03 Nov Little Hund makes dressing your dog a little more sustainable
Given that the pet industry has a massive paw print on the environment, this cute little brand of dog coats is doing its part on making pet products a little more sustainable....
BLOG ARCHIVES
27 Feb NICKI FARRELL // ECO KIN SERIES
Myself (Nicki Farrell) and Vicci Oliver run Wildlings Forest School on the banks of Petrie Creek on the Sunshine Coast. Our aim is to simply encourage more children and families to get outdoors on a regular basis, specifically in nature, to reap the social, emotional...
27 Nov The Art of Simple
"simple living isn’t about determining how little we can live with; it’s about celebrating the things we simply can’t live without"...
22 Nov 7 Uses For Reclaimed Wood in Your Home
Perhaps you’ve chosen to build a new home from the ground up. Thankfully, construction is moving right along....
14 Jul Jess Abraham // Eco Kin Series
My name is Jess Abraham, I’m 22 years old and live in Moffat Beach on the Sunshine Coast. Since I was a teenager I’ve been a massive environmental advocate, it’s a really big part of my identity. Responsibility to both people and planet is really...
27 Jun The beauty of handcrafted wares
I have a thing for handcrafted homewares. There is something so satisfying about supporting a talented craftsperson or maker. The knowledge that you have supported a sole trader or small business (and most likely, someone’s personal dream), is quite gratifying in itself. Added to this...
07 Jun America’s National Parks – a glimpse into the future.
31-year-old painter and illustrator, Hannah Rothstein has subtly depicted how the treasured landscapes of America’s national parks will look by 2050 if our current environmental disregard and ignorance towards climate change continues. ...
31 May Household waste – how to throw out less and save more.
Each day we unnecessarily send tonnes of packaging, plastic & clothing to landfill. Here are a few tips to help you cut down on your household waste....
24 May Sustainability with Style
Lisa Heinze is an ethical fashion advocate and PhD candidate at the University of Sydney. She is also the co-founder of Clean Cut, Australia's sustainable fashion council. Her book, Sustainability with Style is very thought provoking and incorporates interesting cultural and social observations....
15 May Mariangela Vecchi // Eco Kin Series
I am Mariangela, a fibre/textile artist, maker of Zafu cushions and whacky textiles. I studied languages and medieval/renaissance art in Florence, and I have a background in industrial knitted goods prototype making....
03 May Complaining about the big Corps – then investing in their stocks
Can we campaign for the environment if our personal money is tied up for financial gain with the very companies that are responsible for its demise?...
26 Apr Conscious Marketing: How to Create an Awesome Business with a New Approach to Marketing
When I first read ‘Conscious Marketing’, I couldn’t find enough sticky notes to bookmark the ideas that resonated with me! Whilst very aware of the importance of effective marketing for a business seeking to achieve certain objectives, my understanding had always been based on traditional...
19 Apr Value for Money
Should value measured in TIME or MONEY? When you made your last purchase, what was the first number you thought about? Was it the number on the price tag? Or, the number of years you thought your purchase might last?...
10 Apr How did dishonesty become the best policy?
How many times have you heard these above claims from a retail salesperson when shopping? ...
10 Apr Cushions with a story
A perpetual source of disagreement at my home revolves around the purpose and value of the humble cushion. I am of the firm belief cushions fulfil both a functional and aesthetic purpose, therefore, they deserve their place on the lounge....
07 Apr Melanie Lock // Eco Kin Series
I am a Naturopath, business owner, product developer, public speaker, herbal tea enthusiast, meditation teacher and mother of 2 wildling boys....
17 Jan Once Was Lost
Once Was Lost is the beautiful creation of husband and wife team, Andy and Laura Wortlock. Launched in 2013, the brand’s ethics and values have been steadfast from the outset. Andy and Laura believe “fairly traded products should also be the most beautiful' and they decided...
07 Jan THE MINIMALIST WARDROBE
We all know that feeling too well. You're going somewhere nice only to get dressed and find that you have nothing to wear. Despite your wardrobe looking like an overstocked thrift store, your jeans are too tight, none of the colours match, and all of...
02 Jan My Why – 2017
2017 marks the 10 year anniversary of this blog. As I look back on the reason I have kept this website going over the past decade, I can proudly and honestly mark out the why that makes me do what I do. I sincerely want to...
27 Dec Avoiding the New Year No-Nos
We all love to bring in the new year with lots of bubbles and joyous cheer, however, you may want to break a few habits over this festive season that will keep you from ruining your green-minded resolutions. BYO glass. The drinking is fun while it lasts,...
09 Dec 5 Christmas gift ideas that defy meaningless consumerism
It's that time of year again when the shopping centre car parks are full to the gutter, and the last place you want to be is cued up in front of a department store counter with a bunch of plastic rubbish in your arms. Rocking up...
06 Dec Bamboo
WHAT IS BAMBOO? Bamboo Textiles can be either cloth, yarn or garments made out of Bamboo fibres. In the past, bamboo strips have been used to make stiff accessories such boning for corsets and jewellery. However, in recent years new technologies have been developed to mulch...
23 Nov The hardest thing about ECO FASHION
In a recent article by dazed, "sustainability" is called the most boring word in fashion. "Nobody wants to talk about it. Articles written about it aren’t clicked on. When brought up in conversation, sustainability is met with a sustained eye roll." Go to Reddit, and you'll find...
21 Nov Origin Organics
Beautifully blended bamboo, viscose and organic cotton is the secret recipe for the well-formed men's t-shirt designs by Origin Organics. Their handsome handy work is made in an ethically accredited, wind-powered factory in India and then printed in their homeland of Britain. The Origin team have sourced...
02 Nov What did Leonardo DiCaprio say to the United Nations?
New York - Earth Day - Friday, April 22 2016 The United Nations hosts over 170 nations to sign the ‘Paris Agreement’ — a profound climate pact negotiated last year focussed on dealing with greenhouse gas emission mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020. Amongst other speakers,...
31 Oct 7 good uses for a rotten banana
[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern" css_animation=""][vc_column][blockquote text="Each year 28 percent of the world's agricultural area is used to produce food that is lost or wasted. Don't throw your 'nanas away when they have gone black! Here are seven things to do with them...
