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.

What: Day Bed One

Where: Another Country – $1585-$2540

Why We Love It: As you know, we are always on the lookout for versatile designs, practical designs that can be used in more ways than one. This multi-functional day bed from the master craftsmen at Another Country works as a bed, a bench, a sofa and a coffee table. Great for small spaces than demand flexibility. Add simple lines, sustainable materials, quality design and classic herringbone and you’ve got us hooked and this day bed certainly hooked us. It’s perfect for lounging, coffee-ing and supporting guests so intoxicated by your hospitality, they choose to stay the night.

Rooted in traditional furniture design, but with a modern interpretation, Another Country’s products are built to last. They use high quality materials like solid FSC-Certified European oak finished with an eco-friendly natural wax oil makes and handcraft each piece in their workshop in Dorset. Care is taken in the design and construction phase to minimize material and time waste and most pieces pack flat to curb transport costs.

The cushy mattress is made of quality materials by the folks at Naturalmat. It features a certified organic latex core (from rubber trees) wrapped in certified organic coir (coconut fibre)

 and upholstered in Bute fabric made from locally sourced organic lambswool.

Here are some of our favorite convertible dresses:

Donna Karen – The Infinity Dress in refined matte jersey – transforms easily from a capsleeve dress with a twist to a one shoulder dress to a drape halter dress to a crossed halter dress to a strapless dress to cap sleeve dress. Bloomingdale’s – $995.

Butter by Nadia – an entire collection of convertible dresses in stripes and solids, knee length and floor length and they’ve just added a suite of convertible jumpsuits (soo wish we could pull those off!).  The fabric suits the name, buttery…  Average price $250 & up.

Lara Miller – one of the first to really embrace the concept of convertible clothing, she’s made convertible dresses, convertible tops, convertible sweaters and hers are made with eco-friendly fabrics. Donna Dress pictured – $275

Chadwick’s – Looking for a more affordable convertible dress? Chadwick’s has a convertible dress for $49.99 (click to buy) that can be worn four ways, even as a skirt. And for those fearless fashionistas they’ve got a chic convertible jumpsuit for $59.99 (click to buy)

Who:

What: Fundy Play Table

Where: Generate – $399

Why We Love It: Intended as a play table for kids, we actually like the idea of this multi-functional kids table as a modern coffee table. You’ve got the drawers for storing remote controls and writing utensils. You’ve got the flip top lid concealing ample storage perfect for tucking away magazines, newspapers, games, toys or whatever else you’d like to keep stowed away. And the durable top is available dry-erase finish or a chalkboard finish so you can entertain the little ones with a built in drawing board, jotting notes, keep score,  and keep an eye on your ‘to-do’ list.

And as with all Argington furniture, its designed with the needs of kids and the environment in mind. It has safety features like slow closing hinges and locking castors so it can be easily moved and locked into place. The stainless steel legs come in two different heights (12.5″ and 18″) to suit little and big kids. The unit itself is made from renewable and sustainably harvested solid birch wood and low VOC birch plywood that is FSC certified. The finishes, glues, and stains and finishes are HAP free, 100% non-toxic, low VOC and durable, so they’ll survive the toughest play.

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What: Oeuf Sparrow Crib

Where: babyearth.com $690 & $185 for the conversion kit. See also Oeuf Toddler Bed – $519

Why We Love It: We’ve long admired the Oeuf Crib. The clean lines, minimalist profile and slightly flared legs are just right for the eco-savvy parent looking for something a little less ordinary for their tots room.

With solid construction and subtle color, the Sparrow Crib is expertly crafted in Europe from solid birch and finished with non-toxic water-based finishes. It’s super easy to assemble and can be converted from a 3-position crib to a toddler’s bed (as pictured) as your baby grows. It fits a standard size crib mattress and meets or exceeds all US and Canadian safety standards.

Oeuf takes every effort to ensure that their products are manufactured ethically and with environmental sensitivity. The waste wood generated from the manufacturing process are collected and made it to briquettes which are used to heat the factory.

Oeuf’s mission is to make good design available to as many people as possible while having a minimum impact on the environment. We carefully select materials and manufacturers based on what feels right, no by what will reap the widest margins.

- Sophie Demerge, co-founder of Oeuf

Available in grey, white or natural.

Free Shipping Everyday – Visit babyearth.com today for innovative products and free shipping with minimum purchase.

What: Sundress Silk/Cotton

Where: Mel en Stel – $300 SOLD OUT

Why We Love ‘Em: The last 10 days of blah rain have really got us pining for spring – pining for color, single layers,strappy sandals and this floaty spring dress from Mel en Stel. It takes the hippie out of tie dye and transforms it into an elegant and rich fabric – it almost looks more like a block print than a tie dye. Love the contrast of the blue and white tie dye with the bold red straps.

Originally from Antwerp, Belgium, designer Ilse Eriksson has a way of designing uniquely tailored pieces that flatter a woman’s body and that are completely timeless, so again, they’ll last more than one season. Wear it slinky and long at the start of the party and then tuck the skirt under for a voluminous mini for when the dancing starts.  The self tying waist gives just the right cinch to flatter your mid section. Short or long, this dress has great ‘flounce’ and is great for formal or casual events.

What: Snap Neck Warmer

Where: N:F:P – $55

Why We Love ‘Em: The worst of the winter is behind us (hopefully), and yet we can’t help but pine for this versatile scarf from N:F:P. Love the wear-many-ways approach to the design. This snappy scarf can be worn buttoned up as a turtleneck, draped as a cowl neck, snapped on the sides for a chic scarf or as a neck warmer by pulling the ends through the slit on the side. Each scarf is handknit from your choice of 100% merino wool or bamboo.

