Style By Thread Lightly

After a long, but wonderfully snowy, winter, StyleByThreadLightly is back! Be sure to check back here every Saturday to get the latest scoop on who's who in the eco-friendly fashion and living world. You yearn to be comfortable and stylish, let modestly unique? Well, Here's your source, being updated as you read this. See ya Saturday for the next featured company who struggled against every wave to become the ethically wonderful companies they are today! In the meantime, thank you for your patience, support, and encouragement! -Love, Emily

It is certainly rare when an artist can remind humans how animal we are. The work of Mika Machida makes us feel closer to the animals in the most beautiful and sensual way; through cheek rubb-able softness, innovative tangibility, and the most original use of sleeves, shoulders, and hems ever. Each piece created by Machida invokes the true beauty and personality of the animal that's depicted by the honest fabrics and presentation.

Amongst one of the biggest fashion capitols of the world, there is the quiet, elusive Mika Machida, the designer who's hand-printed, hand-created fashions are as rare as some of her animal muses. In her NYC apartment hangs this pivotal piece of art featuring Red-crowned Cranes against the white snow of Japan where they're most usually found dancing and conducting aeriel ballet in preparation for mating season. The birds are rare, beautiful, and revered; a wonderfully appropriate subject for the overall mission and ethics practiced by this creative designer.

Photo from Inhabitat.

In her astounding collection of wing-sleeved dresses and maned-couture, 'only the finest, sustainably made materials are used', and it could not be more visually or tangibly true. Featuring organic wools, linen, and cotton, Mika Machida transforms the human, (who so frequently separates themselves from the animal kingdom), into something more primitively beautiful, and refreshingly genuine.

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When all is silent around you, and the car horns fade away, and the wind becomes the majority sound...there is your quiet hug, a MountainSmith backpack. This lightweight, sturdy, and ergonomically sensual backpack's mission seems to include such pleasing features as: housing all your essential camping or photography equipment in supremely designed pockets, protecting your immediate survival with a smaller backpack that can be taken off for food-seeking or small trips away from camp, and the most noble of all, protecting our future by using 100% recycled PET bottles.

SBTL is simply astounded by the efficiency present in the usefulness, and creation of this MountainSmith backpack. From the honorable re-use of soda bottles that comprise the bags' rip-resistant fabric, to the drawstring side pocket that provides you with instant access (even when the bag is on your back) to, say, a wind-up/solar flashlight or a cell phone, the bag's design is as smart as its' recycled nature.

It is a pleasure working with the MountainSmith backpack. Daily trips to the post office delivering tee-shirts, day-time hikes, or overnight photography shoots, a true pleasure. The bag is ready for anything...including the most important mission of all: to protect your future; our future:)

 

After the large door of the Hotel Vitale entrance was chivorously opened for me, I was greeted with some of the nicest smiles seen on the trip. As a photographer just coming in from an exhaustive series of shoots, I did not look the part of the usual Hotel Vitale guest. Unwaveringly however, the greetings and warm welcomes continued and my usual independence slipped comfortably away as I was treated with personal, caring service that made me want to be pampered like that forever. With fine details like the insanely comfortable, and locally crafted pillows, Hotel Vitale makes every detail an important one. Local seems to be the more obvious of their environmentally considerate themes. From the snacks in the minibar, to the produce prepared in their Americano restaurant, Hotel Vitale showcased tastefully chosen items made within the San Francisco border, (saving countless resources and stimulating the surrounding economy).

Hotel Vitale is set on the Embarcadero Waterfront, giving excellent views of the beautiful bridges, revitalized attractions, and enjoyable landmarks. From their rooftop spa, to the terraced gardens Hotel Vitale has tastefully created luxury accommodations for your pleasure. In the lobby, unique details like reclaimed wood adorns the front desk and walls, adding to the authenticity and the underlying mission...

The environmental and service-oriented commitment made by Hotel Vitale is subtle and unnoticeable...until you delve deeper and find that everything from their clients in-hotel meetings, to "eco-excursions", to the little things like low-energy bulbs. Business goes on as usual and people come in and out of this luxurious Hotel, knowing or unknowing of the impact the hotel isn't making. What a great concept: humble social responsibility and infinite luxury.

