It’s trendier than ever to shop for eco-conscious clothing, and thanks to Greenpeace, it’s also becoming a heck of a lot easier.

In 2011, Greenpeace launched a call for clothing companies to make a commitment to toxin-free fashion by 2020, and so far, 76 brands have joined the movement — accounting for about 15 percent of global textile production. Four years short of the deadline, Greenpeace decided to check in with 19 of them and see how things were going.

The brands were evaluated on their progress towards eliminating hazardous chemicals from their lines along three vectors – transparency of their production lines, elimination of poly-fluorinated compound (PFC), and individual detox plans.

Brands to Love

Only three of the 19 brands surveyed really dressed to impress Greenpeace.

“We applaud H&M, Zara and Benetton for leading the way and setting a new standard in toxic free fashion,” said Kirsten Brodde, Head of the Detox My Fashion campaign at Greenpeace Germany. “These companies prove that cleaning up the fashion industry is possible – both for large and medium-sized companies.”

H&M

Swedish H&M is a detox star, praised by Greenpeace for being the first brand to eliminate dangerous PFCs from its products and for showing support for transparency in its supply chain.

“We apply the precautionary principle – meaning that we preventively restrict chemicals even where there is scientific uncertainty,” writes H&M of its sustainability commitments. “Accordingly, our requirements usually go further than the law demands.”

Regular tests, intensive training with regards to the handling of chemicals, and ever-increasing limits on the use and discharge of hazardous chemicals are all elements of H&M’s policy that make it a surefire green fashion star.

Zara

Inditex, the company behind Zara, the world’s largest clothing retailer, has made good on its 2012 commitment to eliminate PFCs by the end of 2015, one of the fastest eliminations of this hazardous group in the industry.

It has also worked closely with its Global South suppliers to increase transparency with regards to the use of hazardous chemicals and any possible resulting contamination.

Benetton

Since Benetton announced its commitment to non-toxic fashion in 2013, the Italian company has made improvements in leaps and bounds. This year, Benetton completely excluded 11 potentially harmful chemical groups from its production and implemented stringent tests on wastewater to ensure the true cleanliness of its production cycles. The company continues its efforts, increasing transparency and progressively eliminating PFCs.

“We congratulate Benetton for the way it drives the entire industry and imposes a new, worldwide standard for a fashion free from toxic substances,” said Giuseppe Ungherese, pollution campaign manager of Greenpeace Italy. “The company is showing for a fact that ridding the fashion industry of toxic substances is already possible.”

Brands to Watch

These brands are making strides toward true eco-conscious clothing production, but they’re not quite there yet. With a bit of encouragement, these companies could become rising stars before Greenpeace’s 2020 deadline.

Adidas

Adidas once ranked much lower on this list, but thanks to its commitment to move away from poly- and perfluorinated chemicals by 2017, this sneaker manufacturer is moving up in the detox world (and far past former rival Nike).

Burberry

Burberry is quickly moving up in the detox fashion world since the 2014 report that proved the brand guilty of hazardous chemical contamination in eight of nine tested children’s clothing items. Increased cooperation with Greenpeace and efforts in transparency mean that Burberry isn’t totally out of fashion when it comes to eco-conscious clothing.

However, the company is reportedly still relying on the flawed chemical list from the industry group Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC), which is missing important dangerous substances like PFCs, so this English company still has a few more strides to take before it reaches the green catwalk.

Levi’s

Levi’s is slowly working toward the goal of full detox, agreeing to publish discharge data from its supply chain facilities in the Global South and requiring its largest suppliers to disclose pollution data for increased transparency. It has also begun communicating with suppliers about eliminating APEOs, phthalates, and PFCs from its products. That said, this denim brand needs to do quite a bit more work if it intends to meet its 2020 goals.

Brands to Skip

While many of the brands that committed to eco-conscious clothing by 2020 are taking the appropriate steps to meet their goals, some seem to have forgotten that they made the promise at all.

“There are still many uncommitted toxic addicts that have failed to take responsibility for their toxic trail and have yet to make a credible, individual Detox commitment,” says Greenpeace.

Nike

Nike is the only brand on this list to completely fail in all three assessed categories. Nike “paints itself as a detox leader but is way behind on transparency,” according to Greenpeace, and is thus a no-no for those in favor of green fashion.

Nike has made a few small steps, such as its partnership with Bluesign Technologies for sustainable innovation, but it is way behind other brands on the way to true eco-conscious clothing before 2020.