29 Oct Why do women want to wear Stella McCartney’s clothing?
stellamccartney.com ...
28 Oct Little Hill People
Inspired by the exotic tribesmen of Northeast India, Little Hill People is one of the most unique ethical fashion labels we've seen in a while. Each gorgeous piece of apparel is made from hand loomed fabric and beads sourced directly from the tribespeople of Northeast India. Taking...
26 Oct Behind Hemp Eyes
From a humble garage experiment to a crowdfunding campaign, Hemp Eyewear is a forward thinking team, promoting hemp through sustainable fashion...
25 Oct 5 food storage alternatives
It's pretty bad that despite all of the research behind the evils of plastic, we are still slinging our sandwiches into sheets of the see-through stuff. So can we do better? We give you 5 alternatives that will keep your kitchen clean and green. 1. Beeswax food...
19 Oct Hemp
WHAT IS HEMP? Hemp is one of the first plants to be spun into fibre over 10,000 years ago. It is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for the industrial uses of its derived products. Differing from Cannabis as a...
17 Oct MuSkin
WHAT IS MUSKIN? MuSkin is a vegan leather which is produced using skin of mushroom caps. HOW IS IS MADE? Grown from the extraction of mushroom caps in a controlled environment in large sheets. A cow sized hyde will grow in approximately 2 months. Muskin can be dried...
17 Oct Cupro
WHAT IS CUPRO? Cupro (Cuprammonium rayon) is a rayon fabric made from cellulose (an important structural component of the primary cell wall of green plants). HOW IS IS MADE? Pulp from wood plants such as cotton are dissolved in cuprammonium solution (ammonia and copper oxide). WHAT DOES IT FEEL...
24 Sep Woodwear Style
I've always been a bit of a fan of wooden sunglasses. I actually own a pair of Bamboo frames that look as good as the day I got them 2 years ago. When I saw this brand pop up in our directory, needless to say,...
07 Feb 9th Cylce Craftworks
We can tell that Christine Wiemers is the type of person who doesn't throw scraps away. Her beautiful one-of-a-kind treasures are sewn creatively with love and a true sense of wanting to give someone, something to cherish for a long time to come. Purchasing small scraps from bins at fabric...
07 Feb ecolade
ecolade is a premium Western Australian ( Perth ) based vegan handbag store. Selling gorgeous denim, canvas and jute totes, bags and wallets, the company brags a completely vegan manufacturing process, meaning no animal products (such as traditionally used leather) are used in the making. We LOVE their...
07 Feb Coulibaly Jewelry
Collaborating with Mother Nature, Coulibaly presents green clay jewellery as an alternative to that of renound environmentally destructive metal/mineral. These unique handmade clay bead necklaces are carefully hand shaped from pottery clay and held together on a leather cord. Whether air-dried for days or simply oven-baked, each bead breathes...
07 Feb Haus of Eco
Haus Of Eco is a small online business offering eco friendly textiles to the fashion conscientious. As a rule, the online store only trades textiles from organically/eco friendly certified manufacturers who share their ethos. They place great emphasis on promoting sustainability and do utilise the concept of recycling...
04 Dec Blackberry Maverick
BMAV's third collection, "Whirlwind", a softer and more mature collection, takes the retro woman to the edge with updated versions of the Blackberry Classics thier customers love. Merging the classic elegance of the '50s and the bold force of the '80s, “Whirlwind” features a whimsical rayon challis print...
17 Nov Underwear Concept
Underwear Concept is an online store for premium quality organic underwear. The majority of it's products are 100% organic. UnderwearConcept.com offers 100% GOTS and OEKO-TEX certified organic undergarments. With tight co-operation with Nukleus©, they design and produce underwear made of raw materials such as bamboo & cotton, etc. From primary production to marketing...
12 Oct Kawi – Organic crossbody backpacks
Chihuahua, Chihuahua, October, 12, 2015 – New Startup Kawí announced today that it is raising funds via a rewards crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to finish the development of their innovative original design. The company set out to raise $25,000 in order to open a shop. As a product designer,...
29 Sep Canopy Verde Eco Vegan Handbags – classic design, thoughtfully made
Canopy Verde is a Brooklyn-based vegan handbag line that combines classic design with an eco friendly philosophy. Inspired by a love of mid-century Danish design and its range of textures, founder Linda Wong started the company in 2008 with the goal of creating beautiful accessories...
25 Sep Mr. Potter & The Ceramic Revolution
Mr. Potter is a UK eco-fashion start-up born out of a quite peculiar night in which Vins, Joe and Marcelo - the three cofunders - came out with this twisted idea of creating ceramic bow ties braces and collars . Sharing a passionfor art and design, a...
14 Jul Garbedge Designs
Garbedge Designs uses new & repurposed materials to create an eco-friendly line with a mind towards fashion and function. Though some of the materials employed to make these items may have been used before, the finished products are brand-new, providing original clothing with a smaller...
18 Jun Bashful Garter
Bashful Garter is new in the online fashion world and offers women an eclectic mix of locally and ethically made goods. Proud to support young designers from Australia and New Zealand that are mindful in their design and manufacture, with organic cotton, organic dye, Fairtrade...
17 Jun Atelier Tammam
Bloomsbury’s cult couture fashion house – Atelier Tammam, is an eco-couture studio offering bespoke bridal gowns, eveningwear, and couture fashion and accessories to a discerning clientele, including celebrities such as Poldark’s Eleanor Tomlinson and British treasure Jenny Agutter. Each Tammam garment is hand crafted using a...
10 Jun Wabi Sabi
In 2010, Michele Cohen left her full time job as a fashion manager in a large company, to open her first small scale eco fashion concept store. Today, Wabi Sabi has a headquarter in Seville, Spain and also Atlantic City in New Jersey. While the concept took...
05 Jun O My Bag
O My Bag is an eco-friendly brand that produces fairly-made handbags and accessories. Eco-friendly is only a label for how their products are made. They don’t sacrifice quality and style for principle, because to O My Bag, they’re one and the same. O My Bag believes...
