Posts Tagged ‘eco-friendly’

« Older Entries

“New” Luxury Fiber: Green and Fair Trade Yak Down!

Saturday, October 9th, 2010

If you’re a fan of cashmere — and who isn’t? — you luxuriate in its buttery softness and marvel at how something so light and airy can keep you so warm. Let us introduce you to a “new luxury fiber” that’s all-natural, humanely harvested and rivals the softness, warmth and versatility of cashmere. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Yak Down.

Few people in the Western world have ever heard of yak down. But Tibetans have raised yaks for generations in the Himalayas, using the rugged animals’ fiber for warm clothing and their milk for nourishment. Like cashmere goats, yaks have two coats: a coarse outer coat, and a super-fine, soft insulating undercoat. Every spring, when the yaks shed their undercoat, the soft fibers are brushed out, cleaned, and spun into fabric that’s ultra-light, cashmere soft and truly luxurious.

The relatively new Western market for yak down has started to provide a vital line of industry for people who have been living in poverty. One of the pioneering suppliers of yak down has been Shokay International Group (Shokay is the Tibetan word for ‘yak’). This small company with big ideas was started by two Chinese women who were classmates at Harvard University’s JFK School of Government. Their initiative — to create a worldwide market for a new sustainable luxury fiber, while creating jobs and opportunities for impoverished villages — won the social enterprise track of the Harvard Business School Business Plan Contest. Shokay employs more than 2,600 Tibetan yak herders in western China, and an additional 40 hand knitters.

Elegant Roots is proud to offer some of Shokay’s most popular yak-down products. Check them out! These’ll have you saying “what’s cashmere again?”

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Fair Trade/ Social Justice, Sustainable Fashion | 2 Comments »

Help Put Ganzorig’s Kiva Loan Over the Top

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

ElegRoo just made a $25 loan through Kiva toward the microloan request of Mr. Ganzorig Dondogperenlei of the Hentiy province in central Mongolia. Ganzorig Dondogperenlei

Ganzorig is 47 years old and lives with his wife and three children. His oldest two children currently attend university, and his youngest daughter studies at a local secondary school. His wife works as a construction decorator during the summer.

Ganzorig operates a small wood production business in his town. He started his wood products business in 2002. By managing and conducting his business successfully he has been able to achieve stable operations. His earnings have enabled him to support his entire family, including supporting his children’s education. He has operated his business sustainably.

Kiva describes him as “a helpful, honest and hardworking person” who “dreams of opening his own wood production workplace” after providing for his children’s education.

He is requesting a 740,000 MNT ($575) loan to buy more wooden timber for his business. Already people have loaned $325 — so Ganzorig’s request has only $250 to go.

Consider loaning Ganzorig $25 — yours might be the amount that puts his loan request over the top, completing it.

The concept of microloans is that people who cannot otherwise access any credit systems because of having no collateral will raise themselves out of poverty through these loans. The borrowers repay these loans at an enormously high rate — 99%!!

Make a difference in someone’s life. Fund a loan with as little as $25. We think Ganzorig is a great choice and there are many others to help. You can even create a gift certificate so that a friend or family member can choose which loan request to help fund.

Do it now. You’ll be glad you did!

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Fair Trade/ Social Justice, News | 62 Comments »

Five Eco-Friendly Summer Fashion Finds

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

During the dog days of summer, here are some cool green discoveries that go so well with hot days and nights …

sba_1_385x371-01The Sheba Pendant is a great “date necklace” made of wood, silk and glass, that dresses up a floaty summer top or colorful maxi-dress. Dori Csengeri’s fabulous jewelry designs are impeccably rendered by women artisans in Israel.

GGeckoPurse_A_385x332These cute, light and surprisingly durable Organza/ Raw Silk purses from Green Gecko were handmade by Cambodian artisans. So great with breezy summer dresses.

CWomen_ScarfColors385x300At night when the temperature drops, reach for this light, elegant Ethiopian silk scarf. Wear it gathered around your neck or toss around your shoulders. This beautiful natural-silk scarf is handspun by the Creative Women artisan’s collective in Ethiopia, and comes in five colors to complement any outfit.

