Women’s Wear Daily is considered by some as the “bible of fashion.” And while I don’t actually feel God/Jehovah/Krishna/Muhammed/Madonna (yes, I mean Ciccone) has spoken here, we are still quite thrilled to see Greenloop and owner Aysia Wright be lauded by this industry tome as the “Zappos of sustainable brands.”

Being awarded the Best Online Shop by Treehugger’s Best In Green Awards and getting recognized by WWD all at once has made for quite a (I’m gonna stick with the religious angle here) blessing. Check out the article by Jennifer Ernst Beaudry here…

Aysia Wright was a lawyer and environmental activist in the spring of 2004, when she decided that fashion retail would be her next challenge. “I wanted to get out of practicing law, and I felt that fashion is so pervasive it can serve as a catalyst, and it was a really good platform for an environmental message,” she said. In September of that year, Wright founded her 900-sq.-ft. Portland, Ore., eco-boutique, Greenloop, and launched a Website soon after. Both carry a mix of clothing and footwear. In the beginning, it wasn’t easy to grow her niche — with green retail not as recognizable or widespread as it is today, and with fewer brands to choose from. But working in a field she’s so passionate about has its upside. “It was a huge challenge,” Wright said, “but it’s fun. And within the design community, [green brands] are a nice group of people to work for and advocate for.”

THE RIGHT MIX
To be considered for Greenloop, Wright said, brands have to fill out a detailed questionnaire about where they manufacture, what textiles they use, where they source and more. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis — but no matter how good the green pedigree is, she said, the shoes have to be durable and trend-right. If not, Wright explained, “[the shoes] are inherently unsustainable because no one will wear them and they won’t last.” Greenloop stocks shoes from Beyond Skin, Melissa Shoes, Toms, Simple, Terra Plana, Autonomie Project and Charmoné. Prices range from $30 to $350, and shoes, available for men and women, account for 15 percent to 20 percent of the store’s business, which registers slightly less than $1 million a year. Variety, Wright said, is key: “There’s a little something for everyone.”

Your favorite ladies deserve to be treated like queens on Valentine’s Day, and that includes Mother Earth. At least one, if not all, of these eco-friendly Valentine’s Day gifts will make your wife, Mom, best friend, sister, boss, girlfriend, or weekend fling extremely happy. And if you must get something for all of them, it’s really not hard to do with these extremely affordable options.

Crown Your Eco Queen

Still chilly in your neck of the woods? Crown your favorite queen with the chic cashmere cap by legendary eco couture designer Deborah Lindquist. This adorable, super soft hat is made in the USA from 100% recycled cashmere sweaters to keep those regal ladies in your life super toasty. And you know what’s even better than a cute couture hat that’s sustainably made? The fact that it’s majorly on sale. Happy lady, happy wallet, Happy Valentine’s Day! $55 (Down from $110)

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Regift

Who knew regifting for Valentine’s Day could be so cool? Art meets eco meets technology with these beautiful crimson and orange hearts by Heart Is Hot. Made in the US from 100% recycled glass, each HIH piece is etched with its own individual number, the epic flower of life symbol, and the Heart Is Hot web address. What makes these so cool is that everyone who gives or receives this heart logs on to HeartIsHot.com and tells their story of how it came into their life and what inspired them to pass it on to the next person. The physical journey of each traveling heart is tracked at HeartIsHot.com, using a custom Google map, and each piece has an archive of “heart stories“  associated with it that anyone can go to the site and read. These make the perfect gift for those people in your life who are huge romantics, big supporters of conscious commerce, need a deeply heartfelt gift, or just really love a good story. As Heart Is Hot founder Sahara Damore says, “Heart Is Hot represents re-gifting at its finest.” $24.99 ($2 of which is donated to the Unstoppable Giving Foundation…this gift really keeps on giving!)

jack&marjorie use military surplus materials such as wool blankets, ground sheets, parachutes and webbing, then combine them with more feminine elements including vintage lace, silk, brocade and buttons to create unique yet functional handbags and accessories. In the Quince Clutch, they use tent canvas and vegetable tanned leather and accent the two fabrics elegantly with pin-tuck detailing and vintage buttons. This zippered puch is lined with organic cotton twill and is made in Canada. Make sure to match your new clutch with a jack&marjorie Enoki Wallet. So charming.

