Replace Plastic Dry Cleaning Bags with a Reusable Canvas Garment Bag
If you dry clean your clothes, and almost every wardrobe has a few items that require special care, then you have experienced the waste of plastic that occurs at the dry cleaners. Sure, you go to a "green" dry cleaner, but what about the rows and rows of clothes bagged in plastic? Natural News explains:
Are these plastic bags really necessary and at what point do people decide that sheer convenience is not worth the environmental impact? Many have begun to carry cloth bags with them when they go grocery shopping, but not enough people have looked to their dry cleaner. Not only are those giant strips of plastic a suffocation risk for children and animals, but most people only use their bags to take the clothes home and then toss them out.
One drycleaner estimated that his one dry cleaning store used between 50,000 to 100,000 plastic bags a year. This concerned business owner decided to make a difference. One Earth Day he passed out cloth garment bags to his customers free of charge. Not only would he get free advertising when customers carried the bag, but he was doing something good for the environment. About 300 million pounds of dry cleaning bags are thrown out annually. To his amazement 60% of his customers have been returning with their bags.
If your drycleaner is not offering you reusable garment bags, you can buy your own. It's important to not buy one made of vinyl (some vinyls contain lead); a canvas garment bag offers a more natural alternative. At about $10.00, switching from disposable plastic bags to a reusable garment bag for your dry cleaning needs is affordable.
We've been fortunate enough to review beautiful natural fiber clothing by Hessnatur before, now we have discovered their organic baby apparel line! Super sweet, soft, and adorable, Hessnatur's organic baby line means everyone in the family can dress in eco-fashion. Hessnatur is always fair trade, organic, and sustainable, which is exactly what baby deserves against their fresh, delicate skin.
What our clothes are made of and with
Pure, natural
fibers- organic whenever possible. Made from renewable resources:
Vegetable (cotton, linen, hemp, ramie); Animal (wool, specialty wools
such as angora, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, yak; silk).
No PVC or Teflon, anywhere.
Natural materials for buttons, like ivory nut, wood, horn, or mother-of-pearl
Trims and linings are made from natural fibers, usually 100% organic cotton or 100% natural silk
Any
metals used for zippers, buckles and buttons are nickel- and
chrome-free. Other materials are only used for these accessories in
the rare cases when natural materials or metals are not functional
enough.
Our only exceptions: we sometimes use up to 8%
of elastane/spandex for the stretch in some lingerie and socks. All the
spandex we use is covered in cotton so no synthetic touches your skin.
What our clothes aren't made of or with
Synthetic fibers: made from chemical substances derived from petroleum, like nylon, polyester or acrylic
Regenerated
fibers: chemically treated and re-processed fibers made from natural
materials that cannot be used for textiles in their original form, like
viscose, modal and acetate. Their manufacturing causes significant
water and power usage.
Azo dyes which can give off dangerous, carcinogenic and mutagenic amines
Dyes and dye procedures that include toxic heavy metals, which are known carcinogens
Optical brighteners, which are probable allergens
Chemical finishes, such as moth-proofing, anti-microbial, easy-care, wrinkle-free finishes, made with synthetic resins
Chlorine bleach, which harms the environment
Hessnatur also offers maternity clothes from moms to be! I wish I would have had these organic maternity clothes during my pregnancies! Unborn babies deserve the best against mommy's skin too!
Green Fashion Giveaway: Indigenous Designs Fair Trade Clothing for the Whole Family
I love clothes, especially fair trade, organic pieces. Recently, I discovered Indigenous Designs. Since 1994, Indigenous Designs has been making fair trade clothing, and you have a chance to win apparel from this eco-friendly line!
Together, Scotty and Matt have helped form a scalable artisan network through the Indigenous clothing line that reflects a commitment to sustainability and socially responsible actions. This global collaboration weaves together the employees of Indigenous, the artisans from around the world, and most importantly you, our customers.
We are committed to:
Supporting and preserving fair trade wages and artisan cooperatives
Investing in natural and organic fibers and environmentally-friendly dyes
Spreading the beauty of handmade, eco fashion
One of my favorite pieces in the women's line is the double layer skirt. This skirt is made from 100% organic cotton jersey material, low impact dyes, and is so comfortable! Of course, it is fair trade (not free trade) from Peru. I will be living in this skirt this summer, and you could win one too!
