The least expensive and most fun fashion trend is everywhere this season.

The enamel pin trend is nothing new — people have lined their denim jackets and backpacks with pin flair for years. But this past year, the trend infiltrated mainstream culture in a big way.

Small but stylish

Pins are a great way to add personal style and a bit of fun to any piece of clothing or accessory. While backpacks and jackets are perfect homes for pins year-round, moving flair around to compliment the season is a fun way to mix things up.

During the summer, women can wear enamel pins just about anywhere, Megan duBois, blogger at minglingwithmegan.com, says.

Wear two or three similarly sized or themed pins to spice up a simple black sun dress. Not feeling a dress? Pin and win on the brim of a sunhat.

“More recently, I’ve been loving adding pin flair to denim shorts,” duBois adds.

Our favorite summer enamel pins

Interested in adding to your pin collection?

We think you’ll love these enamel pins.

The trendy pin

1. BoxLunch’s “Twin Peaks” Enamel Pin

It’s happening again. “Twin Peaks” recently went “on air” again and we’ve got to say, the Double R Diner has never looked so good. If you’re craving the series’ next episode as much as your next cup of coffee, you’ll adore this “Twin Peaks” enamel pin.

BoxLunch, the site selling the pin, is a damn fine company in its own right. The curated gift and novelty online shop gives a meal to a person in need, via Feeding America, for every $10 you spend.

The feminist pin

2. Punky Pins’ Grab Them By The Patriarchy Enamel Pin

Dear feminists: This pin is for you. This past year has been pretty rough for any person who identifies as a woman. And Punky Pins gets that. That’s why the brand recently released its Feminist Flair Collection. We love all the pins in the collection, but are especially smitten with the nod to the patriarchy’s impending extinction.

Punky Pins is based in North East England. It was founded in 2005 by Claire Whaite by happenstance when she made a few badges using a kids badge machine. The brand now collaborates will all sorts of amazing designers, bloggers, and brands.

The revolutionary pin

3. Radical Dreams’ Maxine Waters Enamel Pin

Ugh, American politics right now. It’s such a depressing time. But there are a few political rays of hope shining out of Washington. One of those bright beams of light is Maxine Waters, California congresswoman and general badass. That’s why we love Radical Dreams’ Maxine Waters pin that features an amazing quote: “I’m a strong black woman and I cannot be intimidated.” Priced at $10, but basically priceless.

Radical Dreams’ sells many other amazing pins, too. That’s probably because the company was founded in 2015 by a medical student who has a passion for social justice and serving her community. Shannon P., the company’s founder, opened her shop to create enamel pins that showcase black people and social statements.

Do you have a favorite pin company? If so, let us know. Because we can always find room for another pin!

Related on EcoSalon
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8 Must-Have Rain Gear Accessories for a Stylishly Dry Spring

The post These 3 Enamel Pins Will Up Your Flair and Your Mood appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnAccessorize any outfit with these ten DIY jewelry brooch projects you can easily make at home. 

Each DIY jewelry brooch project below is super easy! Add a pin or even magnets (so not to poke holes in any shirts or dresses) to the back of each brooch for an instant accessory. Customize with feathers, colors–just have fun and let your creativity play!

1. Flower Pin Brooch

This very easy DIY flower brooch is brought to you by the United Blogs of Benetton. Really just a matter of glueing the pin on and finding the right flowers at your local craft store, it will spruce up any white button up. You can pin them along the collar or in a cluster on the chest.

2. Decoupage Badges

An ode to David Bowie, this DIY tutorial by Rookie Mag can be great starting point for any brooch you want to make. Using a wooden base, Mod Podge, bar pins, and whatever pictures you want, it’s a super easy guide to creating a colorful brooch.

3. French Pouf Chiffon and Tulle Flower Brooch

One of our favorite’s, this French pouf chiffon and tulle flower brooch by Love Maegan is a delicate statement accessory. And, as with all these DIY brooches, you can pin them on to a belt or in your hair too!

