A 'Simple' Do-It-Yourself

Simple is commited to producing shoes that are 100% sustainable. They strongly believe that 'HOW [they] make their shoes is just as important as WHY they make [their] shoes.' They have 'eco-sneaks' for women, men and children, as well as various styles of bags.

Stitch-It is a do-it-yourself shoe! Here we have the video for you so that you can follow the steps to making yourself or a friend a pair. If you want more DIY projects check out the 'overdue' video, featuring a how-to on making your own bag.

EnergyFACTory at Coachella

Eco-savvy individuals take note... the EnergyFACTory at Coachella will debut this year.

What it is: a solar energy art exhibit and demonstrations of alternate energy powered fun.
Who it's for: music lovers and energy efficient seekers alike.
What they have: Bike-powered cell phone chargers, eco-powered poster and screen printing, sustainable fashion and let us not forget the Coachella spirit --> good - no, great - music. They even have a solar powered DJ booth!

Elephant Pharm Scooter Raffle

You may already be familiar with the infamous green pharmacy and retailer: Elephant Pharm. Originating in Berkeley, CA, they have spread throughout the bay area and are reputed for their customer service and emphasis on health, wellness, and education.

They carry a wide selection of products that support a healthy lifestyle from herbal remedies to organic products to yoga gear to books. They also are one of the major pharmacies that offer free clinics and classes to educate individuals on healthy living.

AND in the spirit of everything going green, Elephant Pharm is currently raffling off a Zapino Electric Scooter (a $3195 value!) by summertime. All you have to do is sign up for Elephant & Friends, their frequent buyer's program, at any Elephant Pharm in April 2008. You'll automatically be registered for the free scooter drawing!

The scooter is the perfect vehicle to get around town as it is able to reach speeds of about 30 mph, so you can keep up with city traffic without contributing to city pollution. So hurry up and get your entry in so that you can do your part for the environment...before it's too late!

What does "Organic Cotton" Mean for Your Wardrobe?

Knowledge is Power.

Many companies these days are giving us the option of buying clothing made out of "organic cotton." And sure that sounds great. But do you know the intricacies of the label? Organic clothing is made from cotton grown on organic farms. Advocates say that it is better for the environment because it is made without pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers.

Treehugger.com gives it to us straight - saying, "Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically-dependent crops, sucking up 10% of all agricultural chemicals and 25% of insecticides on 3% of our arable land; that's more than any other crop per unit. That adds up to 1/3 of a pound of chemicals to produce enough cotton for a t-shirt, and 3/4 of a pound for a pair of jeans. And that's just not bad for the planet; 20,000 deaths occur each year from pesticide poisoning in developing countries, many of these from cotton farming, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)."

Organic cotton must be certified by a third party organization according to the rules and regulations of what is allowed in the cultivation process. In the U.S., the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has the final say to whether or not a product can be labeled "Organic Cotton."

However, this label applies only to the way the cotton is grown, not the way it is processed. And keep your eyes peeled, because just because a product may use organic cotton, it can also be made with synthetic materials as well. So look for those numbers that will tell you if something is 100% organic or not.

Eco-Razzi Reporting Banana's 'Green' Shirts Are, Well, Not So Much

Eco-Razzi reports on all the latest green gossip. We here at Edelbio have to admit we're addicted and regular readers of the blog.

Recently we posted a blog about Banana Republic's new eco-clothing line. We later noticed that Eco-Razzi had done the same. Heres what they had to say:

"Kicking off Monday with a little fashion news, we received a tip that Banana Republic has a new line of “eco-friendly” clothing that’s taking baby steps towards really being green.

Take for instance their new tank tops labeled as “an eco-friendly staple this season“. They are made from 87% cotton, 8% spandex, and 5% organic cotton. A source has revealed to us that these shirts “come in plastic bags that most of the stores just throw away because they can’t recycle.” Are we seeing here a classic case of greenwashing?

I guess it really depends on how you view their efforts. On one hand, BR is incorporating sustainable materials such as organic cotton, soy silk and bamboo that previously were not purchased for any percentage of their clothing empire. On the other, labeling something ‘eco-friendly’, even though 95% of it is not, seems a bit of a reach. Alessandra Brunialti, Banana Republic’s vice president of design for women, had this to say (via The LA Times): 

“A year ago, when we started this, we were trying to be super pure about it — have everything be completely organic,” she said. “And it was all becoming too much to do at once. Then our mantra became ‘One step at a time.’”

The lesson here is do your homework. If you really want to shop green, make sure you take a look at the labels so that what you’re buying actually makes sense for the planet. Something with 5% organics that comes wrapped in plastic might not make the cut." - Michael

Thanks Michael for the insight.

Banana Republic Goes Green

Banana Republic has hopped on the green wagon in honor of Earth Day this year. They have announced their commitment to "greening" their stores, packaging, and products.

