On Sale: Smith Proof Evolve Sunglasses Made from Renewable Materials

Recently, I broke my favorite pair of Serengeti sunglasses and had to buy a new pair. I purchased Smith Proof Sunglasses, which I love, but I was shocked to learn I paid twice as much as they are on sale right now! For only $64.95, these stylish glasses have a lifetime warranty and are made from renewable materials.

These sunglasses are part of the Evolve line:

For forty years smith optics has been a steward of outdoors, evolve is our commitment to the health of our environment.

Other than paying too much for my sunglasses, I love my Smiths. If you are in the market for a new pair, check out the sale and get a killer pair for half price.

Synergy Organic Clothing: Fashionable, Sustainable, and Affordable

It is hard to find organic fashions that are actually affordable, but Synergy Organic Clothing has done just that! I recently purchased an Organic Cotton Bird A-Line Skirt ($46), and I keep going back for more Synergy items! Not only is this skirt made from organic cotton, but is colored with low impact dyes and made in Nepal.

Synergy makes clothing that combines sustainability, with modern yet timeless design. We strive to make clothing that looks good, while being gentle on the Earth. We predominantly work with G.O.T.S certified organic cotton from India, that is dyed with low impact dyes. Our clothing is hand made in Nepal according to fair trade practices, verified by our long-term relationships with our manufacturers and our frequent trips to Nepal. Each season we look for ways to minimize our footprint as a business, in both the ways our clothing is made and in our daily operations.

Tagless, Flat Seamed Soft Clothing for Kids

We've all experienced the annoying tag on an item of clothing that drives us crazy! If you pull it off, you risk tearing a hole where it is attached. If you cut it, you risk leaving a little bit of the tag that will continue to bug you.

For many children, especially those with Autism and other sensory issues, clothing sensitivities are common. Soft Clothing has a solution. Take for example the t-shirts they sent us for review:

Reinvention of the classic T shirt with suspenders printed on the front AND back. Now with special adaptations for extra comfort and style--made with 100% Soft cotton, constructed with flat seaming, a flat, wide fit bound collar, printed label and care info (tagless), and a classic t-shirt silhouette. Printed with digital printing techniques and water-based ink for a smooth handfeel, and enzyme washed for an extra soft finish.

Soft Clothing's line is made in India from 100% cotton. The clothing is packaged in a great reusable draw string bag too! My only suggestion is that they switch to organically grown cotton fabric.

Eco Fashion: Stewart + Brown Organic Stevie Blazer On Sale!

Sometimes eco-friendly fashion can be expensive, but at least you are getting sustainability along with great style.  Good news!  The Stewart + Brown Stevie Blazer is on sale!

This cute buttoned up blazer will be sure to turn heads this fall. Fun 100% organic lace accents along front yoke. Short raise collar, belt in back. Fitted. Hits at hip.

• 90% organic cotton, 10% polyester


• made in usa


• machine wash in cold water


• all sales final


• original price: $284.00 now: $158.00

I love my Stevie blazer! The plum color is much darker than I imagined, but that was a pleasant surprise. Even though the blazer is from the fall line, it is the perfect light jacket for warmer temps. It is super comfortable, and like all Stewart + Brown items, the quality is high. These "organic pioneers" know how to make eco-friendly chic!

Chaco Flip Flops Eco Tread Features 25% Recycled Rubber

I finally splurged on a pair of Chaco women's "Eco Tread" flip flop sandals! I tried to buy a pair on sale last year, but they were too small, and they didn't have my size. I've waited a year, and now I am the proud owner of a pair of Chaco flip flops. These sandals are stylish and comfortable.  Sure they are expensive, but they will last a long time.

All flip, no flop. An innovative redesign of the essential summertime sandal.
• BioCentric™ footbed with PU formulation oriented towards out-of-box comfort
• Fixed straps anchor under mid-foot to eliminate "flop" and promote active use
• Nylon toe piece engineered for the perfect blend of durability and comfort
• EcoTread outsole features 25% recycled rubber

BioCentric refers to the footbed that is designed to support and has won the Seal of Acceptance by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). These are flip flops that will hold up to dancing at a music festival or walking miles of city blocks.

Chaco also donates money to the Grand Canyon Youth program helping get young kids on the river.

Grand Canyon Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Flagstaff, Arizona. Our mission is to give youth (ages 12-19) an experiential education along the rivers and canyons of the Southwest in an effort to promote environmental awareness, community involvement, personal growth, and teamwork among people with diverse backgrounds.

Great sandals and helping kids experience nature...it can't be beat!

Fair Labor, Organic Bamboo T-Shirt Supports Great Lakes Restoration

Are looking for a really cool, really comfortable eco-friendly shirt? thINK Conscious Apparel Thistle Bamboo Tee is my new favorite top. Made from eco-friendly bamboo and organic cotton, this shirt is made with fair labor practices and helps support the Milwaukee Community Service Corps, which works to restore the Great Lakes.

The Corps recognizes the potential of every young person to be a positive, contributing member of the Milwaukee community. By channelling [sic] this potential into educational, job-training, and environmental conservation experiences, we boost their morale, academic performance and provide a benefit to the local community.