CreativeW_Bags_Both newer canvas 350x292copyBeach Bag Bingo: tote your towel, sunblock and beach read in style with another Creative Women offering: a durable, eco-friendly textile tote. These dramatic bags have a gorgeous natural sheen and are built to last.

acai-newRainforest Native’s simply gorgeous five-strand rainforest necklace is crafted by Amazonian artists from white acai, sterling silver, and sustainably harvested rainforest wood. A wear-anywhere necklace that can go from bikinis to cocktail dresses, it looks so great against a summer tan.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Sustainable Fashion | 93 Comments »

Social Biz Meets Social Media

Friday, July 30th, 2010

This is a BIG DAY for Elegant Roots. Maybe even a profound day.

Milyoni, Inc., (said like “million eye”), the leader in Social Commerce, announces a new social merchandising tool within its popular Conversational Commerce™ solution. Its new Instant Showcase allows users to conveniently purchase select products right on the Facebook wall.

Elegant Roots is about connections. Connections between an artisan and a customer. Connections between cultures. Connections between a customer’s green values and a customer’s purchases.

And Facebook is maybe the biggest way to connect, person-to-person, that has come along since the telephone. Facebook enables communities. Though they exist only on line, they are communities with interactions no less personal than the telephone. And remember the Six Degrees of Separation?

Well, a study by Microsoft based on 30 billion instant messages among 180 million people worldwide in one month concluded that “it takes just under seven steps to link every one in the world…on average, any two people are linked by fewer than seven acquaintances” (actually 6.6). Redorbit.com.

Facebook is a vehicle for unlimited connections and community creation.

Why is this so big for ElegantRoots.com? Because that’s where we connect.

Elegant Roots exists only online — in a dotcom store and in a facebook iFan shop. And ElegRoo exists only because of the “long tail” of the internet — that enough people browse to make it practical to offer products that only a slim percentage of people might want.

A little background is in order.

Elegant Roots, as an online boutique, exists to:

  • Bring hot, design-forward items that use artisan, traditional techniques on designs that appeal to the American market;

    • SurGen-2 TN

  • Promote eco-consciousness and social justice by carrying only “green” products (eco-friendly and fair trade/fair labor);
  • Promote traditional arts and preserve traditional lifestyles by creating a market for jewelry, accessories and home decor;
  • Foster connections — making Personal through Story a direct connection between artisan and consumer, throughout the world, eliminating “middlemen” whenever possible; and
  • Promote transparency, so consumers will increasingly ask Who made this, Where it was made; of What it is made and under what conditions; and Why, beyond its beauty and function it aligns with the consumer’s values.

    • Converge-1 Relapse 155x138 copy cleaned

    ElegRoo currently has somewhere over 4000 Facebook fans (or “likes”) from all around the world, (though we can presently ship only within the US). That’s 4000 people who connect with us nearly every day. And the growth is astonishing.

    Now, through Milyoni’s Instant Showcase, we can highlight to our facebook community a few of our wonderful, meaningful, artisan-made products. Our fans need not leave the Wall to buy. Connection remains intact.

    First up on ElegRoo’s Showcase are a few pieces of jewelry from [wired] designer Melissa Kolbusz – Hot earrings from repurposed Effen Vodka labels, Cool cuffs of repurposed rubber washers, and Design-Forward earrings of repurposed neoprene. Neodrop1 iFan 500x662

    Check out our Facebook community. “Like” us. You’re invited. Bring a friend.

    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
    Posted in News | 106 Comments »

    Five (Good) Reasons to Switch to Organic Cotton

    Monday, June 28th, 2010

    Why take the time to seek out and pay a bit more for organic cotton when regular, run-of-the-mill cotton products are so easily available?

    It all comes down to one thing … environment.

    The cotton industry is among the world’s biggest users of pesticide. Cotton takes up only 3% of the world’s farmland, yet uses 25% of the world’s pesticides. That’s why choosing organic cotton products can make an exponentially bigger difference in terms of positive impact.

