What: Pharrell Moncler Vest

Where: Moncler Outlet – $206

Why We Love It: We’ve been fans of Pharrel for over a decade now. He is the quintessential renaissance man, a talented artist, musician, producer, writer, a tireless entrepreneur, a consummate trendsetter, an innovator and now you can add eco-designer to the list.

He owns Bionic Yarn where recycled bottles are transformed into fabric, and his recent outerwear collaboration with renowned activewear brand Moncler has launched green design onto a whole new level. The collection features the classic Moncler style, with puffy down jackets and vests, but with a hip-hop vibe courtesy of Pharrell. A puffy vest in the style of a bullet-proof vest with a decorative lining based on a print by Japanese artist Keita Sugiura made out of Bionic Yarn.

Who:

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.

The brothers are true advocates for change in the clothing industry by adopting a more sustainable, socially and environmentally responsible business model. Each garment has a  traceability record where consumers can follow the entire lifecycle of their garment from the fields to the factory to the shelves.  So you can see that the MCS t-shirt, for example, is made of organic cotton grown on a plantation in India that is then transported by camel to a nearby Fair Wear Foundation audited, wind powered factory where it is made into jersey fabric and embroidered and then trucked off to the U.K. where it is printed with water-based inks and hand-finished.  It’s so rare, and yet so important, to see and understand the road that our clothing travels.

Who:

What: Men’s Short Abington Wool Jacket

Where: Timberland – reg. price $175 & now through September 21st get 40% off with coupon code FFSAVE for a sale price of $105

Why We Love ‘Em: What could be sexier (yah, we grew up in the country…..) or more indicative of fall than the classic flannel hunting jacket? And we are crazy about Timberland’s updated version. Details like the high popped collar, the slim fit, and the bold plaid give it a modern edge without losing that relaxed feel suitable for both the bleachers and the clubs.

This is the ‘boyfriend’ jacket that you never want to give back. Off to see if the small is female-friendly…….

The leather used comes from a tannery that received a silver rating for its reduced energy use, reduced waste, and quality water treatment. And the jacket itself is made of 50% recycled wool (the rest is made from polyester).

See also: Topo Ranch Organic Cotton T-Shirts

Who: Tivi; Denver, CO

What: Men’s Saigon Belt

Where: tiviwear.com, $46. Belt in black or brown leather, buckle available in four additional styles. But hurry, Tivi is transitioning into design consultancy, so supplies are limited.

Why: Fellas, you won’t  need a one-liner with this belt buckle. It ranks right up there with puppies in terms of soliciting oohs and ahhs from the ladies. They’ll be impressed by your masculine industrial side as evidenced by the stainless steel grommets and the cow hide leather, but when you casually mention that the buckle is made from reclaimed ecoresin,* you’ll hook them with your sensitive side.

*It’s probably a good idea when you casually mention ecoresin that you have a clue what it is. Ecoresin is manufactured by 3 form and is traditionally used for architectural applications. The Ecoresin line is  made from a standard minimum of 40% pre-consumer recycled resin. It incorporates natural elements, like the bear grass used in this particular piece, while supporting artisan communities around globe that create the fibers and elements encapsulated by the resin. The Ecoresin line contributes to LEED certifications and is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality certified.

Tivi,was founded by Ryan Wither and Paul Lewin in 2004. With a background in design, they created a well crafted industrial meets nature men’s and women’s accessories. Their mission? To create a line that “stood out from the crowd and made people happy to own.”   Now they are switching gears and returning to interiors and furniture design, looking forward to seeing the products from that venture. In the meantime, scoop up their accessories before they sell out. Ladies, I suggest  the hips clutch , the curves are impeccable and it is, perhaps, one of the most unique, sculputural, lovely clutches I’ve ever seen.

What: Men’s Lowe Windbreaker Jacket

Where: Tobi.com, on sale for $151, (10% off with code ’10GRECHEN’ from greengrechen.com) or opt for the very similar Loomstate for Target Military Jacket, $44.99
Free US Ground Shipping at Tobi!

Why: Loomstate’s Lowe Windbreaker is the perfect boyfriend jacket, with that nice and broken in look that is so boy and the oversized front flap pockets that will hold all the essentials so that you can go out completely hands-free. And by ‘you,’ I mean the lady in your life who bought you this lovely jacket….. Made of 65% certified organic cotton and 35% nylon blend, this windbreaker is the stylish solution to the question of what to wear for that in between, not too warm, not too cold, weather.  The versatile design includes a tuck-away hood that can be rolled out for that not too warm, not too cold rainy weather making it a must-have for spring.

A little side note about tobi.com: Their product shots list the size of the garment the model is wearing in the photo and the model’s height and weight so you can get a better sense of what size you should order. All e-retailers should have this great little tool. Less returns = more green.

See also:
Loomstate Allistar Jacket
Loomstate Coury Zip Hoodie
Loomstate Hawkeye Jacket

What: Men’s Midlayer Sport Shak Merino Wool Top

Where: Ibex, on sale for $89.00, regular $140 (still worth the price)

When: Now, their moving sale won’t last long, get yours while supplies last!

Why: All of Ibex’s apparel is made from the finest wool which also happens to be a renewable resource. How can you even describe wool that is this incredibly silky soft and yetwith thickness, a heft to it.  You just want to wrap yourself in it. Great for layering, lounging, hiking and biking. It is made of merino wool, a naturally wicking fiber, from what has got to be the happiest sheep on the planet. They have free range over the hills and mountains of New Zealand and get regular free crewcuts. Not too shabby.

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Ibex is an incredibly green company (their office in Vermont is powered by methane) and they support all sorts of green initiatives. They are a Zque accredited operation which means that their wool has been deemed “ethical wool” taking into account the product quality, animal health and welfare, environmental, economic and social values.