I love jewelry as much as the next girl, but honestly, most of it is boring; everything looks the same, or it’s so cheaply made, it’s obvious. Not so with SURevolution. I noticed the jewelry first, because it’s beautiful, and fashionable, second, because it’s ethical & eco-conscious.

SURevolution is a mission-driven company, focusing on five pillars of sustainability:

1. Respect people – create relationships with the artisans who create their products.
2. Respect cultures - provide artisans an opportunity to make a living from traditional crafts.
3. Respect nature – work with responsible production methods.
4. Upcycled – give new life to used materials.
5. Use certified materials – include certified organic cotton and FSC certified wood.

All of that is ALMOST enough to make you want to support the company anyway, but what’s key is that the jewelry is BEAUTIFUL. I received two of the “snake” necklaces to review (above); these are made from brass caps and are kind of “slinky” and moveable, which makes them interesting to wear, but also attention-grabbers! Every time I’ve worn a necklace I get comments/questions….

(for a full outfit picture, go to Grechen’s Closet – all of my photos were taken with Instagram for iPhone)

I also love SURevolution’s wood pieces, rings, cuffs…take a look, they’re so unique & stunning. You won’t find this jewelry on anyone else unless you have some truly fashionable friends, and you better get ready for lots of attention. (you know you love the attention

Please take a moment to check out the site, read more about the company (Lauren Bush is on the Board) and while you’re there if you find something you can’t live without, use code grechen20 for 20% off!!! And if you do get something, let me know what in the comments (it won’t help your chances in the giveaway, but I’d love to see)

And oh, look! A giveaway SURevolution is giving away to one lucky reader this Pretzel necklace (the one I’m wearing in the photos above). To enter to win please leave your name/email in the form below. When you enter your email address please be aware that you will be signed up for Green Grechen’s and SURevolution’s email newsletters. You can always opt-out of receiving either newsletter at any time, but you must leave your email address to be eligible to enter to win. The contest is open to US readers only and a winner will be chosen via Random.org on Monday, April 25. Good luck!!

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I’ve been struggling with buying a new handbag (I know, my life is SOOOO hard LOL), and trying to decide on the perfect one. I love my Jas M.B. handbags (I have 2 of the style in the link, one olive and one quilted black) I’m carrying most of the time now, but I’m looking for something in a camel colored leather. I got both my Jas M.B. bags for a great price, but I was already familiar with the brand & quality before my most recent purchase (I have another one). They are superior quality leather, highly functional, and handmade in England. I’m so impressed with these bags, why would I want to spend 2 or 3 times as much for a bag made in China when less buys such a high-quality bag made in England, handmade, even.

I’m still struggling with that though; I fell in love today with a Rebecca Minkoff bag at Saks. But I can’t do it. I don’t want to spend so much money anymore on a bag made in China. Not necessarily because the quality is terrible, it’s because factory ethics are questionable. And if a designer produces in China, it’s more likely the styles are more ubiquitous, and I don’t like to look like everyone else Going back to my Jas M.B. example, if I can buy a bag of such quality and craftsmanship for around $300, which is handmade in England, why spend more for something mass-produced in a giant factory in China?

Still searching, I came home and hit up my favorite boutiques online for bags, looking specifically for where the bags are made. I found that in most instances, if a bag is made in the US or somewhere other than China or Vietnam, it will be listed with the description. If the bag IS made in China, there’s no mention of it, or it’s very hard to find. Interesting isn’t it?

Finally, I settled on J.W. Hulme. You’ve heard of them, I’m sure, but you may not have considered buying a bag from them. I honestly hadn’t either, until I noticed them in my local Barney’s co-op – they’re trendy now, apparently. I’ve been considering the Linwood bucket bag for a while, and I love the Legacy shoulder bag, but not enough to really take the plunge. Now I’ve found the bag I want to love for the rest of my life:

The Fairmount Satchel in “Camelot” tan leather. It’s $600 and comes with free embossing, it’s made in the USA, and guaranteed for life. What? Guaranteed for life? I don’t think I’ve EVER bought anything that’s guaranteed for life…maybe this will be the last bag I ever buy??

(incidentally, I did look for recycled leather bags, etc. but I wasn’t able to find one that fit what I was looking for.)

Does anyone have a J.W. Hulme bag? What do you think of it?

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Hare & Hart, the leather company that uses only by-products of the cattle industry in Argentina, is offering 50% off everything in their store (the discount is already reflected in the prices). I’m not much of a clutch girl, but I love this one because it’s BIG! And it has lots of pockets inside:

The Clutch is made from vegetable-tanned, embossed leather and features organic cotton lining.

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{hi!}

I haven’t updated here in months – as you’ve probably noticed. And honestly, I’ve thought a lot about shutting it down. The truth is, I’m discourage & disappointed with the state of eco-fashion lately, and don’t really feel hopeful about the future. why?

