I Dream of Green Genies
One of our favorite eco-friendly stores, and this week’s giveaway, is from Green Genes in Andersonville! Founded in 2008 by best friends and partners, Heather and Christina, Green Genes wants to make eco-friendliness second nature and help people see that even small changes can add up in a big way. They specialize in children’s clothing and kid-related products that come from natural and organic sources, and through fair trade and sustainable production. The Green Genes store is friendly, too, with bamboo flooring, low VOC paints, salvaged furniture, and recycled, biodegradable customer packaging. They produce less than two bags of trash a month! Impressive! Check out all their items online and be sure to stop in their store and say hello too!
B-Girls in Chi-Town
As store names go, Wolfbait & B-Girls takes the creativity cake! A nod to historic Chicago and the terms used for women who moved here looking for success, the name is appropriate given the unique and remarkable wares you’ll find in this independently-owned Logan Square shop. Wolfbait & B-Girls showcases over 170 local artisans and Chicago-based fair-trade companies, and is female-owned and operated by two native designers, Shirley Kienitz and Jenny Stadler. Shirley and Jenny stock their in-house lines, Bruiser and Brazen judy respectively, handbags and accessories, paper goods, Bonnie Body and Bath, as well as this week’s giveaway Mata Traders. Check out their website and Facebook page and then get to shopping!
She IS The One
She One is your quintessential Chicago neighborhood boutique! Located in the Southport Corridor in Lakeview (my old hood!), She One is affordable, on trend, and dedicated to all things girly. It's the perfect place to pick up a fashionable find and even a locally-designed one at that. She One carries our favorite local fair trade brand, Mata Traders, as well as popular local and eco-friendly brand Shiraleah.
Bohemian Rhapsody
Lil J’s Bohemia in Naperville has something for everyone, whether you’re a “Deadhead,” a hippie, or just looking for something beautiful and handmade. Owner Jill, or Lil J’, stocks a great selection of handmade items from local artisans, incense and tapestries, semi-precious gemstone jewelry, footwear from Minnetonka Moccasins, and apparel from one of our favorites, and this week’s giveaway designer, Mata Traders! Go online for store hours and details and visit her store to see the full collection.
A Dressing Room We Like Going Into
The Dressing Room in the ever-changing Lincoln Square neighborhood offers hip, trendy and classically cool clothing and shoes for women at reasonable prices. They carry many local designers we love like Mata Traders, Chelli Harms, Squasht, Deana Rose, Jess LC Jewelry and Blue Platypus. We always like to support buying local for the obvious reasons!! Stop in soon for new Spring & Summer clothing and accessories in stock now.
Fashion A Better World
Chicago's fair trade leaders, Mata Traders, are starting off our second week of green giveaways and eco-shopping discounts! They've just launched their new Spring line that includes the most adorable dresses fit for the Zooey Deschanel in all of us as well as cute and comfortable tops, skirts, and jewelry. We cannot get enough of these bright and colorful patterns like pineapples, feathers and flowers. All of their clothing and accessories are handmade in India and Nepal using traditional, artisan methods like block-printing and embroidery.
Clean Up Your Act
Everything comes full circle with Further. A simple, yet perfect line of hand soap, lotion, and candles is made more perfect by their inspiring story of sustainability. Co-founder Marshall started Further after his huge collection of glycerin, a by-product of the bio-diesel fuel he self-distilled from leftover restaurant vegetable oil, started to take over the garage and worry his wife. Instead of discarding it, Marshall took things one step Further. The signature scent made from oils of bergamot, olive, and exotic grasses is blended with the leftover glycerin to create clean, fresh-smelling products. All Further products are also biodegradeable and never tested on animals so you can "Wash Responsibly." The story is complete when Further is returned to the bathrooms of the very restaurants from which it originated!
Weather Any Storm With Juleselin
After wearing a Juleselin coat, you'll never want to take it off! Designed by Julia Bumbaum, the Juleselin collection features a variety of outerwear that is comfortable for the indoors too! The knitwear line includes coats, jackets, and sweaters as well as tops and dresses – all individually made in San Francisco with organic cotton and recycled fabrics. As a company, Juleselin takes great pride in maintaining low impact on the environment which includes reusing, recycling, using low-energy light, VOC-free paint, and recycled furniture. This focus on the environment does not detract Juleselin from producing stylish, high-quality outerwear and clothing fitting for any fashionista – ruffles and all.
Love the Skin You’re In
Eco-chic, eco-smart, and eco-sexy is how you’ll feel when wearing ecoSkin clothing. Clothing industry veteran Sandy Skinner created the line in 2007 after realizing savvy women had so few responsible, yet contemporary apparel companies from which to choose. ecoSkin uses only environmentally sustainable luxury fabrics that are woven, dyed, and sewn right here in the U.S. Sandy is also a non-profit volunteer and amateur environmentalist and hopes to make a difference in the world through her respect for people and planet alike. With ecoSkin, no compromise is necessary; women can look sexy and be eco-friendly all at the same time!
Mar Y Sol Has Soul
Mar Y Sol translates to "the sea and the sun" – but more than just a beautiful name, Mar Y Sol is a socially-responsible brand that cultivates fair trade relationships to create an inspired collection of unique handcrafted totes, bags, clutches, hats, and throw pillows that will make you happy. Designed by collaboration with local artists in New York, owner Laurel Brandstetter has cultivated relationships with artisan women in Madagascar where these accessories are handmade using only natural materials that are sustainably sourced from their forests. When buying a Mar Y Sol product, you are supporting the economic independence of these women.
