More Eco-Friendly Shoes...

I've been telling a lot of people lately about how it's actually not THAT hard to go eco-friendly, and even cruelty-free altogether (no animal skins or furs), with shoes and accessories. (Seriously y'all, it's Easy Being Green!) So I thought I'd share some resources that make it easy-peasy to find eco-friendly shoes - and a few of my favorite recent eco-friendly finds.

Zappos
Best shoe site ever. So of course they make it easy!
http://www.zappos.com/vegetarian.zhtml.

"For those who have tried, finding non-leather shoes can be a daunting, almost impossible, task. Specifically for those kind individuals, here's a collection of vegetarian shoes for secure, cruelty-free peace of mind. With advances in synthetic manufacturing, non-leather materials are now virtually identical to their genuine counterparts, but with none of the guilt."

You can even leave your email on that page to be notified when new vegetarian products are added. Genius! (That's also REALLY smart marketing right there.)

Zappos also has a kick-ass e-commerce feature which allows you to show product results based on categories of your choosing. I chose womens, eco-friendly, shoes and received 476 results - http://www.zappos.com/womens-eco-friendly-shoes~g! The only problem is what flies as "eco-friendly" isn't always cruelty-free. Zappos does do a great job however of describing their products well and detailing what all parts of the shoes (upper, sole, etc.) are made of - and I appreciate that.

I'm really diggin' Timberland's new "Earthkeepers" collection, but they're not leather and suede free unfortunately. Timberland would totally have my vote if they were using recycled leather like they are recycled PET (plastic bottles). I would have no problem buying shoes that reclaimed leather from old shoes instead of using new leather, for what it's worth.

They have a fun ad campaign running for this line, too:



Both shoes retail on Zappos for $194 - see each online by clicking on the images above.

The Timberland Earthkeepers Granby ($174) (pictured below) would also be flawless if not made from suede.


Now here's a cool winter boot from The North Face which is cruelty-free and made from recycled raw materials!

The Nuptse Knee High (pictured at right) retails for $170 at Zappos - http://www.zappos.com/the-north-face-womens-nuptse-knee-high-demitasse-brown-paisley-pastel-orange.

According to the site, the sole's are pretty high-tech, too:

"Durable TNF Winter Grip ™ rubber outsole with Ice Pick™ temperature-sensitive rubber snowflake lugs. Ice Pick™ rubber hardens when the temperature falls below freezing to provide ultimate biting traction".

Keep reading for more shoe finds later in the week!

Go Banana!

Well done, Banana Republic! My little green heart thanks you!

"Greener. One Step At A Time.
We changed our bag to eliminate 500,000 pounds of plastic each year.
You too can help by reusing or recycling this bag."

My sister was outlet shopping last week and picked me up a great pair of linen-style black pants (trouser-style fit, draw-string but fitted waist) that look great with patent black heels that I wore today, but of course I can't find any pictures of outlet products on their site. I'll take an outfit picture next time I wear them for a follow up post :-)

Fab Finds at Crate & Barrel

Crate & Barrel is one of those stores where I could easily spend a huge chunk of change (you know, right alongside Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Pier 1, and Restoration Hardware).

I was pretty happy though to flip through a catalog Nick and I received in the mail recently and find a few really great pieces and collections with budget-friendly price points! The cover of the catalog did read after all, "affordable best buys for every room in your new home". Although the entire catalog wasn't super affordable, these are some of my favorites!

Appetizer Plates

Set of 12 - $22.95

Vinny Carafe
$12.95

Stemless Wine Glass
$2.50

Impressions Pitcher
$15.95

10-Piece Glass Bowl Set
$29.95

5-Piece Parker Bowl Set
$36.95

I'm not really into patterns in our kitchen (our plates are just white), so almost everything is white, stainless, glass/pyrex, or solid colors (for accent). For me, the food, decor, and furniture are what should make a statement!

They also had a section on "green best buys", but that's a whole 'nother can of worms, which I've opened on my other blog - Green Gossip Blog!

