A girl can never have too many summer dresses – they’re chic, easy to throw on in no time, and help you beat the heat. EcoSkin has helped add ‘smart’ to the list of the benefits of wearing dresses – designer Sandy Skinner crafts garments using Tencel and bamboo, both sustainable. EcoSkin’s is Tencel is 100% organic and biodegradable, extracted from wood pulp taken from tree farms that only practice sustainability. The brand’s bamboo is 100% naturally grown, requiring no pesticides, insecticides or fertilizers.

Skinner names the Italian Riviera and the women who work and play there as her influences, which explains the elegant drapery and high design aesthetic of each dress. The Brasenia dress, with its asymmetrical strap and bubble hem, gives off a playful, flirtatious vibe that’s perfect for summer barbecues and rooftop shindigs. Plus, it pairs well with both heels and flats, so you can take it with you to the beach or dress it up for a night on the town. Click here to read more

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Daily Greenz #145

New eco-designer Kate D’Arcy knows the way into a woman’s heart is through her wardrobe – or more specifically, through beautifully designed, absolutely comfortable clothing.  Her company Toggery uses 100% organic cotton and bamboo fibers for all her pieces and combines a classic design with vibrant colors, which are made from low-impact reactive dyes that use less energy and chemicals than natural or vegetable dyes.  Whether dressed up or dressed down, her collection of breathable, stretchy shirts, dresses, and leggings exudes a sense of luxury without the discomfort.  Best of all, it’s all produced locally in Pennsylvania by a certified socially compliant apparel manufacturer.  Toggery makes sustainable fashion available to budget-conscious consumers for $29 – $115 – a very reasonable price for these classic pieces.  View the summer collection at www.shopmodify.com or find a local retailer near you at www.toggerycollection.com.

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Daily Greenz #134

Fashion giant Banana Republic has finally gone green.  They’re launching their eco-collection of 50 stylish pieces to coincide with Earth Day and will be donating 1% of all in-store sales from April 22nd to 27th to Trust for Public Lands.  Their eco-pieces, which are identified by a green elephant icon, are made from a mix of sustainable materials, such as bamboo, organic cotton, and linen.  They’re also making efforts to green all their packaging by using recycled material whenever possible (their shoe boxes and price tags contain at least 50% recycled material) and switching store lighting to energy-efficient halogen bulbs to reduce carbon emissions.

They’re not stopping there.  Having partnered up with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program, they’re serious about doing their part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 11% by the end of the year.  In addition to the lighting switch, they’re also incorporating temperature control and other energy-saving practices in their stores – changes which have already resulted in an overall energy savings of 41% this year.  Their stores are getting an attractive makeover, too, with floors made of certified wood from sustainable forests and restroom tiles made of 15% recycled material.

So the next time you see a Banana Republic billboard, don’t turn your nose up at it.  They’re also being recycled and re-used as roofing material for homes.  While they still have a ways to go before they can be considered bona fide green, we still want to tip our hats to them for taking a step in the right direction.  Check out their new collection at www.bananarepublic.com.

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Daily Greenz #104

The Ramona Coat, Delano Collection’s debut piece in sustainable apparel, is drawing lots of attention these days.  Its princess-cut design, made of 100% organic wool and lined with bamboo fabric, is a perfect synchronization of style and sustainability that has fashion tongues wagging.  We love the style, but we also love the fact that bamboo has great environmental benefits, such as its ability to grow quickly during peak season (thereby making it easy to replace resources) and its ability to clean the soil and air around it.

Delano is committed to creating sustainable luxury brands, so they design and manufacture all their fabrics and apparel in New York City and Philadelphia.  Although winter may be winding down, we think the Ramona Coat’s classic style will stick around for another season or two.  Make a statement for $425 at www.delanocollection.com.

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