If you’ve always dreamed of designing your own clothes, but just don’t have any sewing skills, you’re in luck! Berber Soepboer and Michiel Schuurman have come up with a way for you to put your own creative spin on a dress – no sewing necessary! Their Colour-In Dress lets you decide how colorful, monochromatic, zany or simple you want your a-line frock to be. Just use the included textile markers to color away to your heart’s content.
Build Your Own Lego Dress!
by Yuka Yoneda, 11/22/09
How cool would it be to be able to construct and reconstruct your clothing everyday according to your mood just like legos? Refinity’s “Fragmented” clothing lets you do just that with their colorful and customizable snap-on pieces that let you decide how long, short, wide or thin your outfit should be – no sewing necessary! Besides being totally cool, the concept is definitely one that is taking center stage in the eco-fashion realm because it reduces textile waste and allows people to easily remodel their clothes instead of throwing them away.
READ MORE ON ECOUTERRE>
Would You Wear Your Dead Pet as Jewelry?
by Yuka Yoneda, 11/21/09
When a beloved pet passes away, it’s only natural to want to keep their memory close – but how close?!! A few very, er, enterprising companies are giving mourning animal lovers the opportunity to wear the remains of their dearly beloved furry friends as pearls or even diamonds. Technically, this faddish practice has some basis in eco-fashion (since it’s definitely better than unethically sourced jewels) but is it good for grieving pet owners’ mental health or just a sign that their sanity is already beyond repair?
READ MORE AT ECOUTERRE>
Instead of just burning calories, why not use all that energy from exercising to power your MP3 player? The Dancepants Kinetic Music Player, a shortlisted entry in Designboom’s Green Life competition, lets you do just that by converting kinetic energy from running, hopping, jumping, etc. into electricity to power an iPod or other music player. According to the Dancepants designers, the product is a “100 percent interactive way to feel the value of energy on your own.”
READ MORE AT ECOUTERRE >
Jewelry Made from Human Teeth
Here’s some eco-jewelry you can really sink your teeth into. Or rather, that Australian silversmith Polly van der Glas has sunk some sterilized human molars, bicuspids and canines into. What do you think – are these dental creations creepy or cool?
Stunning Dress with 24,000 LEDs is the Newest Way to Advertise
Have something to say? Get the word out by emblazoning it across the Galaxy Dress – the world’s largest wearable display! With a blinding 24,000 LED lights, 4,000 hand-applied Swarovski crystals and 40-layers of pleated silk organza crinoline, this illuminated frock will make your company logo, political message or other cause …
We Celebrate Ecouterre’s Official Launch With an Eco-Fashion Bash!
The Ecouterrorists holdin’ it down.
We kicked off the official launch of our eco-fashion site Ecouterre with a killer party. Check out all of the pics from this momentous night!
Junk Dunks: Upcycled Nike Sneakers Made From Metal Circuit Boards
When it comes to kicks, the rarer the better. And if you’re looking for originality, we guarantee you won’t find another pair quite like these upcycled junk-metal Jordans by artist Gabriel Dishaw. He whips metal and electronic scraps from old computers into crazy DIY shoe sculptures that will have any sneakerhead foaming at the mouth. We don’t advise wearing them …
Tara St. James’ Upcycled Zipper Jewelry Adds Zip to Your Wardrobe
Self proclaimed pack-rat and the design mastermind behind the eco-fashion line Study Tara St. James knows how to make upcycling look good. So we weren’t surprised to see that her latest endeavor takes something as mundane as old zippers and transforms them into objects of desire fit for the pages of Vogue …
Freakish Taxidermy Accessories Much Less Disgusting Than Fur Coats
Is that the vampire dude from Twilight?
Eeeeek! These taxidermied toppers and pigeon-wing pendants may get your gag reflex going, but they’re actually much more humane than the horrible and cruel mink coats and furs that we’ve been brainwashed to think of as “luxurious.” RP/Encore, with the taxidermy expertise of Reid Peppard, who happens to be vegetarian, makes their skin-crawling collection of jewelry …
THE OFFICIAL ECOUTERRE LAUNCH PARTY IS TOMORROW!
CALLING ALL NEW YORK ECO-FASHION CONNOISSEURS!
In about 24 hours, you could be nibbling on delectable vegan morsels by Rabbit Mafia, sipping refreshing organic drinks courtesy of 44 North Vodka, shopping the racks of sustainable fashion at KAIGHT NYC (15% off everything for one night only), and discussing the future of eco-fashion at …
THE OFFICIAL ECOUTERRE LAUNCH PARTY IS THIS THURSDAY!
CALLING ALL ECO-FASHION FOLLOWERS IN NYC!
