EcoSalon’s favorite fashion designers, jewelry makers and artisans on the nature of creativity. 

“Beauty will save the world,” remarked Dostoevsky in the 19^th century. If ever there was a time to believe in the possibility of that statement, it is now. When our public discourse is reduced to ideological political posturing, the impact of beauty and creativity in our everyday lives offers both a vital opportunity for connection and a prospect for cultural renewal.

Over the years at EcoSalon, we’ve delighted in sharing the stories of the fashion designers, jewelry makers and artisans who are dedicated to creating true objects of beauty while choosing ethically responsible methods and practices that upend the customary business models in fashion, jewelry and art. Why do they do it? We asked them the question, “What compels you to create?” Here’s what they had to say:

Xing-Zhen Chung-Hilyard and Melissa Kirgan, Eko-Lab

“Creativity is a deep unconscious force. A process that reveals the unseen see-able and dreams reality. There’s a peace that comes from designing that in some small way we’re making the every-day more beautiful.”

Joy Opfer, Kyler by Joy O

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of  Eat, Pray, Love, has said that she believes there are currents of creativity and ideas circulating around the planet, looking for people to bring them into physical form. This idea is a lovely way of explaining the process of creativity – I often feel that I do not so much create, as synthesize ideas. When we work hard to be there, to be open and prepared for the muse when she arrives, to welcome her through sweat and tears, ready to manifest the boldest visions, a blend of the hive and our own minds – this is a gift.

Fashion is one of the biggest industries on the planet. To act as though it is frivolous is, at this point, a waste of time. Each person, through their choices can inspire change and awareness – and creating one more choice that supports handcrafted and carefully made goods is one that I am proud to be a part of.

Meghan Sebold, Afia

Life can be nauseatingly tragic with many things feeling out of our control. People can be corrupt, dishonest and disloyal – and often times it seems that those people win out. I see only two ways of dealing with the dark side of life: you can respond to corruption with conniving strategies, dishonesty with lies, attacks with counter attacks – or you can reject it and a attempt to create light and beauty in dark situations.

I’m certainly no hero to the women who produce my line – most of them are suspicious of my intentions. They think I’m there to use them for cheap labor – why else would I cross the world to be there? We stand in a room together across a table, having difficult conversations. Trying to trust each other. Trying to create a product together.

Shannon South, reMade USA

So many of us have the innate desire to create. It is what makes us human and what keeps our species going. It’s what fuels innovation. Those of us who are informed and concerned try to do so in the most thoughtful and sustainable way – a path that is not easiest or the most profitable, yet one that gives meaning and integrity to our vision.

Sasha Duerr, Permacouture Institute

I am a plant dyer because it immediately connects me to time and place, to my environment, to my community, and to indescribable depths of beauty. Plant color can ONLY be created – like an amazing meal you toast  to and savor with friends, or an heirloom peach that came to ripen in the sweetness of a perfect growing season – in that time with those conditions. It is a depth of experience that is often not repeatable – and therefore difficult to commodify.

I am consciously grateful to have chosen to make it my work – beyond promise of financial gain or security. This is why I started Permacouture – experimentation and knowledge needs to be shared if it is ever to be sustainable or regenerative to last beyond our own generation. This love for the wonder of the bigger picture has fueled my passion as both an artist and advocate for slower ways of being and creating. I am always awed by how much there is to learn.

Davora Lindner, Prairie Underground

The idea that “Creativity is it’s own reward” seems like such a universal truism. As designers and manufacturers our role isn’t entirely creative but we feel fortunate to work in an industry that demands this engagement. It has introduced us to the writers at EcoSalon and to like-minded women all over the world. That level of aesthetic communication is startling – it’s this connection that is the inspiration behind Prairie and remains the central theme of our work.

The photo (above) is from when Prairie Underground was still based in our homes.  We had received a large volume of orders for the Hard Times Dress that featured a hand painted print.  I needed to figure out a way to execute this in my studio apartment.  The solution was to paint the textile and feed it out my window to dry, then repeat.  Our passion to create is something that end users don’t often see.  The memories of this time are some of the fondest in my life.

Elizabeth Bruner, Piece x Piece

When you  start to seek out original and handcrafted crafted clothing, it feels like an important revelation. Handcrafted means respecting the time it takes to actually create something. There is meaning in the fact that someone has thought and carried out all the little steps it takes to make a truly unique item.

