Algiers from edit'd- $129.00

These days, it is all about eco-fashion with a vintage flavor! I found this fabulous piece from Helene Ang, an Australian designer living in Hong Kong. She began edit’d earlier this year as an eco-friendly fashion line focused on a blend of vintage/contemporary style.

This piece is called Algiers and began as a vintage YSL dress and was reworked to become new again. And what adds even more charm to this dress is the story it has to tell.

I was born in the ’80s from the House of YSL and was picked up in an op shop. I started off as a wide maxi dress with a high round collar. I was very tired looking and in need of a makeover. These days I’m looking much more sassy! Wear me through the streets of Algiers, where I can get immersed in the history of its centuries-old buildings and cathedrals.

She says, “All our ready to wear pieces are one-of-a-kind and come with a story about its humble beginnings.” Love that!

And if you love that 1970’s polyester print in your closet, but it’s just collecting dust, send it to edit’d for a contemporary lift! The edit’d collection is currently available at Fang Fong Projects in Hong Kong or on their website.

Kempt Pure Tote $400.00

Kempt Handbags… A favorite of LDB is back with a new highly anticipated eco-design. I heard this was coming, so I’m excited to finally introduce The Pure Tote , an unstructured bag made of entirely all-natural materials including chrome-free vegetable dyed fine leather and linen thread. This piece is significantly less expensive than Kempt’s original collection, so it’s a great way to get introduced to Kempt’s quality and craftsmanship at a lower price.

The bag comes in neutral brown as well as black, and I absolutely LOVE the way the company philosophy is actually embossed in the leather interior. How cool! This bag is great for style-conscious and eco-conscious woman on the go. You’re making a commitment to the environment by purchasing an eco-design that will survive season after season. Timeless style and less waste!

We’ve heard a lot about Kempt lately. Erin Voorhies, the New York designer behind the brand recently attended the 2009 Independent Handbag Awards as a finalist in the category “Best Use of Swarovski Elements”. (Click here for the full story)

Erin’s portfolio is about bags with a timeless elegance made from premium textiles including ostrich, anaconda, lizard and fine leather. And all bags are made using a repurposed factory right here in the U.S. See why we’re such a fan of Kempt! For more information and to purchase one of your own visit www.kemptnewyork.com.

I have a new blog you need to know about. Christa Backstrom, Bubbie Blue designer and LDB feature (read her review here) has extended her 100% safe for baby blankies to a new level. She is using what she has learned in the business of eco-design and offering great information every week! The name of her blog is Sage Moms Forum, and the posts are true to its name. Here you’ll find sage advice for moms looking to find the safest and most effective products for their little ones.

What’s more…I’m excited to announce that today Christa is expanding the blog to also focus on eco-fashion and she’s asked me to help contribute. (Click here for the announcement) So, if you are an eco-fashion designer interested in being featured on Christa’s blog, email me for more info. This is a great opportunity for you to get exposure in your niche market. Let’s make it happen!

About her inspiration:

“…I knew I wanted to make meaningful pieces. But, I also wanted them to be stylish enough that you would want to wear them everyday. I love many of the artists that Sundance Catalog carries and I often look there for inspiration. But, design is just something I am constantly thinking about. Oddly enough, I get my best ideas while I’m in the shower.”

About her process:

“I really love almost everything about it. A day that I get to spend working in my studio is always a great day. I love working with metal and with my hands. The material I work with to create my charms and rings is amazing. The recycled silver particles are mixed with a binder. The result is called Precious Metal Clay. (You can do this with gold and bronze too and soon copper will be available). When you start forming your piece you are literally working with a lump. Once you’ve created your piece, you fire it in a kiln. All the binder burns off and you’re left with Pure Silver. Pretty cool, huh?

“I’m also a gemstone fanatic. I love finding great gemstone briolettes. It is not an easy task! It takes a lot of hunting and developing relationships with really good vendors.”

About her new career:

“I didn’t really decide. It just happened. One day a few years back, I stumbled across an article about Precious Metal Clays and that was it. I never stopped and never looked back.

