Is It Hot On This Planet Or Is It Just Me? Transitional Eco Knits For A Very Strange Fall
Global warming sure has things messed up when it comes to fashion. Stores are stocked with warm clothes for bundling up, while outside the heat wave’s just hitting in some parts.
Think style’s got it bad? Not to bring you down or anything, but scientists are predicting that 2010 could be the hottest year on record, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. In Russia, heat and drought have destroyed a fifth of the nation’s wheat crop; in August, Greenland lost a 100-square-mile chunk of ice—its largest in nearly half a century. If things continues at this rate the entire ice mass could disappear, raising sea levels by as much as 23 feet. Katrina could be a drop in the bucket: Think about what happens to low-lying New Orleans when the ocean meets the levees.
What to do? Keep on pressuring your Senator to pass meaningful climate legislation. Then bundle up (or cool off) in these eco-knits perfect for layering up or down—plus more than $1,200 in freebies—because there’s no telling what this weather will do.
hessnatur Pure Cashmere Slouch Hat ($75)
Think cashmere’s a sustainable fabric? Think again. Conventional cashmere is overproduced, undermanaged, and typically treated with heavy metal dyes and synthetic chemical finishes to make it flame-, bug- and felting-resistant. Ick. In contrast, hessnature by Eviana Hartman uses only pure, chemical-free, sustainably-produced cashmere from Mongolia that’s dyed—heavy metal free, natch—in a closed loop system. Perfection! Their snuggly hoodie is pictured above, but we’re drooling over this slinky slouch hat in any weather.
The shawl-meets-scarf Halfie, crafted from go-with-anything cream alpaca wool sourced in the Peruvian mountains, is our first choice for dressing in uncertain weather. Plus, we’re so inspired by the story of founder Kate Robertson, who met local artisans during a Peace Corps mission and created a fair-trade certified business to support them.
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Nixxi Long Sleeve Cardigan Wrap ($140) 
When it comes to creating eco-wearable clothing, Canadian cult-favorite Nixxi just plain dominates. As is the case with this vegan, organic cotton cardie wrap, which can be worn loose, tied or belted for dress-up. Who needs anything else?
Green Sheep Shop Flower Felted Wool Bag ($12)
We admit it: We’re craftily challenged. But we’re also fascinated by the wares at Green Sheep Shop, which specializes in organic, sustainable, recycled fair-trade and naturally dyed yarns that tread lightly on the planet. One GSS obsession you don’t have to make? A one-of-a-kind, adorable felted wool knitting bag—hand-made at a Nepalese women’s collective—which doubles as a cute clutch. Bamboo knitting needles? We might just be inspired to learn how to use them.
ecoSkin Wholegarment Gentian Tunic ($175)
We’re huge fans of ecoSkin’s Wholegarment concept, in which organic cotton yarn is fed into a miracle machine that weaves it into the perfect garment—no cutting, sewing or wasted material. But all eco-ingenuity aside, this sweet, v-neck pointelle piece is just plain perfect.
Anita Arzé Nini Organic Cotton Tank ($125)
We have New York ecoista Bahar Shahpar to thank for the recent discovery of sustainable designer Anita Arzé, who brings a sexy sensibility to her collection of knit tops and dresses, hand-knit from organic cotton in by a Bolivian women’s cooperative. We can’t say enough about her to-die-for, ridiculously soft hand-loomed tanks—worn alone, or layered up—and covet them in every color.
Graf + Lantz Jaunt Tote Bag ($229)
We spied this bag on a Los Angeles green girl and basically stalked her until she gave us the name of its creators: Holger Gräf and Daniel Lantz, sustainable accessory designers trained in Germany and Japan, respectively, who use oekotex certified felt, naturally sustainable merino wool and veggie-tanned leather to create a luxurious line of classic bags and totes that are naturally stain- and water-resistant. So worth the stalk.
Icebreaker Amazon Scoop Tee ($64.99)
There are t-shirts. And then there are merino wool shirts, which mold to the body and regulate temps so that you can wear them under warm or cool conditions. Known for their ready-for-anything outdoor clothing, New Zealand based Icebreaker crafts their sexy Amazon Scoop Tee from the lightest, finest, sustainable sourced merino wool. Perfect!
Lina Rennell Tie Hat/Scarf ($120 at Beklina.com)
Versatility really floats our boat, especially in the case of this 100% organic wool and cotton scarf-meets-hat hand-made in Northern California by eco-designer Lina Rennell. Now where’s that rainstorm when we need it?
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