Beat the Heat With DIY Ice-Cube Bling You Can Make in 5 Minutes

by Jasmin Malik Chua, 09/02/10

DIY tutorials, 01Mathery, eco-friendly jewelry, eco-fashion, sustainable fashion, green fashion, sustainable style

Summer swelter cramping your style? Don’t sweat it. Design duo 01Mathery has devised a do-it-yourself solution that even the most craft-challenged of folks will be able to partake. Simply dip a necklace chain, bracelet, or even piece of string into an ice-cube tray, cover with water, and freeze. Popped out of their molds, the ice-cube gems look almost like the real deal, except that they also function as portable cooling implements. With the number of novelty ice-cube trays on the market, the possibilities are manifold. Tip: Pop something shiny in the tray before freezing for extra pizzazz.

+ Ice Me

+ 01Mathery

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Jeremy Mays Makes Literary Jewelry From Cross-Sections of Old Books

by Bridgette Meinhold, 09/02/10

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New Fabric-Dyeing Technique Uses Fluid-State CO2, Not Water

by Jasmin Malik Chua, 09/01/10

Refinity, DyeCoo, carbon dioxide, water, eco-friendly dyes, eco-fashion, sustainable fashion, green fashion, sustainable style

Photos by Amber Isabel

A Dutch company has unveiled what it believes to be the first commercial dyeing machine to replace water with supercritical carbon dioxide—a pressurized form of the gas with unusual liquid-like properties. Heated up to 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit) and pressurized to 74 bar, CO2 takes on the characteristics of both a liquid and a gas, allowing for the dissolution of compounds such as dyes. For DyeCoo Textile System’s purposes, scCO2 is heated to 120 degrees Celsius (248 degrees Fahrenheit) and pressurized to 250 bar. Behaving as both a solvent and a solute, the supercharged carbon dioxide penetrates textile fibers and disperses the preloaded dyes without extra chemical agents.

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Convertible Tote, Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles, is 3 Bags in 1

by Jasmin Malik Chua, 09/01/10

convertible bags, transformer bags, multifunctional bags, eco-friendly bags, recycled bags, upcycled bags, recycled plastic bottles, recycled PET, UncommonGoods, eco-fashion, sustainable fashion, green fashion, sustainable style, vegan bags, vegan fashion

Hobo. Baguette. Duffel. Satchel. Tote. Keeping your of-the-moment bag silhouettes straight can be a vexing, not to mention pricy, task. Praise your 401(K) balance then, for the shape-shifting convertible tote by Urban Junket. Made from polished cotton canvas and colored with organic vegetable dyes, the three-in-one carryall starts off as a structured, no-frills tote but easily transforms into a trapezoid-shape boat tote or a boxy doctor’s bag. The key to its fickle nature? Strategically positioned snaps that allow you to assemble the bag into three different shapes at a moment’s whim.

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6 Eco-Friendly Ways to Care For Your Jeans

by Jasmin Malik Chua, 08/31/10

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Anamu Recycles Vintage Bandanas into Southwest-Style Clutches, Cuffs

by Jennifer Smith, 08/31/10

Anamu, vintage clothing, recycled fashion, upcycled fashion, recycled bags, upcycled bags, recycled accessories, upcycled accessories, recycled jewelry, upcycled jewelry, recycled bandanas, eco-fashion, sustainable fashion, green fashion, sustainable style

Admit it, deep down, you’ve always been a scarf and bandana hoarder. The itch to give your ensemble the proverbial kick always leads to a strikingly printed little square. With Anamu’s recycled-bandana clutches and cuffs, you can have your fix and wear it, too, which means you can pare your avalanche of natty neckerchiefs down to a more manageable drift.

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Tricked-Out Nike Shoes Function as Wii Controllers (Video)

by Jasmin Malik Chua, 08/31/10

Nike, Wii, Nick Marsh, eco-fashion, sustainable fashion, green fashion, recycled shoes, upcycled shoes, wearable technology

We get it, sports isn’t everyone’s bag. But if the only workout your Air Maxes get is propping the front door open on Guitar Hero nights, you might consider pulling a Nick Marsh and cutting your Swooshes into a piece of the action—literally. The British illustrator hacked his trainers to operate with the Wii, a game console that gets even the most sedentary person’s arms flapping and heart pumping. “Gaming platforms have made it possible for people to get their own personal sports workout from the comfort of their living room, using hand held controllers and a balance board to participate,” Marsh says. ” So why can’t a pair of Nikes work in the same way?”