Whether you’re thinking Jackie O. or Michelle O., the classic cut and styling of the Grace & Cello Poet Dress is undeniable. The beauty of a true classic is both versatility and durability, and this little sleeveless number has got both. Organic cotton twill shell with silk lining, you can wear this knee length shift to the office, a 5-star restaurant, wedding, funeral, bar mitzvah, bris, poker game, polo match, fashion show, farmer’s market, cocktail hour, choir practice, Vegas, Virgin Islands, Venice-you get me. All Grace & Cello garments are lovingly made in a Canadian design studio. The Poet Dress was $174, and is now marked down to only $87. Sizes are going fast, so if you want it, get it! Also highly recommended is their emerald green racer back camisole, so elegant and only $49.

This organic cotton hand-stitched tie is Made In The USA by the innovators at Crow Clothing. The assymetrical point definitely gives you a “too hip to be square” kind of feeling. Men can feel right and tight in the black or clay version of this sustainable menswear basic. Did your mother ever tell you that whatever men can do, a woman can do it better? Well, that might just apply when it comes to this tie, because what could be hotter than a stunning woman in a white button-up, tie, and sweater vest tucked into some high-waisted dark denim jeans with a skinny belt? Am I projecting here? Fall’s coming up ladies and gentlemen, so get this autumnal accessory while it’s on sale for only $32!

These bright blue beauties from Simple Shoes feature hemp uppers, certified organic cotton woven linings, recycled car tire pedbeds, super cute button snaps, 100% post consumer paper pulp foot forms, water based cements to hold everything together, and even ships in a totally start-of-the-art post-consumer recycled box. They were $50, but for just a few more days these Eco Sneaks are marked down to $25…and we just got them in!

Tom’s Shoes are always buy one, get one free. For every pair you buy, a pair is given to a child in need of shoes. Tom’s has given away thousands of pairs of these canvas shoes to kids in Argentina and South Africa. Not only do the shoes feel incredibly good to wear, they feel incredibly good to buy.

A lot of eco-conscious fashion mavens complain that they just can’t make the switch to ethical fashion based simply on the fact that the garments are too damn expensive. Well, now that organic cotton is showing up everywhere from H & M to Target to Wal-Mart, and eco fashion stalwarts like Greenloop are hosting incredible sales, finding affordable styles isn’t a problem any more. In this addition of Green Your Closet 2008, we’ll give you some easy-to-find and financially realistic eco fashion options. Finally!

Vintage Value

There is absolutely nothing like finding a Marc Jacobs riding jacket for $40 or a Diane Von Furstenburg wrapdress circa 1977 for $100 that no one at your local consignment store seems to realize is worth a mint on eBay. The experience is truly exhilarating. What fashionista on a budget would not thrill at having the greatest names in fashion hanging in his or her closet?

Designer labels aside, there are tons of treasures waiting for you at your neighborhood thrift store, consignment shop, or Buffalo Exchange. Buying used clothing is the top way to put the eco into fashion and the bargain into shopping. Not only do vintage pieces push the style envelope, it’s also worth noting that if a piece has lasted thirty plus years without falling apart, it probably has a much longer lifespan than something from H&M. Ask around town for the best vintage spots and you may just stumble across bargain shopping goldmines that were right under your nose the whole time.

Eco Fashion Finds

Greenloop is not only the best eco fashion online store around (okay, I’m completely biased-it’s true), but owner Aysia Wright keep the Sale section of the online store poppin’ with incredible deals on eco-luxe lines like Anna Cohen, Stewart + Brown, Carol Young, and Loyale from 30-50% off.

White Apricot is completely devoted to providing coupons for eco fashion and beauty lines for 15-30% off. If you are a super bargain hunter, consider subscribing to the White Apricot email newsletter to receive special offers that are not available to regular viewers of the site. The people behind White Apricot are absolute gems, and are always looking to get you the best deal out there.

Mainstream Green

Levi Strauss and Co. has been manufacturing organic cotton jeans since the Fall of 2006. The Levi’s Eco line has grown to include 7 jean styles in multiple colors, a mini-skirt, and a denim jacket. The Women’s line ranges from $48-78, but right now the jacket is $49, the skirt is $39, and some of the jeans are as low as $29. The Levi’s Eco Men’s line carries two styles of jean, at full price, only $68. It’s wonderful to see the OG of the denim world create classics that preserve the pristine nature that those original cowboys, who made denim pants popular, got to see every day on the range.

