December 23, 2009
As we head off to celebrate the holidays with friends and family, Seed & Sew just wanted to give this cute baby in an organic onsie from Zazzle.com the opportunity to wish our beloved readers a Merry Chrismukkah!
We love you and we’ll see you in the new year!
December 21, 2009
Another case study in our ongoing exploration: can fur be eco? Let’s have a look at Canadian label Harricana. Designer Mariouche recycles old furs into new styles: coats, hats, scarves, even pillows for the home. These reconstructed garments and accessories can be made from furs up to 100 years old, and are not causing any direct harm to animals. The concept: “Made from your mothers clothes.” Is this have-their-cake-and-eat-it-too mentality a great solution for the chilly upper class in search of the warmest and most luxurious solution out there? Is it just one more justification for a cruel and archaic fashion staple? Or…is it just really really cold in Canada and this is the best way to stay warm and ethical at the same time? Mariouche unfortunately does tow the “Fur is eco” line that we heard last winter from the Canadian Fur Council. Renewable resource? Hmmmmmm……
Thoughts?
December 14, 2009
Well this holiday season the folks at CWAC went completely overboard on their holiday roundup, so we just borrowed some of their finds and listed them here as the best of the best of the under-$40 eco-goodies for guys.
Hats from REI have never looked better, now that they’ve come out with the Eco-Ragg collection…these rag wool and recycled poly hats ($14) look extra warm as well as hip.
And speaking of hip, the choice of 14 colors from the Holdup Suspender Co is immediate wallflower antidote– USA-made elastic bands and veggie-dyed leather do the trick at $24.95.
What roundup would be complete without something creative and off-the-wall from Etsy: Rufflentuck Bow Ties at $6 each make a great hand-made stocking stuffer and can be worn in all earnest or with a heavy dash of irony.
Last but not least Fair Trade Aplpaca scarves from Bolivia by Circle of the Sun tie any look together – these soft-grey tones are just lovely. So men, and women who seek to gift well for men…enjoy!
December 10, 2009
Seems to be a downscaled version of Freitag – urban-friendly totes and messengers made from salvaged posters and seat belts that are sewn together by hand by designer Jenelle Malbrough, in her apartment, in Queens, NY. Aside from the fact that the name rocks, these bags seem like a pretty good investment – and as messengers go they’re pretty affordable (The Bucket messenger above is $100.) All are for sale on the FWT website, and each is its own unique item.
December 4, 2009
The whole line is made in the USA with organic fabrics using low impact dyes. We love the metal buttons and raw edges on the Earthy Hoody Jacket (on sale for $161) and the deep indigo organic cotton/hemp and silk blend on the Moonbeam Cami.
Raw Earth Wild Sky is a sustainable style company founded by Karen Kananen and Samantha Robinson. Their love for fashion, concern for the planet, and the birth of their daughters were the driving force behind starting an environmentally conscious company. So happy BTC is supporting these designers in their journey!
December 1, 2009
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Fresh and crisp as a Canadian snowbank with a splash of color here and there…that’s what we think of Vancouver’s flora&fauna boutique, a sustainable online (and real world) shop filled with covetous eco fashion items. All of flora&fauna’s pieces are locally, ethically and sustainably made, some using renewable materials such as soy cloth in the Bear Picnic Dress, or bamboo in the Contrast Squirrel Tank above. Designer Pauline incorporates nature and animal themes into each design, and her company is proud to support local animal welfare and nature conservation organizations.
November 23, 2009
For example, this fair-trade raffia clutch by Mad Imports is already discounted $15 on the site – you get 15% more. Or their super cute “Woof” and “Meow” Envirosax – which make great holiday gifts by the way. A wee bit on Terra Trendz: web store offering eco friendly fashion accessories that operates under the belief one wears is the best representation of one’s personality. We agree.
So….enjoy your super special discount code! Just enter it at checkout — it goes like this: S&S15
November 11, 2009
Surprisingly nostalgic for those of us who deeply appreciated the flannels, babydoll dresses and chunky footwear of ’90’s grunge, Docs are back. The streets of NY are peppered with the utilitarian boots of yore. For those of us loathe to put leather on our feet, however, UK-based Vegetarian Shoes offers the Boulder Boot, a cruelty-free alternative to the classic look. The Boulder Boot sells for 84 Pounds, and for those of us in the US, can be bought through Moo Shoes online store at $139.95. Our favorite part, the giant tab sticking off the back that reminds folks in the street in a loud font that these boots are cow-free!
November 9, 2009
Congratulations to Angela from San Francisco…the winner of Seed & Sew’s first contest! We’re so excited to award her a $200 gift certificate to Novica.com for her heartwarming story about this real-life grandfather sweater. Hip hip hooray!!!
Check out our True Stories page for some of the other runners up and the cool eco fashion items they shared with us.
