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*Exclusive* 25% off at Doie Designs

by grechen on May 6, 2009 | SUBSCRIBE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK |

Doie Designs’ Sara Kirsner recently moved from New York to California, and you can clearly see it in her new Spring collection, aptly named, the Los Angeles collection.

Sara previously worked mostly in bamboo and silk, but she’s made the change this season to mostly organic cotton and silk (I actually prefer organic cotton, because I think it’s eco-friendlier than bamboo). She still brings back the signature lounge pant and wrap shirt, but I love the new dresses most of all, especially the Mulholland (the second dress from the left).

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Now through May 31, use code “Grechen25″ for 25% off at Doie Designs and snag yourself some pretties!! This code is ONLY valid on the Spring/Summer 09 collection – all other collections are already marked down by 60%!

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30% off Doie Designs

by grechen on November 3, 2008 | SUBSCRIBE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK |

One of my very favorite bamboo pieces (this dress) is by Doie Designs. I love the texture and weight of the bamboo jersey, and the lovely detail at the bottom of silk trim. Now, while I’ve said that bamboo is NOT as eco-friendly as organic cotton (at least bamboo that is chemically processed), it IS better than conventional cotton, and I cannot get enough of the luxurious feel and great fit of bamboo clothing.

Sara, the designer of Doie Designs, has been generous enough to offer all “Grechen” visitors 30% off at Doie Designs through December 3 with code “grechen08.” Check out the new “NYC Collection” and considering picking up some pieces as gifts. Think about your BFF or mom you’ve been trying to convert over to earth-friendlier fashion – bamboo is a great way to start; it’s soft, fits great, and is flattering on nearly all body types.

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The Truth about Bamboo as an Eco-Friendly Fabric

by grechen on October 6, 2008 | SUBSCRIBE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK |

Bamboo

Bamboo

For the last several years, designers and eco-fashion editors have been singing the praises of bamboo as an alternative to conventionally grown cotton for clothing (myself included). I have lots of bamboo pieces in my closet, the first one from Bamboosa several years ago and since then, I’ve added more dresses, tees, & tanks.  But is bamboo the “miracle” plant and eco-friendliest fabric it’s made out to be? Not really.

Pros:

  • Bamboo is the world’s fastest growing plant – which contributes to it’s sustainability and renew-ability.
  • Bamboo CAN be grown without pesticides (although it’s not always) – conventional cotton production can use some of the most harmful pesticides available.
  • Bamboo requires little or no irrigation
  • Bamboo fabric feels like silk – and it drapes beautifully. In my opinion, it’s a bit heavier than cotton, but because of this, it fall so nicely on the body.

Cons:

  • Just because bamboo CAN be grown without pesticides doesn’t necessarily mean that it IS. Check the organic certification of whoever you’re buying from to make sure it’s also organic.
  • Bamboo fiber CAN be extracted mechanically from the plant (a labor-intensive and time-consuming process, albeit more eco) – but is is also extracted chemically, using a “cocktail of chemical solvents” which are NOT environmentally friendly.
  • In China – where most bamboo comes from – farmers are engaging in de-forestation to increase production of bamboo.

The truth is, that there’s a lot of information out there, and a lot of disagreement on whether bamboo should be adopted as an environmentally-friendly fabric. My OPINION is, that while Bamboo may not be the MOST environmentally-friendly fabric, it is MORE environmentally-friendly than conventional cotton. And more importantly, it has the potential to be entirely eco-friendly, depending on how the fiber is processed, and where it is grown. Bamboo grows on every continent – there’s no reason why apparel manufacturers in the US can’t source some of their Bamboo from the US. Over time, I’m hoping to see some major changes and cohesion across the industry so bamboo clothing CAN live up to all the eco-hype.

Do you own bamboo clothing? What do YOU think about bamboo as an enviromnentally-friendly alternative to conventional cotton? Is it a good tradeoff?

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Review: Doie Designs Bamboo Dress

by grechen on June 16, 2008 | SUBSCRIBE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK |

doie designs review

If you’ve never worn bamboo before, it can take a little getting used to, but I love it. I have a several-year old bamboo t-shirt I have worn to death, and I find bamboo to be incredibly soft and comfortable. It’s generally thicker and heavier than cotton – this dress is actually “heavy,” relatively speaking, on the hanger. But a great side-effect of that and one of the most fabulous things about bamboo is the way it drapes when worn – this dress just falls perfectly, and hides all flaws. Bamboo is also more absorbent than cotton, so it wicks away moisture faster; it’s naturally anti-bacterial (maybe that’s why it can easily be grown without pesticides?), and incredibly breathable.

