independent designers

I think sometimes we get “stuck” referring to only organic cotton or other eco-friendlier materials as “eco-fashion” and forget sometimes there are other issues, like fair wages, fair trade, providing work and business for communities, business ethics and other things at play when it comes to socially conscious shopping. In my opinion, a $5.99 organic cotton t-shirt from Wal-Mart is not as eco-friendly as a hand designed and executed blouse by an independent designer in Portland, for example.

So, while this skirt from Moxsie is made with conventional cotton, it includes this fabulous hand-dyed and hand-woven fabric belt by a women’s co-op in Guatemala – with your purchase, you support their work and keep them making money for their families:

skirt from moxsie

(sign up for Moxsie’s newsletter and you’ll get a 10% off coupon for your order over $50)

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I’ve posted a lot of recycled leather handbags on Green Grechen – what can I say, I never get tired of finding lovely leather handbags – and as a follow-up to a popular post I did last year on “Reclaimed Chic: The Best Recycled Leather Handbags,” here’s a new rundown of my favorite recycled leather handbag designers:


Ashley Watson

Ashley Watson was the first designer I found a couple of years ago working with recycled leather. I may be wrong, but in my opinion, she paved the way for others to follow, and consistently produces unique, fashionable, high-quality recycled leather bags. She’s sold at nearly every online eco-boutique you can find now – Kaight, Beklina, and Nimli have some of the best selection. My favorite is this Kestrel bag at Beklina for $285:
Ashley Watson: $285


reMade USA

reMade USA is a new recycled leather handbag designer who’s coming strong on to the market. Aside from selling in her own webshop, some of her designs will soon be sold on Barney’s Co-Op. Cool! The Sonoma is one of my favorite designs – the duffel is always an interesting shape. ($395)
reMade USA: $395


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Must Have: Hemp & Organic Cotton Tunic

by grechen on October 7, 2009 | SUBSCRIBE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK |

I’m all about the tunic now. I know they’ve been “back” for quite some time, but really, how much easier and more comfortable can you get than a long tunic over a pair of skinny jeans or leggings? I love this one especially because 1. it’s made with hemp (the only TRULY sustainable fabric IMO) and organic cotton 2. it comes in fun colors and 3. the details – an open back, button-up sleeves…

etsy hemp organic cotton tunic

And I want to BE in that picture. Look at how blue the sky is!!!

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This is an insanely good deal on organic cotton (+ some hemp) goodies by Prairie Underground and She-Bible at Doe – all items by both designers (including sale items) are 50% off!!

Prarie Underground: $182

Prarie Underground: $182

She-Bible: $150

She-Bible: $150

Directions on how to get your discount online:

this offer is available both in-store and online, so add a comment during checkout that says 50% off to receive your discount. paypal customers, please wait for an amended total via email before sending payment.

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**this contest is now closed**

Happy Monday – that means it’s time for another fabulous giveaway! This week, Cosa Verde is giving away two Keepsake Necklaces by pica pica (one necklace to two winners, one will be filled, and one will be empty for you to fill with your own keepsake):

enter to win a keepsake necklace from cosa verde and pica pica jewelry

I’ve always loved glass jars of all shapes and sizes, but I especially love the teeny tiny ones (which are antique glass vials originally used to hold pocket watch parts) like the ones Liz uses on her Keepsake Necklaces. There’s just something about these small glass vials that makes them more special – like they could hold a secret.

Check out pica pica on Cosa Verde along with other green, independent designers handpicked by Liz and her partner to be featured on their site. I love Cosa Verde because it’s a tightly curated, only eco-friendly “portal” to etsy; it makes shopping for locally made, independently designed eco-friendly items SO much easier than just doing a search. And everything featured at Cosa Verde is just as cute and interesting as these keepsake necklaces.

Okay, so now you want to win one?! Here’s how:

Two visitors will have a chance to win two keepsake necklaces – one filled and one empty. The contest will close this Sunday, July 26 and winners will be chosen randomly.

Multiple ways to win – each one counts as one or more entries; do one or all of them:

Leave a comment on this post telling me what you’d put in your keepsake necklace. Do you have a special little object you’d want to keep in this lovely glass vial?

Tweet this message: RT @greedygrechen: think big, shop small @cosaverde eco-friendly marketplace http://www.cosaverde.com

Tweet about the contest on twitter with a link to the contest page (use the button at the end of this post). Come back here and leave a comment with a link to your tweet so I can add your extra entry. (you can tweet the contest more than once…but you’ll max out at 5 extra entries for tweets…and that will also count as an extra entry – just remember to leave a comment back here every time you do)

Follow Cosa Verde on twitter! Please leave a comment here again once you do so your e-mail will be counted again.

Follow me on twitter! Come back and post a comment here with your twitter name so I can verify – and follow you back!

Become a fan of Cosa Verde on Facebook! Remember to come back here and leave another comment!!

Post about the contest on your facebook page then come back here and leave a comment for your extra entry.

Post about the contest on your blog – please post back here with a link in case I don’t get a pingback…

Good Luck!!

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