It’s never been about money for me. I know I’m not going to be a rich woman working with scrap fabrics but what compelled me to start Piece x Piece was the fact that I simply could not ignore what in my heart I knew I could change, if even on the smallest scale.

Alice Wu + Moriah Carlson, Feral Childe, 

When we started Feral Childe, we were young artists trying to make it in the New York art world, trying to fill the emptiness in our own closets, and striving to provide an antidote to fashion’s obsessions with brands, logos and over-consumption. We felt a responsibility to make things that were thoughtfully made, using available materials such as off-cuts and fabric remnants so gnarly and unloved in their raw state, but full of potential beauty in our hands. We believe in the power of the handcrafted to affect one profoundly. When something we have made touches an individual in a way that makes them think differently about the world we live in, we are inspired to continue our work.

Maria Moyer

It’s submission to the process. From inspiration to execution, I have to get out of the way and let my hands and my understanding of material attempt to catch up to some idea of what is possible. The result is always a surprise and that is a delight, sometimes a disappointment and always there’s something to learn. The whole thing is a miraculous privilege.

Kirsten Muenster, Kirsten Muenster Jewelry

I’ve always felt a need to create with my hands. My father helped me make my first ring in our basement when I was a kid. The feeling I had then (and still get today) from translating an abstract or conceptual idea into a tangible object with my hands is indescribably addictive.

Nature, unusual materials, ancient artifacts and crafting techniques inspire my work and process. Creating handcrafted objects is vital because they have the power to tell a story, carry on a tradition and remind us of the connection between every set of hands involved in the process or supply chain. I hope to influence others with my work to keep the cycle going. That’s why it is so important for me to know where my materials come from and whose lives they impact. We’re all connected.

Howard Brown, Stewart+Brown

At Stewart+Brown, the reason we do what we do is because we MUST have a sense of both passion and purpose in our work. And we must have beauty in our lives and not at the expense of the environment or supply chain stakeholders. We could not find that collision of ideals in the corporate world even when working at great companies, so we created it ourselves with our own company. It has been the greatest adventure of our lives. In a world of mass production and consumption there still needs to be value, integrity, humanity, and yes, great design without compromise. That is the goal we work towards every day.

Gretchen Jones, Gretchen Jones NYC

I believe it is our responsibility (the creative’s of the world) to be an instrument for the greater whole. We were given a gift, but in that gift is responsibility. Responsibility to be a communicator for humanity and the world, as we know it. We transmit cultural movements and the direction life is taking. Without us, we are collectively nothing.

Art in itself is about translating what cannot be translated in words. I take responsibility for that job. My “job” is to learn how to use my gift to better our lives. To open us ALL up to new ways of thinking and enable us all to live more enriched existences. I may need money to survive, but making money from my work is there by default. The passion to create is about the greater whole, not the ego or bank account… and that, is what the life of an artist is all about.

The post Beauty Will Save the World: Sustainability’s Top Makers on What Compels Them to Create appeared first on EcoSalon.

EcoSalon’s Managing Editor Amy DuFault shows us how she plans to accessorize her favorite red jeans and freshly thrifted top this spring.

Ever wondered how our editors channel this season’s trends to complement the favorite pieces in their own wardrobes? Well, look no further. Here’s how our managing editor Amy DuFault is planning to accessorize her favorite red jeans (thrifted!) and a top she found at a Goodwill in Maine last weekend for $5. Her style is simple, with a tough-girl vibe and she likes pieces she can play with and mix up with other pieces already in her wardrobe. Amy lives by a solid cocktail ring and always wears either stud earrings or plain hoops, like these stunners by Kyler by Joy O. She loves braids and you will probably see her pairing this outfit with a funky wrap braid of some kind.

Brilliant Minimal Hammered Hoops in Rose Gold
These handmade hammered hoop earrings by Kyler by Joy O are made of recycled rose gold fill and the shape is inspired by the outline of a brilliant-cut diamond. They’re simple, yet modern and I love that they have a handmade feel. If you’re going for only one pair of earrings this spring, these should be it.
$68, Kyler by Joy O

Seamed Pocket Tank by Stewart + Brown
When I don’t feel like rocking the monochrome red look, I’ll swap out the tank for this one, which is made in the U.S. from 100% organic lightweight jersey cotton. The asymmetric cut is universally flattering and works well with jeans. Despite what your grandmother may have told you, pink goes great with red.
$78, Stewart + Brown