“The sense of accomplishment of launching my own jewelry line has been great. My goal was to create a business doing something I love that gives me the freedom to make my own hours and be home for my family. That is a huge check mark on my life’s ‘to do’ list.”

About her business:

“I recently launched on the Internet and since then business has really taken off. I think getting reviews on relevant blogs is really one of the best ways to reach your customers and make great connections. (relevant being the key word) I get other blogs and websites wanting to cover my work after reading about me on one of the blogs they follow. It snowballs. Poppytalk Handmade is another great place to showcase your work. Currently, I only sell in one boutique - sylvieandbruno.com.”

About her life:

“When I’m not working, I’m just hanging out with family and friends. I work a lot so when I’m not working I am mostly spending time with my family. I have a great husband, a four and five-year old and two yellow labs. They keep me pretty busy!”

You can also read more about Julie’s products on a recent review at Cool Mom Picks and of course, on her website.

I asked Julie to keep us posted on new developments with Heart and Stone Jewelry. There is much more to come!

LDB: Tell us about your recycled book handbags. Where did the idea come from and what is your inspiration for each piece?

Although I didn’t come up with the idea for a Book purse, I loved the idea and started thinking of ways to make it sturdier and using various different handles. Eventually, I thought of making a briefcase out of an Atlas, and Passport holder to keep thieves away while traveling. I’m also working on making another cover for the book out of the same fabric from the purse and including it with the order! So, needless to say, I started to get addicted. My favorite part is going to the bookstore and finding books that remind me of when I was younger and then going to the fabric store to pick out the perfect fabric. At that point, I can’t wait to get home and start sewing!

LDB: What led you to start your own etsy business?

The reason I started selling them online is because I wanted to send money to my parents. As cosigners, they got stuck paying a $350,000 loan when the borrower disappeared. My dad was faced with the possibility of losing his house he built with his own hands. So all profits have been going to him. I wrote him my first check the other day and he was shocked! I hope to one day be able to get my parent’s situation organized and then eventually quit my day job and just sell my crafts.

LDB: What has been the most rewarding experience for you so far?

Actually selling the product! Last month was my biggest month! I’m excited to create a new business and watch it gradually become a successful one. However, the most rewarding part is to be able to help my parents who have always supported me with everything I do.

LDB: Etsy has so many amazing, talented designers. Have you found a favorite?

Ooh, I have so many favorites. If I had to pick just one it would be this one- she makes the cutest things.

Skunkboy Creatures

Thanks for taking the time to talk with us, Michelle. We wish you the best of luck with Spoonful of Chocolate! Please keep us posted on your success.

So, I’m thrilled to introduce you to a new designer who has made a commitment to using environmentally friendly methods since she was a little girl…long before it was trendy. And, what’s better…her designs are so fabulous and becoming widely recognized in green fashion circles. With an extensive background in design and a specific focus on timeless, classic looks (my favorite!) Melissa Baswell and Mountains of the Moon is carving out a place in modern fashion. This was one of the most intriguing interviews I have had with a designer so far! I love her honesty and integrity in the way she talks about her designs. I hope you enjoy reading it!

LDB: It seems that each of the pieces in your collection has a specific design inspiration. Tell us about that.

Melissa: In general, whenever I am designing a new piece, I keep in mind that sustainable design is about much more than just using eco-friendly materials. Sustainable design has to reject the concept of disposable fads and instead possess a style that is classic and timeless (but with modern wearability). Because of this, I have done a lot of research into vintage fashion, and have found inspiration in design that has, for lack of a better phrase, “stood the test of time.”

In that sense, I find myself inspired by the style sense of 50s and 60s fashion icons like Audrey Hepburn and Edie Sedgwick, even if the pieces I create don’t appear to be directly influenced by them. Even though the Audrey Dress, for example, is a mock wrap dress and nothing like anything Audrey Hepburn ever wore, the lines are clean and the cut is classic. Those adjectives always come to mind when I visualize Hepburn’s wardrobe choices. Another example is the Coco Dress. Coco Chanel’s design work was

Coco Dress

incredibly menswear-inspired, and this dress is very feminine. But it represents her efforts to create designs that were simple, but that possessed a very dramatic flair that made women feel beautiful and unique.

