. Using a durable cotton bag will help your favorite clothes breathe in storage and travel well. Cotton garment bags are for those consumers who purchase quality over quantity. Not for the “fast fashion” set.

Your design aesthetic comes from where?

Travel, the outdoors, the farmer’s market, also – the past. I’m inspired by vintage fashion and home decor of the 50s – 80s.  You’d be amazed what a piece of stationery can inspire one to do. Each season I like to pick a theme that’s a blend of my travel experience and surroundings. Last September I was in Malta – the current Vagabond Collection is a reflection of my experience paired in a 7os manner. Next season, look for something Bondi or Sydney inspired.

Rumor has it you’re in grad school. Why start this line to add to your load?

Oh yes, sometimes I try to forget about that. It’s very challenging not to get distracted. Luckily, I’m graduating in December – with a Master’s in nonprofit administration. My program actually inspired me to start Jendarling and incorporate the blend of fashion and sustainable business practices, so at times, the two go hand in hand. I’m always working with various NGOs on a number of issues. It’s nice to be engaged with social and environmental issues and have a better understanding of what’s going on in the world and how we can create change. Fashion, luckily, can be one of those ways.

I noticed that you not only create garment bags but have travel bags and clutches. Are you finding that your line is evolving?

Yes, the line is evolving as customers continue to come back and want more of the same pattern in different styles. I’m using this time to listen to our customers and create products they want and can use, while still feeling like it’s “one of a kind” paired with eco-friendly principles.

How do you see your line progressing and what do you have hopes it will become?

I’d like to continue to expand the line, while staying passionate about the manufacturing process, and our sustainable business practices. We look forward to utilizing innovative organic fibers in the future and hope to stay ahead of the curve.  Becoming a global brand would be nice, hmm, that means we have an excuse to travel more.

The post Darling Garment Bags appeared first on EcoSalon.