designers

(originally published at Grechen’s Closet)

Thanks to a head’s up from our friends over at Eco Salon, I remembered that I wanted to post about Canadian Eco-Chic Designer, deux fm.

I never tire of learning and writing about new more earth-friendly designers, and, in my opinion anyway, I feel that the time is here than nearly anything you need or want to buy for your wardrobe is available in organic cotton, bamboo, lyocel, hemp, or other sustainable materials. It’s about time!! And even better, they’re so accessible online, usually from the designers themselves, that it’s not necessary to use up precious fuel to get them. Visit our complete list of Eco-Friendly and Ethical Shopping Sites for everything from Beauty products to Bikinis…

Anyway – back to deux fm. Started in 2006 by fashion design graduate Anna Gilkerson, deux fm is for the “woman who broadcasts both style & ethics.” I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to describe her designs. Ranging from trench coats to bikinis, Anna’s designs are innovative, but not trendy, and totally wearable (sometimes a difficult combination to achieve for fashion designers).

For example:

deux fm eco-friendly designer deux fm eco friendly designer

and I just LOVE this image, it just sums up for me everything that eco-fashion is supposed to be about: comfort, wearability, beauty, and an identification with nature.

deux fm eco friendly designer

Anna’s pieces are incredibly hard to find online at the moment, but Kaight does have the Nimli is carrying a bikini. Hopefully this means they’ll get new stock in this Fall, and of course, we want to see more boutiques pick it up…

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(originally posted at Grechen’s Closet)

During Eco-Month here at Grechen’s Closet, I received A LOT of e-mails from designers letting me know about their eco-friendly lines (keep them coming guys!!). One of my very favorites was from Lori Bonn Jewelry.

Honestly at first glance, many of the current pieces didn’t appeal to me, they are a little too John Hardy/David Yurman-esque for my taste, but still absolutely gorgeous and exquisitely made. But I loved Lori’s “Clear Conscience” initiative and ethical standard. AND, now that I’ve seen a sneak-peak of the new Chrysalis collection, I’m sold on the jewelry too.

Basically, Lori Bonn’s Clear Conscience jewelry combines verified gemstones, partially recycled sterling silver and ethical manufacturing practices. “Lori’s ultimate goal is to create exquisite, signature pieces that tread lightly on the planet while respecting every person along the supply chain – jewelry you can wear with a clear conscience.” And since there are no Fair Trade standards for gold and diamonds at the moment, Lori’s working with her colleagues to establish one, but in the meantime, she makes every effort to source her gemstones from the most ethical suppliers she can find.

Again, like I said before, I was sold on the eco-initiatives, but what about the jewelry?

I have had a chance to look at the new Chrysalis Collection (launching soon on the website) and truly love almost every piece. They are more simple, natural, organic, and understated than many of her other collections. And I’m not the only one to take notice…pieces from the collection are showing up everywhere: TV segments with Lucky Magazine, In Store Magazine and Ritz Carlton’s in-room luxury magazine.

So, without further ado, some of my favorites from the collection:

lori bon eco-jewelry lori bonn jewelry