Who: DLC Brooklyn – Brooklyn, NY

What: Woven Necklace & Bracelet

Where: Woven Necklace, current bid – $65. Woven Bracelet, current bid – $45. Act fast – this auction ends September 11, 2010!

Why We Love It: We have long been fans of DLC Brooklyn (Dirty Librarian Chains) and the marvels they create by reconfiguring, deconstructing, draping, knotting and tangling of their vintage, recycled jewelry finds (ahhh to comb through their ‘library’ of rediscovered gems…). So we were excited to see their latest collaboration with vintage online marketplace, Market Publique. Some of their vintage finds are just too perfect to alter, so for this limited edition collection they left the pieces as they found them. Click to continue »

At Urban Sherp, we fully believe that every small step you take makes a difference. Living a ‘greener’ life style is all about making choices every day that help steer the planet in the right direction. As educated consumers we can use the power of the dollar to help change the way things are grown, manufactured and shipped and encourage businesses to make more people, animal and earth-friendly decisions. What better way to take a first ‘step’ in living a greener lifestyle than by choosing a more eco-friendly shoe. More and more manufacturers are exploring the use of alternative materials like recycled PET, sustainably harvested cork, water-based glues, hemp and chrome-free leathers to create an end product that is a little bit greener. Here are some of our favorites:

SEXY PUMPS:
BEYOND SKIN Hazel T-Strap Pump $284.95 $113.98	OLSENHAUS Faith Pump $200.95 $80.38	TERRA PLANA Rita Platform Pump $129.95

KITTEN HEELS:
TERRA PLANA Patch Pump $169.95 $67.98	COCLICO Chiba Heels $299.95 $119.88	OLSENHAUS Grace 2 Peep Toe $199.95

SWEET FLATS:
CRI DE COEUR Enchant Wrap Flat $85.00 $33.97	OLSENHAUS Love Wedge $74.38	NAYA Fauana Flats $135

ANKLE STRAP SANDALS:
OLSENHAUS Destiny Flat $189.95	COCLICO Timpani Sandal $314.95 $125.88	SIMPLE TanTan $135

BOOTIES:
CRI DE COEUR Linneah Bootie $264.98 $105.98	NAYA Ana Shootie $145	COCLICO Arlene Bootie $395

HEELED BOOTS:
COCLICO Awaso Tall Boot $532.95 $373.07	TERRA PLANA Tamal Mid-Calf Boot $319.95 $127.98	EL NATURALISTA Duna Boot $187.46

COOL KICKS:
SAUCONY ORIGINALS Jazz Low Pro Vegan Sneaker $28.30 – $64.95	SIMPLE Satire Hemp Sneaker $54.95	TERRA PLANA Odette Flat Shoe $100

Who: Naya – New York, NY

What: Ana Peep-Toe Shootie

Where: Amazon.com – $145 in inky blue or in tan at Piperlime

Why We Love It: Yes, we’ll admit we were at first skeptical about peep-toe booties, wondering when they’d be appropriate, but now we wonder how anyone could live without a pair of blue (or tan) suede ‘shooties’… Turns out they are incredibly versatile. Pair with jeans, leggings, trousers and go with or without stockings in just about any season (rain and snow are admittedly tough). The soft pleats of the 100% chrome free suede lend a sophisticated edge. Click to continue »

Who: Rapanui – Isle of Wight, UK

What: MCS Organic T-shirt

Where: Rapanui – £24.95 (approx. $37USD), in blue or charcoal

Why We Love It: We were psyched to learn about Rapanui, an eco-surf wear company founded in 2008 by brothers Rob and Martin Drake-Knight.  We love their graphic designs, like this MCS t-shirt with a collection of marine animals swimming in unison to create silhouettes of sharks; we love that 50% of the proceeds of the sale of this t-shirt is donated to the Marine Conservation Society; but most of all we applaud the brothers for their transparency and for the role models they have become in transforming the clothing industry and the way that consumers think about clothing.

Click to continue »

Who: TOMS Shoes - Santa Monica, CA

What: Calypso Canvas Wedge

Where: TOMS – $69. With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One.

