ELLE’s green issue misses the mark
June 14, 2008
Dear ELLE Canada,
I was delighted when I came across your “green” issue this week at my local newsstand. However, as inevitably happens with the green versions of most - if not all - mainstream glossies, I was disappointed that you chose not to dedicate 100 percent of this month’s editorial content to environmentally conscious fashion and glamour.
The green goods
January 4, 2008
Cool green stuff from around the web:
In the market for some green duds? Toronto online eco-clothier green is black has sprouted a real, live shop. The new retail spot at 624 Yonge Street stocks the same fashion-forward, environmentally friendly and sweatshop free clothes we have been thrilled to find in their online store.
Warning issued on Wild Vineyard health products
January 2, 2008
Health Canada is advising Canadians not to use unauthorized products manufactured by Wild Vineyard because of their potential health risks. Wild Vineyard is not authorized to manufacture, package, label or import natural health products in Canada. As such, the government is concerned about the quality of these products and the subsequent health risk they may pose to Canadians.
Recycled togs
December 22, 2007
Got an old fleece coat you don’t know what to do with? Some polyester duds that have seen better days? Drop them off at Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), who’ll recycle your old togs and save them from the landfill. The environmentally responsible outdoors retailer introduced a garment-recycling program in stores across Canada this year and has repurposed more than 1800 kilograms of clothing through the Toronto store alone.
Where fashion meets ethics
December 11, 2007
Looking for a pair of stylish yet eco-friendly wide-legged jeans? Or a comfy hoodie that’ll warm you up this winter but keep the planet cool? Check out Toronto online retailer green is black. Launched when the founders wanted to incorporate fashion into their green lifestyles but had trouble sourcing sustainable and fashionable goods, green is black stocks clothing, shoes and accessories for men and women created by cutting edge designers who use hemp, organic cotton, bamboo and soy, as well as reclaimed, recycled and vintage materials.
Smudgepot cosmetics
December 3, 2007
Elastin: a protein found in the neck ligaments and aortas of cows. Stearic acid: fat from cows and sheep and from dogs and cats euthanized in animal shelters. Keratin: a protein from the ground-up horns, hooves, feathers, quills, and hair of various animals.
More hip than hippie
November 30, 2007
Remember when Molly Ringwald transformed an old prom dress into a custom-made gown in Pretty in Pink? Or when Julie Andrews turned curtains into playclothes in The Sound of Music? Turns out they were early green fashionistas. Repurposing old textiles isn’t just for the thrifty: it can help save the planet. With 15 pounds of fabric waste per person filling Canadian landfills, something’s got to give.
Wear your Heart on your Sleeve
November 28, 2007
Okay, so we’re green. We cart our groceries in cloth bags, compost our coffee grounds, and get our news online. But how green is your closet? For many of us, it’s last spot left in our homes to get a green makeover. Thanks to Heart on your Sleeve, making eco-friendly clothing choices no longer means sacrificing your style.
The six sins of greenwashing
November 26, 2007
The recent hand-slapping of Vancouver’s Lululemon over false claims touting the health of its seaweed-fibre clothing by the Federal Competition Bureau has called attention to the growing practice of “greenwashing,” or the “act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service” (www.terrachoice.com).