Designer Gail Travis escaped the confines of the mainstream fashion world to create a line that was her uniquely her own and that transcends trends. She is inspired by the concepts of “transition, transformation and evolution” as is evident by her designs. Her “modular designs” can be linked layered, shifted, scrunched and snapped together in multiple ways and with uniform snaps throughout the collection, each piece can be linked together to other pieces in the collection.  Fun way to create your own personal look.

So for us, this is what really makes her garments sustainable – staying power. They can be worn in many different ways and it can be reinvented to stay current, so they won’t be discarded after a single season. Available in Deep Red, Olive, Charcoal Mleange and Black.

You can check out the fall collection at the Roger Smith Hotel Pop Up Shop at 501 Lexington Avenue (B/W 47th & 48th Streets). Open 2/26-3/10 from 10AM to 8PM.

What: Convertible Bed

Where: Mon Petit Bijou – $1650 (Special Order), available in white, espresso and natural

Why: This is no ordinary crib – it’s kind of like the Rolls Royce of cribs, no the Tesla of cribs… and equally as hard to track down. Designer Stig Leander Nielsen literally and figuratively thought outside of the box by dissolving the hard angles and corners of traditional cribs and creating a cozy little oval nest. The smooth moulded European beech bent to create the soft sloping curves and the rounded ends -  perfect for curling up in for a long hard day of play…

The convertible bed transitions beautifully (and easily) through five stages and the package includes all the parts necessary for the two crib options raised or lowered, two bed options for toddlers with or without bars and top bed-ends, and an extended junior size bed suitable for children up to 8 years old. Kids will love the sense of security that comes from having a bed that grows with them (imagine if your favorite jeans grew with you……) and that is just their size.  Great for a kids room where often the play room and the bedroom are one in the same giving them more space for play and would be great paired with the space saving Bo Design Diaper Station.

The mattress has pocket springs to improve comfort and ventilation. The mattress cover is made of Eco-Tex 100 cotton (or Øko-Tex 100, the world’s definitive ecological certification process, which tests fibers, fabrics and components to ensure that each product is healthy for you, healthy for those who produce it and healthy for the environment.). The only downside we can see is finding sheets for the oval mattress. You’ll either have to pick up sewing or purchase compatible sets from Leander.

Leander products are pretty hard to find in the states, took us a while to track this one down. A similar option but without the extent of convertible options is the Pali Sofia Crib.

Who:

What: Varia Ecoresin Organics Collection

Where: 3form; contact for pricing (our 4×8 panel was in the ballpark of $900, but if you have a small project or want a more economical option consider purchasing a piece from their reclaimed collection where you can find some great deals.)

Why We Love ‘Em: We have long been fans of this incredibly cool, dynamic and eco-friendly material (still dreaming of a kitchen back splash with the Seaweed panel…). We have seen 3form panels used for doors, hotel reception desks, light fixtures, light walls and all sorts of architectural installations.  This versatile material is completely customizable, you can add color and layers of texture and finishes to come up with a final result that suits your project.

The ecoresin is composed of a minimum of 40% pre-consumer recycled content, is PVC-free,  is GreenGuard certified for indoor air quality and qualifies for LEED credits.  The Organics line uses natural materials such as thinly sliced bamboo, banana fibers, bear grass, hand-woven sisal and hand-dyed silk fibers which are then encapsulated in the ecoresin infusing color,  texture. For the Full Circle Collection, 3form collaborated with artisans from Africa to Nepal creating a sustainable market for their traditional  crafts and skills.  One of our favorite patterns, Unravel, was inspired by a crocheted lace handmade by a group of women in West Africa adapted for a modern application.

They continue to push the envelope in use of reclaimed and upcycled materials in their products and with the promotion of the reclaim program. Panels are sent out with a ‘end of life’ kit, so when it comes time to retire your panels, you simply send them back to 3form where they’ll be reused or recycled. 3form has made a incredible commitment to the environment and have pledged to completely ‘green’ their business on their Path to Zero. Their goals?

• We will stop sending manufacturing waste to landfill in 2009.
• We will be carbon neutral by 2017.
• We will continue to increase the recycled content in our products.

Within the first 18 months of their Path to Zero launch, they diverted 90% of their production waste from landfills, they’ve begun recycling 7 new waste materials and have introduced a product 100% post-consumer recycled content product.

Who:

What: Tie Oxford Dress

Where: Stewart + Brown – $208, available in in black/sand plaid & blue/razz plaid

Why We Love ‘Em: We saw this Stewart + Brown dress while out in Portland, Oregon, at one of our new favorite boutiques – Tumbleweed. From the hanger we had low expectations about the fit, but we couldn’t resist the uber soft fabric and subtle plaid that just screams fall. And we were pleasantly surprised, this is one of the best fitting shirt dresses we’ve tried – don’t be deterred by the S+B model,  it looks much better on regular people!

It’s an incredibly versatile dress with a chic casual vibe. Perfect paired with colored tights and knee high boots or flats or with the tunic look back in style, layered over jeans.  Lots of great little details, like the asymmetrical neckline with pleats on one side and not the other, a soft tie waist that you can align to suit and buttons so you can opt for sleeves rolled up or down…

Made in the USA using 100% organic cotton. For more on Stewart+Brown, Click Here.