Ecouterre » Men’s Eco-Fashion

Ben Affleck Designs TOMS Shoes to Benefit Eastern Congo Initiative

Jasmin Malik Chua — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:00:39 +0000

From Oscar-winning director to…shoe designer? Ben Affleck has teamed up with the do-gooders at TOMS to create series of African-textile-inspired kicks that benefit the Eastern Congo Initiative. Founded by the actor-filmmaker in 2010, the organization is the first U.S.-based advocacy and grant-making initiative “wholly focused” on working with and for the people of that region. The designs are available in three styles: two for men and one for women. And besides TOMS’ usual “one for one” policy, $5 from the purchase of each limited-edition pair will help fund ECI’s programs for youth and families in eastern Congo. “Getting involved in something, helping others, improving the fabric of the universe,” Affleck says in a statement. “I believe if you do that, even just a little bit, I think you’ll find your life gets better, too.”

+ TOMS x Eastern Congo Initiative $59-$79

Wool & Prince Claims Its Shirt Stays Fresh for 100 Days Without Washing

Bridgette Meinhold — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:00:59 +0000

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Trash to Trend Debuts First Mass-Produced Upcycled-Clothing Collection

Morgana Matus — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:00:40 +0000

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H&M Launches “Conscious Exclusive” Line of Sustainable Partywear

Jasmin Malik Chua — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:00:16 +0000

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“Snowballs” Cooling Undies Claim to Maximize Male Fertility

Helen Morgan — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:00:47 +0000

Snowballs are a quirky name for a great concept – underwear to help men with infertility issues. After experimenting with different techniques to help him and his wife conceive, designer Joshua Shoemake found that using ice in the nether regions helped to bring down high temperatures and improve fertility. After ‘icing’ for a year, Shoemake became a father himself, and soon afterwards developed the idea of organic cotton underwear with re-freezable SnowWedges incorporated in the design, perfect for cooling.

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Flint and Tinder’s American-Made Hoodie Comes With 10-Year Guarantee

Amy DuFault — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 21:00:18 +0000

There’s a reason why we have antique stores: stuff used to be made to last. Things have long shifted, however, in favor of a manufacturing business model known as “planned obsolescence.” From toasters to T-shirts, today’s products are designed to fall apart—all the better to get you to reach into your wallet once more, of course. Flint and Tinder is one of growing number of companies seeking to disrupt that trend. After successfully Kickstarting its line of American-made men’s underwear, the Brooklyn-based label is back with a new crowdfunding campaign. Its goal? To create a unisex zip-up hoodie made entirely in the United States (yarn and hardware included) and built for a lifetime.

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Diesel, EDUN Collaborate on African-Made Sustainable Denim Line

Jasmin Malik Chua — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:00:15 +0000

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EDUN Rocks, Rolls at Fall/Winter 2013 New York Fashion Week

Jasmin Malik Chua — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:00:14 +0000

Photos by Jill Fehrenbacher for Ecouterre

It’s virtually impossible to tease EDUN apart from its rock-star provenance. Such is the star power of U2 frontman Bono, who founded the socially conscious label with his wife, Ali Hewson, in 2005. And indeed, the mood at its Fall/Winter 2013 presentation—an “exploration of youth culture,” according to show notes—at New York Fashion Week on Thursday was equally charged. Models, both male and female, paced frenetically on the circular runway wearing black leather, black skinny jeans, black lamé, and a studied insouciance. (Full review to follow.)

+ EDUN

“Two Guys” Craft Bow Ties From Reclaimed Wood, Fabric

Morgana Matus — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 22:00:37 +0000

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Issey Miyake Creates Heat-Retaining Menswear From Recycled Polyester

Jasmin Malik Chua — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:00:29 +0000

Issey Miyake’s timing couldn’t be more apt. As temperatures at Paris Men’s Fashion Week plunged below zero on Thursday—and the City of Lights faced its worst blizzard conditions in 20 years—the Franco-Japanese fashion house feted a lightweight, heat-retaining wardrobe that almost seemed to anticipate climate change’s role in worsening winters. Sure enough, the blinding cavalcade of quilted overcoats, sporty jackets, hooded anoraks, and utilitarian cargo pants provided more than a few nods to the future, imagined or prophesied. Metallic accents gave way to gilded panels, which yielded to reflective suits of gold, silver, and bronze. (The last was said to generate as much warmth as five or six emergency blankets, but without the bulk.)

PREVIOUSLY ON ECOUTERRE: Issey Miyake Unfolds Origami-Inspired “132 5″ Eco-Fashion Collection

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Australian Designer Turns Salvaged Paintings Into Sci-Fi-Inspired Jackets

Morgana Matus — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:00:56 +0000

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Everlane’s Quality-Over-Quantity E-Commerce Model Espouses Less is More

Amy DuFault — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:00:12 +0000

Michael Preysman founded Everlane in November 2011 with the goal of overhauling the typical retail experience. Having quit his job at a venture-capital firm in San Francisco, Preysman wanted to create an “exciting, collaborative and experimental effort” that cut through the clutter to provide luxury apparel without the exorbitant markup. The online-only collection, like its website, is minimalist, orderly, and thoughtfully curated. Instead of bombarding its customers with options, Everlane offers only the most basic of basics—one style of cashmere sweater, a single silk blouse, a men’s button-down shirt, a merino-wool scarf—preferring to focus on quality over quantity. Ecouterre recently spoke with Preysman, a self-proclaimed perfectionist, to discover how Everlane’s unconventional business model is subverting an entire industry.

