viva verde

Just ready an interesting post about NAU clothing.   You heard of them?

Just in case you haven’t Nau is/was a eco-clothing company that literally jumped out of the  gates with 5 retail stores (like Bev.Hills, OR, Chicago, WA, and Boulder).  They had some really good donation/sourcing and corporate transparency ideas that wasn’t the marketing BS that is the new “hot” button for the big chains.  this seemed like a group that wanted to put responsibility first and was the only thing that they wanted to do.  They seemed to get a pretty big push (yes i am jealous!) from outfits like Treehugger hailing Nau as “iconic”.  However, when i think  of  the word “iconic”, i think of something that lasts a little bit more that one year.

yes you heard me, Nau has closed its doors after one year.

From what i hear, Nau was hit hard by the slowing economic times, which i can totally envision because this has been happening to everyone across the board.  But Nau also had about 35mil in financing as well which was shocking!  Things look a little different now that they had quite a bit of money (and probably advice that comes with such financing too).  I am surprised that they didn’t see the upcoming housing slump or assumed that the market would not always go increasingly up, maybe i am weird in thinking this, but couldn’t they plan on the on-line sales for the first year then slowly opening other stores in the following years instead of all at once?  also, did they expand their market by doing wholesale to other stores (such as me!), i get catalogs and line sheets every week from vendors and not a single one ever came from Nau….what gives?

has anyone ever shopped there???  the clothes are cute but just from my own experience, you definitely have to mix it up with the styles to attract a steady stream of customers…just sayin’

not that i do not like them!

but i have to admit that the eco-foot-route has been filled with many stops on the hippy, backpackers & tree-hugger agenda…what about those who work a 9-5, right?

today, there are so many options coming out that are not only eco-aware but are also animal-aware (will say more about this in a few) for the vegans in the world. so here is what i have found in a quick search with some faves from each line:

SIMPLE: lovin’ these guys. their Green Toe line has incorporated both sustainability and utility in the sneaker, sandal, day-shoe arena. plus they make some pretty cute bags as well. just some of the times they use include: cork, recycled rubber, non-toxic glues, hemp and cotton. products are put into one of three levels depending on how “hard-core” on the eco-score they go. *PS we will be carrying them soon!! PROMISE

CHARMONE SHOES: NY based company using sweatshop-free labor to create some gorgeous shoes that are vegan, but so high-style that i cant event tell, they are just too cute!

yeah i know, they are vegan!

TERRA PLANA:  love the very futuristic approach to the heel. **warning:  these shoes are not vegan, they are made with e-leather, which according to their site are:

“An eco revolutionary leather by-product. E-leather is a unique blend of leather and textile fibers Intimately ‘re-woven’ and finished so it is practically indistinguishable from good quality leather. E-Leather is produced with closed loop water usage ad best practice pollution prevention methods.”

they also use veg-tanned leathers, recycled materials, and pure latex.

DR. SHOLLS:

leave it to good old Sholl’s to come up with an eco-version of their timeless sandal….love it!

sustainable wood sole, hemp top, recycled cardboard package, event organic cotton shoe bag…YES!  now if i can just keep them on my feet!

the vegan/eco- debate will have to wait!

so in the part of the long excuses that i will be telling of why i havent been posting for a while is my travels to GreenFest in SF (which, by the way, i LOVED mega-bus! the best mode of transport!)

i have been to GreenFest in the past and i have to say that this year, the green movement has very much taken hold. i usually want to go when it is slow, so i took advantage of the friday opening…Big Mistake! even one of my friends had to leave early because it was too crowded for her! but knowing that i had to leaving the next day, i braved the crowds and went for it.

it is funny, when i went before, i always was so quite….never talked or even knew a soul. it was kind of funny to actually recognize people and give hugs and chat with the amazing vendors there that i so admire for paving the way. One of which i have been wanting to meet: Teresa from Texture Clothing we love her line at the store and her skirts with the “marsupial front pockets” are not only sweet, but the fabric and construction of her clothes give a very feminine feel without being too hippy….heck even my not-so-earthy -niece loves the skirts to death!

ummmm did you check out the pins!! i think i am going to have to borrow that idea!

probably one of the best things about the fest (and it being uber-croweded was NOT one of them, i get a little strange in crowds), was the awesome veggie-fuel powered shuttle that took to from the Green Business Conference to the convention.

hello! this thing needs to be in every city in the nation!! Not only did the (may i say hot!) driver play great music, but the seats line the sides of the bus and there is a “bus lounge” in the back…this is a must for anyone going next year.

number 2 for the great things about the show, as always, the organic beer and wine garden. my new fave people where there: MATEVEZA. this incredible brew i will post about later but they are a gem, delicious and refreshing! a must for the beer drinker. here are me and my gracious friend Kiiana (who allowed me to stay at her place and save loads of cash!) partaking in some of their brew.

see why i havent written in a while!

my friend Danielle and her girlfriend are helping to promote the bike movement in in Canada with their adorable shop Revolution Montreal.

always a big bike-enthusiast, Danielle brought her mad bike skills up north and started the store that also specializes in : lesbian haircuts! i guess because it works better for the helmet, right?

i love this sign. But what i really love about Revolution Montreal is that it is really taking advantage of the space they have! the concept is funky, original and i have to admit, the best marketing…are you ever going to forget about the lesbian haircut-bike store?

danielle is the bad-ass on the bike, they also have art shows too!

if you are even in the area, stop by and say hello for me!

i started making these after seeing an article in one of our magazines at the house. i have had vintage buttons laying around for years from various projects never completed so this has been a great way to get them out of mason jars.

not too bad huh? i have no idea what i am calling these things but it might be close to “fun thing to do while watching Top Chef” or “if you are a family or friend you might be getting these as a present”…

you can still pick these at the store though, they range from $30-50 (some of them have really old buttons!)

super excited about the new line from Random Nicole!

now remember, these are the non-organic pieces from her upcoming line (we will be getting the natural tanks and tees which look uber-cute against the bright appliques and funky screen prints) . they should be on their way, i will post when we can put some on-line.

welcome to Doie Designs, an East Coast line creating asian-inspired wears. Doie creator, Sara, created the line about 2 years ago mainly focusing on “lounge-wear” has recently expanded the Doie into dresses & blouses and boy are they lovely.

i am so impressed by how much Doie has grown! Each piece is constructed from bamboo fiber but is lined/accented with cute silk prints…exotic and modern!

We will be getting a few pieces from Fall 2007 in this month. Keep on the look-out for the Spring line too!