LDB: I’ve read that your concern with creating recycled pieces began at a very early age. How did you get started creating eco-fashion and what do you think sets your label apart from other eco-friendly brands?

Melissa: Despite my passion for the environment from a very young age, my original attempts at creating eco-fashion weren’t even realized at the time. It just made sense to use my mother’s left over fabrics growing up, and then when I started sewing for my friends, it was obviously much more affordable to recycle thrift store pieces. I was working as an intern for an environmental non-profit in college when I started to really comprehend how eco-friendly it was to be reusing in this way, which motivated me more than ever. This was in the mid to late 90s, and at the time, eco-fashion wasn’t even a term yet. Around this time, I also started working with hemp and organic cottons. Fabric choices were very limited, but I really enjoyed working with materials that I knew were making a positive impact on the Earth, and I liked the challenge of creating really stylish designs from fabrics that were so raw.

My focus has always been on designing chic clothing that is also sustainable, but there are actually many other designers doing that recently as well. So more than anything, I think the main thing That sets Mountains of the Moon apart from other eco-friendly brands is that we’ve created a unique niche for ourselves. We’re designing very wearable, on trend pieces, but they are designs that can also be wardrobe staples forever. We’re not designing eco-friendly apparel that is based on trends so much that it won’t be “in style” next season, but we’re also not creating stereotypically “granola” pieces. I really try to design clothing that will make the most discerning fashionista feel chic and stylish, but that can also be worn on many occasions, for many years.

Candy Wrapper Dress

We also produce locally, which is important to us. We can visit the manufacturer and really be a part of the process, we’re helping the local economy, and we’re also keeping our carbon footprint low. In addition, we organize events with local environmental organizations and donate to environmental groups. It is very important to me to be as eco-consious as possible with my company, not to just throw around the “green” label because it’s trendy right now.

LDB: What do you enjoy most about the process of creating a new item?

Melissa: I love the very beginning, when I’m creating mood boards. When I do a mood board, it’s non-traditional, in that it’s usually a box of things I put together that includes fabric swatches, pictures of nature and the city, sketches, etc. I also absolutely love fashion illustration. Drawing is my first love. It’s very exciting to put all of these things together and then transform it into an actual garment sample.

LDB: What has been the most exciting experience for you since beginnning this business?

Melissa: There have been many exciting experiences, but the one that probably stands out the most is the recycled candy wrapper dress I made that was exhibited at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art last fall during Chicago’s fashion week. The MCA has been one of my favorite museums since I was a child, and to have one of my designs there, especially one that was sustainable, was a pretty amazing feeling.

LDB: Which piece in your collection are you the most proud of?

Melissa: The Coco Dress is probably my favorite piece. It’s so much my own style. One thing you have to consider as a designer is that as much as you need to love what you create, you can’t only create pieces for yourself. This dress is something that I wear constantly and really defines who I am as a designer.

LDB: Where would we find you when you aren’t working?

Melissa: Well, I am usually working, but when I find some cherished free time, I am usually relaxing with my boyfriend and dog. I’m also a huge live music fan. My boyfriend is the Stage Manager for a band, so occasionally I’ll take a trip with them. LAs year we went to Amsterdam, Paris and Bruges (Belgium), Jamaica, San Francisco, Boston, New York…I love being able to see these places and have music involved. I also do side work in the music industry. I work as a stylist for several bands, design merchandise, produce eco-fashion shows and speak on sustainable design at music festivals. But we’re talking about NOT working here, right?

LDB: Do you have a favorite online or boutique shop?

Melissa: Oh, I have so many! I love smashingdarling.com. They are unique in that they really make an effort to promote emerging and independent designers, which is so important to the future of fashion, eco and otherwise.

Mountains of the Moon is becoming a reputable name in Chicago and soon will be a label that the rest of the country will know, too. Melissa’s commitment to a sustainable process is one that many designers can learn from and her love for the creative process is great fun to watch.

