Tees for Change’s designs each spread the word about living this kind of life, with messages sch as “chase dreams”, “live courageously”, “see balance”, “today matters”, and more. With options for women, men, and baby, there’s literally something for everyone, all passion-driven, spreading the word about looking, feeling, and doing good.

Founder Andreea Ayers began Tees for Change in 2007. Prompted by negative responses from friends and strangers regarding her upcoming home birth, she created a tee for herself with “Be Courageous”, that she wore during the home delivery. Soon after, her business was born, based around her belief in positive thinking and spreading the sustainable word.

We’ve had the opportunity to review “Choose Happiness”, in a vibrant cherry red that can’t help but make you smile.

The 70% bamboo and 30% organic cotton tee is made in fair-trade and sweatshop-free conditions. Organic cotton, which we emphasize for its high sustainability, is grown without pesticides and fertilizers – whereas the conventional form is one of the highest contaminated crops available. Bamboo, like we often mention, is renewable, fast-growing, and naturally pesticide free. It’s also 100% biodegradable, and hypoallergenic.

This combination allows for a luxuriously soft shirt that you can’t wait to wrap yourself in. The capped, unfinished sleeves give a flirty finish, and the lightweight material delivers a flattering fit on any body type. The comfort is unbelievable, making you wonder why the rest of your wardrobe isn’t outfitted in the whole line of message-sending shirts.

We always highlight when companies take a step further towards eco-friendliness, and Tees for Change is no exception. They’ve partnered with Trees for the Future to plant a tree for each and every tee-shirt or onesie that you purchase. This provides new life in Asia, Latin America and Africa. they’ve previously connected with other organizations, among them the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Global ReLeaf, and the Human Rights Tour.

We undoubtedly have decided that their tees offer ultimate comfort with a message you’ll want to follow. Definitely check out all of their goods at their website, teesforchange.com.

‘choose happiness’ bamboo jersey – $32.00

• made from 70% sustainable bamboo and 30% organic cotton
• Tees For Change logo on the back
• pre-shrunk and runs true to size
• fair-trade and sweatshop-free, imported
• available in sizes S (0-4), M (4-6), L (8-10) and XL (12-14)

teesforchange.com

BabyBam gives us a way to provide our babies with the utmost luxury with the softest, non-allergenic, and anti-bacterial clothing to wrap around their newborn body.

Their secret? Eco-friendly materials.

Their signature blend is a mixture of bamboo and organic cotton that results in the softest, planet-friendly baby luxury line; a close second to the natural feel of your baby’s skin.

We love bamboo!
We highlighted bamboo in our review for Yogo yogawear and learned about it’s great properties. BabyBam’s line is primarily developed from bamboo, with 60-70% of the materials hailing from this renewable source (the remaining filled with organic cotton).

Bamboo is:

• naturally hypo-allergenic – perfect for baby’s sensitive skin
• anti-bacterial – keeping germs at bay
• thermal regulating – excellent for babies, as according to BabyBam, they have trouble regulating their internal temperature
• naturally wicks away moisture – keeping them free of clamminess
• a sustainable material – so it’s completely eco-friendly
• does not pill and minimally shrinks – ensuring longevity

The best cotton is the organic kind

According to the BabyBam website, as well as the Organic Trade Association cotton consumes about 10% of the world’s pesticides and 25% of the world’s insecticides, which eventually washes off and ends up causing harm to wildlife, the environment, and people.

But it doesn’t end there: about 800,000 gallons of water per acre is needed to grow conventional cotton.
And as a leader in global warming, cotton degrades in landfills and releases greenhouse gasses.

The simple alternative? When you choose organic cotton, these (among the other risks and unfriendly planet practices) aren’t concerns.

You’d think that these factors are what makes BabyBam so unique, but we’ve yet to reveal the icing on the cake. BabyBam delivers the softest, most plush baby clothes that’ll make you want to cuddle with your babe all day long.

We’ve had the opportunity to get up-close with their onesie ($22), and it truly lives up their claims. It’s natural colour uses no bleaches or dyes, and its tag-free label is done with a low-impact dyeing process. It’s durably reinforced around the seams, and has a simple, but adorably ambitious, message: The World Awaits. Available in three sizes – 0-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-9 months, it’s the perfect way to pamper your baby in the most eco-friendly of ways.

