EarthPositive apparel is a good example of taking it to the next level. Yes, they are just basics likely to be used for promotional means (think band t-shirts and convention give aways) and not something we are going to see gracing the runways of any fashion week…ever, but given the mainstream appetite for t-shirts and hoodies, I think these guys are on the right track. Yes, cutting back on promotional items that no one really ever wears anyway (except perhaps to paint in or clean house) is ultimately where we need to go, but in the mean time, this is a step in the right direction. Here’s what they have to say.What are CLIMATE NEUTRAL T-shirts?

Climate Neutral means our industrial greenhouse gas
emissions have been reduced to pre-industrial levels through low-
impact (low emission) organic agriculture and carbon neutral
industrial manufacturing, achieved through substituting energy use
from fossil fuel powered power stations (grey electricity) with
clean renewable ‘green’ energy from wind turbines and solar power.

What is EarthPositive?

EarthPositive is a green revolution in promotional apparel.
The humble T-shirt, the most basic canvas for communicating a
brand name, corporate identity, or political slogan, and especially through youth audiences, has become the environmental product. EarthPositive T-shirts and sweatshirts will give consumers a familiar and readily understood medium through which to take action on climate change, just by wearing what they feel comfortable in. In business, Carbon Neutral EarthPositive T-shirts will make sustainability a competitive advantage for switched-on promotional apparel re-sellers and their customers. These new products will allow businesses to compete on their competitor’s traditional turf and lure away key accounts.

Why?

In response to the growing concerns for climate change, we are
able to manufacture EarthPositive apparel solely using sustainable
energy generated from wind and solar power. We do not burn any
fossil fuels, and all manufacturing processes are done in one
location to minimize transportation. The organic cotton is planted
and harvested by hand, without mechanization, and because organic
farming does not use petroleum based chemical fertilizer,
pesticides or herbicides, it is less reliant on fossil fuels.
EarthPositive apparel is made to demonstrate the highest possible
environmental and social standards, in one of the world’s most
environmentally damaging industries, and to provide the
promotional garment industry with an everyday medium to promote
awareness and take action on climate change.

In addition to these lofty standards, EarthPositive has a pretty impressive list of 3rd party certifications. Their apparel is certified 100% organic under the Global Organic Textile Standard, not an easy standard to meet I might add, they are licensed by the Soil Association, and they are certified Class I by the Oeko-Tex 100 Standard. The Oeko-Tex 100 standard sets restrictions on harmful substances which can be found in a finished textile product. While their apparel is made in India, they state that, “EarthPositive apparel is made as ethically as possible. EarthPositive manufacturing facilities have been audited by the Fair Wear Foundation, certified by GOTS, and are being licensed as Fairtrade / Max Havelaar by the FLO“. Finally, in addition to manufacturing in climate neutral facilities, the final product is “distributed through carbon neutral warehouses in London which use only renewable green electricity.

The shirts and hoodies do come in a variety of vibrant shades, which might leave you wondering about the dying process, which is that end of the production process most in “sustainable” apparel that is still in need of improvement. According to EarthPositive, the Oeko-Tex 100 Standard applies particularly to the dyes used to color their garments, meaning that the dyes are guaranteed to be safe for human health, and they are also approved for use under the GOTS. The processing of the dye effluent takes place in a controlled, “closed loop” purification system, which uses treatment ponds, carbon filtration and reverse osmosis top convert the waste water into drinkable water.

Pretty impressive I would say. Now let’s hope they stick around and set a new standard in apparel production. Greenloop will be looking pretty closely at EarthPositive as a source for any in-house T’s or hoodies that might come down the pike.

While all of the designers we carry make amazing goods that are far easier on the planet than their conventional counterparts, and they go above and beyond in every way they do business to be responsible, it has irked me to no end that the majority of these items are shipped to us in a million plastic bags. I should say that not ALL of our designers use plastic bags, but thus far, more of the apparel companies use them than not. Helen E. Riegle ships her beautiful bags in a biodegradable plastic bag, while others simply pack theirs in paper. Have you, our customers, ever wondered why the clothing in your order is NOT in a plastic bag? The reason is that we keep them because I know we can reuse and recycle them here at Portland facilities, and not everyone, everywhere, has such facilities readily available. This has been standard practice for us, and unfortunately, we are never short in the plastic bag department, but imagine my delight when I unpacked our first Fall item from Anna Cohen, to discover that she did NOT ship her goods in conventional plastic bags, but rather, in biodegradable bags from a pretty cool company called Trellis Earth! Kudos to you Anna, for taking your sustainable mission to the next level. Here’s to hoping you can will serve as example for everyone else to follow.