04 Jun Cork-Fashions™
Cork-Fashions™, LLC is an On-Line cork accessories store offering exclusive imported artisan crafted cork products from the country of Portugal. So why cork? Cork is a material that is 100% natural, biodegradable and Eco-friendly. What makesCork-Fashions™ products so special is their keen eye for the distinctive market, market...
06 Feb JORD – 100% natural wood watches
Plants. Wood. Carbon. Why are these words so intrinsically important to our civilisation, and our species survival? If you haven't yet heard, the Human race is currently producing more carbon than the planet can handle. Humans produce carbon. Plants produce oxygen. It used to be a perfectly balanced scenario...
06 Feb Birdii
Yet another fantastic eco friendly product from the shores of Australia comes Birdii, a label designed for comfort and ease. Birdii Designs strives to produce high quality clothing that is handcrafted in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner. We love using hemp for our designs as it is strong,...
01 Jan INDELUST
Recently I had the pleasure of receiving a beautiful sample from the oh so suave website INDELUST. On unwrapping the parcel, I was overwhelmed with how conscious and delicate the packaging was, and what was inside was to please me even more. I received a stunning 100% cotton, pleated skirt...
27 Nov Cossac
Just in time for the Australian summer, I was recently chuffed when I received my beautiful sample of this cleverly packed t-shirt from Cossac in the UK. Not knowing much about the company (except for their perfected take on the classic white tee) I headed to...
18 Sep The Spotted Quoll
Based in Tasmania, Australia, and named aptly after one of Tassie's unique marsupial's, the Spotted Quoll provides ethical wares for the home, body, & soul, inspired by the beauty of the natural environment. The Ethos of The Spotted Quoll Studio: To create beautiful, ethical wares, featuring original, environmentally inspired...
27 Aug Bibico
Bibico is a fair-trade clothing brand based in the UK. This means the people that make their clothes are paid fairly and work in a safe and healthy environment. Spanish designer Nieves Ruiz Ramos, otherwise known as Snow, had been working in the fashion industry for leading...
10 Aug Witjuti
Founder of Witjuti, Bianca Smee, used to love hanging out in her PJ's. But when unexpected guests would arrive to find her walking around ready for bed in the middle of the day, things had to change. So she decided to create an extremely comfortable, durable,...
09 Aug Ecoology
Ecoology is design and ecology in a single garment. Working with natural, organic and recycled fabrics, this company from Barcelona places great emphasis on their designs, patterns and finishes. Ecoology’s elegant yet affordable fashion collections are made from natural materials like organic cotton, Tencel, linen, bamboo, recycled cotton and algae tissue. Their collections are ethically produced...
01 Aug Eco Runway encourages Recycling
The Maintain and Sustain Runway presented at New Zealand Eco Fashion Exposed was a more relaxed casual affair with the results of the #kilasthriftshopchallenge presented by Nora Swann and the #ecovintagechallenge presented by Denise Anglesey Director of Exposed and Designer of Denise H. Both challenges...
30 Jul Ungalli
Ungalli is the name of a secret tree, in a well know South African story and children's book, which inspired the name behind the Candian clothing label designed and ethically produced on 100% sustainable materials. The clothing is produced using 100% recycled and re purposed materials,...
08 Jul Lucid Creators Terracotta Handmade Jewelry
Terracotta is an Italian word which means "baked earth". In simple words it is hard red earthenware. It is used to refer to items made out of this material and to its natural, brownish orange color. It is used for making earthen handicrafts, pots and...
24 Jun Shamanic Nights
Amelia Hoskins from Exeter, England is one very clever lady. Gathering patchworks of up-cycled cotton, linen, silk, & viscose, Amelia hand makes elegant and ethical luxury in the form of Ladies' Dresses, Robes, Kimonos, & Jackets. Not your regular patchwork quilt concoction, the pieces are one of a kind, bespoke...
11 Jun Amorosa – A South American Twist
The Amarosa brand, founded by Sarah Quintero, is a bright playful reflection of the vibrant South American culture. All of the accessories fuse traditional Andean crafts with modern design. Amarosa is committed to supplying their customers with socially conscious fashion accessories that are ethically produced using low impact,...
26 May Synergy Organic Clothing
When Kate Fisher set off for an adventure in Nepal in 1993, she could have never imagined what was about to become the work of her life and the food of her soul. Finding amazing fabrics and clothing in which she sold on her return...
15 May Bubs n Bumps
Bubs n Bumps maternity brand started in March 2009 by Nikki Dungar. After carrying three children of her own she knew what was needed to make a great maternity top. “I believe the shape of a pregnant women's body is beautiful. Be proud to show off your...
12 May Simone’s Rose
Eco-conscious, romantic and chic - Simone's Rose was born out of designer Michelle Maynard's passion for her own brand of fashion and style with a conscience.The label uses organic and fair trade fabrics, quality vintage textiles & trims, as well as dead stock or large company...
08 May Bizy Bees – Taking Old and Making New
Operating out of Las Vegas, NV since 2011, Bizy Bee's Creations offers products using recycled re-purposed unique fabrics and textiles all obtained from local thrift stores, garage sales and occasional donations. Their designs are practical, for use at home, school or the beach. Bizy Bee's innovative product...
05 May Body Moss
Anything that allows us to scope out good quality, eco wares, minus the shopping centre fast fashion disaster experience is ok by us, which is why we'd like to introduce Body Moss. Based in Western Australia, and by far, one of the best online eco-shops we've seen...
02 May Cambridge Baby
Oooooo, who doesn't love the sight of a baby all snug and wrapped in soft natural fabric (sigh...
28 Apr What Daisy Did
Did you ever wonder what happens to fabric and leather offcuts when they hit the cutting room floor? Daisy did. Daisy's bags are made from recycled and factory off-cut leather that may have otherwise been wasted, which is why each bag is unique in finish and colour. "Our offcut...
25 Apr DEVINTO
There is nothing more that we dislike than waste. More than 2,500,000,000 pounds of used clothing ends up in the landfill each year. 15% of fabric used to make a garment ends up on the cutting room floor. We all know the waste produced by the fashion industry is...
21 Apr Catherine Sothern Designs
"Have nothing around you that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful" (William Morris) Catherine Sothern has lived her life on this ethos. With a background in Interior Design moving into fabric design, Catherine takes her inspiration from nature itself, using...
