Who: Lolë – Montreal, Canada

What: Syrah Tunic

Where: Lolë – $70

Why We Love ‘Em: Move over Lulu, there’s a new girl in town–Lolë, a ‘gal’ who shares our passion for nature and an active lifestyle and, in 2002, created a fashion label to follow suit. So it’s about time we met starting with the Syrah Tunic.

Perfect for hopping from bike to brunch to the game or for tossing in a suitcase for a last minute trip. It’s got a flattering shape–hello ruching and cinched waist–and comes complete with a neon reflector to help keep you safe while on the road. Plus, it’s made from a sport-friendly blend of blend of organic cotton, Tencel™ and elastane that’s naturally anti-bacterial, odor inhibiting, and naturally wicking so you’ll look and feel fresh no matter where the day takes you.

Who: Vaute Couture – New York, NY

What: Lincoln Jacket

Where: Vaute Couture – $560.00 (special introductory price: $504.00)

Why We Love It: So it got cold, real cold, and we couldn’t stop thinking about wrapping ourselves up in a sleeping bag to brave the chill. Vaute Couture’s Lincoln Jacket achieves the feeling of being cloaked in a snuggly sleeping bag without looking like one. Click to continue »

Who: Patagonia – Ventura, CA

What: Women’s Kamala Skirt

Where: Altrec.com – $47.19 – $59.00 (free shipping)

Why We Love It: You know how we love a 2-in-1 piece! This versatile garment transforms from a long flowy skirt into a knee-length halter dress and it’s wrinkle-free which makes it an ideal, care-free piece for summer vacations. Love the purple stripes, but this breezy skirt is also available in black, smoke, white stripes, and two floral prints.

It is made of a blend of 55% organic cotton and 45% Tencel® and can be ecycled through Patagonia’s Common Threads Recycling Program. Tencel is an environmentally friendly cellulose based fiber that has natural wicking properties, but because it needs to be mechanically broken down, yields a lower quality fabrics when recycled. Take a look at Patagonia’s Footprint Chronicles for more information on the eco-footprint of this product from waste generated to distance traveled to CO2 emitted. Pretty interesting.

Who: People Tree – London, UK

What: Kira Pod Dress

Where: People Tree – £75.00

Why We Love It: Love the standout print on this dress – nothing like it out there. And it’s got a sweet shape  with pleating at the neckline and sleeves and a slightly tulip-shaped mid that would also look great with a belt. And one of a our favorite features – pockets. Nothing makes us happier than skirts and dresses with hidden pockets!

The print is hand block printed in Bangladesh by the Kumudini Welfare Trust, an organization that supports disadvantaged women by providing viable, Fair Trade employment. They handcraft extraordinary garments using traditional craft skills like hand embroidery and hand block printing. Click to continue »

Who: Icebreaker – New Zealand

What: Icebreaker Igloo Zip Jacket

Where: Altrec Outdoors – $175.00 $113.89 in black, $99.69 in purple.

Why We Love It: This jacket has become a staple in our wardrobe. It is the perfect jacket for a New England winter, particularly if you are like us and spend 2 hours a day in an ice rink. It’s been a life saver this winter providing warmth and style all in one slim fitting eco-package

In winter, we wear ours as a base layer with a jacket on over it, but it’s a perfect option for outer wear in the spring. It’s a bit heavier than a North Face fleece because of the tight weave of the superfine merino wool (from free range sheep in New Zealand). The natural fibre ‘breaths’ naturally wicking moisture away so you feel warmer. The design on the jacket is incredibly well thought out, little things like curved textured zippers provide better functionality and an overall high performance design.

Icebreaker runs a green manufacturing process minimizing waste, energy use and packaging along the way. Each garment comes with a unique BaaCode, so you can trace where the fibres came from. The plastic bag that they ship their products in is made of a recycled plastic that contains a compound that assists in oxo-biodegradation so it will breakdown faster if it ends up in a landfill instead of a recycling facility.

Go Green and Save at Altrec Outdoors

Who: Bhalo – Australia

What: Gather Round Top

Where: Bhalo – $135, in olive/violet or ivory/lavender

Why We Love It: We are totally entranced by the colors, cut  and print of this 100% Rajshahi Silk top. The billowy, ruched sleeves and the wide boatneck are equally refined and relaxed. The blown-up graphic pattern takes inspiration from the woven bamboo walls of traditional low-cost  homes in rural Bangladesh emoting a cool, yet moden ethnic vibe.

Not only does Bhalo support Bangladesh culture in design, but also in practice. Their collection of cotton dresses, silk tops, and accessories are hand-loomed and hand-embroidered by  Thanapara Swallows, a Fair Trade organization that provides work for over 200 disadvantaged women in rural Bangladesh, providing a viable alternative to inhumane garment factories and empowering women with the opportunity to sell their wares at prices that afford them education, childcare, and healthcare. The profits help cover the costs of the village school for 300 children.

fair trade

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: 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 »

Who: The Hemma Collection – New York, NY

What: Gold Coast Corset

Where: Hemma – $315 in green or purple

Why We Love It: When friends Edna Bisson and Cindy Gaston studied abroad in Ghana, they fell in love with the traditional Kente fabrics that have been handwoven by artisans since the 17th  century and worn by Ghanaian nobility. They were inspired by the vibrant colors, rich textures and intricate patterns and completely reinvented them creating a modern and sophisticated limited edition collection (only making 300 pieces of each style and color in the collection). Click to continue »

Who: naturevsfuture – Brooklyn, NY

What: Classic Cut-Out Dress w/Obi Belt

Where: naturevsvfuture – $278 in plum or indigo & now through June 3oth get 30% off with coupon code NVF/JUNE/30 (If you are in the NYC area you can check the collection out live & shop styles at 30-40% off at Mizu. Click for details.) Click to continue »