ColumnTimeless and bold, animal prints just never go out of style.

As timeless as they are bold, animal prints just never seem to go out of style. Sprinkle a bit of these prints into your outfit for a discrete, playful edginess, or go all out and wear them from head to toe. There are many conscious, animal-friendly options out there that ensure this look will work for everyone.

1. Camel Cashwool Jacket by Thu Thu
Ever since I spotted this oversized cashmere & wool motorcycle jacket, I’ve been completely in love. Trimmed with traditional embroidered Sapa fabric from the H’mong tribes in the Northern Vietnam, it features a contrast leopard print lapel. Despite those eye-catching details, the camel color and versatile cut make this jacket a sure wardrobe staple.
on sale for $638, A Boy Named Sue

2. Foldover Clutch by Clare Vivier
Made in LA from beautiful artisan leathers, this foldover clutch by Clare Vivier is simple luxury embodied. Unfussy and adorned with only a 14k gold medallion, it is the perfect complement to any outfit.
$198, Clare Vivier

3. Leopard Print Organic Cotton Long Sleeved Tee by Stella McCartney
This long sleeve jersey tee from Stella McCartney’s Spring 2013 collection is made from organic cotton and features a great leopard ink print. Pair with simple white jeans and a pair of flats and you are good to go.
$260, Stella McCartney

4. Medina Satchel by Elkarti Morocco
These one-of-a-kind satchels are handcrafted by the Simo artisan group in the old markets of Marrakesh, using unique Italian calf hair and naturally dyed Moroccan leather. The Media is a sturdy doctor-style carry-all that easily opens while maintaining an upright rectangular shape.
$275, Modavanti

5. TOMS Snow Leopard Vegan Classics
These leopard print flats are a slightly wilder version of your classic TOMS. Made without animal products, they are a vegan-friendly way to adopt this trend. Wear them with jeans and a simple tee for a casual look or use them to dress down your favorite LBD.
$54, TOMS

Photos courtesy of the designers, top collage by Johanna Björk

The post On Trend: 5 Wild, Wearable Animal Prints appeared first on EcoSalon.

Classic and timeless, nautical stripes signal the arrival of warm summer days.

It seems like every year, when summer rolls around, stripes in all shapes and forms reappear. Maybe this is because of the summery nautical vibe they inspire or simply because they are timeless and never go out of style (just ask Jean Paul Gaultier). Nautical stripes also made their way back onto the runway for spring and summer, especially in classic red, white, blue and gray. Avoid the “ship ahoy” look by pairing your stripes with tougher garments like a biker jacket or be unexpected and dress them up with bright colors, floral patterns or animal prints.

TOMS Navy Stripe Nautical Women’s Biminis
These Nautical Biminis are designed for serious maritime adventures, at sea or perhaps your favorite nautically-inspired pool bar in the city. For every pair you buy, TOMS donates a pair of shoes to a child in need.
$69, TOMS

Lemlem Gama Woven Tee
Supermodel and former WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Liya Kebede started Lemlem as a way to preserve the ancient craft of traditional weavers in her native Ethiopia and provide jobs that could inspire economic independence. This handwoven top features bold sailor stripes, available in four different colorways. It looks great with white jeans, even if you’re not a supermodel.
$200, Lemlem

Black Stripe Henley Tank by Edith A. Miller
This simple striped tank by Edith A. Miller features button detailing in the front that makes it a highly versatile piece. Button it up and pair with a skirt for a sweet retro look or unbutton it all the way, pile on some necklaces and a leather jacket for a tougher vibe. Edith A. Miller works toward preserving the American knitwear industry by manufacturing in a sixth-generation knit factory in Pennsylvania.
$68, Juno & Jove

United By Blue Braided Sailing Bracelet
This black and white knotted bracelet sports some great sailing hardware and is an easy way to add a bit of nautical vibe to an outfit without being over the top. Designer Jill Kauffman is a medical student by day and draws inspiration from her favorite leisure activities: sailing, skiing, and kayaking. Many are even handcrafted onboard her 1967 Albacore. For every product sold, United By Blue removes one pound of trash from our worlds oceans and waterways.
$35, United By Blue

