Buffalo Exchange runs fur drive to keep animals warm

Resale retailer Buffalo Exchange has partnered with Coats for Cubs to accept donated fur attire and repurpose it as blankets to protect animals from wintry cold temperatures.

Shoppers can drop off their real fur coats, scarves, hats, and other accessories at any Buffalo Exchange store. The fur will be shipped out to animal rehab centers and disassembled to create bedding for orphaned and injured animals.

In 2011, Buffalo Exchange, along with the Humane Society of the United States, Gucci, Macy's, Charlotte Ronson, and other major retailers, endorsed the Truth in Fur Labeling Act of 2010, which stopped manufacturers from mislabeling real fur priced under $150 as faux fur.   

Only real furs will be accepted starting this week till Earth Day on April 22. Information is available at: http://coatsforcubs.com.

With factory collapse in Bangladesh, should we care about where our clothes come from?

Ethical fashion grabbed the spotlight this week with the news of a garment factory collapse in Bangladesh killing over 400 workers. The sweatshop conditions are a problem throughout the world, and as we pick up clothes from our favorite stores, should we care about where they were made?

Currently, 98% of clothing sold in the U.S. is made in other countries, according to NPR. From looking at the tags in my closet, China, India, and Indonesia are top producers.

Though I support eco-fashion, it doesn't necessarily include ethical fashion. With eco-fashion, we think sustainable fabrics, dyes extracted from organic sources, or reductions in water and energy usage. We see "fair trade"  a lot but "sweatshop-free" hasn't been as visible. My pajama pants, for example, are 100% organic cotton but made in India. The major company could assure consumers the factory in India has met its requirements, but we would never really know.

This case made the news because scores of people lost their lives, but there has to be similar cases elsewhere. Companies should be more upfront to consumers about where they produce their clothes and make an effort to pay fair wages, set fair hours, and provide stable facilities for garment workers.

With the digital age, companies can even use social media, video production, and other skills to start campaigns on showing the work done inside these factories to show the consumer ethical fashion is a priority. Most companies won't, but now the companies willing to make this effort will stand out.

Beyoncé models H&M swimsuit line for WaterAid

Beyoncé is at it again flaunting her curves in swimwear but this time it's for a good cause.

Image: H&M.

Eco-fashion retailer H&M's latest environmental campaign will support WaterAid. With the Water collection, complete with swimsuits and other summer must-haves for the beach, H&M plans to donate 25 percent of those sales to the international nonprofit.

Beyoncé, who embarks on her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour today, will appear in commercials for the campaign and debut new song, "Standing on the Sun," in May. 

WaterAid improves access to clean water and sanitation for communities in need across the globe. The organization works on the ground to implement sustainable projects and on the policy floor to support water protection.

Over the past ten years, H&M’s initiative with WaterAid has raised $3.9 million. The collection will be available in stores and online in May.

Oscars 2013: the eco-fashion highlights

Eco-fashionable celebs made a splash on the red carpet at the 2013 Oscars.

Veteran actress Helen Hunt, nominated for Best Supporting Actress in her role in The Sessions, surprised everyone when she announced on the red carpet she was wearing a sapphire gown from H+M for Global Green USA.

Image: people.com.

Skyfall Bond girl Naomie Harris wore a golden gown from the Red Carpet Green Challenge, a contest designed by Suzy Amis Cameron, wife of famed director James Cameron and eco-couture advocate.

Up-and-coming designers turn in the best award-worthy gowns made from sustainable materials to judges like Vivienne Westwood. This year, 20-year-old Ghanaian designer Michael Badger won the honor to have his gown debut at the Oscars. 

Image: people.com.

The sustainable gown is made from organic silk dyed with chamomile and goldenrod embroidered with vintage beads and recycled chocolate wrappers, according to Naomie's Twitter and Facebook.

Relive the eco-glamour of Oscars 2012.

Bradley Cooper wears eco-tux at Golden Globes

Image: Green Carpet Challenge.

