(originally published at grechen’s closet June 23, 2008)
Interview with Lorin Becker of greenROHINI
First, I’d love it if you can share with our readers what you’re wearing today? What’s your favorite piece in your closet? How much of your closet is made up of eco-friendly pieces?
Today I am wearing an organic cotton, long henley in black by Stewart+Brown over a pair of organic “skinny jeans” by MBlue “green jeans”. I’m also wearing a recycled silver charm necklace that says “EARTH” by PeaceLoveEarth and pair of flip-flops from Soul’s Calling that are made (partially) from recycled materials and have cool indentations on the bottom that make footprints in the sand that say “Love, Earth” I share a walk-in closet with my husband & I feel so bad for him because I really monopolize the space in there . . . . it’s just crammed. I have items in my wardrobe that I really love . . . many of them I’ve had for years. I tend to acquire mostly classic pieces with a little funky thrown in for good measure. I only ADD eco items to my wardrobe these days (save the unexpected emergency item, which is so rare . . . you know . . . you’re away at an wedding, you just spilled red wine on the blouse you were supposed to wear. . . you need something NOW . . . that sort of thing) . . . but I do have a number of non-eco items that I’ve had for a while that I purchased before it became so easy to find “green” wardrobe items. It’s so hard to narrow down my list of favorites but here are a few: a pair of black satin wedge Calvin Klein shoes that I’ve had for about five years, a simple silk dress from an Italian designer, and all of my Aster Park reversible halter tops.
What inspired you to open an eco-boutique? Do you have a brick & mortar store and your website is an extension of that? or is your boutique only online?
greenROHINI is a brick and mortar boutique in Sherman Oaks, California as well as an online store. In our lives (meaning me, my husband & our two teenaged daughters) we’re always seeking ways to expand our “eco-friendliness”. It’s something we’ve been doing for years . . . it’s a fun challenge & we’re all passionate about the environment. So it was a natural progression for us (when we decided to open a boutique) to figure out how to do it “green”. We live in Los Angeles & this is a very beauty and image focused environment, so what we’ve created is a boutique setting where the client can get higher end eco-friendly clothing without having to make sacrifices in style.
What are some of your personal favorites from the boutique?
I love everything in the store, and many of our best-sellers are also on my personal favorites list.
The vegan shoe line “Form & Fauna” is great . . . they’re cute, comfortable, eco-friendly & handmade.
I love the Aster Park reversible halters, they are flattering on almost ANY body.
And right now, I’m really loving our unisex hats by Mr. Green.
I believe in taking a “holistic” approach to greening my wardrobe; while I’m not opposed to buying organic cotton t-shirts from Banana Republic or Wal-Mart, I prefer to support smaller boutiques and designers who focus only on earth-friendly design & production; I love the idea of as few steps as possible between me and the products I buy. Do you agree? Why do you think it’s important for consumers to consider the company behind the product, as opposed to just the product?
I agree with the “holistic” approach” and I feel that it’s very important to support businesses that are really committed to providing green products and practicing green habits in the day to day operations (I know from experience that it requires a little more: research, money, commitment, etc.) This type of commitment can make a difference and it’s important for the consumer buy what they want more of . . . consumer demand for green creates more green. I’d love to see businesses like mine become the norm rather than a sort of novelty. I think things are moving in that direction. In my opinion it’s primarily a matter of education. There are a number of factors that people aren’t aware of when they go to a big company that’s added a few eco-friendly options. A shirt for example may say “organic” on it and to many people that sounds great. Sometimes it is, but often, what the tag may not disclose is the working conditions in which the item was made, or the amount of toxins that were released into the environment by the factory where the garment was made, or that the dyes use on the shirt are toxic. There’s so much to know. That’s what I do at my store . . . the research! I don’t want it to feel overwhelming for the customer. But it’s just a matter of knowing what to ask . . . after you know that it gets easier. And at the end of the day, something (eco-friendly speaking) is better than nothing.
Do you have any eco-living tips for our readers? What are some small things we can do at home, and in our closets to make a difference?
Some easy things to do in the closet is to remember to re-use: give items you won’t use anymore to someone who will (a friend, goodwill, etc.), just don’t throw them away! And if you’re trying to “green” your closet but have items you love in your closet that aren’t eco-friendly, remember that continuing to use them is eco-friendly.
There are lots of other little things that we do at home that seem small, but actually amount to something when you add them all together. Things you might not think of like dumping the leftover ice in your glass into a plant, or unplugging your cell phone charger when you’re not using it. There are many books out now with simple tips that are easy to incorporate into everyday life that after a while become habits that you don’t even have to think about anymore.
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