eco-friendly

Plaid Doctrine Briefcase, Handbag of the Day

OK, not quite a handbag, but certainly can carry a few extra items tucked in with your laptop ... Plaid Doctrine's briefcase is a nice twist on the ho-hum black laptop carrier and is eco-friendly, too. The bag is water- and stain-resistant, and its high-performance fabric is made from recycled bottles. Other features are prime-grade, vegetable-tanned leather trim, solid brass hardware with nickel matte finish, a full ripstop nylon lining, and a handy rear pocket to slip over a rolling luggage handle. Measures 12" x 16" x 4" and holds a laptop with up to a 17" screen. Colors are Blue Houndstooth (shown), Red Houndstooth, and Grey Striped. Free ground shipping domestically. $479

Gallery: Plaid Doctrine Briefcase, Handbag of the Day

Tags: briefcase, eco-friendly, handbag of the day, laptop, Plaid Doctrine, recycled

Salmon Skin Upholstery - All the Rage for Eco-Friendly Superyachts

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Yachts & Sailing, Green

Some people find the very idea of an "eco-friendly superyacht" simply ridiculous. If you're willing to accept that a floating monument to conspicuous consumption can somehow be good for the environment however, you'll probably agree that it should have a decor to match. Hence the growing trend in "guilt-free" luxury furnishings designed to take the edge off all that over-spending. The latest of these is salmon skin leather (above), being touted as an environmentally-friendly, ecologically sound and cruelty-free upholstery suitable for the finest superyacht interiors. The leader in the field is a German company called Nanai, which sources the skins from fish raised on certified organic salmon farms in Ireland.

With an appearance similar to python skin, salmon hide looks convincingly like exotic leather when vegetable-tanned and dyed (and deodorized). It's light and thin, yet durable and resistant to tearing. As the skins form a by-product of the salmon industry, the fish are not specifically bred or killed for the stuff – which might keep eco-crusaders happy if they weren't opposed to salmon farming to begin with. It remains to be seen whether oligarchs like Roman Abramovich will send their superyachts back to have their stingray and alligator upholstery swapped for salmon skin. Cue the cracks about "something fishy" but don't hold your breath.

Tags: eco-friendly, environment, exotic leather, fish, interior design, Nanai, python, Roman Abramovich, salmon, salmon leather, salmon skin, superyacht, yacht

Donna Distefano's Fair Trade, Eco-Friendly Custom Jewelry

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Green

Donna Distefano's eponymous jewelry line features gorgeous gems that you can wear with a clear conscience. They are created without unnecessary environmental destruction and without human rights violations. The Fair Trade-certified pieces are custom-made and hand-wrought in Distefano's NYC store and use eco-friendly refining, substance purification, and recycled metals. The extensive line features a variety of beautiful pieces: diamond and colored gemstone engagement rings, wedding bands, cocktail rings, chandelier earrings, jeweled necklaces, and pendants. The "Silva" pendant at right is $12,250, but the line varies in price. See the gallery for a few more examples of Distefano's work, and if you're in NYC, stop by her store at 20 W. 20th St.

Gallery: Donna Distefano's Fair Trade, Eco-Friendly Custom Jewelry

Tags: Donna Distefano, eco-friendly, fair trade, green, jewelry, jewels

Fred Segal Fun Debuts G-Bike and G-Bike Chopper

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Green, Men's Style

The new G-Bike at Fred Segal Fun lives up to the "Fun" brand moniker in a number of unexpected ways.

Firstly, there are the colors; this snazzy scooter-bicycle hybrid is available in the above yellow, a grassy green, dark blue, red, sleek black and white and several other shades, with new hues being developed all the time (or, for a premium, you can design your own). Also, like a hybrid should be, the G-Bike is an eco-friendly, zero-emissions vehicle.

This fully electric scooter-bike can run up to 20 miles per hour for 35 miles per charge (which takes four to eight hours). It's well-suited to students and professionals in urban environments -- people who could walk, but are too awesome to do so. Best of all, you don't need a license to drive it or a registration to have it. Additional features include removable pedals, a remote control alarm, brakes, rear-view mirrors, a horn and ample storage space for books, a work bag, groceries, shopping bags or whatever you have.

