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 Marketing Manager and resident foodie Anna Brones shows us how she plans to accessorize her favorite little black dress this summer.

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 Marketing Manager Anna Brones is planning to accessorize her favorite dress by Horny Toad this summer. A consummate foodie and playlist maven, Anna also has a crafty side, which she uses to create beautiful earrings from used bike tubes. Anna’s style is simple and laid-back with a distinct feminine vibe, she likes to stick to simple basic clothing and let the accessories to the talking.

Mulu: Black and White Striped Infinity Scarf by Raven + Lily
This light and airy scarf is the perfect choice for summer. Made from locally sourced cotton and hand-loomed by Ethiopian women who were former fuel laborers, this black and white infinity scarf wraps one, two or three times. Through Raven + Lily’s partnership with Connected in Hope Foundation, the women receive economic and educational opportunities, enabling their families to thrive.
$57, Raven + Lily

Upcycled Leaf Earrings by AB Designs
These pretty leaf-shaped earrings are made from upcycled bike tubes by Anna herself. She carves the shapes by hand and cleverly lets the natural curve of the tubes be part of the design.
$19, AB Designs/Etsy

Prairie Underground Undone Shrug
A great layering piece like this is a must have for those cold summer evenings. The edges are raw and unfinished and, instead of buttons, it’s got fun string ties. Do like Anna and wear it over a dress, or pair it with denim for a more casual vibe. Made in Seattle, from 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton.
$128, Embodies

Shannon South ReMade in the USA OOAK No.1 Clutch
Color-blocking is a trend that is still going strong. The similar hues in this one make it a highly versatile choice.The OOAK is a one of a kind clutch that, like all Shannon South’s designs, is made from vintage leather sourced from old jackets. This one has a vintage suede lining, brass zipper and a knotted leather pull.
$195, Shannon South

Gold Leather Slit Cuff by Fahmina
This cuff by Topanga-based eco-designer Fahmina is a great way to add some flair to an outfit. Metallics are highly versatile since they tend to go with everything, which means you can get by with less. Wear it on the outside of your sleeve to really show it off. Made from upcycled pre-consumer leather waste, salvaged from factory cutting tables.
$96, Fahmina

El Naturalista Senda Sandals
Anna’s not afraid to add a pop of color to her wardrobe. The best way to dress up a simple outfit is to add a distinct pair of shoes, preferably in a bright color like these from Spanish shoe label El Naturalista.
Approx. $150, El Naturalista

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We searched high and low to find these eleven iPad 2 cases that are both eco-friendly and stylish.

It’s an email machine, e-reader (imagine, a floor without magazine stacks) and app-wonderland, all wrapped into one sleek little case. If you don’t already have an iPad, chances are an iPad 2 is high up on your wish list and a stylish case to put it in would be second. We made that part easy for you with these top eleven picks of stylish and eco-friendly iPad cases.

Nau Pad Stash
Featuring clean lines and a slim profile, Nau’s Pad Stash combines old world style with new world functionality. Die-cut from wool felt, this case has a flip-close front cover, four accessory pockets and doubles as a stand for easy viewing. On the inside, recycled wool felt insulates and protects your iPad from scratching.
$75, Nau

Laser-etched Natural Bamboo Case by Grove
These all-natural bamboo cases are entirely hand-made in Portland, Oregon. The company doesn’t outsource, but creates everything, down to the packaging and website, on-site. Production is kept small-scale and limited and Grove believes in slowing things down in order to maintain the highest quality product. What really makes this one special though, is the wide range of beautiful laser-etched designs available. You can even design your own or, if adornment is just not your cup of tea, get a plain one.
$139-$169, Grove

Rickshaw Sleeve for iPad 2 in Earl Grey Performance Tweed
Made to order in Rickshaw’s San Francisco factory, this case comes with plush, laptop-grade padding and a plush, soft liner that works double duty protecting and cleaning your screen at the same time. Available in four different colors.
$40, Rickshaw Bags