Green Fashion Indigenous Designs Giveaway!
To enter:
Organic Women's Fashion: "World in Your Hand" Tee Shirt by HessNatur
Last fall, we reviewed a lovely, natural fiber sweater by Hessnatur. This summer, we've discovered the "World in Your Hand" organic t-shirt by Hessnatur. The incredible design was drawn by Miguel Adrover. This organic, fair trade shirt is made by Grameen Knitwear in Bangladesh. Hessnatur pays a 40% bonus over fair purchase price and donates 25% from the sale of each "World in Your Hand" shirt to the rural education project of the Grameen Foundation.
Short sleeved top. With narrow sleeves and generously wide neckline. Figure hugging to emphasize the feminine silhouette. Made in Bangladesh from biologically controlled fabric under socially fair conditions. Makes its mark, not just because of the symbolic logo: "The world in your hand". Exclusively drawn by Miguel Adrover.
Hessnatur was founded 32 years ago by environmentalist Heinz Hess. The company's mission states: "Human beings should live in harmony with each other and with nature. Respect for the planet and its people is fundamental to the way we do business, interact with our customers, our partners and each other. We will not compromise our environmental integrity or our design aesthetics."
Eco-Friendly Yoga Apparal by BuddhiWear: I'm Just Here for Savasana
It's true, my favorite asana is savasana. This final relaxation as a corpse is the perfect ending to any yoga practice, and now I've discovered an organic, eco-friendly top by BuddhiWear to express my love for savasana. The Women's Buddhiwear "I'm Just Here For Savasana" Long Sleeve Scoop Neck Organic T-Shirt is lightweight, super soft, and comfortably fitted. Since BuddhiWear's clothing is 100% organic, each shirt saves 1/3 pound of chemicals from entering our soil, air, and water.
BuddhiWear produces and sells postively themed organic apparel. Our company took its name from the word "buddhi", meaning "she who is conscious, AWAKE". Our company is focused on buying local, supporting small businesses, and being green. BuddhiWear's mission is to promote positive empowerment through yoga and other practices. BuddhiWear is committed to providing high-quality apparel for the family with a flair for yoga and all things positive.
For every garment sold, Buddhiwear plants a tree. Furthermore, they use Dharma Merchant Services to process credit card orders, which enables the company to donate a percentage of each transaction to charity.
Monsanto's Bt-cotton can lead to the total destruction of soil organisms and beneficial enzymes in less than a decade of planting, according to a new study conducted in India. The Organic Consumers Association reports:
A new study analyzing fields planted with Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) cotton indicates the crops are causing the soil to slowly die. The study found that over a three year period soil micro-organisms, which are necessary for building healthy and nutrient rich soil, decreased dramatically in the Monsanto cotton fields. According to the Institute for Science in Society, "At this rate, in a decade of planting with GM cotton, or any GM crop with Bt genes in it, could lead to total destruction of soil organisms, leaving dead soil unable to produce food."
Apparently, the region in India (Nagpur, Amravati and Wardha of Vidharbha) where the most GMO corn is grown also has the highest rate of farmer suicides. Coincidence? Yet another reason to buy products made from organically grown cotton.
Wellness Bags Made from Recycled Designer Fabrics Provide Therapeutic Heat Naturally
Handmade in Pasadena, CA, Wellness Bags provide heat therapy to relieve stress, pain, and muscle tension. Made from designer recycled fabrics and filled with rice, the Divine Therapy collection uses exclusively environmentally responsible fabrics.
To use a Wellness Bag, simply heat in a microwave for two minutes. The bag will stay warm for close to an hour and can be used anywhere on the body. Since I don't have a microwave, I wonder if there is an alternative method for heating the Wellness Bags. Of course, the rice bags can be used for cold therapy as well by placing it in the freezer!