Organic by John Patrick Mini Dress
Practical, comfortable and highly wearable, this striped navy and white mini dress by Organic by John Patrick has all the ingredients for becoming a go-to summer wardrobe staple. The cotton sweater knit fabric makes it feel like you’re wearing your favorite sweater, and the vegetable tanned leather elbow patches add some unexpected attitude. It’s also made in the USA.
$345, Beklina

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TOMS is often among the first companies that come to mind when thinking of socially responsible businesses. But how effective is its One for One model, and why is it so silent on sustainability?

TOMS Shoes began with a restless soul, a trip to Argentina, a pair of traditional alpargatas and an idea for a for-profit company that would fight global poverty. It has since become a driving force in the world of social enterprise, infiltrating mainstream fashion with its simple but stylish kicks and providing more than one million needy children with shoes through its feel-good One for One model.

But though TOMS has galvanized millions of customers around its mission, some say that the TOMS model harms the communities it intends to help. Add a troubling lack of supply chain transparency and all of a sudden those warm-fuzzy feelings start to harden. In this week’s Behind the Label, we take a look at TOMS’ sustainability and giving practices to see if the company has earned its position at the top of the social enterprise food chain.

The original premise of TOMS is introduced simply enough:

If you’re new to TOMS, hi, we make shoes, and with every pair purchased, we give a new pair of shoes to a child in need.

TOMS implements its One for One model primarily through partnerships with humanitarian organizations like Partners In Health, IMA World Health, WE International and Goods for Good, as well as through high profile shoe drops coordinated by its non-profit Friends of TOMS arm.

Last June, in a dramatic unveil, TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie announced that the company was expanding from a shoe businesses to a broader “One for One” business, starting with the launch of a new eyewear line that provides sight to one person for every one pair of frames purchased, either through medical treatment, prescription glasses or sight-saving surgery.

Since its founding in 2006, TOMS has been particularly successful at engaging with college communities. Through TOMS Campus Clubs, like-minded students can unite around the common values of “conscious consumerism, helping children in need and being heard through their choices” and participate in events like shoe-painting parties and the now-famous One Day Without Shoes, a celebrity-driven campaign that calls upon people to ditch their shoes for 24 hours in order to spread awareness of global shoelessness.

THE GOOD

Through TOMS’ giving department, more than one million pairs of shoes have been distributed across 23 countries, including Argentina, Ethiopia, Haiti and the United States.

By pairing with reputable groups on distribution, TOMS aims to ensure that its aid is not isolated, but rather part of comprehensive development programs targeting healthcare and education. Goods for Good founder Melissa Kushner writes that these types of donations can be an effective form of aid, when done right.

After eight years of learning how to best provide goods to those in need, I can safely say that shoes, fabric, school materials as well as other necessities like eyeglasses can have a lasting impact, even after they wear out. Goods provision can be right and when it is, it has far-reaching benefits. For example: Goods for Good has witnessed a 25 percent increase in school attendance by providing students and teachers with re-purposed educational supplies and trained over 200 vulnerable people in the marketable skill of tailoring who in turn created over 24,000 school uniforms for orphans and vulnerable children, based on the gift of surplus fabric.

And TOMS makes a concerted effort to make sure its donations are “done right,” a former employee told EcoSalon. Giving partners are thoroughly vetted and communities thoroughly assessed to ensure that local economies won’t be disrupted by large-scale shoe distribution. Each order of donation shoes is made-to-order so that the giving partner can meet the needs of the children they serve – no surplus product in odd sizes here. And most of the donation shoes are basic black canvas, since black shoes are often required for school uniforms and school uniforms are often required to attend school. TOMS also works to establish long-term relationships through repeat giving, so that new shoes can be provided when old shoes are outgrown or worn out.

More information is available in TOMS’ first-ever Giving Report, published in 2010.