The G-Bike is available from the Fred Segal Fun store in Santa Monica (310-394-9814) for $1,100. Check out some of the other colors and the stylish G-Bike Chopper (a more bicycle-like motor-bicycle) in the gallery below.

Gallery: G-Bike Electric Bicycles Available at Fred Segal Fun

Tags: bicycle, eco-friendly, fred segal, fred segal fun, g-bike, hybrid, scooter

Kanon Organic Vodka from the King of Sweden's Distillery

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Green

New to these shores, Kanon Organic Vodka is a Swedish spirit from Gripsholm Distillery, founded by King Karl IX of Sweden, which has been producing organic vodka for over 400 years. Forsaking charcoal filtering and multiple distillation, the distillery uses local organic wheat and untouched spring water for a subtle, natural flavor without the usual vodka burn.

Gripsholm is the only EU and US certified organic distillery in Sweden. Once the king's cannon maker in the late 16th century (hence the vodka's name), Gripsholm started supplying vodka to the foundry workers and people in the surrounding area. With its 29 pot-still pans, 280 workers and a production of over a million liters of vodka annually, Gripsholm was once the largest distillery in Sweden.

Kanon is distilled from locally grown organic wheat in a continuous process without the use of environmentally harmful or genetically modified additives. The whole setup is eco-friendly; the distillery is run on wind and water power and all by-products are renewed. Even the attractive bottle is made from 60% recycled glass. Now available in New York at Morgan's hotels, Kanon will be launching in Los Angeles in January 2011.

Gallery: Kanon Organic Vodka

Tags: distillery, eco-friendly, organic, organic spirits, organic vodka, royalty, spirits, Sweden, vodka

The Perfect Summer House Cleanup with Caldrea

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Green

Before one can enjoy one's summer house, there's often a fair amount of cleaning to do; sometimes it seems to take up most of the vacation. One way to alleviate some of the ennui of the task is to hire someone else to do it, of course; but you shouldn't overlook the therapeutic value of tackling the job yourself with the aid of great-smelling, eco-friendly products that are a pleasure to use. Caldrea, a company based in Minneapolis, MN,makes high quality, earth-friendly products in exclusive signature fragrances for all types of house cleaning. They use the finest plant-derived ingredients and essential oils to provide natural freshness and cleaning potency – no harsh chemicals, no harsh fragrances, and all products are biodegradable and not tested on animals. They've just introduced a new fragrance, Sandalwood Riceflower, though our favorite remains their original, Lavender Pine. They also now make cleaning tools and carry sets combining both. The company is currently holding a summer sale with all items marked 20% off.

Tags: Caldrea, cleaning, cleaning products, eco-friendly, fragrance, household, summer home, summer house

Ferragamo Launches "Bio-Friendly" Men's Shoe Line

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Shoes, Charity, Green, Men's Style

Italian luxury fashion brand Salvatore Ferragamo is launching a new line of bio-friendly men's shoes called Ferragamo WORLD, with a portion of the proceeds going to Acumen Fund, a global non-profit venture firm addressing poverty in South Asia and East Africa. The new collection designed to be casual, sophisticated and functional, drawing on the Ferragamo tradition of "stylistic sophistication, craftsmanship and comfort". The aesthetic is "Italian City Casual", a bit less formal than Ferragamo's core offerings, inspired by Italy's traditional way of life.

The line is evocative of relaxation outdoors, of long walks in the city, of bicycles as an alternative means of transportation, of attention to detail and of a comfortable and wearable elegance. The collection consists of six models in select leathers with a rubber sole: desert boots, moccasins with or without signature hardware and sporty models with a college and tennis feel. Clean lines incorporate a comfortable step guaranteed by the unique structure of an ergonomic sole made of bio-friendly, decomposable material. The leathers use the latest generation water tanning processes and water based adhesives are also used which minimize any kind of harmful waste.