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Nike’s “LeBron X” Basketball Shoe Features Genuine Cork

Jasmin Malik Chua — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:00:18 +0000

Nike’s latest offering is worth popping the bubbly for. The special-edition “Lebron X” shoe features an upper composed of 100 percent genuine cork, a regenerative material stripped from the bark of the cork oak every nine years. A tribute to Miami Heat basketball player LeBron James, who signed with the sportswear giant 10 years ago (hence the “X”), along with his first championship win in June, the shoe “honors the tradition of cork-popping champagne celebrations,” according to the company. It’s expected to debut in February 23 as a run-up to what Nike promises to be a year of “additional basketball footwear surprises.”

+ LeBron X

+ Nike

Buy a Pair of Charles Mark & Sons Socks, Donate a Pair to the Homeless

Morgana Matus — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 17:00:23 +0000

Not everyone is disappointed by socks on Christmas. For homeless people living on the streets, a fresh pair of socks can mean all the difference between healthy feet and infections, blisters, or frostbite. Charles Mark & Sons, for one, wants the oft-maligned coverup to be the gift that keeps on giving. Fresh off a successful crowd-funding campaign, the Texas startup aims to create high-quality, stylish men’s socks that benefit those in need. Cribbing a page from TOMS’ playbook, for every pair of socks you buy, Charles Mark & Sons will donate another to The Joy of Sox, a charity that distributes clean socks to homeless shelters across the country.

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H&M, Brick Lane Bikes Launch Eco-Friendly Men’s Urban Cycling Collection

Jasmin Malik Chua — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 13:00:05 +0000

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Carlo Volpi Challenges Notions of Masculinity With Campy, Colorful Knits

Morgana Matus — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:00:40 +0000

It’s easy to understand why someone like Carlo Volpi would have a deep and abiding passion for wool. The breathable fiber is a natural insulator that can be weighted to keep its wearer warm in winter or cool in summer. It’s also flexible, easy to manipulate, and easy on the environment. As a man who knits, however, Volpi is a bit of rare breed, which explains why his own take on the centuries-old practice is less than conventional. For his thesis project at the Royal College of Art in London, Volpi experimented with stitch types, gauges, and textures to create a flamboyant menswear collection that turns traditional notions of masculinity on their heads.

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Sir Plus: Quality Menswear Upcycled in England From “Cabbage”

Jennifer Barckley — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 18:00:29 +0000

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Fantich and Young’s “Apex Predator” Shoes Are Made With Human Dentures

Mike Chino — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 21:00:18 +0000

Looking for a pair of shoes to complete your creepy Halloween costume? Fantich and Young just carved their way into our darkest nightmares with a pair of black balmorals soled with toothy treads made from hundreds of fake human teeth. We think its “Apex Predator” shoes are just about the creepiest things we’ve seen on two heels, but hey, if you’re into sporting denture couture, it’s unlikely anyone will try to “bite” your style.

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Vaute Couture’s Vegan Coats Combine Elegance, Whimsy for Fall 2012

Jasmin Malik Chua — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:00:20 +0000

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Sole Footwear Finds New Use for Millions of Old Wine Corks

Lea Stewart — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:00:53 +0000

If you are in the market for new footwear, do your part in adding to the material chain of custody by sipping on a bottle of your favorite vintage! In a partnership with ReCork, a North American cork recycling initiative, Canadian footwear manufacturer Sole has used over 40 million corks to produce their superior ergonomic footbeds. The cork collection includes men’s and women’s sandals, but we are excited to learn that Sole will be adding boots, ballet flats, casual slip-ons and lace-up looks next fall.

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Steven Alan, Hart Schaffner Marx Collaborate on Made-in-U.S.A. Suiting

Mike Chino — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 20:00:03 +0000

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Denham Turns Vintage Linens, Navy Blankets Into Military-Inspired Parkas

Morgana Matus — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:00:41 +0000

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John Bartlett Travels to Greece, India for Spring 2013 NY Fashion Week

Alyssa Alimurung — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 21:00:35 +0000

Photos by Amanda Coen for Ecouterre

Inspired from his travels from Mykonos to Mumbai, John Bartlett channeled a masculine yet soft and laid-back style at his Spring/Summer 2013 show at New York Fashion Week on Tuesday. “The idea is kind of a travelogue. There’s a real Mediterranean flavor mixed in with a very exotic Indian flavor,” Bartlett tells Ecouterre. Designing with the “plant-based man” in mind, Bartlett stuck with all-natural—and animal-friendly—linen for his looks, marrying his love of travel with his enthusiasm for yoga (the “om” symbol features heavily as a print). The result? Casual pinstripe suits and ties, long bermuda shorts, and even an easy-breezy djellaba for those hot summer afternoons. (Full review to follow.)

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Timbuk2 Launches “Full Cycle” Bags Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles

Lori Zimmer — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 19:00:52 +0000

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Eqo Optics Recycles Unwanted Skateboards Into Off-the-Hook Sunglasses

Jasmin Malik Chua — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:00:41 +0000

Eqo Optics is a small, Colorado-based outfit that transforms battered and broken skateboards into off-the-hook sunglasses. Handmade and finished in the company’s Colorado Springs workshop, each pair of shades preserves the multilayered remains of a deck that has long popped its last ollie. Eqo founders (and skateboarding enthusiasts) Jon Winfrey and Ryan Vecchiarelli saw, sand, and shape the wood into a Wayfarer-inspired silhouette, polishing every piece to a gleam with food-grade resins before inserting stainless-steel hinges and polarized Polaroid lenses.

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