Sheena Matheiken is the real life Amelie. Adorable and spunky and with a style that is uniquely her own.  For The Uniform Project, Matheiken has pledged to wear the same basic black dress (well 1 of 7 of the same dress) for an entire year wearing it in 365 different ways.  All to raise money for the Akanksha Foundation with provides education opportunities for underprivileged children in India. At the same time she is making a powerful environmental statement in sustainable fashion and that perhaps, we can, and should, make due with less. Click to continue »

Who: Lara Miller; Chicago, IL

What: Donna Dress Mini (Maxi also available)

Where: Haute Line, $235 in onyx, fuschia or cobalt; the print dress size (L) is on sale at Kaight for $169.40, cobalt available at pivotboutique.com for $244

Why: Three fabulous dresses all wrapped up in one. This super flattering dress can be worn as a cinched waist strapless, a sexy halter or a casual day dress with a flirty tie front. The long tie at the waist also leaves room for creativity; create a criss-crossed halter by crossing the straps across the chest or adding a big bow to a strapless instead of a cinched waist. All sorts of possibilities!

The well thought out design also has ever-so-convenient pockets tucked into the folds, so you can forgo cumbersome clutches while out and about. The skirt is made of 100% certified organic cotton and the top is made of 94% certified organic cotton.

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Who: Kwytza; Eugene, OR

What: Recycled Chopstick Folding Basket

Where: Chopstickart.com; available in s, m & l, $16-$32

Why: Best Secret Santa gift ever! Who would have guessed that this cleverly designed basket is made from post-consumer, single-use chopsticks?

When founder of Kwytza, Bryan Parks learned  that nearly 1 billion chopsticks were discarded each year, he saw an opportunity and set out to find a use for this unusual raw material and the folding basket was born. (Not to worry, the chopsticks are pressure treated, temperature treated and sanitized before reusing)

Ideal  for corralling fruits and veggies, the basket expands to accommodate big harvests and the slatted design allows air to circulate to keep produce fresher longer. Incredibly durable, the large size basket can hold up to 15 apples if you stack them right. The non-toxic tea stain adds just the right finishing touch.

Words of inspiration and wisdom from environmental activist Paul Hawken in his commencement address to the Univeristy of Portland, May 2009:

….here’s the deal: Forget that this task of planet-saving is not possible in the time required. Don’t be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done.

When asked if I am pessimistic or optimistic about the future, my answer is always the same: If you look at the science about what is happening on earth and aren’t pessimistic, you don’t understand the data. But if you meet the people who are working to restore this earth and the lives of the poor, and you aren’t optimistic, you haven’t got a pulse. What I see everywhere in the world are ordinary people willing to confront despair, power, and incalculable odds in order to restore some semblance of grace, justice, and beauty to this world.

To read the rest of his touching, profound and inspirational speech in full, visit Paul Hawken.com.

Who: Cri de Couer; London, U.K.

What: Kate T-strap Flat Sandal

Where: Nimli.com; on sale for $102 & an additional 20% off with coupon code “SPRING09″

Why: Back, feet, knees and toes rejoice! It is the summer of the flats and this pair from Cri de Couer is one of our favorites. This sophisticated flat manages to blend the masculine gladiator sandal with the feminine t-strap pump. And, shocker, these flats come complate with a padded sole, unlike most flats  akin to walking on a board.

As with all Cri de Couer shoes, these canvas flats are handmade in Europe and are 100% vegan. They try to make their shoes as ethically and sustainably as possible forgoing vinyl, leather and pvc for cotton canvas, hemp and eco-friendly synthetics.  Their production process is certified carbon-neutral and to futher ‘green’ each purchase, a tree is planted by the Carbon Fund for each pair sold.

July 2, 2009 - 10% off all Ella Vickers Sail Bags at Lola Babiez Organics with coupon code “vickers” now through July 30th or while supplies last.

July 2, 2009 - Enter to win a $500 gift certificate from the Home Depot from Simple Green. Complete the form at Simple Green by August 12th to enter.

July 1, 2009 - 50% off all purchases at the Green Stuff Connection with coupon code “wtadeal”.

July 1, 2009 - Save 40-70% on Nimli’s designer sale. Great deals on Lara Miller, Ecoganik & Sublet. Additional 20% off with coupon code SPRING09 and free shipping on orders over $100.

