A few of my favorite ethical jewelry brands: DLC (profile coming soon – stay tuned!), Hovey Lee (same here), Nettie Kent and Raven + Lily. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Handmade
I was 100% Sustainable in my 100%NY dress this weekend
Daniel Silverstein, the brilliant creative director of 100%NY, agreed to lend me one of his gorgeous creations for a wedding I attended over the weekend. Being about to launch Modavanti, I obviously like to take every possible opportunity to show off just how great sustainable fashion can look, and what better way to do so than with this dress from 100%’s upcoming Resort collection?
- (I’m the one on the right)
The dress is just about as sustainable as you can get. Made from eco-friendly modal, the pattern is cut to be zero waste, meaning that every scrap of fabric is incorporated into the garment. (For more about 100% NY’s zero waste method, check out our earlier brand profile). The dress is also sewn by Daniel on an electric, energy-saving sewing machine in his studio in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
So to recap Continue reading
Spring bags for the Eco Fashionista
For more, see my Eco&Ethical Handbags pinboard and follow for periodic updates.
Collina Strada bag, Made in USA
Matt & Natt blue vegan leather handbag with 100% recycled sand faux suede lining
Alkemie Jewelry: Reclaimed Magic
I just stumbled upon what I think is my new favorite jewelry designer. Called Alkemie, the company is run by design team Dara Gerson & Ashley Lowengrub. They make all of their bracelets, rings, necklaces, belts and earrings from 100% reclaimed metal. Everything is handcrafted in their LA studio. AND they give 5% of their profits to charity! This month, the donations are going to the Seva Foundation, a Berkeley based non-profit that provides financial resources and technical expertise to help communities build sustainable solutions to poverty and disease. Adding Alkemie jewelry to my wishlist!
Note: it was REALLY difficult to choose the images for this post, I love everything they make! Here are some highlights, though:
Zipper Bangle
Large Stingray Cuff with Tear
Kristen Lombardi’s Manimal Moccasins & More
During her “post-college breakdown,” Massachusetts native Kristen Lombardi took a trip 
to an Arizona Apache reservation. While there, she wanted to buy a pair of authentic handmade moccasins. No such luck: the people on the reservation wouldn’t sell them to her. All she found were the mass-produced Minnetonkas in the tourist shops.
Having studied fashion design at the Massachusetts College of Art (which, incidentally, is the nation’s only state art school), Kristen was undeterred. When she got back from her trip, she took out a book on moccasins from the library and figured out how to make her own. Now, years later, she is the owner and designer of Manimal, a line of locally-produced moccasins and accessories inspired by the American Southwest. I met Kristen in her Brooklyn studio last week.
What’s in a Moccasin?
Rather than using a specific, traditional tribal design, Kristen has drawn on different styles from different tribes to create something that is all her own. Inspired by the natural world, the line is produced thoughtfully and with low-impact. Everything is handmade in New York, by Kristen in her studio and two women that take home piecework.
The Great Leather Debate Continue reading