Target is starting to show signs of interest in sustainability…just barely. Rogan For Target (Rogan Gregory is the eco fashion demigod behind Loomstate and Edun) was released last month and offers a wide variety of organic cotton pieces for $16.99-$49.99. Make sure to read the fine print on the descriptions though! Some of the garments are sadly still being made of petroleum-based polyester. Sad, Rogan, sad. Bad, Target, bad. Even eco fashionistas want justice! Be sure to call Target and tell them you do not want to be misled about eco fashion choices at (800) 440-0680..make sure to follow the prompts regarding merchandise on the online store. The call took me just under three minutes. If you do still want to enjoy the incredible organic cotton pieces from Rogan For Target, read the details and buy only the pieces made of 100% organic cotton.

If you’re willing to dig through a bit of clothing and controversy, there are many options out there for the bargain-hunting eco fashionista. Enjoy.

Let us know where you find your green style steals in the Comments section of this post!

Greenloop’s 1st Annual ReShirt Contest has come to a close. Each contestant had to take a t-shirt they already owned, and with only snipping and tying techniques, refashion their T into an original one-of-a-kind creation. The Winner issssssssss……drum roll……deep breath……hold it……..issssssss…..Angelina Schneider of Long Beach, CA! She has won a $300 gift certificate from Greenloop and a 30-minute virtual styling session from celebrity stylist Barbra Horowitz! Angelina’s design used a free oversized Legalize LA shirt from American Apparel’s campaign to ease the bureaucracy that immigrants must face to work legally in the US.

This 31-year-old Cal State dance student sliced open the back to fashion a corset-like closure, turning the men’s t-shirt into a sexy one-of-a-kind for the stage, club, beach, or BBQ. By removing the bottom four inches of fabric from the shirt, Angelina was able to create a detachable bustle, which she tied around her waist. Apparently the bustle can also be attached at the neck for an 1880′s meets the 1980′s Hot For Teacher look. Spicy!

In close 2nd, was Chelsea Ferrette, hailing from our nation’s capital. An attorney by day and crafter by night, Chelsea rocked her DC pride with the redo of this DC Scores Cup “Sharks Vs. Suits” commemorative T from 2007. In addition to some ultra feminine split sleeves, Chelsea worked magic by weaving a gathered seam under the bust on this (now) bangin’ number. Though this is the first t-Shirt Chelsea has reworked without using needle and thread, you’d never know. As the 2nd place winner, she has won Barbra Horowitz’s style bible, Closet Control, and a $50 gift certificate to Greenloop!

And from Greenloop’s home state of Oregon, comes Jennifer Osawa’s standout Angel Dress for 3rd place! This stay-at-home mom has two daughters (14 months and 2 years). Reflecting on her involvement in ReShirt, Jennifer stated, “I do what I can to be environmentally conscious, but find myself running into the edges of our budget often. I am always on the lookout for things I can do to be green. Limiting my family’s carbon footprint is important to me…I want my children to respect and enjoy our world and all living things. For this dress I used a bunch of old stained onesies that I didn’t know what to do with, along with some scraps from my other reshirt project. I love how it turned out.” Well, it looks like Jennifer’s daughter loved how it turned out as well…this whimsical recycled fairy dress is adorable on her! Jennifer is walking away with a copy of Closet Control and a $25 gift certificate to Greenloop.

Honorable mentions go out to Marina Diehl who crafted a gorgeous dress out of her Dad’s old T’s, but couldn’t win because there were some details she created by sewing-Marina’s a rebel, what can we say? Another honorable mention goes out to Kelly Schirm of Portland who created a sassy belted look and turned old T to hot T. Also, shout outs to Jennifer Sweckard and Wendy Morgan for their nice detailing work.

Aysia Wright, owner of Greenloop and ReShirt’s primary judge, was extremely pleased with the outcome of the first ReShirt Contest. “The best part for me was that the contestants were so excited to participate and thankful for the opportunity to do so. Its great fun to see people exercise their creativity, and it was a great opportunity to demonstrate ‘upcycling’ in action as well. There is quite a bit of potential gathering dust in most people’s closets. All they need is a little inspiration to get started.” Well, inspiration is indeed what Aysia and Barbra manifested with this collaborative contest. Thanks to all those who participated, and to the big winners-happy shopping!