Why We Love It: We soo wanted to embrace TOMS classic canvas shoes, but it was a style that we just couldn’t pull off (although they are super cute for kids!).  So we were so psyched to see their new summer collection with this timeless summer wedge. Love the stripes, the rounded toe, the shape and the TOMS One for One emblem on the back. Click to continue »

Who: Matt and Nat  – Montreal, Quebec

What: Matt and Nat Yacht Studded Envelope Bag

Where: Eco-Tobi – $205 $153, in black or bone

Why We Love It: We’ve held out long enough on the heavy metal/zipper trend, but after seeing this Matt and Nat bag we are ready to throw in the towel. The studded bag has all the features we’ve be looking for. It’s got the slim profile of a clutch with the volume of a satchel and plenty of pockets for stowing those must-haves. It’s incredibly versatile -  it comes with a long detachable chain link shoulder strap for hands-free ease,  a shorter strap for a more tucked tote and you could go without a strap and you’ve got an oversized clutch. And of course, this bag comes complete with the vegan and style factor we’ve come to expect from Matt and Nat.

Click to continue »

Donna Karen is the latest in a long list of designers to embrace the concept of the convertible dress with her Infinity Dress.  We’ve long been fans of convertible fashion (see: Mohop, Tia Sandals & Lara Miller) – the idea of an item that can be worn more ways is brilliant. In direct contrast to the trendy disposable garments that fill so many store shelves, these items can be worn so many different ways they are truly timeless. We like to think it would make us a little greener too, buying one dress that can be worn six ways might help keep five dresses out of our closet. Not to mention making packing for trips a breeze!

Here are some of our favorite convertible dresses: Click to continue »

Who: Timberland – Stratham, NH

What: Men’s Earthkeepers 2.0 Venetian Loafer

Where: Amazon – $74.95 – $90

Why We Love It: We had to include a pair of classic Timberland’s for the fellas too. These are super comfy, durable, maintenance free and only get better with age. In addition, they are members of an elite group Timberland’s eco-conscious Earthkeeper’s 2.0 collection. The soles contain 42% recycled materials, mainly scrap tires, the leather is from a tannery receiving a silver rating for its industry-leading water, waste and energy management. The lining contains 50% organic cotton. Click to continue »

Who: Timberland – Stratham, NH

What: Earthkeepers Kennebunk Thong

Where: Amazon – $67.90

Why We Love It: This laid back thong takes us back to those magical days of summer spent on the coast of Vactionland (just south of Kennebunk). The thong is east coast staple that never goes out of style – like the pair mom used to have that we coveted, constantly slipping our sandy toes into them, willing them to fit to no avail. But now this timeless summer classic fits just right and it got a whole lot greener.

As with all Timberland shoes, these sandals are built to last, but as a member of Timberland’s Earthkeepers Collection, they are built with the earth in mind. Using more eco-friendly materials like recycled tires and organic cotton and considering the entire lifecycle of a product Timberland strives to create a more earth conscious shoe.  The latest in the Earthkeepers achievements is Earthkeepers 2.0 – shoes that are designed to be taken apart when you’re done with them so their parts can be recycled to make new footwear.

The leather for the Kennebunk Thong is sourced from a Leather Working Group (LWG) Silver-rated tannery awarded for its reduced energy use, reduced waste and quality water treatment. The ring is made of organic raffia and the outsole contains 42% recycled rubber from scrap tires.

Available in Dark Brown, Black or Tan.

Who: Katharine Hamnett for Yoox – Cleveland, OH

What: “Marlene Dietrich” One-Piece Bathing Costume

Where: Yooxygen – $185

Why We Love It: British designer, Katharine Hamnett, designed this special edition collection of beachwear for YOOXYGEN (YOOX’s eco-line).  Her 14 piece vinatage inspired collection features garments made from organic cotton, recycled polyester and renewable fabrics in an effort to raise awareness about the fragility of our oceans and the critical need to protect them. Perfect timing considering the disaster in the gulf with the BP oil spill threatening to destroy entire ecosystems in the Gulf if they haven’t been destroyed already. Click to continue »