The website provides a collection of stores (both online and in person) who sell Baby Bamm’s bamboo  collection. In addition to onesies, they also make pants, pajamas, gift sets, and bath products. To find a store near you, visit babybamcollection.com/stores.htm

Visit their website at babybamcollection.com

The top organic cotton contenders include Wal-Mart, C&A, Nike, H&M, Zara, Anbil, Coop Switzerland, Pottery Barn, Greensource and Hess Natur. These companies stay committed tot heir levels of sustainability, with expectations to expand their output up to 33% by 2010, an estimated $5.3 billion market.

According to the supplemented 2008 Organic Cotton Farm and Fiber Report, the amount of organic cotton farmers grew in 2007/2008 increased by a whopping 152%, while supplies grew by 95%, a significant increase from the previous year’s 53%.

“It is a sign of the times that despite ominous financial forecasts, brands and retailers are standing fast to their commitment to making their product lines more sustainable by ever increasing their use of organic cotton and other organic fibers such as wool, linen, and silk,” LaRhea Pepper, Organic Exchange senior director, noted in the press release.

Organic production is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without toxins, pesticides, fertilizers or genetically-modified seeds.

To read the publications, visit: organicexchange.org/publ.php

Image courtesy of organic-cotton.us

However, on the runways at Toronto Fashion Week, trench coats, scarves, tights and closed toed heels are all screaming out that fall is upon us in the fashion industry.

Amongst all the winter wear for the Fall/Winter 2009 season is an abundance of fur stoles, wraps, and trims. Designer Linda Lundstrom, who has worked in the Canadian fashion industry for the past three decades, was chiefly displaying fir for this upcoming season, but despite the appearance of her new line, Lundstrom is an environmentalist at heart.

The Lundstrom company, now being manufactured by Eleventh Floor Apparel Ltd, practices a ‘Green-Notes’ Program which gives preference to environmentally friendly fabrics and enforces recycling programs at their manufacturing and administrative facilities to reuse and reduce materials lost in production.

Lundstrom garments are also manufactured locally in Toronto, Canada ensuring quality, but also making another environmental impact by not outsourcing labour to foreign countries. This, then,  saves energy and creates less pollution in regards to transportation costs.

In previous seasons, such as Spring 2007, Lundstrom created an eco-chic Bamboo collection (Lundstrom, Green Carpet Series). Using bamboo in the production of clothing provides a biodegradable and natural solution to our necessary fashion fixes. Bamboo is also antibacterial with cooling properties, which is something that man-made fibres can’t boast.

Her recent line includes other Earth-friendly fibres, including: tencel lycocell, linen, silk, bamboo rayon and organic cotton.

It is interesting to see the marriage of sustainable options with fur-lined frocks. As opposed to fighting the force, we’re progressing into an unlikely combination where a blended harmony wins.

The traditionalist way to deal with fur at a fashion show is to, well,  throw blood and scream out murder. But we can learn from this: just stop for a minute and look for the designer who may have a soft spot for mother nature and  have a talent for making the faux – and fur – look fabulous.

Explore her fashion line at Linda Lundstrom.

Image courtesy of Linda Lundstrom.

Okay, maybe back then you were dreaming more of a pure silk with encrusted diamonds and pearls, but tastes change – and so do trends. Being an eco-bride is becoming increasingly common. But if your local bridal shop doesn’t create them consciously, several eco-couture bridal designers have online stores that’ll help bring you closer to your dress of your dreams.

Conscious Clothing uses sustainable and biodegradable hemp fabrics. They’ve been developing hemp clothing since 1995, and gowns since 1999. Their gowns start at a comfortable $700. They also feature hemp suits for men (at $1,200), bridesmaids wear (at $175+), and flower girl dresses ($275). (getconscious.com)

Deborah Lindquist is one of LA’s favourites, with her creations flowing on the svelte bodies of many stars, including Gwen Stefani, Demi Moore, and Paris Hilton. She combines repurposed fabrics with sustainable choices in her designs, developing her own kind of conscious clothing. Her pieces start modestly priced ($300 to $3000), often in separates to fit any size, and available at many bridal shops throughout the US. (deborahlindquist.com)

Tara Lynn has been designing  hemp gowns since 1999. Made of 100% hemp, or hemp/cotton and hemp/silk blends, and custom tailors them for you. She ships internationally, and mails your fittings to get pinned by a seamstress in order to get the job most efficiently done. She also makes suits, shirts, and pants for the groom. Contact for pricing. (taralynnstudio.com)