21 Apr The business of fast fashion
CLICK TO WATCH THIS SHORT VIDEO - 'Fast Fashion' refers to clothing and accessories that are designed to reflect current industry trends, yet produced using less expensive materials to ensure a low price tag. The Fast Fashion trend has also led to environmental concerns. View full...
15 Apr Echo Verde
"Verde" means "green" in Italian. In the sea of sweet staples that line our shop windows, these "green" garments give you purchasing power to be proud of. When Jane Nemis started her company in 2009, her focus was primarily on natural, eco and organic textiles, ethical business...
14 Apr 30% off Salts Organic
Established in 2005 in a beachside trailer, Salts Organic Clothing was aptly named to describe the preservative qualities of salt itself, believing in becoming part of the solution for preserving this planet. Salts uses certified organic cotton, hemp and viscose from bamboo fibres in their clothing which...
01 Apr Macondo Artisans
Macondo Artisans is an online store dedicated to promote the craftsmanship of South America through artistic expressions such as modern handicrafts and sustainable personal and home decor accessories made from organic materials like melon seeds, orange peel, tagua nut(vegetable ivory) and more. Our selection of...
01 Apr A win for the whales!
(FROM SMH 1st April 2014) The International Court of Justice has upheld Australia's bid to ban Japan's Antarctic whaling program. ICJ president Peter Tomka said the court concluded the scientific permits granted by Japan for its whaling program were not scientific research as defined under International Whaling Commission rules. Australia...
02 Sep Stop the Traffik
Some interesting facts about Human Trafficking from the website: http://www.stopthetraffik.org/ Every year men, women and children are trafficked within their own countries and across international borders. Trafficking affects every continent and every country. Every country is affected by human trafficking, whether it's an origin country where people are...
28 Aug Titania Inglis
Apparently Titania Inglis doesn't like to be called an "eco" designer, which is fine by us. Whatever she likes to be called, we are calling her a genius in both creativity and aesthetic. We will quietly give her extra credit for having her garments sewn...
23 Aug Pallet Furniture
I can't get enough of pallet furniture at the moment. Every where I look, I seem to see pallets laying around on the side of the road, behind buildings, and stacked up against dumpsters. I have this flaming desire to collect each of these and started...
21 Jul Amazing Eco Home
When I first saw this house, I really thought it was an artists impression. The crazy design of several petals embedded in a hilly landscape seemed too surreal to be true. However, this low impact house really does exist. The beautiful flower shaped 8,000 square foot Bolton...
18 Jul We ❤ Hearts
(Sponsored Post) Hearts is an ethical fashion brand that designs exclusive handbags, jewellery and fashion accessories for both men and women. Hearts upholds the ideals of “people and the planet first” in order to provide consumers with alternatives to the traditional fashion supply chain. The company supports...
18 Jul 5 Things you didn’t know about Recycling
Recycling initiatives are popping up nearly everywhere you look. As climate change moves further and further into the spotlight, sustainability becomes an increasingly important concern on every level, from national governments to local elementary schools. If you're here, it's likely you've already gotten smarter about...
11 Jul Urban Market
(Sponsored Post) http://shop.urbantimes.co/ Do you love a good market? I know I do. walking the tables, admiring the different makers, finding little treasures that have been made with complete love. Lucky for us, we've found a market that you can visit without even leaving the comforts of...
10 Jul How to make money – the eco way.
Making money just isn't so green these days. It seems despite having multiple job choices, we are left with a selection of career moves that tend to eat away at our ecological guilt conscience. According to ANYA KAMENETZ of Fast Company, there is good news on the horizon...
09 Jul blueberry strawberry banana ice cream cake
Today I would like to share another recipe from one of my favourite bloggers, Em at This Rawesome Vegan Life. If you haven't heard of her blog already, you really need to get onto it. Em is a die hard foodie who loves life and adores...
07 Jul Eco Brides
Image courtesy of Swoon by Katie Have you been thinking about tying the knot? I'm sure if you are reading this blog you have often wondered how wasteful the wedding industry is. I mean seriously, how much do you need to purchase and then throw away, for just one day? With backgrounds...
19 Jun Piece x Piece
Every year, thousands if not millions of fabric swatches are produced by fabric manufacturers to show designers what is on the market for the upcoming season. The question Elizabeth Brunner asked is 'where do all of those swatches go when they are no longer needed?' Through serious...
13 Jun Upcycle Us
Ohhhh I love home-wares. So much that I obsess about other peoples houses and read endless magazines checking out lounge room layouts, lighting ideas, beautiful bathrooms, and heavenly beds. But unfortunately the production of home-wares is just as damaging on the environment as our never ending fashion flings. Which leads me...
12 Jun Kowtow – The Silent Space Part 1
How much do we love Kowtow? Ummmm, just a bit. Just a bit to the point that they are in our top 5 fav labels. And not to mention they are from New Zealand. One of my fav countries. But that's enough about me. Let's...
10 Jun 60 Minutes Story – Bangladesh Rag Trade Exposed
With cheap clothing being relished in Australia without much thought, I was extremely impressed that 60 minutes decided to air this story on Sunday night, exposing by name the corporations within Australia who are demanding these price driven products within the Bangladesh manufacturing industry. K-mart,...
10 Jun Springbreak Eco Watches – Exclusive 25% discount
What's the time? Time to introduce Springbreak watches. So the story goes, 2 frat brothers with an obsession with dope watches went on a mission to create the ultimate, unique, environmentally friendly watch. When researching the market, the two lads found a distinct lack in originality with most...
05 Jun 7 reasons to embrace GREEN (on the inside!)
Many of us are now aware of the green smoothie revolution. But do you really understand why this raw food phenomenon is so good for you? Here are 7 good reasons to get yourself a blender, and get on the green smoothie train. 1. ENZYMES. Although...
03 Jun WHY not HEMP
You can eat it, weave it into durable fabric, make it into oil, and create wax, resin, rope, cloth, pulp, and fuel. So why aren't we using more of this stuff? Most Hemp advocates are pretty much assuming that the Governments of the world find it just...
02 Jun This Rawsome Vegan Life
Have you ever wondered how Vegans keep their food interesting? For most people, the thought of switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet is pretty daunting. 'How could I ever cook a hearty meal again?' 'I just couldn't live without chocolate', 'nothing makes me feel...