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Kate Cusack Makes Marie Antoinette Wigs From Household Plastic Wrap

by Jasmin Malik Chua, 08/30/10

recycled plastic wrap, recycled Saran wrap, Kate Cusack, Tiffany, eco-fashion, sustainable fashion, green fashion, sustainable style, recycled fashion, upcycled fashion, recycled accessories, upcycled accessories, wigs

Photos by Kristiina Wilson

Ecouterre isn’t a fan of Saran Wrap or its clingy, plasticized ilk, but we can’t help but be enamored of these Marie Antoinette-style wigs by designer Kate Cusack. Crafted entirely from the common household film—we’re pretending she gleaned her supplies from the aftermath of a block-party potluck—the wigs are a testament to the power of imagination. “There is an exciting ‘a-ha’ moment when someone realizes that there is more to my design then they initially expected,” Cusack says. “I create polished, elegant work that the viewer can appreciate in a serious way, but then when the viewer notices whatever the object is made out of, it surprises them and brings a smile to their face.”

+ Tiffany Wigs

+ Kate Cusack

Archbishop Desmond Tutu: Eco-Fashion Designer?

by Jasmin Malik Chua, 08/30/10

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Lutz & Patmos, eco-fashion, sustainable fashion, green fashion, sustainable style, organic cotton, organic clothing

Tina Lutz and Marcia Patmos may be shuttering their Lutz & Patmos clothing line, but the pair is making one heckuva exit with a little help from their famous friends—including one Archbishop Desmond Tutu. One of the several marquee names who have made their mark on the label over the years, the South African Nobel Peace Prize Laureate can be spotted among the ranks at Lutz & Patmos’ guest-designer e-commerce shop, which opened on Thursday.

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Eco-Fashion Advocate Livia Firth Doesn’t Believe in Decluttering

Livia Firth, Colin Firth, eco-fashion, sustainable fashion, green fashion, sustainable style, eco-celebrities, Celebrity Green

“[Fashion] is the most wasteful industry and nobody is talking about it. They talk about food, planes, cars. But fashion is among the biggest out there for consumption and waste.

Never throw anything away. If you buy good-quality garments, they will last for a lifetime.

“Never throw away anything from your closet. If you buy good-quality garments, they will last for a lifetime. I hate these articles about how to clear out your wardrobe to make space for the new season. I have so many things in my closet that I bought when I was 20 and I still wear—I’m 40! I have so many clothes from my mom, including shoes.”

—Livia Giuggioli Firth, co-founder of Eco Age, a sustainable boutique in London, and wife of some actor dude named Colin, on shopping from your own closet.

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PETA’s Pulpy Projectiles, Soul-Deadening Knockoffs, DIY Newspaper Yarn

PETA’s Pulpy Projectiles, Soul-Deadening Knockoffs, DIY Newspaper Yarn

We despise killing for fur as much as the next warm-blooded mammal, but training our young’uns to pelt rotten tomatoes at pelt-wearers seems a little silly—and illegal. (Ethical Style)

It’s the battle of the luxury conglomerates! Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, going head to head with PPR Group, wants to make EDUN its “Stella McCartney,” according to sources. (Fashionista)

Yves Béhar could crap in a paper bag …

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“Skin Trade” Documentary Reveals Horrifying Truth Behind Fur in Fashion

“Skin Trade” Documentary Reveals Horrifying Truth Behind Fur in Fashion

Suffering for fashion is one thing (think sky-high stilettos, rib-cracking corsets, and sprayed-on jeans), but getting some hapless animal to do it for you is quite another. Skin Trade is a new indie documentary that cuts to the bone of the issue, so to speak, by splicing interviews of prominent animal advocates with graphic—and we do mean graphic—footage of what goes into making a fur coat. Available next month on DVD, Skin Trade takes a no-holds-barred look at the business of killing animals for fashion, from the earliest days of fur trading to current-day claims about fur’s inherent sustainability.

