Ethical, eco-fashion is now more accessible than ever before. Here are the top 5 new eco fashion online boutiques.

We are more aware than ever before about where our clothes come from, who makes them, and how to better care for them. Fashion designers are implementing conscious and creative ways to create clothing that benefit people and the planet. And access to these styles are on the rise too.

Online boutiques like Beklina, A Boy Named Sue and Kaight have been around for a while, but now, with the new eco boutiques listed ones below, an even greater selection of sharply curated ethical products are right at your finger tips.

1. Rêve en Vert

Rêve en Vert is based in the UK and one of our favorite new eco online boutiques. Founder Cora Hilts and Natasha Tucker stocks “independent who weave ethics into their collections.” Selling some of the best labels like Isabell de Hillerin to A Peace Treaty, Rêve en Vert is truly a green dream.

2. Modavanti

Started by journalist turned fashion CEO, David Dietz, Modavanti is a hip sustainable fashion online boutique stocking everything from sunglasses to sundresses. Modavanti provides unique sustainability badges for customers to make it clear what sustainability value the product they are purchasing relates to–energy efficient, fairly traded and U.S. made are some of the buttons of the Modavanti badge system. Modavanti recently started selling vintage clothing on their store too. Modavanti also donates 2 percent of every sale to one of their three partners: Nest, Charity: Water and Manufacture New York.

3. Moorea Seal

At first glance Moorea Seal isn’t your typical eco fashion boutique, but their entire stock is all items handmade in the U.S. by artists, and seven percent of all their proceeds go to five non-profits close to their heart. Based out of Seattle, they know and respect the blending of a cosmopolitan lifestyle with pristine nature. “We seek to do good beyond the material, creating a community that empowers and supports others.”

4. Shop Helpsy

With a firm and honest belief ethical fashion can be design-forward, Helpsy is providing the exactly product that reflect this ideology. Started by fashion writer Rachel Kibb, Helpsy is a site for cutting edge design styles.

5. Be Good Clothing

Be Good Clothing, based in San Francisco only carries collections that give back to an eco or humanitarian case. They hold themselves to extremely high standard in who and what they carry, and are proud of their ethos. They also have a great selection of Men’s wear!

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image: Modavanti

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Bloggers really are taking the fashion world by storm. They now rub shoulders with Vogue editors at the big international fashion weeks, interview famous designers and models and even create full time careers from marrying the digital world with sustainable design.

With so many fashion writers seeing the future in sustainability, I look at where the new green fashion voices are coming from and how to find them online. Here is a round up of five of the best eco style blogs.

1. Eco Fashion Talk

Pretty much a roll call of any sustainable fashion designer worth knowing, Eco Fashion Talk provides short and snappy summaries of the who, what, why and where of new designers and collections. Created by well known Sass Brown, author of Eco Fashion (former designer and now academic) this blog keeps you up to date on who’s who of eco design. With a particular emphasis on emerging and European designers, Eco Fashion Talk provides a truly international perspective.

2. State of Green

Linked to an online eco style store of the same name in Australia, State of Green helps those of us living ‘down under’ with a full picture of modern sustainable design in the region. Far away from the fashion capitals of New York and Paris, it is refreshing to see a green living blog dedicated to the Asia Pacific. It covers everything from stylish ways to store books, to local fashion workshops and is one to bookmark for any Aussie green gal or those who are interested in some of the innovative fashion and green living initiatives developing on the underside of the world!

3. Things Your Grandmother Knew

This sweet blog is all about living simply, living green and living economically. It taps into a whole set of skills which have been lost through generations and carefully ties simplicity and sustainability together. Things Your Grandmother Knew covers topics from vintage living to recipes, sewing and shopping tips. The fashion pages delve into everything from how to deal with mystery holes in laundry, to how to make a swish evening wrap!

4. Style Eyes Ethical Fashion Blog

The motto of this blog is ‘making the world a greener place, one dress at a time’ and it sure does deliver. Fashion blogger Ceri Heathcote aims to inspire others, through her love of vintage, second hand and ethical clothing, based on the principle of buying clothes that will last for many years. Ceri is probably best known for being the brains behind ‘Style is’, the UK’s sustainable style search engine, which helps consumers find ethical alternatives to high end fashion styles.

