Green Blog Media

Archive for the ‘EcoFabulous’ Category

This summer, ecofabulous was invited to visit Weleda Naturals Biodynamic Garden just outside of Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany. With our love of Weleda products (we’re constant fans of the Almond facial line and have been using the Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil since it came out last year) we jumped at the chance to visit the site where it all goes down. The garden’s 135 acres make it Europe’s largest biodynamic medicinal garden – and to think Weleda has more gardens in Switzerland, France, the U.K., the Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil and New Zealand! At that scale, witnessing first hand the cultivation of plants and herbs for Weleda’s product collection stood as witness to the company’s belief that beauty should be grown right from the earth rather than in a lab.

Left: The hike from Schwäbisch Gmünd to the gardens, Right: Entrance to Weleda Naturals

Ecofabulous’ Creative Director, Caitlin Bristol, was able to witness the calendula harvest, one of the 250 medicinal plants grown at Weleda Naturals, and learned that every year the calendula is planted on a different field in order to ensure the most rich, rested soil – one of the many examples of Biodynamic principles the gardens adhere to. Much of the calendula will be used for Weleda’s Baby Calendula Care line because of its powerful healing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Left: A field of calendula before harvest, Right: calendula heads right after harvest.

A haven for birds, bees and bugs (see the insect hotel below!), Weleda Naturals is the legacy of Dr. Rudolph Steiner, seen as the father of Biodynamic agriculture. By viewing soil as a live organism, keeping it in balance with natural resources (no chemicals or growth hormones allowed!) and taking guidance on planting, crop rotation and harvesting from the natural rhythms of the sun, moon and planets, crops are harvested with incredible purity and potency.

Left: The “insect hotel”, Right: A close-up of the “rooms” built to welcome the bugs

A meeting with Eva-Maria Walle, manager of Weleda’s Biodynamic Gardens, shed light on just how precise and time-consuming it is to grow plants in this way. She also discussed Weleda’s philosophy of “inner beauty” and how the entire gardens are based on developing collections with hand-picked ingredients designed to work with your body’s own natural vitality and ability to nurture and heal.

Photo: Eva-Marie Walle, Manager of Weleda’s Biodynamic Gardens

Simply put, our trip with Weleda reinforced the idea that pure plants make for pure products. With no toxins, additives or synthetics, the ingredients are able to be delivered in their most natural, and effective, form. And just to make sure a few of our readers get a chance to experience what we’re talking about first-hand, Weleda is GIVING AWAY 5 pairs of full size Birch Cellulite Body Scrub and Birch Cellulite Body Oil to 5 randomly drawn ecofabulous subscribers.

Organic birch leaves are known for having purifying and detoxifying effects and these products are no exception! For smooth, radiant skin with visibly reduced cellulite, the Birch products have been flying off the shelf. Dermatologists have found a 21% increase in skin smoothness and a 22% increase in tightness after one month of using the Birch Cellulite Body Oil… your end of summer skin is begging you to make sure you’re signed-up for a chance to win! We’ll be drawing winners on Monday, September 27, 2010.

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The best of Commerce with a Conscience: Sept. 1-15, 2010

Hello and welcome to the inaugural entry of The Gentlemen’s Green. My name is Brad and I write the ethical menswear daily Commerce with a Conscience. From here on out I will be rounding up the latest, greatest and greenest goods to appear on my site, for all of you lovely ecofabulous readers. Enjoy.

