Amaze Magazine» Fashion

Card Cache Organizer Has Amaze Hooked!

Valery Amador — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:41:23 +0000

One look at the Card Cache Organizer and it will have you saying, “Why didn’t anyone think of this sooner?!?” If you are anything like me, with cards overflowing from my wallet to the point that I usually forget I even have them, the Card Cache put me on the track to painless purse organization in the work of a few moments…

Basically, the Card Cache is a stylish keychain for your cards. Simply hole punch the corners (from credit cards, to grocery discount cards, gift cards or even discount punch cards) and then string the stylish Card Cache through – that’s it. Now your cards are available and easy to find/access. You can even purchase picture holders/protectors, a compact calendar or even a mini sharpie- and your Card Cache will have everything you need all in one convenient spot! Don’t have a hold punch on hand; you can buy that from Card Cache too!

Makes THE perfect gift! Available online at www.TheCardCache.com

Eco Fashion: Body Politic Clothing and Accessories

Amaze Magazine — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 12:00:30 +0000

Body Politic Clothing and Accessories… Breathing new life into the bordered white walls of fashion’s boutiques, body politic is giving the green light to a new breed of shopping philosophy

Situated in the newest trendy neighborhood of South Main in Vancouver, sustainable style shop, body politic, is engineering a greener future in shopping. Destination shopping has come full circle. Not only does body politic carry the hottest independent eco and sustainable labels from coast to coast, but the true reason to travel to South Main is the urban design oriented aesthetic …

Owner Nicole Ritchie-Oseen edits her showcased collections to include a fresh mix of LA’s most well known green designers, like Stewart + Brown and Perfectly Imperfect, to the upcoming fresh faces of Vancouver’s eco scene, including Elroy and Noir bonbon. One thing is for sure, at body politic shoppers know they are not only making a conscious ecological choice to support local North American manufacturing, but also have confidence that all their purchases represent the sustainable, limitless design philosophy her shop was built upon. When asked why Nicole was inspired to start body politic, she says, “I did really want to be able to indulge my love of fashion but I couldn’t be naive about the potential impact. I knew of the brutal consequences “fast fashion” has on our environment as well as the social costs of unethical production and manufacturing.” It’s clear that she has created a movement.

Eco elements were added to the entire space while still maintaining much of the space’s design integrity; from the energy efficient lighting to the repurposed antique furniture pieces housing some of the boutiques accessories and adornments. The raw concrete walls help to balance out the vibrant light shining through the stores huge windows, while the neutral color fabrics and dark Mahogany wood help to subdue the vibrant colors and designs of the Spring/Summer 2010 collections.

Here’s an insider secret- take a trip down Main away from the over crowed shops to body politic for the personalized shopping and warm boutique atmosphere found nowhere else in the city. You will walk away from the experience with not only a eco friendly shopping bag full of fashionable finds (some exclusive to body politic), but just ask the owner what her best kept secret is….A few of her designers carried make pieces specifically for body politic (if you love a piece that you didn’t think came in an eco fabric alternative …think again, body politic may just have it). She has this special sort of relationship where many of her designers make green pieces specifically for her store to keep with the sound philosophy of its owner.

body politic is proving that green boutiques don’t have to be full of uninspired casual athletic wear, but can assert itself a major player in fashion’s big league. Owner Nicole Ritchie-Oseen says, “At body politic we began with the belief that sustainable and eco-friendly clothing didn’t mean sacrificing style. The goal was to fuel our absolute love of fashion and distinct style without compromising our environment, our community, or ourselves!”

body politic is located at 208 E 12 Ave (SE corner of 12th & Main) in Vancouver, BC. Visit online at www.bodypolitic.ca

Earth Creations Clay-Dyed Apparel Offers Alternative to Conventional Clothing Dyes

Amaze Magazine — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:05:47 +0000

In 1992, Joy Maples set out on a serendipitous mountain bike ride that would eventually lead the way to her livelihood.

Hitting the trail post-storm, she ended up covered in red clay, and despite multiple wears and washes of her shirt, socks and shoes, the clothing remained permanently mud-stained. Her future husband and business partner, Martin Ledvina, a chemical engineer with a curious nature, became intrigued with the strength of the clay and began experimenting with purposefully dyeing clothing with dirt.

In 1996, Joy and Martin introduced the first Earth Creations clay-dyed T-shirts. Today, the Bessemer, AL-based brand offers an extensive line of imprinted sportswear for men, women and children and is the only company offering a complete collection of clay-dyed women’s casual wear.

