Celebrate Earth Day with Eco-Friendly Fashion


Above look from Standard Finery's Spring 2010 Collection.


Make a pledge to celebrate this Earth Day, April 22nd, by going green in a new area of your life. Going green is no longer just a trend, it is an incredibly important, full-on movement. Every individual must take responsibility for his or her own environmental impact if we want future generations to enjoy this planet the way that we do.


There are the obvious rules: recycle, eat organic and locally grown food, and drive a smaller car (if you have to drive one at all). Then, there are less obvious options in areas like home design (install solar panels on your roof), beauty (use organic products), and fashion (buy vintage clothes and support environmentally conscious designers). Eco-friendly fashion may raise a few eyebrows at first mention, but it is no longer just about hemp skirts and crunchy organic tee-shirts. These days, there are dozens of great designers and brands who utilize organic fabrics and responsible production techniques. Here are some of our favorites - consider them when shopping for your upcoming dates and nights out.


Stella McCartney Eco Collection - available at Stella McCartney boutiques and Barneys New York, this capsule collection is completely organic and produced with alternative sourcing. Prices range from $435 to $1535. Additionally, Stella McCartney never uses leather or fur for any of her collections. Go to stellamccartney.com for styles and buying information.


Organic by John Patrick- John Patrick has this quote on his website: "I envision a world in the near future where people won't ask, 'is it organic?' but say 'of course, it's organic!'" - and it seems as though this near future has arrived. Our favorites include the chic long blazers ($565) and silk paper-bag pants ($275). Go to johnpatrickorganic.com for styles and store information.


Standard Finery - Caron Callahan's designs are clean, modern, and feminine, and according to her website, she "uses organic fabrics a much as possible." One of our favorite new lines of the last couple seasons, everything is completely wearable and relatively affordable. Go to standardfinery.com for styles and store information.


Beau Soleil - You have likely seen her canvas totes about town, but this designer also sells relaxed, chic dresses and tees that can be dressed up or down depending on your mood. Prices range from about $100 for leggings to around $300 for dresses. Shop online at shopbeausoleil.com.

Banana Republic's Heritage Collection - This line by the old standby is 90% environmentally sustainable, and includes everything from blouses for the office to dresses for a date. Prices are along the same lines as the rest of Banana Republic's clothing. Shop online at bananarepublic.com.

Alternative Earth - Alternative Apparel's Earth collection is comprised of soft, everyday tees and tanks made from organic cotton and other recycled fibers. They start at $22 and come in a vast array of colors. Shop online at alternativeapparel.com.

H&M's "The Garden Collection" - This large collection launched a few weeks ago and is still in stores. It features on-trend pieces made from recycled polyester and organic cotton and linen. Standout pieces are paper-bag linen shorts and a red rosette jacket with big shoulders. Prices stay true to the H&M model - nothing is over $60. Go to hmthegardencollection.com for images, prices, and store locations.


Learn More - Eco Fashion World (ecofashionworld.com) has a collective list of eco-friendly fashion brands, and Philadelphia-based eco-boutique Arcadia (arcadiaboutique.com) stocks some of these brands as well as vintage styles. Also worth checking out is the lifestyle blog Inhabitat (inhabitat.com), and the popular online Lonny magazine (lonnymag.com), which continuously features green home products and designers.


Be considerate of the environment and do your part. What could be more fun than doing it in the realm of fashion?

Ally Lewis is the founder and author of the popular fashion and lifestyle blog, "Savoir-Faire: A Guide to Living with Style and Grace." She has worked in the beauty, fashion, and home design industries and currently lives in downtown New York City. www.savoirfaire.typepad.com


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