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If there's one thing about StyleByThreadLightly is a goal to bring you timeless fashion that's environmentally conscious. Peligrosa encompasses that humbly and genuinely.  From their soy-printed tags to knits so soft they will always be in style, this meant-to-be business is a positive role model for the fashion industry, the provider of insanely luxurious yet comfortable clothing, and a great lesson in sweater love.

Before knowing the full story, I personally embarked on the Peligrosa journey with material love-at-first-sight in the fitted form of the 'Owl Intarsia' Sweater. This thin, perfect temperature, finely knit, rolled sleeve sweater is like no other, and it had my heart from the moment it came out of the box. Is this sweater love? Yes, but there's more. As the Peligrosa sweaters, shorts, pants, and dresses were worn by model after model in 'Perennial', each wear warranted compliments on it's texture, warmth, and/or fit. And why wouldn't it? The well-suited merino wool and cashmere that comprises the sweaters feels even better against the skin when you realize it's free from chemical treatments, is thoughtfully grown on happy, well-treated goats and sheep, and is tastefully adorned by sustainably sourced buttons made from Bamboo and Coconut.

Something so innately lovable as the Peligrosa designs seems to have more behind it, and indeed they do. In 2004 two sweater-adoring designers met to discuss business...sparks flew, Cupid launched his arrows, and the love child of design and passion was born. Five years later Nico and Adam's line has grown, alongside their two children. Now you know when you open the box with your new Peligrosa attire, where that extra, unexplainable love comes from. It's not just from the knits, or the shape, the mission, or even the feel...it comes from something more, it comes something rare and beautiful. It comes from true love.

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The thumb-sized oval button shown above is responsible for unleashing the finest designed luggage product ever. As other luggage bags knock against your legs, as they get stuck in crevices, and as they pull you wherever they go, there's the trusting Heys Eco Case, which calmly, quietly, and expertly follows you...almost seeming loyal. Whether it's using all four wheels or just one, the case maintains perfect composure and balance so that you, the lugg-ie, barely knows it's there; and it does this all while protecting your belongings with a hard recycled plastic case not even the NY subways can scathe.

The Photographer gets shot...pulling a full and heavy Heys Eco Case down the hall of NU Hotel. Photograph by Daniel of Uhuru Design.

We begin in Maine, where the Heys Eco Case is received on a foggy chilly morning. The bright, solid red of the case was a welcome sight and it was packed quickly with precious and delicate eco-chic items; all of which fit amazingly well into the cases expandable and spacious body. With thin and lightweight walls the Eco Cases range from 7-11 unnoticeable pounds, yet can fit an entire closet of clothing and accessories. It's a pleasure to pull behind you, as it rolls silently on 360 degree swivel wheels, which can turn unencumbered in any relevant situation. As the case board planes, subways, and shuttles, it is un-phased by bumps that knock other luggage's over, a truly incredible design that could not be made better.


When something's so perfectly designed, one wonders why every product can't meet the standards this one does. A reusable item made from recycled materials? A perfect combination. Though me and my unbruised leg may be biased, we love the Heys Eco Case. The wonderful and durable Eco Case by Heys is without a doubt one of the most wise and important investments a traveler could make, because not only are you investing in your traveling experience, but our future as well.

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Imagine lush, green, chemical free fields of cotton. Imagine there's no pollution, no disease, no toxins. In some parts of the world this exists, and there grows the rare and coveted organic cotton plant. A plant, that when left untreated with chemicals, creates the softest, most sensuous and touchable, most readily available fabric you can fathom. The creations from Beaumont Organic are no exception, in fact, the pieces generated by this environmentally-conscious designer are perfectly suited to their material, displaying some of the most flattering and innovative uses of the universal plant. Each piece is specific to it's fabric, the bag holding the Wooden Beaded Necklace for instance, fulfills one's love to touch and feel by offering up the thinnest, softest, mini-nubbliest cotton available today; the Beaumont Knickers playfully display a gathering of the thin fabric, in a soft and sexy way only this particular weave could allow.