Victoria’s Secret

While Limited Brands – owner of Victoria’s Secret and La Senza – vowed to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from its supply chain in 2013, it hasn’t made as many steps as Greenpeace would like to see towards this goal.

When Greenpeace first investigated Victoria’s Secret in 2012, the organization was shocked to discover the presence of a hormone-disrupting phthalate at levels that would have led to the product being banned in the EU had it been a toy. Victoria’s Secret quickly jumped on the detox bandwagon after consumer pressure, but as of July, moves to fulfill its commitment for change have been paltry at best.

While the company has improved its transparency slightly, it has done “absolutely nothing” to reduce its environmental impact and “has no concrete plan to do so in the future,” Cosmopolitan reported in July.

Gap

Gap is one of a handful of companies that continually refuses to make a commitment to non-toxic, eco-conscious clothing production.

In 2013, Gap was linked to PT Gistex, an Indonesian supplier known for its pollution of the local water supply, and Greenpeace claims that Gap has turned a blind eye to the issue. As of March of last year, nothing had been done to resolve this, to the extent that when Gap opened its first Taiwanese store, activists from Greenpeace East Asia dropped a banner demanding that Gap say no to toxic fashion.

For now, that means that eco-conscious shoppers should avoid not only Gap but also Old Navy and Banana Republic.

Of course, opting for greener big fashion brands is only the beginning of the fight for more eco-conscious clothing options. Choosing smaller sustainable designers and rejecting the fast fashion mindset are great ways to contribute to more eco-conscious clothing options.

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The post 3 Eco-Conscious Clothing Brands Changing the Game (and 3 that Aren’t) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Is your closet sustainable yet? If not, it’s high-time you started shopping for eco-friendly, fair-trade, sustainable fashion. Not only is it the responsible choice, you’ve also got a lot of fun choices.

But first, the bad news: fashion is the second highest polluting industry in the world. Eighty-two pounds of textile waste are produced per person every year, just in the U.S. One new pair of jeans takes 900 gallons of water to produce, and to top it all off, nearly 20 percent of industrial water pollution comes from synthetic textile dyes for that perfect periwinkle or hot pink.

And shopping isn’t just bad for the environment — about 99 percent of clothes being sold in the U.S. are not made ethically, according to Business Insider, with most of the garments that we buy being made in sweatshops by underpaid, overworked laborers–including children, despite laws and global efforts to reduce child labor.

Why has it gotten this bad? Because we’re addicted to shopping. A 2008 study from Stanford, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon showed that while most people don’t want to spend money, they do want the pleasure of buying new things. Enter the world of fast fashion, which has evolved to allow consumers to buy lots of low-quality products, renewing their closets every year (or even more often) with ever-changing trends. We’re currently buying 400 percent more new clothes than we were just two decades ago.

So how can we do better?

Ruby Veridiano, an advocate for social responsibility in the fashion industry, has a few ideas. Shopping vintage or secondhand is a good place to start, especially because only ten percent of clothing donated to thrift stores is actually sold (much of it gets thrown away.

Veridiano also champions eco-fashion champion Livia Firth’s 30-wear rule when making a purchase.

“It’s the idea that before buying something, first consider if you can commit to wearing it at least 30 times,” Veridiano says. “The 30 wear rule guarantees that you buy quality items instead of buying in quantity, which means that you might buy less, but keep it for a longer period of time. Not only does it reduce waste in your closet, but it also helps reduces waste on the planet.”

But perhaps the biggest change that you can make to really ensure that your fashion choices are sustainable is choosing to support ethical brands.

“Ethical brands are made with integrity and support a socially responsible ethos,” says Veridiano. “The challenge is finding them, as they are not always readily available.”

That’s what inspired Veridiano to start the now extensive list of ethical brands on her website, if you’re just getting started, here are three ethical, sustainable fashion brands we love.

1. People Tree

People Tree is one of Veridiano’s personal faves, and we can see why. A major player in the ethical and sustainable fashion industry for the past 25 years, the company has established partnerships with Fair Trade producers, and its very mindset is founded in the creation of an alternative to fast fashion.

“Slow Fashion means standing up against exploitation, family separation, slum cities and pollution – all the things that make fast fashion so successful,” writes People Tree, whose clothes are made from sustainable materials and by people in rural communities who make a living wage.