Cary Academy Holiday Shoppe Recap

Last weekend, I had the chance to head out to Cary Academy's Holiday Shoppe - their annual fundraiser shopping event. There were TONS of vendors, but I managed to try and pick up a business card or web address for my favorites.

Here is a quick recap, in no particular order... including my random commentary.

White Pear Shop
{whitepearshop.com}

These candles, soaps, etc. smelled SO good. And when I say "SO good", I mean I had buyers remorse when I got home for NOT buying every candle they had!



The Minky Momma
{theminkymomma.com}


You know how sometimes at events and vendor shows, the vendors/salespeople can jump all over you in too aggressive of a fashion?

Not this girl! She was super nice and didn't make me want to rush off ;-)

My dear E. Riley is on her way to being a new mommy - she can totally expect a gift from The Minky Momma!




Fancy Paints
{fancypaints.com}

Ceramics. They even do parties! They got me with the puppy treat jars - "All good dogs run with the pack...Go Pack!"

Here is their store: http://www.shop.fancypaints.com/
Here is the info about their parties: http://fancypaints.com/


Zass Design
{ZassDesign.com}

There is nothing on these gals' site yet, but they have a VERY cool concept. Basically, they are graphic designs who take print collateral (magazines, etc.) and make it into jewelry! Like, REALLY CUTE earrings, and more. I'll update if I see more online from them soon!

http://zassdesign.com/


Sweet Tea Shirts
{SweeTeaShirts.com}

Notice the absence of a second "T" in the web address! Funny Southern sayings... on cute tees. That pretty much describes it.





T&J Wood Art
{TandJWoodArt.com}

A really unique way to display your wine bottles AND wine glasses... can hold the glasses upside down (no dust on the inside) or right-side up.







Lithic Designs
{LithicDesigns.com}

Of course, I would've preferred to show you one of their Wolfpack offerings, but they didn't have a good picture on their website to showcase that. These are prints done on pieces of stone!

VERY cool. Would look great in offices, living rooms, cabinets, etc.



Ella Vickers
{EllaVickers.com}

One of the coolest vendors all day, by far. Based out of Wilmington, NC, this vendor takes old sails and turns them into bags, etc. So it's eco-friendly, nautical, and beachy - all in one!

The bags are a bit on the expensive side, but if they're cut by hand and sew on a machine (or by hand), I'm sure each bag takes quite some time to make. And I'm even more confident that they aren't produced in overseas sweatshops. I'm ok with paying a premium for that.







Bone Appétit Bakery
{GotTreats.com}

I've been following these folks on twitter for a while, so it was cool to see them out at a local event. (I'm sure they do lots of events, but this was the first retail event I have noticed them at.)

How did they know that my family spoils our four-legged babies at Christmas, too?? ;-) Must be something about us "dog people".



In addition to a lot of great independents, they had what I think was a Reader's Digest mini-book store. They prices... were fantastic. They started around 30-40% off retail and even had discounts on their own prices. I bought a $16.00 book for just over $4.00. And yes, it was brand new.

Whew, this post took me FOREVER to draft/link/format/write... but I hope you find something to love!

Not Uh!

I was a textiles major in college and as I've said before, Cotton's world HQ is here in my own backyard. The following video though, was still news to me.




Alright, looks as if I'll be looking for organic cotton choices now! Thanks Rachel at EcoStiletto for the tip!

Word on the Street...

The Glenwood South (Avenue) street that is... is that there is a party goin' on this Thursday!

I have wanted to check this consignment shop out for quite some time now, so this seems like the perfect thing to drag the girls to since we have the week off from Skee-Ball.



Revolver's Reuse, Revolve, Revamp Party
Thursday, May 7th
7:00pm until 10:00pm

Revolver Consignment Boutique
124 Glenwood Ave.
Downtown Raleigh, Glenwood South
blog/web: www.RevolverConsignmentBoutique.blogspot.com


{Image: Revolver Blog}

Greenwashing is So Last Season

I'm pretty over greenwashing - all kinds of over it, in fact.