Part of this incredibly subtle designer's work was inspired by a 2002 teaching experience on the island Of Fiji. Years later, that important time still rings true in her ethics, work, and mindset. Every year Beaumont Organics donates 1% of its profits to the Nissa School, in Taveuni, Fiji, where Hannah worked. Remembering times when a sticker, which the locals there had not had access to, could light up a child's face so profoundly that the "Beaumont Organic Foundation" was set up; a place where you can give financial or material support via a program called 'Little Luxuries'  a simple concept that changes the lives of the Fijians by bringing them the little treats other communities may take for granted, such as playing cards or the above mentioned stickers. In addition, Beaumont has recently taken up sponsorship of a 13 year old boy name Leone, providing him with the support he needs to participate in school. To further help the outreach of the Beaumont Organic Foundation, please email [email protected]". Overall, the impact this one company makes on the world is a good one. Imagine if every company took such considerate measures to ensure the safety of people around the world, the health of environments, eco-systems, and the animals they may never see in person. It may sound like a dream, but she's not the only one.

Comprising only 0.03% of the worldly cotton production, organic cotton is a small but steadily growing industry. As the realization spreads that non-organically grown cotton "...consumes approximately 25% of the insecticides and more that 10% of the pesticides used in the world" (a standard conventionally grown cotton shirt uses about 1/3lb. of pesticides, chemicals, and fertilizers to make), and devastating algae blooms from agricultural run-off occur almost predictably now, among many other things; there will undoubtedly be a shift in the minds of consumers and manufacturers. Those chemically treated fields will eventually adapt to be chemical-free, rain-fed, with wind blowing through the untreated leaves, frogs with four legs living happily in the undergrowth, and people miles downstream swimming in the clean water.

Beaumont Organic is a perfect example of how a company can be successful while preserving ethical standards that improve the state of living for so many around us. As winner of the prestigious and hard-earned "Best Textile Award" from The Natural and Organic Awards" in 2008, the Beaumont Organic factory becomes not a factory at all, but a model of what could be, standing out as a personable, reachable, and tangible company you could (and would want to) live next door to. 

It may sound like a dream, but it's coming true. "I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one." (John Lennon)

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The late night arrival at Good Hotel marked the beginning of the second phase of the 'Perennial' trip...California. A place where being eco-friendly is revered, and where the famous peace-makers of the 60's and 70's hung out. San Francisco showed us what an environmentally conscious city could be like, an experience that was thoroughly enjoyed by this east coast native who's now going to share her thoughts on this incredible Hotel with you.

The playful atmosphere of the Hotel rang true even at midnight as we were welcomed genuinely by a very nice man named Roman at the front desk. We found out that he too enjoyed the vegan lifestyle, and was more than willing to share his local favorite restaurants! We woke to the beautiful, soft sunlight of a misty San Francisco morning and were able to take a bunch of great photos in the 'Ruche Strap Frill Bra' from Beaumont Organic, a hot black Niksters Bikini, and a custom skirt by KT Jean. Waiting for us in the lobby was an envelope filled with Roman's recommendations for local vegan cuisine. How nice! How typical...

Good Hotel is fun, lighthearted, and bright. The simple and almost rustic undertones of the Hotels' decor combine superbly well with the modernistic approach of white walls and chandeliers made from reused glass bottles they created in collaboration of ReadyMade Magazine. Good Hotel took an innovative and effective approach to remodeling an old building, filling it with carpet made from 25% recycled material, comfortable bedspreads containing 85% recycled soda bottles and unusable garments, and reclaimed wood desks and beds that they worked with a local designer to create.

As part of the Joie de Vivre Hotels (all of whom take eco-friendly initiative in their own ways), Good Hotel displays the amazing customer service you want when you're traveling, especially when traveling 'green', which in itself, can sometimes be an oxymoron. Good Hotel speaks for the traveler who wants to visit new places without a footprint, and thankfully very little footprint can be made here, even if you leave the low voltage lighting on;)

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Everyday, an incredibly humble event takes place, the sun rises. Unlike the quick flip of a blinding light from dark, we are introduced to the day with a gradual, beautiful dimmer switch that's free and reliable. Of all the planets in the Universe, the Sun lights and heats us juuuust right, it's so nice...and, out of all the Universe, there are people at a company called Voltaic Systems that allow individuals to easily capture that free, and clean energy on their backs, with  a convenient, useful, and durable backpack made from recycled soda bottles. We can all breath a sigh of relief, because coal fired power is no longer needed.