Natural Smart Wool Socks are Cool, Warm, and Funky
I am one of those people that is plagued by cold feet (I blame my mom for smoking when she was pregnant with me and negatively affecting my circulation). I don't like itchy wool socks, but I don't like synthetics fabrics either. Smartwool Socks are the perfect solution. These socks are 86% wool, 13% nylon, and 1% elastic. The nylon keeps them from being itchy, and for that, I will tolerate a little synthetic fiber in my socks. The high content of wool works as natural odor control (I should get my daughter a pair), temperature regulation (keeps your feet warm when it's cold, and cool when it's hot), and wicks moisture away from sweaty feet. The minimal packaging is printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks. Smartwool Socks come in super cool funky designs (even though they keep your feet super warm). I could not survive winter (or spring or fall) without my Smartwool socks.
The Socialite- [n: classic fit] Straight across the hip and crisper in the flare, this fit gives the illusion of a long, sexy silhouette.
Sure, it's a splurge to buy Joe's Organic Jeans, but it is a decadent purchase you don't have to feel eco-guilt about. Besides, they are super comfortable too!
My background is in graphic design but I have recently begun designing jewelry as well. All of my pieces have an asian flair to them and are made from recycled papers and other jewelry findings. As a graphic artist, I'm drawn to beautiful bits of printed material and enjoy mixing them with other media. All pieces are hand crafted by me in my studio, in San Francisco, California.
Squishy Sushi's unique pieces have an Asian influence are made from items such as magazines, dominos, and Scrabble pieces. I recently purchased a Recycled Scrabble pendant:
This scrabble pendant is made from a bit of recycled magazine. The pendant has been coated with a heat and water resistant 2-part resin for a high gloss shine and durability. The bail is silver plated. This pendant measures 3/4" by 1" including the bail.
At only $7.50, this pendant is certainly affordable, and I feel good about supporting an artisan on Etsy.
Cool Green Attitude: Organic Clothing with a Positive Message
"I am creative", "I am unique", and "I am infinite potential" are examples of the positive messages on Cool Green Attitude's Learning and Confidence T-shirts. Each shirt comes with a Buddy Bookmark which describes and reinforces positive behavior:
I am kind and caring
WHEN I AM friendly and helpful to others from what I say and do.
WHEN I SHOW I care with love and understanding when someone is sad or needs help.
WHEN I AM kind to myself and my skin, kind to the
environment, and kind
to my friends.
All Cool Green Attitude designs are printed with organic water-based inks on 100% certified organic cotton. The company was started by three mothers, and the line is not just for children. Women and men's designs are also available.
Mission Playground Unique, Organic T-Shirts: Wear Your Values on Your Sleeve
Mission Playground is an eco-friendly clothing company featuring unique organic t-shirts. My favorite is the Learn t-shirt. From production to distribution, Mission Playground is conscious of the environment and encourages people of all ages to follow suit.
Mission Playground's Top 5 Reasons to Wear Organic Clothing:
1) Organic clothing will help you reduce your environmental impact - the state of the environment is one of the world's biggest concerns, by wearing organic clothing you are doing what you can to ensure our children's children can enjoy Mother Nature as much as we do.
2) Organic clothing is best for your health- Our clothing is in constant contact with the largest organ in our bodies, our skin, and organic cotton clothes are produced in ways that do not destroy the environment and do not use pesticides, fertilizers or GMO seeds. In California, five of the top nine pesticides used on cotton are cancer-causing chemicals (cyanazine, dicofol, naled, propargite and trifluralin).*
3) Organic clothing is better for children - children are more vulnerable to toxins because their immune systems are immature. Because organic methods of agriculture do not use these harmful chemicals, their resulting fibers are much easier on a baby's sensitive skin.
4) 25% of the world's insecticides are used to grow conventional cotton** Enough said.
5) Organic clothing is cool - Well, Mission Playground's organic clothing is cool. With inspirational messages and designs such as 'The Earth is our Playground, Our Mission is to Preserve it', each article of clothing gives you the edge you need to be an agent of change.
A mid-thigh THERMAL Boxer Brief that will keep your prized possessions nice and Toasty this Fall/Winter. Fabric is made from 100% Organic Cotton and features the softest, most comfortable Organic Cotton Waistband there is. The waffle weave fabric is knit, slightly, looser then 'old school Thermal' so it stretches and releases just enough heat all the while keeping your "Boys" Toasty INSTEAD of Hot!
Men deserve organic cotton too! Christopher has plans for a bamboo boxer line this spring, as well.
Replace Plastic Dry Cleaning Bags with a Reusable Canvas Garment Bag
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