Long midsummer nights require easy-breezy wardrobe staples in subtle, flattering colors.

Traditional Swedish midsummer was celebrated on Friday, although there’s no reason why we shouldn’t continue to celebrate the height of summer. Pure whites, metallics and shades of pink festive and easy to wear and will look great with your summer tan. It’s important that you wear comfortable shoes that don’t have pointy heels, since summer parties are often held on lawns and involve dancing.

Weimar Dress by Prairie Underground
Summer is all about easy shapes that move with you, and this butterfly-sleeve Weimar Dress by Prairie Underground does just that. Made in the USA from 100% organic cotton, it is the perfect warm weather dress. A natural waisted seam flawlessly hugs your curves and is the perfect base for a wide belt.
$162, Juno & Jove

JADEtribe Tie Dye Scarf
Handwoven by a women’s collective in Laos, this tie dye scarf by JADEtribe is a perfect cover-up for those sometimes chilly summer nights. Made from 100% silk, it feels great against warm summer skin too. The tie dye patterns is playful and subtle at the same time — a great way to add some color to your summer wardrobe.
$68, JADEtribe

Kim White Equestrian Belt
This wide equestrian belt is sculpted and contoured in the back to fit your body just right. It’s the perfect way to add some layers to that simple white summer dress. The metallic pewter color leather has just a little bit of shine, and will work with many different pieces in your closet.
$110, Kim White

Neuaura Bell Silver Flats
At some point during those long summer night festivities you’re going to want to be dancing, and that requires some seriously comfy shoes. These jute-wrapped ballerinas by Neuaura are made from silver vegan leather with a flexible rubber sole. The lace-up detail in the front is a subtle nod to summer’s big sportswear trend.
On sale for $79.99, Neuaura

Hand Dyed Tote Bag
The Textile Arts Center recently opened a retail shop in Manhattan. These ecologically sustainable tote bags are hand dyed and hand printed with natural dyes. Logwood, indigo, madder, cutch, walnut, and Brazilwood to create three unique shibori color combinations. All proceeds from handmade TAC products go to support programming for children and adults, aimed at preserving the art of hand-crafts.
$25, Textile Arts Center

Andy Lifschutz Gaia Crystal Studs
Brooklyn-based jewelry designer Andy Lifschutz is always seeking new ways to combine his signature artisan style with raw elements such as reclaimed metals, wood, bone and stone. These studs from the Gaia Crystal collection are handmade in NYC from 100% Reclaimed Sterling Silver. Each piece is custom made and takes about two weeks to make.
$113, Andy Lifschutz

DIY Flower Crown
Finish off your look with a pretty flower crown. With a few simple tools, a bit of patience and a bouquet of great flowers, they’re super easy to make too. Here’s an easy tutorial.

The post Midsummer Nights appeared first on EcoSalon.

A list of the top sustainable handbag designers currently on the fashion scene.

Sustainably designed handbags have come a long way since their humble beginnings. From vegetable dyed leathers to recycled and organic materials, handbag designers have upped the ante on style, form and function. Here we offer you an extensive list of what we consider to be the top designers in the sustainable handbag field. We’re impressed.

Ampersand As Apostrophe, Seattle, Washington :Upcycled mailbags, recycled materials

Ashley Watson, Vancouver B.C.: Upcycled leather, recycled materials

Beryll, Los Angeles, California: Upcycled leather, made in the U.S.

Beth Springer, Venice, California: Organic hemp linen, plant dyed leather, made in the U.S.

Calleen Cordero, Los Angeles, California: Vegetable tanned leathers, handmade by artisans

Collina Strada, Los Angeles, California: Made in New York, vegan, recycled materials

Cri de Coeur, New York, NY: Recycled plastic, organic cotton, vegan, Made in NYC

Dama, Los Angeles, California:Upcycled leather, recycled materials, vegan

Ellington, Portland, Oregon: Award-winning environmentally responsible tannery that uses efficient processes to reduce water consumption, energy use and CO2 emissions.

Entermodal, Portland, Oregon: Handmade, vegetable tanned leather, will buy back leather after use for recycling

Erin Templeton, Vancouver, B.C.: Upcycled leather

Fleabags, New York, NY: Organic and vintage materials, vegetable-tanned and re-purposed leathers, all materials sourced in the U.S.,  silkscreens use water-based ink

GG2G, Stamford, Connecticut: Repurposed and recycled materials, vegan, made in the U.S.

