must have

stay tuned…
in the rarified world of haute bags, anya hindmarch, is BIG (especially in the UK). so who better to team up with in order to promote eco-awareness?

the folks at we are what we do worked with anya hindmarch to develop the bag pictured above. it’s a stylish (and economical, at only £5) alternative to plastic carrier bags and it’s flying off the shelves. as of early march, the bag was already sold out at anya hindmarch stores. When we are what we do released the bags for sale last week, they sold out within 24 hours. and it only took that long because their site was incapacitated by a deluge of eager shoppers (i was on the waiting list, but was unable to score one through their site). now, our only recourse is to wait until april 25th, when the bags go on sale at select sainsburys stores.

the bags have become a strong presence on ebay, but it seems ridiculous that an inexpensive canvas bag has driven people to spend over £100 on it, when only the proceeds of the £5 sale will help to fund the work of we are what we do.

watching what you eat

an interview with rob stewart, the fellow behind sharkwater, drives home the point why we should not consume shark products. i’m a person who’s passionate about food, but there are things i won’t touch, and shark’s fin is one of them. not only is it unethical, it’s unsustainable.

this led me to think about seafood in general and how do we know that the succulent morsels we enjoy aren’t detrimental to the oceans and sealife? i’m a psuedo-vegetarian, and i’m definitely not trying to tell people what they should or should not eat. but perhaps it is something that we need to think about. seafood watch is a great website that sorts out best choices, good ones, and what to avoid. there’s also loads of useful information about seafood production and what we can do. there are handy pocket guides (although these are designed for the US, they are relevant to most of North America) to download and refer to when you’re out grocery shopping or deciding on what to order at a restaurant. There’s even one for the west coast.

weekend plans

if i were in vancouver, you can bet your bottom dollar that i’d be headed to the vancouver trade and convention centre this weekend to check out the EPIC sustainable living expo. alas, i am not there; so i will have to live vicariously through you! it looks like a very promising event, with loads of ethical and green exhibitors, as well as a whole slew of ethical fashions. if you’re in town, check it out!

venus in blue jeans

calla jean by del forte

like victoria beckham, i have a love affair with denim. Unlike her, however, i actually like food. maybe a bit too much. hence, i have a booty, so finding a great fitting pair of jeans for me is something akin to the quest for the holy grail. watch out, indiana jones!

jeans and shoes are usually the only items that i will splurge on. great fit, design, and comfort are worth the money. fabulously fitting jeans can be found for the right price…but what about green jeans? producing a pair of jeans often involves deforestation, pesticides, chemicals, and unfair working conditions. so i cannot, in good conscience, continue to purchase designer jeans that are detrimental to the planet and my wallet. of late, i have discovered the world of eco jeans and it’s inhabited by style, great fabrication, and the ever elusive flattering fit!

loomstate has been around several years now, and they make some lovely organic jeans–genesis, a slim fitting jean, does not make me look like an over-packed sausage! bonus!

green clothing maker howies does active wear, dresses, tops, jumpers AND jeans. their jeans are organic and washed with eco balls for softness.

del forte denim makes stylish organic jeans that have an exceptionally long lifespan. the company’s project rejeaneration recycles used jeans.

hug jeans are certified fairtrade and organic; they also make some cool t-shirts for the whole family.

dutch label kuyichi, a company dedicated to social and environmental awareness, makes jeans that simply look great.

even the big players are recognizing that eco jeans are not only good for the environment, but are also good for business. levi’s launched their green jeans last fall to lots of fanfare.