Now that’s all well and good, but what are the clothes like? Well honestly, we love them. Tons of simple classics like button-up shirts, wrap dresses, hand-knitted sweaters, and even t-shirts, made from high-quality materials in neutral patterns that you’ll be able to wear again and again.

2. Eco

As this infographic shows, glasses aren’t exempt from the eco-fashion police: the materials used to make glasses and sunglasses – particularly plastic ones – are the sorts of things you should probably avoid if you want to live sustainably.

Eco – a brand created by boutique eyewear brand Modo — makes trendy glasses whose frames are made from 64 percent bio-based and recycled materials, like eco-friendly plastic, which is made with oil from castor beans instead of crude oil, or high-density polyethylene plastics recovered from the sea.

Not only are you cleaning out some of the eight million metric tons of plastic dumped into the oceans every year if you choose one of these pairs of trendy frames, you’re also contributing to replanting the world’s forests, as Eco plants a tree for every pair sold.

3. Vavavida

For all of your accessory needs, choose Vavavida, which sells bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings, and bags that are handmade by fairly paid artisans. The high-quality products highlight the craftsmanship of the people – often women – behind these unique pieces.

Vavavida is all about empowering local craftspeople, and founder Antoine even posts some of the artisans’ stories on the Vavavida site, so that you can get to know the women who crafted your favorite statement necklace or bangle.

To top it all off, Vavavida donates ten percent of its revenue to non-profit organizations empowering women.

These are just a few of the brands that are slowly but surely paving the way to increasing the choices in the world of sustainable fashion. Now it’s time to do our part and vote with our dollars for our favorite pieces.

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Fashion image via Shutterstock

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We all know that fast fashion sucks, but it’s still reallllly hard to resist that trendy piece of clothing that look so good.

And although the main reason most of us pick fast fashion is to curb our voracious fashion appetites, we also pick less than amazing pieces because some clothes are just too expensive. Well, Tom Cridland, British designer of men‘s clothing, has decided to make a jacket that will last 30 years — and it’s not too pricey.

Staying Sustainable

Cridland’s main reason for creating the 30 Year Jacket was to make sustainable fashion that could curb the world’s addiction to cheap clothing.

His sustainable fashion project, which all began with the creation of a 30 Year Sweatshirt, has a lofty goal: “To lead an industry trend into protecting our natural resources by making truly durable clothing,” he says. “We’re [he and his fashion team] trying to get people to think about how they consume their fashion, and we are basically just trying to invoke a bygone era when clothing was made with exquisite care.”

While the jacket is not inexpensive — it costs about $258 — it isn’t that much more expensive than a wool winter coat.

For the Love of Longevity

Cridland also wants people to start buying better-made items once rather than poorly-made items every few years. “They’ll [the pieces] look smarter because they’ll be of better quality, and they’ll last longer,” he says. “And that’s not going to only, you know, benefit them. It’s going to benefit the environment and, of course, it’s going to keep independent brands like mine in business.”

Where to Buy

The jacket is physically available in Los Angeles and New York, but you can check out everything in Cridland’s 30 Year Collection on his website. The designer is selling various versions of the 30 Year Sweatshirt and the 30 Year T-Shirt. You also can see the 30 Year Jacket online. It comes in multiple colors and styles — some versions are made of 100 percent wool, others 100 percent cotton.

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Image of the 30 Year Jacket via Facebook

The post The 30 Year Jacket is More Stylish and Just as Sustainable as It Should Be appeared first on EcoSalon.

Kelly Slater is likely the best surfer the world has seen. And now he may also soon be the best eco clothing designer too.

Kelly Slater has won the ASP World Tour Championship a record 11 times. He was both the youngest (at 20) and the oldest (at 39) to win the award. He’s gone farther than any other surfing champion and now he plans to use his fame to launch a sustainable clothing line. It’s called Outerknown and it’s his new surfing lifestyle brand. Last year, the pro surfer chose not to renew his sponsorship contract with Quicksilver after over two decades to launch the brand.

Slater partnered with designer and fellow surfer John Moore with the backing of the French company Kering. Kering also owns Volcom, Puma, Gucci, and Stella McCartney. Slater says the brand mixes style, sustainability, and travel. According to the company’s website, they will “lift the lid of the supply chain bringing the consumer along the journey to transparency.”

The Outerknown collection, which will launch in Autumn 2015, will include wardrobe essentials like t-shirts, woven shirts, knits, jackets, and chinos in earth tones. The women’s section will follow high fashion trends.

