Yuka Yoneda

Ecouterre's New York editor, Yuka is a writer and designer from Queens, New York. She received her bachelor’s in business management from Stony Brook University, and holds a degree in exhibition design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. In 2008, Yuka looked in the mirror and didn’t like what she saw. Always feeling like there was something missing from her life, she had turned to excess, amassing a mountain of clothes, shoes, bags, and random tchotchkes to fill the void. In an act of desperation, she founded Swyyne.com as a guide for urbanites wanting to change their piggish ways and has been learning and smiling more ever since. When she isn't writing about sustainable design, Yuka amuses herself by making trash into treasure, hunting for goodies at her favorite thrift shop, and offering up vintage, secondhand and refashioned clothes from her own closet to raise money for Japan.

Follow Yuka on Twitter @yukayoneda.

Book a Granny to Remind You to Bundle Up for National Sweater Day

Are you guilty of chucking aside the sweaters your granny gives you every winter? The Canadian arm of World Wildlife Fund wants you to be a dear and dig those dusty jumpers out of your closet for National Sweater Day on February 9. Sponsored by Loblaw, the Great White North’s largest food retailer, the event is part of a nationwide movement to encourage Canadians to turn down the heat and “turn up a sweater,” instead. Lowering your thermostat by just one degree throughout the year will reduce your carbon-dioxide emissions by 100 kilograms—that’s 220 pounds for the non-metrically inclined—or the weight of a baby hippopotamus, according to WWF-Canada. Need a little friendly prodding? Book a call with one of the dozen actual grannies who are standing by to nag remind you.

Can Buying Less Make Us Happier? Take Part in the “JoinLess” Revolution

Ever feel like the stuff you own ends up owning you, instead? Ben Davis, the founder of JoinLess, can empathize. As the brains behind the “world’s first open source brand,” Davis wants to create a new symbol-led movement, like the (RED) campaign, “but better,” he tells Ecouterre. Unlike other brands, which get litigious over the unauthorized use of their logos, JoinLess wants you to slap its trademark “(<)” on anything—and everything—to remind you that less is more. We sat down with the man himself to learn more about his anti-brand, what it stands for, and why it’s poised to become the peace sign for a new generation.

TOMS Shoes Introduces Print-Clad Ballet Flats for Spring (Video)

Just when you thought TOMS couldn’t get any more awesome, the philanthropic shoe-and-eyeglass company is launching a line of cute-as-heck ballet flats, just in time for spring. Guaranteed to put a bounce in your step once the frost thaws, the comfy looking slip-ons come in an array of solids and on-trend prints (funky leopard or lively indigenous weave, anyone?) in leather, suede, linen, burlap, chambray, or woven canvas. And if there wasn’t already plenty to love, for every pair you buy, TOMS will donate a pair of shoes to a child in need. We’re getting happy feet just thinking about it.

“Closet Swap” iPhone App Encourages You to Trade Clothes With Friends

Swapping clothes? There’s an app for that. If you’re looking to spruce up your wardrobe this year, “Closet Swap” allows you to trade castoffs with your friends without the hassle of hosting a physical party. Whipped up by U.K.’s Channel 4, the easy-to-use tool encourages you to upload pictures, tag existing Facebook photos, and build a virtual closet for sharing and swapping with your cronies. You can even telegraph a Fashion SOS from your phone, smoke-signal style, to request a pencil skirt for a last-minute job interview or snag a pair of leopard-print pumps for a weekend shindig.

Meet the Guy Who Owns Only 15 Things (Not Counting Undies or Socks)

If you’re thinking of adopting a more minimalist lifestyle for 2012, take a page from the playbook of Andrew Hyde, an itinerant blogger-cum-interface designer who owns only 15 items. Currently residing in New York City—he’s lived everywhere from Colorado to Rhode Island—Hyde sold most of his worldly possessions in 2010, when he set off to circumnavigate the globe by hopping from city to city. Although, to our immense relief, he doesn’t count socks or underpants, Hyde’s ability to pare down demonstrates remarkable and praiseworthy restraint. The average woman, after all, owns 20 pairs of shoes, 11 of which she never wears.

