Originally posted on Fashion, Evolved

I spend a lot of time reading and writing about eco fashion and beauty; and I’m absolutely convinced of the value of going green when it comes to personal style. But at least once a week someone asks me what the “point” of eco fashion is. So I’ve come up with a list of ten reasons why eco fashion is an infinitely better choice over traditional clothing, shoes, accessories and cosmetics. Ready? Ok!

1. Planet Earth is a Nice Place to Live.

Here’s the thing: there is no other planet for us to live on. Now, even if you’re not a Grape-Nuts-eating-Greenpeace-card-carrying-bleeding-heart-liberal, you still have to recognize why we should take care of the limited resources we have. Living sustainably is simply LOGICAL. When you buy and wear eco-fashion, you’re making a conscious decision to buy a product that was made with the least environmental impact as possible. DUH.

2. I Like Children.

No, I LOVE children. I have a couple of them myself. They are amazing! Small versions of adults with unlimited potential to learn and grow. Future discovery, art, and innovation lies dormant in them; waiting for us to provide a nurturing environment where it can blossom.

But a huge percentage of clothing is made with child labor overseas. That means that while my children are enjoying their childhood–taking swimming lessons, going to the zoo and seeing movies—other children the same age are working 10+ hours a day just so they can help feed their family. And they have to do this because their parents can’t make enough money working all day, either.

Eco fashion is about buying FAIR TRADE products which are made by ADULTS who earn a LIVING WAGE. The next time you pick up a beautiful blouse at the store, think about the tiny fingers that probably worked on it all day. Then put it down and look for a shirt that has a fair trade label.

3. Money Is Important to Me.

I will freely admit that I like having money. I work hard for it and I like knowing that the stuff I buy is worth the hours I spend earning the money I’ve paid for it. That’s why it pisses me off to no end when I buy something and it falls apart quickly. Eco fashion is as much about quality as it is about environmental impact. I want to buy products that will last so that I don’t have to KEEP buying the same things over and over again.

4. Sacrificing Health for Beauty is Stupid.

Ok, I’m not talking about chain-smoking-coke-head models. I’m talking about you and me–the American Woman–who wants to look her best. We each spend more than $600 a year on beauty products and cosmetics–and half of that crap doesn’t even live up to its claims. Plus, its full of synthetic chemicals that are known carcinogens. So stop making your beauty choices based on advertising and marketing. The chemicals used in most beauty products are going to kill you. If you dont believe me, please spend some time reading on the website Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

5. I Love America.

I don’t like seeing my fellow countrymen/women out of work. And while I appreciate the other cultures and societies around the world, I would really prefer to support the people who live around me–my “neighbors”–with my money. And yes, it might cost a little more. But that’s because it costs money to live. And I don’t begrudge anyone from earning an honest living.

6. Clothes Make the Wo(man).

When people look at you, they know what kind of person you are by the clothes you’re wearing. Yes, it’s superficial. But that’s how the world operates, so you might as well get used to it. Wearing eco fashion is a great way to let the world know that you are a person who walks your talk. You value hard work, honesty, ethics, health, and kindness. You make choices based on what’s good for everyone, not just yourself (a/k/a The Golden Rule).

7. Style = Uniqueness

It used to be that fashion was an art. People used it to express themselves, and took great pains to stand out as individuals. These days, people are fashion lemmings. Vogue comes out with a new Coach bag and people rush to plunk down their money so they can be seen carrying it. As if fashion were some kind of club and everyone who was “in” had the same matching cashmere t-shirt. Look, I like luxury. But I am no sheep. Eco fashion is about finding independent designers, exquisite vintage pieces, and unique materials. It’s about building your own look, not buying a pre-manufactured one.

8. I Like Bunnies.

And puppies. And kittens. And monkeys. And even lizards. I think animals are amazing, beautiful, and valuable members of our global family. That’s why it breaks my heart to think of hundreds of thousands of them trapped in cages, being tortured every day just so some company can pass off synthetic chemicals as “beauty” products. Especially because its not even necessary. Buy cruelty-free or vegan beauty products, please. Even some mainstream drugstore cosmetics companies have stopped animal testing. To check if your favorite company is kind to all God’s creatures–use this search tool on the PETA website.

9. Smart Really Is Sexy.

Come on, you know it’s true. Smart girls are sexy. They may be pretty; they may be fun–but underneath it all, there’s substance that keeps you coming back for more. A smart woman thinks about all her choices; and that includes what she puts on.

10. I’m Worth It.

No, really. I am. It’s not just a marketing slogan. I am WORTH spending a little extra on to take care of my body and live up to my ethics. I’m WORTH the luxury of organic cotton and paraben-free lotion. I’m WORTH taking care of, and eco fashion is just one of the ways I do it.

Tags: eco couture, eco fashion, eco style, green couture, green fashion, green style, organic couture, organic fashion, sustainable couture, sustainable fashion, sustainable style

Posted under Articles

Eco Chic is a fairly new movement in the big world of fashion.  While it is true that an industry-wide greening is underway, it certainly is taking its sweet time.  Yet, there are some pioneers that have been paving the way for the evolution of fashion for years.  To wit: Melissa Baswell.

Baswell has been creating eco-conscious clothing for almost ten years, originally making them by hand herself and selling them in local boutiques at at festivals. She established her company Mountains of the Moon with $200 and a vision– learning how to do everything herself from design to marketing and manufacturing.  The result has been a spectacular business model that proves ethical, green, stylish and profitable are not mutually exclusive.

