Dogeared’s eco-friendly projects include charm bracelets made from recyled silver and hemp – like this pretty plumeria charm bracelet – and notebooks made from recycled leather.  I ♥ them both!

                          

South Africa is exporting this colorful Fair Trade bracelet made from safety pins adorned with recycled telephone wire, computer cable scraps and plastic tubing.  The message the piece radiates is clear – recycled hand-made art can be affordable and pretty!  A friend of mine wore this the other day and it is too splendid to not share.  The Santa Barbara Museum of Art has other lovely jewels to check-out. Happy shopping! Price: $45

                          

I couldn’t go without sharing these perfectly chic totes ($82) from Mothology.  Made from handwoven cotton/hemp and using sturdy leather handles they are sure to wear-in well.  The perfect accessory for shopping, beach or a day walking around town.  Enjoy!

                          

The latest is NOT always the greatest! Sometimes thrift and vintage shopping can lead to amazing finds and Paige Mycoskie’s love of vintage t-shirts inspired her to create the California line Aviator Nation.  Her clothes are MADE IN USA with killer graphics silk screened onto super soft organic cotton.  Also, a portion of proceeds from the “Give Back” designs are given to AIDS research in Africa. What’s not to love?! The line is sold at Revolve Clothing, Aviator Nation’s website and is new to Bloomingdale’s.

                          

Funny, spreading the green word and my good friend Matty is in it. Couldn’t resist to post.

Check-out more hilarious videos by The Casual Mafia.

                          

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!

                          

I love discovering new lines (both fashion and beauty) when you least expect it and this line was truly a wonderful find. Summer arrived in the North East this weekend and I somehow forgot to prepare my skin for summer fashion.  On a mini-vacation this weekend in Philadelphia, while visiting my sister, I discovered a truly amazing certified organic body care line called, Whole Earth by eco-stylist Danny Seo in partnership with Boom llc and I absolutely love it!  The entire line of beauty and bath products is free of harmful ingredients including, parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulphates (SLS), silicone, propylene glycol and it totally vegan and animal testing free.  You’ll find 12 amazing products consisting of Certified Organic Body Wash and Lotion, Natural Body Souffle, Natural Bamboo Body Scrub and Wash, a Natural Body Mist and Room Spray, and a Certified Organic Perfume Spray; all made using natural and certified organic ingredients. I was drawn to the cute packaging at first, that is made from 100% recycled plastic and I quickly sprayed a perfume cloud in the Antropologie in Rittenhouse Square.  The products smell rich, are non-greasy and completely luxurious.  I can’t wait to try them all.

                          

On a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is the most important… I’d say it’s about a 3. Who cares about fashion when our unemployment rate is climbing to 9%, thousands have lost their homes and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight to the recession.  I believe the U.S. will be fine.  The top of the pyramid is always fine, but for the bottom of the pyramid (BoP) which accounts for the largest and poorest social-economic group who knows what lies ahead.  How can I write about beautiful luxury goods, even if they are green and environmentally friendly, when there is so much more at stake?  Some believe the solution to fighting poverty lies is successful BoP approaches for sustainable development.  This includes developing business partnerships with the poor so they are not the end consumer but producers. This is where the fashion and textile sector can help.  Fair Trade goods are examples of forming viable partnerships with developing countries to encourage their growth and success.  For more information visit the World Fair Trade Organization. Women’s cooperative groups have been working hard and are finally starting to get the credit they deserve.  Ten Thousand Villages is a retailer that sells Fair Trade goods and below are examples of my favorite Fair Trade products. Check out Hagar Designs to purchase their Fair Trade goods here.  Every purchase helps “to foster hope for vulnerable women and children in crisis through holistic, transformational development and creative initiatives”.  So inspiring! Made, which sells in TopShop in London (in Oxford Circus) is one of my favorite lines.  When I lived in London, I would go to Top Shop just to shop the Made jewelry.  Their slogan “made by the people for the people”… sums it up quite nicely.  Beautiful local community-based design is empowering and the perfect medicine to escape our deflating economic bubble.

                          

Can’t wait for April 19th to check out the limited-edition eco-friendly Loomstate line for Target!  In stores April 19th.