28 May ELLA SVEN
When it comes to 100% sustainable style, I always go back to one word...
27 May NEPALI – Exclusive 25% discount with the code: ECO25
If you're into a good scarf like I am, you'll be pleased to discover the bright and beautiful creations of Michelle Baldwin's Nepali. During a 2007 visit to Nepal, Michelle stumbled upon what she describes as something pretty amazing. Her travels brought her directly into the audience...
21 May ECO BIRD – Exclusive 10% off new season Kowtow with the code: ORGANIC-WINTER
Eco Bird is a freshly minted online sustainable and ethical eco-boutique in Australia. Selling a carefully curated selection of Australian and New Zealand Designers such as Kowtow, Monolog, and Bachhara, most of their product list is made from premium 100% certified fair trade organic cotton. The owners of...
17 May HEARTS – Exclusive 30% Discount with the code: ECOFRIENDLY30
Hearts is an ethical fashion brand that designs exclusive handbags, jewelry and fashion accessories for both men and women. Hearts upholds the ideals of “people and the planet first” in order to provide consumers with alternatives to the traditional fashion supply chain. The company supports...
14 May Reef
Remember the old Reef sandals? If you did any backpacking in the 90's, you were certain to own a pair...
18 Mar COLLECTIVE
What first caught my eye with COLLECTIVE was their raw portrayal of femininity. Great models and even better photography bring a sense of the simplistic notion that 'less is better', stating that one great t-shirt and a bit of attitude is all you need to...
16 Mar Eklectic Mix
Eklectic Mix is a brilliant Australian label demonstrating that re-cycling is the undoubtedly the key to ultra modern, educated & conscious style. Jen from Ekelctic mix gives us a preview of her new Jewellery collection. Eklectic Mix has a new range of handmade jewellery which has been constructed mainly from recycled...
01 Jan O My Bag
While I don't usually consider leather goods to be very sustainable unless they are recycled from an old garment, this company claims to source its leather from cows in which have died of sickness or old age, which I find extremeley commendable! Not only do I...
01 Jan Ultra Tee
Ultra Tee's simple yet stunning range of singlets and T-shirts seem to tick all of the boxes. Made of 100% Tencel Lyocell Fine Jersey, it is produced exclusively from the wood pulp of Eucalyptus making it one of the most environmentally friendly man-made cellulosic fibres. Ultra Tee also has...
23 Oct Make it Possible – Say no to Factory Farming
You don't really NEED that cheap piece of steak tonight do you? Of course you don't! Knowledge is the single greatest threat to factory farming. Sign the pledge, and help us to share the word! Make it Possible from Animals Australia on Vimeo....
22 Oct Find & Keep – Beci Orpin
Beci Orpin's new book 'Find & Keep' is an inspiration folder filled with 26 projects to beautify your life and bring out your inner crafter! There are 3 chapters in the book, including Studio, Home, and Out & About. Each chapter boasts several projects graded...
18 Oct Organic Coverlets by Coyuchi
I have to admit, I'm not great when it comes to making my bed in the morning. 2 humans and 2 dogs sleeping in 1 room usually ends up in a big pile of blankets and pillows thrown around the room like a hurricane has...
08 Oct Gretchen Jones
If you've not yet heard of Gretchen Jones, here is a quick run-down. A past winner of project run-way, and founder of peace silk label moth love, country girl Gretchen (from Colorado and later Oregon) now calls Brooklyn NY home. Focussing predominantly on natural materials such...
29 Sep Low prices on everything, every day.
I've noticed myself having heated conversations lately about the price of clothing. Mathematically, fabric production + printing & dying + garment worker wages + shipping + retail mark-up in most cases does not reflect the true value of a garment.The TV ad below has been...
28 Sep Kowtow: Obsessive Minimalist
Check out New Zealand label Kowtow Clothings new summer line, Obsessive Minimalist. As the name suggests, the collection boasts strong block colours, in very plain and bold cuts. All designs are simple yet striking, and as always - 100% organic cotton, with fair trade production....
23 Sep Teysha – Kuna Kicks
While seeking a model that helps build enterprise within traditional craft communities, the Teysha organisation has started up to inspire experience through travel and rich cultural diversity. Beginning in the tribal villages of Latin America, Teysha aims to help local artisans explore their opportunities throughout the western marketplace, by creating...
17 Sep Samantha Pleet Spring 2013
All made in NYC, and using organic materials wherever possible. The lovely Samantha Pleet...
21 Aug Luva Huva
"The Luva Huva (pronounced lover huva) collection, includes 100% organic cotton and bamboo dresses and slips, along with exquisite lingerie sets made using ethically sourced and sustainable fabrics. In a mission to demonstrate that natural materials like bamboo, soy and organic cotton can be made into...
08 Jul Feature Article – siempre verde
Debuting a Wooden Eyewear line that fuses quality and style with a deep passion for the environment, is the new fashion brand, siempre verde. Located seaside in Marina del Ray, the creators of this brilliant start up label are set to prove that style conscious urban professionals with...
21 Jun Rapanui
Rob and Mart from Rapanui clothing in the UK have made it a focus of their to become eco warriors. While being inspired by a series of childhood crazes such as tamagotchi, yoyos, rollerblades, and skateboarding, they have created a clothing label which is not...
22 May The Dharma Door
The Dharma Door is a leading source for contemporary fair trade and sustainable homewares and gifts offering high-quality handcrafted products made by talented artisans in developing countries. While the business is lead with integrity, it focusses on two main aspects of production, those being fair trade...
23 Apr Killer Jeans
PHOTO - Munir Uz Zaman/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images"Distressed Denim" has become one of fashions favourite looks over the past few years, with companies all over the globe sending their denim designs to sandblasting factories to obtain that faded or worn out look.What most of...
03 Apr ECO SWIM by AQUA GREEN
ECO SWIM by AQUA GREEN is a U.S. based company leading the charge for a better and more sustainable tomorrow. They are taking "green" into the mainstream. As a fourth generation family-owned company, they believe their family has a responsibility to your family to reduce...