    Organic cotton means less pesticide contamination for:

    The Ecosystem. A whopping 90% of the pesticides sprayed on mass-produced cotton leaches into the soil, groundwater, and is released into the air.

    People and Animals. All these pesticides in the earth are absorbed in turn by living creatures — in the air we breathe, in the water we drink, and in the plants we eat.

    Our Food. Not only does pesticide contaminate our fruits, veggies and herbs — but food animals consume pesticide-tainted food and water. So their milk, meat, and eggs are tainted too.

    Another problem is fertilizers: in the U.S., nearly a 1/3 pound of synthetic fertilizers is used to produce one pound of raw cotton. And nearly a pound of raw cotton goes into making a single tee-shirt.

    Through leaching and runoff, synthetic fertilizers foul our freshwater habitats, wells, and rivers. And even before the BP oil gusher, the Gulf near New Orleans suffered an annual “dead spot” largely the result of fertilizer run-off from the farms along the Mississippi.

    Organic farming instead uses natural fertilizers that nearly eliminate pollution, runoff, and leaching. We’re talking hug impact!

    Switching to organic cotton also prevents:

    Chemical Allergies and Illnesses. Non-organic cotton still has chemical residue from pesticides, and our skin absorbs these toxins. This can cause irritation, rashes, hives, breathing difficulties, eye problems and aggravation of other existing conditions. For people with sensitive skin, organic cotton is a godsend.

    Research has shown that pesticides block our hormonal and endocrine systems, wreaking havoc with our health. And 47% of pesticides have been identified as potential cancer-causing agents.

    Social Injustice. Cotton workers are traditionally among the most economically challenged populations, and suffer the most exposure to these harmful pesticides. In some countries, pregnant women, nursing mothers and even children work for cotton producers and suffer health and developmental problems as a result. Poor health is one of the factors that keeps impoverished people trapped in the cycle of poverty.

    Here are some truly great organic-cotton products Elegant Roots has found:

    Organic Cotton Baby Ensemble by Dimples

    Handmade Extra Soft Organic Cotton Blanket by Marcel Miller

    All of Elegant Roots’ gifts are wrapped free of charge with our eco-friendly gift wrap … which includes a lovely organic cotton ribbon!

    Tags: , , , , , , , ,
    Posted in Fair Trade/ Social Justice, Health & Wellness, Sustainable Lifestyle | No Comments »

    Five Eco-Friendly Gifts for Baby

    Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

    A new baby is one of the most delightful reasons to buy a gift — but it’s not always easy to choose an item that will please a picky parent. Here is a roundup of five thoughtful gifts we’ve found that are all-natural, non-toxic, high-quality and gentle enough to meet the standards of any new mom or dad.

    ButtNakedBaby_X-01All-Natural Organic Baby Care Set by Butt Naked Baby — We’d call it a “spa set” for baby, because the ingredients are so luxurious … but some of the items here are really necessary! All the products in this fabulous six-piece gift set are responsibly handcrafted in small batches in the USA, using only the best organic ingredients. There are no skin-irritating fragrances, parabens, mineral oils or dyes; rather, this lush and sustainable gift set looks and smells clean and natural. The set comes with Moisture Milk lotion, Healing Baby Powder, moisturizing Baby Balm Stick, soothing and protecting Diaper Balm and relaxing/hydrating Baby Oil. It’s all wrapped up in an organic-cotton “Butt Rug” that can be used as a diaper, burp cloth or changing pad. These trustworthy products are among the finest we’ve found for baby.

    DreamSacks_Blanket_XaDowny-Soft Bamboo Baby Blankets by Dreamsacks — Once you feel these buttery-soft blankets and learn about their fabulous qualities, you won’t want to swaddle baby in anything else. These lovely loom-woven blankets are naturally antibacterial, hypoallergenic, breathable and moisture-wicking. Luxuriously soft, light, warm and comfortable, Bamboo Baby Blankets are loom-woven from 100 percent pesticide-free bamboo — harvested responsibly from renewable forests and crafted under fair-trade conditions. Choose from several colors.