It really bugs me that I received an email today with an Earth Day sale advertising "20% off everything green"... eco-sketchy!

20% off bags made from recycled plastics? Fabulous!
20% off soft tees made from organic cotton? OK!

20% off something "green" that was shipped from across the globe? C'mon now, it's Earth Day tomorrow... not St. Patty's (I'm not a hater though - by all means, go for it on St. Patty's day)! I don't think Mother Nature would approve.

The Nature Conservancy has a cool calculator for your carbon footprint here. It's not all encompassing, but it's a nice little "home" gauge, for how you're doing at home. I'm happy to say we're below average (wooh, hah!) and half of our consumption comes from travel, which would be hard to cut down more. I'm game to give it a try though!

Calling All Raleigh and Wilmington Readers

This came to me via our executive director of our local Dress for Success affiliate - verrrrry cool things going on here.



About Style Swap
"Style-conscious women find a way to recession-proof their closets."

After reading an article about the growing trend of “swishing” parties in England, Jess James had a thought – why not take “swapping” to the next level? She imagined a “Style Swap” event where women of all ages, sizes and with a range of styles could come together to share their closets while they “economize and socialize.”

Starting in July 2007, Jess James and her partner Shannon Dunne of James + Dunne Styling hosted the first bi-monthly “Style Swap” where women arrived with a few clothing items and accessories and left with items from other fashionistas’ closets. Each guest is given personalized tags to mark the items of their choice leaving their sartorial karmic fate to be determined by drawings and for the most coveted items of the night – a good old- fashioned game of musical chairs!

After each Style Swap, any left-over items are donated to Vintage Values, Bargain Box or Dress for Success. Not only are Style Swaps a fabulous night of frugal fashion - they are also eco-chic and a great excuse to clean out your closet!
Here are the details for the upcoming Style Swap in Raleigh:
Date: Thursday, April 30th
Time: 7-9pm
Location: White Collar Crime - Downtown Raleigh

"Hey Recessionistas! - Looking for some guilt-free shopping with instant gratification? If you want to look good without feeling the pinch on your pocketbook, come to Raleigh's ultra stylish, eco-friendly STYLE SWAP."

Enjoy:
* Yummy bites from your favorite local restaurants, $4 cocktails + wine specials
* Sponsored “swap” items + fabulous prizes from your favorite stores
* Beauty Station

Bring:
Fashionable (designer + vintage) items that have been hibernating in your closet!
1 gently worn item (on hanger) + 1 accessory

Donations:
Please bring gently worn suits, accessories (including purses and briefcases) and/or shoes to benefit Dress for Success. Think, what you would wear on an interview or to give a big presentation at work!

Questions:
To email Style Girl Jess James for more info Click Here.

The Prettiest {Eco-Friendly} Shoes You've Ever Seen

This month's EcoStiletto giveaway shoes are SO beautiful... I should not even share this so I could increase my odds of winning, but I love y'all... so here ya go:Told ya... SO pretty. They are custom made and even have your initials stamped on the sole as a finishing touch. BALLER.

Of course, the $595 price tag is just a hair out of my price range (you know, just a tad bit). Winning these would be aweeeesome. In case you hadn't read before here, EcoStiletto gives away a pair of sassy, eco-friendly shoes every month. Clearly, you want to be on that list. Just enter the giveaway and you'll get the regular scoop.

I also really love their new t-shirt, too:$18. Now that's a purchase that I can afford. ;-)

PS - This post isn't sponsored by EcoStiletto or anything... I just really love what Rachel is doing with her company, so I feel compelled to give her props!

Go Green, Get Stuff

This isn't something that particularly applies to anything in my closet (that I can think of right off hand), but there is still plenty of drool-worthy home products, DVDs, CDs/iPods, etc. to be had a Best Buy. I received the following tidbit in their eNewsletter today for Reward Zone members.

Recycle Your Old Electronics

Did you know you can recycle electronics at your local Best Buy® store? Bring in your old TVs, computers, DVD players and more and we’ll recycle them for you. There is a $10 recycling fee for each TV, CRT, monitor or laptop you bring in, but we’ll give you a $10 Best Buy Gift Card to offset the cost.