Chris Kole introduced his line The Cotton Bride in 2007, a couture bridal collection focusing on cotton and linen combined with other natural fabrics. Each hand-sewn gown is adorned with accents of beadwork and trim, merging simplicity with grace and style. Contact for pricing.
(chriskole.com and thecottonbride.com)

Threadhead Creations have been beautifying brides since 1999, with natural fibres such as hemp, bamboo, peace silk and organic cotton. They offer three choices – those who to prefer to buy off-the-rack, those who opt to design their own dressed based on a blanket Threadhead creation, or those who would like to work closely with the creators for a custom option. Off-the-rack choices range from $700 to $1295, design your dress begins at an easy $545, and custom dresses start at $1000. Some of the most eclectic and cost-efficient choices are available at this green dress guru. (threadheadcreations.com)

Morgan Boszilkov’s Natural Bridal Colllection hasn’t been around as long as some of the others, but her products are right up to speed. “Handcrafted with love”, each dress uses sustainable fabrics combined with an elegance that doesn’t sacrifice style. Some of the dresses include a detachable bottom skirt, perfect for the reception or wants to reuse the pieces for a later outfit. 5% of all profits are donated to eco-causes. Hemp, organic cotton, peace silk, and bamboo are among the materials used to develop her line.  Contact for pricing. (naturalbridals.com)

Annatarian is run by designer Anna  Mkhitarian, who develops products that are better for the environment, preserve the artisan craft, and strive for eco-effectiveness. Designed from vintage and remnant fabrics, along with others such as bamboo, organic cotton, peace silk, she combines  reduce, reuse, recycle in a one-of-a-kind dress. She  also can incorporate your own items – for example, your mother’s mother’s mother’s tiara, to develop the dress and accessories of your dreams. (annatarian.com)

If you live in the UK, try Wholly Jo’s. Designer Joanne uses organic, fair-trade, and recycled materials to deliver her dresses. Created from organic cotton, hemp, and peace silk, Joanne also ensures that ethical practices are in place, such as not copying other designer’s creations. Dresses range from £500-£550. (wholly-jo.co.uk)

Simple, sustainable, and by far the most cost-efficient is Rawganique’s Eco-Couture hemp dresses and suits. The whole wedding party can be outfitted with their line of hemp and linen designed clothing  The hemp is organic and fair-trade, and start at $329 for suits and $349 for dresses. Footwear and accessories are also available, combining materials such as hemp and flax, and are also 100% vegan. (rawganique.com)

Pictured above, Annatarian

Luckily, in today’s green-conscious world, sacrificing a cow to make our mules is no longer an issue.

The Alternative

Beyond Skin is an ethical footwear label that hand-produces shoes out of England using a variety of man-made materials. Their footwear is made from animal-free fabrics, among them satins, synthetic leathers, and organic cottons.

Their satins are made from polyester rather than the commonly-used chemically processed viscose. Their synthetic leathers are developed from cotton-backed polyurethane which resembles PVC, a chemical commonly used in footwear to create the faux-leather (pleather) look.

(Pleather, by the way,  is progressively moving away from being a great alternative to real leather due to containing, chlorine, supposedly causing asthma. Perhaps not so great after all?)

Turning animal hides into leather is an obvious no-no when it comes to animal activists, but another ethical reason to avoid purchasing leather goods is the negative environmental factors it entails. When leather is tanned it goes through a highly toxic process which renders it non-biodegradable. Beyond Skin points out that farming animals such as cattle for human uses produces large amounts of waste. In turn, this pollutes the ground and surface water, contributing to the overall effect of global warming.

Fashion Faux Pas?

These alternative materials may be eco-friendly, but are they, well, fashionable? Having been highlighted in high-end fashion magazines such as Marie Claire, In Style and Vogue as not the typical Birkenstock-esque shoe, Beyond Skin’s footwear isn’t the typical stereotype of what normally dons the environmentalist’s foot.

These shoes come in peep-toed, sky high stilettos, ankle boots, all in a variety of not-so-natural vibrant colours.  They even offer custom made wedding shoes which can be matched with the fabric swatch of your dress, or made from a selection of their vintage fabrics.

If you’re aiming for animal-free alternatives, stay home, save the gas, and click over to Beyond Skin for your latest contribution to sustainability.

