Eco-Stylista

For the women who run – and row, and swim, and whatever else – in the all weather conditions including the current frigid one, the right sportswear is incredibly important. So thank goodness there’s Icebreaker, a New Zealand brand looking to break its way into the New York market with the first sustainable and ethically manufactured, directly-sourced outdoorsy wear made out of…. Merino wool? It sounds odd, we know, but believe it or not, pure merino fibre is highly breathable and wicking, helping to prevent the clamminess often associated with synthetics-made outerwear. It also prevents odor for day, or even weeks – not that ladies ever sweat, of course – and protects the wearer from the sun’s rays in its silky soft fabric.

Starting today, New Yorkers can stop by the brand’s new 2,500-square-foot TouchLab flagship store in trendy SoHo – 102 Wooster Street, between Prince and Spring Streets to be exact – to dip their hands into some pure raw merino, learn more about Icebreaker’s various collections – Outdoor, Running, Cycling, Travel, Kids, Underwear, and City – and of course purchase some ideal and unique holiday gifts for their sporty friends once they’ve fallen in love.

Find out more about the brand and special holiday promotions they have going on at the new store after the jump!

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Our new West Coast correspondent, Tyler Ricci, took a trip over to L.A. Fashion Weekend to check out The Green Initiative Humanitarian Fashion Show and left with an eye of appreciation for Jonäno‘s eco-eriendly designs.  Jonäno‘s fall line is all about effortless perfection.  More photos after the jump!

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It may only be Wednesday, but if you’re anything like me, you’re already dreaming of weekend bbqs and the first big weekend at the beach. With Memorial Day just around the corner, one of my favorite eco-friendly online boutiques, Stewart + Brown, has just announced another thing to look forward to this long holiday weekend – an extra discount on sale merchandise! Calling the event an Online Sidewalk Sale, for the next few days, you can stock up for your future beach weekends with an additional 30% off all of their sale merchandise using the code MMD30 at checkout.

That means cute summer dresses and silk shorts like the pieces below. So stock up now while they’re still available and make sure you’re ready to rock the beach this summer!

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While not a brand I would typically be endorsing, I can totally get behind a brand willing to put their profits toward something worthwhile. I’m only just now coming to find out about Louis Vuitton’s dedication to environmental awareness, but it’s always great to hear about such a huge brand making strides to save the world we live in. So, if you were ever planning to buy something from Louis Vuitton, do it on April 22nd please!

This Thursday only, 10% of all sales made on louisvuitton.com will go toward Global Green USA‘s Green Schools Initiative, dedicated to greening K-12 schools in major cities across the country. Definitely worth making a splurge!

Etsy is full of great pieces from artists all over the world, but the best things on it are the ones that recycle old materials as well. Without using up new resources, Heidi and Seek creates funky and cool clothing, all from quality second-hand items.

For more about Heidi and Seek, check out heidiandseek.com.

One of the most difficult things about buying eco-friendly is coming to terms with the cost… While you may be able to purchase adorable cheap duds just about anywhere you go, you’re not nearly as likely to find the same sort of deals on clothing that is sustainably-created, made with eco-friendly materials, or guaranteed ethically-sound. Thankfully Shopflick.com has just announced their Summer Staple Sale! Starting tomorrow, Shopflick is offering select pieces from 4 designers for as much as 85% off, including some great eco-friendly basics from Sublet Clothing (check out my previous post about their lates Spring 2009 lookbook to refresh your memory) and Zova LA.

Here are a few of the cute pieces you can get your hands on starting tomorrow:

Sublet’s Becca Top will be on sale for $29.99 (down from the original $115)

Sublet’s Belinda Dress will be on sale for $39.99 (down from the original $275)

Sublet’s Beth Dress will be on sale for $39.99 (down from the original $220)

Zova LA’s Boyfriend Mini Dress will be on sale for $39.99 (down from the original $145)

Zova LA’s Bubble Dress will be on sale for $39.99 (down from the original $124)

The Canadian brand Elroy Apparel is yet another one of the growing number of clothing lines out there that shows just how exciting eco-friendly fashion can be. Launched during the Fall 07/08 season by designer Leanne McElroy, it’s all about “sophisticated street wear for a contemporary health conscious woman, who cares not only what she looks like, but what story her clothing carries” (according to the designer bio). Couldn’t have said it better myself!

With only a few choice dresses, shorts, skirts, tops, and jackets currently for sale, all of their pieces are bright and different, edgy and fashionable, yet made from entirely sustainable materials.

Check out a few of my favorite pieces currently available from Elroy Apparel after the jump.

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Using only organic cotton, organic hemp linen, and vegan suede, Lina Rennell‘s new Spring/Summer 2009 collection “Big Sur Meets Helsinki” explores the relationship between Mother Nature and her daughter with simple hemlines and flowery, fun prints. “Forming an elegant bohemian look, the collection is rebellious, intelligent and simple.” All her textiles are hand-printed and every piece is ethically crafted in Northern California.

All the material looks light and comfortable, perfect for spring, and has just a hint of Little House on the Prairie feel to it – but not enough to be annoying. Personally, I’m in love with the blouse hand-printed with the deep blue Pacific Water Weave print and that “Big Sur Meets Helsinki” limited-edition necklace shown above!

To learn more about Lina Rennell, check out linerennell.com.

Edun has just launched their new Spring 2009 Collection for sale online, which the company is titling Origin of Species. Yeah, that’s right. They went there.

I mean, don’t get me wrong. I still love Edun and I still love this line, but really? How cliche.

Anyway, for anyone who doesn’t already know, Edun is a “socially conscious clothing company” which was founded in 2005 by Ali Hewson and Bono. Founded with the purpose of helping build-up 3rd world communities with “trade, not aid,” the company works at a micro-community level to teach and build skill sets to the workers in the fair trade factories in India, Peru, Tunisia, Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, Mauritius and Madagascar – where the clothes are produced using 100% organic cotton.

The latest collection has a great mix of casual basics, splashy graphic tees, and pretty blouses and dress with delicate, unique prints. Like previous collections, every piece is made from eco-friendly materials and lists the country it was created in. Although a $65 t-shirt or a $160 tunic sure ain’t cheap, you have to admire the origins of each piece and what your purchase means for someone out there.

MORE PICTURES AFTER THE JUMP!

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Most eco-friendly clothing lines have a pretty typical story for why they got started. Sublet Clothing is more unique. After responding to a Craigslist ad for a sublet apartment, Inessah met her new roommate Tara. Discovering they had a lot in common, the two-week sublet turned into three months. Two years after, they remained friends, and after the experience of both having worked more “traditional” jobs, the two missed the feeling of spontaneous community and creative development that sublet living had fostered. Over lunch together one day they dreamed up their clothing line and decided to launch Sublet Clothing.

Two years later, after having worked traditional careers, Tara and Inessah missed the spontaneous community, independence and creativity they felt when subletting. So over lunch one day, they decided they would create their own permanent sublet through Sublet Clothing.

The company just released a sneak preview of their Spring 2009 collection, which focuses on bright, cheery colors that pop and beautiful, easy-to-wear silhouettes. After covering New York Fashion Week, it’s a nice change to see a smiling, happy model associated with a clothing brand. If the cute clothes themselves don’t make you feel the same way, at least they’ve got that going for them! (Although I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t want to get your hands on the Caitlin dress or Charlie blouse, you crazy!)

Click the images to see full-sized.

For more info on Sublet Clothing, check out subletclothing.com.

(via Inhabitat)