June 18th, 2009
I Love Eco is please to announce a GREEN GALA set in the beautiful Botanical Gardens of Berkeley California. The University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley will be hosting a Garden Party Fundraise GREEN GALA to be held on Sunday, June 28, 2009 from 2-5pm. This year’s fundraiser will highlight the critical work of the Garden that educates the public on the truly amazing relationship between plants and people. A fashion show of sustainable, local designs that will be held in the stunning Redwood Grove Amphitheater followed by festivities in the Garden. A bamboo garden structure and displays of wood and other fiber and dye plants included in the Garden’s acclaimed collection will be in the entrance. Guests will taste seasonal, organic delicious creations from Devoted Catering by Amiee Alan. Enjoy live music and biodynamic wine from Quivira Vineyards. Also, silent auction of green and gorgeous items will help raise much needed funds to support the Garden’s living collections. If you’re in San Fran on June 28th – CHECK IT OUT!
No Comments | In: News | | #
March 10th, 2009
I Love Eco loves smart design especially when it is carried out with as much thought and consideration as Dr. Kate Fletcher “Local Wisdom” project. I must first apologize for not writing an article on Kate ages ago… I’m so sorry Kate! I began several articles and threw them aside with frustration because they never truly explained your accomplishments and beautiful ways of thinking about sustainable fashion. I continue to learn and be inspired by your projects. With that said, I would like to announce the project, “Local Wisdom – A unique fashion project recording and celebrating the clothes-based ingenuity of our communities.” Visit the Local Wisdom project website for further details about the research event and how to participate and what clothing to bring to the events. The research events will take place in Totnes, UK on Saturday June 6th 2009 from 10am-4pm in association with Transition Towns Totnes Sustainable Makers and in Bollington, UK on Sunday July 5th 2009 from 10am-4pm a part of Three Shires Textile Festival. I hope it’s a huge success!
About the Project:
Good ideas happen everywhere and often involve creative acts with the things we have around us, like our clothes. These creative actions and ideas are rarely acknowledged and never make it onto catwalks or business agendas, yet we think they have potential to help solve some of the problems we face as a global community.
The Local Wisdom project recognizes, honours and gives credit to the many creative ideas and actions that involve our garments. These acts typically need little money or materials to make them happen, but instead tap into an abundance of experience, ingenuity and freethinking. This project captures and celebrates this ‘local wisdom’, uncovering its value and giving it a platform to flourish and inspire. Local Wisdom is a research project funded by London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London.
What it involves:
Gathering stories about garments using photographs and spoken testimony from volunteer members of the public in two regional UK towns. The public will be invited to bring along garments that:
• are shared between people
• are enjoying a third, fourth or fifth life
• have never been laundered (and aren’t leather!)
• have the character of a particular place in them
• surprise you each time you wear them
• have been let out, tucked in, re-worked, embellished
• show the careful attention of their creator/owner
• can be added to and taken away from (but are wearable both ways)
• make you feel part of a community (but not a uniform)
Outcomes:
Photographs, information and oral histories about garments
from the grassroots whose design and use saves resources,
helps us form strong connections with each other and builds
an awareness of the world around us.
Fashion ‘events’ that recognize and encourage a community’s
potential to create its own future.
No Comments | In: Care & Use Phase, Local Sustainability, Needs & Consumption, News, Recycling, Reuse & End-life | | #
February 25th, 2009
This is awesome and I am so proud to be a native of Ontario! While I wait for New York City to take a stand and produce a similar initiative, the City of Toronto will officially be free of plastic bottles on June 1, 2009. There will also be a charge placed on the use of plastic bags from retailers of 5 cents – all the more reason to buy a reusable organic shopping tote – like our I Love Eco totes!
No Comments | In: Materials, News, Recycling, Reuse & End-life | | #
January 23rd, 2009
Elinor Averyt, an environmental activist and humanist believes that we need to bring eco fashion into the mainstream. Five years ago, an outsider to the fashion world, she had an idea; and with the help of many experts in the field, the power of eco labeling has been culmunated into a positive seed for change – allow me to introduce this seed called, L.E.A.F. (Labeling Ecologically Appproved Fabrics).
