Ecouterre » Eco-Friendly Accessories

Mariclaro Upcycles Car Upholstery, Air Bags Into Durable Carryalls

Jasmin Malik Chua — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:23:42 +0000

Where do exploded air bags go to die? If you ask Mariclaro, they don’t. The Toronto-based accessories label salvages truck tarps, leather upholstery, seat belts, bicycle inner tubes, boat sails, and yes, exploded air bags, to create a range of road-tested laptop sleeves, messenger bags, briefcases, and backpacks. Of the materials that comprise each piece, roughly 99 percent was landfill-bound, according to co-founders Sven Schlegel and Willa Murray, who intercept the materials within 300 miles of their workshop. (“1 percent is made of notions and our logo, still unavailable in recycled,” Schlegel says.)

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Greensleeve: A Plastic-Free iPad 2 Sleeve Made With Zero Electricity

Ecouterre — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:00:38 +0000

The Greensleeve iPad 2 case by Gone Studio is devoid of many things. Clad in all-natural wool felt with a steel-button closure, it’s completely plastic-free, a conscious decision by LEED-certified designer George Elvin in the aftermath of the Gulf Coast oil spill. The case is also made entirely without electricity—by Elvin himself, in fact—on a 1935 foot-powered Singer sewing machine in his Indianopolis studio. Still not impressed? Elvin assembled the machine himself from salvaged components. It lives!

+ Greensleeve $29.90 at Amazon
+ Gone Studio

Made in Forest Hills: MoMA-Inspired Bow Ties Recycled From Trash

Amanda Coen — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:00:13 +0000

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Levi’s, Swans Island Collaborate on Limited-Edition Organic Wool Scarves

Ecouterre — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:00:42 +0000

From the Swans Island studio in Northport, ME, comes an ultra-edition, très exclusive set of scarves designed exclusively for Levi’s. Handwoven on wooden shuttle looms from 100 percent organic merino wool—spun in one of only four Global Organic Textile Standard-certified mills in the United States—each scarf gets its rich denim hue from plant-based dyes whipped up at the 19th century farmhouse Swans Island calls home. You can’t buy these neck-wraps online, however. They’re only available in Levi’s neighborhood stores in Malibu, New York City’s Meatpacking District, Newbury in Boston, and Levi’s Plaza in San Francisco.

+ Levi Strauss
+ Swans Island

Represent Your City with Hanger 3′s Recycled Subway Token Necklaces

Lori Zimmer — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:00:40 +0000

Fashion and transportation history collide with Hanger 3′s line of quirky necklaces, which designer Dustin Wood fashions using vintage subway tokens from around the country. Representing cities from Conestoga, PA, to Beaumount, TX, each piece of ephemera bears a unique, city-specific design, courtesy of the transit designers of yesteryear. Wood pairs the tokens with a well-worn ball chain that complements their vintage patina. Not a bad way to add some local color to your wardrobe or to show your allegiance to greener commutes.

+ Subway Token Necklace $13.99-$39 (originally $19.99-$42) at Fab.com
+ Hanger 3

Vuzix’s “Smart” Sunglasses Merge Virtual Information With Real World

Bridgette Meinhold — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:21 +0000

Augmented reality—the ability to superimpose virtual data onto real-world environments—is appealing in theory, but typical head-mounted displays have the subtlety of a sledgehammer to your forehead. Vusix, a video-eyewear company from Rochester, NY, has invented an electronic headset that looks—and works—like a pair of designer sunglasses. Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, the Internet-connected “Smart” device uses holographic film to serve interactive content right before your eyes. Besides changing the way you work and play, not to mention interact with your assorted gadgets, the Smart also has potential applications in military ops, emergency response, and disaster management.

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PETA, Nail Couture L.A. Collaborate on Bunny-Patterned Nail Wraps

Jasmin Malik Chua — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:00:35 +0000

Give your fingertips a cruelty-free makeover with a set of easy-to-apply “nail skins” by Nail Couture L.A, designed exclusively for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Featuring the group’s signature bunny motif in a whimsical black-and-gray houndstooth pattern, the limited-edition wraps eschew toxic chemicals like toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, and camphor. (Needless to say, nothing is tested on critters.) Each $16 kit includes two sheets of 22 stick’ems (good for three to four applications), a nail file, and step-by-step instructions. And if you hop to it, you can pre-order them before their official January 26 debut.

+ Bunny Nail Wrap $16 at PETA
+ Nail Couture L.A.

