Vegan – Fabulously Green

Tag archives: Vegan

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

Ask Fab Green: Vegan Clothing

17Jun07

Hi Fab Green,

I found the “Fabulously Green” blog through a search at Google. It was a search result for vegan clothing, so it showed me all postings with the “tabs” vegan. I wanted to ask how sure you are that all these products are really vegan? Do you contact the manufacturers? I like your blog and it seems to be helpful. Thank you for answering my question.

xxx, Jasmin

Dear Jasmin,

Great question. Especially considering how profitable it can be for non-green companies to engage in greenwashing. We check our sources two ways: 1) Contact the company by e-mail or phone with questions regarding how they are assured that something is fair trade, organic, etc. We rely on certifications by recognized national or international organizations–or we won’t make those claims. 2) We read company information on the website and pass on claims that a company puts in writing.
How do we check specifically for vegan-quality items? 1) if the company states it uses vegetal-based dyes; 2) if the company states their products are made from faux leather or suede, or if their products are made from plant-based materials like cottons, bamboo, rubber etc.

The best confirmation would be to visit a manufacturing facility in person which isn’t feasible. We do the best we can, opting to trust the written claims of companies. If anyone has information to the contrary, we always welcome the corrections.

Filed under Uncategorized| Tagged Vegan | No Comments

Guest Blog: Sephora's Green Turn

27Mar07

So what is a girl to do when, as she makes more “green” beauty choices seems to give her fewer options? Slink off to the local co-op to buy patchouli-smelling hemp shampoo and soy chapstick?

Fortunately Sephora now carries a great selection of earth friendly, vegan skincare choices that will help you feel as good on the inside as you look on the outside.

LUXURY ORGANIC SKINCARE
Stella McCartney’s EcoCert Certified CARE Skincare line means you can pamper yourself while respecting the environment. Fabulous benefits include: 100% of active ingredients are certified organic, and free of petrochemicals, silicones, chemical preservatives and genetically modified ingredients. Products are never tested on animals and fragrances come from 100% organic essential oils. CARE offers a selection of gentle cleansers, soothing elixirs or soft and luxurious moisturizers.

Another luxe brand to try is L’Occitaine. The Shea Travel Treasures Set offers a sampling of products and are definitely worth a try. L’Occitaine is known for their essential oils locally derived from the Provence region.

FRUITY + FLORAL SKINCARE
This line of skin products from certified organic Juice Beauty taps the goodness of lemon, grape and apple juices to make you pretty inside and the outside. Like this Green Apple Antioxidant Moisturizer ($43).

For the urbane girl who also loves the Earth, Phyto has long been recognized as a source of active plant botanicals (with rosemary, lemon and cypress oils) to make your hair soft, shiny and nourished. Naturally derived, cruelty-free formulas are packed in 100% recyclable containers.

If you have sensitive skin, Boscia is a must have. The line was created in Japan and is preservative-, fragrance-, and color-free.

Urbanites like myself appreciate the Skyn Iceland line, made to specifically treat stressed skin and replenish moisture, nutrients and oxygen. I was unable to independently verify their animal testing policy so until then, consumers may wish to keep that in mind and inquire at their retailers.

TEEN SKINCARE
For young girls starting a skincare plan try TESS (Teen Everyday Skincare System) at Sephora. Tess was “Created by two caring, creative mothers and their teenage daughters, TESS products are formulated with the purest, most natural fruit and botanical extracts, essential oils, and vitamins to cleanse, tone, moisturize, and protect teenage skin.”

PLANT A LITTLE LOVE
Lastly, to give your healthy glowing skin a pop of color, try Cargo’s Plant Love Botanical Lipstick, exclusively at Sephora. The tube is made of corn (biodegradable) and the outer carton is paper with flower seeds in the packaging itself. Plant the package, water it regularly and get some lovely flowers come spring!

[Note: Thanks to guest blogger Suzi Smith for the fabulous eco-beauty finds!]