Just in case you haven’t heard by now, the official launch party for our new eco-fashion website Ecouterre is THIS THURSDAY! That’s right, in just two more days you could be indulging in yummy vegan cookies and snacks by Rabbit Mafia, enjoying organic cocktails courtesy of 44 North Vodka, perusing sustainable fashions at KAIGHT NYC (15% off everything for one night …
Wearable Shelter: Clothes You Can Turn Into a Makeshift Home
Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino
With the economy in the shambles that it’s in, who knows when you’re gonna be forced to find shelter on the streets? If things do get that bad, you’d feel a lot more prepared sporting the “Wearable Shelter” collection of fashions that actually transform into sleeping bags and tents. Designed by a trio of Philadelphia student designers, these smart clothes/homes were …
Crazy LED Eyelashes Put Beauty (or Fear) in the Eye of the Beholder
Pretty? Or pretty scary? These insane looking LED lashes by Soomi Park are definitely not for those who consider argyle socks to be a “risky” accessory. If you do get pulled over for by the fashion police for having the gall to rock these, freak them out even more by demonstrating the inclination sensor technology that tracks the movements of your pupils, turning the lights on and off simply tilting your head. …
8 Great Green Halloween Costumes
Halloween is undoubtedly one of the most fun holidays around, but it can also be stressful to try to come up with a clever costume that doesn’t require too much work. With all the awesome halloween contests and parties, finding that special costume with the perfect balance of intrigue and cleverness can really drive a person to their wit’s end! Don’t fret! Take a deep breath, and step away from the costume aisle at your local big box store, and let us inspire you with 8 awesomely green halloween costumes from Inhabitat Green Halloweens past.
ECOUTERRE LAUNCH PARTY: October 29th at KAIGHT!
CALLING ALL ECO-FASHION MAVENS IN NYC!
We’re gearing up to ring in the launch of our fabulous eco-fashion site Ecouterre with our first official party and we want YOU to be there! Join us, the Ecouterre editors, as we munch on vegan cookies and snacks, sip organic cocktails, peruse green goods at KAIGHT (15 percent off everything for one night only), and of course, talk about the future of …
Green Your Halloween With Wildlife Inspired Knits!
Halloween is just around the corner and if you’ve got any little ones in your life, you’re probably racking your brain for cute and clever Halloween costume ideas. If you’re on the verge of giving in to sheer desperation and contemplating holding your nose while buying a plastic Spongebob costume — don’t fear — we have a greener solution for you in the form of Oeuf’s adorable knit animal outfits for kids! These lovely mix-and-match knit pieces, made by Bolivian craftswomen, are not really costumes per se — more just cute dress-up separates — and that is precisely why they are such a great sustainable option for a green halloween. Kids will have fun wearing bear ears or a racoon tail any time of year, and these knit pieces are so adorable that you’ll want to encourage year-round dress up play.
Fall Eco-Fashion Pop Quiz!
How well do you know YOUR eco-fashion?
Put your sustainability savvy to the test and get the best Ecouterre news of the week in easy-to-swallow, bite-size morsels with our eco-fashion pop quiz.
1. Playing off “farm to table,” what designer is bringing “ranch to runway”?
2. What suede-like, renewable fabric has more bark than bite?
3. What is Zegna’s hot new solar-powered jacket made of?
4. What does Popomomo stand for?
5. “Consciousness is the new hip” is what vegan shoe maker’s motto?
Answers right after the jump!
Cashmere Tissue Rolls Out Toilet Paper Couture for Breast Cancer Month
Who knew that toilet paper couture could look so darn good?! Some of Canada’s fashion elite rolled out their hottest designs for Cashmere Bathroom Tissue’s Sixth Annual White Cashmere Collection 2009: Fashion with Compassion Runway Show to raise funds and awareness for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Check out all of these imaginative and plush ensembles …
Zegna Sport’s Ecotech Solar Jacket Made From Recycled Plastic
With fall here and winter on the horizon we’re bundling up for brisk weather, and fortunately Zegna is heating things up with their brand new solar-powered Ecotech Jacket. This sharp technical shell is constructed almost entirely from recycled plastic, and it features a set of photovoltaic panels capable of charging your ipod, cell, or even an integrated heating system. Perfect for sunny days on the slopes yet …
Oeuf’s Adorable Animal Hats Show us ‘Where the Wild Things Are’
We’ve been in love with eco kids outfitter Oeuf for many years now, and they’ve just unveiled their cutest morsel yet: an adorable collection of baby animal …
Win the “Ecouterre”: A $170 Limited-Edition Recycled Chain Necklace!
