Great news friends! There’s a new eco fashion boutique in town. It’s called Eco Closet, and you can find it in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and online.
Run by former Phillips-Van Heusen merchandise manager Lisa Joseph, Eco Closet is well-curated and affordable. Most days, there are also two adorable dogs there to keep shoppers company – and occasionally model the merchandise.
Whistler in The Andean Collection
Possibly the most feel-good fashion show ever produced, Fashion Loves Animals was a big hit Saturday night. The show, which was held at SIR Stage 37 in Hell’s Kitchen, featured the VAUTE Couture (like “haute” but vegan) line by Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart, shoes by Brave GentleMan and Love is Mighty and accessories by Matt & Natt. Proceeds from the event and live auction benefited Farm Sanctuary, a non-profit that rescues and protects farm animals.
And, as if that weren’t enough fuzziness, many of the models carried adoptable puppies down the runway.
Puppies were provided by the Humane Society. The fashion was gorgeous, but these little guys stole the show: 
What do you think? What’s your favorite outfit?
A portion of purchases of the following items will support HeartSleeves’ mission to improve the fashion industry:
Elsabet: Triple Silver Tube Necklace
from: Fashioning Change
Earth Four Wrap Vintage Sari Bracelet
from: Pure Citizen Continue reading
Krrb.com: The best merchandise in the neighborhood, online and around the corner.Garage sales can be fun, but who has time these days? That’s where Krrb comes in. Pronounced “curb” (get it?) it’s an online garage sale: Craigslist meets Etsy. Users can shop based on their locations and view images of the merchandise in their neighborhoods. It’s a safer, more attractive and more personal shopping experience.
“Krrb’s mission is to create a fun, friendly and safe online venue that enables better and more personal face-to-face dealings between neighbors.”
Krrb gets personal, in a good way. Continue reading
For-profit companies have long been categorized as either C Corps, S Corps, or LLCs. But look out, there’s a new show in town.
Over the past few years, the Benefit Corporation or “B Corp” has been gaining ground.
B Corps are social enterprises; businesses working for social and environmental good as well as profit. They’re an important addition to the marketplace, so I wanted to get down to the main points of what it actually means to be a B Corp.
Working with non-profit organizations, I was often frustrated by their lack of scalability. NGOs and charities spend a lot of time and resources fundraising and so aren’t able to maximize their impact. When my business partner and I decided to found Modavanti.com, an ethical fashion retail site, we wanted create a for-profit business aimed at changing consumer behavior and reforming the garment industry. We felt there was big potential there.
That’s exactly the purpose of the B Corp.
B Corps are distinct from regular corporations in that their success is measured in part by their social and environmental value. The third-party NGO B Lab certifies that B Corps meet higher standards of transparency, accountability, and social/environmental performance. In their mission statements and articles of incorporation, these companies proclaim their purposes, whether they be building infrastructure, protecting the environment, labor reform, or any number of others.
So far, B Lab has certified 600 companies across 60 industries as B Corps, a list that includes prominent retailers like Patagonia and Seventh Generation.
There’s a legal element for Benefit Corporations as well.
Since its founding in 2006, B Lab has led the charge to get B Corp legislation passed in all 50 states. In April off 2010, Maryland became the first state to take the plunge. As of early 2013, 12 states have enacted laws certifying B Corps and 14 others are hot on their heals. Support for the laws has been overwhelmingly bi-partisan to boot – and how often does that happen?
Besides sending a clear message Continue reading