Many eco-friendly designers use bamboo because it’s more sustainable than cotton – bamboo grows incredibly fast and can be grown entirely without pesticides – but it’s not perfect by any means. Bamboo still has to be chemically processed, but manufacturers and designers are working on ways to “green” the entire process so bamboo will be 100% earth-friendly. In the mean time, it’s still better than conventional cotton in my opinion.

Back to the Pesar dress…it’s very hard to see from the picture, but the bodice is slightly gathered, and the straps are thicker on the shoulders so they’re great for hiding bra straps. There is a self-tie I have tied behind my back, and I love the silk strip at the bottom – so unique! You do have to dry clean this dress because of the silk trim, but you can minimize the need to do that by wearing a slip (I do). When I wear this dress, I’m constantly touching it because it’s so soft…if you own any bamboo, you probably know what I mean!!

Save 20% at Doie Designs with code “grechen08″ and find more places that sell Doie online here.

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Interview: Doie Designs

by grechen on June 16, 2008 | SUBSCRIBE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK |

(originally published at grechen’s closet on June 16, 2008)

Interview with Sara Kirsner, Designer behind Doie Designs

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 the Ku De Ta dress, in black, from my Spring ’08 collection. The dress is named after a popular bar in Bali. It is so comfortable and cute- I have been living in it. I would say the Ku De Ta dress and the Uluwatu dress (also from my Spring ’08 collection) are my favorite pieces in my closet right now.

doie bamboo eco-friendly dress coupon codedoie bamboo eco-friendly dress coupon code

I am starting to include a lot more eco-friendly pieces into my wardrobe, now that they are much more accessible. I also try to wear my own designs as much as possible.

What inspired you to start an eco-friendly line? What kinds of materials do you use? Why?

I started out using regular cotton. After my first collection was produced, I was showing it to my friend’s mom, who own Vivaterra.com a great website/catalogue featuring eco-lifestyle products. She loved my collection and asked if I could make a few pieces for her in a sustainable fabric such as bamboo or organic cotton. I really liked bamboo and after learning more about it I decided to continue using it for all of my future collections. My family is very environmentally conscious. It just seemed natural. After learning how environmentally disastrous cotton is, I will never go back.

Bamboo production is not completely virtuous as there are harmful chemicals used to breakdown the bamboo into fabric, but bamboo growth does not require any pesticides and is 100% sustainable. I am trying to incorporate more organic cotton and organic wool these days. I do use bamboo because it is environmentally friendly, but I also love the feel of it! It has the softest hand and it drapes so well.

What are some of your best-sellers? What are some of your personal favorite designs?

The hoodies and tie pants always do well every season- they are so cute to wear around town and you can also lounge around the house in them for hours. I love the Ku De Ta dress and the Pasar dress from this current collection. Those two styles are selling very well.

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 definitely agree! There are several ways to be “eco-friendly” that don’t have to do with the fabrics that are chosen. For example, I currently live in New York City and my line is produced just 10 blocks away from my apartment. Keeping the production local cuts down on fuel usage. I will be moving my production, and myself, to Los Angeles in two weeks. For right now, where my production is made is where I live. I also try to recycle boxes, paper and other office supplies needed to run my company.
I think it is important to know as much as possible about where something is made and what goes into it.

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?

If you can’t buy eco-friendly clothing, you should try to by vintage or already worn clothing. I also like to make sure that I buy pieces that can be worn for more than one season. This idea of “disposable fashion” at places like H&M, and Forever 21 is great for the wallet and a fun night out, but not so great for the environment.

Other easy tips for a greener lifestyle include, unplugging your cell phone charger or other items when you are not using them. They just suck energy! Always bring a reusable bag with you when shopping to cut down on paper and plastic bag consumption. Donate clothes and furniture, rather than just throwing it out. If you lower the room temp 2 degrees in winter and raise it 3 degrees in summer (hard to do with this heat wave!), you will prevent the emission of nearly 700 lbs of carbon dioxide a year! Try to take public transportation whenever possible and always recycle and turn off lights when they are not in use.

(check our list of coupon codes for current Doie Designs coupon codes)

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