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Little Black Dress That Works as a Cellphone Turns You into the Gadget

Little Black Dress That Works as a Cellphone Turns You into the Gadget

Leave it to the technical impresarios at CuteCircuit to create a dress that doubles as a soft-circuitry cellphone. (Maxwell Smart’s clunker of a shoe-phone this isn’t.) The curve-hugging little black M-Dress (or Mobile Phone Dress), made from slinky silk jersey, accepts a standard SIM card and conceals an antenna in its hem. It’s the addition of built-in motion sensors and gesture-recognition software, however, that are the real strokes of genius. Instead of fumbling in your purse for your cellular, simply lift your wrist to your ear to make or receive a call. To hang up, just lower your hand.

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Help Put Brilliant Earth’s Eco-Rings on TODAY Show’s On-Air Wedding

Help Put Brilliant Earth’s Eco-Rings on TODAY Show’s On-Air Wedding

We don’t know about you, but the fact that many couples choose to symbolize their union with diamonds that fuel conflict (and often death) strikes us as a little cray-cray. So we were delighted to hear that Brilliant Earth’s ethically crafted wedding rings could wind up on …

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Actress Emma Watson Visits Indian Slums, Models New People Tree Line

Actress Emma Watson Visits Indian Slums, Models New People Tree Line

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Win an Upcycled Leather Purse From ReFind Originals (Worth $300!)

Win an Upcycled Leather Purse From ReFind Originals (Worth $300!)

What happens when you’re a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n roll? For starters, you’ll want a bag to match. We’ve joined forces with Green With Glamour to give away a one-of-a-kind Cali bag by ReFind Originals. Crafted from buttery-soft repurposed leather (castoff jackets and ripped upholstery are the usual suspects), the go-with-everything carryall comes embellished with a handmade wooden buckle and a pair of fringy tassels—perfect from hopping from mosh pit to hoedown.

TO ENTER THIS FABULOUS GIVEAWAY
1. SIGN UP FOR THE ECOUTERRE NEWSLETTER (This is important because we’ll be announcing our winner there.)

2. LEAVE A COMMENT telling us what your go-to fall accessory. We’ll pick the response we like the best, so be as detailed and creative as possible!

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Model Summer Rayne Oakes Launches Online Eco-Textile Marketplace

Model Summer Rayne Oakes Launches Online Eco-Textile Marketplace

Summer Rayne Oakes may have first gained recognition in the modeling world, but she’s more than a pretty face. When she’s not strutting down the catwalk, the multitasking multihyphenate is an author, a shoe designer, and a social entrepreneur. The thread that ties these disparate enterprises together becomes apparent with Oakes’ latest endeavor: Source4Style, a trade-only online marketplace that allows designers to find, compare, and buy sustainable textiles from a network of global suppliers at the touch of a button. Earlier this month, we snuck a peek at the upcoming site during a cupcake-filled preview in Brooklyn. Better yet, we managed to sidle up to Oakes herself to glean her thoughts about S4, sustainable fashion, and why community matters.

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Regenesi Recycles Bike Reflectors, Eyeglasses into Mother-of-Pearl Jewelry

Regenesi Recycles Bike Reflectors, Eyeglasses into Mother-of-Pearl Jewelry

The Re-Circle jewelry collection by Regenesi only looks like mother of pearl. The lustrous, inner-shell-like pieces are actually made from a potpourri of recycled plastics, including repurposed buttons, eyeglasses, bag handles, car-warning triangles, and bicycle reflectors. Designed by Finland’s Kaisli Kiuru for the burgeoning Italian design house, the line of necklaces, earrings, and bracelets is sartorial subterfuge at its cleverest.

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At Vintage at Goodwood, Well-Crafted Classics Never Go Out of Style

At Vintage at Goodwood, Well-Crafted Classics Never Go Out of Style

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Coordinate Your Bridal Party With Sasha Duerr’s DIY Natural-Dye Recipe

Coordinate Your Bridal Party With Sasha Duerr’s DIY Natural-Dye Recipe

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