Michelle_Williams's Blog

Philly isn't exactly known as a 'green' city (yet) but we're making progress! You can start the trend by strutting down the city's concrete runways in earth-friendly fashions and you don't have to sacrifice style thanks to new forward-thinking designers!

More and more local shops are stocking eco-friendly products and these 'green' options are just as functional and beautiful as the traditional 'stuff' we are used to buying. If these businesses can take the 'green' challenge, so can you! Ali McCloud is just 31 years old but took a big risk, turning her graduate thesis about eco-friendly fashions into a small business. Arcadia, Northern Liberties' newest boutique carries environmentally and socially responsible clothes and decor from Philly and around the world.
Some of her favorite green designers are Panda Snack, an all-bamboo line that makes softer-than-cotton tops and Stewart+Brown which uses organic cotton, hemp and cashmere. A lot of Arcadia's jewelry is made from recycled or even 'reused' vintage pieces. There is even a line of organic cotton jeans called Del Forte that's no more expensive than your favorite designer denim. Check her out at 819 North 2nd Street and www.arcadiaboutique.com.

Meanwhile, lifestyle expert Nicole Cashman of Cashman and Associates www.cashmanandassociates.com knows everything about what's new and hip in the Philly scene, especially when it comes to fashionable items for your home and wardrobe. She scoured the city to find the coolest new 'green' items, check out this list and notice, going 'green' doesn't necessarily mean spending a lot of green!

Fashion
Why choose organic cotton? Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment, reducing the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and building biologically diverse agriculture. Another organic fabric is Lyocell, which his made from recycled tree bark. The production process for Lyocell is extremely environmentally friendly and the material is 100% bio-degradable.

Organic Tees
White v-neck tee made of organic cotton with white stitching on the front by BOSS Orange, $115.00
Grey organic button down with bright yellow stripes by BOSS Orange, $195
Organic cotton black t-shirt with white graphic print by HUGO, $55
Handcrafted organic dark denim jean, $255
Available at the Hugo Boss Store in Marlton, NJ and King of Prussia, PA

Super soft organic tees and tanks printed with vegetable-based henna dyes for a beautiful bohemian finish by AT2, $80-100
Available at Pileggi Boutique 715 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

Handbags
Everyone knows that plastic bags are a huge drain on our natural resources. But let's face it, most of the reusable bags sold at the grocery store aren't exactly fashion forward. Who can blame you if you can't remember to bring them with you when you shop? We've got three totes that are so adorable, you'll find yourself using them for much more than trips to the grocery store!

'Green is the New Black' Tote by Vert, This roomy tote with double handles and green apple charm attached is made of certified organic cotton, uses soy ink for the logo detail and donates 5% of the profits to environmental causes, $60
'Reduce Recycle Renew Tote' by Beau & Soleil, This tote comes from an eco-friendly dress line, Beau & Soleil. The designer who uses bamboo, vegetable dyed organic cottons and recycled leathers wanted to make a product that everyone could embrace. This machine washable bag is made of 100% organic raw cotton canvas and features practical details such as with rope handles and multiple snap pockets, $45
Available at South Moon Under
1731 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia and 205 West Lancaster Ave, Wayne
www.southmoonunder.com

1154 LILL Custom Studio Handbags, from $38 - 200 (Bag shown, Donna, $188)
1154 LILL, the custom handbag boutique, opens it's first Philly store next week! The shop offers a variety of "design your own handbag" structures that can be mixed and matched with over 150 fabrics to create your very own bag. Lill Studio offers recyled materials for their eco-friendly customers- Green Stalk and Kalahari Leopard. Green Stalk, made out of post-consumer plastic, has a creamy colored background filled with large earth toned leaves coming off of dark green vines. The Kalahari Leopard is 100% recycled polyester featuring a small-scale brown and cream leopard print inspired by the tribal print spring trend. Other eco-friendly choices include organic cotton twill in licorice, cigar, mellow yellow, ballerina, and key lime. All of the fabrics can be used to make anything from a cosmetics case to a clutch to a satchel to a large tote.
Available at Lill Studio
115 S. 13th St. Philadelphia
www.1154lill.com

