Eco-fashion 101

Top Eco-fashion trends this season…

One word… Refashion!

So you’re de-cluttering your wardrobe that’s bursting at the seams. You’ve ended up with a “keeper” pile, a “give-away” pile and a “never going to wear but too good to give away” pile. Well this eco-tip is just for you…

Eco-tip 1: Stop hoarding and refashion!

Give your beautiful old clothes new life and recycle them at a local vintage store. You may in turn find some new gems.

Try  Re-wardrobe, a trendy vintage store that sell a variety of second hand clothing and accessories. Visit them at 89 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock, Cape Town.

Fashion Exchange offers events in which lightly worn or new unwanted accessories and clothes are resold. These social events are private and fun as well as a great way to start creating a new wardrobe. For more information call 082 482 2952 or e-mail info@fashex.co.za

Try Stock Exchange for high end fashion at discounted prices.  

Contact the store on 021 424 5971 or visit them at 116 Kloof Street, Cape Town.

Online shopping

Online shopping has become the way to shop- it's super easy, convenient and most importantly, it’s an eco-friendly way to shop.

Here are some great online shopping stores…

36boutique an online portal showcasing SA design.  You can also find international labels and discount prices.

I love this one… Shop-label.com for the latest trends with designer labels from across the globe. For more info email hello@shop-label.com or call 021 434 5431

Designerbags.co.za is a one stop virtual shop for 100 percent authentic designer bags from around the world that can be hired for a special function. Call 011 888 9156. 

Brands that give back

Fashion retailers are also doing their bit for the environment by creating shopper incentives to recycle their packaging in innovative ways.

MAC cosmetics have a ‘Back to MAC program’ that assists in their product recycling. Customers bring back the packaging containers of their finished make up products. Customers can collect a total of six products and return them to a MAC store or MAC online. Once returned them you collect a free MAC lipstick of your choice as a thank you for your support.

Aldo has gone green by recycling their shoe boxes from eco friendly materials. The boxes also have handles on them to stop the need for a packet. 

GOING THE GREEN MILE

Celebs who STEP IT UP Eco Style

I know it's been a while so I thought I'd make up for it by indulging in every green queens fashion craze, SHOES…A fetish that most of us share (an obsession really) and one we’re proud of.
Stylists make their trends attainable, but eco-nistas go the green mile by making fashion sustainable! Stiletto-sizing her carbon footprint (literally) is our favourite glam Eco Celeb, the beautiful Natalie Portman, who has come out with her very own range of Vegan footwear.
Get out your walking papers Eco Nistas, its time to Green in Stilettos.

Voted top notch Eco Celeb of the century, next to Leo, Natalie has battled it out in Rwanda saving Gorillas. Become the face of a low-energy saving light bulb campaign, while creating her very own Vegan footwear range. With those green credentials, we’ll walk a mile in your green shoes!
Natalie’s shoe collection doesn’t fall short of class; it's classical and timeless with a simple appeal. Nice!

But the plot gets greener!

All proceeds from the shoes are to benefit the Nature Conservancy. Support a cause Green Queens, and order online at tecasan.com.

Standing ovation to you Natalie, but we’re pretty sure you take it all in your stride...

..........and in STILETTOS of course!

My Saturday morning delight!

I love markets. I love trendy "up-market" organic markets more. The Neighbour Market in Woodstock (Cape Town) embodies just this. The best part is that I didn't have to wake up super early this morning (as you usually do with other markets if you want in on the goodstuff). Opening at 9-2pm this market was my Saturday morning delight! Lets start with the food (oh the food!)... if you love fresh organic deli food- homemade pastries, freshly baked breads, quality cheeses, fine-wine, homemade jams, pestos and more, then you're in for a treat. With one long table to sit down and eat, there's a relaxed atmosphere lending itself to sharing food with friends, which is what I think markets are all about. And of course clothes, where you can find some good vintage buys. However don't expect "market" prices, as these designer clothes are not exactly "market" cheap. The average price for a blouse/ dress is around R450- but that being said you get what you pay for. The Vintage market is on Sundays.

An organic market wouldn't truly be organic without eco-friendly practices... The market has recycling depots and most of the stores are ethical and eco-friendly.

Community living at its best- this market exudes Cape Town living, and makes us rethink how we buy and consume by going directly to the source. Its one of my new favourite places!

YUM!

Visit neighbourhood market for more info

Green gowns at the Oscars

Once again Livia Firth walked the red carpet with a gorgeous upcycled gown by Orsola de Castro. "Orsola is the queen of upcycling!" she tells Vogue. "So everything about the dress has been salvaged from the waste bins of some very prestigious labels, no less, so my dress will be made from waste but you’d never know. I’m also wearing ethical pink diamonds from Australia, by Cajella (on loan of course), and my bag has been made for me by Bruno at Roger Vivier from offcuts. It’s really beautiful.”

Suzy Amis (wife of James Cameron) wore this Avatar inspired blue-dyed sustainable "peace silk" gown.

Upcycling fun at New York Fashion week

Eco-Designer JoAnn Berman put a fun twist on "upcycling" with her rocker chic, over-the-top playful line.

Ok I think we get the point!

“Greener Cities for a Cooler Planet”

Global Green hosted the 7th Pre-annual Oscar party yesterday. The theme for this year’s event was “Greener Cities for a Cooler Planet” benefiting Global Green’s initiatives to promote smart solutions to climate change by creating healthy, green communities.  Nice one! 

Eco-celebs supporting the cause...

Love her outfit

Loving Mr Larkin

I love Mr Larkin, a line created by young female designer Casey Larkin with completely sustainable fabrics and vintage pieces. Larkin's Spring/Summer collection is made from wait for it, wait for it... milk fabric! (You heard me) and other natural fibres such as cupro and peace silk. How eco-fabulous:) 

The "Green carpet"

Celebs going green with "green couture" at the Golden Globes...

Anna Paquin wearing a Stella McCartney original at the recent Golden Globes. We love Stella for her commitment to cruelty-free fashion. To check out McCartney’s entire line, visit StellaMcCartney.com.

Livia Giuggioli accompanied her actor husband Colin Firth in a stunning re-purposed Christiana Couture wedding dress.

“The re-purposed Christiana Couture wedding dress was a HUGE success in the sense that I don’t think I’ve ever had so many compliments for a dress in one night,” she told Vogue UK. “But people here do not seem to understand the concept of ethical fashion – they loved the dress but when I revealed the origin they sort of switch off as if it’s not cool anymore because it was once a wedding dress. It’s made me realise that although repurposing and vintage are great, we need to go one step further and make a really strong ethical fashion statement. Which means I now have to find the perfect dress for the Screen Actors Guild Awards in exactly a week.”

"Loves it..."

VAUTE COUTURE (VEGAN/ECO-CONSCIOUS/FAIR/CHICAGO)

"V" as for Vegan and said like "VOTE", this fashion house believes that each purchase is a direct ballot to the business practices behind them- Eco-friendly practices of course. 

Eco-conscious, artist inspired and made on a living-wage locally (Chicago)... "Loves it!"

Now that's what I call UP-cycling!