Sunday night, I watched the glitz and glamour of the Golden Globes, but I paid special attention to the Red Carpet pre-show to see if any celeb wore green fashion, and it turned out actor Bradley Cooper did!

Cooper, nominated for his lead role in Silver Linings Playbook, donned a Tom Ford tux made from European spun and woven wool. Though not exactly vegan, it was certified to be free of harmful chemicals by the OEKO-TEX textile testing system.

The eco-fashion statement was brought to you by the Green Carpet Challenge where famous eco-fashionistas Livia Firth and Lucy Siegle convince celebs to wear eco-couture by well-known and up-and-coming fashion designers.

Check out some posts from last year about celebs wearing eco-fashion at snazzy shows: 

Livia Firth wears eco-couture @ Oscars

Oscars 2012: the eco-fashion/eco-beauty highlights

Celebs wear Prophetik gowns on red carpet

Greenpeace's Detox campaign goes after Zara

To fight textile production waste pollution, Greenpeace launched the Detox campaign last year for the fashion industry to stop polluting the environment with hazardous chemicals. But one fashion giant has yet to make a commitment, and that's Zara.

Some companies like Nike, Puma, and H+M that occasionally produce eco-fashion merchandise pledged to find ways to get rid of waste responsibly rather than tossing it in waterways and destroying public health. Zara, the world's top fashion retailer, has not joined the campaign. After some testing, Greenpeace found traces of carcinogens mostly from dyes on Zara products. 

Zara, known for setting the trends, also uses sustainable fabrics like organic cotton.

Macy's, Nature Conservancy team up to save Amazon rainforest

INC International Concepts Beaded
Print Top, $89.50, macys.com.

Eco-fashion doesn't only encompass using eco-friendly and sustainable fabrics, it can also include regular fashion donating profits to an environmental cause.

Wednesday's episode of ABC's The View revealed the latest trends of the fashion lines associated with Macy's. The island-themed attire and fashion show surrounded Brazil with some of the profits being donated to the Nature Conservancy for "A Magical Journey: Brasil" campaign to save rainforests. The campaign runs from April 22-July 15, 2012.

The conservancy will receive 10% of the sale price of every item sold at O Mercado, a specialty boutique inside 300 Macy's stores nationwide with Brazilian-inspired fashion. Till the end of May, the "Give, Get and Save the Rainforest" at all 800 Macy's stores will encourage customers to give $3 to receive a savings pass for 15-20% off any item storewide. Macy's will donate 100% of those $3 to the conservancy. 

The campaign promotes designers like Isabela Capeto and Art da Terra, both specializing in eco-friendly handmade jewelry.


A list of upcoming promotional events (aka fashion shows) can be found here. Macy's hopes to reach a goal of $1 million to give to the conservancy to save the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.

Vivienne Westwood designs 'War and Peace' shirt for climate refugees

Supermodel extraordinaire Naomi
Campbell wears the "War and Peace"
T-shirt, $40, viviennewestwood.co.uk.

Iconic fashion designer Vivienne Westwood has lent her hand into environmental issues yet again by creating the 100% organic cotton "War and Peace" T-shirt for the Environmental Justice Foundation's "No Place Like Home" campaign. 

Funds will go to assisting the millions of environmental refugees forced from their homes every day due to environmental hardships caused by global climate change. Since this new phenomenon is sweeping the world, countries don't know how to react to the issue, so EJF is trying to spread the word through its campaign. 


From the archives: Vivienne Westwood reveals sustainable line

Levi's, Water.org join forces in water shortage crisis

One billion people across the globe do not have access to clean drinking water. With the threat of climate change, water is becoming more scarce in these regions. Denim company Levi's built a partnership with Water.org to improve clothing production by using less water.

Levi's Water<Less multimedia campaign involves a variety of products including jeans, tries to get people motivated to do challenges, and shows videos of people living without clean water or working to get water back to these communities. 

According to the website, Levi's has made over 13 million Water<Less products and saved almost 45.5 million gallons of water.

