White Apricot

It seems that no matter what trends come and go, you can always count on "naturals" to be perfect for spring and summer. Of course, at White Apricot, "naturals," in the true sense of the word, are basically all we talk about, but right now, we're talking khakis, creams, browns and beiges...let's call them neutrals. Whether it's straw bags, the safari look, beaded necklaces or wood bangles, the "au natural" look always finds its way into spring collections and our wardrobes. And, the natural look just sings our eco friendly fashion song!

It makes us so happy when an eco friendly shoe brand actually makes stylish, right in the moment, shoes that also happen to be...well...eco friendly. Terra Plana has done exactly that with its new Spring 2008 collection. They've thought of everything...from a great strappy sandal in the Aquila (pictured above left) to the quilted Juniper classic pump (right) to the low kitten heel Ibo sandal in bright red (below left). And, there are many more styles to choose from, for example, the Opei mesh Mary Jane you'll find in our "Natural Neutrals" article this week, plus flats and flip flops. Terra Plana uses a variety of eco-friendly materials, including chrome free leathers, vegetable tanned leathers, recycled materials and recycled rubber soles. Check them all out at www.terraplana.com.

Since dry, flaky skin is a big issue this time of year, we’ve been in search of moisture…for our poor arid faces. Since we’re big fans of Better Botanicals’ shampoos and conditioners, we decided to see whether the company’s skin care line could whip our blah skin into a moisturized super star. Better Botanicals believes the health of your skin is important to your overall well-being. Using Ayuvedic methodology, the products are formulated to re-establish harmony and balance for your skin. It was recommended that we try a combination of the Chamomile Cleansing Milk, Apricot Eye Care cream and the ultra-hydrating Dandelion Moisturizing Cream. It was just the fix we needed. The cleansing milk is gentle and works on the most sensitive skin. The eye cream was a little miracle tucked in a compact tube, which hydrated and diminished those disturbing little lines and under eye circles, and the moisturizing cream, chock full of vitamins and plant oils, felt and worked great. We used it both day and night. To top it off, all Better Botanical products are made with vegetarian ingredients and are free of animal substances, petroleum, and synthetic colors and fragrances. Your dry skin will soon be thanking you! www.betterbotanicals.com.

When Toby Pomeroy dropped out of school (in his fourth year pre-med no less) to design jewelry, he probably had no idea that his high-end, environmentally friendly designs would be featured in magazines, on the Today Show and even on the earlobes of one Miss Cameron Diaz. But his simple, elegant styles, combined with his passion as an environmentalist, have made Pomeroy one of the most sought after jewelry designers.

Made from reclaimed or recycled precious metals and ethically derived diamonds, Pomeroy’s creations start as a single piece of this EcoGold or EcoSilver, which is expertly shaped and worked into something wonderful, often with diamonds and other colored gemstones incorporated into the design. The result is a timeless classic that is both lightweight and durable. Signature pieces of the Toby Pomeroy line include the Eclipse pendants, the Waterfall drop earrings and the Cuff bracelets. All are created with or without diamonds and all are designed with Pomeroy’s innate sense of creating designs that make a woman look and feel beautiful. It isn’t often when the finer things in life are socially conscious, but Toby Pomeroy Fine Jewelry marries the two worlds beautifully. www.tobypomeroy.com

When you find one product that can eliminate the need for four separate products, you grab it and buy it in bulk! That’s what we want to do with the Organic Body Polish from Trillium Organics. More than just a salt scrub, this polish does it all: cleanses, exfoliates, moisturizes and protects the skin…and it does it with all natural ingredients that your body and your soul will adore, resulting in silky, smooth skin that, thanks to the addition of soy lipids, lasts for days.
           
The polish was the first product created by Trillium Herbal Company, which now boasts a complete line of organic skin and body care. Karen Ciesar, a woman’s activist attorney, created Trillium after the birth of her first child. She was inspired by the ancient wisdom of herbalists and midwives, who knew how to make everything we need to keep us well and balanced using only things found in their gardens. Trillium’s mission is to produce delightfully high performance, genuinely green body, skin and self care products. They source only from suppliers who share the same green values, and produce products that help people live more sustainable and satisfying lives. After using this wonderful polish, all we can say is: mission accomplished. www.trilliumorganics.com

Here are a couple of news bites on two announcements that fall into the "Are you kidding?" file. First, Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, has launched eco friendly Bindi Wear International, a collection of more than 100 children's styles, each of which carries a conservation message made up by her, like "Extinct Stinks." All of the clothes are made, at least partially, from recycled materials and 100% of profits will go to the conservation program at the Australia Zoo. Initially, the line is only available in Australia, but the company is working on the U.S. as we speak. We just thought you should know. Did we tell you she's only nine years old... www.bindiwearinternational.com.au

Second, now we can now add Saab....yes, the Swedish auto maker... to our list of eco friendly fashion designers. The company has rolled out an organic clothing line, collaborating with clothing maker Reflective Circle. Called the Pure BioPower Eco Clothing Collection, all the pieces are made of 100% organic cotton and will be produced using environmentally certified systems and humane labor practices. Initially, there are t-shirts, button down shirts and cardigans for women and men and a shirt dress for women, which will all be available in late May.