Their stores have all been renovated with energy-saving halogen light bulbs and are trying to use recyclable paper products; they have ultimately reached an energy savings of 41%. Furthermore, the store has recently unveiled a line of Summer 2008 clothing created with completely organic cotton and other sustainable fibers.

And to take the theme just another step further, Banana Republic has decided to donate 1% of all their sales that take place during Earth Week - up to $100,000 - to conserving green city spaces. "This Earth Week initiative is the first step towards Banana Republic's 1 million dollar commitment to The Trust for Public Land. This initiative will strengthen efforts to create new parks and playgrounds for American cities," the company states.

That's an excuse for a shopping spree.

Check Out Gypsy05

GYPSY05 is a high end line of T-shirts for both men and women that have been spotted all over our favorite celebrities. Hayden Panettiere, Lauren Conrad, Christina Aguilera, and Mario Lopez are just a few of the celebrities that are addicted to this unique brand.

GYPSY05 was established three years ago by a brother and sister duo, Osi & Dotan Shoham. The two were born and raised in Israel, and went in their own directions to study elsewhere.

Lively Lives for Kooba

Blake Lively is becoming quite the starlet with acting roles in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Sandman, Accepted and most recently as Serena Van Der Woodsen on CW's Gossip Girl.

While shooting an upcoming episode she was caught leaving Silvercup Studios the latest environmentally-friendly handbag. The “Kooba for Barneys Green Eco Bag” is a limited-edition canvas tote.

Kooba is a line of designer handbags that all of young and old Hollywood can't get enough of. The Green Tote at Barneys has a price tag of $245 and is well worth it because you know that its eco-savvy and majorly fashionable.

Goings On Around Town: The Face Parlour Launch Party

We've mentioned Face Parlour before, but allow us to re-introduce.

Face Parlour was founded by Lauren Fornes, an esthetician with a goal to "democratize radiant skin." She found her calling after a successful career in luxury marketing and her own personal struggle with adult acne. Lauren loves to help her clients feel and look great, all while knowing the real ingredients in the products. Through the FaceParlour site, she shares her expertise and research with the hope of directing clients to skin care products that are effective, safe, and sustainable.

On April 22nd Face Parlour held a party at Spring in San Francisco for their official launch! Lauren greeted everyone as they walked in through the door. After being greeted by Lauren, guests were free to view the products of Spring, nibble on snacks, drink organic vodkas, and mingle amongst themselves.

Congratulations to Lauren and FaceParlour, we hope to be celebrating many anniversaries with you!

An Urban Renewal Exclusively at Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters is known for its trendy offbeat finds, but Urban Renewal is an exclusive line of clothing where each piece is made from an original vintage garment or recycled fabrics. Feel good about your purchase knowing that you're in style and wearing a 'one-of-a-kind' as well as a recyclable.

Barack, Hillary and John - How Green are They?

The presidential race continues, with Pennslyvania's big democratic primary this Tuesday. The race gets closer and closer, and we're trying to figure out who will take on John McCain in the fall race for the presidency. Will it be Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama? 

As you listen to the results and do the mental comparisons in your head, here is something else to consider: Where does your candidate stand on everything green?

Grist.org has summed up the positions on global warming of our three main candidates. Here they are, below.

Hillary Clinton has long recognized climate change as a problem but was vague about solutions until early November 2007, when she released one of the most comprehensive and well-researched energy plans of the campaign season. Like plans offered earlier by John Edwards and Barack Obama, it proposes a cap-and-trade system that would cut greenhouse-gas emissions 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, and would auction 100 percent of the pollution permits. Overall, the two biggest areas of focus are efficiency and investment. The former would boost standards for everything from vehicles to buildings to the electricity grid; the latter would channel money to renewables, plug-in hybrids, and carbon sequestration. Clinton would also create a National Energy Council to coordinate action across federal agencies. The plan is not radically different from those put forward by her Democratic competitors, but in typical Clinton fashion, all the i's are dotted and t's crossed. -- DR

Barack Obama was largely platitudinous on energy and climate for the early part of his campaign. His rhetoric soared, but his policy ideas were tepid. He even, to the horror of greens, did some cheerleading for liquefied coal. All was forgiven when he released his energy and climate plan in October 2007. It was thoughtful, detailed, expansive, and ambitious. His cap-and-trade system would aim for 80 percent emission reductions by 2050 and would auction 100 percent of the pollution permits. The proposal also described a $150 billion investment plan to boost clean energy and create green jobs, along with fine-grained proposals to boost efficiency, build a smart electricity grid, and encourage public transportation. -- DR

John McCain has been outspoken about global warming. He introduced the first major bill in the Senate to address it: the Climate Stewardship Act of 2003, cosponsored with Joe Lieberman. Reintroduced in 2005 and again in 2007, it would establish a cap-and-trade system aimed at lowering greenhouse-gas emissions 65 percent by 2050 -- and heavily supporting nuclear power. McCain has supported modest increases in fuel-efficiency standards, and has spoken out against handouts to Big Oil. He used to be almost alone in Congress in opposing ethanol subsidies, but since launching his current presidential campaign, he has changed his tune. -- DR

For more information on the candidates green position, check out this chart or the candidate's websites.

