SustainLane - The Fashion Issue

March 2008
Edition 45

Greetings!

With Saint Patrick's Day behind us, our thoughts are drifting from green t-shirts and Guinness to beaches and bikinis. That can only mean one thing: spring has sprung, and so have all the new clothing lines the weather brings with it.

For us greenies though, this brings up an age old dilemma. New clothes can mean a larger carbon footprint; but who wants to be stuck wearing bygone styles? Thanks goodness it's possible to have it both ways!

Keep reading to see what sustainable fabric excites Abendigo R., which sustainable designer delights Jenn A., and where Cris B. goes for stylish secondhand clothes.

Plus, check out some great clothing recycling tips in our Green Video of the Week, and read up on all the latest eco-fashion news in our In the News section.

Share Green Knowledge - Win A Solar Backpack

We made a list of the 100 most searched items on SustainLane.com. Why you ask? Because people on the internet want to know more about the "green cred" of these products, and we thought you should have the chance to share your knowledge. That's why.

If educating the masses isn't incentive enough, every review you write before the April 10th deadline counts as one "ticket" in a raffle for some great prizes. One Grand Prize winner will receive a free Voltaic Solar Backpack, and ten runners-up will each get a SustainLane tote-bag and t-shirt. Just follow the link below to see a complete listing of the contest rules and all 100 products. Good luck, and happy reviewing!

SustainLane Solar Backpack Giveaway

Featured Review: Bamboo Tees

If everyone loves pandas (which they do), and pandas love bamboo (which they certainly do), does that mean that everyone loves bamboo? OK, that logic is tragically flawed, but read on to see why Abendigo R. thinks we should love bamboo anyway.

Click for HTNaturals Bamboo Tee

Bamboo is the new soft, ooh-yeah

"This is like the softest t-shirt I've ever worn. It comes from a company called HTNaturals. It's 70 percent bamboo and 30 percent cotton. Do you have any idea how soft and voluptuous bamboo clothing is? Oh my god! Anyway, I got this..." click here to read more

Tried HTNaturals Products? How about a different bamboo clothing company? Write a review at Sustainlane.com and share!

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Green Video of the Week - Clothes

There are plenty of ways to get new clothes this season without polluting the planet. This video from Threadbanger showcases three of them: buying local, buying used, and making your own!

Have any ideas for next week's green video of the week? (the topic is "Greening Your Office") Please e-mail us at community@sustainlane.com and let us know!

Featured Business: prAna

Despite our best intentions, some of us can't make our own clothes, and don't like wearing something secondhand without knowing who wore it first. Fortunately, Jenn A. says some companies are worth buying new clothes from.

Click for prAna

Clothing with a cause! Five Stars

"I first learned about prAna through a climbing buddy - the pants he loaned me fit great and I could climb in them easily and comfortably. Over the years, I have found that I really like a lot of their clothing -- I guess you can call me a prAna Queen.
Even better -- as a company, prAna supports sustainability in many ways - they incorporate..." click here to read more

Ever worn prAna clothing? How about a different sustainable clothing brand? Write a review at SustainLane.com and tell us what you think!

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Eco-Fashion in the News

With green fashion trends hitting the runway from Los Angeles to Paris to New Delhi, there is now plenty of sustainable couture for sale that isn't made out of living tree bark (unless you like it that way...).

Get in the loop; you are what you wear.

We told you green fashion was shooting for the sun.

Even TV's Project Runway takes the green fashion plunge.

Treehugger vs. The New York Times on Lululemons Seaweed Clothing.

Thoughts about these headlines? Email us at community@sustainlane.com and let us know!

Recycled Clothes: William Good

Talk about never throwing anything out: after any item spends 30 days on a Goodwill rack without selling, the employees remove it and send it out to be "re-fashioned," and put up for sale on this website. See why Cris B. is willing to say that this sounds like a good idea.

Click here for William Good

William Good - for the Greenest Good by Goodwill

"Take the name Goodwill and reverse it...and voila...you have Will(iam) Good! After 30 days or so, employees remove clothing items off the store racks to be refashioned and resold through...." click here to read more

Have you ever bought anything from William Good? How about Goodwill? Write a review at SustainLane.com and mouth off!

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Upcoming Events

Down 2 Earth
D2E is Boston's sustainable living expo. D2E is committed to promoting a smarter, greener way of life by connecting eco-friendly businesses with eco-minded consumers.
March 28 - 30
Boston, MA
d2eboston.com

Better Living Show
A consumer show highlighting eight core topics including: lifestyle, home/garden, transportation, food/beverage, clean tech, eco-adventure, recycling and conservation with food, speakers, and more.
March 28 - 30
Portland, OR
betterlivingshow.org

The Dream Reborn
Join us on the 40th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination. A bullet killed the dreamer, but not the dream. Together, we will create ecological solutions to heal the earth while bringing jobs, justice, wealth and health to all our communities.
April 4 - 6
Memphis TN
dreamreborn.org

Go Green! Career Fair
The Go Green! Career Fair will focus on clean, green, responsible, and sustainable companies and organizations. This fair showcases entrepreneurial social sector organizations, social enterprises, and larger private sector companies that are pursuing sustainability.
April 10
Stanford, CA
justmeans.com

Green Festival Seattle
The largest green event in the country hits Seattle for the first time!
April 12 - 13
Seattle, WA
greenfestivals.org

Earth Day Food and Wine Festival
The Earth Day Food & Wine Festival is an intimate celebration featuring earth friendly cuisine, sustainably produced wines, live entertainment and educational exhibits highlighting innovative products.
April 19
Santa Margarita, CA
vineyardteam.org

EcoCity 2008 World Summit
Convening an international community of inspired change-makers; courageous individuals who are addressing problems of the world's environment with thoughtful long-range solutions that are truly sustainable, ecologically healthy and socially just.
April 22 - 26
San Francisco, CA
ecocityworldsummit.org

SVA EarthVision Summit
A chance for students to join forces with other young conservation leaders from around the nation, craft new solutions to key environmental issues, and launch action-oriented conservation strategies to support our planet.
April 24 - 27
Washington, DC
thesca.org

All Things Organic
An event focused exclusively on organic products--all products on display must be certified organic, made with certified organic ingredients or be approved for use in organic products.
April 27 - 29
Chicago, IL
organicexpo.com