Cork iPad Sleeve
This sleeve made from cork, brings your iPad a little closer to the earth. Cork is naturally water-resistant and durable and its soft, textured surface will protect your laptop from scratches or wear. It will also work kind of like a coaster to keep your iPad in place on slippery surfaces. Handmade in Spain, the Cork Sleeve will develop a unique patina with use.
$39, UncommonGoods

Felt iPad Sleeve by ribandhull
This sleeve features a simple, classic design and a flap with two metal snaps that are fully lined and reinforced (so they don’t cause any damage to your iPad). All of ribandhull’s products are entirely designed and produced in their Warsaw studio from the finest materials. This one is made with vegetable tanned leather and a thick 100% wool, German designer felt, which is water repellent and anti-pilling. More colors are available.
$52, Etsy/ribandhull

DODOcase for iPad 2
The DODOcase exterior gives your iPad the look and feel of a hard-bound book, which not only makes you look smart and book-ish but prevents theft as well. Made from solid core bamboo and black Moroccan cloth and constructed using traditional bookbinding techniques, the cover folds back to be used as a stand. The DODOcase’s magnetic insert also activates the iPad’s auto wake/sleep feature to wake and sleep your iPad instantly. Available in a variety of interior color choices.
$59.95, DODOcase

Michael Roger Landmade Cork iPad 2 Sleeve
This iPad sleeve (which also works for Netbooks) is made with sustainably harvested cork from Spain and features a beautiful, unique pattern (two different kinds are available). A zipper ensures that your iPad stays securely in place.
$69, Michael Roger Bookbinders

Recycled Mink iPad sleeve
This is for you glamor girls out there. This iPad sleeve is handmade to order from a 1960s vintage mink stole. It has beautiful, soft fur on one side and pre-loved black leather, upcycled from old jackets and pants on the other side (for an extra charge, you can get it in wrap-around mink). It’ll surely get your friends talking.
$175, Shannon South/ReMade USA

Kork 2 for iPad 2
This upgraded version of the Kork is lighter and thinner than its predessor and comes with many new features such as Apple Smart Cover integration, tray-mode, natural sound amplifier, and a camera hole. The company calls it “a complete ‘Swiss Army Knife’ for your iPad” and ensures this is the only cover you will ever need.
$49.95, A Produkt

Plaid Doctrine iPad Sleeve
Sewn in the USA from water- and stain-resistant high performance fabric made from recycled bottles, this sleeve features two large front pockets to hold accessories like chargers, headphones, and phones. It’s ultra lightweight, foam-padded, and fully lined in recycled, ripstop nylon. Comes in three different styles of on-trend plaid.
$59, Plaid Doctrine

Voltaic Spark Tablet Case
It may lack in the style department, but this clever case will not only protect but also charge your iPad. Featuring 8 Watts of solar embedded into a streamlined shell made from recycled PET, (which is waterproof, lightweight and UV resistant), the Spark stores over a full iPad charge of clean, green solar energy for you to use anytime. It also charges most other tablets, phones and professional digital cameras. Ten hours of sunlight will fully charge the battery.
$299, Voltaic

The post Top 11 Stylish & Eco-Friendly iPad 2 Cases appeared first on EcoSalon.

ReMade USA designer Shannon South’s favorite pieces are a vintage Armani cashmere blazer, a hand-crafted scarf and a very special ring that once belonged to her great grandmother.

As Founder and Designer of ReMade USA, Shannon South gives old leather jackets new lives as gorgeously handmade bags, clutches, iPad and iPhone cases. It seems only fitting that one of the favorite pieces in her closet is a vintage jacket. This one, however, is made from cashmere, not leather.

“I got this Armani Collezioni cashmere pinstripe blazer at a consignment store in San Francisco a few years ago,” Shannon says. “I was first attracted to its softness and when I tried it on, it fit me perfectly. I rarely buy expensive designer clothes and even on consignment this was well over my normal price range, but I could not resist the tailoring.”

Most of us never count on spending a lot of money when walking into consignment, vintage or second hand stores, but sometimes it’s just worth it. Considering the quality and versatility of the garment, the CPW (cost per wear) may be far less than a less expensive dress that you’ll end up wearing just a few times.