Weird Trend Alert: Fake Designer Paper Bags Are All the Rage in China

Knockoff designer bags are a dime a dozen in China, but the nation’s latest “It bag” requires less effort—and money up front—from counterfeit rackets. Instead of paying a premium for leatherette imitations, Chinese tastemakers are ponying up for faux logo-emblazoned Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci shopping bags made of plain ol’ paper, according to China Daily. The paper totes, which range from …

NYC EVENT: Make Your Own New Year’s Eve Headpieces at Yestadt Millinery’s Yurt

Yestadt Millinery designer Molly Yestadt will be taking the yurt from humble nomadic lair to holiday hat studio and she’s inviting you to come make your own headpieces! Come peruse a yurt-ful of millinery delights, ranging from fedoras and wide-brim hats to cocktail fascinators and festive headbands. From 2-6 p.m. today, Yestadt and her elves will hand-embroider your monogram …

Copious: A New Marketplace That Lets You Sell, Buy Preloved Goods

If a few of the holiday gifts you received this year weren’t quite your cup of tea, why not sell them on a new site called Copious.com so you can buy what you really wanted. Like other online marketplaces, Copious lets you purchase and sell clothing, shoes, and accessories but with a social media twist. Since the website connects with Facebook (in fact, two FBers are on the board of advisors), buyers can “follow” sellers they like, discover new trends and see exactly who their items belonged to before. Think of it as eBay meets Pinterest.

Make Your Own “Texting” Gloves for the iPhone or Android (DIY Tutorial)

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES
A pair of gloves (preferably one you already own)
Conductive thread (available in smaller quantities on the author’s site)
A needle
Scissors

STEP ONE
Cut 16 inches or so of your conductive thread and thread it through …

Save $5 on Select John Bartlett “Tiny Tim” Vegan Sweaters—Today Only!

If you’re looking for a gift that will have your favorite dog-lover howling with delight, may we suggest this delightfully season-appropriate heather plum thermal by John Bartlett? It’s made of a blend of organic cotton, recycled polyester, and rayon for the NYC label’s Tiny Tim Rescue Fund, which means that …

Mio’s Minimalist Wool-Felts Hats Are Handmade to Order in the U.S.A.

PACT’s New Organic Cotton Undies Support Architecture for Humanity’s Work in Post-Tsunami Japan

Hey, that’s Goodlifer’s Johanna Bjork!

Our undergarments can provide support in more ways than one. Take PACT’s new charitable line of organic-cotton skivvies, for example. A partnership with Architecture for Humanity, the “PACT for Japan” collection features original graphics by industrial designer Yves Béhar, with a humanitarian objective, to boot. To wit, for every pair you buy, PACT will donate 10 percent of sales to reconstruction efforts in the fishing town of Shizugawa in Miyagi, where 70 percent of the buildings were flattened by the devastating tsunami and earthquake in March.

7 Foxy Faux-Fur Fashions That Are Better for the Planet

COSMIC LOVE
No hapless animal surrendered its skin for Kelly Lane’s “Cosmic” bolero. It’s handmade in the United States from a blend of soy, organic cotton, and Lycra, with a stand-up “fur” collar derived from hemp.

+ Cosmic Crop Jacket $130 at The Picket Fence

+ Kelly Lane…

7 Last-Minute Halloween Costumes Lurking Inside Your Closet

WHERE’S WALDO
Be the lovable guy everyone is searching for by donning a few simple pieces you probably already own.
COSTUME COMPONENTS
Red-and-white striped shirt
Jeans
Red beanie
Black-rimmed glasses
Camera with strap
Cane (an umbrella would also work in a pinch)…

Shrine Rack Turns Your Shoe Collection Into Space-Saving Wall Art

An extra shoebox on your closet floor is the last thing you need when you practically live in one. That’s why we’re smitten with Shrine Rack’s nifty wall-mounted shoe organizers. Not only are the clever devices made of stainless steel—in the good old U.S. of A., no less—but they’re also perfect for getting your sneaks, pumps, …

John Bartlett Thinks Cruelty-Free Fashion is Going to the Dogs (Literally!)

John Bartlett is a New York fashion designer with not one but two Council of Fashion Designers of America awards under his belt, along with such titles as Swarovski Best Newcomer and the American Apparel and Footwear Association Designer of the Year. Equally known for his love of animals and yen for classic American sportswear, Bartlett has worked alongside animal-rights organizations like the Humane Society of the United States and the North Shore Animal League to spread awareness about the welfare of our critter pals. We recently caught up with the designer to talk about the looks he showcased at the Healthy Food in Fashion fall gala, why he chose to embrace vegan fashion, and his new “Tiny Tim” collection, a series of comfy basics for men, women, and children that donates 10 percent of each sale to helping shelter dogs like Bartlett’s three-legged best friend (and the line’s namesake).