    Dimples_OrganicSet_X-01Organic Cotton Baby Ensemble by Dimples — We just love this gorgeous 3-piece newborn set made from 100 percent organic cotton. And it’s not just us — Babble.com calls it “absolutely beautiful — so soft and snuggly … exactly how I want to bring [new baby] home.” Ecofabulous.com agrees: “Magnificent newborn gift.” The all-natural ensemble has a swaddling blanket, a playsack with drawstring tie, and a cap with flaps for those sweet little ears. The soft cotton contains no pesticides or chemical treatments whatsoever: gentle, handcrafted and using only non-toxic dyes, it’s nothing but softness against baby’s sensitive skin. Choose from the gorgeous hand-embroidered striped “Bee” or “Rose” designs in size 0-3 months.

    BabyShokay385x260Fair-Trade Luxury Baby Hoodie/ Booties by Shokay — These beautiful, soft-as-cashmere hoodie, booties and rattle set is woven from the sustainable “new luxury fiber” — yak down! Tibetan yak herders have been humanely harvesting the rugged animals’ luxurious, downy undercoat for generations, but only recently has this sumptuous fabric been available in the Western market. This set is gorgeous, handcrafted and will be the softest, warmest items in baby’s layette; they’re hand-washable and feel like cashmere. Treated only with nontoxic, low-impact dyes, this heirloom-quality baby set contains a sweet hoodie with an “eternity knot” clasp, snuggly booties with plush pom-poms, and a soft rattle in “Bee” or “Bug” design. This is not only a gorgeous and memorable gift, but it supports Tibetan herders and weavers in fair-labor conditions.

    EnGry_PoliceCars_XEnGry_PrincessHorse_XFair-Trade Wool Car Set or Plush Pony by En Gry and Sif— We just love En Gry and Sif, a business started by two wonderful Danish sisters whose charming baby-and-kid products employ excellent design, strict eco-friendly standards and top-notch craftsmanship by women artisans in Nepal. Non-toxic toys are a wonderful gift, and En Gry and Sif’s fun Wool Car Set and Plush Pony toys are soft, safe, easy to grasp, cute and colorful enough to delight both babies and toddlers. They’re made with 100 percent wool-felt and colored with gentle low-impact dyes. The two-piece car set comes with a Police Car and Ambulance; the Plush Pony is tan with pink spots and a yarn mane.

    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
    Posted in Gentle Baby & Child | 14 Comments »

    Five Fantastic Eco-Friendly Gifts for Dad

    Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

    Father’s Day is just around the corner and we know it’s sometimes tough to find a high-quality gift that he will really love. So Elegant Roots has rounded up some fantastic, unique green gifts that will appeal to a variety of Dads of all ages. Check it out:

    RetreadWallet_XRecycled Rubber Eco-Wallet by English Retreads — Dad’s always digging out his wallet for something — he might as well have a cool, dynamic and incredibly durable wallet like this! Made from the recycled rubber of inner tubes, this English Retreads wallet is a practical gift with a punch.

    Prosperity_A_385x315Thai Silver “Prosperity” Dog Tag by Pineapple Seed — If you’re shopping for a young or young-at-heart dad with style and a sense of purpose, this rugged dog tag with the Thai word for “prosperity” is a one-of-a-kind Father’s Day gift he’ll wear every day. (The sterling-silver luster looks great against a summer tan!)

    Estelle_Cuffs_XArtisan Labradorite & Sterling Silver Cufflinks by Stephen Estelle — Maybe he has a special event coming up, or maybe great cufflinks are part of his regular attire. Either way, these striking cufflinks, hand-crafted under fair-labor conditions by Nepali artisans, are exquisite reminders of what a fabulous Dad he really is.

    EtcetraMedia_XSustainable Wool Laptop/Messenger Bag by Etcetera Media — Handmade from sustainable Blackstone Wool, this durable eco-bag in the classic messenger style can carry laptops, documents, office supplies, or anything else that goes in a “man bag.”  Quality is the name of the game here.