“I cannot tell you how many times I have worn this jacket — It goes with so many things and it is probably the most high-end designer item I own,” says Shannon. “I have never had a jacket fit me as well as this one and I always feel so polished when I wear it. It’s a reminder to me to save my money to buy quality, classic clothes, even if they are used. I feel better when I wear them and they last way longer than the cheap, trendy stuff.”

Speaking of craft, another favorite of Shannon’s is a loop scarf that she made last winter. “I bought the yarn at a knitting store in Williamsburg, on my way to a knitting party with my old studio mates. It comes from a small, organic farm where they hand-dye the wool in small batches. It is the one and only thing I have ever knitted and it reminds me of happy times with friends.”

“Lastly,” Shannon says, “my wedding band is the one staple that I wear everyday. It’s a traditional ring that is more practical to wear than my engagement ring when I am working. It was handed down from my great grandmother who I never met. I’m the only other person to ever wear it and somehow it makes me feel connected to her.”

The post Closet Stories: Shannon South’s Vintage Armani Blazer appeared first on EcoSalon.

These eight iPhone 4S cases (which work for the iPhone 4 as well), are both eco-friendly and stylish.

Everyone has had the moment of total panic that comes with dropping their smartphone on the floor, fearing that this will be the time it shatters into a million little spider-webbed pieces. Before this happens to you, get a case. Here are the top eight eco-friendly options we found for the iPhone 4S (which will also work for the iPhone 4 as well).

Laser-Etched Natural Bamboo Case by Grove
These all-natural bamboo cases are entirely hand-made in Portland, Oregon. The company doesn’t outsource, but creates everything, down to the packaging and website, on-site. Production is kept small-scale and limited and Grove believes in slowing down their production in order to maintain the highest quality product. What really makes this one special, though, is the wide range of beautiful laser-etched designs available. You can even design your own.
$89-$119, Grove

Re-Case by Miniwiz
Made entirely from “trash” as they say on the case, this option really walks the talk. Rice farming by-products, usually discarded as agricultural waste, are reprocessed and added to post-consumer thermo-plastics to form a highly durable material of architectural grade. It is also recyclable and able to be manufactured at an unbeatable minimum of CO2 emissions.
$24.95, Miniwiz

Case-Mate Jett Metal Case
Machined from a single block of aircraft billet aluminum (a sustainable metal that can be recycled over and over), this sturdy metal case is for those of us who need some serious protection. Without changing the design profile, it completely encases your phone for optimal protection and even comes with a tool set for assembly.
$50, Case Mate

Ribandhull Bridle Wallet/iPhone Case
This tan leather bridle wallet not only holds your cash and cards but your iPhone too. How stylish is that? Entirely handmade in Warsaw from premium Italian vegetable tanned bridle leather, this case will only grow more beautiful with age.
$95, Etsy/ribandhull

Shannon South ReMade USA iPhone Sleeve
If you still like your phone un-cased as you use it, a sleeve is a good way to protect it from being scratched and damaged in transit. This simple, stylish idea by ReMade USA comes in black or brown and is made entirely from recycled leather jackets.
$29, Shannon South/ReMade USA

Felt iPhone Cozy
Boasting some serious personality-traits, this felt cozy is for those of you who like to give your electronics names (you know who you are). Hand sewn with 100% Eco-fi Polyester Felt Fabric (which is entirely made from recycled bottles) and in double layers for extra protection, this mustached option is fade-resistant and washable. The cozies are made to order in the color of your choice, and you can get them adorned with your initials instead of facial hair.
$7, Etsy/ILOVEfelt88

Wood Camera iPhone Case
This one is for you hipstamatic-addicts out there. In addition to your snapshots looking like old photos, now your phone itself can look like a vintage camera. Each case is made using sustainably harvested walnut wood (lined with felt to prevent scratching) and surface-engraved using lasers.
$42, Photojojo

Eco Wool and Brown Vegan Leather iPhone Wallet
This wool felt cell phone case is handcrafted using dark gray wool made from recycled PET bottles. Your phone is held in place by a faux (vegan) leather strap with a snap closure (the snap is lined on the inside to prevent it from scratching the glass). There are also two inside pockets for stashing your cash and cards.
$20, Etsy/Cartergray

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Shannon South gives vintage leather jackets and pants new life as sexy handbags.