Mountains of the Moon has garnered a great deal of attention, not only for its green clothing, but for its overall practices and enviromental policies. For three years in a row the company was nominated for and chosen as one of 10 worldwide businesses honored as Green Business of the Year by the organization Green America.

The fabrics used by Baswell in her designs are organic cotton, hemp, and other sustainable choices. All  the manufacturing is done locally in the U.S. (Illinois and Colorado).  Her team is small, wearing many hats; but they are dedicated to their mission and are as passionate about fashion as they are the environment.

Baswell’s design asthetic is youthful but sophisticated.  “I design what I like,” she told me in a phone interview last week.  “People who wear our clothes care about style, not trends.  We like to think our clothing is wearable art.”  Indeed, the pieces offered on Mountains of the Moon website are far above the ‘green style’ of yoga wear and organic cotton t-shirts.  They are suitable for professional women who want to look smart and fashion-savvy without sacrificing their ethics.

I asked Baswell what she wanted people to know about her company.  “I guess the most important thing I want people to know is that we’re an authentically conscious company,” she said. “So many companies are greenwashing things.  You go into a store in the mall that advertises eco-fashion and their pieces are maybe 10% organic, made in a sweatshop.  We make every effort to maintain an ethical, sustainable product and process.  We’re the real deal.”

Gorgeous, stylish, sustainable clothing made with the highest quality standards of materials and manufacturing.  What’s not to love?  Check out Mountains of the Moon now for excellent mark downs on last season’s line, and a chance to see some of the new pieces for S/S 09!

Originally posted at TheQreation.com

Posted under Articles, HippyMom Weekly Bloggers

Just because you’re a “Hippie Mom” doesn’t mean you’re not a professional.  It does mean, however, that when it comes to choosing your wardrobe you need it to perform a dual role.  You want your clothing to define you as a force to be reckoned with in the workplace, and you want it to support your ethical choices in regard to sustainability and the environment.

There’s no end to clothing options in our society, but when you make a list of all your  personal requirements, the choices suddenly become much narrower.  Among other things, an eco-conscious professional modern woman needs her wardrobe to be:

Suddenly you realize that shopping for work clothes has become a challenge.  But that’s ok.  We like a good challenge…especially when it involves shopping.

Before you get out your credit card, the first thing you want to do is take a thorough inventory of everything you already have in your closet.  Identify the items that fit you now—not ones you hope to fit into in the future.  Take out anything that doesn’t fit you and either give it away, put it in storage, or take it for alterations.

Then, using the pieces of your current wardrobe, make a list of items you need to create complete outfits.  You can use a simple piece of notebook paper, or use an existing wardrobe planning sheet such as this one: click here

Once you’ve identified what you need to buy, you can prepare to shop.  And I do mean prepare.  Don’t just head out to the commerce jungle without necessary supplies and a plan of action.  Gather together any gift cards, coupons or discount cards, ads or other items that you might want to use.  Put on an outfit that looks nice but is comfortable and easy to take on and off.  Do your hair and makeup.  Bring water, snacks, and be prepared to take breaks as needed.

Most importantly:  Do not buy anything unless you’re certain it looks great on you.   Do not buy something that will “just do”.  Mentally prepare yourself for taking all the time and as many trips as you need to buy the perfect clothes for yourself.  It’s better to find one pair of pants that you absolutely love than six pair that you know makes your butt look big.  Remember that.

As you shop, try everything on.  If it doesn’t look great, don’t buy it.  Not just “fine”—GREAT.  Don’t just buy something because it’s on sale.  Don’t buy it because you’re planning to lose 10lbs.  Buy it if it looks good in the dressing room under the fluorescent lights.  You are perfectly capable of developing your own individual style that is ideal for your figure, so don’t rely on what fashion magazines to tell you what to wear.  98% of all women on the planet do not have the body of a fashion model.  We need to get real.  If you really feel that you can’t tell what looks good, take a friend you know you can trust to shop with you and give you an honest opinion as you try things on.

One of the best ways you can save money and the earth is to buy second hand or vintage clothing.  Most communities have several of these kinds of shops, and while you may have to dig through things, you will find unique pieces at a fraction of the price you’d pay for new clothing.

When buying new clothes, look for organics or for clothing made in the U.S. or which bears the label “free trade”.  It might cost a little more—but consider a new motto:  Spend More, Buy Less.  Talk to the shop owners and ask them about the origins of the clothes they are selling.  Look for quality in both materials and craftsmanship.

Remember that the appearance of simple clothing can be drastically changed by accessories.  An organic cotton shirt can become a totally different style with the use of a contrasting belt, a large necklace, a shawl, a sweater vest, or a blazer.  Keep the foundation pieces in your wardrobe clean, simple and versatile and use accessories to build unique looks around them.  Accessories—both new and vintage—are usually very affordable and can even be made if you have any artistic ability yourself.

Finally, pay attention to the basics:  Your skin, hair, nails, teeth and cosmetics.  If these things are in good shape you can walk around in a potato sack and feel confident.  Make sure you have a routine for your grooming.  It can make all the difference in how you feel in your clothing—whatever you wear.

~Amanda “The Q” Quraishi, author of Fashion, Evolved

Posted under Uncategorized