Indie – Fabulously Green

Category archives: Indie

FASHION | Form & Fauna's Racy Shoes

27Feb08

For three years, I’ve patiently hunted for a pair of sexy, sustainable knee-high boots and it’s worth the wait. Form & Fauna’s sporty, sexy look speaks to my inner-tomboy. Sleek racing stripes are a signature in this freshman collection of flats, boots and pumps. Even though they hail from the Fall 2007 collection — they are perfectly wearable for spring. Skinny Bitches and compassionate fashionistas take note: Form & Fauna just may become the “It” label to wear.

Fabulousness Kicked Up a Notch

Inside and out they’re made sans leather, opting instead for high quality Italian-made synthetics. Heels are crafted from bamboo or renewable plywood, while the insoles and cushions are crafted from recycled yoga mats (can you say Ohm?).

Bay Bertea, the designer behind the Form & Fauna label, found the inspiration for her collection from her days as a yoga instructor. Imagine how comfy it must feel to step out (and onto) a yoga mat every day.

Form & Fauna shoes are good for your health. Fume-free with the help of biodegradable materials, and non-toxic, water-based glues and dyes. They’re made in the good, old, USA (how many things can you say that about these days).

Good karma and style? A great way to kick your fabulousness up a notch.

Check out the Form & Fauna website for stockists and stay tuned to Fabulously Green for sneak peeks into the Spring ‘08 Collection.

Filed under Eco Glam, Fashion - Women, Indie, Refashion+Refurb, Shoes, Urban Style, Vintage| Tagged Biodegradable, cruelty-free shoes, Eco-friendly, Form & Fauna, Indie, Non-toxic, Skinny Bitch, Sweatshop-free, Vegan, vegan fashion | No Comments

SHOPPING | Transportation Doggie Style

24Feb08

FLASHBACK | Project Runway, Season 3 — The Dog Challenge. Heidi Klum tells the show’s designers they will be designing for one of fashion’s hottest accessories. The designers (and viewers like me) try to predict “said accessory,” but it’s not until we see the inimitable Tim Gunn walking awkwardly over a knoll in Central Park with thirteen little dogs in tow that we suddenly get it.

Call it Paris Hilton’s contribution to the world: doggie chic.

I don’t own a dog, but I love animals, dogs especially. I get that owners love and spoil their dogs and style mavens in particular would like to their puppies to show a little style. So you might as well be a smart puppy and choose something more fashion conscious like the doggie sac by the mother/daughter design team Rebe, made predominantly from vintage fabrics and wire mesh.

Okay, these pups aren’t real but you get the concept. We love the fact that Rebe gives cast-off fabrics a second shot at love.

Doggie Sacs are available directly through the Rebe website for $198.

Filed under Bags, Eco Glam, Indie, Refashion+Refurb, Vintage| Tagged doggie sac, Indie, indie fashion, pet style, Rebe | No Comments

Taking Green to the Edge: Nicole Bridger

16Nov07

You’d expect a designer who once interned for Vivienne Westwood to veer towards the edgier side of fashion. Vancouver-based designer Nicole Bridger certainly does. But she’s striving to push fashion even further.

Described by TheITLists as “edgy eco,” Nicole Bridger’s line has made a splash at B.C.’s Fashion Week. Her design philosophy is simple and karmic:

“Our philosophy is to do what’s right. We create designer clothing and the socially conscious thing is just how we think everyone should be living his or her lives. We use sustainable fabrics and strive to have a positive relationship with everyone who works to create our clothing. You can trust that we are doing whatever we can to make our garments and company as eco as we can, and are always looking for ways to do it better next season.”

Launching your own fashion label is challenging enough. Making it fabulously green AND fresh enough for Paris, New York (or Vancouver) is even tougher. Fortunately for Bridger, she’s done it before: co-creating the urban, organic brand oqoqo with lululemon’s founder Chip Wilson.

The Nicole Bridger line is currently available in a handful of boutiques in Canada, New York and Portland. Visit her website for a list of stores.

Filed under Fashion - Women, Indie, Urban Style| Tagged Eco-friendly, Indie, indie fashion, Nicole Bridger | No Comments

Hot Site: Chartreuse Chic for fashion "flips"

07Nov07

Bravo to Chartreuse Chic for doing what Fab Green has only dreamed about: showing style-conscious gals how to flip runway looks into chic “green” confections. Some of her flips are quite ingenious like the inspired, alternatives to Zac Posen, Prouenza Schouler, and Vera Wang seen below. There’s even an occasional style for the straight guy with a queer eye.

RUNWAY REDUX BY CHARTREUSE CHIC:

1. Instead of Vera Wang >> Why not this?

What makes it fabulous: the Kimber Dress by Perfectly Imperfect is fabricated (according to the designer’s website) from organic cotton, applies low impact manufacturing techniques and makes their apparel locally in Los Angeles. I may just give them a ring to verify this week and find out more. Will report back!

2. Instead of Prouenza Schouler >> Why not this?

What makes it fabulous: this Skyline Sweater, like other pieces by Armour Sans Anguish is a one-of-a-kind garment designed from recycled knits, fabrics and notions, and handmade locally by the designers themselves.

3. Instead of Zac Posen >> Why not this?

What Makes it Fabulous: A more frothy, layered piece from Armour Sans Anguish.made from refashioned fabrics and trims.

One thought: We wish Chartreuse Chic would offer explanation as to what makes these conversions green or ethical. Not all designers featured are green for the same reasons, and some flips fall more into ethical or indie fashion. Overall, we love the site. For more flips like these visit Chartreuse Chic.