	rib & hull Organic Linen Tote: Understandably, most men don’t immediately think of men’s goods when they think of Etsy, but, I can tell you from experience, that if you’re willing to put in the time, you can dig up some pretty great things. My most recent find is this excellent tote from the Polish brand rib & hull. The body is made from 100% organic linen (with a 100% organic cotton canvas liner) while the straps – which, can be removed so the body can be washed – are made from untanned cow leather. Pretty amazing for a bag that totals in at less than $50 (and that’s after the international shipping).
	Sweaters by Knowledge Cotton Apparel: I’m a big, big fan of Denmark’s Knowledge Cotton Apparel. Not only is every item by the brand ethically made in the EU from low-impact dye treated organic cotton, it’s also all so timelessly styled and unbelievably well-crafted, that you can wear it for years on end, and it’ll keep on looking great. Their new AW10 sweaters run the gamut from sleek and dressy to big and burly, and I want every single one (in every single color). Here’s hoping for an early winter (€120-€135).
	Howies Buckle Belts: The Buckle Belts from Welsh brand Howies are handmade in the UK from 100% organic cotton webbing, and repurposed vegetable tanned leather scraps. I’m particularly fond of these belts, as I think they’re the perfect accessory for the transition from summer to fall (not too heavy, not too light). I also like how they’re a nice mix of preppy and rugged, so you can wear them with or without your shirt tucked in. Now if only I could settle on a color… (£35.00).
	Velour Organic Cotton Shirts: Sweden’s Velour recently unveiled their AW10 shirting collection, and in addition to being one of the brand’s best looking, it’s also their most eco-friendly to date, with all but three of the fifteen shirts in the range made from organic cotton. What’s especially great about the Velour AW line-up, is how many different types of organic fabrics it uses, including flannels, oxfords and poplins. I’m also a big fan of Velour’s fit, which while slimmer and slightly shorter than your standard fair, is still loose enough to be comfortable. I only wish their photos and model didn’t look so Twilight-y ($100-$142).
	Left Field Organic Canvas Chinos: Brooklyn’s Left Field NYC specializes in tough-as-nails, heritage-inspired menswear. The brand’s Organic Canvas Chinos are handcrafted in NYC, using organic cotton canvas from North Carolina’s venerable Cone Mills. I actually have a pair of these and can tell you that they’re damned near indestructible, and great looking to boot. I just wish it would hurry-up and cool off enough outside for me to actually wear them ($150).

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Here are today’s picks for what’s wow in the world of green

NYS Gov. Paterson Signs Smart Growth Bill Into Law

5 Cities Chosen For Greening America’s Capitals Program

If GOP Takes the House

Compostable Food Packaging is On Its Way to Europe

Adorable Rompers from The Greenshows during NYFW

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You feel better when you eat better. It’s that simple. But somehow this well-understood fact doesn’t translate to skincare. Think about it: if you put organic, healthy ingredients on your body, your skin will feel better and actually be healthier – our bodies absorb 60% of what we put on our skin. So next time you feel like getting healthy, why not take a stab at improving your skin routine. We recommend transitioning to life as a Nature Girl.

Nature Girl face, body, bath and hair products feature “all natural, organically grown and wildcrafted ingredients, carefully cultivated on small family-run organic farms.” Sounds heavenly, right? It is. Nut, seed plant and flower oils are cold pressed and refined with paper filters and natural clays, while essential oils are steam distilled – just like the good old days when women used to make their own products at home, rather than the current trend of mass produced skin care using toxic man-made chemicals.

Try the “I AM PURE” pomegranate and primrose facial cream ($62) for a light moisturizer chock full of essential vitamins and minerals (Nature Girl recommends a daily dose). Got sensitive skin? The “O MIST” toner ($65) will hydrate and nourish with organic Bulgarian rose water and organic roseroot. Or if you’re looking to get rid of dry, flaky skin, then the “I AM FLOWER” face mask ($58) is what you need – organic linden blossom oil, organic African shea butter, organic California lavender water, organic calendula flower extract and grape seed extract will regenerate you in no time.

Love being a Nature Girl but looking for some sweet scents that won’t leave you smelling like you spent the weekend in the woods? Check out Nature Girl’s sister company, Rich Hippie.

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This guide is presented by PURE organic bars.

September is National Yoga Month, and in celebration of the practice that so many of us at ecofabulous HQ hold dear (before founding ecofabulous, Zem had started creating an eco-friendly yoga apparel line of her own!), we wanted to offer a guide of our favorite companies and products. While yoga is a beautiful thing, many of the products that support your poses are anything but healthy. We believe that everything associated with yoga should be as conscious as your asanas so we’ve curated a list of top yoga apparel and accessories just for you. Read below to learn how you can ditch the PVC-laden mat for one made of natural tapped rubber (and recycle your old one!), and commit to purchasing apparel that is produced without pesticides. Enjoy!