[Via Refinery 29]

Hot Off the Presses: Necklaces Made From Vintage Letterpress Type

Jasmin Malik Chua — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:00:24 +0000

Typography geeks, wordsmiths, and lovers of the alphabet will fall for the charms of Gwen Delicious, a Canadian accessories label that fashions necklaces from vintage printing-press type. Burnished with scuffs and other imperfections that make each piece unique, the repurposed brass blocks are strung from a gunmetal chain and secured with a toggle clasp for ease of wearability. Dangled around your neck with the type obscured, the pendant’s identity isn’t immediately obvious. Then again, do you really need to spell everything out?

+ Letterpress Necklaces $37
+ GwenDelicious

3D-Printed Necklace Features Slots For 100 of Your Shiniest Pennies

Jasmin Malik Chua — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:00:20 +0000

Pennies are good for more than squashing on train tracks. Dutch designer Michiel Cornelissen likens them to “little industrial gems”—the perfect components for statement jewelry, in fact. His do-it-yourself coin necklace is a three-dimensionally printed bauble with slots for holding 111 5-cent Euro coins, which are made of copper like American pennies were pre-1982. “Copper can oxidize and become darker over time, which can actually give a great look,” Cornelissen says. “If you prefer lighter, shinier coins, submerge them in vinegar for a few minutes. Stir well, rinse the coins in hot water, and dry them. It’s magic.”

+ Coin Necklace €55
+ Michiel Cornelissen

[Via MocoLoco]

Coca Rocha, Senhoa Design Jewelry to Benefit Survivors of Sex Trafficking

Amanda Coen — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:00:33 +0000

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YumaLite’s LED “Visor” Uses Light Therapy to Banish Winter Blues

Bridgette Meinhold — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:00:43 +0000

If winter’s lingering state of gloom has you down in the dumps, you could be prone to seasonal affective disorder. The most effective way to nip it in the bud? Light therapy (also known as “phototherapy”) for the months when sunshine is in short supply. For folks who prefer the do-it-yourself route, there’s YumaLite, an LED-equipped “visor” that claims to alleviate the symptoms of those pesky winter blues, which can lead to overeating, oversleeping, lethargy, and a general malaise. Unlike light boxes, which can cost up to $600 and force you to be stationary, the $99 head-mounted device accommodates a wide range of motion. Sure, it looks goofy—make that really goofy—but if wearing the YumaLite for minutes a day leads to a cheerier disposition, who are we to argue?

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Fonderie 47 Recycles Confiscated AK-47 Rifles Into Luxurious Jewelry

Helen Morgan — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:00:32 +0000

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MuKee Recycles Broken Skateboards Into Edgy Wooden Jewelry

Lori Zimmer — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:00:41 +0000

Any skateboarder worth his deck goes through boards faster than bullets slice through butter. Rather than let them go to waste, Denver-based label MuKee transforms castoff boards into one-of-a-kind wearables that are as much a feast for the eyes as they are to touch. From earrings to belt buckles, each accessory flaunts every scratch and scuff from its action-packed past, with every kickflip and “ollie” further defining the character of the weathered wood. To add even more visual interest, MuKee peels back the painted surfaces with hand-engraved designs, including its signature bird motif. The best part? The prices, which start at an affordable $24.

+ Mukee Designs

Help Special Olympics U.S.A. Outfit Every Participant With a Hand-Knit Scarf

Lori Zimmer — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:00:12 +0000

With the 2012 Special Olympics Winter Games due to touch down in chilly (and some not-so-chilly) wonderlands across the country, Special Olympics U.S.A. is seeking to outfit every athlete, coach, family member, volunteer, and supporter in a cozy homespun scarf as a symbol of solidarity and community. Sponsored by Red Heart Yarns, the aptly named “Special Olympics Scarf Project”, invites knitters and crocheters to donate a handmade scarf to one of 39 participating Special Olympics programs from Alabama to Wyoming.

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Upcycle Broken Christmas Lights into Sparkly Holiday Accessories

Tiffany Threadgould — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:00:55 +0000

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Peace Bomb’s Resolution Wrap Helps Post-War Laos Get a Fresh Start

Jasmin Malik Chua — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:00:32 +0000

Bike to work. Unplug on weekends. Binge less. Floss more. No matter what your New Year’s resolution, Peace Bomb’s vintage-silk wrap offers a tangible reminder of your pinkie promise to yourself. Crafted by Laotian artisans, each wristlet comes with a hand-cast tag derived from Vietnam War scrap metal, along with a card for writing down your resolution. Plus, for every one you buy, Project Peace Bomb will clear a meter of bomb-littered land in the beleaguered nation. Finally, a promise you can make good on.

