White Apricot

WHAT'S HOT TODAY!

This is the cutest, little, bright red clutch from The Autonomie Project. Hand crocheted by a women's sewing cooperative in rural Piura, Peru, it holds just the few essentials you need for a night out. Made from recycled polypropylene, it measures 6" x 9.5", is fully lined and has a magnetic closure. A steal at $35! www.autonomieproject.com.

GIRLIE GIRLS RULE!

by Bonny Osterhage

Feminine, flirty, fun and eco friendly are just a few of the adjectives that best describe the adorably sassy (there’s another one) line of dresses from Roberta Oaks, Hawaii. These dresses, described on the website as “chic and whimsical, yet classy and ultra-wearable” will become the go-to items in your closet this summer for every occasion.

Cool, comfortable and affordably priced, the dresses feature combinations of great prints and bold colors that will bring out the girlie girl in everyone. We are crazy about the “Amilie” (shown left), made from a combination of bamboo and organic cotton, and featuring a black and white polka dot bodice, combined with either a light pink or aqua skirt. Each dress is made at a Honolulu sewing shop in accordance with Oaks’ commitment to supporting small local businesses and a sustainable local and domestic economy. Roberta Oaks eco friendly clothing designs can be found at some of the chicest boutiques across the country. For a complete store listing or to order online, visit www.robertaoaks.highpowersites.com.

BERRY BERRY CUTE

Most of us have probably enjoyed drinks made from the antioxidant-rich Açai berry.  But, have you ever worn them as jewelry?  Well…now you can. It’s not actually the berry, itself, but the seed and we have to say, the finished products from Zorbitz are a terrific spring/summer accessory. Made by women's fair trade co-ops in Brazil, there are three styles to choose from in several colors: single strand, triple strand (shown left) and the Shooting Star (pictured right). The even better news... you can be stylin' in these cuties for a song. They range from $8.99 for the single strand to $24.99 for the Shooting Star. One final bonus... all three are said to bring you good luck. www.zorbitz.net

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT...

So, here's the thing... Ctonics is not your average organic shampoo. In fact, when you first use it, it's almost a little disconcerting as you squeeze the quarter-sized dollop into your hand and realize that it's opaque dark brown. Plus, there is a little ritual involved...a double wash with not too much lather on the first round, leave it on your hair for two minutes kind of ritual. But, persevere...because this organic hair care product line is quite wonderful and your hair will look and feel truly healthy. In fact, I really needed a haircut when I started using Ctonics and totally thought I looked like a shaggy dog. But, people were all of a sudden telling me how great my hair looked. Go figure...

Ctonics is a line of "live bioactive organic hair tonics," which also contain natural essential oils. The goal is to detoxify, cleanse and get your scalp healthy so it's a "fertile foundation for healthy hair to grow."

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT...

Let's face it...the whole eco fashion movement began pretty much with organic cotton tees and they remain a staple. But, then again, t-shirts of any kind are a wardrobe staple. That said, we thought we should bring you up to date on the latest offerings from some of our favorite t-shirt brands.

CLOTHING OF THE AMERICAN MIND (COTAM) - Known for its environmentally safe and politically conscious designs, COTAM has introduced its ECO collection with two new designs, "REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE RETHINK" and "I RECYCLE STUFF." www.cotam.org

BE PRESENT - Politics are in the air and Be Present, designer of clothing for the yoga lifestyle, has their answer. The "Vote" shirt with “OM” written in Sanskrit in place of the "o," has the intent to encourage you to vote with your heart and encourage others to do the same. The women's tank and short sleeved styles and men's short sleeve are 100% organic cotton. www.bepresent.com

TEES FOR CHANGE - Tees for Change seems to always know exactly what to say...for spring/summer 2008, they're imparting their wisdom with 12 mantras on 10 new earth friendly and eye catching colors, including pink, grapefruit, eggplant, chocolate and cherry red. Some of the mantras on the shirts include "Chase Dreams," "Laugh Often" and "Practice Kindess." All of the shirts are either 100% organic cotton or a 70% bamboo/30% organic cotton blend. www.teesforchange.com

SOMETHING'S FISHY...