JADEtribe, New York, NY: Handwoven, organic cottons, natural dyes, fair trade

Jess Rizzuti, New York, NY : Sustainable cork

Kim White, Los Angeles, California: Dead stock, never-used textiles intended for use in American automobiles: cars, trucks and vans, vintage fabrics

Lina Rennell, Northern California: Recycled leather

Lizzie Fortunato, New York, NY: Hand beaded, recycled materials

Love Mert, New York, NY: Upcycled leather, wood scraps from designer’s father’s workshop, organic cotton lining

Matt & Nat, Montreal, Canada: Made in Montreal, lining of recycled plastic bottles, vegan

Passchal, Richmond, Virginia: Recycled inner tubes

Push Pull Cambodia, Takeo Province, Cambodia:Hand woven by Khmer artisans, fair trade

Red Flag, Vancouver, B.C.: Alternative manufacturing, recycled materials

Rising Tide Fair Trade, Brooklyn, NY and New Jersey: Fair Trade Federation certified and Green America approved

Shannon South, New York, NY: Zero waste, recycled leather

Spencer Devine, Brooklyn, NY: Upcycled materials, supports textile artisans in developing countries.

The Sway, New York, NY: Upcycled leather, recycled cotton lining

Teich, New York, NY: Vegetable-tanned and chrome-free leather, vintage materials and fabrics, hemp, linen

Image: The Sway

The post The Ultimate List of Sustainable Handbag Designers (From A-Z) appeared first on EcoSalon.

You like to buy U.S. designed and manufactured clothing, but how do designers feel about their roles in it?

11 designers would like to tell you.

Emily Katz: I enjoy being able to talk with my contractors, meet with them when need be to make sure they are doing the quality that I require, and know that they are only a few miles away. I could bike to 2 out of 3 of my sewers’ workplaces. I think it is important to know how the garments are being made and to have a hand in it. However, we still need to find cheaper ways to produce locally. It is difficult to compete with big brands who are “luxury” and are charging the same amount as small eco designers who manufacture domestically. They have a much higher profit margin, and that can be the difference from staying in the mainstream consciousness, or going out of business.

Angel Court Jewels: To me, an eco line is about a concern for the whole. Producing in the U.S. is the same sentiment. Production in the U.S. helps us all just as producing and buying eco helps us all.

Aster and Sage: I’m in New Jersey and my products are made by me or by my stitchers in New England. UPS ground guarantees next day delivery, so I can get stuff to or from them overnight. I can visit them easily (though I wish I did that more often). I think it’s a little like buying fruits and vegetables; I may think globally, but I try to eat and manufacture locally.

Filly: I benefit from manufacturing in the USA by being able to connect with my manufacturer. I know her. Her name is Mary. She lives in San Francisco. She drives a Mercedes. And she likes my designs. She is beautiful and kind and rooting for me. Neither of us is exploiting the other but we are both benefiting from our relationship.

cmarchuska: I benefit from having my line manufactured in the U.S. for numerous reasons; some of the most notable would be:

– quality control standards – I am able to be involved actively in every aspect of the manufacturing process and to make sure the pieces are put together according to my standards.

-shorter runs/on-demand runs – Manufacturing in the U.S. provides you with the luxury of being able to produce smaller run sizes and on-demand runs which is very important in this tough economy.

-fair trade/fair labor/eco-friendly processes – I guess this relates more to start-ups and smaller companies, but you are able to oversee the operation (as mentioned in my first point) versus working with China/India where you might just be entrusting another individual on these very important issues.  This was one of my main reasons for manufacturing domestically here in NYC.

Souchi: I love that our production is not only made in the U.S. but that 100% of our line is made in our studio in Portland, Oregon. The benefits are on many levels: creating jobs in the town I live in, overseeing quality on each piece, cutting shipping costs which  lowers fuel costs.

Figs and Ginger: We benefit from feeling good about supporting our local economy.  There’s nothing better than feeling good about yourself!  Also we have much more control of the quality of our products because we’re making it ourselves in the U.S. and not having it produced overseas.

Kate Organic: Producing Kate Organic in the U.S. 45 minutes from our house has a lot of positives and negatives. We like being in control from start to finish, but, we hate being in charge from start to finish. Every decision is ours. Every choice that is right or wrong is ours. No excuses! When we made the line overseas, sometimes it felt like flipping a coin and whatever you got, you got.