4. BBQ Brooch

This BBQ Brooch by P.S.- I made this, is perfect for thrifty recyclers. Made from napkins, plastic forks, a coaster and whatever bedazzle you want to add, it’s a summery pop of fun.

5. Bejeweled Flower Brooch

Fabric scraps, glitz jewels and time is really all you need for this bejeweled flower brooch by Go Make Me. The project is originally intended for a headband, but you can glue a pin or magnets to each flower to create a brooch.

6. Felt Flower Brooch

This felt flower brooch tutorial by Cynthia Shaffer not only explains how to make a felt flower brooch, but also how you can dye the fabric to vary it’s color. Why not take it a step further and use natural dyes?

7. Vintage Brooch Corsage

A Beautiful Mess calls this DIY brooch project a “dressed up version of a floral brooch.” You can follow their entire tutorial, or simply add feathers to a brooch you already own.

8. Pearled Knot Brooch

Very classic and clean, this pearled knot brooch by My White Idea originally sprung out of a Mother’s Day present project. Sailor glam? Why not!

9. Detachable Flower Pins

A fresh, simple DIY project that you can pin to your shirt or even on your bag like shown above. This detachable DIY project by Matter of Style reminds us of the flowers on Marc Jacobs’ Daisy perfume, but even better because it’s created by you.

10. Baubled Brooch

Inspired by Tom Binns’ neon necklaces, Cupcakes and Cashmere explains how to spruce up a vintage brooch by adding nailpolish to color its gems. Choose what ever colors you have at home to upcycle a found brooch.

Want more DIY? See Also:

DIY: 10 Stylish Handbags You Can Make At Home

DIY: 10 Statement Earrings You Can Totally Make

10 DIY Bracelets To Make This Weekend

DIY: 10 Things To Do With An Old T-Shirt

DIY: 10 Pretty Little Clutches

images from the DIY sites

The post DIY Jewelry: 10 Sartorial Brooches You Can Easily Personalize: On Trend appeared first on EcoSalon.

From organic cotton garb to reusable serving ware, they have raised the bar in San Francisco this week as more than 1,500 Jewish teen athletes from 40 U.S. cities and four international countries (Mexico, Guatemala, Israel and Canada) compete in the Maccabi Games 2009.

This year, for the first time, organizers introduced a Green Team – a committee chaired by Miriam Gordon, an environmental activist, and games director, Jackie Lewis. Their game plan: a zero-waste event that completely circumvents the dreaded landfill.

Instead of the usual bottled water and other plastic beverage containers supplied to thirsty players, the participants have been issued reusable stainless steel water bottles to be refilled throughout the week of competition.

Garbage cans at every venue, from the polo fields in Golden Gate Park for soccer matches to the ritzy Meadow Club for golf – will be called eco-stations with recycling and composting labels for dispensing with waste.

“It’s a whole new way of doing the event,” Gordon told the Jewish News Weekly, adding that in addition to the reusable bottles, the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (the event sponsor) will serve athletes kosher meals on reusable/compostable plates with reusable utensils.

Apparently, this will also cut down on a huge litter problem on fields and event sites witnessed at past games held throughout the country.

Lewis says it’s not unusual to see water bottles scattered on the ground or thrown in the garbage because the kids are so preoccupied with matches, they aren’t thinking about what they are doing (ahh, yes, those clueless days!).

But greening the event reinforces the message that the kids must learn to be the stewards of the planet and do their part to conserve resources and consume wisely. In other words, be keen green teens!

Other gold medal eco moves:

The transportation company hired to drive the teens uses buses that run on biofuels, posters have been printed on reclaimed cardboard, volunteer tees were made from organic cotton and the food served to athletes will be mostly organic and locally-produced. The organizers also made an effort to produce fewer paper programs and notices, and whatever they did print was double-sided and on post-consumer, recycled products.

Not to miss a beat, even the pins (above) that the San Francisco delegation was issued to trade with other athletes were forged of recycled PVC-plastic.

There’s also an online component that allows spectators and participants to calculate their carbon footprint during the week of games. They can offset the pounds of carbon produced by making a contribution to the Jewish National Fund or the Carbon Fund.

Images: Luanne Bradley

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