Read more.It's actually pretty good to know info, because most recycling events I've seen have a charge for screens/monitors/etc., at least this way Best Buy is easing the cost a little bit by basically buying you a DVD or CD as a result.

"I Ain't Never Had a Problem with California..."

(If you're not a country music fan, you might not sing a little song in your head from the reference that today's post title makes.)

I have some exciting news for you California girls - if you're already subscribed to EcoStiletto's email newsletter, this might not be too new to you, but it's so buzz-worthy, nonetheless!

The fabulously eco-chic Rachel at EcoStiletto shared the details for this not to be missed event in L.A. coming up on March 10th. Be sure to mark your calendars if you're in the Los Angeles area during that time!If you're in Los Angeles next month (or just like to travel), stop by our second-annual EcoStiletto Green Girl's Night Out for Dress for Success at Intuition in Los Angeles from 7 to 10 p.m. on March 10th and enjoy free signature cocktails from BASH Eco Events, Green Works Natural Cleaning Products freebies and mini makeovers from Terra Firma cosmetics so you can sign the Teens Turning Green Lips Against Lead petition, hosted by the Green Youth Movement.I am so jealous of all of the Cali girls who will get to attend this! I would totally hop on a plane for the trip if I hadn't gone a little budget overboard in Vegas earlier this month. Oops - it was SO worth it though!

PS: The event will be benefiting the local affiliate of one of my favorite organizations, Dress For Success! Kudos to EcoStiletto and Intuition for this little extra bonus -Remember to bring your gently-used, work-appropriate shoes to donate and we'll show you the hottest styles in eco-friendly footwear, plus Intuition's amazing Jaye Hersh has generously agreed to donate 15% of all sales to Dress for Success; BYOB(ag) and you get 5% more off.Yay - fun event AND a great cause!

EcoStiletto Giveaway

EcoStiletto has blown me away with their first KA (kick butt) giveaway... see the details (that I received via email - you definitely want to be on that list) below:Each month in 2009, we’re giving away a pair (or pairs) of eco-friendly shoes (stilettos, preferably) worth $500 or more. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win. Each month’s sweepstakes ends on the last day of that month, with the winner announced before the last day of the following month.

This month, it’s a pair of ecolicious, vegan boots worth nearly $700 that we’ve fallen head over heels with (pun intended). Enter here, and one of you will soon be wearing our heart on your sole. Tread lightly.Sa-WEEEEET!

Any eco-conscious fashion-loving girl (and super fierce fashionistas) would be crazy not to enter this giveaway.

Retail Round-Up

Some of my favorite posts from local girls from December '08/January '09:Let's shop happy like this all year round

Koozies with minimal carbon footprint

SwapStyle: assuming it's awesome... because we see the glass as always half full.Anyone else got any good shares?

{Double Post} Bring EcoStiletto to Raleigh

If you've read this blog for a while, you might have responded to my call to action to subscribe to a great eNewsletter that combines two fabulous things: fashion and reducing your carbon footprint. (As they say in today's edition: "where you get the scoop on how to shrink your carbon footprint from the size of an Ugg boot to a Manolo with eco-focused fashion, beauty, lifestyle and parenting updates".) Also in today's EcoStiletto eNewsletter was the potential to bring a ridiculously fabulous event to our area: Want EcoStiletto in your hood? We're planning a whole series of EcoStiletto Green Girls' Night Out events nationwide for 2009 and the cities that that have the highest concentration of newsletter subscribers get our free, super-eco-fantabulous party coming to their town first. So go get your friends to sign up, already!I can't even start to count the number of gal pals who I know would attend this event... so let's bring it to town!

Be sure to sign up for the eNewsletter here.

Christmas Gift Ideas: For Your Favorite Vodka Drinker!

I know quite a few bloggin' gal pals who I'd give this next gift to :-)

(Lisa S. and Renee... consider this recommendation my e-gift to you all!)

