Have You Turned Your Green Corner?

I hate to admit it, but a lot of very famous people hang out in my closet: Manolo Blahnik, Calvin Klein, and even Donna Karan (although she’s been relegated to the very back, behind my college crew jacket). The sad truth is that I used to be more impressed with the designer name on one label than the materials listed on the other.

Recently, I learned just how much I’ve changed.

After visiting our local Farmers’ Market on Saturday, Mark and I drove home through Kittery, Maine, which is the location of the country’s first big outlet center. “Did you see that?” I asked as we passed what used to be vacant space. “I sure did,” Mark answered, turning the car around.

It was a Burberry Clearance Center. We walked in to find a large sign indicating everything in the store was 30% off the (very low) lowest price. The first thing I picked up was a signature Burberry scarf: With the discount, it was $14.

A few years ago, I would have put several in my cart and given them away as holiday gifts. But I didn’t want to put this scarf around my neck and I didn’t want to give it to others because it wasn’t made of organic or sustainable materials. In other words, I wasn’t at all impressed.

I circled the store, looking at the labels, and didn’t find one thing I wanted. Neither did Mark. As we walked out, Mark said, “We’ve come a long way.” Later that day, I visited the Gaiam website, checking out Fair Trade items, and found their Silvia Scarf.

Here’s how they describe it: “Add featherweight warmth to a sleeveless dress or yoga top with our 100% silk organza scarf. Handmade by women weavers in remote Cambodian villages and through the aid of a fair trade company, this small business venture hopes to erase the ever-present risk of human trafficking, violence and abuse in Cambodia. From Hagar, a fair trade group.”

And, get this, the scarf costs $14 . . . the same price as the Burberry scarf. Talk about closing a toxic door and opening an eco-friendly window.

Question of the blog: Are you switching over your conventional wardrobe to a green wardrobe in one fell swoop or are you adding pieces as you go?

Got a Green Accent?

One of the most pleasurable parts of going green—that’s right, it’s not all hard work—is decorating my home with green accents.

Searching for organic, salvaged, sustainable, and/or fair trade items helps me to create a personalized eco-nest, instead of a generic space right out of Crate&Barrel or Target, with items typically made overseas in manners far from earth-friendly.

There’s a green department store about an hour away from me, Real Green Goods (http://www.realgreengoods.com/), and whenever I introduce someone to the store, the items that stand out the most—which is a feat, considering everything is on my Must-Have List—are their Ghana Bolgatanga Market Baskets (pictured here).

This is how the baskets are described on their site: These popular Market Baskets can hold just about anything. In northern Ghana, a seemingly endless supply of tall elephant grass grows in the wetlands. Weavers in Africa use the abundant elephant grass to weave these incredibly hardy, useful baskets. The weavers are compensated fairly for their beautiful works of art. To easily reshape your basket, quickly submerge in water (keep leather dry), reshape by hand and let dry. Variations in color and design are to be expected as each basket is uniquely handwoven. Approximately 14" wide and 9" deep.

I saw identical baskets recently at Whole Foods for $50. But they cost just $29 at Real Green Goods; and because the store is located in New Hampshire, you don’t have to pay sales tax when you buy your own (you can place your order by calling 877-744-9744).

A top quality, handmade, fair trade African Market Basket at a price that’s also fair? Now you know what I mean about the pleasures of green accents.

Question of the blog: Do you have a favorite earth-friendly accessory in your home?