Beauty
Who said beauty is only skin deep? Not only are beauty companies working to manufacture their products in a more environmentally friendly way, they are now developing recyclable packaging and using organic ingredients all the while providing us with our favorite products and shades.
Physicians Formula Organic Wear
Tinted Moisturizer $10.95
Blush $11.95
All Powders and Bronzers $13.95
Liquid Bronzer $10.95
Concealer Stick $6.95
Physicians Formula's "organic wear" consists of organic blushes, bronzers, and concealers made from only certified organic materials. Because they are packaged in paper compacts made out of recycled paper these compacts will use 93% less plastic than the original ones! If every woman purchased Organic Wear compacts 4,586 tons of plastic would be saved per year. The line allows women to choose a green lifestyle from head to toe without sacrificing the quality of the product. The Organic Wear line features eight distinct products and everything from concealer sticks to bronzers and blushes.
Available at any drugstore or online at www.drugstore.com

Cargo Plant Love Lipstick, $20.00
Cargo is featuring a hot new organic lipstick line. The tubes are corn polymer instead of plastic and are fully biodegradable in 50 days. The outside carton is made of biodegradable flower paper infused with real flower seeds. Cargo's new shades are designed by celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan, Denise Richards, Courtney Cox, and Angie Harmon. Cargo is just committed to the environment. They are also donating $2.00 from every sale to the St. Judes Children Hospital.
Available at Sephora Stores or www.sephora.com

Home
If your home is your sanctuary, shouldn't your environmentally conscious choices begin there?
Fusion Bedroom Furniture by Okookoo, $230-$5,275
The New Zealand based furniture company, Okooko is one of the only manufacturers in the world to be ISO14001 accredited (an international accreditation for environmentally sustainable manufacturing). From heli-harvesting their trees to using hydra-powered sources, they take all possible steps to eliminate waste, recycle, and conserve throughout the manufacturing process. Okooko plants one tree for every piece of furniture sold, The ultimate 'green' piece is the Fusion line. Fusion is comprised of all recycled waste scraps that have been finger-jointed together and utilized to build bedroom furniture known as "Fusewood." The headboards are reddish-brown to golden in color and are as practical as they are environmentally conscious. The "Space" model features two individual storage units concealed by panels that lift from the rear. Using a lift mechanism each panel can securely rest at several angles, giving each person an adjustable rest for activities such as reading in bed. Space also has hidden cubbyholes for storage. The only Okookoo store in the US is right here in Philadelphia.
Bamboo sheets and pillowcases by Okookoo, $260
Okookoo Philadelphia Show Room
205 Arch St., Philadelphia
www.okookoo.com

Picture Frames by O'Brien and Schridde, $60-100
O'Brien and Schridde have created a new line of their delicate and unique handmade picture frames. These frames are made out of 100% recycled cardboard rather than wood. The new cardboard line mixes romantic pieces with a twist of vintage chic. Preserve your favorite memories while you preserve the earth.
Available at South Moon Under
1731 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
205 West Lancaster Ave, Wayne
www.southmoonunder.com

We shot this segment inside a brand new Fishtown row-home designed, developed and built by eco-visionary developers Onion Flats It's all green! It even comes with an electric car!
This property is designed to achieve Energy Star Certification with all available appliances and mechanical systems designed to reduce overall energy use by 25-50%. The overall design brings natural light and air into all areas of the space in order to minimize electric lighting usage during the day. Green roofs are used as to significantly increase the insulation values, reducing cooling costs in the summer and heating costs in the winter, while fulfilling 100% of the Storm Water Management needs. Each home will be Solar Thermal installation ready with all mechanical systems run to the roof. The project is within two blocks of public transportation service and an electric car will be given to the buyer of home.
I'm working on a story about it for Earth Day but until then you can check it out online at www.onionflats.com