The Guide That Does Good.

As you all know, I love sharing good and reliable resources for eco-friendly products with all you guys. What I love even more is when people share them with me! My friend Jenna sent me a website that she recently stumbled upon called http://www.goodguide.com/. 

Good Guide tests the environmental, social and health effects of the biggest products on the market. It's a simple, clear and super user-friendly resource that supplies you with loads of information on the product you're curious about, in order for you, the consumer of said product, to make an educated decision all on your own! Now that's what I call Power to the People, people. 

The website for business magazine Fast Company has a great review on Good Guide and named it #47  out of 50 on their most Innovative Companies of 2010 list. Fast Company  dedicates itself to naming the most progressive new businesses making headway in the global economy as of late. 

This is so you all have a secondary source to go by and don't only take my word for it (as smart and reliable as I am;]) because you can never be too sure about anything out there, so, always do your research!  You can read all about Good Guide at Fast Company here: http://www.fastcompany.com/mic/2010/profile/good-guide

I wanna give a big thanks to my friend Jenna for sharing this great website with me! 

Jenna also happens to be a kick-ass singer/songwriter and I'm shamelessly endorsing her here on Eco-Fashionability for Today. Go take a listen at Jenna DQ's Facebook Page. You're welcome, World. 

As always, wishing you all:

Peace, Love & a Sustainable New Year! 

Eco-Friendly Labels To Love.

Hey guys! Now that the holiday craziness is over and finals are done with (thank god) it's time for relaxing and new posts! 


I've been dying to share actual clothing labels with all of you because I found it's so much easier to be ecologically inclined in your fashion choices when you know more than just a website or store to search for these labels in. 


With that being said, there are a few brands that I'd like to start you out with. They are eco-friendly, affordable and in style. I hope you check it out and find a whole new side of sustainable fashion you never knew was out there, enjoy! Happy Holidays =) 

People Tree is an awesome UK-based line of apparel for men and women that works to supply shoppers with quality eco-friendly garments and fairly traded products.  

People Tree works hard to promote awareness and acts as an example of what an ethical business model really looks like. They are the pioneers of sustainable fashion in terms of their success and recognition in the fashion world as well as providing a source for such products to be sold. 

They are highly active participants of the World Trade Fair Organization (WFTO) and work hard to have their clothing certified by Soil Association which means that everything has been thoroughly inspected and met the standards of each organization. Therefore, People Tree is constantly moving forward in sustainability by working closely with WFTO and Soil Association, so you can rest assured that when you purchase anything from them you really are making a difference. 

Kingston Cardigan: $45.90

Monet Fair Trade Organic Splatter Dress: $65.68 

Check 'em out at http://www.peopletree.co.uk/ ...Keep in mind that since it is in a British label the currency used is Euros not US Dollars. A great website that will accurately convert the currency is http://www.xe.com/ucc/. Have fun! 

Hanna Sustainable Long Sleeve Tee Dress: $46.92

Go Green M by M is a great label with all the basic essentials one would need in t-shirts and tanks. With garments made from a sustainable fiber called "modal" (reconstituted cellulose from beech trees-sounds all scientific and complicated, I know) their clothing fits and feels like a silky smooth dream. 

Amanda Sheer Eco Vest: $40.45

Go Green M by M produces well-fitting and stylish clothing that is biodegradable AND chemical-free. Cool, no?  

Get it at: http://www.fashion-conscience.com 

Wishing you all: 

Peace, Love and Sustainable Holidays! 

<3

What's Cookin' Good Lookin'? Organic Beauty Products Of Course!

Never have the lyrics of Ms. Britney Spears' song "Toxic" been so true before. Oh, commercial beauty products, don't you know that YOU'RE toxic? Turns out that beauty really is skin deep--at least when it comes to what you put on your face. Using beauty products that are as organic as possible can directly affect how you take care of yourself in all other aspects of life.


 Now, I know you're saying, "Okay, okay, but what does that mean and even better yet, why should I care? Great question, so glad you asked! I don't claim to be an expert on anything, especially when it comes to the chemical properties of make-up and skin care ingredients (between you and I, I barely passed high school chemistry class). So, I got the knowledgeable folks at http://www.saffronrouge.com/ to help me out. As the leading North American retailers of organic cosmetics, they know what's up in the world of natural beauty. They also analyze and review every product's ingredients. In short, they've done their homework, as we're all capable of doing on our own and they've been so kind as to share their wealth of information with us! 


So, without further ado, here are the three reasons why YOU, yes you, should use organic beauty products, according to Saffron Rouge:

Why use organic beauty products?

Three very simple reasons:

ORGANIC BEAUTY PRODUCTS ARE BETTER FOR YOUR SKIN

What you put on your skin eventually ends up in your body. Certified organic products are made with ingredients that are grown free of synthetic pesticides, herbicides and genetically modified organisms. They also don’t include harmful additives such as petroleum waxes, fillers and artificial chemicals. Simply put, certified organic products are completely healthy and natural, synthetic alternatives are not.