Filed under Skincare+Beauty| Tagged Non-toxic, Organic, Vegan | 4 Comments

Fab Friday | Fashion Finds

10Mar07

Sorry for the late posting! Here are some of my favorite high-style, guilt-free fashion finds from around the web this week:

ETHICALLY ENTRENCHED

Multi-Stitch Trench by Myth & Ritual, $290
Sweatshop-free Cotton
Spotted at Beklina

A WARM WEATHER WEDGE

Vulcan Wedge by Mink Shoes, $400
vegan and eco-friendly cork
Spotted at Haute*Nature

SHINY, HAPPY PEOPLE

“People” Barrel Bag by aGainNYC
made with vintage fabrics, suede straps

A SEXY SATCHEL

Doorknocker Vegan Satchel by Chinese Laundry, $63
Spotted at Alternative Outfitters

Enjoy your weekend!

Filed under Bags, Eco Glam, Fashion - Women, Refashion+Refurb, Vintage| Tagged Eco-friendly, Sweatshop-free, Vegan | No Comments

Back from Kauai

07Feb07

Confession: I ran off to Kauai for the last five days and was so rushed that I’m only writing my hiatus entry now. Landed safely, and am sifting through lots of e-mails from you fine folks. I’ll be posting again sometime tomorrow. Missed you guys!

In the meantime, if you happen to be Kauai-bound yourself, I thought I’d send along a few fab green tips:

My first meal of the trip began at the Blossoming Lotus Restaurant, a gourmet vegan restaurant in the heart of Kapa’a (where my family conveniently stayed). You don’t have to be a vegan to appreciate the dishes (I’m not and my mom is an avid meat lover). The spring rolls were heavenly, the chocolate mousse decadent, and the beet borcht soup was a delight. The entrees were gorgeously presented, though some relied too much on salt, some too sweet, but I loved my udon noodle dish. Unfortunately I can’t remember the name!

I fell in love with the daily sunshine markets — and picked out succulent pineapples, roma tomatoes, taro and warabi from the local farmers (who handed me a recipe to try–which I did). Too bad I couldn’t buy a dozen pineapples to take back–no amount of bribery will get you past those agricultural checks.

I wish I had time to hit the Salvation Army Thrift Shop and other consignment boutiques for vintage Hawaiian fabrics, shirts and dresses. My family was determined to see EVERYTHING (which left little time for shopping), so instead I snuck down my street (Kuhio Hwy) to Vicky’s Fabrics and bought several yards of vintage-inspired prints designed by local artists and unavailable anywhere else. Thrilled! Now I just have to break out the new sewing machine I bought and learn how to thread the needle…

Photo Credit: How adorable is this Hula girl? Courtesy of Sneaky Tiki Boutique, an emerging vintage style and designer jewelry online shop.

Filed under Budget Fashion, Fashion - Men, Fashion - Women, Sales+Shopping, Vintage| Tagged Vegan | No Comments

Etsy Find: Plantable Greeting Cards

23Jan07

Here’s a great way to spread a little love this Valentine’s season: Plantable Greeting Cards from round robin press. I discovered them on Etsy after buying my refashioned poker chip necklace from stinkycretingirl (beautiful jewelry, the name however…).

Wildflower seeds have been embedded in organic cotton paper and will sprout when planted. If I had a yard I’d test it out. Anyone out there game to try?

And the love birds? They’re letterpressed using soy-based ink, and enveloped in a 100% recycled Kraft envelope.

Love Birds, roundrobinpress, $6 on etsy. A variety pack of four is available for $20.

Filed under Gifts+Gifting, Indie, Lifestyle Tips, Recycled, Stationery+Cards| Tagged Eco-friendly, Etsy, greeting cards, Indie, plantable, Recyclable, Recycled, roundrobinpress, Stationery+Cards, Valentine's Day, Vegan | No Comments

Green Gifting.4 For the Body and Soul

08Dec06

Here are a few great gifts for those on your list who deserve a little extra pampering this holiday season. Maybe you too! All the products are made of organic goodness, to help you feel pampered inside and out. Enjoy!

London Lemon Curd Scroll Soap handmade by You Stink. Consider Sandra a soap artiste. She’s incredibly passionate about soapmaking, and her limited edition soaps are all vegan and full of creamy, sensuous ingredients. Or try some of other indelible delights like spicy Pumpkin Cheesecake with Shea Butter, Apple Orchard, Peppermint Stick or Hot Apple Pie. Perfect for the fall/winter season.