30 Mar MONOLOG
Monolog is a Melbourne based design project that has evolved steadily for the past year from a humble side-project to a fashion/textile label. In developing its products, Monolog makes the best attempt to be environmentally and ethically conscious – from using sustainable materials and processes...
08 Mar MUKTI GIVE AWAY
Thanks to Mukti Botanicals we have one of these lovely Starter Kits to give away.All you have to do is go to our facebook page and click SHARE on the latest post. Mukti will even tailor the package to suit your skin type! Thanks Mukti ♥...
07 Mar Mukti
When the 50 something old delivery man arrived at my door with my Mukti products, bragging about how great the company is and how his wife swears by them, I thought I must have a pretty good package in my hands!The Mukti Organic Skin Care...
26 Feb kowtow
Direct from Wellington New Zealand comes kowtow's incredibly stunning latest collection "Law of Tangents".With an eye predominantly on design, the labels 9th ensemble is a group of carefully created organic garments inspired by mathematics, how it corresponds with nature and then translates into fabric. Wavering between tailored and...
24 Feb Urban Lace
So what do old bike parts and Jewelry have to do with each other? Well for the purpose of this story, just about everything as a matter of fact.Here be Urban Lace Jewelry. These little beauties are hand crafted by designers Barbi Touron and Aaron Shear, and are re-born from...
22 Feb MuMu Organic
If you've ever assumed that "eco fashion" was all about hippy pants, hemp shirts and tree hugging emblems, well you can definitely think again.MuMu organic is an original label born from in the Cyclades islands near the mainland of Greece, producing super stylish, and yes, organic clothing. Designer...
21 Feb Sistahood – by Freddy Chur
If you are into comfort + cute (like I am!), you need to check out the sublime label Sistahood by Freddy Chur. Made from 100% organic cotton, and custom dyed with GOTS approved inks, these playful little pieces are made in limited runs, in New...
18 Feb Sarah Turner – Plastic Bottle Art
You may have read about Sarah Turner in a post we featured earlier last year. Basically what Sarah does, is take discarded plastic bottles and turn them into beautiful art by cleverly washing, sandblasting, sculpting, joining, and in this case, inserting lights into them.Her projects...
17 Feb ELSA AND ME
One little black dress...
16 Feb Wildlife Works
These gorgeous T-shirts are from Wildlife Works, who manufacture beautiful organic cotton garments right where the cotton is grown in Africa. Cutting out the middle man, they ensure the producers and tailors are paid fairly for the raw materials and labour they are supplying.Wildlife Works factory in...
16 Feb Toms Ballet Flats
I'm loving Toms new Ballet flats. Being a bit fan of the company ethos, I always found their one for one project very inspiring, now with these new designs, there is even more reason to support them!...
08 Feb Vitamin Me – Fashion Born in Qld.
"Vitamin Me" is what Queensland Tourism is calling "a naturally-occurring essence touted as an antidote for negativity, stress and feelings of disconnection with loved ones." 'Where can I get me some of that?' I hear you say. Well apparently it is in abundance in Queensland Australia,...
03 Feb Marti Agassi
"Forgotten and lost objects are transformed into something of interest and beauty. Antique, vintage, recycled, discovered, and natural elements are combined in juxtaposition with modern metalsmithing, creating a new life for each element"This first line in Marti Agassi's facebook site really got me. I mean,...
30 Jan Jes MaHarry Jewelry
With a passion for animals, art, nature, and all things organic, Jess MaHarry makes one fine role-model. Living a sustainable life with her hubby and two daughters on her ranch in California, "everything Jes creates is an extension of her heart, born with a deep sensitivity and...
18 Jan Eco Friendly Ideas for the New Year
2012 has given everyone an opportunity for a fresh start and new beginning. Many individuals set personal goals for themselves such as weight loss, eating healthier and a step up with their personal appearance. As these types of goals revolve around the human body and...
09 Jan Australia’s first “Eco Model”
I'm so proud of my good friend Amanda Rootsey, who is pursuing her international modelling career as Australia's first eco model.With years of modelling under her belt, Amanda believes in all things healthy, happy and harmonious, and alongside her long term fella David Rafter, is using her...
02 Jan Happy New Year!
Thanks for being so patient with us over the past 6 months, we were taking a little break from eco-friendly fashion, but we are now back in full force to bring you all of the wonderful news from companies with conscience!Happy new year to everyone,...
27 Jun STORY
Have you seen the gorgeous store named "STORY"?I am very much in love with all of their products, many of which are handmade.Worth a look!...
23 Jun GIVE AWAY
We have 1 copy of the fantastic book, "Urban Eco Chic" to GIVE AWAY. All you need to do is go to our fb page and click on the "suggest this" button on the left. Invite a few of your friends who you think would...
19 Jun Urban Eco Chic
For most of us, decorating our home is one of the simple pleasures in life in which we have total creative control, only restricted by our budget. However, there are many more restrictions in which we should all keep in mind when deciding what we...
11 May Real Jewels
Blood Diamonds? Dirty Gold? No thanks.While jewellery is very much a part of all of our lives, whether it be the band we wear on our finger to signify our love for our partner, or a simple necklace given to us by a best friend,...
09 May A World Without Bottles
Have you ever wondered where your water bottle ends up after you buy it, drink from it, and throw it away? Although some plastic bottles are recycled, it is shocking to know that 340,000,000,000 (340 Billion) bottles and cans are NOT recycled every year! This...
14 Apr ECO FASHION – Sass Brown
I was recently lucky enough to receive a review copy of the now personally coveted book “Eco Fashion” by Sass Brown. (Thank you Laurence King Publishing)....
06 Apr Eco Boutique
UK based Eco Boutique is the creation of entrepreneur Hayley Power. As well as their own limited edition organic and fair trade t-shirt collection, eco-boutique hosts a range of other beautiful labels such as upcycled label "love me again".Catering for Women, Men, and Children, the...
29 Mar Indie Bound
I just got back from a weekend in Melbourne. What I love most about the city is the incessant push for the support of local businesses, by locals. I felt enriched by the passion of the different communities to keep their suburbs unique and extraordinary. I saw...
15 Mar Cath Kidston : Sew!
One of the most common questions I receive from our readers is "how can I afford to buy eco-friendly products instead of mass produced products, as I am on a budget, and the price is almost always quite a bit higher?"...