Gallery: Ferragamo WORLD

Tags: Acumen Fund, eco-friendly, Italian fashion, Italy, leather, mens style, Salvatore Ferragamo, shoes

RSVIP: How Green Was My Gala

by Jeffrey Slonim (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Green

Is your gala farm-to-table sustainable? According to event co-chair and designer Nicole Miller, a party doesn't get any more crunchy-granola than Group for the East End's Green Gala on Saturday, June 19. In fact, Miller, donated bags of just that . . . granola. "I contributed BOLA Granola to the goodie bag," she said. "It's made in the Berkshires by my sister [Michelle Miller] and is sold at Cavaniola's [Sag Harbor]." In Manhattan, BOLA Granola is also available at Dean & DeLuca and Whole Foods.

But granola in the gift bag and a local farm-fresh menu didn't mean that guests wore Birkenstocks. In fact, Miller had opalescent strips on her not exactly homespun dress. "I was so happy," said the designer, "because they go with my necklace by Jacqui Toboroff that I have never had a chance to wear."

The Green Gala took place at the Wolffer Estate, a sprawling vineyard in Sagaponack, New York . . . Hamptons heartland. Amidst aligned rows of grapevines, a Wolffer Estate tasting center abuts Route 27. Turning west, past an Italianate villa structure, some 400 guests, including James Lipton of "The Actors Studio," drove across flaxen fields where they parked their Mercedes SUVs, and hopefully a few hybrid vehicles.

The local farm-fresh menu served in a breezy tent included gravlax and organic beets on baby lettuce from Early Girl Farm (the Moriches). A Wolffer verjus beurre blanc accompanied the sea bass, as well as a salad of vegetables from Cutchogue's Satur Farms. Chef Brian Fishman of Sweet Karma whipped up a local goat-cheese cake marinated in Wolffer's late harvest Chardonnay. "It was the best food I have ever had at an event . . . ever," said Miller.

Tags: eco-friendly, eventologie, green gala, hamptons, wolffer estate

Continue reading “RSVIP: How Green Was My Gala”

Bon Christiani Dog Collars

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Pets, Green

Dog collars that are beautiful, durable, and sustainable are what bon Christiani is all about . The creative force behind the company, Jennifer Christiano, says she was initially inspired by two things: her background working with ancient Nubian jewelry at The Oriental Institute and a lack of beautiful but sturdy collar options for her German Shepherd, Padma. "There was nothing really interesting on the market for him. So, I took it upon myself to reach back in time and cultures, to create a unique piece for him."

When it comes to business bon Christiani operates on a model based in the Buddhist philosophy of "doing right by doing well." All the collars are equestrian grade and cruelty-free (5% of profits go towards sheltering animal survivors of biomedical research), made by hand by local master artisans, and created from start to finish with sustainability and the environment in mind. The collar shown here is called "Gainne" and features leather, your choice of bronze or sterling silver hardware, pretty Celtic 3-sided knots cast in pewter, and your choice of gemstone. Check out other designs (as well as some shots of the artisans in action) in the gallery below. $300-$400

Gallery: bon Christiani Handcrafted Luxury Dog Collars

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Tags: bon Christiani, dog, dogs, eco-friendly, green, pets

Champagne Gets a Green Makeover

by Amy Cortese (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Green

You won't necessarily notice it, but your Champagne is about to get greener. Champagne producers have recently standardized a new lighter-weight bottle designed to reduce carbon emissions generated during transport by 8,000 metric tons annually - the equivalent of taking 4,000 cars off the road.

Sure, you say, another group of producers jumping on the green bandwagon. But this was no easy feat. Each bottle of bubbly contains 6 Gs of force -- for the non-rocket scientists among us, that's about 60 pounds of pressure per square inch, similar to the pressure found in a tire on an 18-wheeler. So the bottles are thick and heavy for a reason. However, working with local glass designers, the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), the region's trade group, was able to shave about 2 ounces from the glass bottle without compromising safety. The lighter weight allows producers to pack more bottles per truckload or container, cutting down on the number of shipments.

The move is part of a broader initiative by Champagne makers to cut carbon emissions by 25% by 2020, and a whopping 75% by 2050.

