Think before you buy that bottled water or say yes to that bag in the checkout line…

Break your plastic addiction (I need help breaking mine too!) with Surf Rider!

Um, I know what I’m getting every eco-friendly man in my life for Christmas this year!  Wood Ties!  These two brothers use all recycled/repurposed materials to create these works of art.  Support the project, cross a couple names off your gift-giving list, and send yourself some positive karma for the day! (ps- they’re pretty friendly to your wallet as well!)

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/woodties/wood-bee-wood-ties

Feeling pretty obsessed with a new eco-friendly, animal-loving company I discovered today thanks to the magic of twitter (and a fabulous follower, @annetteconlon).  They’re called Revenge Is.

Their Motto: “The best revenge is living well… and looking hot while helping others.”

Their Materials: Bionic Yarn (?!), apparently made from recycled plastic bottles.

Their Edge: At least 5% of their net sales go to charities that support issues like endangered species and healthy living.

“Revenge Is…Making Activism Fashionable.”

Sign me up!

I’ve recently become enamored with Threads 4 Thought, a fashion line that I suspect many of you are familiar with or have at least seen in passing.  I suspect this, because as opposed to most clothing lines, Threads 4 Thought can commonly be found for sale in your local Whole Foods.  It was in the tiniest of the tiny Whole Foods in Denver, CO that I bought my first Threads 4 Thought shirt.  It was olive green, a color that is usually quite unflattering for me, but I had to own it after touching the fabric.  The idea that I could own a shirt that was that luxuriously soft and only cost $12 was reason enough for me to buy it.  As I read the tag and the information on the surrounding display, I learned that Threads 4 Thought uses organic cotton and recycled plastics to create their highly sustainable clothing.

The Slub Basic V; $12

I had come to believe that Threads 4 Thought made only the t-shirts I had become accustomed to seeing on my way to the checkout line, but after a small bit of research, I was delighted to discover that they also make dresses, jackets, cute tank tops, and lots more (for ladies as well as gents).

I’m loving this baby pink Streamer Tank which is best viewed up close; $38

I believe their “About Us” sums their mission up best in saying:

“Style can’t be traded for sustainability, nor can sustainability be traded for style.  At Threads 4 Thought we know that neither is exclusive, and work to lead the world in both”

Be sure to check out their stuff (despite what I may have led you to believe, it’s not all pink!) and next time you’re wandering around Whole Foods (perhaps looking for the numerous products I’ve insisted you try) pick up a garment and caress it a bit.  I’m sure you’ll fall in love like I have. (important note- I just saw that they have two luxury items made from alpaca fleece; if you’re vegan and avoid all animal sourced clothing, you’ll want to stay away from these)

While I’m on the subject of sustainable fashion, you should also check out Blend Apparel, another eco-friendly clothing company on a mission to save the world.  Their t-shirts all have cute, inspirational and inventive messages like the one below:

My beautiful friend Brenda wearing the I Love Love Tee, $19.99, on her VegNews trip to India

If you’re not convinced, I’ll share this tidbit of information I heard today- 1/3 pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used to produce only 1 pound of conventionally grown cotton fabric.  If that won’t inspire you to search for some inventive alternatives and support some small, progressive businesses, I don’t know what will!

Normally I try to keep blog posts to one per day max, so as not to overwhelm all of my lovely and devoted followers.  However, I’ve come across something today that is so upsetting my hands are shaking and my face is hot.  It’s a blog about a girl on a mission to wear fur for 100 consecutive days in order to prove that there is no longer a negative reaction to it and that fur is “back in”.  Fur is the most repulsive, tragic industry in the world, and I can’t even fathom that people are trying to defend it.  I understand people who think they still need to eat meat.  FUR- I will never, ever comprehend.  Animals live in unbearable conditions until the final moment when they are either electrocuted, skinned alive, or have their necks broken.  For more information about the fur industry, watch this video or visit http://www.mercyforanimals.org/fur_farms.asp or http://humanityy.com/ecology/animal-protection/shocking-facts-about-fur/

For those of you who would like to join me in the comment section of this page (I could use some backup!), here is a link to Day 50 of this crazy chick’s journey:

http://www.atouchofluxe.com/2011/01/100-days-of-fur-day-50/

Mass grave for animals murdered for their fur.  Please help this stop.

This is a photo of me taken by my beautiful friend Lila on one of our last days of the Israel/Palestine trip.  So, here it is, the Tree Kisser kissing a tree. <3