Still using the original clay-dyeing process Martin initially developed, the company renders 12 rich, eco-safe colors on sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp and bamboo to create its clothing lines.

Offering consumers an alternative to conventionally-produced dyes, which present environmental and personal health dangers, Earth Creations has borrowed the ancient clay-dyeing tradition from centuries past and made some key improvements to satisfy contemporary customer lifestyles.

“Dyeing with mud, clay and dirt goes back to the origins of textile use,” said Ledvina. “When developing our dyeing process, we have learned from these ancient techniques, but have taken it a step further in regard to washfastness, durability, application to knitted fabrics and the range of colors offered.”

Gentle to nature, Earth Creations’ improvements to the clay’s dye qualities are made with natural and biodegradable materials, a far cry from the toxic byproducts produced in the manufacture of synthetic dyes. And also unlike conventional practices, Earth Creations’ processes require no kitchen salt – a substance that causes irreversible harm to the ecosystems in rivers, lakes and other water sources when released from commercial dye houses.

The apparel is also gentle to the humans who wear it.

“We often get emails from people who have allergies to conventional dyestuffs, but can wear our clothing without any problems,” Ledvina said.

Although Joy’s initial clay-dyed clothing experience was accidental in nature, the Earth Creations process is now anything but. The company looks for clay sources that will yield consistent color so that it may be reproduced easily, with most “harvests” occurring in the southeastern United States. And while there are a finite number of clay colors available in nature, Earth Creations creates fresh new hues for its seasonal lines by developing unique clay blends and consistently seeking new clay sources.

“When we started the business, we always had a bucket and shovel in our car, in case we came across an interesting color of dirt,” Ledvina said.

Once harvested, the clay typically needs to be ground to create a uniform, reproducible color. Each dye load is created with a certain weight specific to the type of fabric and garment, and a biodegradable fixative is added to improve washfastness. At the end of the cycle, water is extracted from the garments and they head to gas dryers.

The finished apparel requires no special care – it can be machine washed and dried – and the clay’s natural affinity to fabric, in addition to the fixative added, makes fading minimal, much like a favorite pair of jeans.

Many Earth Creations fans can’t get enough of the clay-dyed color, and it’s not unusual for the company to receive samples from customers’ own backyards, hoping their dirt may be considered as the next new hue.

“We’ve received clay from a car salesman’s yard, local potters, and more,” Ledvina said. “It’s interesting how the idea of clay dye entices people.”

Earth Creations clothing can be found at more than 600 retailers nationwide, from Whole Foods to Dillard’s. To learn more about the company, locate a retailer or shop online, visit www.earthcreations.net.

fitnessUwear Offers Banglz, a Stylish Weights to Make Fitness Fun!

Valery Amador — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:56:37 +0000

Stylish, fun, fashionable fitness… that’s what founders of fitnessUwear, Annie Ulichney and Kimberly Koelle, have achieved! (…and as a side note, my Mom’s physical therapist had suggested she use these to help her when writing to help ‘weight’ her wrist and keep her hand from shaking so much when writing…)

Offering “Fashionable Fitness You Can Wear Like Jewelry,” Kim and Annie are both busy moms who appreciate any type of product that makes their lives easier. Through that concept they invented Banglz, which are fashion ankle and wrist weights light enough to wear all day, yet substantial enough to feel the difference!

The Center for Disease Control & Prevention notes that even when at rest, one pound of muscle burns up to 30-50 more calories a day, compared to one pound of fat, which only burns 2-5 calories a day. “Everyone begins to lose muscle around age 25 if they are not proactive about their health. When you begin adding muscle back into the equation, you almost effortlessly lose fat and burn more calories!”

Banglz Wrist Weights
½ lb. weight bands that come in a variety of fashionable prints, allowing you to wear them like jewelry or be ahead of the crowd at the gym. They maximize upper body muscle tone and develop new, lean muscle during your regular day. By providing ongoing resistance, they help to strengthen arms, shoulders, chest and core. Price: $24.95

Banglz Ankle Weights
1 lb. weight bands available in fashionable prints that can be worn like anklets all day long. With each step, slight resistance helps to tone the legs, hips and glutes. They maximize low-impact exercise time and allow for exercise to be added into everyday activities to increase the number of calories burnt. Price: $27.95

Both Banglz Wrist Weights and Banglz Ankle Weights are safe to wear everyday. Annie suggests that women who have an already existing fitness routine can add them to optimize their workouts. For those who consider themselves inactive, Annie recommends a gradual addition of Banglz for everyday toning and muscle development. According to Annie, “physical inactivity has been noted as one of the greatest health concerns our country faces today. By adding Banglz, an inactive person can begin to live a healthy, fit lifestyle without the added burden of scheduling

For more information, visit www.banglz.com.