Happy voting...

Earth Day Outfit

Earth Day is upon us - and I'm sure you're trying to figure out just what the cutest Earth Day out fit would be.

Here is my suggestion:

Try this Susina® Pointelle Scoop Neck Sweater from Nordstroms. Pair it with some shorts or a flowy skirt. Dress up the outfit with these accessories from Forever21. The earrings and ring come in silver or gold. You're going to look cute all while fashionably representing the cause!

Celeb-Watch: Drew Barrymore, Heidi Klum

Ready for even more celebrity endorsements of eco-products?

Drew Barrymore is a fan of Cheeky Monkey Jewelry. Simon Cardwell's creations are not only beautiful but they are each 100% recycled silver and gold, guaranteed fair-trade, and 10% of the proceeds go to the World Wildlife Fund. Purchase yourself a cute pendant of your favorite endangered species and support the World Conservation Union.

Heidi Klum dresses her adorable children in Childish Clothing, a line of eco-friendly kids clothing. Childish Clothing also carries maternity wear for mom and lots of fun, quirky gifts.

This Week, Top Button Goes Eco

Top Button is celebrating Earth Day all week, but they're kicking it off with the launch of their new eco-friendly section: ECO-BUTTON.

Eco-Button will keep you posted on which celebrities are going green and what designers are doing the same. It'll help you discover new eco-friendly products, boutiques, and online shops. They inform you on exclusive industry and trade events and they give you a green tip each week.

Check out the Eco-Events & Who's Going Green. We'll keep you updated about them too!

Who What Wear Daily is Catching On...Line

The ladies of Who What Wear Daily report to their readers the absolute latest in fashion, from who was wearing what to how to wear what the celebrities are wearing. 

Katherine Power and Hillary Kerr have stepped up their game by now broad casting mini episodes on their WWWD TV! Their most recent episode covers a topic we love dearly, Earth Friendly Fashion:

Two Sides to Every Story

Trade association Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) - formally the CTFA - is trying to fight back against recent health scares and accusations of the industry, saying that "good science should guide good decision making."

John Bailey, Ph.D, is the chief scientist at the PCPC, said that the claims of lead in lipstick were "simply not true." He said that the scare tactics used by organizations to show that "grave dangers lie on cosmetics shelves" mislead the public.

The internet - having changed the way we communicate - has increased the ability for lobby groups to disseminate information. This is great, but at the same time, you simply cannot take everything you read on the internet to be true. "Readers have to be critical," he noted, and seek out difference sources of information - not just lobby groups. (This goes true for everything, we think.) One such possibility is the website www.cosmeticsinfo.org. Why not? There are two sides to every story...

Taxes Shmaxes

It's TAX DAY! Hopefully you have all filed your taxes on time this year. But for those last minute people who are scrambling to get to a mail box, here's a tip: Do your taxes online. It's instantaneous and it's good for the environment! Instead of printing out sheets and sheets of paper to be mailed out, you can let the internet do it all for you. Plus - it'll catch your errors for you.

And if you're thinking of ways to spend that refund check. Here's a good one: buy something green! Like some organic clothing, or an energy-saving appliance.

Sephora: THE BOOK!

Sephora has published its very first beauty book, entitled Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin and Hair From The Beauty Authority. It is jam-packed with great beauty secrets. It includes how-to’s and pro tips that were originally reserved for the beauty insider industry.

Melissa Schweiger, fashion and beauty journalist and former Sephora beauty editor, is the author of this one-of-a-kind guide. She went to New York University and graduated with a BA in journalism. She has worked at New York Magazine, Hamptons Magazine, Seventeen and Marie Claire.

If you’re absolutely addicted to Sephora and the guide just isn’t enough you may want to get more tips and information on the latest trends at Sephora's blog. Perhaps you need more visuals than text - check out Sephora on YouYube. It has all the tips and how-to's on video along with some behind-the-scenes action.

More Green, This Time on TV

Just about everything is going green. It was just a matter of time till TV went more green too! The Sundance Channel will be premiering "the GREEN" - a regularly scheduled programming destination dedicated entirely to the environment. They are also offering eco-tips, green guide, and a greenzine! Join their eco-community and check out their blog.

If you'd much rather watch something than read something, I would recommend checking out all of the eco-videos that they have online - the first of which is called Big Ideas for a Small Planet.