	The Hyde Life: This small New York-based company combines high quality organic cotton from Turkey, adds a touch of spandex for a little stretch, and then brightens the whole package with gentle soy-based inks to create some of the softest pants and tops in the most brilliant colors, like the skye tank pictured here ($40).
	Strike a Perfect Pose: PrAna’s yoga apparel collection features materials like hemp, organic cotton, and recycled polyester for some of the best fitting duds we’ve tested. The Sonja top, with its slim racerback straps and shirred front, is perfectly designed to show off those sculpted shoulders ($46).
	Wise Woman: Bay Area-based Clary Sage Organics designs and produces their fashionably feminine eco-friendly yoga line locally from organic and sustainable fabrics. We love the attention to detail with ruching and delicate lingerie-inspired trim, plus their hot shorts are… well, HOT ($48).
	Studio to Street Cred: While it still hasn’t become fashionable to wear your pj’s all day long (as much as we’re tempted to push the limits of casual Friday), wearing your sustainable yoga gear from 8 to 5 just got a whole lot easier, and way more hip thanks to Yoga Tribe and Culture.
	Layers of Consciousness: The Ramblers Way line of high quality basics are made of the softest worsted wool you’ve ever felt. The extra long women’s camisole ($55) is great as a base layer for yoga, while the other pieces were made for post-class comfort.
	Cool as a Cat: For days when you don’t feel like getting into skin-tight garb, turn to Prancing Leopard’s Aix-en-Provence Jumpsuit in organic cotton for a free-flowing studio onesie that will double as an outfit for an evening out ($147).
	Post-Class Presence: This California cozy-meets-rocker-chic bamboo fleece cover-up will bring the warmth long after Bikhram’s over ($248). We also love the Monroe racerback top for its sexy-even-when-sweaty appeal ($79).
	Twinkle Toes: For yogis trying to increase the spread and strength of their toes, these organic cotton socks will bring increased balance, thanks to the genius patented non-slip soles ($15).
	Getting Jaded: Hands down the best eco-friendly yoga mat option available is natural tapped rubber. Jade’s Harmony mat is still one of our favorites. Tapped from a rubber tree, the rapidly renewable material provides traction and comfort without the toxic chemicals found in conventional PVC mats ($59.95).

	Whether Reuse or Reincarnation: A Mat Recycling Kit is offered for $5 with the purchase of any natural tapped rubber yoga mat from Manduka. The company gives the yoga mat to an organization that will find a second life for it, whether reuse or mat reincarnation.
	That’s Y: Most bags that make transporting your mat a little less clumsy are made of petroleum based material or pesticide-laden conventional cotton. Made of organic cotton using low-impact dyes, Y Sadhana Yoga Bags have an extra long zip for easy access and an additional pocket for car keys or a cell phone ($62.95).
	Building Blocks: Like natural latex, cork is a rapidly renewable material – it’s actually the bark of a cork oak tree that can be shaved every nine years. Plus it’s super comfortable underfoot (or bum or hand) as a brick to help aid or extend certain poses ($14.98).
	Blanket Statement: Great as a prop for yoga, this recycled fiber plaid blanket works for sun salutations in the park followed by a picnic for two ($34.95)!
	A Drink for Mind and Matter: Both Balance (for pre-practice) and Vitality (for post-practice) are chock full of all the good stuff and none of the bad – YogaEarth products are made without preservatives, additives, artificial flavors or coloring commonly found in flashy sports drinks today ($59.99 for 30).
	Bar None: In a world full of energy bars, Pure Bars stand out among the rest. Made with certified organic ingredients, the bars are raw, gluten-free, vegan, kosher, and totally delicious ($21.99 for box of 12)! *sponsored listing
	Balm & Breathe Deeply: Calm, center and balance your inner yogi with a Badger Balm. Dab a little of the yoga & meditation balm (the main ingredients include oils from the bark of Cedarwood and Sandalwood trees) onto temples or under your nose and then just relax and breathe it all in ($8).
	Relief in a Bottle: Choose from a roll-on or dropper bottle filled with organic and wild-crafted oil blends for some post-practice pampering. The True Relaxation Muscle Remedy uses basil to soothe and loosen tight muscles ($48).
	Soak Salutation: Buddha Nose’s line of organic products promote inner balance for outer beauty. Try the meditation bath salts for a tub time that will encourage self-reflection and relaxation ($24).
	With a Clean Conscience: Washing the ‘ol yoga mat in the tub can be kind of a serenity kill, but it needs to be done occasionally. It’s not just about the funky yoga stink – regular cleaning actually prolongs the life of your mat. Stirlen Chi’s non-toxic mat cleanser, mat refresher and mat wash are made with natural oils and extracts and are completely biodegradable.