• We (eco-fashion bloggers) can talk all we want about fast fashion being over and/or shoppers desires to shop more sustainably, but I’m not seeing much evidence to support that happening. In fact,
• eco-fashion IS expensive. I know, I’ve written about that before and it’s not an excuse, but it’s tiring. and hard to justify.
• the greenwashing burned me out. Re-usable grocery bags ARE NOT ECO-FRIENDLY. You’re being more friendly towards the environment if you USE them, but they themselves aren’t eco-friendly. and the truth is, most people who have reusable grocery bags, don’t use them.
• I’m tired of getting press releases from new “eco-friendly” t-shirt lines. I love a good t-shirt as much as the next girl, but isn’t there more to eco-fashion than organic cotton tees? I think so.
• and speaking of what IS NOT eco-fashion, a dress made out of CONDOMS is not. Even if they’re not used, there are some things you JUST DO NOT MAKE CLOTHING OUT OF. It’s silly. And I don’t want to read about dresses made from condoms on an ECO-FASHION blog. I’m just saying…

BUT. I still believe in sustainable fashion. I believe in the designers who are TRYING to avoid waste, to source ethically, to produce interesting products on a smaller scale for women who CARE about their clothes. And I still want to write about them.

So. I’m not giving up on Green Grechen, yet. I’m not giving up on “slow” fashion, on meaningful fashion, on the ultimate demise of Forever21…no matter how long it takes

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I found this bag today via Fly

and I think I need one, or two. I already have a great “vintage” bag similar to this one that I’ve carried all Summer, but it couldn’t hurt to have one more, especially this one in a nice neutral pattern. If you’re not into neutral, Sakaad has all kinds of colors/patterns available; each bag is handmade in Kenya and only $40.

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Are you ready for cooler temperatures? For long sleeves & wedges? Sweaters & leggings? I am And here are a few of my favorite eco-friendly options for a smooth transition to Fall…

Chinti & Parker striped organic cotton dress at Net-a-Porter: $135. I’m all about stripes this season, and this color combination is one of my favorites. This is such an easy dress to wear; I would belt it, or wear a wrap sweater over it to give it some shape. Pop it over tights or leggings, and you’re good to go!

Nixxi long organic cotton/viscose from bamboo/spandex jersey leggings at Nimli: $58. Whether you love them or hate them, leggings are going to be around (again) for a while. This organic cotton blend pair by Nixxi are great because they’re a little long, meaning you can bunch them up a bit at the ankle for a little less extreme look.

Sammy Handmade in Ethiopia ROMAN bag at Kaight (vegetable tanned leather handmade by a women’s co-op in Ethiopia): $275. LOVE this color for Fall!!

Organic cotton/hemp cowl tunic by Prarie Underground at Jute & Jackfruit: $169. I always love a sweatshirt, but try to find ones with a little character – this one is perfect.

Elroy baggy chambray pant (made from tencel): $84. I do still love the slim leg look, but sometimes you want a little slouch. These would be great with a fitted top (like the Julie Park top below) and flats.

Organic cotton wrap dress by SPUN (30% off with code grechen30) : $95. A good basic wrap dress is ALWAYS essential; I love them over leggings, tights, alone, or with a cardigan over. This option by SPUN is super-affordable, and incredibly flattering.

Julie Park top (rayon blend) at Beklina: $110. When the weather cools off, there’s nothing I like more than layering – and because it’s thinner, this top is perfect for that. It also provides visual interest while peeking out from under a chunky knit…

Pious hemp/organic cotton wrap jacket by Gaia Conceptions: $110. I did mention how much I love stripes, right? But did I say that I love cardigans equally? This one is great because it’s multi-functional: you can wear it open, or wrapped.

Cri de Coeur vegan wedge (low-VOC breathable PU upper on reclaimed wood sole made in Los Angeles): $350. I’m always a fan of a good wedge.

Crochet necklace by She-Bible at Green with Glamour: $40. Love this necklace for a point of interest over a simple long-sleeve tee, or cashmere sweater.

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She-Bible

She-Bible is offering an automatic 35% off Spring/Summer inventory to make room for Fall (can’t wait to see it!!). All sales are final!! This organic cotton chambray dress is my FAVorite and it’s marked down to $90

NIxxi @ Nimli

Nixxi is 25% off at Nimli with code NIXXI25 through 8/16.

JADEtribe at Shopbop

The JADEtribe clutches I’ve been coveting at Shopbop are marked down to about $60 now – each one is unique, and made from recycled & naturally dyed materials.

Prairie Underground Jackets 20% off

Tobi.com is offering 20% off full-priced jackets through 8/13 with code JACKET20 and they carry four different colors of Prairie Underground’s super-popular organic cotton jacket:

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Through 5/16, items at Canadian Independent eco-fashion designer, Nixxi‘s, webshop are marked down 20-40%. Things from last season are going fast, but S/S 10 still has some very interesting pieces left. Like this wrap, made of different combinations of organic cotton, bamboo viscose, tencel jersey & soy, depending on the color:

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From now through Sunday, May 9, enter code “momsrule” for 25% off your order at She-Bible. I just found this SUPER-CUTE organic cotton chambray dress!! It’s available in three colors, but this yellow is so much fun:

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And I’m conflicted. I’ve mentioned this dilemma before…but today, I’m just going to sit it out. Yes, there are TONS of coupon codes for amazing eco-boutiques and brands, but I really don’t want to contribute to the idea that Earth Day is another consumer holiday (which it is) by posting all of them. Today shouldn’t be different than any other day, we should think about how ethical and environmentally friendly the products we buy are EVERYDAY, not just on the “official” day. I really try to encourage that here at Green Grechen, but I feel like if I post all the sales and coupons, I’m just feeding into the hype. Know what I mean?

Thanks for understanding
and please, enjoy the earth today.

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