It is nice to keep as much money in the U.S. as possible. But, since it is made in the U.S. the costs are so much higher. Stores do not like that the costs go up. They want it made in the U.S., but they want it at a lower price point, so it gets rough. At this point our biggest issue is keeping stores in business.

Feral Childe: Feral Childe works with printers, dye houses, cutters and sewers within a 50-mile radius! Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Long Island and Paterson, New Jersey are also frequent stops. We want to support our local garment industry and have become so friendly with our suppliers and contractors that it would break our hearts to get our clothes produced elsewhere. The New York City Garment District is totally unique. Where else can you get your clothes cut and sewn on the sixth floor, run across the street when you discovered you’ve run out of elastic, dash back upstairs and then scoop everything up to get the snaps put on by the guys on the sixth floor? Not to mention our accountant and our favorite fabric showroom are across the hall from one another in yet another tall building! It’s one-stop shopping. Business is very much done by word of mouth here so everyone really counts on one another – it really is a community. We love the history of the Garment District and we are proud to produce Feral Childe in New York City.

Mothlove: The costs I face as a small/independent and American-made designer currently outweigh the benefits. The average citizen has been so spoiled by low-cost, poorly-made and outsourced products, reluctance to truly support local artisans remains. Education is key; re-learning the importance of not only locally-made, but well [made] – and with environmental/economical consciousness comes cost. Costs to the designer (especially small-scale designers) in supplies and production equal higher price tags, especially in independently owned/operated boutiques – the new “mom & pop” shops that support them. Without supporting the boutiques, we don’t support the local economy. Without supporting our local economy, we lack the support for the artisan. And without the local artistic community, we lack culture.

Kim White: Number one, my buyers care. They ask where my stuff is made. Number two, locally made means I can see production and catch mistakes. I don’t get production from, say China, and it’s done wrong. Quality Control is waaaay easier.

Image: The Shopping Sherpa

The post 11 Designers Sound Off on U.S. Manufacturing appeared first on EcoSalon.

The first time I met Kim White was in Las Vegas at the mega-hotel Mandalay Bay.

I was a trade show newbie and couldn’t pick my bottom lip up for how in awe I was of all the great designers. I’d been writing about fashion for a few years and had already written about Kim White for a regional publication.

Then I saw her setting up. A tall, slender Jo from Facts of Life type. My immediate thought was, “Hey, she’s got a cool, tough girl look.”

I realized who she was and actually ran at her and said “Hey! You’re Kim White!”

Kim turned around, long, dark hair hanging in her face, said, “Yup,” and kept setting up like if she turned her back on me I’d disappear.

“Well,” I said, “I love your bags and it’s great to meet you.”

Passing by her the next day, relaxed and all set up for buyers, Kim gave me a wave.

This time – slightly more composed – I smiled and kept walking. Kim is too cool, I think. Not only am I into her bags, now I want her belts.

I got the chance to speak with Kim recently about her designs and creative vision.

How did you “fortuitously” discover all the upholstery fabrics you use for your bags?

Well…I had designed some styles and was looking for some interesting textiles. I knew I did not want to start in leather. A friend of mine’s boyfriend turned me on to a guy in South Central LA who was going out of business. He said he had some interesting fabrics. When I showed up it was all vintage car fabrics from the 70s and 80s.  It was my lucky day! I knew I had something that no one else had. There were tens of thousands of yards of this stuff. All mint condition, in rolls, never been used. And all tagged with the year and maker, complete with swatch books. It was meant to be.

What’s your favorite fabric?

The Camaro, of course.

What do you think makes your designs withstand trends?

Well, I don’t pay attention to trends. I’ve always dressed in my own way. Trends are to be avoided. I really love vintage, and am inspired by it. Therefore, my bag and my belt lines are a retro-inspired. My favorite decade being the 70s. The 70s was the best decade for music, although I do love the 80s for fashion.  But for bag and belts I really love the easy-loving 70s.

Have you always been drawn to pretty bags?

I’m not sure if “pretty” is the word. I guess I have always been drawn to interesting, different bags.  Something that no one else has.

Do you consider yourself an eco-designer?

I did not intend to be an eco-designer.  But if the shoe fits…

You recently added belts to your line. Any other additions in the works?

Yes!  I’m totally excited about my new soy candle line! I love candles, and now I have an entire line with twelve scents that are so great. All eco-friendly, biodegradable soy-based, cotton wicks, essential oils. I just started shipping to stores last week. The rose is gorgeous. And gardenia, lemongrass. You will love it!

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