20% off at Mountains of the Moon with code GRECHEN
Mountains of the Moon Eco.Fashion is a sustainable apparel label headed by Chicago designer Melissa Baswell and aimed at creating chic, high-quality clothing that helps, not hurts, the earth and its inhabitants. Mountains of the Moon sees themselves as collaborators with their customers in an effort to take a stand in making environmentally and socially responsible decisions through our wardrobes. Their goal for their company and their customers is to work together to express themselves through fashion and art while making a profound collective difference in the state of our world.
Hemp as an eco-friendly fiber is overlooked in most eco-fashion circles (including mine), but lately I’m searching for, and finding more and more interesting and wearable pieces made entirely or partly from hemp. (see today’s Must-Have for a bit of info on hemp, and also 5 Ways to add Hemp to your Life for more) I posted this Synergy Organics skirt as a Must-Have a few weeks ago, and was pleased to be contacted by one of the designers who sent me one to review!
I got this skirt last Friday and wore it all weekend – out to lunch on Saturday, then over to my mom’s for dinner, and again for a leisurely walk with the dog on Sunday. I think it worked equally well in all situations; it fits very well (even with my hips), moves easily, and hits right at the knee on me (I’m about 5’4″). You’re never going to be able to really dress this skirt up, but with heels and a button-up blouse it would make a cute Sunday morning brunch outfit, then with a tee-shirt and sandals it’s perfect for dog-walking.
This is my first item of clothing made with hemp (55% hemp and 45% organic cotton) and you can definitely “feel” the hemp. It’s not scratchy at all, but there is a texture and weight there that the hemp adds which makes it feel different – not as heavy as bamboo and not as light as a cotton jersey (or as soft). The combination allows it to hang well; it doesn’t hug my body at all and makes a perfect a-line. And it’s fairly opaque so you don’t NEED to wear a slip with it, but I always do (call me old-fashioned) when I’m “out” – a body shaping slip – because I don’t feel right without one!
Overall, I really love this skirt, not only that it’s made in Nepal under fair trade guidelines, and uses low-impact dyes, but the price is really great ($49) and the fit, perfect. Available at Planet Threads.
I know it’s not exactly turtleneck weather where most of you are, but it is the best time to BUY a turtleneck…and since I got my organic cotton Mociun “crop circles” tee last week, I’m obsessed with it and set out to find other fabulous prints – at cheaper prices. At Mociun’s online store, I found this “line” turtleneck made from organic cotton and hemp, marked down to $32. It’s only available in an XL.
Makool Loves You is another super-fabulous designer from Portland who creates lovely handmade dresses, skirts, jackets & tops from reclaimed material, organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and more. I LOVE this hemp/organic cotton wrap skirt, the perfect silhouette for Spring:
(this was originally published as a guest-post over at green+chic, but I wanted to share it with you here as well)
Marie Louise Vogt Knitted Tops at Beklina
The latest collections from eco-friendly designers prove how far eco-fashion has come; if you wanted to, you could fill your entire wardrobe ONLY with environmentally sustainable clothing, shoes & bags. And I’m not talking about boxy dresses and hemp rope sandals. Today’s eco-fashion is gorgeous recycled leather or “vegan” leather handbags, lovely canvas or recycled plastic sandals, and beautiful bamboo dresses (bamboo is a great material for dresses – it drapes wonderfully, is forgiving, and so soft to wear).
And eco-fashion now isn’t only about the alternative materials items are made from – it’s taking into consideration the whole picture. From the way the raw materials are grown and the people who harvest it, to the business practices of all the companies involved from beginning to final product (including the boutique that sells it), eco-fashion is about ethical consumerism. Money is power, and as consumers we can use that power to affect positive change and better lives all over the world.
But, if you’ve spent any time looking at some eco-friendly fashion, you’ve probably asked, “why does it cost so much?” Honestly, there’s no specific answer as to why it tends to cost more, but there are some characteristics of eco-fashion that make it so:
- It takes more time (3 years) and energy to convert a conventional cotton crop to an organic one
- NOT paying sweatshop labor prices costs designers much more. Designers who engage in fair trade practices make sure that every worker from the beginning to the end is paid fairly and works under suitable working conditions.
- Eco-fashion is still not as available as “conventional” fashion. There is significant demand for eco-friendly clothing, shoes & accessories, and until supply can catch up with it, and there are more competitors in the market, prices will remain higher.
- If you buy your eco-fashion from an independent designer or smaller boutique, you’re likely purchasing items made locally, in limited quantities, possibly handmade, and from companies who engage in ethical business practices. It’s the right way to do business, but it’s not always the cheapest.
- Some companies, like EDUN, produce their clothing in developing countries as a way to drive sustainable employment and lift their citizens out of poverty. This can have significant costs up front, but the benefits are well worth it.
- I also believe that designers/retail stores have taken advantage of all the “green” hype the last several years and have basically charged whatever they wanted for their organic cotton/bamboo/hemp products. And we bought them! Now that consumers don’t have as much disposable income, it’s my opinion that prices will come down to a more realistic level, and then start lower than they did before.
So…what’s a girl to do? How can you make it easier on your wallet to support your environmental and ethical beliefs and be more eco-fashionable? I’ll tell you!!