THE BAD

Despite TOMS’ efforts to give responsibly, its One for One model has become a subject of criticism from many in the international development community. In 2011, the blog Good Intentions Are Not Enough launched a counter-campaign to One Day Without Shoes called A Day Without Dignity, calling upon aid workers and people from areas that receive shoe drops and aid to speak up against TOMS’ “Whites in Shining Armor” approach to philanthropy.

More than 60 blog posts were contributed to the campaign, including one from Kelsey Timmerman, author of Where Am I Wearing? A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People That Make Our Clothes, who wrote:

Yes, someone giving you a pair of shoes would sure be nice if you didn’t have a pair. But a job that allows parents to send their kids to school could change your family tree forever.

TOMS is also notoriously vague about the origins of its products, the sustainability of its supply chains and the ethical nature of its business practices. While I couldn’t find any direct links to production information on TOMS.com, a Google search revealed what looks like a hastily thrown together summary of TOMS Manufacturing Practices.

We want our customers to know as much as we do. As part of this effort of increasing transparency, we’ve provided some pictures of our factories in China, Argentina and Ethiopia. Regular visits by our production staff and third party audits ensure not only the product is up to standards, but that our factories provide a clean, safe place to work, fair wages and treatment, and never employ underage labor.

What followed were the three images in the screen shot below.

Mycoskie expands upon his approach to sustainability in a recent Q&A with 360 Magazine:

You hear a lot about sustainability in all different realms now. Definitely on the environmental side, on the business practice side, etc. For me, sustainability is knowing that when I give a child a pair of shoes, that when they wear them out or grow out of them, they’ll be able to get another pair, and another pair. We’re going to keep them in shoes because that allows them to go to school and prevents foot diseases. For us to truly say we’re sustainable, we have to not only build a business so we are allowed to continue to give shoes by selling shoes, but we also build profits so if we have a bad season, we can continue to give shoes. 

Mycoskie’s is a valid perspective, though it entirely ignores the environmental and ethical factors that have become inseparable from the sustainability movement. That, TOMS has yet to substantively address.

THE QUESTIONABLE

TOMS is arguably the most successful social enterprise lifestyle brand today, proving that a message about doing good can become a mainstream movement that resonates across demographics. As Timmerman puts it, “step #1 is getting people to give a shit.”

The company is crystal clear about its intentions: to effect social change through a One for One charity model. No mention of pioneering sustainable manufacturing methods, or using zero-waste pattern design, or creating job opportunities in the communities they adopt. Just One for One charity. And there’s nothing necessarily wrong with that focus.

What I do find troublesome, though, is that TOMS continues to create a movement around conscious consumerism and being heard through choices, yet it continues to hedge questions about the sustainable and ethical nature of its manufacturing practices. Most conscious consumers are as conscientious about the origins of their products as they are about the impact made through their purchases. Greater transparency about TOMS’ production processes would ease the concerns of many who want to buy into the One for One movement, as well as validate the company’s reputation as a pioneer in the world of socially responsible businesses – assuming, of course, that TOMS has nothing to hide.

SEE ALSO:

Behind the Label: H&M’s Conscious Collection

Behind the Label: McDonald’s See What We’re Made Of Campaign

Behind the Label: Levi Strauss’ E-Valuate Program

Behind the Label: Chipotle, Food With Integrity

Behind the Label: West Elm Green

The post Behind the Label: TOMS’ One For One Campaign appeared first on EcoSalon.

Look beyond traditional jeans and make things more interesting by finding new ways to wear this beloved fabric.

If you ask anyone, male or female, what their favorite outfit is, there’s a good chance it includes denim. This fabric, originally designed for cowboys in the late 1800s has become a closet staple like no other. Besides jeans, there are lots of great items out there made from denim — like these bleach-splattered shoes, a sweet dress, bodega bag and pendant. Complement your blues with an updated version of the perfect trench coat, and a cool upcycled necklace.