Carrie Parry’s Spring 2012 Line Channels French Films of Jean-Luc Godard

“Dead Men’s Patterns” Features Bespoke Garment Patterns of the Dearly Departed

It’s been said that dead men tell no tales, but would they stay equally mum about their tailoring? For artist Hormazd Narielwalla, author of the limited-edition book Dead Men’s Patterns, the tissue-paper templates that bespoke tailors fastidiously preserve speak volumes about the gents they’re modeled after, even long after they’ve shuffled off the mortal coil. Narielwalla discovered his first “dead man’s pattern”—carefully folded and marked with “dead for ten years”—during an apprenticeship with Dege & Skinner on Savile Row early in his career. The book chronicles Narielwalla’s experiences with these archived scraps of paper, which were utilitarian in life but are now a poignant memento of a man’s relationship with his tailor. They’re quite beautiful, albeit in a creepy, voyeuristic kinda way.

6 Unexpected Ways of Using Leggings to Extend Your Wardrobe

She’s got leggings and she knows how to use them! That’s the tune folks will be humming once you show them just how versatile they can be. We picked a classic black pair by Vince Camuto, available for $39 from Nordstrom, to offer you six alternatives to the tired baggy-sweater-and-leggings combo. Layer those long johns with fishnets for some instant va-va-voom or overturn the concept of hosiery by wearing them as a scarf or bolero. Stick with us and before you know it, you’ll be breaking out those gams and those jams like you were born to.

This post is sponsored by Nordstrom. Shop the Anniversary Sale: Next Season on sale now. Prices go up August 1.

6 Eco-Chic Ways to Transition Your Shorts from Summer to Fall

Just because they’re called “shorts” doesn’t mean you can’t squeeze more mileage out of them throughout the year. Take those cutoffs you’ve been rockin’ all summer into the nippier months with these six simple how-tos. Our guinea pig of choice? A pair of fully lined wool flannel shorts from Hinge, available for $48 at Nordstrom. Whether you tag-team them with equestrian vegan boots, a pre-loved Ralph Lauren blazer, or sweatshop-free colored tights, your shorts will soon become the hardest-working member of your wardrobe, no matter what the weatherman says.

This post is sponsored by Nordstrom. Shop the Anniversary Sale: Next Season on sale now. Prices go up August 1.

Triumph Japan Recycles Old Bras Into Power-Generating Fuel

Worried about throwing out your used bras lest they be stolen by perverts? American women may find such fears unwarranted, but they’re genuine concerns for their counterparts in Japan, according to the Japan Times. Responding to those anxieties, as well as growing concerns about the environment (which might be more relatable for us Western gals), Triumph International is accepting used bras in select Japanese stores for recycling into boiler and power-generating fuel. The initiative not only saves these unmentionables from landfills, it also relieves Japanese women of a constant source of distress. A 2004 survey by major lingerie-maker Wacoal found that 61 percent of respondents hesitate to throw their old bras out with the trash because many municipalities require clear garbage bags.

Russell Simmons Chats About “Argyleculture,” His New Cruelty-Free Brand, at “Healthy Food in Fashion” Gala

Most people know hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons as the founder of Def Jam Records, Phat Farm, and American Classics, but fewer realize that he’s also a practicing vegan of 13 years and an outspoken animal-rights activist. We chatted with Simmons at the “Healthy Food in Fashion” fall gala to learn more about Argyleculture, his new cruelty-free clothing line for Macy’s, why sustainable fashion makes good business sense, and what advice he’d give to anyone struggling with vegetarianism.

VPL’s Victoria Bartlett Dishes on Cruelty-Free Fashion, Vegan Food at “Healthy Food in Fashion” Gala

Food and fashion joined forces at the NY Coalition for Healthy School Food’s “Healthy Food in Fashion” fall gala on Wednesday night, and Ecouterre was on the scene scoping out the hottest designs from the night’s vegan fashion show. We chatted with VPL designer Victoria Bartlett, who has been practicing and preaching cruelty-free fashion since the early days of her career. We also received the inside scoop on why animal products are verboten in her clothes, the significance of using human hair as accessories, and her favorite meat-free recipe.

9 Creative (and Eco-Friendly!) Thrift-Store Halloween Costumes Under $15

SOCKHOP SWEETIE
Let’s go to the hop! Not only is a ’50s poodle skirt girl one of the easiest costumes to thrift, it’s also one that you could throw together at the last minute with very little elbow “grease” (geddit?).
COSTUME COMPONENTS:

Plaid, pleated wool skirt: $4.99
Brooks Brothers pink sweater: $5.99
Socks: We’re pretty sure you have some to …