“There is a huge part of the surfing community that has evolved over the past few years and are looking for something like this. Men and women who have grown up with surf brands, but the key is that they’ve grown up and their interests have evolved. Everyone dreams of a coastal lifestyle — what that surfing lifestyle represents — but they don’t necessarily want to dress head to toe like a surfer,” John Moore said to The Business of Fashion.

Sustainability is another component of the brand, using organic cotton, hemp, regenerated Italian wool, and recycled fishing nets. The backing of Kering will help source the necessary materials.

“Kering has a whole sustainability team working on it long term and we are able to entrust that to them,” Kelly Slater said. “You have to have certain sized batches. You have to order a certain amount of material. You have to have fire power behind you. We can share the sourcing with their other brands.”

Outerknown isn’t using denim until it can find a sustainable provider.

“The clothing market in general is a dirty business,” Slater, continued in The Business of Fashion. “We aren’t doing denim to start with, because we can’t do denim in a way we feel is environmentally friendly at this point. It uses a lot of water and if you go to the places where they make the denim, the rivers are blue and there’s nothing alive in them.”

It’s about providing for a surfing community that’s all grown up as well as those that just love the lifestyle. Surfers are constantly one on one with nature so sustainability and protecting the planet they love so much is often first and foremost. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to see what this line has to offer.

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Image: Jim Bahn

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Every once in awhile, a company comes along and you think to yourself, “Wow! They really thought of everything!”  Sustainability? Check. Durability? Check. Utter cuteness? Check. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Fableists.

Who are the Fableists? (fay-buh-list) noun: A group of people making the coolest clothing for little punks! Garments that are not only beautifully designed but made well and completely sustainable. Origin: Fable (a short story with a moral) Activist (someone with a rebellious spirit who makes positive change happen)

Recently launched by UK-based husband and wife team Matt and Sarah Cooper, The Fableists sought to “break the cycle of kids making clothes for kids“. That was the original idea–to make children’s clothing without relying on child labor. Once they started researching the manufacturing business, they realized that they could not stop there.

The massive environmental impact of modern clothing manufacturing and the chemicals traditionally involved in the process were mind-blowing. Combined, they have four children–they didn’t want these chemicals touching their children’s skin, so why would anyone else? Their mantra became clear: “We are kind to the makers, to the planet and the skin of the kids who wear us.”

And when we say they’ve thought of everything, we mean it. Here’s the Fableists’ Sustainability Checklist:

• All cotton 100% certified organic
• GOTS (who certified most of the cotton) also rates
social responsibility in their certification
• Non-cotton items certified by Fair Wear or Fair Trade
• Factories and dyeing houses are inspected
• No underage workers in the factories
• All employees paid a fair wage and given statutory
rights in accordance with International
Labour Organization
• Everything from thread to buttons to rivets are
considered (rivets and buttons are lead and
nickel free)
• Printing of t-shirts and dying done in closed loop
system so that chemicals are not dumped in to the
communities and ecosystems
• Shipping done over land and sea where possible to
reduce carbon footprint
• T-Shirts have almost zero carbon footprint due
to factories being run on wind and other renewable
energy sources
• Cotton grown by a collective of organic farmers to
ensure that they are paid a fair price and are
governed and protected by a committee
• T-Shirt artists paid for the limited print run with a
potential for share in any profits
• Percentage of profits to go in to an as yet unnamed
charity that will help to promote education in the
areas where our clothes are made
• Cotton grown in monsoon rain fed areas of India as
most cotton requires a huge amount of water
to grow
• No GM crops used in the making of our clothes
• Cotton is 100% pure and not reliant on use
of insecticides for growing or other chemicals in
processing

In addition to their thoughtful, eco-friendly tenets, The Fableists line is sustainable by design. Their aesthetic is based on time-honored vintage workwear, which makes sense; play is hard work! Because the look is timeless and the construction is incredibly durable, pieces may be worn for years, being passed from child to child and family to family. (Adorable marketing piece: Each item comes with its own passport so you can document its journey!)

The Fableists website is not just for selling clothing and promoting their brand, but for educating consumers on sustainability practices to aid the health of our planet. They even provide tips for laundering your clothing to not only make it last longer, but to create less waste and eliminate harsh chemicals. Seriously. They thought of EVERYTHING.

The Fableists. Play hard, live forever.

