Stained Glass Gone Wild
After coming into an endless supply of old, unused stained glass pieces from her "Poppie", a master artist of stained glass, Melissa Mercer had a creative twist on what she could do to reuse this glass – and Poppie Glass jewelry was born! By fusing multiple pieces of glass together, unique shapes and color combinations are formed. She then adds upcycled wires and other cute charms and designs to create custom glass necklaces that are each individually unique and handmade. Her designs range from simple and clean using one piece of glass and a wire to wild and fun using multiple glass colors and unique charms like a mermaid or an octopus.
Your Roots Are Showing
With Roots lets you wear nature around your neck! These handmade self-sustaining terrarium necklaces are truly unique. The terrariums are well made and are designed to be worn on a daily basis as they need just enough sunlight to sustain themselves. The sunlight will create enough moisture for it to hydrate itself and recycle within the necklace.
Glass + Silicone = Clean
At bkr Bottle company their philosophy is clean and simple. They don’t eat things they can’t pronounce and they don’t marinate their water in polyethylene terephthalate. They also believe in clean design, clean body, clean earth. In fact their slogan is “All Clean Everything.”® bkr bottles are made of glass because it is chemically inert, meaning it does not alter the taste of its contents and does not allow any unsafe chemicals to leach inand make you sick. The glass bottle is protected by a sleek silicone sleeve that is non-toxic, provides a quality grip, is dishwasher safe, clean, modern, and cool. Silicone is also 100% recyclable. Check out the beautiful bkr colors, learn more about the brand, and shop online. Or purchase locally at Power Yoga and Bliss Spa!
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of BPA-free Water
Liberty Bottleworks, based out of Washington state, are the producers of the only American-made metal water bottle. They carefully design every bottle to be BPA-free, non-toxic and non-leaching so you can drink your water with confidence knowing that no flakes or chips will end up in your drink like some other metal bottles. Liberty's bottles are also made from recycled materials and are 100% recyclable themselves. The gradually tapered neck pours smoothly and is large enough to be ice cube friendly for a cold refreshing drink to go. It's easy to open and close too – the lids are designed to have a simple quarter turn on/off design.
Drift Sees Things Differently
Drift Eyewear designs high-quality, handcrafted wooden eyeglasses through truly innovative and eco-conscious techniques. Local Chicagoan, Chris Mantz, built his first pair with an old skateboard and a dremel – his idea for designing eco-friendly eye-catching eyewear was born. Now, his growing company is selling glasses to optometrists and eyewear boutiques all over the globe.
Green Zen
Rated #1 by the New York Times, EcoYoga mats are one of the best and most earth-conscious yoga mats available today. Made in the UK of 100% sustainable, plant-based materials of jute and all-natural rubber, there are no chemical additives and they are machine washable, biodegradable, practical, and ethical. Its rubber underside grips the floor while the jute fabric/rubber mix on top to offer superb traction. Highly durable and tactile EcoYoga mats are perfect for beginner and experienced students alike. Learn more on the EcoYoga website and order in the US from the Barefoot Yoga Company.
A Fox In the City
Coyotes are common, but foxes are fewer in Chicago. Be your sexy self in Urban Fox eco-friendly lingerie based in the Midwest. Designed and created using sustainable materials and methods, all undies and undie sets are dyed and sewn by hand from machine-processed bamboo and organic cotton blends in the good ol’ U.S. of A. Sets are one-of-a-kind with hand-crafted details like tagua nut buttons and natural rubber elastic. Check out the beautiful underthings online and shop for something special!
None Other Than More
Started in 2009, Nonetheless Garments creates highly functional menswear and is developed, designed, and manufactured right here in Chicago. With an aesthetic based off the traveling, commuting, and nomadic individual, Nonetheless uses textiles, refined aesthetics, smart/easy care labels, and modular design. Pieces are designed to be worn through commuting in intense weather, yet look and feel good in a work environment. They are committed to a “triple bottom line” of People, Planet, and Profit, and are designed as Cradle-to-Cradle products with Zero Waste as the ultimate mission. Each piece in the line is meant to last, avoid the landfill, and is made through efficient production methods. Shop online on their website and find their line locally at Heritage Bicycles in Lakeview.
Out With the New, In With the Old
Malia Designs creates recycled items with a twist by using eco-friendly materials and skilled artisans to create some super-fashionable, yet utilitarian pieces. Malia Designs are a socially responsible Fair Trade brand that designs and sells handbags, and all products are handcrafted in Cambodia. Every Malia purchase also helps to fight human trafficking by donating a portion of their profits to local and international non-profit organizations. Malia Designs is Chicago-based so you can be proud not just to carry something unique and well-constructed, but to know that you’re choosing a handbag that serves others around the world. See the full collection online, be sure to check out the new Spring 2012 collection on Facebook and shop locally at Greenheart Shop!
Beyond Borders
In Haiti, most local artists have no choice but to use the materials that are most available to them. However, they are taking those materials and turning them into pieces of art and scupture in very new and inventive ways. At Beyond Borders, artisans transform recycled oil drums into beautiful wall & garden art, sconces, and sculptures. These artists are also creating a better life for themselves and their families through fair trade that organizations like Beyond Borders and Greenheart help facilitate. By purchasing a hand crafted item from Beyond Borders you can be sure that the artists are very well-compensated.