Filed under Couture Style, Eco Glam, Fashion - Women, Indie, Sales+Shopping| Tagged Armour Sans Anguish, Chartreuse Chic, Eco-friendly, fashion+style, green fashion, Indie, Perfectly Imperfect, proenza schuler, runway, vera wang, Zac Posen | 4 Comments

Ask Fab Green: Decorative Bowls

27Jul07

Hi Fab Green,
I’ve been looking for little baskets made of some kind of re-used plastic, have a weave-like look and available in lots of colors. Have you heard of anything like this? Please let me know where to find them if you have. Thanks, Liane

Dear Liane,

Thanks for writing! Recycled plastic is becoming a more popular material for a host of things from baskets and bowls to handbags. I personally lean towards contemporary style pieces by designers like Yaron Elyasi. Made from melted strings of plastic and recycled plastic, these Kacoon bowls are swirled in to existence–in the expressionist spirit of say, a Jackson Pollack.
I can’t say that melting plastic doesn’t pose its own environmental pollutants–any chemists out there know?

No two Kacoon bowls are the same. They are available in seven colors at an affordable price ($42). You can find the Kacoon here.

Filed under Budget Decor, Furnishings, Handmade, Indie, Interior Design, Refashion+Refurb| Tagged bowls, chic, design+architecture, Eco-friendly, Handmade, Indie, Interior Design, modern style, Recycled, shopping, sustainable style, Tabletop | No Comments

Boho Chic | Bags by Piece Lily

05May07

These gorgeous boho chic purses and clutches by Piece Lilly are crafted from recycled and vintage fabrics. Designer Jennifer Farrington and business partner April Kline launched the label in 2004. They source fine fabrics from estate sales, flea markets and thrift shops and piece together ingenious pattern-on-pattern styles. Available at Piece Lilly’s Etsy Shop.

Filed under Bags, Fashion - Women, Handmade, Indie, Refashion+Refurb, Vintage| Tagged Eco-friendly, Handmade, Indie | No Comments

Arre: Stretching the Boundaries of Fashion

05Apr07

I am enthralled by these gossamer pieces of jewelry designed by Arre. Crafted from of all things–rubber bands. Whoever would have imagined that rubber bands could appear so delicate?

Arre’s debut Collection of necklaces, bracelets and earrings is based on the concept of notions stores, and the transformation of everyday objects into fun, wearable works of art. Rubber is considered a renewable resource, since it is a sap that is extracted from living trees. Available in five colors.

Arre is a Mexico City-based design workshop founded by long time friends Erendira Garnica and Regina Santos-Coy. Their pieces are surprisingly affordable (between $35-$65) and are available at various e-boutiques like stars+infinite darkness.

Filed under Budget Fashion, Handmade, Indie, Jewelry| Tagged Handmade, Indie, Reusable | No Comments

Newbies from Illu-Stration

03Apr07

Mary-Ann Williams of Illu Stration just sent over some pictures of beautiful light furnishings for spring. Amazing. Her felted rugs blew me away last year, and she continues to push her felting methods to new heights. Thanks Mary-Ann!

01 ORIGAMI
Pendant lamp, floor lamp, lampshade: felt 100% pure new wool

02-03 PLISSEE un-dyed felt
Pendant lamp; lampshade: felt 100% pure new wool

04-05 CAPPELLETTI
Lightchain, 3 m, available with US plug; felt 100% pure new wool.

These pieces are available in multiple colors. Handcrafted in Germany, these wool felt furnishings are biodegradable, naturally fire-resistant and recyclable. The felt is Wool Mark labeled, and dyes are chemical-free.

View the whole collection here. In Europe you can buy directly through Mary-Ann. Some of her pieces are also available through Branch Home.

Filed under Handmade, Indie, Interior Design, Lighting| Tagged Biodegradable, Eco-friendly, Handmade, Indie | No Comments

Fab Friday | Fashion Finds

23Mar07

TGIF…Here are some fabulous fashion finds to cap off your week…

LACE EMBRACED

Daphne Dress by Pearl Lowe, RRP £695.00
Made with vintage lace, handmade in the UK
Spotted at ecobtq

A HOT LITTLE DISH

Necklace by The Broken Plate
Made from recycled dishware
Spotted at Modish

ARMED & FABULOUS

Lady Olive Bag by jack&marjorie
Refashioned from military surplus materials and vintage brocade
Spotted at StyleHive

Filed under Bags, Fashion - Women, Indie, Jewelry, Refashion+Refurb, Vintage| Tagged Eco-friendly, Indie | 2 Comments

Studio Sale at Lotta Jansdotter

21Mar07

Fresh from the Fab Green inbox: one of my favorite designers, Lotta Jansdotter, is spring cleaning and we’re invited! She’s launching a sample sale on March 25 at her Brooklyn studio. What you’ll find: accessories for the home from past seasons, samples, and one-of-a-kind items up to 60% off.

Lotta Jansdotter’s Studio Sale:
Sunday March 25th
from 12 – 4pm
at 75c Hoyt Street
(between State & Atlantic Ave)
Brooklyn NY 11201
ph: 718-596-2055

Non-New Yorkers (self included) can find some great deals on select items online. I went ahead and bought a button tote (lower left picture) to serve as a sweet shopping bag. Made from eco-friendly 100% linen.

Filed under Bags, Budget Decor, Budget Fashion, Furnishings, Gifts+Gifting, Indie, Interior Design, Sales+Shopping| Tagged Eco-friendly, Indie, Linens | No Comments

Fabulously Green