Bleach Splatter Denim Women’s Cordones
If plain denim is just too boring for you, check out these Bleach Splatter Cordones, that work just as well with or without laces. For every pair sold, TOMS donates one to a child in need.
$69, Toms

Jesse Spanos Flare Jeans by Pray For Mother Nature
These super soft flare jeans by Pray For Mother Nature are the perfect medium-blue shade of denim. The Pray for Mother Nature collection is entirely designed and made in California by Chip Foster, formerly of Chip & Pepper (whose jeans were coveted for making your bum look amazing). A percentage of proceeds benefits Heal the Bay.
on sale for $59.95, Future standard

Pray For Mother Nature Cuts Like a Knife Ruffle Dress
If jeans, or pants, are simply not your thing, you can still be a Blue Jean Baby by trying out a denim dress. This scoop-neck one – also by Pray for Mother Nature, features tiers at the front, worn edges, and a pulled bottom hem.
on sale for $108, Shopbop

Study NY Pipe Necklace
Made in NYC by designer Tara St. James, this gorgeous necklace is crafted using reclaimed copper pipes and vintage silk. It’s the perfect way to add some interest to a simple jeans-and-T-shirt ensemble.
$180, Juno & Jove & Study NY

Remade USA Bodega Bag
Did you ever wonder what happened to all those tie-bleached jeans from the 80s? Well, some of them have been remade into cute bodega bags by designer Shannon South. Every bag is unique and completely made from upcycled denim.
$55, ReMade USA

Jen Abrams Vintage Denim Pendant
Jen Abrams creates simple, statement-making jewelry that is very much designed to go with your favorite pair of jeans. Maybe because it’s made using pre-loved denim. $96-$136, Jen Abrams Collection

Edun Trench Coat
The classic trench gets an update by Edun designer Sharon Wauchob. The frayed edges and powerfully simple details make this the perfect trench to wear with any kind of denim.
$398, Edun

The post On Trend: Blue Jean Baby appeared first on EcoSalon.

Embrace life as an uncomplicated tomboy in classic oxfords and feminine button downs.

As the leaves and temperatures start falling across the country, it’s time for us to get comfy and cozy. Good news for us ladies is that flat shoes, especially oxfords and brogues, are all the rage right now. Worn with thick socks, they’ll be good through the winter, and your feet will thank you for giving them a break from heels. Plaids have been around for a while now, but are still going strong in the trend-department. Instead of just a plain plaid shirt, try a figure-hugging skirt, á la Mad Men-era secretary, a below-the knee shirt dress, or steal a shirt from your boyfriend, belt it, and make it a dress (or just wear it to snuggle up in the sofa, under a cozy eco-wool blanket).

Herbert Organic Light Twill Shirt by Nudie Jeans
This shirt was made for boys, but looks equally good (or better) on their girlfriends. Just add a belt, and wear it with a short skirt or shorts.
$199, shop.nudiejeans.com

Black & White Spectator Lace-Up Oxfords
These classic two-tone oxford brogues are made in contrasting black and white man-made leather, for all you stylish vegans out there.
$28, lulus.com

Pendleton Eco-wise Plaid Easy-care Blanket
From the sheep to the shelf, Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool® passes strict standards of sustainability and responsible environmental stewardship. It’s made in the U.S., machine-washable and sure to only grow softer and more beautiful with age.
$108-198, pendleton.com

Maggie Shirt Dress from People Tree
This casual below-the-knee dress is hand woven in Bangladesh. Match with a weathered belt and vintage boots.
approx. $118, peopletree.com

Vintage 50s Skirt
Plaid skirts from the 1950s are usually pretty easy to find in well-stocked second-hand stores. Up the trend-factor by making it a pleated one. This one, from Etsy seller Small Earth Vintage, has a classic plaid pattern in red, Kelly Green, white, indigo and yellow and is made from durable linen.
$26, etsy.com/shop/SmallEarthVintage

Vegan Brogues
These classic vegan brogues are made from breathable Vegetan Bucky material, which is a breathable microfiber that looks, feels and creases like supple leather and only gets better with age.
approx. $110, vegetarianshoes.co.uk

Organic Plaid Scarf by Sundance
This mellow-hued plaid scarf is made from soft organic cotton. The diamond shape makes it highly versatile and the raw, unfinished edges add a touch of casual cool.
$38, sundancecatalog.com

TOMS Black Suede Women’s Desert Botas
For a more casual alternative to oxfords, try this adaption of a desert boot from TOMS. For every pair you buy, TOMS will donate one pair of shoes to a child in need.
$68, toms.com

The post On Trend: Oxfords & Plaid appeared first on EcoSalon.