Of all absolutely essential items used on the 'Perennial' was the Voltaic Solar Powered Backpack, which hooked up with us in California at Hotel Vitale. At first, it seemed very daunting, a solar anything has been a dream of mine for years. So many little plugs, a few wires, and a battery pack that looks like something from Back to the Future; but, time travel 2 minutes forward after opening the box, and the charge light is on and the camera is charging. How did that happen so easily? Something seemingly so un-obtainable as inexpensive solar power, was now at my fingertips. This is insane, individual power. Now, next on my list of essential items: The Generator, with enough power to run your laptop!

This camera is being charged even on an overcast day; just one of the many surprises offered by this high-tech accessory that can carry anything from books to life essentials. With two separate, very-well-placed side pockets, you'll never loose your keys, notepad, or wallet. Your phone can be charged from the shoulder strap, where there is a convenient holster complete with a plug into the charger so you can continue charging without reaching in the back; very well-designed.

Just one of many photos sent in by users of the Voltaic Solar Backpack

If you were dropped out of an airplane in the woods, you could record the ambient sounds of the forest, call your parents and ell them you're ok, while your hand held gps system leads you home 11 hours later, still fully powering your technology. Or...at the very minimum, it could charge your ipod while you work, or your phone when you hike. It's durable, efficient, and smart; the Voltaic Solar Powered Backpack, capturing the sun's daily energy so your local power plant doesn't have to. Thank you Universe genius's at Voltaic, for letting us capture and store what is free and abundant. 

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Elena Garcia

If we could be a breeze traveling over California, we'd want to visit the EcoBungalo, a showroom hosting amazingly talented designers such as Noir, a sophisticated line for the rock n' roll fairy. As a breeze however, one designer's work would be of particular pleasure to us; the gentlest of our touches would set her thin silks and textural wools into motion, one soft exhale would create undulating landscapes of fabric. From her elongated silk dresses, to the signature twists she creates on pieces like the 'Long Sleeve Silk Blouse', to her especially customized 'Felted Jackets', Elena Garcia's work enthralls us. Complimented nicely by her ethics, methods, and mission, the eco-couture work of Elena Garcia is timeless and rare.


Photograph from Elena Garcia Studio.

Using wool which has been compassionately sheared from the organically raised Sheep, re-purposed pieces of fabric from other pieces, and metal free dyes, Garcia has created three seasons of luxuriously gorgeous and compassionate fashion. The animals who contribute, her local United Kingdom artisans, and her clients are just a few of those who benefit from her forward thinking and local economy-boosting fashions of Elena Garcia.



Very few times in life can one garment make you feel like you are of immensely great wealth. The superior materials and creation of the 'Felted Jacket' above (see a Behind-the-Scenes shot here), instantly straightened shoulders and lifted chins while on the 'Perennial' shoot. This is a truly exquisite piece, (as every single one of Elena Garcia's pieces are), in yet another way however; because it transcends a boundary which may have never been crossed by a designer of Elena's reach. This piece is vegan. The Silk Worms and Sheep that created this piece still live happily and organically. This is an incredible step for mankind, an unbelievably inspiring benchmark, and showcases a wonderfully viable business model others can follow. Elena Garcia's work shows what can be created by exploring our capabilities within compassionate boundaries and her designs show us the meaning of eco-couture. Thank you, EcoBungalo for introducing us to the work of Elena Garcia, and thank you Elena for providing the world with thoughtful fashion.

Terra Plana

Terra Plana (meaning "flat land') is the name of an innovative shoe company who creates truly flexible foot attire. Working with materials like re-purposed quilts from Pakistan, recycled memory foam, vegetable tanned and Chrome-free leathers, and a new E-leather, Terra Plana mixes technology with artisan techniques to meld innovation with an open-mindedness that's hard to come by in the shoe-creation sector. One of the most amazing features available on their website, is the Eco Matrix. This is where you can see the shoes' efficiency, comfort level, and materials in a descriptive and interactive graph. See a 'Behind the Scenes' of Monica and the shoes before the shoot.

A significant amount of research seems to go into how the Terra Plana shoes affect our bodies, even those shoes with tall heels are made with consideration for you and your personal comfort.The shoes themselves are lightweight and soft, yet strong. Terra Plana's' new lines Vivo Barefoot and Dopie are two lines especially dedicated to living and walking the way nature intended; barefoot.

As more and more materials become available to Terra Plana, I'm sure their intuitive explorations will lead them on new shoe-making adventures, but one thing will always stay true, their commitment to the human connection with the earth.

