On A Side Note: Earth Friendly

Even though Kermit the Frog said it’s not easy being green, we beg to differ. These days, earth-friendly items are all around us, as more and more companies are working with sustainable materials and eliminating the pesticides, pollutants, petro-chemicals traditionally used in manufacturing. We're not suggesting that everything that sports an "eco-friendly" label is the shopping equivalent of living off the grid, but there are a few stylish and savvy items out there. In honor of Earth Day, we've collected a few of our current favorites for your guilt-free (or less guilty) consumption.



Edun Hearts On Fire T-Shirt ($70)
We decided to start our Earth Friendly story with one of the frontrunners in organic and conscientious clothing: Edun. Founded in 2005 by the well-known activist couple Ali Hewson and Bono, the line fosters sustainable employment in developing nations and increasingly uses organic cotton (we were pleased to learn that 75% of the Spring 09 collection is made from organic materials). As you can see from the casually chic Hearts On Fire T-Shirt, in addition to having strong ethics, the collection also offers equally sound designs.

7 For All Mankind Bootcut Jeans ($224) in Vintage California
While some industries are still dragging their feet about creating earth-friendly products (cough: auto), the denim community is definitely on board with the green movement. Though many brands are now working with organic materials, we have to give 7 For All Mankind a shout-out for their perfectly classic, wonderfully worn-in options. The company is offering lots of eco-savvy styles for Spring 09, all made from cotton harvested from pesticide-free plants.

Cri de Coeur Denise Peep-Toe Booties ($220) in Alabaster
Finding earth-friendly footwear that's also fashion forward is one of the more difficult tasks we've tackled lately. Salvation came in the form of Cri de Coeur, an interesting line of sustainable, stylish, vegan shoes. Feel free to indulge in a pair (or two) because in addition to getting great new heels, flats, or booties, you'll also be helping the environment. Crie de Coeur partnered with Carbonfund.org and pledged to plant a tree for every pair sold. Just think: you'll be reforesting the world by shopping!

Recycled Planet Store Mosaic Bangles ($48 each)
This next item really speaks to our hearts, as it marries two things we love to pieces: jewelry and magazines. Though it's hard to imagine just by looking at them, these bold bangles from the Recycled Planet Store are actually made from recycled magazines. They're created through a combination of paper-mache and mosaic techniques, resulting in crafty-chic, must-buy pieces. Stack a few of them together for a wonderfully whimsical springtime look!

SpaRitual Nail Lacquer ($10) in Strike A Pose
If you're only going to make one element in your beauty routine a little greener, we suggest swapping out your regular nail polish for one that's truly chemical-free, like SpaRitual's Nail Lacquer. In addition to being free of DBP, toluene and formaldehyde, the vegan polish (yes, you read that correctly) comes in a bottle made from reusable glass. You'll definitely love the 72-color range of humorously (or musically) named lacquers; our favorite is Strike A Pose, a cheerfully bright pink hue that's perfect for your toes.

PlantLove Baked Illuminator ($28) in Fire
Made by Cargo, the illuminator is a triple threat—it's a blush, bronzer, and highlighter, all in one! Available in three shades: Fire (shown above), Earth, and Wind, it's made from natural terracotta ingredients and comes in biodegradable packaging. It's also free of all kinds of nasty things, including: parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance and dye, and petro-chemicals. Best of all, it actually works wonderfully and gives your skin a gorgeous glow.

Stella McCartney Waxed Canvas Satchel ($1445, 212.255.1556)
As we deliberated about which accessories to include in today's story, we kept returning to Stella McCartney again and again. The only problem, of course, was determining which piece we would include! After much back and forth, we finally settled on one wonderful canvas satchel with a detailed strap. The bucket-shape neatly totes all of your essentials, while the beautifully neutral tones will transition from season to season seamlessly.

Alkemie Jewelry Black Owl Rosary Necklace ($209)
During a recent web browse, we discovered Alkemie Jewelry—a line of eco-friendly bracelets and baubles made from responsibly sourced materials—and were quite delighted with our find. The collection is created from 100% reclaimed metals and has a gorgeous deco-meets-nature vibe that's simply irresistible. We loved the vintage vibe of the Black Owl Rosary Necklace in particular; the combination of the black wood beads, traditional rosary style, and charming, wee owl pendant.