    Handcrafted Zulu “Iquamba” Beer Basket by Nozipho — This water-tight basket, hand-woven by an African artisan, is designed to store Zulu beer. Sure, Dad can use it for that — or he can use it as a high-quality storage solution for home or office. Men who like organization and who care about their surroundings would appreciate this gorgeous, yet practical, museum-quality piece.Picture 2

    Tags: , , , , ,
    Posted in Eco-Friendly Gifts for Dad, Fair Trade/ Social Justice, Sustainable Lifestyle | 12 Comments »

    Wood You Support Sustainable Harvesting?

    Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

    Wood is one of the most practical, useful and beautiful elements on earth, suitable for everything from building construction to high-fashion jewelry. But as with any natural resource, exploitative harvesting of wood can exact too great a price.

    Rain forests around the world are being destroyed at an alarming rate, and two of the biggest culprits are timber logging and farming. The solution? Create financial incentives for locals to preserve the rain forest. Luckily, there is growing awareness and a bigger market for sustainably harvested wood. That means wood that’s collected on a small scale by responsible harvesters, or recycled from other products.

    When you look for artisan items made from sustainable wood, you support a market for alternative and responsible uses of this land. This also puts talented artists to work, doing what they love.

    Here are a few awesome items we found that prove our point: Sustainable wood is fabulous!

    Olivewood “S” Bowl and Service Set by Dwelling — No two pieces are alike, as the dramatic and gorgeous swirls of the olivewood are unique to each one. Hand-carved by artisans in Kenya, these sustainable Dwelling pieces make great gifts for weddings, bridal showers, cooks, foodies, domestic divas and anyone who appreciates beautiful wood pieces.

    Rainforest Wood & Seed Jewelry by Rainforest Native — This versatile 3-strand bracelet and earrings set can be worn every day and is perfect for women who want to look effortlessly chic. Rainforest Native uses only organic, sustainably harvested South American materials and donates a portion of its profits to charities dedicated to conservation and reforestation.

    Sterling Silver & Sathorn Wood Cufflinks by Pineapple Seed — Putting Thai artisans to work in fair-trade conditions, Pineapple Seed combines modern design concepts with traditional Thai artistry. These cufflinks are made from brushed silver and reclaimed sathorn wood in a powerful, masculine design.

    Tags: , , , , , , ,
    Posted in Fair Trade/ Social Justice, Green Entrepreneurs | No Comments »

    Five Fabulous Green Gifts for Geminis

    Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

    As we enter the birthday month for the Gemini sun sign (May 21-June 20), let’s take a look at some of the awesome, unique and eco-friendly gifts we’ve rounded up for all the “Twins” personalities in your life.

    An Air sign ruled by Mercury, Gemini is all about intelligence and communication. Those born under this sign have a passion for putting their brains to work, and for figuring out what makes things – or people – tick.

    Geminis have a great love of all means of communication, and writing often comes naturally to them. They will not hesitate to express their opinion or point of view, and enjoy engaging in lively debate or witty banter. They like to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to get their thoughts out. Their way with words often makes a lasting impression.
    Oberon_Journal_Rose_365x346
    We found these gorgeous artisan leather-and-pewter journals by Oberon — perfect for the communicative, expressive Gemini. Hand-tooled and cured without damaging chemicals, these beautiful journals are as much of a conversation piece as they are a catch-all for brilliant thoughts.

    PuppetSet_X
    Little Geminis love games of imagination, role-playing and acting, so these adorable handcrafted hand puppets by Dwelling will keep a Gemini child busy for hours. Joyously knit by a fair-trade women’s collective in Kenya, these puppets are made of organic wool, vege-dyed and super cute.

    Obama_Ceremony_2 385x282-01-01Those born under the Gemini sun sign are notorious for needing mental stimulation — learning is a lifelong passion for them. Anything that challenges the mind interests Geminis, and they will pursue the answer to a riddle or mystery long after most people give up! Get their brain power flowing with a complex, wood (FSC-certified) jigsaw puzzle — specifically this sustainable wood Obama Inauguration Puzzle, a sweeping crowd scene that will challenge even the most detail-oriented Gemini.