09 Mar The Finders Keepers Market
All images by Mark LoboRecently we were lucky enough to get a few moments from the lovely Sarah of the Finders Keepers market right here in Australia, to gain her thoughts about the importance of supporting your local design talent. Here is what she had...
05 Mar OFFSET WAREHOUSE
For anyone, like myself, who loves to create, but seems to struggle finding ethical fabrics and materials to use, I'd like to point you in the direction of the "Offset Warehouse".This is a website which provides a plethora of Fair-trade and 'Eco' products, especially for the production...
09 Feb The Story of Stuff
A few days ago in the Age Newspaper (Sydney) an article appeared about a man who bought a $12 fan. On going to the checkout the fan was then discounted to $8, which of course would send most people into a elated state of happiness...
01 Feb DLC Brooklyn
When Susan Domelsmith first created a few necklaces for herself by draping and linking pieces from old vintage jewellery, I doubt she was envisioning the success of what is her now label of notoriety DLC Brooklyn.Her frustration to find pieces that were edgy, yet authentic, brought her to...
27 Jan Cambodian Threads
Cambodian Threads is a socially responsible company that offers handmade fair-trade silk scarves created by a group of artisans called the Hengs family, who live in a small rural village called Prek Bongkong.The company buys the products from the artisans at a fair price, then...
25 Jan Ball and Buck
Ball and Buck is an all American, all organic, unique clothing label. Each shirt is made locally in the USA from the finest quality organic cotton, then personalised with a vintage or recycled fabric pocket just for fun!With a demand in the US from college...
20 Jan Bamboo for the eyes
Recent popularity of bamboo as a sustain-ably sourced fibre, has been overwhelming in the fields of furniture and building products as well as fibre for fashion.Bamboo has such a high sustainability rating because not only is it the fastest growing plant on earth, it actually releases 35% more oxygen...
19 Jan AK Vintage
Anna Korte, a Portland based jewellery designer creates limited run pieces made from deconstructed vintage necklaces, recycled leather, and castings made locally from one of a kind findings. She names it AK vintage.Each of her collections is inspired by Anna's current favourite poet or piece of literature,...
18 Jan East of Grey
While our local area of Qld. has had an extremely rough 2 weeks with many area's suffering substantially in the flood waters, we are still trying to find things to smile about from our sunny state, and here is one of them.East of Grey is a label from...
17 Jan Moth Love
This is our second post on label Moth Love. Just because.Designer Gretchen Jones' collection called Rose of Cimarron, entales beautiful workmanship in the production of silks, velvets and soft cottons.All fabrics are dyed with natural processes, and garments are designed with a focus on lifelong...
17 Jan Cloth Fabric
Cloth Fabric, Sydney, incorporates original fabric prints (on materials such as hemp, linen, organic cotton, and jute) with recycled second hand furniture to produce Australian themed homewares that are both limited run and locally hand made. Julie Paterson designs all fabrics in her studio in Surry...
13 Jan ellecante
It is so fantastic to see a plethora of online stores popping up offering environmentally sustainable fashion in all of it's modern glory. I was particularly impressed when I came across European based e-shop ellecante which offers products made from natural fabrics like silk, linen, hemp,...
15 Dec Cute Shorts
Just a quick bit of self promotion!!!We have made a limited run of these cute shorts for summer. 100% cotton and made in Australia.Available now from our online store.Blue Bell Shorts $75Rose Shorts $75...
30 Nov Another good reason to shop local
David Attenborough: Death of the Ocean, was screened last night on SBS. Although I regrettably only caught the last half of the doco, I was saddened to sea the chapter on whale communication and the ever-growing problems of container ships. In one case study in the North Atlantic,...
16 Nov From War to Peace
Californian Entrepreneur Paul Ogren is the kinda guy that you might have spotted in a peace activating hippy loving commune in the 1960's. As well as being a student of history, Paul has spent his life pondering and protesting upon why humans retain the futile need to...
11 Nov Only Hearts Organic
A message to all of our friends in NY...
19 Oct Summer 2010
Sorry I have been away so long! Things have been busy with the new shop, and we are very frantically working on getting all of our beautiful Mother Maria Summer Collection out to our stockists. We have just finished sewing up a whole bunch...
01 Oct Recycled Home
Anyone who is a fan of making something out of nothing will love this book. ...
30 Sep Kindling
After concentrating on graphic work and mens t-shirts for over 5 years, designer Nina O'brien from Kindling has recently applied her talents to 2 new ranges of womens clothing that...
15 Sep Green Shows – NY fashion Week.
"The Green Shows" at New York Fashion week, are a selection of collections hand chosen by organisers that display eco-friendly, ethically sound, and fair trade characteristics in their nature.During this weeks Spring shows, 10 designers were given the opportunity to display their entire collections to...
13 Sep SHOP
Well it is official. The Mother Maria Boutique & Studio has opened it's doors to the world and awaits a visit from you!If you can't make it in person (we are at 4-6 Main St. Palmwoods, QLD) here are a few pics to let you...
04 Sep Collectorama
Yesterday I went to the bi-annual Collectorama Fare in Nambour. This place was seriously overwhelming. These photo's do not show the magnitude of the stalls at the fare, but if you can imagine 2 pavillions, and a 2 story building full of market stalls all...
28 Aug TOMS one for one
In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to...
28 Aug Ashley Watson
We love recycling, and so does Ashley Watson. The Vancouver based designer applies her master craftsman skills into remodelling old leather jackets found at thrift stores, into these beautiful handbags, wallets, and accessories. Most of the pieces are one-of-a-kind designs, incorporating features such as pockets...
24 Aug K.I.Y. (knit it yourself)
While in NZ I stumbled across these great K.I.Y. kits by knitwear designer Nikki Gabrielle. Now whilst Nikki's knitwear designs are truly drool worthy for any wardrobe, she has also adapted a "you can do it too" approach to her work by releasing 2 construction kits showing...
16 Aug Back from NZ
Hello! After a well deserved break I am back from the beautiful south of NZ. A highlight of my trip was spending a day at the amazing Milford Sound. If you are ever in the region, be sure to take a tour of the Fiord...