Tags: champagne, Champagne bottles, Earth Day, eco-friendly, environmental footprint, glass, global warming, green

Continue reading “Champagne Gets a Green Makeover”

Bees In Business at The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Green

The Ritz Carlton, Charlotte in NC opened last October as the first LEED-built hotel in the area and now this summer they're taking their eco-conscious efforts even further by adding honeybees to the mix. The Ritz already has a rooftop garden, put in place to both insulate the building and provide organic herbs for the kitchen, and this summer that garden will become home to as many as 60,000 honeybees in two fully-contained hives. "Honeybees love herbs, and we're hoping they will especially enjoy the fresh lavender growing within our rooftop garden," explained Jon Farace, executive chef for The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte. "Because honey is considered the flavor of the land, it is likely that the bees' rooftop habitat and pollination of our herb garden will lend a wonderful, unique flavor to their honey." The hives will also benefit the surrounding city as the bees fly to nearby trees and hanging flowers.

The hives, once they mature later this summer, are expected to produce up to 70 lbs of honey that will be used by the hotel restaurant in special honey-based menu items.

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Tags: beekeeping, bees, eco-friendly, green, hotel, hotel beekeeping, LEED, ritz-carlton, ritz-carlton charlotte

A Visit to The Bardessono in California's Wine Country

by Zack O'Malley Greenburg (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

As with most resorts, the first thing you'll notice at Bardessono in Yountville, Calif., is the lobby. But this one's a bit different from the usual. Swaths of plants grow on strings running from the floor to the ceiling, nourished by nothing but the air. A sepia sculpture made from recycled newspaper hangs on a parallel wall. Those might be unusual touches at a normal hotel, but in the Napa Valley's premier eco-lodge, it's par for the course.

Founded in February of 2009, Bardessono, which was a Luxist Awards' nominee for best green spa in March, boasts the largest renewable power system of any hotel in North America. Over 900 photovoltaic panels convert the sun's energy into 260,000 kilowatt hours annually; unused output is sold back to the grid. The resort is heated and cooled by a network of 82 geothermal wells that stretch 300 feet below the grape vines out front. Motion sensors control lights and shades in each of the 62 rooms, ensuring that nearly nothing goes to waste. Along those lines, you won't find plastic bags in the hotel's wastepaper baskets, and filtered water is served in reusable glass jugs instead of bottles. Even the bathroom toiletries come in big, refillable bottles instead of the disposable (and easily pilfered) airline-safe containers.

Gallery: More from the Bardessono

Bardessono's dining room keeps with the resort's "deep green" mission statement. The delicious, heavily organic menu draws from local farms and fisheries; most of the wines hail from nearby vineyards as well. Like the guest rooms, which are free of the rugs, bedspreads and curtains deemed unnecessary by the green police, the dining room is somewhat spare. The only flourishes are a wispy, LED-lit chandelier and a magnificent long wood table made from a reclaimed tree trunk. A few paintings – or eco-friendly art installments – would be a welcome addition.

The resort's strongest point is its integrated spa services. Though there's a dedicated spa near the communal pool and hot tub, each guest room is designed to accommodate two massage tables and two masseurs. Call ahead to book a couple's massage and watch as your room is transformed into a miniature spa, complete with tea lights and soothing music piped in from Sirius Satellite Radio's unlikely spa channel. Bardessono's massage therapists will customize your treatment no matter how specific (they proved adept at soothing this writer's keyboard-addled wrists). When they're done, they'll leave you to luxuriate on the massage table as long as you like.

Bardessono guests don't have to worry about staying sober enough to drive – the resort is less than ten minutes by foot from fine restaurants including the French Laundry, the only establishment in the area to earn Michelin's coveted three star rating. Don't forget to check out one of the nearby tasting rooms, especially the new and funky Ma(i)sonry. Bardessono also offers a bike shop where guests can rent cycles for free.

As a Napa Valley connoisseur might say, Bardessono is a little young. Barely a year old, there are still trees that need to grow taller and walls that perhaps need more adornment. But the amenities and design elements are there – like a fine wine, Bardessono will only get better with age. In the meantime, guests can enjoy a fine spa and resort on a clean environmental conscience.