Not too long ago, I wrote about my favorite natural deodorants. I was lucky enough to test out the best of the natural and/or organic sprays, the roll-ons, and the sticks that the world has to offer. Some deodorants worked harder than an actress pretending she hasn’t injected her 40-something face with so many fillers that she looks like she’s about to float away. (Don’t speak Hollywood? In other words – badly and without success.) Other deodorants worked great – as long as you remained motionless into a climate-controlled environment, only daring to move your eyeballs. And the purveyor of some not-so-great deodorants? They came from the old toothpaste-standby: Tom’s of Maine.

Don’t get me wrong. Tom’s of Maine is a fantastic company, with certifications ranging from Peta-approval to an endorsement from the American Dental Association. They have a vigilant company-wide policy of recycling and they are 100 percent transparent. But their deodorant? It’s never worked for me. Nor for friends. Nor for my mail carrier – I suppose, if I were to ask her.

But my lack of luck with Tom’s of Maine changed one warm winter’s day in southern California. I was attending a natural products expo when one of TOMs reps handed me a sample of their latest deodorant, Crystal Confidence. This product promised to rid its wearer of an unfortunate body smell while remaining natural and less toxic than other brands.

The TOMs rep even winked that Crystal Confidence would stop wetness, something no organic or natural deodorant I know of has ever been able to do. And for good reason: anti-perspirants contain aluminum zirconium, which some link to Alzheimer’s Disease. And when it is not possibly messing with your brain, it prevents you from sweating – something you’re supposed to do. While I’m not a fan of the sticky underarms, it is hard to argue with evolution. No truly natural or organic product would contain aluminum zirconium. I was skeptical – what next, lasting organic lipstick? But I decided to try it out for myself.

Crystal Confidence had a nice, citrus smell that was pleasant enough. And it does work. Does it cure wetness? No, not at all. However, I was unable to find any evidence that it claims to do so on their web site, so perhaps I imagined this declaration from the TOMs rep. However, I did remain stinky free. And this is fairly significant in the world of natural deodorants.

Tom’s of Maine has a lot to say about Crystal Confidence. According to TOMs, “the antimicrobial actions of potassium alum and zinc citrate mineral salts fight odor.” (Check!) “It is long-lasting 100 percent natural and organic fragrances.” (Seems so!) “Goes on clear with no white residue” (Yes, it does!) Further, it “contains natural benzoic acid preservative. No parabens, phenoxyethanol, or propylene glycol.” (I am taking your word for it, TOMs.) To which I say – well done, Tom’s of Maine! You are finally out of the stink zone.

Finally, want to make your own deodorant? Here’s a cool recipe which will help you do just that.

The post Tom’s of Maine’s Natural Deodorant: To Stink or Not to Stink? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Just as there are political and religious divisions, there are opposing groups in the world of sustainability. Each believes they are more logical and justified than the other. I experienced an unexpectedly unpleasant exchange recently that made this reality plain as day. On the phone with a friend and animal rights activist, I hazarded a casual question: “Vegan isn’t really sustainable, is it?”

Her response was chilly to say the least.

And here I thought I was simply stating what we all know. Perhaps foolishly, I went on to share that I’d had a revelation just that morning that vegan fashion, comprised of mostly man-made materials, couldn’t possibly be eco – at least not exclusively so. How many of these vegan companies truly pay attention to good earth stewardship and use non-petroleum based materials, organic cottons and non-toxic dyes?

Save Bessie, great, but pollute groundwater, soil, air, all while supporting plastic manufacturing?