One piece of advice Levi's is leaving for consumers is if they wash their Water<Less jeans once a week rather than twice a week, then we can all save over 226 million gallons of water.



Modern Bold Curve Ankle Skinny Jeans, $68, us.levi.com.

Pleated High Waist Shorts in Russet, $68, us.levi.com.

Modern Supreme Curve Straight Jeans in Early Dawn, $78, us.levi.com.



Celebs wear Prophetik gowns on red carpet

More celebs are sashaying down the red carpet in green fashion. The latest supporter is actress Suzy Amis Cameron, who wore a silver gray Prophetik by Jeff Garner gown made from peace or ahimsa silk, at the international film premiere of 1997's Titanic in 3D. 

Director James Cameron and actress wife Suzy Amis Cameron on the red carpet at the Titanic 3D premiere in London. Image: upi.com.

Even musician Esperanza Spalding wore a similar version of the Prophetik dress in sky blue last month at the Oscars. 

Musician Esperanza Spalding on the red carpet at the Oscars last month in Los Angeles. Image: vogue.com.

H+M launches Versace line

However exciting to get 

über-designer products way cheaper, nothing's eco-friendly in the newly revealed Versace for H+M line.

There's leather. There's silk. All the fabrics we've been brainwashed to appreciate because they feel soft or last longer though they're not vegan. 

Since it's the fashion house of Versace entering H+M stores, it's understandable the luxurious items have a larger carbon footprint. 

But how much responsibility does a clothing company have to uphold its eco-reputation? And if more money comes in as a result of this new line, will it become greener? So many questions, but, of course, the line is hot!

Reese Witherspoon carries illegal python leather bag

From Ecouterre: Actress Reese Witherspoon sports a python-skin leather bag. Typical day in Hollywood, but there's more...

It's not vegan, but it is illegal to sell or buy python leather products in California. 

Though there's a possibility she didn't get it in the state, is it still ethical to get it elsewhere?

Angel Jackson python eco-leather handbags

With press coverage in the September issue of Marie Claire, U.K. eco-fashion label Angel Jackson produces überglam handbags, clutches, and totes from ethically sourced leather and products. The facets of eco-fashion are widespread, but some companies use animal resources like feathers for hair accessories without taking note of the mistreatment of the animal, including a shortened lifespan, to start a fashion faux pas trend. 

Large Foldover Clutch, $170, angeljackson.com.

Sisters Katie and Millie Smith found Angel Jackson six years ago with the plan to only create vogue pieces with ethically sourced products. Dannii Minogue (Kylie's sister) and Anna Paquin are just a few celebs who have been spotted with the eco-clutches.   

Killer Satchel in Yellow, $505, angeljackson.com.

Vivienne Westwood reveals sustainable line

Laptop Case Bag (100%
recycled materials), $118,
yoox.com.

Earlier this week, British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood debuted her new collection of green bags and accessories on the popular fashion site, YOOX. 

She joined forces with the International Trade Center for its Ethical Fashion Africa Project that benefits local artisans and eco-friendly fashion.

Traveling to Nairobi, Kenya, Westwood trained women to use local sustainable resources and recycled materials to create the pieces. 

Check out the collection.

Fashion maven supports eco-fashion

Image: NY Mag. Fashion maven 
André Leon Talley at New York 
premiere of Animals Distract Me.

Legendary Vogue editor and America's Next Top Model judge André Leon Talley said he wants more designers to incorporate eco-fashion in some way into their lines as well as use less energy and waste in doing so.

At Thursday's premier of Isabella Rossellini's current film in New York, Talley began to discuss his budding green lifestyle:

"At Vogue, we’re going to have certain issues devoted to green. We’ve asked certain designers to make green clothes," he said. "I don’t think everyone should be wearing hip sacks and burlap blouses. There’s still room for luxury." 