NYC Green Car

Amongst all of the crazy cabs driving around NY City, there is one with a driver named Endry. While everyone else races around him, weaving in and out, tailgating and honking, Endry seems to simply relax...and sit back. Smoothly, stealthily; we'd get to lights right as they'd turn green, only to coast through it on our momentum while the gunning of the other’s engines roared around us. 

Behind the sleek and stylish car, planning, and obvious good taste in who he chooses as his fellow drivers, is Todd, the creator of NYC Green car. When he was asked to participate in 'Perennial', (a photo shoot of previously unheard of eco-conscious pretenses), he enthusiastically came on board and chauffeured our modest 'Perennial' cast around New York City. (Mr. Rickshaw was briefly considered but then the luggage was weighed, and that'd just be mean). NYC Green Car's sleek Hybrid - only fleet is, in a way, one of the smallest ways in which the company shows it's dedication to the preservation and conservation of our environment. From their methods of driving, to their genuine interest in certain issues and projects, NYC Green Car also donates 10% of the profits to local organizations like the replanting of trees in NY by Trees New York and community gardens created by Green Guerrillas. Now, NYC Green Car is also responsible for making the 'Perennial' photo shoot possible, allowing us to bring earth-conscious style to the world. The name is perfect, because they are truly NYC Green Car.

Endry, Monica and I efficiently traversed miles of New York City, picking up the works of NY based designers like Mika Machida and Mociun who's featured below. It was fun, it was enjoyable. Relaxing. Miles and hours passed and as the street lights came on in Brooklyn we arrived at the Hotel not two minutes before the scheduled time.

Thank you to NYC Green Car, for there is nothing more stylish than organic linens and recycled luggage in a coasting Hybrid.

Mociun

Photograph by Caitlin. Model is wearing the Sahara Jumpsuit.

After passing through a door decorated for the Chinese New Year and smiling at many people calmly sewing, Monica and I met Caitlin Mociun, a designer who generates her ideas from nature, David Bowie, and certain important movements in art history, (among very many other things).

She was working at a desk like the others, in a corner that was lined with dresses. It was a true honor to meet her., she has created a successful business, does so in an environmentally conscious manner, and maintains artistic integrity...something seemingly impossible for some artists once they gain a following. But, perhaps a view into her inspirations will give us a clue on how she stays true to her work.

A close up of a 'Cotton Tie Front Dress' available at DeviDoll.com.

Caitlin picked out five pieces for us (see the 'Behind the Scenes' shot), five vastly different but strangely cohesive. Each garment had a specific texture that beautifully matched its' design, print, and silhouette. What a beautiful selection! Well-crafted pieces, with strong design, and an obvious passion for prints. “I try to keep my garment designs simple so that the textiles can really make the impact.” Caitlin says in a Nylon interview.

Monica wearing the 'Tulip Skirt Tie Front Dress' during the 'Perennial' photo shoot.

Within her pieces I can see influences of RISD, a college which birthed both Caitlin and only a year apart. Graduating from textiles, her pieces show in immense range in both fashion, fabric, and print. One of her most obvious influences, and something I only learned about freshman year, but perhaps in her wide travels through Europe Caitlin knew about long before, is the Bauhaus. The Staatliches Bauhaus, founded in 1909 by Walter Gropius, was a school of the arts, crafts, design, and technology. The school itself was largely inspired by Modernism including rationality, function, and radical experimentation with forms. It played a pivotal role in art as we know it today, and continues to play it's role in this very designer. Caitlin's work encompasses the Bauhaus mission, a perfect harmony between the function of an object and the design of it.



Photograph by Caitlin. Model wearing the Issaran Dress.

Mociun "continues to explore and integrate the ever-emerging technologies and critical conceptions of sustainability; environmentally healthy production; and, as a type of de facto jouissance, the role of, and the products available to, the individual consumer in society at large", and we'll watch intently waiting for her next move.

So, the ultimate question. How does an artist who's now so prevalent still maintain her artistic integrity? That lies in the appropriately gained Bauhaus influence, where "the radically simplified forms, the rationality and functionality, and the idea that mass-production was reconcilable with the individual artistic spirit." It's wonderful to see that the teachings of the Bauhaus are still alive and well exactly 100 years after it's opening.

View the Spring Collection from Mociun.

Anna in the Sahara Jumpsuit during the 'Perennial' photo shoot.