5. Live Eco

Live Eco is all about ‘trending lightly’ and calls itself an eco chic essentials guide to doing just that when it comes to fashion, beauty and lifestyle. The categories on this site are truly comprehensive as it covers everything from ‘street chic’ and ‘celebrity style’ to ‘weddings’ and ‘decor and design.’ It also covers stories from all around the world including South Africa, the UK and Australia. This one helps you keep your finger on the pulse!

Images: Anonymous Collective, Live Eco, Eco Fashion Talk

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Offering the finest selection of stylish and sustainable clothing, accessories and more, online fashion retailers are getting eco.

Finding eco-fashion products can sometimes get a bit tricky and time-consuming, as most of us can’t find them at our local mall. Luckily, several online retail sites have popped up over the last few years, each offering a carefully curated selection of sustainable fashion that must meet specific criteria for environmental and ethical standards. The shops listed below are full of exclusive, affordable (and expensive), on-trend and super cute clothes that are good to the planet and the people making them.

1. BTC Elements

All of the items sold through BTC Elements are hand-selected, made in the USA by small designers and artists, and often one-of-a-kind pieces. Apparel, accessories and gifts made mindfully make up the collections on the retail site that “combines smart style with sustainability.” Featuring clothing from Raw Earth & Wild Sky, Ecozuzu, Sub Urban Riot, accessories made from recycled skateboards, bicycle inner tubes and jewelry made from upcycled tins, BTC Elements is the ultimate destination for unique items that are fresh, inspiring, environmental and ethical.

2. Beklina

Beklina offers an artfully curated collection of sustainable, designer fashion pieces that does justice to the amazing work of its featured designers. Established in 2006, Beklina has gained the title of original “eco boutique” by showcasing the arousing and influential collections of the strongest thinkers and creators in the fashion world today that marry their craft with the concept of sustainability. Find labels like ORGANIC by John Patrick, IVANA Helsinki, Pendleton Portland Collection, Lina Rennel among the selection of stylish, responsibly made and quality crafted items.

3. Clean Spirited

This online store offers a wide selection of items for men and women, as well as kids apparel, shoes, accessories, jewelry and home products. With more of a focus on casual wear and yoga garb, Clean Spirited features brands like Jonano, Alternative, 4-rth, KindLabel and Autonomie Project. Each product also has a rating based on a 5 Point Eco-Scale that includes: how natural the product is, whether it’s recycled, if it’s locally sourced or produced, Fair Trade and humanitarian.

4. DonnaDonnella

DonnaDonnella’s online store Green this Season showcases and sells sustainable fashion designs from around the world. Find designs from Black Noir, Camilla Norrback, edelziege, ecology, Outsider and Lindi Harrison in this community of like-minded designers. A large variety of styles and product types make this Amsterdam based online store a great spot for finding trendy, European eco-fashion.

5. Embodies

Embodies is a mecca of sustainable, eco-friendly fashion, accessories and art that showcase the amazing creativity that can blossom through recycling, use of natural materials and eco-conscious concepts. Always asking questions about the origins of the materials used, labor, manufacturing impacts and design processes, the store has chosen to feature brands like Alabama Chanin, Greenbees, Josh Podoli and Prairie Underground. If you’re in Larkspur, CA, make sure to check out the shop in person to see the amazing mannequins made from grasses, leaves and reclaimed materials.

6. Equita

With the aim of making responsible living practical and accessible, this online store offers a wide selection of fashion, lifestyle and apothecary items. “Essentials for ethical living” is the shop’s slogan, which is echoed in each detailed products descriptions.  When viewing a product you’ll learn the origin, manufacturing processes and ecological or ethical aim behind each item.

7. Fashioning Change

Launched in 2011, Fashioning Change is a revolutionary online eco-fashion resource offering stylish, high-quality brands that protect the environment, human health and human rights. Their  “Wear This, Not That” feature allows shoppers to find sustainable alternatives to their favorite mainstream brands, making sure that the better option is in the same price bracket as its polluting and labor rights compromising alternative. The platform is the most comprehensive resource for sustainable fashion, with great daily deals as a bonus!

8. Juno & Jove

Juno & Jove defines itself as “the premier shopping destination for the conscious consumer.” Launched in 2006, this online boutique carefully selects each of its items, making sure that they are at least one of the following: made in the US, contain organic fabrics, employ fair trade principles, locally sourced, vegan, handmade, recycled or repurposed. Never compromising on style, the store features (and beautifully photographs) brands like Feral Childe, Coclico, Edun, and Raleigh Denim.

