Linda Loudermilk

John Hardy

Del Forte Denim

Tony Perotti: The Green Collection

Organic Beauty: Silken Tent

The Green Exchange

Fashion, in a World Gone Green

In an increasingly eco-conscious world, it comes as no surprise that the ever-changing world of fashion is taking steps to stand up for our environment. Concepts like candy wrapper handbags, environmentally-safe dyes, hemp, re-usable grocery bags, organic skincare and organic cotton are all examples of ways in which designers are participating in this vital social cause. More and more, the possibilities to incorporate eco-friendly products into your life increase. So join all of these inventive designers and entrepreneurs and take a stand for our environment, with great style, of course.
-Georgia Bistolaridis

Linda Loudermilk’s fashion forward
collection reflects the complexity that is planet Earth without sacrificing style. The body hugging tanks, flirty mini-dresses, and low rise jeans available in a number of cuts are fun, playful, and hyper-cool and made of sasawashi, bamboo, sea cell, soya, and other self-sustaining plants. They’re the new uniform for the chic, earth goddess gone global warrior and certifiably so, stamped with approval by Luxury Eco. The line signifies luxury quality with ecological and environmental benefits; that is, luxury that is not necessarily high in cost, consumption, waste, or complexity.
www.lindaloudermilk.com
- Ashley Chanter

Bamboo and the Beautiful
John Hardy’s well-received jewelry collection comes solely out of a studio in Bali, an Indonesian Island. Right off the southeastern coast of Bali lies the small island of Nusa Penida, which was once heavily forested, but due to the high levels of pollution and global warming in Indonesia, it is now scarcely spotted with trees and plants. This beautiful island inspired Hardy to raise money to fund his project of reforesting the island and refilling it with bamboo plants. When customers expressed their interest in supporting this project, Hardy created a limited edition John Hardy Bamboo Collection that is exclusively available through a website made solely for this cause, sustainableadvertising.org. For every piece
sold, Hardy will donate 10% towards the planting of bamboo plants on Nusa Penida. The sterling silver line features beautifully crafted bangles, cuffs, earrings, key rings and cufflinks, most of which are simulated to closely resemble the bamboo plant and remind purchasers of the cause they supported. Engraved on each and every item of jewelry in the line is the number of bamboo plants the cost of that item will support. Prices range from $95-$795, the most inexpensive piece funding three plants and the most
expensive piece funding 27 plants.
www.JohnHardy.com
- Nora Silver

Del Forte Denim
Tierra Del Forte, with her line of eco-friendly jeans, is one designer who has partnered up with The Sustainable Cotton Project or SCP, which has been building bridges
between farmers, manufacturers and consumers to pioneer markets for certified organically grown and sustainable cotton since 1994. Del Forte Denim is not only designed for the eco-conscious, but for the fashion-conscious as well. Her jeans, made with 100 percent organically-grown cotton, come in a variety of styles including ultra short shorts, slim-fitting capris and skirts, and unique jackets like the Azalea with accompanying sash.
www.delforte.com
-GB

The Green Collection
The elegant and timeless Tony Perotti handbag label is also standing up to the cause. “The Green Collection” by the Italian Perotti, includes impeccable leather bags made of ultra-durable full-grain leather that are hand-dyed using an eco-friendly vegetable tanning technique. The Green Collection encompasses a wide variety of sizes, styles and colors in handbags, briefcases and wallets that can be proudly used by the
eco-conscious around the world.
www.tonyperottiusa.com
-GB

Silken Tent
This August in Glenview, Illinois, there will be a new spa in town, except this spa will be different from all the others. Silken Tent is an organic spa opening that prides itself on giving women what they want in the time they have while also providing a relaxing retreat from their everyday life. Co-founders Sherri Stewart and Tiffany Cannon spent many years in the corporate world before deciding to start their own business, one that focused on health, peace and caring. 2300 Chestnut Avenue (just east of the Glenview Park Center) 1.877.7SILKEN www.thesilkentent.com
-Nora Silver

Exchanging the Green
Chicago is to be home to the first business community exclusively committed to environmental sustainability, the Green Exchange.The Green Exchange, designed by Hartshorne and Punkard for Baum Development, will provide four stories of retail, office and showroom space. Expected to open in 2008, the space will house vendors of sustainable products and services actively working to expand the green marketplace and environmental initiatives. Prospective tenants include an organic restaurant and café, an environmentally friendly clothing company, a bike shop, a sustainable furniture store, as well as an eco-friendly printer and car sharing service. The energy efficient environment will incorporate a green roof, clean air quality, bike rooms, a landscaped courtyard, and priority hybrid parking.Determined to further the new green economy, Green Exchange and the city of Chicago are taking the green marketplace from niche to mainstream, to serve the people, planet, and profit. 2545 West Diversey, Chicago
www.greenexchange.com
-Ashley Chanter