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 All images and quotes courtesy of The Fableists

The post Meet the Fableists: Cool Clothes for (Always Cool) Kids appeared first on EcoSalon.

As if it were Lego for the modern woman, fashion designers are creating more with less and spurring sustainability as a result.

Let’s face it: We can be moody, fickle, and change is inherent to our human nature, right?  So, what if we could change the clothing we already own to be something completely new, without buying more?

Engineer-minded fashion designers are anticipating sustainability needs a wearers’ want for change–not in the sense of fleeting trends–but by making single garments that can intelligently change their shape to be multi-purpose and adaptable.

Multi-purpose clothing allows us as the wearer to participate in the shape of a garment, just like the designer did in making the clothing. It’s a playful concept with immense sustainable concepts woven in. The clothing is adaptable to the seasons and our style and sustainability, ultimately saving on resources, money and our time.

Check out three amazing eco-fashion designers that are playing with clothing that can change shape.

1. DePLOY

Haute couture sustainable fashion brand DePloy will make you look twice. Each garment the brand creates is smartly tailored to embody a seamless adaptability. A single piece can change shape in multiple ways without compromising the sophisticated needs of a modern working woman. The jacket shown above can be worn with long or short sleeves. “My aim is to make the fashion process less wasteful, more sustainable and more interactive,” says DePloy’s Bernice Pan.

2. Elementum

Elementum is “a concept of sustainable principles applied to clothing.” Made ethically in Peru, the seasonless collections are beautifully innovative in the way each piece can morph into something new. All designs can change shape to be worn as a scarf, dress, top, vest, and more. “It can cover your head, your neck, down till your feet. It can be worn flat, twisted and in layers,” says designer Daniela Pais, founder of Elementum. “The construction of the pieces is based on the total use of a piece of cloth in a tubular dimension, where minimum cuts provide maximum use.” Watch this great video of the collection in action.

3. Hayley Starr

Detailed oriented Hayley Starr sharpened her own mastery of pattern-making by perfecting 5 pieces that can be literally hundreds of ways. The feminine, multifunctional collection is phenomenal in it’s ability to change shape. Dresses can be strapless, tied like a halter top, or turned into straps, and all pieces are reversible. Hayley Starr uses only soft, wrinkle-free Modal fabric for a comfortable feel on any body type. All pieces are manufactured in California.

images from the brands

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The post Sustainability for the Seasons (and Your Mood): Clothing that Changes Shape appeared first on EcoSalon.

Greenwashing is plenty common, from Tom’s Shoes to H&M’s Conscious Collection; companies take advantage of the fact that customers don’t take the time to research the supply chain of each brand, since ain’t nobody got time for that. There’s no equivalent to USDA organic certification for fashion, so how can you be confident you’re buying clothes that are in line with your values? Here are 7 clues you can use to tell if you garment is really sustainable; keep an eye out for them, and check out the many companies linked to below for an eco fashion crash course.  

1. Made in the USA

Supporting the domestic economy is key, especially when the outsourcing wave of the 90s was the way to go. When a brand makes their product in the US it is sustaining our domestic manufacturing community. Companies also have to adhere to minimum wages and more strict environmental regulation that reformers and activists worked to put in place. Often, if a company still produces in the US there’s a good story behind it too, and they want to share it with you. Are there still unethical companies making clothes in the US? Sure, but it’s a lot less likely, and we do have laws on our side here.

2. Ethical Production

There is often a disconnect between a garment and the hands that make it. The apparel industry is one of the only industries that cannot deflate its labor force through the use of machinery (the New York Times recently published a fun interactive graph of this phenomenon). A machine can’t sew a beautiful dress or make a great pair of shoes; you need human hands and heads involved. With that knowledge, it’s crucial that those that produced the clothes you wear wear paid a fair wage and worked in a safe environment. Companies that practice ethical production usually make it known on a garment’s hangtag or on their website.

3. Company Transparency

Now, I am not taking about H&M revealing their factory list, although yes, that was a small step for the mass market. I’m referring to companies like Honest By and Everlane who aren’t hiding anything, and they want to to know about it! Studio Jux owns a factory in Nepal, and each garment is given a number by which you can trace the maker of that piece (and even learn their favorite past-time) through their website.

4. Zero Waste

Companies like Stabel, Study NY, Titania Inglais, and Tabii Just are championing zero waste by respecting the materials they work with and not wasting resources that went into making the fabric go in a landfill.  Zero Waste Cutting techniques often a new level of creativity to already creative designs.