From Ideal Bite:

Tru Vodka - get 'em toasty with liquor produced with fewer pesticides. This vodka's organic, goes down smoothly, and the company plants a tree for each bottle it sells. Also: lemon- and vanilla-infused flavors ($33).Booze with a conscience. I love it!!

PS - Ooh, they have gin, too! That's SO for Denise. When was the last time you heard about Tanqueray planting trees?

Christmas Gift Ideas: For Your Eco-Gal-Pal

This is what I'd love to get Renee for the holidays:

Oceana - adopt an endangered sea creature in someone's name, and they'll get a cookie cutter in the shape of the critter you select ($35-$100).Thanks Ideal Bite! I'm looking forward to tomorrow's daily email with green gifts fro $20-$49!

Ooh - while I'm at it, check out this nice little site:I just signed up for their email newsletter, too. Here's hoping the content is as appealing as the site design!

Totes!

This Vineyard Vines Wolfpack tote would be awesommmmmmmeeeee!Not $95.00 awesome, but awesome nonetheless.

And while we're on the topic of awesome totes, I came across this cool how-to in the comments on Sue's Taking Stock blog:You can find instructions on the internet to make your own totes just like the ones they have. Very easy to do. Basically it is layering target bags between wax paper and ironing them to make a sturdier 'material'. then you sew this together to make your own. there are youtube videos also from a school that is doing it to raise awareness of recycling.While Target bags almost always remain under the bathroom sinks in this house because they make such killer mini-rashcan liners... I'd give them a shot at DIY recycled-shopping bags, too! (It sounds kind of fun, actually...)

Some Good Posts from my Blogging Friends

You'll want to add these to your Google Reader:Sustainable Shopping, Yes Please! (with some great preppy pictures)

Shop Gap & Save (which already expired, WTF - apparently this is a growing BAD trend), but may make itself present again in the future. *Crosses fingers*

Enlightenment of a 20-Something: One of the things that has to be upgraded is your 9-5 wardtrobe.Did I miss anything link worthy?

From GoGoRaleigh.com: EcoFashion Show Needs Designers

My alma mater (NCSU COT '07) continues to make me SO proud! From GoGoRaleigh.com:EcoFashion Show Needs Designers
The Triangle Emerging Green Builders are doing a fashion show at the NCSU College of Textiles in the Spring, and they need your help! Click for more info:

Come show the Triangle what green fashion is all about! Designers wishing to participate in this innovative show must present two finished garments to the judging panel on August 23rd, between 10am and 2pm, at the Atrium in the NC State College of Textiles.

The clothing to be selected for the Eco-Fashion show must show a strong emphasis on ecologically friendly design. Eco-friendly design can be in the form of recycled or remanufactured garments, as well as using eco-friendly fabrics and production processes. If you have any questions about the requirements, we welcome you to contact us at greenfashionshow@gmail.com.

To be considered, each designer must:
· Create two garments that show a strong emphasis on green design
· Completely fill out an application form
· Bring your two garments and application to the Atrium in the NC State College of Textiles on August 23rd between 10 am and 2 pm. Appointments will be scheduled in 15 minute blocks, please email us at greenfashionshow@gmail.com to schedule an appointment.

Designers selected by our panel to participate will be asked to present a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 10 pieces at the Eco-Fashion Show. We are asking all designers to strongly consider donating two of their pieces to the Amani Baby Cottage, an orphanage in Uganda that is supported in part by MorLove, a non-profit student organization in the College of Textiles at NC State.

While we may be able to recruit volunteers to model and help with hair and make-up, we are asking all designers to be prepared to find their own models and take care of their own hair and make-up.

More information on the NCSU College of Textiles: www.tx.ncsu.edu

More information on MorLove: www4.ncsu.edu/~maframi/

More information on Triangle Emerging Green Builders: groups.yahoo.com/group/trianglechapteregb/

More information on American Vintage: www.avcc-inc.comWhat an awesome event being put together... can't wait to see some of the great results!