Klucia Coat Heels by Coclico
Jeans require a good pair of heels. These peeptoe oxfords from Coclico have a great sculptural wooden platform heel that is not too high to actually be able to walk on, and the laces and ebony piping are great details that add a lot of interest. They’ll also be great for adding a tougher edge to a light summer dress.
$398, Coclico

Large Blue Bronze Crystal Rings
Nothing pulls an outfit together like a big show-stopping cocktail ring. The stone is naturally formed in Arkansas, and the colors are attained by the stones being bonded with titanium, which actually enhances the crystal’s healing properties, if that’s your thing. The bronze alloy is 100% reclaimed and comes from United metal. It is widely used by jewelers as a prototype for 14k gold, and is resistant to tarnish.
$295, Beklina

Octopus Sweater by Koch
Sometimes I think we take fashion too seriously. This crew neck sweater from Koch is the antidote to that. The funky octopus print is not only cool, it’s also hand painted in Texas.
$90, Future:Standard

The post EcoSalon Editor’s Picks: Amy DuFault appeared first on EcoSalon.

 Just in time for the holiday shopping and gifting season: The Box is back!

Our exclusive EcoSalon shopping must-have, the curated eco product assortment known as The Box, is back. We’re offering $500 worth of holiday eco-goodies for just $99 and these won’t last. That’s a guarantee.

The Fashion Box is chock full of organic jewelry and perfume, warm mittens, scarves and much more – a perfect gift or gifts for the sustainable fashion lovers in your life. These items can also just be for you to revel in without a lick of remorse. Featuring full-size gorgeous green goods, hop on this now or miss out!

(If you do miss out this time around, our friends at SheFinds are hosting a giveaway for the last remaining Fashion Box standing. Head on over to their site and register to win!)

Just look at what we have in store for you this time around:

Gaiam Cable Knit Capped Mittens

Gaiam’s Cable Knit Capped Mittens are made from eco-friendly organic cotton that is ultra warm yet breathable. Wear them as mittens or turn down the flap for fingerless gloves. Couldn’t be cuter.

(Retail value of $42.00)

Leotie Natural Eau De Parfum by Tallulah Jane

Tallulah Jane’s Leotie is like a beautiful deep bouquet of meadow flowers. Blended from botanical essences, resins and balsams, Tallulah Jane scents are an ever-evolving olfactory experience. Organic and wild crafted oils are mixed together in certified organic grape alcohol or jojoba, then hand-poured in small batches. No two vintages are exactly alike, so your Tallulah Jane scent is categorically unique, as if designed by nature – especially for you.

(Retail value of $48.00)

Lara Miller’s Thome Necklace in Rust

Lara Miller’s eponymous line is manufactured in Chicago and strongly influenced by the city’s architectural and cultural landscape while being fashioned from eco-friendly fibers such as organic cotton, hand-loomed bamboo, hemp and vegan silk. Lara says her designs are created with a playful geometry that connects to the personalities of the women who wear them. Her tiered Thome Necklace in Rust ( image above) is made from 100% recycled cotton.

(retail value $70.00)

MATT & NAT Naos Change Purse

The MATT & NAT line is cruelty-free, using no animal products. As an example of the spirit and commitment of MATT & NAT, all linings of their bags and wallets are made of 100% recycled plastic bottles – in fact, on average they recycle 21 water bottles to make the lining of each bag. This cream pebble coin holder with tone-on-tone stitching and brown recycled lining is the perfect accessory to hold all those coins jangling around in the bottom of your bag.

(Retail value of $21.00)

Kyler Grass Minimal Hammered Hoops in Gold

Kyler’s famous handmade, hammered hoops are frequently caught on film gracing the ears of Hollywood starlets. These designer hoop earrings are made of recycled gold fill in the abstract shape of a blade of grass. Modern and minimalist, lightweight but rich in texture, with strength and shine where the hammer left its marks. They’re so comfortable you might forget you’re wearing them. But no one else will.

(Retail value of $58.00)

Yala Bamboo Scarf

There are so many ways to wear Yala’s super soft bamboo PashBu, you’ll want them in multiple colors. Knot it or wrap it around your neck for some hip, urban style or drape it elegantly over the shoulders of your little black dress as a holiday shawl. This particular scarf is a rich black that fades down to grey – the ombre effect giving it so much more depth than a solid scarf. We are in love.