Tags: Bardessono, eco-friendly, hotels, luxist-awards, luxury hotels, napa valley, spa, spas, yountville

The Zambezi Queen: Green Luxury Meets African River Safari

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Yachts & Sailing, Green

The Zambezi Queen recently set sail for its debut voyage in Botswana and made history in the process as Africa's first luxury river safari and first eco-friendly floating luxury hotel. The Zambezi Queen takes two and three night voyages down the great Chobe river, where its sleek contemporary design contrasts with the lush and wild African landscape. The ship features 14 suites with private balconies for enjoying the view, a dining room overseen by top South African chef Pete Goff-Wood, a library filled with documentaries on African history and wildlife, internet access, a bar with a stylish lounge area and wood-burning fireplace, a shaded deck, and an outdoor pool. To promote conservation and sustainable tourism state-of-the-art technology was used to make the ship as eco-friendly as possible, including a special jet-propulsion system that reduces damage to the river bed and a low-emission power system for on-board electricity needs like lighting and refrigeration.

Safaris have always seemed a bit scary but this seems like a relatively safe way to experience the African wilderness -- from the luxurious viewpoint of a floating private balcony. Rates vary depending on season.

Gallery: The Zambezi Queen

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Tags: africa, african safari, eco-friendly, eco-friendly travel, safari, vacation, zambezi queen, ZambeziQueen

Hotel Fouquet's Barrière Offers 5-Star Eco-Luxury

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Green

Parisian haven at the corner of the Champs Elysées and Avenue George V, Hotel Fouquet's Barrière, has a new VIP package -- but this time, VIP stands for Very Important Planet.

Luxury travel is starting 2010 off on the right foot, with a bevy of eco-friendly options for savvy, conscientious travelers. One of these options is the five-star Hotel Fouquet's Barrière's VIP package, which includes:

Luxury accommodations
Special "Fitness Breakfast" for two (includes freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juice, an egg white omelet, multi-grain bread and a blend of pumpkin, linseed, sunflower and sesame seeds)
One 50-minute natural oil treatment at the hotel's U Spa, per person
Organic lunch for two at the hotel's Joy Gallery
A bottle of eco-friendly Pop Earth Champagne in-room upon arrival
Carbon offsetting through the non-profit organization "Action Carbone"

Though carbon offsetting has been skewered by critics for functioning as a sort of "indulgences" payment for the wealthy, it's better to offset than not to offset (and the wealthy are going to travel anyway). This package is part of the hotel's "Dignified Luxury" plan, one which implies that environmental responsibility is noble and honorable. The hotel also decorates with fair trade flowers and participates whenever possible in events which benefit environmental organizations, such as Neoplanet and GOODPLANET Association.

Further amenities can include pickup in a hybrid limousine, organic meals at La Diane, electric E-solex bikes for exploring Paris and, of course, room upgrades for an additional cost. The VIP package starts at €990 (approximately US$1,436), based on double occupancy, and is available through December 28, 2010.

Tags: eco-friendly, green, hotel, paris, travel

EcoLux Flooring Combines Precious Metals With FSC Woods

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Green

A few years ago I was in a home with bamboo floors. They were just beautiful, and with bamboo being sustainable, much less guilt-inducing than non-sustainable floors.

Boston-based EcoModern Design has taken the sustainable floor a step further with one of its newer products -- EcoLux flooring. This is a gold-, silver- or copper-leafed, or imitation gold leaf, Forest Stewardship Council-certified hardwood, bamboo, or engineered maple. It is made with metal gilding using a 2,000-year-old technique. The company's David Sanborn previously was a paintings restorer and now uses the same techniques to produce flooring.

The floors are offered with custom border edges, which can be used as wall panels and veneer wallpaper. EcoLux is sold by the square foot, as a border edge or in repeating border edge patterns.

Tags: bamboo, eco-friendly, flooring, FSC, green, hardwood floor, HardwoodFloor, home design, HomeDesign, metals

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