5. Clean Tech

No one textile is sustainable, because like all things in life, each have their positive and negative impacts. Organic cotton, although grown under strict regulations, is often still bleached, meaning a heavy chemical load after it’s been finished. Fabric made of bamboo and cupro is processed with toxins to transform the cellusoic (hard plant fibers) into the soft final product, and has to be called rayon. But Lyocell, also a regenerative cellulosic fiber (in english, meaning comes from a plant) derived from Eucalyptus trees, are processed with a petrochemical solution, but 99.5% of the cocktail is captured and reused, and uses little water in the process, proving some technology can really affect the environmental bottom line of a fabric. Keep an eye on what your garment is made of.

6. Supporting Artisans

Ever travel to another country and were googly-eyed by the native colors and craftmanship in their markets? Companies like Mercado Global, Blumera and Maiyet know no one does it better than indigenous artisans. When companies work with local artisan communities (rather than copy them) you can be sure your fashion is sustaining less represented communities.

7. You Love It

Stuck in a hypnotic trance in front of your closet? I know I was this morning. A sustainable garment above all is something you always grab first from your drawers. It’s your tried and true closet staples that you’ll keep, and make it last (almost) forever. And that’s the core of eco fashion.

image: Maiyet

The post 7 Clues To Tell if Your Garment is Really Sustainable: Eco Fashion Dissected appeared first on EcoSalon.

Black and white is always the heart of classic trends. Even Ms. Coco Chanel herself knew it! Keeping our style simple prevents closet clutter and the dreadful question of “What will I wear?!” Then we are more free to ask more grounded questions like, “What will I read next?” This week’s On Trend is a round up filled with sophistication and style from our favorite responsible brands in classic black and white.

1. Sequoia Dress by Reformation

Fun, sexy, and sustainable style is what you always get with any Reformation garment. Made with 100% viscose, a fiber produced through a closed-loop process and with little water, and produced in Los Angeles, this dress is professional and still fresh and playful.

Reformation, $188

2. Chaye Clutch by Freedom of Animals

Freedom of Animals is brand on the rise, and this vegan handbag makes you look read twice (yes, I said vegan). It’s made with 100% EPA-certified sustainable materials, including faux leather produced from recycled materials. Not only is the textile innovative and eco-friendly, the faux leather is then vegetable dyed, so no toxic chrome-tanning here. Lastly, the inside of the clutch is lined with organic cotton. I know, incredible. Go ahead and take another look–we certainly did.

Freedom of Animals, $300

3. Mini Shark Earrings by Brandy Pham

Named after their resemblance to shark teeth and a nod to designer Brandy Pham’s father who used to be a fisherman, these studs are modernly feminine and elegant. Handmade with love in New York City. And when you purchase the pair through Zady’s you can read the full story of how Brady went from celebrity designer to trusting her instincts.

Zady, $90

4. Black and White Heel by Olsenhaus 

This 100% vegan shoe will turn any outfit into a sophisticated look.  Olsenhaus is all cruelty free and made with all environmentally friendly materials.

Olsenhaus, $45

5. Eden and Pear by Voluspa

Not only will this scent have any space smelling fresh in no time (even when it isn’t burning!), Voluspa candle are made with coconut wax and cotton wicks, so you don’t have to worry about this scented candle poisoning your indoor air with VOCs. Plus, once you are indulging in the luxuries of its smell, you can turn the candle holder into a flower vase!

Candle Delirium, $18

6. My Ex’s Heart Nail Polish by Bondi New York

Cleaner nail polish is on the rise, and thank goodness! Bondi nail polish, prides itself in being ‘the five free nail polish,’ always free from formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, toluene and DBP–yes, those ingredients are in most conventional nail polishes (gross).  Let’s stay away from those nasty chemicals and keep our nails strong while still looking hip.

Bondi, $12.50

Want more On Trend?

Sweet Romantic Organic Bralettes: On Trend

Geometric Fashion Jungle: 7 Ways to Wear it On Trend

7 Fantastic Artisan Scarves: On Trend

images from the brands, top collage by Juliette Donatelli

Keep in touch, follow Juliette @spadesandsiLK

The post Classic Trends in Dichromatic, Black and White Sophistication: On Trend appeared first on EcoSalon.