And the good news for LDB readers…you can enjoy Mountains of the Moon at 30% off this week! But hurry, the offer ends July 2nd. Just type in coupon code: WA30 at checkout to receive the discount.

I’ve already mentioned the Black Market Bazaar here, but I have to mention it again, because this great designer, Sara of Pure Light Candles was found there, too.

Of course, we know that soy candles are all the rage now and for good reason. They burn cleaner than paraffin wax, last longer and you can even use the melting wax as a moisturizer! At various gift/trade shows I’ve encountered many new lines of soy candles in the last couple of years. But this new line I found, called Pure Light Candles by Sara Erikson out of Los Angeles, has more scents than I’ve seen in a while and I appreciate Sara’s commitment to environment-friendly business practices. All candles are pure white with no messy dyes, the packaging is made from recycled paper and if you return the glass container to her after use, she’ll take $2 off your next purchase!

Check out this video with more about Sara and her fabulous Soy scents!

Pure Light Candles

I’ll be following Sara and her new line of candles. And stocking up on my own supply! To see more from Sara, visit her etsy shop.

I was suddenly so excited to talk with Kate more about her collection, inspiration, success and what we can look forward to from Toggery in the months to come. Here is some of what she had to say:

LDB- Tell us about the design inspiration for your Spring 09 collection.

Kate- Spring 09 was really focused on the very essentials every woman needs to get through the warm weather seasons with ease and comfort. Every piece is a style that can translate seamlessly into your wardrobe but most importantly, on their own, they’re the only pieces you need and want to wear in the warm weather. For me, during the spring and summer I need pieces that I can throw on after work or coming off the beach to be ready for dinner and drinks…nothing fussy, but yet totally pulled together and chic.

LDB- Clearly, you have made an important commitment to the environment. How does Toggery play a role in that?

Kate- Toggery is a brand that represents being fashionable and eco-friendly with minimal effort. Everything from the fabric we use to the production, packaging and even where the items are produced are all conscious decisions to be earth-friendly. We produce in the U.S. not only because it supports the economy, but also because it cuts down on our carbon footprint as a company. To be a part of company that realizes the value in having substance not only makes me reprioritize areas of my personal life but hopefully it sets a good example for consumers to see that just slight adjustments here and there can really make a difference.

LDB-Describe to us your process of design and what do you enjoy most about that process?

Kate- The process of designing a collection starts in the pages of Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar…then it goes to looking and observing the woman around me and how I can translate new trends and style ideas into everyday pieces that are essentially effortless, chic and comfortable. From there I go to my sketchbook and just start putting my thoughts on paper seeing collectively what styles look best together. My favorite part of the design process is seeing how one design can translate so many different ways by seeing how my team of showrooms, pr girls and production team would individually style each piece. I love seeing a piece of Toggery transformed by the person who is wearing it!

LDB-Kate, even though Toggery is a relatively new line, you have seen a tremendous amount of success. What do you think it is about your collections that have attracted such attention in a short time?

Kate-I think it comes down to three things: style/fit, fabrics, price…I really believe in having key bodies that work with so many different jackets, tops, accessories, etc. They are shapes that translate personal style easily and that you can wear from season to season, day to night. The fabrics we use feel sooo amazing to the touch that you want to live in them but not only because you’re comfortable, but because of the style, fit and drape of the products you look effortlessly put together. Price; who doesn’t want to find a great dress for under $100, especially if it’s one that you know will help you utilize the other pieces you have in your closet.

LDB-We’ve seen what you’ve done so far…now what can we look forward to for the fall? Any hints?

Kate- Fall 09 is amazing! Toggery is totally moving in a more fashion-forward direction but still keeping our roots…think exposed stitching, uneven hemlines…great separates…a true collection of skirts, pants, dresses and tops that you need to own! Color-wise think rich, warm colors that blend well with different hues. Start saving, ladies, because you’re not going to want to pass up the tasty treats we have coming to you.

Thanks for taking the time to talk with us, Kate. We wish you the very best on your Fall 09 collection and the future of the Toggery line. Keep us posted at LDB on your success! You can see more from Toggery by clicking here.