Lands’ End FeelGood: Knitting To Help Homeless

Amaze Magazine — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:00:29 +0000

This fall, Lands’ End will kick off the FeelGood Campaign, a fun way to shop and feel good about giving to homeless individuals and families across the country. Beginning on September 1st continuing through December, for every Lands’ End FeelGood sweater purchased, we will donate signature FeelGood yarn to One Heart Foundation’s Warming Families, (warmingfamiles.com) a nationwide knitting charity.

We expect to donate thousands of pounds of yarn to Warming Families chapters where volunteers plan to knit up to 25,000 hats to warm the homeless and displaced.

The new, proprietary yarn is as soft as cashmere yet is as affordable as cotton. The FeelGood sweater is available in a Cable or Striped Cardigan ($69.50) and Turtleneck ($49.50) and can be purchased online at www.landsend.com, by calling 1(800) 800-5800 and by visiting the Lands’ End Shops at Sears. Yarn donations will be made to volunteer knitters throughout the season.

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Truly Organic Apparel Now Available Online at Truly-Organic.com

Amaze Magazine — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Fiending for green? Truly Organic Apparel, maker of subtly urban, naturally dyed apparel for men and women, is making it easier than ever to get your green fashion fix by offering its entire debut collection for spring/summer ’08 online at www.truly-organic.com.

Equally appealing to both the socially conscious and the fashion-savvy, Truly Organic’s clean yet comfy seasonal offerings include a range of completely natural tees, tanks, blouses and pants for women as well as colorful button-ups and t-shirts for men – with an expanding assortment of dresses, skirts, layering tee’s and activewear slated to debut for fall ‘08. What’s more, all Truly Organic garments are uniquely processed with chemical-free dyes derived from medicinal and epicurean elements such as turmeric, pomegranate and onion, thus preserving the pure nature of the 100% organic cotton from which they’re made. A moderate price point – MSRP starts at $39.00 – further reinforces the accessibility of contemporary green apparel in the mainstream marketplace.

In addition to hosting the company’s new e-commerce site, www.truly-organic.com is a one-stop resource for information on the inspiration behind Truly Organic’s mission; the company’s commitment to using organic materials and fair trade practices; upcoming events and promotions and more. To learn more about Truly Organic’s chemical-free dyeing process and how it compares to some of the conventional methods associated with organic apparel, visit www.truly-organic.com/files/natural-dye-process.php.

Tees For Change Have a Lot of Positive Things to Say…

Valery Amador — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:00:00 +0000

CHOOSE HAPPINESS
SEEK BALANCE
PRACTICE KINDNESS
LAUGH OFTEN, CHASE DREAMS
LIVE FULLY
LIVE MINDFULLY
STAY STRONG
BE FEARLESS
TODAY MATTERS

Embody positive thinking in the hottest eco-friendly T’s at Tees For Change. These soft, organic T’s, offered in both long and short sleeve options, will make you ‘look like you feel’ all while embracing earth friendly fashions.

Read more at Amaze Magazine

Bébé au Lait Unveils New Line of Organic Nursing Covers

Valery Amador — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:05:00 +0000

Bébé au Lait™, makers of the chic, award-winning, nursing covers popularized by new mothers, today announced a new line of 100 percent organic nursing covers called Simple for eco-chic mothers who want to go “green” in every aspect of their lives. The organic linen is currently available at www.bebeaulait.com in a rich, magenta-colored linen (limited quantities), and the entire new line, available in organic linen and organic cotton, will be available nationwide in March 2008.

Read more at Amaze Magazine

Truly Organic Apparel Leads the Way for Chemical-Free, Naturally Dyed Fibers

Valery Amador — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:00:00 +0000

For those deeply concerned about the environment and their health, making the effort to choose organic apparel is a natural step – especially given the ever-increasing variety of fashionable green clothing. But unfortunately, many consumers are unaware that the “low-impact” or “eco-friendly” dyes used in most organic apparel still include petrochemicals.

Read more at Amaze Magazine

Buddhiwear, Organic Apparel for the Whole Family

Valery Amador — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 05:25:00 +0000

BuddhiWear, a Columbia-based apparel company, launched its second line of innovative organic positive inspired apparel for women, men, and children. This new garment line includes t-shirts, thermal shirts, & long sleeve t-shirts, for women, men and children as well as an infant line featuring bibs, hats, onesies, tank tops, thermal tops, and t-shirts.

Read more at Amaze Magazine