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For more information about eco and vegan-friendly footwear, check out:

Eco-friendly shoes built for comfort

Our review on Style, Naturally: a great eco-guide for fashionistas

The low-down on vegan fibres and fabrics

Comfort may be the key to these body-loving clothes, but when you combine that with planet-friendly materials that come in beautiful colours and designs… Well, you know you have a product worth wearing every day in every way.

YOGO clothing is no exception, combining eco-friendly practices with fine-looking fabrics in a style to suit anyone. Ottawa-based designer Jo-Ann Oosterman first developed the line in 2001 when she wanted a comfortable pair of pants that were easy to care for, and free of any synthetic material.

Fast forward to 2008, where YOGO has greatly expanded, offering tops, skirts, shorts, and capris in addition to the original pants. In addition to breathable stretch cotton clothing, she also offers Eco-friendly fabrics, among them soy and bamboo. The eco-friendly fabrics fill the majority of her line, with only 2 of the 19 made from conventional cotton. Soy, bamboo, and other materials tally up the rest.

But as you browse, keep this in mind. Her website provides consumers a little advice:

“A Word of Caution: When you first put on your YOGO Soy and Bamboo clothing, you will either feel naked or as though you are wearing lingerie. When these fabrics first touch your skin, it may even feel taboo to wear them outside of your home. You’ll be happy to know the feeling of walking around in your undies will pass. Once you’ve experienced the liberation these fabrics provide, you’ll want to wear them all the time, in yoga class, at the gym, on your run and everywhere in between.”

Well, this intrigued  us at Ecoki; after all, nothing says comfort like walking around in our undies. Jo-Ann kindly gave us the opportunity to test out the Soy Capris and Bamboo Long Sleeved Stretch Top.

Soy Capris

You’d never realize the quality of soy until you wear it – these capris are soft and breathable, with just a hint of stretch, and a load of comfort. They naturally drape over your body, falling into the right places, regardless of your body type.

We tested them through a variety of activities – every day wear, yoga, fitness, and sleeping, and they stood up to the job, no matter what they were put through. The soft, breezy fabric was perfectly breathable while breaking a sweat, but didn’t cling or cause discomfort. Regardless of any yoga position I twisted myself into, they stayed in place, not once threatening to shimmy down my waist while performing a headstand, or exposing too much skin while folding forward.

Notable is the fabric’s ability to bounce back. After a few nights of sleeping in them, they were in perfect shape, not stretched into a size too large. We also threw them in the hamper, tossed a few clothes and towels over top, then pulled them out the next morning for yoga – and they lost the few wrinkles they had on the drive over.

So why soy? Her website tells us that these fibres are made from the excess from the soy food industry, and because the plant is easily renewable and the fibre biodegrades quickly, it has minimal eco-impact.

They come with a 3-inch waistband, adding a little extra style and comfort, to cater to those who prefer lower or higher waisted styles. They also are available with or without a slit in the back of the leg.

Available in: khaki green, black night, slate grey, cloud cream, cocoa brown, budding green
$72 with slits, $66 without slits. XS – XL.

Bamboo Long Sleeve Top

Chances are, bamboo is not one of the fabrics that readily makes its way into your wardrobe. Like soy, bamboo is super soft, sustainable, and beautiful to boot, offering a clean, almost sheen-like quality to it.

And like soy, bamboo is minimally harmful to the planet; because it grows quickly, it requires zero chemicals or irrigation, and can also quickly biodegrade.

The shirt falls over the body in the same way that the capris do, offering a satiny comfort that will take you through any activity. With its long sleeve, and wide neckline, it offers a little elegance combined with a functional piece of fashion. The sleeves are slightly belled, and left with raw hems, which give an added touch of natural simplicity. Notable are the sleeve lengths – as someone who personally struggles with finding shirts to fit my long arms, they brushed my wrists in a perfect fit (which is lucky for my lanky limbs).

It was also light and breathable enough to wear during a cooler morning at yoga, but its beautiful, pale hue lasted through my errands and the rest of the day.

66% Bamboo, 14% Organic Cotton, 14% Cotton, 6% Spandex; Available in Dusty Plum, Cloud Cream, Black Night, Cameo Pink, Mauve, Turquoise
$45, available XS-XL

Yogo also offers men’s yoga clothing, dresses, skirts, and yoga mat bags. Visit her website at www.yogo.ca for more information.

Interested in learning more about bamboo fabrics? Check out the Bamboo Fabric Store, offering a wealth of information, fabric for purchasing, and free samples.