Healthy news

Summertime Knits: Try Some of These Sustainably Stylin’ Hemp, Organic Cotton and Handmade Lovelies

News: Eco Chick - May 18, 2012 - 12:05am

This beautiful cotton knit shrug by Micaela Gregg is a perfect summer layer. Available at Beklina.

Last night, I put away my winter knits; my fave black wool sweater, my grandma’s green button-down with the giant collar that still smells vaguely like her perfume, the head-warming hats and the rotating cadre of scarves I wear from October-April were all packed away and stored until next Autumn.

At the same time, I pulled out my summer knits. Knits in summer? Yes! Maybe it was because I wrote about Ambika’s gorgeous handknit bikinis yesterday, but I love the juxtaposition of what is usually thought of as a ‘winter’ material or texture when temps are hanging in the 70′s and 80′s. Still not convinced? Check out some of the pretty fab (and always sustainable) knitted wonders I found while doing some online window shopping.

What about a knit necklace? This one from Etsy seller Erica Hogenbirk is made from beach stones and neutral yarn.

These handmade knit shorts are just totally unexpected and fun. Via Robot Recenze on Etsy.

Or how about these handknit bangles from Knits by Vara on Etsy – work the summer neon trend in your own way!

This beautiful summer sweater by Eileen Fisher is a luxurious hemp knit. Perfect for layering over a swimsuit or sleeveless dress.

Wool and the Gang is a Peruvian knitwear collaborative that provides fair wages to women in South America. I love this Tassel top!

This Organic by John Patrick sweater is ideal for too-cold offices blasting with A/C.

Categories: Healthy news

Handknit is Hot: Ambika Bikinis Are Ready for Some Summertime

News: Eco Chick - May 16, 2012 - 08:49am

The Lace-up onepiece in the bold stripe pattern is sexy, unique and graphic, all at the same time. LOVE!

We’ve written about Ambika before (check out the handmade angora legwarmers here) and these hand-knit bikinis are another project by the talented and visionary Ambika Conroy. This is a woman who knows bikinis – one of her pieces was even featured in a Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, as well as other major fashion mags.

Obviously, knits are her thing – in fall and winter the angora (which comes from her own rabbits she lovingly raises), and for summer the perfectly crafted cotton swimsuits that she crochets up to order.

The cross-knot top in red is a stunner, paired with the bikini bottoms (with sweet doll tassels!) to match.

If you are worried about whether you can really swim in these suits, the answer is yes! I asked Ambika about that right off the bat as an avid lake and ocean swimmer myself. She said the knit holds up beautifully in the water and since she loves to jump in the water herself (and wears her own designs) the fact that the suits are totally wearable/usable/swimmable – and would stand the test of time – was important to her.

The sliding triangle top is decorated with (removable) Peruvian bamboo and turquoise embellishment.

Needless to say, I love these gorgeous pieces, and Ambika is even looking into natural dyes (and how to make them keep their color over multiple dippings and sunnings) to make her process even greener than it already is.

As written on her site, “Each Bikini is custom made, so please allow 2-4 weeks for it to be hand crocheted and mailed to you.” Some suits have jewelry elements, and others wooden beads. But you can order them as simple or embellished as you like.

The Ridged Cross Top is my absolute fave – not only to wear while swimming, but even better, layered under sheer or low-cut tops. It can be adjusted several different ways, including to make it a cleavage-booster.

Categories: Healthy news

Prancing Leopard Yoga Wear: Organic Cool

News: Eco Chick - May 14, 2012 - 09:37pm

I love my Prancing Leopard Toulouse jumpsuit. Here I am, practicing a bit on my front lawn. I look a bit goofy, but I’m definitely happy. Goofy = Happy, don’tcha know?

Sevda and Bert Holland couldn’t find what they wanted in yogawear, so of course (don’t you do this?) they made their own. Prancing Leopard was born out of the couple’s need for genuinely stylish, but still functional yoga wear. And they would only make it superethically, of course. That means organic cotton (but not just any organic cotton…read below), a program to benefit animals in need, connections with local artisans, and more do-gooderness. Yay! We love a company that thinks beyond the obvious and into HOW they can truly make a positive impact while filling a niche.

Reversible Rhineu tank top

Prancing Leopard is all about the details – from attention to fit (I have both the jumpsuit shown above and a reversible top, and let me tell you, they feel GOOD), to looking quirky-great to being truly functional in a yoga-doing situation. The details extend to a proprietary super-soft quick-drying high-performance “peached” Turkish organic cotton jersey with a four-way stretch fabric. It’s called Zeugma® and it is as awesome as it sounds. (By quick-dry I’m talking about sweaty fabric drying while in savasana, so you walk out of class feeling – but not looking – like you just kicked your own butt).

The Carmague one-piece is perfect for layering, as seen here, or solo for a hot yoga class.

Besides being made from organic material, Prancing Leopard, which is sold via yoga studios (and their online store), has its eye on other ways to benefit the world. According to the site, “Locally, a percentage of online sales goes to the buyer’s studio of choice. On a global scale, we offer handmade artisan pieces, in addition to our core line, to benefit underserved women’s communities who make them. To support our shared environment and community, a percentage of our profit goes to the Snow Leopard Trust, dedicated to saving the rare and beautiful snow leopard from extinction.”

The cropped Harem Pant is one of Prancing Leopard’s perennial best sellers, and you can probably see why. Supercomfy, stylish and original.

And they make men’s yoga clothes too! My boyfriend has their supersoft Instanbul pant, and they are gorgeously flowy, cut perfectly and he has worn them to death!

The Kuray High/Low Sweatshirt is a great layering piece for post-yoga class or would work with a great pair of jean shorts and sandals for a summer evening at the beach.

Categories: Healthy news

Upscale Vegan Restaurants in Philadelphia

News: Vegan Bits - April 20, 2012 - 09:12pm

I stumbled upon an article which is discussing vegan food in Philadelphia. The article is basically indicating that a large percentage of the people who are eating at several upscale vegan restaurants in an around Philadelphia are not vegan or vegetarian. Hmmmm...  Perhaps I need to plan a trip to Philadelphia next time I am [...]

Upscale Vegan Restaurants in Philadelphia is from Vegan Bits

1. Vegan Chicken at Chipotle
2. Gone Vegan
3. Eating Out
4. Sometimes It’s Just Tough
5. There Is Vegan Food For The Asking

Categories: Healthy news