The t-shirt is made in Turkey and printed in Wisconsin. Supporting inner city youth and eco-friendly fashion is easy with thINK apparel.

Eco Fashion: Stewart + Brown Hemp Jersey Cinch Skirt

Stewart + Brown is one of my favorite eco-friendly clothing companies.

Karen Stewart and Howard Brown, partners in life and work, launched their ethical fashion brand in 2002 from Los Angeles, California. Inspired by their love and respect for nature and a passion for design, Karen and Howard were filled with a sense of purpose and determined to pioneer the sustainable fashion movement.

Stewart + Brown's hemp hemp jersey cinch skirt is one of my favorite items of clothing. It is the softest hemp I have ever felt and is super comfortable to wear. The drawstring gather on the side makes the skirt unique. The skirt is a little bit expensive at $98, but you won't be disappointed in its quality, and if you are like me, you will certainly get your money's worth by wearing it all the time.

Environmentally Friendly Shoes: El Naturalista

Are you looking for a quality pair of eco-friendly shoes? I recently visited a friend of mine and tried on her El Naturalista shoes. I had to own a pair!

You do your part to recycle and be as earth-friendly as possible, why stop there? The inviting Iggdrasil mary jane from El Naturalista is comfortable, attractive, and just right for the environmentalist in all of us. The vegetable-tanned leather is churned with ground tree bark and river stones for weeks to make the hide resilient to dirt, water, and daily wear and tear. It features pretty contrast stitching, too.

El Naturalista takes social and environmental responsibility seriously, which I was pleased to learn after buying my shoes.

El Naturalista frog Eco Policy

El Naturalista is an international shoe brand that makes comfortable yet fashionable footwear inspired by nature and people.

Adherence to our environmental policy is a prerequisite for doing business at El Naturalista. All suppliers, factories, agents and sales personnel must be strongly committed to our earth friendly practices.

We are continually working to find even better and more eco-friendly ways to produce our shoes. Our customers are aware of our environmental policies and our increasing sales demonstrate that consumers approve and support- our efforts.

• We use natural materials and dyes


• We avoid using polluting substances and toxic products


• We seek to protect the environment


• We maximize the use of biodegradable and recyclable/recycled materials


• We pay fair compensation to providers and employees


• We promoted traditional forms of production


• We support the use of appropriate new technologies


• We operate with corporate transparency

Shoes and material

El Naturalista uses the least harmful materials in the production of our shoes. We use natural dyes. We use recycled materials as much as possible: for example, the recycled polyurethane inner liner and the recycled rubber insoles (N 096 Iggdrasil). When dyeing leather, El Naturalista uses the least harmful chrome combination for the environment. Additionally, El Naturalista has developed the "pergamino leather", which is treated without the use of chrome.

I am very impressed with the quality and comfort of El Naturalista, and I definitely will explore other styles by this brand.

Sturdy Organic Canvas Tote by Dandelion

You can never have too many canvas bags when you are a parent. From shopping to simply carrying snacks and water bottles, a sturdy bag is key! The Dandelion Organic Canvas Tote is a great bag with many pockets.

Dandelion Organic Tote Bags are designed for eco-conscious Moms on-the-go. Developed with a Diaper Bag in mind, the totes have all the conveniences Mom needs including multiple pockets and pouches. Made with durable 100% Organic Cotton Canvas and feature Organic Cotton Rope shoulder straps. Environmental message printed with eco-friendly low-impact dyes. Outside features large pocket with snaps, 1 large open pocket and 2 elastic pouches.

Of course, you don't have to use it just for diapers. I think this will make a great bag for this busy teacher to carry things back and forth to school.

Disclosure: I was sent a free sample of this product to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative.

Eco-Friendly Bamboo Scarf Packaged in Earth Friendly Reusable Bag by Wish Wrap

I'm a scarf person. I love scarves and wear them three out of four seasons. Wish Wrap is a unique company that allows you to chose a "wish" to give with each gift.

So, let's say you've selected a blanket as a holiday present for someone special. You may choose a wish like 'warmth' to go with it. But, that's just one way to go. Perhaps the blanket represents 'peace' or 'laughter' to you. Pick your wish based on your relationship and what the gift means to you. Make it personal. When your gift is delivered, the blanket will be specially packaged to send the sentiment of 'warmth' or whichever wish you've chosen.

Wish Wrap offers many eco-friendly products, like Eco-Chic Bamboo Scarf. I absolutely love the colors of this scarf (my favorite is pistachio), and it is super soft and versatile.

Finally...an earth-friendly fashion accessory that the style-conscious can wrap their arms around! This lightweight, supersoft scarf is made of sustainably-grown bamboo plant fibers. At 30"x74" its extra-long - wear it like a shawl or around your neck. It travels well, and even works as a cover-up for new moms.

Not only is the bamboo scarf exquisite, the unique eco-friendly packaging used by Wish Wrap is very cool and reusable. In fact, the jute bag is a gift alone!