9. Kaight NYC

Independently owned and based in the heart of New York City, Kaight is a pioneer of the eco-fashion movement. Featuring apparel and accessories from Amour Vert, Covet, Erin Templeton, Made with Love, Melissa, Nau, NinaZ, Sprout and many many more, this is a one-stop shop for a variety of ethically produced, eco-friendly and well designed products. Expertly curated, the Kaight selection is always fresh, new and on-trend.

10. Shift Boutique

The venture of Amanda Converse, Justine Copperanth, and EcoSalon’s own Amy DuFault, Shift offers an exclusive selection of clothing, shoes, jewelry, beauty and body care products and home accessories. As you’d expect the owners’ discerning eye for sustainable style ensures that all products are made from organic, eco-friendly and green materials. Find brands like Stewart & Brown, Olsen Haus, Elroy, Kelly B and Neu Aura through this Cape Cod based shop and online store.

Image: joan!ta

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Can digital platforms open up the booming farmers market category for easier access to local foods and goods?

Using online services to live a more local lifestyle is a concept that seems like a paradox – it’s the worldwide web after all – but in the food realm, the digital world is helping to bring more local producers and consumers together.

Much like some grocery stores have implemented online shopping capabilities for their customers, farmers markets are the next frontier. In fact, when it comes to supporting a more local economy, the digital space can be an excellent platform for facilitating exchanges between producers and customers.

Many farmers markets are implementing online platforms which allow their customers to shop from home; this is an ideal set up for smaller scale co-ops that allow members to peruse the selection online, make an order and then collect it at the designated pick up. Even in my small hometown in Western Washington my parents shop local goods online thanks to the platform that their co-op Fresh Food Revolution uses, Local Food Marketplace, which hosts online farmers markets, CSAs, wholesalers, and buying clubs across the US. Local farmers use it to update what they have available, co-op members make their orders, and pick up day is Wednesday afternoon, and you better be sure to put it on your calendar.

It goes without saying that we live busy lives, and the ability to have a bit more flexibility when it comes to grocery shopping is a good thing. Farmigo is tapping into that exact idea. One of the key missions of the online platform is to “bring better quality food to everyone across the nation by giving them access to local, sustainable food directly from farmer.” Working with over 300 farms in 25 states, Farmigo accomplishes this by providing an online marketplace where farmers can better manage their CSA programs, and in turn have allowed farmers to directly interact with large companies like Google and Twitter.

Farmigo also recently launched its community-based initiative, tapping into the power of individuals who want to bring more local food to their own communities. The website allows for coordinating an online farmers market specifically for the community in question, and then a community center becomes the delivery site for local farms to deliver food that has traveled fewer than 100 miles. Shoppers order online and pick up their food within 48 hours of its harvest. Currently Farmigo has community initiatives going in California and New York.

Based in the Bay Area in California, GoodEggs is born out of a similar concept: create a hub to bring people and food closer together. Customers shop on the online marketplace, which features not only local produce, but harder to find products like locally baked gluten free muffins, granola and homemade soups. Think of it as the best of an underground market except with the ease of clicking and then picking up your entire purchase at one pick up location. What may have once been a hole-in-the-wall operation that people would only know about via word of mouth, these are the kind of digital tools that help farmers and food makers sell directly, in turn reaching a wider market.

But these digital applications aren’t just serving the individual consumer. If you want to change the food industry you have to attack it from all levels. FoodHub is doing just that by connecting professional food buyers, wholesale producers, distributors and industry suppliers in one community. Which means when the restaurateur wants a locally grown bunch of kale for the month’s salad special, he or she has a website that will tell them exactly where to get it.

Selling in an online space is also good for the farmers, not only because it expands their market, but because it lets them know how much they are going to sell, eliminating waste. Pitch a tent at farmers market over the weekend and you have to do some serious calculating for how many heads of cabbage and rutabagas to bring. An online system streamlines that process, which means farmers know exactly how much they are selling and where it’s going.

All these tools do however beg the question: while online platforms give us better access, are they discouraging us from engaging. The “Bowling Alone” social phenomenon is much discussed in political science circles, the idea that with the rise of internet and technology we spend more time alone than in community settings and in turn political involvement. The point of a farmers market after all isn’t just to get access to local food, it’s to engage in a discussion, and in a world where we already separate ourselves from society because of online channels, it’s important to keep in mind that even if we can make our purchases online, it shouldn’t stop us from interacting with the people that are producing what we’re buying. Conversation is just as much part of buying local as the actual products are – that’s something you simply don’t get when you shop at big box stores.