ORGANIC BEAUTY PRODUCTS WORK BETTER

Think of beauty products like food. In today’s world, there are a lot of synthetic, or “fake” ingredients used in food processing. But if you go to a high-end restaurant, you generally won’t find “fake” ingredients on the menu. Top chefs know that creating a top-quality meal requires top-quality ingredients. They don’t use artificial flavors in their cooking, because real spices and fresh herbs create a finer, more exquisite taste. Producing a beauty product is not much different. Certified organic beauty products work better simply because they are made with superior ingredients.

ORGANIC BEAUTY PRODUCTS ARE BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Organic farming eliminates the use of synthetic chemicals and fertilizers, all of which have a destructive effect on our water, soil and health. Organic plants are also grown without the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), as they may pose a significant threat to both human and environmental health. Therefore, through looking out for your own health, you’re also helping to protect our fragile ecosystem. That is what they call a “win-win” situation.

Got that? Great. Before you run out to the store and replace all your beauty products, I want to stress the importance of using what you have right now. 


After all, this blog is meant to be a simple resource on sustainable living and that is what sustainability is people! So, squeeze that last drop out of your bottle of commercial skin care products and then walk your smarty-pants-informed-consumer-self to the nearest seller of organic bliss and get started! 


Here are some suggestions if you don't have a clue where to go. No, they will not leave you penniless and you're friends won't be consoling you with a sympathetic, "Hey! At least you got great skin!",  nor will it look like cottage cheese and smell like feet. They are great, effective products--I even use some of them!--and just as easy to buy as any other brand you could find. Happy Shopping! *Note: These brands can be used by both men and women. Healthy living has no gender discriminations. 

1. Alba Botanica: Get it online at http://www.albabotanica.com/ or in stores like CVS, Harmon, A&P, Shoprite, Whole Foods or at a Health store in your area. They even have a great product/store locater on their website, that helps you track down any Alba product, within 10 miles of you. Cool? Yah. I recommend their Hawaiin line which is fresh, light and smells great. 

2. Kiss My Face:  What a great name, huh? This line is sold in all the stores mentioned above and online at http://www.kissmyfacewebstore.com/index.asp. Very similar to Alba Botanica, they even have a line for children.  

3. Burt's Bees: If you haven't been living under a rock for the past few years then you definitely know about Burt's Bees. Read the story of how Burt's Bees got started on their website: http://www.burtsbees.com/ it's a great, heart-warming story. They also sell some natural products, too. Check it out. 

4. Avalon Organics: An ethical and philosophical brand, Avalon is associated with Alba Botanicas, so you know it's good stuff. http://avalonorganics.com/

5. Yes To Carrots:  Don't worry, no one is going to make you eat vegetables if you don't want to. However, I do recommend putting some on your face! They are an enthusiastic, quirky, organic line of beauty products that have several versions of the product all starting with "Yes To..." so if you happen to spot one in the store you know you're in good hands.




*Don't forget to check out Saffron Rouge for more products!


Peace, Love and Sustainable Beauty ;)

Be Green.

Here's the thing, we as human beings, are consumers. We consume air, water, food, space and countless other resources to sustain ourselves on a daily basis. It's inescapable; it's what we need to survive. 


Flash forward to the 21st century and here we are with a bit of a crisis on our hands: we've consumed too much of our resources and gone beyond our basic needs. However, you can't turn back time or undo what has already been done, so now we've got to be alert and aware of doing any further damage. 


Now, I love fashion just as much as any other fashionista, so wearing a potato sack to conserve the planet would be more than a little upsetting for me. This is where sustainable fashion comes in. When most people think of eco-friendly fashion they think of Jesus sandals and hippies, or maybe even this:

The truth is, being an eco-friendly consumer is a lot easier and lot cooler than people realize. Sustainability isn't an obstacle in the fashion world at all, in fact, it's becoming a huge component of it and quite popular with many designers. 

Phrases like "Green is the New Black" and "Go Green" or"Eco-Chic" have been thrown around, but the meaning of it to the general public has gone relatively unknown. We buy things that are organic and recycled but what does that actually mean? How is our purchasing of eco-friendly fashion really benefitting the planet and what happens when we continue to consume harmfully produced goods?  Buying and remaining a sustainable fashionista is very simple really. It's the information that can sometimes be hard to find. 

That is what Eco-Fashionability for Today is here to help with! Locating eco-friendly clothing and accessories brands are easy to track down once you know where to start. So, don't fear the hunt, embrace it. In that, is so much more than you could possibly imagine. Being an informed consumer is powerful. With that knowledge you could change the world...or get a really cute new outfit, for cheap! I promise you all, it's much more fun to look good when you've done good. 

Peace, Love, & Sustainable Fashion for All. 

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