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Here are today’s picks for what’s wow in the world of green

EPA Selects Its Model Green Cities

The Growing Potential of Biofuels

Ten Hot Green-Energy Trends to Watch

A Greener Israel At No Cost to the Tax Payer

theBioLite Stove

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Here are today’s picks for what’s wow in the world of green

A Shift in Society’s Behavior Could Limit Biodiversity Loss

Building Smart

A Quick Look at Toxic Clothing

The Mesh: Why the Future of Business is Sharing

Sexy Luxury Hybrid

 

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This guide is presented by PURE organic bars.

September is National Yoga Month, and in celebration of the practice that so many of us at ecofabulous HQ hold dear (before founding ecofabulous, Zem had started creating an eco-friendly yoga apparel line of her own!), we wanted to offer a guide of our favorite companies and products. While yoga is a beautiful thing, many of the products that support your poses are anything but healthy. We believe that everything associated with yoga should be as conscious as your asanas so we’ve curated a list of top yoga apparel and accessories just for you. Read below to learn how you can ditch the PVC-laden mat for one made of natural tapped rubber (and recycle your old one!), and commit to purchasing apparel that is produced without pesticides. Enjoy!

	The Hyde Life: This small New York-based company combines high quality organic cotton from Turkey, adds a touch of spandex for a little stretch, and then brightens the whole package with gentle soy-based inks to create some of the softest pants and tops in the most brilliant colors, like the skye tank pictured here ($40).
	Strike a Perfect Pose: PrAna’s yoga apparel collection features materials like hemp, organic cotton, and recycled polyester for some of the best fitting duds we’ve tested. The Sonja top, with its slim racerback straps and shirred front, is perfectly designed to show off those sculpted shoulders ($46).
	Wise Woman: Bay Area-based Clary Sage Organics designs and produces their fashionably feminine eco-friendly yoga line locally from organic and sustainable fabrics. We love the attention to detail with ruching and delicate lingerie-inspired trim, plus their hot shorts are… well, HOT ($48).
	Studio to Street Cred: While it still hasn’t become fashionable to wear your pj’s all day long (as much as we’re tempted to push the limits of casual Friday), wearing your sustainable yoga gear from 8 to 5 just got a whole lot easier, and way more hip thanks to Yoga Tribe and Culture.
	Layers of Consciousness: The Ramblers Way line of high quality basics are made of the softest worsted wool you’ve ever felt. The extra long women’s camisole ($55) is great as a base layer for yoga, while the other pieces were made for post-class comfort.
	Cool as a Cat: For days when you don’t feel like getting into skin-tight garb, turn to Prancing Leopard’s Aix-en-Provence Jumpsuit in organic cotton for a free-flowing studio onesie that will double as an outfit for an evening out ($147).
	Post-Class Presence: This California cozy-meets-rocker-chic bamboo fleece cover-up will bring the warmth long after Bikhram’s over ($248). We also love the Monroe racerback top for its sexy-even-when-sweaty appeal ($79).
	Twinkle Toes: For yogis trying to increase the spread and strength of their toes, these organic cotton socks will bring increased balance, thanks to the genius patented non-slip soles ($15).
	Getting Jaded: Hands down the best eco-friendly yoga mat option available is natural tapped rubber. Jade’s Harmony mat is still one of our favorites. Tapped from a rubber tree, the rapidly renewable material provides traction and comfort without the toxic chemicals found in conventional PVC mats ($59.95).

