Here’s how to make Dad feel extra special on his big day – in a green way, of course!

Fashion Windows turned me on to Church’s, the Northampton brand of classical English elegance. In business since 1873, the company still uses the age-old process of making everything by hand. Splurge a little and buy your father a hand-crafted silk tie.

A green suit? How so, you ask? Treehugger reported that Sears has taken a chance with tailoring manufacturer Bagir to sell the world’s first recycled PET bottle (polyethylene terephthalate most commonly used for food packaging) suit. The same company who brought us the iPod suit and the machine wash and dry suit has invented this version made from wool and recycled PET plastic bottles. Sold under the Covington private-label in US stores only, your dad can pioneer a new look for business attire.

Help your dad feel like a kid again with these quirky cuff links. Made of recycled wrist watches, no two pieces are alike. They’re subtle enough to be wearable and are sure conversation starters if your dad wants to brag about how in touch he is.

Sprig has put together a list of Father’s Day gifts, too. I like this outdoor gear – great for active types.

You might consider sending your father a bouquet of flowers – men enjoy them just like women do, and these days, it’s considered both thoughtful and stylish. Look to Organica Deluxe for the perfect organic blooms, or consider an organic, eco-friendly miniature lemon or olive tree.

Image: sponsor VivaTerra

The post But of Course: Eco-Friendly Father's Day Gift Ideas appeared first on EcoSalon.

Bahar Shahpar applies her eco values to the entire manufacturing process. Shahpar says her designs are not for the “Birkenstock person”, but for those fond of classic lines and stylish silhouettes.

The clothes emerge with an unusually refined tailoring for the materials – organic linens, hemps, cottons and silks. In Shahpar’s collections, chic replaces “Ëœtree-hugger". Feminine turn-of-the-century staples are captured and given a playful update, such as bright florals that leave those Laura Ashley days in the dust (the above dress has entered iconic status).

Shahpar’s approach to eco-awareness in design embraces all aspects of garment creation including decreasing energy use and waste in the production line. And the eco-credentials are complete: Shahpar does not see fit to have an entirely "sustainable" garment fitted with plastic buttons, as is often the case.

Shahpar’s presence on the fashion radar reminds us that for clothes to be truly "sustainable", they must go beyond the materials used. There is a rigorous design element to sustainability in fashion; if the designs are not solid and timeless, the consumer is bound to replace them sooner. Here is a designer that reminds us to include classic pieces in our wardrobes – pieces that just happen to be created using cutting edge eco-technology and textiles strong enough to grace your closet for the next decade or two.

Some classics:

Check out the soothing plaids and ladylike wearability of the 2008 line.

Images: Bahar Shahpar

The post Cultivated Couture with Bahar Shahpar appeared first on EcoSalon.