Want to win this dazzling $170 recycled vintage chain necklace? We’re giving it away to one lucky reader on Ecouterre to celebrate the official launch of our dedicated eco-fashion website, Ecouterre! We wanted to do something extra special for our very first giveaway so we got the talented …
Claudia Schulz’s Handmade Wool-Felt Hats Add Pop to Your Top
Be still our hearts! These captivating wool-felt toppers handcrafted by artisan Claudia Schulz are enough to make us abandon our disdain for the cold weather and welcome it with open arms (or bare heads?). From coy 1920s-esque cloches to modernist caps adorned with poppy starbursts and poufy pom poms, check out our …
6 Eco-Friendly Men’s Jackets to Get You Ready For Fall
This autumn, why not use the chilly weather as an excuse to up your wardrobe’s sustainability quotient with a durable, quality fall jacket? Now, we know that eco-friendly threads for guys aren’t always the easiest to come by, which is precisely why we commissioned new writer Dan Mendes to gather up his top six picks for sustainably made jackets, …
7 Cheap and Easy Ways to Spruce Up Your Shoes for Fall!
Do your old shoes need a serious facelift? With fall starting, you may be tempted to toss your tired treads and splurge on some brand new ones – but wait! Before you go out and spend any money, check out our 7 simple and cost-effective ways to give your outdated pair a makeover that …
Lux LED Solar Power Necklace Highlights Future Tech
This elegant LED-solar panel necklace by Swedish student designer Mae Yokoyama doesn’t really provide any function except adornment (and perhaps a dim nightlight at night), but we love this creative transformation of a purely utilitarian tech object (the humble solar panel) into a piece of stunning wearable art that will raise awareness about …
The GreenShows Give Eco Fashion a Destination at New York Fashion Week
Showing at New York Fashion Week is every aspiring fashion designer’s dream, and having your line on display during this prestigious event is a sign that you’ve really made it. Well, in a way, eco-fashion as a whole is very much like a promising, young designer – a select few know about it, …
Bio-Accessories Let You Wear Nature (on Your Face)
When you’re living the life of a city slicker, it’s not always easy to embrace nature with quite the fervor you want. As an attempt to get people thinking about the ways in which we can interact more intimately with nature, designers Ben Landau and Brittany Veitch dreamed up “Bio-Accessories”, a collection of couture adornments that is part wearable art, part thought-provoking statement. From a head-mounted bird perch …
Why is Eco-Fashion So Expensive?
Eviana Hartman, the designer behind Brooklyn-based eco-fashion label Bodkin
Did you ever set out with the goal of making your wardrobe more eco-friendly only to be severely discouraged when you scoped out the triple-figure pricetags? As a poor writer, I too, have found myself feeling that way, but then I realized that there is a really good reason that eco-fashion is more expensive. As a special treat, Bodkin designer …
ANNOUNCING ECOUTERRE – our new eco fashion website!
DRUMROLL PLEASE!
We have an announcement to make that we hope will come as welcome news to all you readers who love our fashion coverage (and also all you readers who hate our fashion coverage ;) ! We’ve been toiling for months now on a new website exclusively dedicated to eco-friendly fashion, and we are thrilled to unveil the newest member of the Inhabitat family today: ECOUTERRE.COM
Killspencer Bags Salvaged From Battle-Tested Materials
A lot of you have asked us to cover simple, practical, sustainable pieces in addition to our couture eco-fashion coverage and we think that makes a lot of sense. But there’s no reason that utilitarian has to mean dowdy. Case in point, these slick and super durable Killspencer bags made from recycled military truck tarps and coated cotton canvas. Our very own Mike …
Mr. Larkin: A Gorgeous and Truly Innovative Eco-Fashion Collection
We’ve known about eco-fashion line Mr. Larkin for some time, but did not expect to be as blown away by the skill, innovation and sheer beauty of Casey Larkin’s Spring 2010 collection as we were at last week’s Green Shows. With a refined color palette of dusty pinks, silvery greys and breezy …
NEW YORK FASHION WEEK: Top 5 Green Runway Shows
New York Fashion Week is finally drawing to a close, and we’re psyched to report that the presence of environmentally savvy fashion was fiercer than ever before! The launch of The GreenShows last week – an event showcasing seven different eco fashion designers under one roof is proof that eco design is finally starting to make an impact on mainstream culture. If you missed the green runway shows, don’t fret – we’ve got the scoop on all of them, and pics of our favorite eco fashion designers right after the jump.
John Patrick Organic Spring/Summer Eco Fashion 2010
We’ve been fans of trailblazing eco fashion designer John Patrick Organic for years, and were thrilled to get a sneak peek at his latest collection at New York Fashion Week last Thursday. Summed up in two words, JPO SS 2010 is classic Americana. These are clothes that would have looked oh so right on Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde – flowy and flattering organic cotton and silk dresses cinched with structured recycled polyester trenchcoats and organic cotton twill seersucker blazers. Read on to see pics of our favorite pieces and a special celebrity guest!
TRAIDremade Makes Recycled Clothing Fashionable
With the current economic climate, “frugalista fashion” on the lips of everyone from VOGUE to Target, and people are using more of what they already have, and realizing that we don’t need to spend a lot to get a lot. TRAIDremade Boutique, a new collaboration between online ecoboutique Fashion-conscience.com and the charity TRAID, is manifesting both of these philosophies with their exclusive collection of bespoke clothing and accessories inspired by the latest couture looks right off the runway! Crafted from upcycled donated clothing, scrap fabric and vintage hardware, these high-fashion pieces will be extremely covetable and so will the price – starting from £20!
LOTS MORE GREAT GREEN DESIGN STORIES HERE... KEEP READING!