01 Aug A New Beginning
After being in business with my clothing label for over 5 years now, I have decided to take a leap of faith, and feed a pipe dream that has been brewing inside for quite sometime. Last week I signed a lease on a little shop...
28 Jul Nga Waiata
Two Natural Forces fused into One. These fantastic contemporary rings are made using raw sustain-ably mined crystals set on hard recycled native New Zealand and Australian woods.Drawing people to the crystal that is right for them, the collection includes Citrine, Amethyst, Fluorite, and Rose Quartz. Each ring...
25 Jul Our lucky winners…
Congratulations to the winners of out competition held last week sponsored by the amazing Australian label Tightology! We will be sending out prizes in the mail this week, so if you have won, and haven't yet emailed your address to us please contact us...
12 Jul WIN Tightolgy
As promised, over the next week we will be giving away several pairs of Tightology tights worth $39/pair. All you need to do is:1. Become a fan or follower (so we can contact you if you win)2. Vote (to the right) which Tightology design you...
10 Jul Tightology
With a background in graphic design, Vera Havari began Tightology in 2009, to satisfy a personal desire for a unique pair of tights that are good for your legs, good for the environment, and good to look at.Wholly designed and manufactured in Melbourne Australia, Tightology's...
07 Jul Lav and Kush
Using a mix of bamboo/organic cotton blends, Modal and Tencel jersey, Organic cotton voile, Silk, Linen and Merino wool, Canadian clothing company, Lav and Kush, tag their luxurious collections as the 'flirt of sustainable fashion'.Designed and produced in Vancouver, B.C., Lav and Kush collections are feminine, and...
01 Jul and the winner is…
Congratulations Thouraya Battye of Sydney! You have won our Organic Amour Dress for the month of June.Please contact us to claim your prize...
29 Jun Finder Keepers
Thank you to everyone who came to visit us at the Brisbane Finders Keepers on the weekend. The market was such a huge success, and we thoroughly enjoyed getting the chance to meet some of our loyal customers!...
21 Jun Become a Facebook Fan or Follower and WIN!
Become a Facebook Fan or Follower (over in our right hand column) before June 30, and go into the draw to win a Mother Maria Organic Cotton Amour Dress!Draw will be held July 1st, and all current fans/followers will be included.Mother Maria Organic Cotton Amour...
21 Jun Finders Keepers
If you are in Brisbane Australia this weekend, do not, I repeat, do not miss the Finders Keepers market at the Old Museum! Only held bi-annually, this is the ultimate place to find all things hand-made with LOVE. Read more about the Finders Keepers markets here.See you there!...
15 Jun Jessrizzuti
Handbags made of cork...
01 Jun Sweat Shop
Not the first of it's kind, but alas a great concept, Sweat Shop Paris is alikened to an internet cafe, sewing machines in place of the usual 10 or so pc's available for hire by the hour.Parisian customers can drop in for a cup of...
17 May Moth Love
Designer Gretchen Jones' creates 'collections that beg to be worn and fallen in love with...
17 May cute cute cute
Just so cute. I got these little cards yesterday from my friend Mandy at Veganera. I also bought an organic bamboo t-shirt. Now I don't usually buy myself much, but these little bits and pieces were just too hard to resist...
08 May Common Threads
Common threads helps orphans in Africa to help themselves through their schooling. The children design a picture, it gets printed onto a shirt, you buy it, then it feeds an orphan for 1 month...
28 Apr Tabs on this
'Wow, what a great glomesh' bag I hear you say. But nope, this bag is not glomesh, it's made of recycled pull tabs! It's a bit hard for me to focus on where the pull tabs start, where they stop, and how the * they...
20 Apr Smart Glass
Not every Coke bottle get recycled back into another Coke bottle these days...
12 Apr Cash Crop
Now here's one for the boys. "Promoting Awareness", is the Fall / Winter 2010 collection by LA based Cash Crop Clothing. Using the best organic and recycled textiles to deliver superb clothing, this label focuses on cut and quality. Cash crop uses materials such as organic...
09 Apr Rittenhouse x Husmann/Tschaeni
The new collection from Sydney label Rittenhouse is decidedly AMAZING. Collaborating with Swiss husband/wife artistic duo Michael Husmann and Pascale Mira Tschaeni, the team at Rittenhouse creates a beautifully detailed embroidered and printed collection, taking the artists work from easel directly to fabric garments. Sally Mcdonald and...
16 Mar Study by Tara St. James
Zero waste patterns. Brilliant. What this basically means is creating garments from square shapes of fabric so there is nothing thrown away when cutting curves and smaller pattern pieces. Not only are these clever designs by Tara St. James zero waste, but they are all made...
13 Mar Spoonflower
For all of you budding artists out there...
11 Mar Pop Love
Based in Tel Aviv, Isreal, these clever chickens have jumped on the recycle train and created 'pop love designs ', an eclectic mix of creative cleverness, including up-cycled dresses and jackets, and hand printed shirts and pants....
09 Mar Valentino: The Last Emperor
During watching this film last night, I longed to be born 70 years ago. To live through an era where clothing (among other products) were made by hand, made with precision, and built to last. The film is a brief glimpse into the life of Valentino...
08 Mar ‘Eco’ and ‘Ethical’ – What does it all mean??
I've had alot of students contact me lately because they are doing assignments on this and they are completely confused! I'd like to make clear what these terms mean to me. If you have any other opinions on what they mean to you, we'd love to...
27 Feb African Goodness
On a recent trip to Bangkok, I was very inspired by the way the young local designers were using vintage dresses to create their own quirky new pieces to sell at the markets. They would chop, hem, elasticised and re-style these old 1960's garments to create something...
02 Feb Choo Yilin
Choo Yilin Artisan Jewellery is a fine example of a company which has set out to first and fore-mostly nature the craftsmen which make it's pieces. Choo Yilin works with the hill tribe artisans in northern Thailand and by doing so, the label helps sustain a centuries-old culture...
26 Jan Curious Oyster
The fantastic concept of the Curious Oyster Shoppe in St. Kilda is spreading it's wings this week and opening a new store at 776 High St. Thornbury.Included in their new range are selected pieces by us (Mother Maria ), along with lots of beautiful hand made...
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