Ultimately, we can hope that platforms like these will not only provide greater access to good and local food, but also inspire us to engage more, talking about what we eat with those around us and seeking out new producers within our communities, all of which is part of the process of creating a more sustainable food system.

Images: Anna Brones

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A quick peak at EcoSalon’s celebration of Future:Standard’s 1st birthday.

We were thrilled to partner up with Future:Standard recently to celebrate the online eco boutique’s one-year anniversary. A clothing swap, photo booth and night of celebrating eco fashion is our kind of fun.

“I’m so honored to have celebrated my 1^st birthday party with EcoSalon! It’s been such an exciting year for Future:Standard and there couldn’t have been a better representation of what we are trying to accomplish, than with EcoSalon. I’m looking forward to a fabulous year with more amazing merchandise that respects the planet!” said Future Standard founder Jessica Althoff.

We couldn’t agree more – thanks to Jessica and her team for letting us take part. Here are some of our favorite shots from the photo booth that night.

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I admit it, I have cravings. Not just for dark chocolate, but for tweets.

It starts when I wake up and notice I need a Twitter fix – or a twix. Getting tweeted is now more important to me than my mother complementing my shoes – pretty shoes with bows or ankle straps that I purchase with her in mind. (Mom really likes these kind of shoes).

But tweets are the new approval. Sorry, Mom. I’m looking at the birdie for love, and smiling. It’s a gratifying picture. Except, of course, when the tweets don’t add up. If Twitter is over capacity, it is not because of me. The approval ratings can be disappointing. My tweet tooth feels a hole, a void, a cavity if you will. It can hurt something awful.

For this reason, I’m convinced, therapists will soon be healing a generation of Twitter followers with complexes from not receiving enough tweets in their formative years when they actively sought reassurance from countless strangers in the great abyss.

I look to strangers, too, in the tweets of San Francisco, to form a Twitter bond – strangers like Mayor Gavin Newsom, the 4th most followed politician on the service. See, most of my social contemporaries who aren’t web writers or famous Hollywood stars aren’t quite sure what kind of animal tweeting actually is, or what social networking means, or why some among us feel the need to sign in daily with mundane accounts of their comings and goings or to write witty and  pointless haiku – or twaiku, NPR observes.

I explain it is all about professional networking and exposure, not to be confused with Facebook, which is for sharing, too, but much more of a social animal. I’m drawn to Twitter to connect with other eco web entities, allow my own posts to gain visibility, and of course, to be part of  that club; The tech savvy one.

While the opposite of exclusive, it is an impressive club, so much so that any marketing executive connected with any university, magazine, business, grass roots cause or retail store must be equipped to set up an account and work it. By working it, I mean, spend part of the day following the Twitter trail that leads to the sort of club members you would want to take to lunch. The members you would want to be following you. And so you tweet them half way.

Getting re-tweeted is an art of sorts. For example, my colleagues are also Twitter hounds who crave tweets, and we share a reciprocal relationship, in which you tweet my link and I tweet yours. If I forget, a colleague might guilt me about being remiss and say “a little bird told me you forgot to tweet!” They might enjoy their tweet revenge and not scratch my back for a whole week, and then I have to rely on some stranger to do it.

I suppose all of this pop cultural blither is intended to send a message to followers and readers and colleagues, and even Facebook friends from junior high who see my links and posts on the social site.

Listen up, tweety pie. Tweet if you love me; tweet if you are horny; tweet if you are very small (a baby tweeter); tweet if you are large (a meaty tweety). If you don’t, I will just assume you don’t like me.

You can find Luanne on Twitter at @inthegreenlane or follow this list for all EcoSalon writers.

Images: Productive Dreams; Lawrence Borel; Dewaldp; Thoughtpick; Twitrounds

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When you come in from working all day on the Farmville, check out Urbanville life in the new online game RETROFITS. Launched by the California software company, Autodesk, it features talking buildings that encourage players to learn the benefits of eco upgrades to our city dwellings.

As the makers see it, “Buildings are the number one source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S,” and we need to make buildings better with sustainable and energy efficient design.