    LichenStixcomposite385x270One drawback of Geminis is that they’re interested in so many things that, in fact, to some people they may appear flighty. But they see life as a buffet, and their goal is to sample everything! Variety, diversity and experimentation are vital to them. This is why the Stix & Stones Multi-Design Jewelry by Lichen is rather ideal for them. This interactive jewelry set comes with several stainless-steel magnetic “stix” and “stones” that can be arranged to create literally hundreds of fabulous contemporary designs, so even a Gemini will never be bored.

    DreamSacks_Travel_X-01Finally, travel is important to Geminis, and they love taking trips. Their journeys may not be long, but there are plenty of them — Geminis love to be on the go. They crave new experiences, seeing new sights and meeting different people. Geminis with wanderlust will appreciate this gorgeous, luxurious, raw silk travel comfort set by Dreamsacks. A soft, warm but lightweight blanket, pillowcase and eyeshade will make sure that Geminis arrive well-rested at their destination!

    What we love most about Geminis is that they never lose their fun-loving nature or their curiosity, and seem to get younger with time, not older. Happy Birthday, Gemini!

    Tags: , , , , ,
    Posted in Gifts by Zodiac Sign | No Comments »

    Five Eco-Friendly Spring Fashion Finds

    Monday, May 10th, 2010

    Elegant Roots is always on the lookout for fabulous, handmade, high-quality items made under socially responsible conditions. That means: gentle to the earth, crafted under joyful conditions and bringing fair trade to deserving artisans.

    While some might consider these conditions “limiting,” the truth is they actually open up new outlets for creativity, and lead an artist or designer toward cool new possibilities they might not otherwise have discovered. When an artist can create something beautiful out of materials that are ordinary, industrial, or even waste products, the results are original and awesome.

    Check out five of our favorite fashion finds, just in time for spring.

    …

    Meilebag_A_285x285
    “HOOKED-RUG” RECYCLED PURSE by Be Sweet — The South African women artisans of Be Sweet have long been making gorgeous mohair scarves (humanely harvested from angora goats). But only recently did they start making items out of castoffs from T-shirt manufacture. These cotton remnants became the basis for this fantastic honeycomb purse in splashy colors.

    GGecko_Wallets_A_385x326

    STUDDED HANDMADE SILK WALLET by Green Gecko — When the weather warms up, the smaller and lighter purses come out, and that’s when you need a lightweight yet durable, functional and pretty wallet. These silk and silver-studded wallets fit the bill beautifully. Green Gecko sources these handspun, hand-loomed and hand-sewn iridescent wallets from a cooperative in Cambodia that provides jobs to economically marginalized women. (Click here to see the matching totes.)

    pinkpetiteneck and earrings with border 380x274 copy

    RECYCLED DEPRESSION GLASS JEWELRY by Bottled Up — “Depression glass” is clear or lightly colored glassware that had been distributed free or quite cheaply in the United States around the time of the Great Depression. Though the patterned glass was inexpensive in the 1930s, Depression Glass has become a hot commodity as a collectible in modern times, and is getting harder and harder to find. That makes these lovely recycled earrings and pendant, made from found glass castoffs, that much more special.

    kdo_main365x285
    GLASS & EMBROIDERED “KAKADOO” COLLECTION by Dori Csengeri — We’re huge fans of jewelry artist Dori Csengeri, whose stunning embroidered jewelry designs have been seen on red carpets, fashion magazines and high-profile clients such as Sienna Miller. These treasures of color and texture are crafted at Dori’s fair-labor atelier in Israel, where women use traditional sewing and beading methods to execute Dori’s fashion-forward design visions.

    Converge-1 Relapse 350x280 copy

    RECYCLED RUBBER & STEEL CUFF and NECKLACE by [wired] — Who knew castoff rubber washers and reclaimed stainless steel could look so good? Perfect accessories for a little black dress or sexy jeans and a tank top, these “industrial chic” pieces stretch and bend, reduce waste and save landfills. And you’d better believe they are durable!

    Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
    Posted in Eco-Friendly Jewelry, Sustainable Fashion | No Comments »

    « Older Entries