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October 17th, 2008
We are ashamed to admit it, but we haven’t always been as green and earth-friendly as we are now. It took us a while to jump on the “green bandwagon.” We have always recycled, but that was about where it stopped. Then, one day while home sick on the couch, we saw that commercial about saving the polar bears—you know the one—with the Noah Wyle voiceover (aka Carter from E.R.) in the background, showing all these sad-looking polar bears clinging to miniscule icebergs. It just about broke our heart—and we may have even shed a tear thinking about ruining their habitat with our callousness. So we resolved to get it together. (And if you must know, it may have also had a little something to do with all those Hollywood hotties in Hollywood touting the merits of green living. We’ll do anything George Clooney tells us to do.) So we use energy saving light bulbs in all our lamps, we’re saving up for a hybrid car, we eat local and organically grown foods from farmer’s markets, and we’ve done away with plastic bottles and bags. Not to mention, we’ve put together our first-ever Seattle Picks Green Guide—check it out to see what’s new in green living and what you can do to ensure our planet is still here (and healthy) for future generations. |
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Seattle Picks’ Green Guide: |
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Even little kids want to help save the environment, and they can. Seattle’s go-to store for hip, modern picks for the kiddos, Tottini, is the perfect place to find eclectic and eco-friendly toys and furniture for your tottini. They regularly select toys that are produced with sustainable, organic, and recycled materials. We love the bright and bold book 10-Things-I-Can-Do to Help My World—like using both sides of the paper while drawing! Tottini |
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Buying and using recycled paper is one of the easiest ways to save our forests. But Mango Ink, maker of custom cards for every occasion, is kicking things up a green notch. All packing and shipping supplies are recycled, cardstock and envelopes are eco-friendly, and all paper is ordered and printed locally—reducing their carbon footprint. We are so delighted; we’re sending out a card to let people know how excited we are. Mango Ink |
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With our love for fashion, it’s a good thing there’s a wealth of green designers out there—and some of the best are at Fashion Ethic. At this online boutique, you’ll find wardrobe essentials from designers who create stylish and ethical designs—often using organic materials and always fair labor policies. We love the organic wool jacket by naturevsfuture—it’s totally “Fashionably Responsible.” Seattle Picks readers, enter the code PICKS25 at checkout and receive 25% off today through Thursday, Oct. 23! |
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| 4 | Starting them On the Right Path Why not start your little one of the road to green living as early as possible? Since opening two years ago, Bump Maternity has been focused on carrying local, organic and sustainable lines like Baby Bear Skin Care, Organic Ergo carriers, Kina booties and Woobee Blankets—our personal favorite for their bright colors and super-soft texture. Plus, they have added consignment to their Seattle location—because recycling is a no-brainer. Bump Maternity Bellevue Square |
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There’s more to recycling than aluminum cans. One of the best ways to stay chic and save the planet is to buy used, antique and vintage. Red Ticking in Madison Valley is rich with old treasures, most notably its stacks of vintage French fabrics for use as pillow coverings and lampshades. And you can purchase them already made—hand-sewn, too. You'll also find "found" furniture pieces, including tables, chairs and mirrors. Who knew recycling could be so stylish? Red Ticking |
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Chick Picks: |
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| 1 | Green with Envy Green living gets easier every day, but not always cuter. Thank goodness for Sparrow Handbags, who prove that organic and sustainable textiles can be downright adorable. Right now we’re eyeing the Lu Lu change purse, which features a graphic print that was designed in-house and made from 100% organic cotton, twill and batting. What’s more, Sparrow isn’t just kind to the earth—they also love animals. Cruelty-free, fashionable and fabulous! |
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| 2 | A Green Bag in a Multitude of Colors At one time, we would have said, “a girl can never have too many shoes.” While it’s definitely still true, these days we are singing a different tune—along the lines of “a girl can never have too many reusable bags.” Lately our bags of choice have been the strong, rip-stop nylon ones from Baggu. They come in every color of the rainbow, and fold into a tiny, lightweight pouch that easily fits in our purse, making them the best we’ve found yet.
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| 3 | Second-Hand Glam We’ve heard of rehabilitated homes, rehabilitated people, and even rehabilitated dogs, but rehabilitated dishware not so much. However, one look at the infinitely cool designer dishes by Sarah Cihat had us jumping on the rehab bandwagon. Made from re-fired and re-glazed overstocks and second-hand finds, these oh-so-stylish plates and platters come in a myriad of cool designs. From fierce skulls and pin-up girls to wildlife motifs and flowers, we swear these quirky silhouettes will leave you completely smitten! |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | We Love a (Green) Fashion Show We are totally stoked to see so many emerging eco-friendly fashion designers and labels springing up all over the place, and Half Past Lavish Event Productions is making our day even better with the Eco-Conscious Fashion Show showcasing local designers that are green and stylish. It’s the perfect combination—don’t miss it! What: Eco-Conscious Fashion Show |
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| 2 | Keepin’ It Local An important part of reducing your carbon footprint is to do everything you can locally. Get the information and meet the small-business owners in the Seattle community this weekend at Shop Local Seattle. There will be people to shmooze, products to peruse and services to check out—and all of it, totally local. What: Shop Local Seattle |
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| 3 | Shopping Gives you a Healthy Glow Call your ladies! It’s time for the Shop Afterglow fashion, beauty and lifestyle event, presented by Go 2 Girl Event Planning. You’ll find handcrafted and unique items, and you’ll enjoy shopping the wares of women-owned businesses like Clementine and Rocco e Dante. So grab your best gal pals and enjoy a girl-centric afternoon out! What: Shop Afterglow Event |
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| 4 | Say Cheese! |
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Did we miss an amazing local company or product that does things the green way? Let us know so we can be sure to check it out for future issues of Seattle Picks. We love to hear your comments and suggestions! |
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