Angela’s Story
I’ve always been a fan of big, cozy sweaters, but this is the real deal–an actual, sentimental grandfather sweater. I spent the year before I moved to San Francisco back home in Maryland with my mom, and while there, I reconnected with old friends, and became very close again to one of my high school girlfriends in particular, who I had grown apart from while in college. She and I spent tons of time together; she made that year living at home, which probably would have been boring and painful, actually really great. She always wore this big, cushy sweater that her grandfather had given her, and I loved it. Warm, oversized, and comforting, it’s the type of sweater that you can wear everyday, as an overthrow or a coat or just a thing you throw on when you get home. Anyway, Sarah gave me this sweater when I moved. It was such a staple of her own wardrobe, and an item of nostalgia in that it came from her very own grandfather before he died. The fact that she gave it to me meant so much, as a parting gift, but also as a token of our friendship and how important it was to me that year, corny as that may sound. So, when I moved to San Francisco in August of ‘04, I packed a suitcase of clothes but most everything else was sent ground shipping from Maryland, about a 10-day process. Moving in August from the hot, stifling heat of the east coast to California, I expected, well, summer. Little did I know at the time, August in San Francisco is downright arctic. I, of course, packed nothing but summer clothes to hold me over till the rest of my crap arrived, except for the gift that my friend had just given me the night before I left—her grandfather’s oversized sweater. That sweater was my coat, and essentially my only sensible clothing item throughout the days that marked my inauguration into the city which has now been my home for five years. Today, an old, oversized sweater that her grandfather could have easily thrown into a goodwill bag remains one of the most meaningful gifts I’ve ever gotten.
November 5, 2009
Scratch that…we’re going straight through the weekend! You could win $200 from Novica.com, and you have all weekend to do it. All you need to do is send us a little story about your favorite eco fashion item, and a picture or video…the best story wins! Here are the contest rules…good luck!
November 3, 2009
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Each belt is 100% unique, carrying with it the long and exciting life of the bike tire it is made from. We especially like how sleek and un-bulky Jiro belts are, and there are so many colors and designs to choose from, probably because Italian bike tires are so colorful to begin with! At 30 Euros each, they’re pretty well priced for something that’s really going to last a lifetime. You can order direct at info@jiro-belt.com….specify the color, size and they’ll handle the rest!
November 2, 2009
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Each piece is hand-made by the Hill Tribe of Karen Village in Northern Thailand. We love the lightness of each piece…perfect little works of art to turn a black t-shirt into a phenomenally different look. The shop and stocklists aren’t quite together yet, but you can order directly through orders@shadowplaycollection.com.
October 30, 2009
Through her label Himane, Haitian designer Catherine Edouard Charlot makes new bags and women’s fashion out of broken umbrellas. After a rainstorm you always see them, lying there, wilted on the sidewalk. Charlot gives them new life.
Each unique piece is collected. The waterproof nylon makes for great city fabric. For NYC folks, you can find them at East Village eco-boutique, Sustainable NYC.
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October 27, 2009
It’s contest time! Our friends at Novica.com have sponsored this opportunity to win this sexy fair-made Mexican leather satchel – from their corporate gifts online store.
And the odds are lookin’ pretty good. All you have to do is send us in a story and a picture/video of you and your favorite eco fashion item before November 6. Check our Contest Rules for more info.
Remember, our definition of eco fashion here at Seed & Sew is very inclusive: organic, recycled, renewable, DIY, ethical, vegan…they all apply. We’re looking to find new stories, new trends and phenomena we’ve never seen before.
And the prize is worth a whopping $200. So send us your stories! We eagerly await…
October 23, 2009
Hooray it’s finally here! We had so much fun last year at Steampunk Day at the BrooklynIndie Market that we made a video about it. If you missed it last year, go and check it out tomorrow, you won’t be sorry
This year it’s back and better than ever. The Second Annual Steampunk Day at Brooklyn Indie Market, an emerging designer market, will take place from 11-7 and Fashion Show at 4pm. Take the F/G to the Carroll Street Station.
With a week before Halloween, this is an opportunity for grownups to have their day of dress up and make-believe. Retro Futurism descends upon Carroll Gardens under the red and white striped tent on the corner of Smith and Union Street and spills out into the street with a Steampunk Fashion Show at 4pm.
What is Steampunk you say? We asked fashion show coordinator Britney of Berit New York, “In short, Steampunk is science-fiction as it could have been envisioned during the Victorian Era which draws inspiration from countless cultures and nations across the world.”
Don your goggles and corsetry, transport yourself over to The Way Station, Brooklyn’s first Steampunk Bar and performance venue for an after party, located in Prospect Heights at 685 Washington Avenue, Steampunk performances and libations, doors open at 8 pm. 2/3 Brooklyn Museum, A/C Washington Ave or Q 7th Ave.