Made from used leather clothing and scrap material, Shannon South’s ReMade in the USA collection of bags is a great way to make a fashion statement while keeping your conscience clear. The amount of clothing that gets sent to landfills every year is staggering, The Fiber Economics Bureau reported that the average American throws out about 68 pounds of textiles per year. The Council for Textile Recycling found that of this waste, only about 10 pounds per person is recycled. Giving tired old leather jackets and pants a new life as gorgeous handbags seems like a great way to boost that recycling number.

If you want, you can even send in your own old, no-longer-loved jacket and South will transform it into a bag based on one of her current designs.

South studied at The Royal College of Art in London, and earned a Masters in Industrial Design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating, she lived in the Netherlands for a while, working with internationally acclaimed designer, Marcel Wanders, who taught her the value and beauty of “the story” in design. South also spent time living in Oslo and Copenhagen, places that greatly influenced her design work and aesthetic.

After moving back to the United States, South started designing bags. She was, however, deeply troubled by the process of sending CAD drawings to China and having her bags mass produced. She decided that the only way she could feel good about what she was doing was if she used only repurposed materials and manufactured locally.

She went to Goodwill, found a leather jacket, studied the details and let them guide her design process. She fell in love with the result and “quickly became obsessed with studying old jacket details and seeing them on bags.” Thus, ReMade USA was born. Last year, she packed up her studio in San Francisco and moved to New York City. All of the bags are now made by hand in South’s studio in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and at a handful of her manufacturers in Manhattan.

Shannon South at work in her studio

The main material South uses is leather, but she also works with everything from used denim to vintage doilies, and the bag linings are all made from vintage scarves.

“Repurposing materials is a very thoughtful process and it means that every object made is unique,” says South. Because she works with an existing garment rather than a piece of leather or fabric, South has to constantly adapt her basic designs to work with the details of that particular garment.

“No two jackets that I find are alike. Each one must be deconstructed and design decisions must be made. My patternmaking has to be smart and creative, fitting within the constraints of the given material.” For the customer, this means that even though you choose between basic styles from the collection, no two bags are alike.

For this new collection, South decided to include pieces made from vintage fur.

“I’ve wanted to work with vintage fur for quite a long time and mink is something I was drawn to for its luxuriousness,” she says. “I came across a vintage stole, which I made my first samples with and loved the results. The combination of mink with the buttery soft leather is beautiful.”

Fur is a pretty controversial topic within ethical fashion, something South is fully aware of. “I would never endorse using new fur, but there is a lot of old fur that has been hidden away for several years and is out of style.”

iPhone & iPad cases made from reclaimed leather and vintage mink fur

One of my favorite things about the new collection are the brass detailings that can be seen on some of the bags. This was inspired by one of South’s old studio neighbors, Fay Andrada, a metalsmith who uses brass as her medium.

I interviewed Shannon a few years ago, as her first ReMade USA collection (which was picked up by Barneys) was coming out so when putting together the lookbook for this new collection, she asked me if I would model the bags for her, which I was of course happy to do. We spent an afternoon in South’s Brooklyn apartment with photographer Evan Browning and what came out of it is what you see here.

All ReMade USA bags are handcrafted in New York City

Shannon South’s vision has remained constant from the start, even though she has now added jewelry and home accessories to her line.

“I see reMade USA as part of a back-to-basics, holistic approach that is in line with the way I try to live my life. It sees beauty in the past, praises a lifestyle of ‘making do’ and has a deep appreciation for things that have been cultivated by hand — be it tomatoes from a garden, a piece of wood from a salvage yard, or a bag that has been hand-crafted from an old jacket. In the end, I am trying to lead a life of authenticity and responsibility, doing what I love and attempting to be as good as possible.”

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