Maybe we environmental folks have more factions in the camp than we realize.

I’d like to ask in all earnestness, if you’re passionately vegan, why would you want to wear shoes that simulate the skins of animals? I understand the leather industry is a large contributor to climate change and water supply contamination, but similarly, these man-made materials are often harming the planet.

I started researching the most frequently used vegan materials to find out just how often.

Naugahyde: A brand name of pleather that combines textiles and polyurethane.

Lorica: A fabric made from microscopic animal shells or casings (external), coated with polyurethane.

Suedette: Made from cotton or rayon.

Ultrasuede: Combines a plastic polymer with micro fibers to create a durable, washable, breathable, lightweight fabric.

Birkiflor: An oil derivative used to make synthetic shoe uppers for Birkenstock. It is a combination of acrylic and polymer felt fibers that create a leather-like finish that is waterproof and breathable.

Vegetan: Available as Vegetan Active, Bucky and Micro, it is a combination of polyurethane and cotton.

Not all vegan shoes are made of synthetic leather. Other natural and organic alternatives are available, like hemp, cork, wood and linen.

Some of these vegan shoe and accessory lines have great missions and are becoming more eco-conscious but certainly they are few and far between. Here are four that stand out:

TOMS: Offers a vegan line made from a blend of recycled products, faux suede insoles and rubber outsoles. Not to mention the “One For One” campaign that gives a pair of shoes to a needy child in a developing country.

Neuaura: Recently awarded a Green Seal award for manufacturing based on compliance with Brazil’s environmental laws. This includes recycling and disposing all the material waste generated from the factory at a recycling facility located in the vicinity, using water-based adhesives and less toxic solvents and chemicals and advocating recycling and protection/preservation of endangered animals to their surrounding communities.

Olsen Haus: This company uses alternative, sustainable and renewable plant-based and man-made, non-animal materials such as ultra suede, organic cotton, canvas, nylon, velvet, linen, cork and synthetic eco-lining. 100% vegan: no leather, fur, wool or silk is ever used. Soles are a composite of rubber, glues are rubber-based and vegan and paint is vegan and non-toxic.

MELISSA: The eponymous shoe house has developed a recyclable plastic called Melflex that has flexibility for comfort. Their patented, hypo-allergenic PVC shoes are totally cruelty free and devoid of animal products. The Brazilian-based company recycles 99.9% of factory water and waste and they also go the distance by recycling overstock styles into next season’s collection.

We all have to consider our camps. Is your number one priority saving animals from cruelty or is it supporting sustainable fiber production? Maybe you are a protector of watersheds? How about manufacturing solely in the U.S.? And how do we do it all?

Image: JelleS’

The post Is Vegan Fashion Sustainable? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Blake Mycoskie, founder of Tom’s shoes in Venice, CA, and a former contestant on The Amazing Race, gives away a pair of shoes for every pair his company sells. He’s now donated over 115,000 pairs through a series of Shoe-Drop tours around the world.

Why?

To give children the opportunity to wear shoes through his One For One program of course, but also because an explosive trend in conscious consumerism is upon us. We want to know who we’re buying from, the size of their carbon footprint and yes, if the people who made it were paid a reasonable amount to do the work.

Giving product and money to causes is part of the new distribution of designer wealth and it’s what’s we want to see. Designers big and small see the benefits of this.

EDUN founders, Bono of U2 and Ali Hewson founded their company in 2005 featuring organic clothing, graphic tees and eco-clothing with a mission to drive sustainable employment in developing economies.

Other designers like Betsey Johnson, Iman, Tory Burch and Nicole Miller have done everything from support the environment to donate to AIDS awareness, breast cancer research and school nutrition programs.

Maybe they do it because they realize how good it feels to give.

Maybe they do it because the numbers add up better if they do it, but maybe, just maybe they do it so that when their kids ask them in ten years: “Mommy, what did you do to help the world?”

Mommy can then look them straight in the eye and say, “A lot.”

Image: Garry Knight

The post Designing Do Gooders appeared first on EcoSalon.