“Don’t just stand there,” they tell us, “Play the game, post your high score, and invite your friends to compete – every little fit helps.”

In other words, follow the Farmville route to creating a cooperative green mentality.

More cooperation is needed on the part of architects, engineers, builders, designers and others in the housing trade. According to ArchDaily, a substantial 8 percent of all carbon emissions in America come from powering our buildings and experts say we can achieve half the goal of cutting down on those emissions 60 to 90 percent by 2050.

Want to get started doing your part? Play the game here and let us know how you like it.

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He means the world to you…but the world means a lot to you, too! If you’re getting ready to plan an eco wedding, look no further than this helpful guide. Here’s a list of the best online resources to help you plan a green wedding:

At Great Green Wedding, you’ll find an assortment of links for eco-friendly invitations, favors, centerpieces, flowers, rings, attire and even honeymoon ideas. Visit their blog for highlights of sustainable, recycled and organic décor, jewelry, dresses and more.

Ethical Weddings is a fabulous online magazine to help you plan a green day of celebration with helpful tips, stories about eco-friendly weddings, their own blog and more.

Wedvert’s wedding guide search engine is an easy way to find reception settings, gowns, catering companies, flowers and more based on the location. Plus, this comprehensive site offers green articles and expert tips.

Eco-Chic Weddings is a must-read blog with a myriad of posts in categories like fashion and jewelry, favors and gifts, flowers and décor, invitations and paper, and more.

When it comes to elegant eco-couture wedding gowns, Adele Wechsler takes the cake. This talented designer is the brain behind stunning collections tailored to “the bride who cares about the world in which she lives.”

Twisted Limb Paperworks offers gorgeous wedding invitations, place cards and thank you notes that are 100% recycled. Plus, they’re embedded with wildflower seeds and can be planted instead of discarded. Their site also offers insight into eco-friendly attire, rings, flowers, favors and gifts.

Green Karat specializes in environmentally and socially responsible jewelry and is the perfect place to find a stylish assortment of recycled wedding bands for all tastes.

Blue Planet Wedding includes links to eco-friendly wedding planners, vegetarian caterers, carbon neutral photographers, ethically sourced diamonds and more. You’ll also find a search engine for green wedding vendors.

Green Union is a great resource with tips on how to choose the best venue, create the ideal wedding atmosphere, plan the decorative details and more.

The Knot includes a comprehensive green section with a ton of articles about earth-friendly rings, menus, invitations and more. You’ll also find information about hiring green vendors and donating your gown.

Earthwise Jewelry offers a stunning collection of reclaimed wedding bands.

The Green Your Wedding section of Planet Green includes a compilation of eco-friendly wedding articles, including Avoid These Wedding Eco Demons for a Greener Wedding Party, How to Make Your Bridesmaids Green and DIY and Eco-Friendly Wedding Favor Ideas.

Using eco-friendly fabrics and an eye for style, Morgan Boszilkov of Natural Bridals presents brides-to-be with a collection of gorgeous gowns and donates 5% of profits to environmental causes.

The Green Bride Guide includes stories about green weddings, a carbon calculator, a cost estimator and more. If you don’t find your what you’re looking for, you can e-mail Kate Harrison, author of the book by the same name that inspired this great site.

If you’re concerned about the cost of an eco-friendly wedding, then check out the green section of Budget Dream Weddings. This blog features ideas to cut costs, instructions for DIY favors, helpful links and more.

At My Eco Chic Wedding, you’ll find wedding craft ideas, advice on venues, catering tips, links to elegant organic attire and more. Also, check out the editor’s picks for invitations, favors, flowers and decorations.

The Eco-Chic Weddings section at Brides magazine’s online site features a comprehensive guide with advice for brides on a budget, a glossary of key terms, a checklist and more. Plus, you’ll find a list of the top green honeymoon destinations.

For eco-friendly wedding tips and honeymoon ideas, an extensive planning timeline and more, check out Green Elegance Weddings.

Elegala breaks down the components of an eco-friendly wedding with advice about choosing a location, invitations, décor elements, the menu, flowers, the cake, attire and favors.

Feeling overwhelmed? These 10 Steps to a Green Wedding will help you plan your eco-friendly nuptials one day at a time.

Images: a4gpa, spud, Rene Ehrhardt, apdk, Simon Shaw, Tim Popup,

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