Fashion By The Rules: 2 Green or Not 2 Be
November 30, 2009
FASHION BY THE RULES
TO GREEN or NOT TO GREEN !!
Given that this is one of the hottest topics around, It comes as no shock that “Being Green” can also apply to what we wear.
I believe that one of the most common misconceptions is that “going green” will only apply to cotton items where the reality is that the whole idea encompasses cotton , silk and baby alpaca. One must keep in mind that the articles of clothing must be manufactured in an environmentally sound way whether or not the material is sustainable. Simple terms, no chemical wastes and eco friendly whether or not the raw material was made from recycled material.
OK so now I hope you have a rough idea of “What makes it green” so we can move onto how can you spend your green to own it!!
The internet is brimming with opportunities to learn about it and purchase it. Take for example, SHOPWIKI which provides an entire explanation of the concept as well as a reasonably thorough brand listing. If you are into the celebrity of the going green, then the perfect brand for you is ERDUN which is a socially conscious clothing company started by Bono and his wife Ali. You will find all classifications of apparel and accessories including jewelry I have featured a collection of jewelry which I am responsible for which is made primarily of sustainable materials as well as many other items which I found while researching the idea of “Eco-friendly” apparel… so now it is your decision “to be green or not to be green!!!!”
Giveaway #16 – Winner Soyini G. from Washington DC
July 19, 2009
How to Win:
- Log In or Register if you haven’t already!
- Leave us a comment on this posting below.
Oligo Giveaway Official Rules
Don’t forget to tell your friends!
Go Green and Serene in this heavenly dress! Blissfully soft and absolutely effortless you’ll feel like your in Heaven with its front gathers and fluttering angel sleeves finished with a tonal cover stitch.
Wear as a mini dress or a tunic over your favorite pair of jean or pair it with the Angel Pant for a sleek silhouette. Deliciously soft viscose of organic bamboo blends with a hint of spandex for ultra-comfy, sustainable style.
A Little About Jonäno
As an advocate of slow fashion, Jonäno designer Bonnie Siefers makes the most out of her trans-seasonal and timeless designs. Inspired by nature, at Jonäno eco chic collections you’ll find the most stylishly elegant of organic fashions for both women and babies. Jonäno was thrilled to be recognized by Womens Wear Daily for fall 09’s BLOOM Collection available at better stores and boutiques worldwide beginning September 09, and was highlighted at Sundance Film Festival and the Red Carpet Green Room Gifting Suite and was the eco fashion Red Carpet swag of choice for the MTV Movie Awards coming in May 2009. The environment and fashion inspires an exquisite line that is not only ecologically friendly but cutting-edge as well.
Registration for this giveaway closes on Monday July 27th at 12:00 AM (CST). The winner will be randomly selected and announced in our next round of newsletters along with information to our next great giveaway. Please note, you must be living within the United States to qualify for this giveaway.
For designers who would like to participate in our Oligo Giveaway events, please email product information to our fashion director, Claudette Elizondo, at 
.
My New LGD: Little Green Dress
February 8, 2009
LBD: [little black dress] n.
1. an essential item in every woman’s wardrobe
2. can be dressed up, dressed down; can be worn to work and then to happy hour
3. a perfect example, the Christine dress by CMarchuska
I just found my new favorite LBD—a momentous occasion for any woman. For me, it was even more momentous. I ordered it sight unseen, a risky decision for a 5′1″ girl with a 32G sized chest. As soon as I opened my fed-ex box, it was love at first sight. The LBD fit me perfectly. Plus, it’s completely eco-friendly. I wore it out Friday night and I plan to wear it out again tonight. (Don’t laugh—I don’t smell.)
CMarchuska was created by siblings, Justin and Christine. They were perplexed about the quantity of luxury duds that were uncomfortable and made with eco-unconscious fabrics. Their inspiration was simple: conservation, style, and substance. With cut, comfort, and consciousness as their muse, Marchuska was born. From Obama’s creation of green-jobs to the shrinking glaciers, the need for sustainability is urgent. The crafts of a clothing designer in New York must take in to account the environmental impact their manufacturing methods take on penguins in Alaska; it’s just the responsible decision.
Green fashion is traditionally uncomfortable, slightly odd smelling, and void of high fashion. If it is fashion-forward, it’s only affordable to the Gwenyths, SJPs, and Penelopes. Christine, namesake and creator of CMarchuska saw this neglected niche and filled it with sustainably made, comfortably fashionable, and enticingly affordable pieces. She left her high-flying career in finance and never looked back. The cmarchuska line consists of impeccably cut and incredibly fashionable basic pieces from their mseries tees to their super-soft hunter scarf.
My new LBD is possibly the most famous piece from the CMarchuska Signature Collection, the Christine dress. It’s a black long-sleeved, button-front, A-line frock. It’s made of 50 percent cotton and 50 percent modal fabric (a bio-based fiber made by spinning reconstituted cellulose from beech trees, says wikipedia.com). The eclectic, yet chic brown buttons are made of recycled Italian polyester. It feels sooooooo good against my skin. Its like I’m draped in jersey-knit sheets. Yet, it looks like I’m wearing vintage Chanel. Even my stylishly ignorant boyfriend said, “Damn, you look hot!” I felt very Audrey Hepburn meets Sienna Miller at the recycling center.
Besides looking good and feeling comfortable, I felt good. The same way I feel good when I remember to drop recycling off on my way to my yoga class. The same way I feel good when I have the balls to just say no to cookies and cream ice cream. Similarly, I felt good when I wore a dress that I knew wasn’t made by a child in Asia and wasn’t increasing my carbon footprint.
Justin and Christine say, “We have never been afraid of failure, but we are afraid of not living out our dream.”