+ Resolution Wrap $16
+ Peace Bomb

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3D-Printed Tapestry Eyeglasses Bring Technology, Tradition Together

Jasmin Malik Chua — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:00:12 +0000

Applications for rapid prototyping in fashion abound but few are as charming as Chloë McCormick and Nicholas O’Donnell-Hoare’s tapestry eyeglasses, which combine the magic of three-dimensional printing with traditional needlework. Laser-sintered from nylon powder, the frame includes a grid of holes for weaving thread in and out of—perfect for personalizing with a pattern of your making (we need DIY kits, stat!) The colorful specs will be exhibited as part of “Send to Print/Print to Send” at the Aram Gallery in London from Jan 13 to Feb 25.

+ Tapestry Spectacles

[Via Fashioning Technology]

HJ Designs Upcycles Used Plexiglass Into Glittering Cocktail Jewelry

Kirin Rinehart — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:00:01 +0000

Hazel Studstill had always loved creating jewelry, but she never expected a cruise past a dumpster to prove so serendipitous. After discovering a cache of discarded plexiglass on its way to destruction, the industrious metalsmith decided to transform the hard, clear plastic into baubles fit for a fancy soiree. The collection, which was inspired by geode-hunting “out West” as a child, marries hand-carving techniques with gold and silver leafing for extra sparkle. Available as a single or double necklace or in the form of a cuff, no two pieces are alike. And unlike other cocktail adornments, your conversation starter comes with a built-in story.

+ Upcycled Plexiglass Jewelry $42-$74
+ HJ Designs

Snap Up a Pair of Handwoven Suspenders From NYC’s Textile Arts Center

Jasmin Malik Chua — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:00:37 +0000

These suspenders aren’t just for holding pants up. Handwoven by staff members at the Textile Arts Center in New York City, the one-of-a-kind pieces also support arts education at the organization, which hosts classes, workshops, and events for fiber-obsessed and fiber-curious alike. Each one is fully adjustable with an elastic back piece for extra stretch. They’re also available in kid’s sizes to keep smaller slacks in check.

+ Handwoven Suspenders $55
+ Textile Arts Center

Thermochromic “Jack Frost” Scarf Reveals Snowflakes as Mercury Drops

Lea Bogdan — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:00:34 +0000

No matter how frightful the weather outside gets, Diana Eng’s “Jack Frost” scarf will delight with snowflakes that magically appear as soon as temperatures drop. A magical spin on technology in fashion, the scarf uses thermochromic inks that react with cold to produce the awe-inspiring effect. At 65 degrees Fahrenheit, tiny flurries begin to materialize, becoming progressively larger as the mercury falls further.

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Mikuti: A Socially Active Jewelry Label That Supports Tanzanian Artisans

Amanda Coen — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:00:48 +0000

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For Subversive Gardeners, Spy-Approved Accessories for Stealth Planting

Jasmin Malik Chua — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:00:38 +0000

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N-Product Turns Discarded Backpacks, Inner Tubes Into iPod Watchbands

Amanda Coen — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:00:58 +0000

Transform your iPod Nano into an eco-friendly timepiece with the Deckster Re:Class series of wristbands by N-Product. Created in partnership with Mountain Equipment Co-op, an outdoor-apparel manufacturer based in Ottawa, each casing comprises discarded, damaged, or unusable backpacks, bicycle tires, and inner tubes—durable materials with adventurous pasts that would otherwise languish in a landfill.

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Cozy Up to Cleo Ferin Mercury’s Detachable Faux-Animal Silk Collars

Kestrel Jenkins — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:00:47 +0000

No need to keep your fellow commuters guessing if that fluff around your neck is faux or real. Cleo Ferin Mercury’s detachable collars are completely fur-free. Ethically handmade in England from 100 percent silk twill, the London designer’s purr-worthy “Hibernate With Me” collection features three jabot styles (hedgehog, badger, arctic fox) that will never be confused with their crueler counterparts. Accessorize your favorite tee or frock with these whimsical statement pieces and give folks something to really talk about.

+ Hibernate With Me £37.50
+ Cleo Ferin Mercury

[Via Design for Mankind]

La Diosa Debuts Eco-Friendly Friendship Bracelets for Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital

Jasmin Malik Chua — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:00:20 +0000

Help one of the world’s most beloved statesmen raise funds for his final legacy project: a state-of-the-art Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital that will provide South Africans with quality pediatric care regardless of social or economic status. In collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, British jeweler La Diosa has created a series of friendship bracelets based on characters and colors that make up the nonprofit’s logo. Ethically crafted in five colors—red for love, yellow for happiness, black for peace, and blue for protection—each bracelet comprises woven silk thread and a recycled-silver charm to evoke the attributes African children desire most. Plus, some of the proceeds will go towards building the facility, granting the four dedicated pediatric hospitals in the entire continent of Africa some measure of reprieve.