	Whether Reuse or Reincarnation: A Mat Recycling Kit is offered for $5 with the purchase of any natural tapped rubber yoga mat from Manduka. The company gives the yoga mat to an organization that will find a second life for it, whether reuse or mat reincarnation.
	That’s Y: Most bags that make transporting your mat a little less clumsy are made of petroleum based material or pesticide-laden conventional cotton. Made of organic cotton using low-impact dyes, Y Sadhana Yoga Bags have an extra long zip for easy access and an additional pocket for car keys or a cell phone ($62.95).
	Building Blocks: Like natural latex, cork is a rapidly renewable material – it’s actually the bark of a cork oak tree that can be shaved every nine years. Plus it’s super comfortable underfoot (or bum or hand) as a brick to help aid or extend certain poses ($14.98).
	Blanket Statement: Great as a prop for yoga, this recycled fiber plaid blanket works for sun salutations in the park followed by a picnic for two ($34.95)!
	A Drink for Mind and Matter: Both Balance (for pre-practice) and Vitality (for post-practice) are chock full of all the good stuff and none of the bad – YogaEarth products are made without preservatives, additives, artificial flavors or coloring commonly found in flashy sports drinks today ($59.99 for 30).
	Bar None: In a world full of energy bars, Pure Bars stand out among the rest. Made with certified organic ingredients, the bars are raw, gluten-free, vegan, kosher, and totally delicious ($21.99 for box of 12)! *sponsored listing
	Balm & Breathe Deeply: Calm, center and balance your inner yogi with a Badger Balm. Dab a little of the yoga & meditation balm (the main ingredients include oils from the bark of Cedarwood and Sandalwood trees) onto temples or under your nose and then just relax and breathe it all in ($8).
	Relief in a Bottle: Choose from a roll-on or dropper bottle filled with organic and wild-crafted oil blends for some post-practice pampering. The True Relaxation Muscle Remedy uses basil to soothe and loosen tight muscles ($48).
	Soak Salutation: Buddha Nose’s line of organic products promote inner balance for outer beauty. Try the meditation bath salts for a tub time that will encourage self-reflection and relaxation ($24).
	With a Clean Conscience: Washing the ‘ol yoga mat in the tub can be kind of a serenity kill, but it needs to be done occasionally. It’s not just about the funky yoga stink – regular cleaning actually prolongs the life of your mat. Stirlen Chi’s non-toxic mat cleanser, mat refresher and mat wash are made with natural oils and extracts and are completely biodegradable.

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Here are today’s picks for what’s new in the world of green

EDUN At NYC Fashion Week

Watch Those Silver Nanoparticles

Fabrics That Interact With Their Environment

P&G vs Seventh Generation

Firmer Handshake Linked to Long Life

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In a sea of sports drinks, electrolyte gels and energy powder, it’s hard to know where to turn to refuel. For athletes that aim to refine their mind and matter, YogaEarth nutrition drinks offer two phytonutrient powder mixes (just add water) packed with protein, amino acids, B-vitamins, macrominerals and more.

Both Balance (for pre-practice) and Vitality (for post-practice) are chock full of all the good stuff and none of the bad – YogaEarth products are made without preservatives, additives, artificial flavors or coloring commonly found in flashy sports drinks today. The ingredients in Balance are aimed at balancing and preparing the mind and body for optimal performance at whatever you may do (the drinks aren’t just for yogis!), while Vitality is designed to restore and regenerate. A box of 30 servings of either drink mix will run you $59.99, the equivalent of about $2 per drink. While the initial price may seem high, think of what you’d pay for an energy drink at the store – YogaEarth will save you money and reduce the amount of plastic bottles used. Just mix in your favorite reusable water bottle and go!

The company’s collaborative model means that YogaEarth products draw from the knowledge and experience of over 250 yoga teachers nationwide, an innovative structure that hopes to democratize global access to the benefits of yoga. With FSC-certified packaging that’s produced in a fully wind-powered facility, it’s clear these yogis and yoginis don’t just have your health, but the health of Mother E in mind as well. We’ll toast our powdered mix to that!

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