Tapping into the power of pop culture, Portland’s Sameunderneath has grown from a simple idea for a senior thesis to a nationally recognized sustainable clothing brand. According to Ecorazzi, celebs such as Minnie Driver, Ricky Martin, Ben Harper, Nelly Furtado and many others are dedicated fans of the brand.

Sameunderneath uses sustainable, renewable fibers (cashmere and bamboo) to create a line of well-fitting garments that fit in anywhere from a backyard BBQ to a summer concert stage. “Sameunderneath’s collection has been developed for conscious individuals that are aware of their personal effect on this planet through education, art, music, sport, fashion and life,” says the company’s website, which also has an online store with their most recent, Fall 2007, collection for both men and women. Most of their items are free of logos or designs, but a few (like the men’s shirt pictured here) feature images even a graphic designer would love.

On October 20th, Sameunderneath will premier their next collection at Portland Fashion Week, and you can be sure we are going to bring you all their stylish offerings.

In searching the land for fabulous bags that are easy on the planet, we came across Love Mert and it was love at first sight. The mission of Love Mert is to create accessories that stand apart from the crowd while putting an emphasis on environmental and social responsibility. Each limited edition or one-of-a-kind accessory is a collage of recycled, vintage and found materials that have painstakingly been collected from many a random locale. The clutch bags have a metal spring frame that pops open and stays open for easy access, then snaps shut for a secure closure. The tote is perfect for a shopping jaunt so you can stash your wallet as well as a few finds along the way. Each bag is hand crafted by Melissa, the designer and creator behind this lovely line, and the care she takes with each bag shows.

Check out the Grist interactivist Q&A with Tierra Del Forte and then click on back and grab some denim for yourself at Greenloop.

From the article:
What work do you do?
I’m a designer and the founder of Del Forte Denim.

How does it relate to the environment?
We design and manufacture a line of premium organic denim for women. We also strive to educate consumers about the dangers of conventional cotton agriculture and the restorative effect of organic farming. Non-organic cotton can cause permanent damage to the soil, the water, the air, and to farm workers. Our jeans are made entirely in the U.S., and we’ve chosen to use 100 percent organic cotton.

continue reading…

You can’t get an iPod built from sustainable materials (yet) but you can get a case made from recycled billboard vinyl.

The I-Pod/Cell Phone Case from Vy&Elle has a padded vinyl front and back, snug sides of black elastic and attaches to clothing with a vinyl-covered belt clip on the back.

Greenloop has been carrying Vy&Elle since we opened and their products are top quality. They use vinyl billboards from around the nation which would usually be discarded into landfills where they create toxic pollution. Instead, the strength of PVC vinyl makes it an ideal material for reuse. And because of the different images printed on the vinyl, it’s even more interesting as a fabric. It offers colorful graphics that take urban art into everyday living. Each bag and accessory item has its own unique “one of a kind” look without the high designer price. With random colors and designs, every product made is different, offering a chance to carry a piece of art on a shoulder, in a pocketbook or in the home.

The iPod case from Vy&Elle is available from Greenloop for $22.00 US.

Green Toe is a new line of shoes by California based shoe company, Simple. Here is what they have to say: “It is pretty hard to find comfortable shoes that don’t force you into some stereotype or just look stupid. So we started Simple, a nice little shoe company that offers an alternative to all the over-built, over-priced, and over-hyped products out there. How we do this is just as important as why we do it. Sure, we want to make a difference. But we want to make things better too. Better for the people we work with and better for the planet we live on. That means change. Changing the things we take from the planet. Changing the things we make. And changing the things we waste.

Our future and our existence demand more than we have given. And taken. It is our mission is to leave the world better than we find it. ‘Cause what we stand for is what we stand in and what we stand on.”

Select Green Toe styles for men & women will be available at www.thegreenloop.com starting June 1, 2006.

When was the last time you saw parts of an 18-wheeler truck sashay down the runway at a fashion show? Well, you’re about to if Heather English of Boulder Colorado, owner-designer of English Retreads has her way.

Heather has been making a reality of “On the Road Again” since 2001 by designing and producing stunning handbags, book bags, totes, backpacks and belts from discarded truck and tractor inner tubes rescued from landfills. The original tubes probably have over 60,000 miles on them before Heather adds her classic designs and gives them a whole new life.

Shop English Retreads at Greenloop