June 30, 2009 - 45% off Organic & Bamboo printed towels at Sea Glass Organic & get an additional $3 off your purchase with coupon code SAVE3.

June 30, 2009 - Win a prize package valued at $4375 from FitPregnancy.com including BornFree BPA-FREE Smart Start Gift Set, Naturpedic No-Compromise Organic Crib Mattress, and a True Fit Convertible Car Seat (note, not all of the prize package contents are eco-friendly). Enter no later than August 31, 2009. Click to continue »

SIGG has partnered with the Jane Goodall Institute to support the Drop of Hope campaign with their limited edition “Drop of Hope” reusable water bottle. The stainless steel water bottles are on sale at mySIGG.com for $24.99 with a portion of the proceeds going directly to support the “Drop of Hope: Water for the World” campaign.

Drop of Hope was launched in 2007  to bring attention to the clean water crisis that affects millions of  people worldwide and to raise money to provide clean drinking water to those in need. One of the main objectives of the campaign was to reduce overall consumption by decreasing “disposable water bottle use by approximately 800,000 bottles by replacing them with only 5,000 completely recyclable stainless steel bottles.” Our bottled water addiction burns nearly 47 million gallons of oil a year and for every 1 liter bottle made nearly 3 liters of water are wasted in the process.

Your purchase will help support the campaign by keeping water bottles out of landfills, raising awareness and for every Drop of Hope bottle sold $5 will be donated to initiatives to bring clean drinking water to schoolchildren in Africa.

Who: Modern Bamboo; San Francisco, CA

What: Spring Chair

Where: Vivavi.com; $690, available in natural, cherry or ebony

Why: We’re completely envious of the dining room outfitted with these modern marvels; the perfect blend of art, industrial design and sustainability. The sleek, sexy lines and slim profile of the “S” curve are masterfully crafted from a single piece of Plyboo, bent to hug the curves of the body. Still in awe that the cantilevered design can actually support the weight of an adult human being. Clearly, a testament to the strength and flexibility of bamboo.

What is perhaps most surprising about this chair is how incredibly comfortable it is, making it equally at home in the dining room as in the living room.  The tensile design supports the back with just the right ‘give’ to allow for a soothing rocking motion.  So, for those of us who are often scolded for tilting back in our chairs, this is the perfect substitute.

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Who: Vaute Couture; Chicago, IL

What: El Coat, Luxe

Where: Vaute Couture; $581 or $295.50 when you preorder by June 30th

Why: So yes, perhaps it is a bit odd to be thinking about winter jackets when you are just busting out your summer dresses, but  this soon to expire offer for a limited run (read only 24 other people will have a jacket like yours…) Vaute Couture coat at 50% off retail is too good to pass up. And, by the time October rolls around, you’ll be pleasantly surprised when your jacket arrives just in time.

Designed with  frigid Chicago winters in mind, the super soft “Luxe” fabric  is specifically designed to protect against wind, water and snow while retaining heat. The long slim fit bell shaped silhouette gently drapes to flatter the figure while the generous pockets and wide collar add to the warmth.  And you’ll get that warm fuzzy feeling knowing that your jacket is 100% vegan, uses buttons reclaimed from an old factory and is lined with windproof 100% recycled closed loop zero waste satin ripstop. Want a warmer and fuzzier feeling? Opt for the Recycled El made of 64% recycled fibers.

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Who: Bambeco; Baker, WV

What: Soji Modern Solar Lanterns

Where: bambeco.com; $39 & 15% off your purchase with code: ecobungajune; 9″x9″ available in pure white, pearl motif or mineral motif

Why: Based on the intricate hand folded shade designs of architect Poul Christiansen, these hard plastic soji lanterns are perfect for outdoor entertaining. Mix and match patterns to create a festive setting and with no outlets or cumbersome cords required, you can cluster them in the trees or string them along the patio with ease.

Powered by solar panels absorbing the sun’s rays during the day and providing a warm glow as the sun goes down and the amber LED lights switch on. And for those in the sun deprived northeast  who haven’t seen the sun for the past week, not to worry, the lanterns come complete with AAA rechargeable batteries for those less than stellar days.

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