(retail value of $32.00)

Scotch Non-Toxic Nail Polish and an On The Rocks Top Coat set

Scotch Naturals are an eco-friendly alternative to conventional solvent-based nail polishes. Their revolutionary water-based polishes condition your nails and provide a high-polished shine, and long-lasting salon quality finish. All polishes contain none of the chemicals found in standard nail polishes; they are “3 Free” as well free of ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, nitrocellulose, acetone, and heavy metals.

(Each polish comes with a top coat as well.)

(Retail value of $30.00)

Love Mert Wood Rings

Love Mert is a lifestyle brand created from the innate desire to make. The Love Mert collection of handbags, hats, scarves and jewelry is a culmination of life long loves starting with collecting glass marbles at flea markets as a child, building elaborate forts in the forests of Vermont, and dabbling in painting, pottery and weaving. All leather is either mill-end from various U.S. factories or recycled from vintage leather clothing. Hemp linen and organic cotton is hand printed with non-toxic, water based inks. Rivets are hand sculpted and cast in brass. All wood jewelry, as in the case of these geometric eye candy rings, is created from remnants from designer Melissa Michelsen’s father’s woodshop.

(retail value of $38.00)

How to Avoid Being Sad t-shirt

New York City-based writer Rachel Leigh Smith is doing her very best to avoid being sad everyday. In addi­tion to the How To Avoid Being Sad book and website, Rachel just completed work on Strange and Wonderful Crea­tures – a children’s book about artists and the art world. Her inspiring “Sadness Avoiding Tip” is printed on an organic cotton t-shirt with soy based inks. One size fits most.

(Retail value of $28.99)

$50 Gift Certificate

Dream. Compassion. Freedom. Instinct. Voice. These are the missions of Mission Savvy, an online eco boutique founded by green entrepreneur, fashionista and animal advocate Jennifer Miller. After years of heartache at the prevalence of animal abuse in our world, Miller put her savvy into action and founded Mission Savvy. Featuring vegan, ethical fashions curated for stylish everyday wear, Mission Savvy donates 5% of all profits to causes that support animal conservation, health, emergency aid, and awareness.

Zkano Thigh High Socks

Zkano makes all their socks sweat-shop free in the U.S. from the highest quality certified organic cotton grown without the use of pesticides and fertilizers. They do this so that the socks are more comfortable, more durable and better all around – for the environment, growers, knitters, and for you. A return to better philosophies, better processes and better results, Zkano’s Thigh High Socks come to you with an ultimate promise to always feel soft, cushy, and like absolute heaven on your feet. Plus, they’re totally sexy.

(Retail value of $16.00)

Imperial Knits Dangling Dreams Belt Kit

Jeanne Carver, Imperial Ranch co-owner, who runs the family’s 140 year old farm with husband Dan on 30,000 acres of Oregon’s desert high country says basic crochet stitches are all you need to know to create this fun-to-wear belt from one of their knit kits. Post stitches create the belt loops and a simple twisted cord serves as the tie. The belt is easily customized to your size. Make your belt unique by sourcing your own beads. Made with Columbia Yarn.

(Retail value of $44.00)

To buy:

Please note that all editions of The Box are sold out except for Shelter and Fashion. Please be sure to select Fashion from the menu below.

Supplies are extremely limited – first come, first serve. Remember to include your shipping address! The Box is priced at $99 per box, with an additional $30 shipping and handling surcharge. Orders are shipped via UPS anywhere in the United States. Sorry, we can’t ship to P.O. Boxes and we cannot process international orders. If you have questions, drop us a line at contact@ecosalon.com.

The post The Box: Oh, the Fashion! Edition appeared first on EcoSalon.

Because it’s refreshing to see celebrities try out a little eco sometimes.

Actress Jessica Alba was recently spotted enjoying a day of family fun with her husband, Cash Warren, and three-year-old daughter, Honor, at the L.A. County Fair in Pomona. She looked casually cool in slouchy capris, a loose top with shoulder cut-outs and flats. Out favorite part, however, is her necklace from the Futurelore collection from Kyler by Joy O and boosts some serious eco-cred. The pieces in Kyler’s funky geometric collection are all made from upcycled scrap steel and recycled precious metals and created to stand the test of time and trends. Designed by Joy Opfer, the Anode Collar Necklace, as Alba’s piece is called, is made from two recycled steel intaglio pendants and will set you back about $98.

Now, if she could only ditch that bottled water…

Images courtesy of Kyler by Joy O.

The post Jessica Alba Spotted Wearing Eco-Jewelry appeared first on EcoSalon.