Our packaging is truly eco-friendly. It's made of jute - a fiber that grows faster and in less space than bamboo. It's recyclable and biodegradable. All our gift bags and boxes fold flat to take up less room in shipping and storing. Less space means less energy, another environmental offender.

Disclosure: I was sent a bamboo scarf in order to complete this review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review would be positive or negative.

Icebreaker Stylish Merino Wool Shirts for Men and Women

I often think of Icebreaker garments as a base layering piece for cold weather play, and I especially love their eco-friendly kids' line; however, this New Zealand company makes some gorgeous, stylish clothes as well.

Icebreaker SuperFine150 Detour Polo Shirt - Short-Sleeve - Men's: This shirt is very hip, with subtle stitch details. The ultralite fabric is perfect for warm to hot weather, as it "breaths as well as cotton but won't hold odour - so you can wear it for days without having to wash it". This shirt also looks nice with a longsleeve shirt layered underneath. Certain colors and styles are on sale right now too!

Icebreaker Superfine 140 Henley Lite Shirt - Women's: This shirt is also made of superfine ultralite merino wool, which is not itchy at all and versatile for any weather conditions. The slight ruching and 3/4 sleeves gives this top a flattering, feminine shape.

Icebreaker is a sustainable company from product to packaging. Each step of the process (source, ethical manufacturing, transparent supply chain, and animal welfare) is part of the company's philosophy. They even add a compound to their plastic bags to assist in "oxo-biodegration" should the bags end up in a landfill rather than be recycled.

Disclosure:  I was given the above described products in order to complete this authentic review.  No guarantees as to the positive or negative nature of the review in exchange for this product.

Reusable Baggu X3 Shopping Bags Go With You Anywhere and Make Great Gift Wrap

One of the things I love about the Baggu X3 Reusable Shopping Bags, besides the tough ripstop nylon fabric, is the convenient pouch that contains three bags. This pouch makes it easy to throw your Baggu bags in any purse or bag and ensures you will never run out of bags when shopping. Sure, it is relatively easy to remember your shopping bags at the grocery store, but what about your other errands? Having a few bags in your purse, pocket, or backpack means you never use a plastic bag again. Each Baggu bag can hold up to 50 pounds of merchandise.

Another great use of Baggu X3 Reusable Shopping Bags is wrapping presents! With the holidays approaching, using a reusable shopping bag instead of gift wrap is like giving two gifts!  It also gives a subtle hint to loved ones that it is time to break the plastic bag habit. With all of the bright colors and designs Baggu offers, your presents will look great.

Disclosure: Baggu provided me with X3 shopping bags in order to complete this review. No assurances were given in advance as to whether the review would be positive or negative. 

Handmade Upcycled Bags Made from Waste in Indonesia

XSProject USA makes upcycled bags from waste in Indonesia.  

the problem
80,000 tons of flexible plastic packaging are manufactured each year in Indonesia.
 
The average timespan of a single-use drink container packaged in flexible plastic is only 4 seconds. Because there are no safe disposal methods for flexible plastic, it may accumulate and then sit in a landfill forever. And because there are no traditional recycling techniques for this type of plastic it has little resale market value.

XSProject uses craftspeople and trashpickers to create unique bags from Indonesian waste.  A variety of bag designs are offered, from the Shopaholic made from recycled billboard bags to the What a Waste trash receptacle. 

I am not a fan of the aesthetics of most upcycled type bags, but I do love the concept.  I do think the Shopaholic is a great bag, and it is interesting to read the labels on the bags to see what products are popular in Indonesia.  The bags do have a very strong odor though, which is bothersome to me.  Many of the bags still smell like the products they once labeled.  Also, there are companies like Terracycle making similar products in the US, so it would lessen your carbon footprint to support them over purchasing a bag all the way from Indonesia.

Disclosure:  XSProject sent me three bags in order to write this review. There were no assurances given in advance as to the outcome of the review. 

Eco-Friendly, Imported Handbags and Bracelets by five ACCESSORIES

One of the things I love about imported, artisan goods is they are usually eco-friendly, in addition to being unique and aesthetically pleasing. five ACCESSORIES offers many items that include a bit of philanthropy with every purchase.

The company began while Christine Hutchison and her husband, Wells, were on their honeymoon in Bali. While there, they met a Balinese tour guide who told them how much difference five dollars a month can make to a family in Bali. While admiring the beautiful handbags and jewelry made by local artisans, the couple had the idea to start five, a company that embodies both their entrepreneurial and philanthropic zeal. The mission of the company is to create income generating programs for individuals in need, donate a large portion of it's sales to worthy charitable causes and foster the use of sustainable material in fashion.

We were sent a natural handbag from Bali and a triangular solid wood bracelet to try out. The Sayan Night bag is made from dark slats of bamboo and is on sale! It is very stylish and practical with a metal clasp closure. The triangular sold wood bracelet is also made from bamboo in Bali.
 
You can feel good about supporting five ACCESSORIES and will be rewarded with unique items that make wonderful gifts giving back to the communities in which they were made.