Clothes that last for a good long time mean less wear and tear on the environment and serious budget savings. Taking care of good-quality clothes from responsible manufacturers means that you will be able to get maximum value from them over time and use much less energy for washing and drying. Whether its a new dress you want to keep forever, or your vintage or special pieces, the laundry ideas below are key. When it comes to fashion, one of the smartest moves—for your style and your impact—is making it last. Here’s how. 

1. Cold treatment

Being a bit of a germaphobe myself, I always held the notion that we needed to wash clothes in hot water, just like we do our dishes or our hands.  But this is a bit of an urban legend; in countries like Japan and throughout Europe, it is standard practice to wash clothes in cold or room temperature water. Not only is cold wash gentler on your clothing, it consumes much less energy.

image: rwkvisual

2. Hanging ’em out

You know how you habitually have to clean out the lint drawer of your washer machine? Those extras are not a sign of happy clothes. It’s pure evidence that the dryer is taking a piece of your garment for keeps. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be this way. If you are lucky enough to have an outdoor space, line drying your clothes will make your clothes last (almost) forever. Plus, there’s the added bonus of a natural “drier sheet”: The scent of clean, fresh air that beats any laboratory fragrance. If you don’t have an outdoor space to line dry, you can pick up a clothes-drying rack and do it in your bathroom, or DIY your bamboo sticks.

image: Rob Gallop

3. The handy job

Hand washing clothing takes out the machine pressures, replacing the process of washing with the delicate and thoughtful hands of good old human labor. Rather than the aimless whipping around of a washing machine, you can focus of specific areas that might need extra attention. Hand washing your clothing, especially our delicates makes them last significantly longer. If you make it a habit, it won’t add up or be overwhelming and this part of your laundry could even be an enjoyable, meditative routine (try using a bit of lavender oil in your wash and enjoy the aromatherapy).

image: aesop

4. Freeze your jeans

Yes, that’s right—freeze those baby blues because in this case, washing is optional. Some denim experts say it’s the only way to go with a great pair of jeans (that is if you aren’t using them as work-jeans). How to? Fold the jeans nicely, place them in a gallon-sized ziplock bag (or paper bag will work too) and leave them in the freezer for about a week. The freezing temperature kills off any bacteria or living microbes on the jeans (which is what can make them smell). Defrost, hang out in the sun, and voila, fresh jeans! And no washing means you can keep them perfectly broken in.

5. Vodka spray

Avoid washing your clothes by spraying them with one part vodka, two parts water. Don’t worry, your clothes won’t smell like a college bar. The alcohol disinfects the clothing, and vodka’s crystal clear properties won’t stain your garments.

Related on Ecosalon:

Easy Tips to Make Your Clothes Last Longer 

Dry Clean Only? An Eco Expert Tells Us When It’s Safe to Ignore Labels

featured image: batintherain

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Clean lines, menswear inspired and conscious of the body’s every movement.

John Patrick debuted his Unplugged, Authentic Spring/Summer 2013 Collection during New York Fashion Week beneath vaulted glass ceilings. The bright sun from above filled the crisp white space and set a tone of purity for this ORGANIC collection.

In a press release, Patrick explained that his collection was all about using textiles to explore the original brand DNA. This became immediately apparent as models walked the minimalistic space in garments that were strikingly simplistic and deliberate celebrations of the sustainable fabrics from which they were cut. Patrick used recycled nylon and gauze, organic cotton, linen, and artisanal guipure lace, all within a color palette that ranged from nude to off-white with a sprinkling of navies and blacks.

The combination of clean colors and textiles was characteristically simple of ORGANIC and put the focus on the silhouette of each garment, which Patrick described generally as “not body conscious but conscious of the body.”

Truly, each garment – from the boxier jackets to the long, flowing dresses – supported this theme. The pieces didn’t hug the body tightly so much as create a unique silhouette around it with the intent to flatter women in an interesting way.

Patrick took into account both the masculine and feminine shapes for spring. While some garments embraced femininity with extremely sheer fabric, ultra short skirts, plunging necklines, and lacy dresses, others seemed to ignore it altogether.

Though Patrick blurred the lines of gender-specific fashion and used only basic shapes and colors, the real focus was on the fabrics used in the collection. Ultimately, any woman, whether a yogi or a buttoned-up businesswoman, can enjoy the versatility of his line, which is primed for spring layering and clean, sophisticated style.

Here are some quintessential looks from his collection.

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