Petula Bath Gift Set available at Zanisa
Skip the wrapping paper and opt for a beautifully keepsake gift box filled with spa goodies. Two long-lasting, triple milled, all natural bars of Savon d’Amande soap made with fresh goat’s milk, natural honey, wild almonds and oats to gently cleanse and replenish the skin. For longer relaxing soaks there is an organza bag filled with almond bath salts designed to detoxify and soften the skin. Yum!

For your favorite guy: Cedarwood Bamboo Soap at Zanisa.
Bamboo charcoal apparently helps stimulate blood flow. Good for sensitive skin with a subtle cedarwood scent. Arrives nestled in a bamboo soap dish tied with raffia — packaging that doubles as a present.

Sweet Heat Chipotle Truffles available at Organic Bouquet.
The Aztecs were the first to combine chili and chocolate for a sweet heat they believed bestowed them with godlike wisdom. Each box contains six handmade chipotle chili truffles for a smoky warm and sweet sensation and six black pepper truffles for an earthy-peppery taste treat. It’s a gift with a kick for the chocolate connoisseur who likes it hot—spicy hot that is.

Gerbera Daisies Bouquet from Organic Bouquet
The Gerbera Daisy is a plant that cares. Why? They actually help to improve indoor air quality naturally. And this arrangement is organically grown to boot. Brings color and cheer during the grey snowy season.

Filed under Gifts+Gifting, Gourmet, Handmade, Skincare+Beauty| Tagged Eco-friendly, Handmade, Organic, Vegan | No Comments

Vegan Glamour: Charmone Shoes

19Oct06

Thanks to Kate McGregor of Kaight for introducing us to this newly launched line of shoes by Charmone. The sculptural wedges and platform shoes designed in menswear tweeds are some of my favorites for adding some office chic:

The Fab Factor: According to their website the shoes are vegan and PVC free. They use instead high-quality microfiber suedes, and water-based glues which tread lighter on the planet and are healthier for people. Their shoes are made in Europe and they’ve incorporated recycled materials into their production process, and donate 5% of their profits to charities like Women for Women International, a charity that provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources they need to move from poverty and crisis to stability and self-sufficiency.

Charmone shoes are currently available in U.S. and Canadian retailers including Kate’s NY-based Kaight boutique on Orchard Street. Find your nearest one here.

Thanks Kate!

Filed under Couture Style, Fashion - Women, Refashion+Refurb| Tagged Charmone, Eco-friendly, green style, kaight, Non-toxic, shopping, Vegan, Vegan Shoes | No Comments

Moo Shoes: Vegan Chic

05Sep06

Vegan chic? Sounds like a misnomer but guess again. Enter NYC-based Moo Shoes, an online boutique that offers a broad range of cruelty-free, fashion-forward shoes, belts, clothing. I discovered them after a two-year search for stylin’ faux leather boots and fell in love instead with a few of their retro-inspired pumps and retro-inspired sneakers. Sisters Erica and Sara Kubersky founded the business in 2001, where their first on-the-ground boutique was ironically located in a former butcher shop! They’ve since moved to a spot in lower East Manhattan, but will ship products virtually anywhere by UPS. Lots available for guys and dolls alike at surpringly affordable prices.

Estrella pump by Novacas, shown in brown

Libby pump by Novacas, shown in brown

FOR THE GUYS:

Men’s Bonham Sneaker by Macbeth

Men’s HiTop Sneaker, a sweatshop free alternative on a classic.

All available at Mooshoes.

Filed under Eco Glam, Fashion - Men, Fashion - Women, Shoes| Tagged cruelty-free clothing, Eco-friendly, Moo Shoes, Vegan, Vegan Shoes | No Comments

A Little Pillow Happy

31Aug06

Animal prints are a classic in interior design–here’s a pillow that delivers without the guilt. Handmade using vegetal dyed wools and cottons, this and other cushion covers by British boutique Eco Modern are beautiful, eco-friendly and affordable (£35.00-£45.00).

Burst Pillow