He also goes on to talk about his recycling efforts. "You have to wake up and be conscious of everything, the way you dispose of things. I do make trips to the Dumpster," he said. "And I am proud of that because it’s far from my house. But I make a special effort to go to the Dumpster and put the cardboard with the cardboard, and plastic with the plastics."

 

Popular companies launch eco-fashion initiative

Wal-Mart, Target, H+M, Gap Inc., and countless other companies and environmental organizations like the EPA announced today the launch of Sustainable Apparel Coalition to address the environmental and social challenges in the clothing and footwear industry.

Minimizing energy and waste and reducing the use of chemicals and hazardous materials are some of the goals the coalition plans to conquer in the near future. 

The extensive partnership may lead to more eco-fashion pieces available at everyday stores at reasonable prices.

Eco-fashion turns heads @ NYFW

New York Fashion Week revealed the new looks for the Fall/Winter 2011 lines, and eco-fashion designers held their own ground during the weeklong festivities. 


Though we're practically in spring mode, it's reassuring to know thick knit cable sweaters and professional trench coats will have an updated dose of eco-friendliness with organic fabrics and recycled materials alongside the satisfaction that less waste was generated by the whole process. 

Check out the websites of the following designers where the Spring 2011 lines promise a stylish season ahead.

Square Project
Recycled polyester, organic cotton, and hemp are just a few of the eco-fabrics Tara St. James uses to create vintage-inspired pieces. Bold stripes may be a common trend, but with the addition of crisscross straps and pierced triangles make all the difference. 

Image: Ecouterre.

Bodkin
Design meets environment is a connection Bodkin wants to maintain for their consumers. Bodkin, named for any sharp object that can tear holes through clothes, produces sustainable clothing whether organic wool is available or not, the alternative is responsibly dyed wool that uses less chemicals during the process.  

Image: Ecouterre

Edun
Ethical fashion that promotes a local economy is always a positive thing. While making ecofashion, the proceeds go to communities in Tanzania, Tunisia, and Kenya where the clothes are made. The lookbook shows fashionable pieces from wrap jackets to chiffon tanks with an eco-flair. 

Image: Ecouterre.

Organic by John Patrick
One of the eco-fashion brands celebs like Leighton Meester wears for a day of work. The signature simplicity of white, black, and beige pieces made from organic cotton come in handy to complete any outfit. There's also foreign communities producing the clothes and benefiting from the profits: a plus in the eco-fashion world. 

Image: Ecouterre.

Faux fur vs. real fur: the greener choice

Is fur a green fashion source?

Eco-fashion is rising to become an important aspect in an industry where it's difficult to use ethical resources. Conventional cotton uses pesticides, so we prefer organic cotton. But when it comes to animals, things change.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

We have ahimsa or peace silk that's taken after a silkworm finishes its life cycle. We have organic wool that's taken from sheep, alpaca, goats, and other animals that were not exposed to pesticides. But for fur, the ecological choice is faux fur. But is this the right choice?


Usually made from various petrochemicals, faux fur is made up of synthetic fibers. Most synthetic materials are made from chemicals, yet still considered to be better eco-choices because they're fake. 


Real fur comes from animals without their permission, going against the odds of ethical fashion. Do we have the right to take this creature's fur? No, but we do. Real fur may be eco-friendlier than faux fur since it's naturally occurring and sustainable as in we use the resources available to us.

It's a technical debate as in many topics within eco-fashion that falls under the umbrella of ethical fashion. Things depend on what's considered to be ethical and who makes these considerations. 



Fur is Green is a pro-website for fur as an eco-fashion material. It also explores the separate debate of killing and using the furs of invasive species whose populations grew too large to the point the environment is suffering.


Do we still have the right to decimate a certain population because it's messing up the water resource in an area? Or do we just send the invasive species back to the homeland and hope they can re-adapt there? Though this practice seems to be sound now, it could lead to the foreign, overpopulated communities turning into endangered species.

As two major clothing materials, fur and leather falls in the middle of the dispute whether they're eco-fashion or their chemically-created faux counterparts are.