LEAF’s mission statement:
“The mission of L.E.A.F. (Labeling Ecologically Approved Fabrics), a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, is to increase consumer awareness and demand for ecologically sound apparel and fabrics, and to encourage mainstream, industry-wide transitions toward sustainable and socially responsible practices in the apparel/fabrics industries.
A new eco-label for apparel and fabrics shows consumers that a garment meets strict standards for environmentally and socially responsible claims. Growing consumer awareness and increased consumer demand for third-party certified apparel and fabrics will provide greater incentive for these industries to move toward positive change in the way textiles are produced.”
Set to debut in Feburary 2009, L.E.A.F wants to operate as a unified labeling system on clothing (using tags) that will help consumers make informed fashion choices. L.E.A.F. will award certification to companies under the following categories: life cycle of organic fibers, manufacuring and processing techniques used in manufacturing facilities (including dyeing and waste water treatment issues), and employee practices in manufacturing facilities. Also, L.E.A.F. wants to introduce an educational program for consumers, which is a crucial approacch close to I Love Eco’s heart – the more we know, the smarter choices we can make! It is important to note that Europe is way ahead of North America with respect to eco labeling. The EU has a already began a research group that is currently investigating methods for implementing eco labeling on clothing and textiles, among other manufactured goods like electronics. If you’d like to read more about this project click HERE. I Love Eco™ would like to send a huge congratulations to both L.E.A.F. and the EU Eco Labeling programs!
No Comments | In: Design Services, Ecolabeling, Ethics & Fair Trade, News, Organics & Toxicity, Recycling, Reuse & End-life | | #
November 5th, 2008
vs. 
Retail spending accounts for one third of spending (GDP), so it’s no wonder George Bush encouraged us to go out and shop. I would like to encourage you to SHOP LOCAL! With the “flattening” of the global economy, China and India will continue to impact businesses in North American and Europe. Globalization benefits large corporations who can afford large scale production, while small businesses are left to fight for their share of the pie. Yet at the time, niche markets are growing and for small business owners it is important to pay attention to the needs of the local customer. This is incredibly viable for New Yorkers, who can visit the Union Square Farmer’s Market, drink organic wine from vineyards Upstate and buy clothing that is made (at least sewn) in the area.
There’s a great little booklet I want to introduce: “A Guide to East Village Local Shops” made by the East Village Community Coalition that urges you to “shop local” and “drop chain stores”. Their bio:”The East Village Community Coalition works to recognize, support, and sustain the built and cultural character of the East Village. This character includes a diverse population; low-rise, human scale, blocks and affordable buildings with historic and architectural significance; a multitude of community gardens; indigenous stores and businesses; and the neighborhood’s history and ongoing tradition as a haven for those seeking freedom to express artistic, creative, and social concerns. Our initiatives are the Get Local! in our neighborhood. Our efforts focus on preservation and zoning, local retailing, and transportation.” Pretty great stuff!
No Comments | In: Local Sustainability, News | | #
August 1st, 2008
Well, it’s been a while since my last post… I’ve survived a cross country move and found it to be ALL CONSUMING!
Lessons learned & notes:
- Don’t own so much stuff… have a mental shift towards buying less! Ex. I have a closet full of clothing. Many pieces I have repaired and chosen to hold onto for sentimental value but I will continue to be more aware of where & how my money is spent. You may ask… how can I think such a thing? As fashion designers, we are taught to create and it seems to be an innate quality or way of life for a creative soul to churn out beautiful objects. Why should we buy less or make less? My response – I feel that we are the luckiest generation to come, in that we are here to see change starting to happen, especially with material selection in the fashion industry. I believe that we can do the best we can given our level of awareness – and with the increased presence of eco design in the media it’s only going to get keep on getting better!
- Label all boxes before you tape them shut. A carefully organized set of boxes is much more pleasant to unpack and sort. Also, recycle used boxes or save them for future moves.
- While I was skeptical at first about leaving the city, I’ve realized it’s a wonderful feeling to live FREE of noise & air pollution.
Other notable items:
I Love Eco will be featuring new authors soon who share our love for the environment & fashion. An online store is also in the works and we still have our Hemp totes, Organic cotton t-shirts & buttons for sale (please email info@iloveeco.com to purchase).
No Comments | In: News | | #
