We’re thrilled to announce a new line of organic cotton underwear purposely designed to help folks with chemical sensitivities and skin contact allergies.  We have 7 products in this new line (2 for men) and we’re giving away a few items for our customers to try out and review! 

Give-a-way 1 – The Allergen-Free Drawstring Bra

This bra is not only latex-free and spandex-free, but it actually contains no elastic whatsoever, using a drawstring design instead to hold it closed.  Sizes are marked 34B, 36B, 38B, 38C, 40C, 42C and 40DD, though the manufacturer claims they run a little on the small side.  We’ll work with you to pick the right size and then hopefully you can provide some feedback on the fit.

Give-a-way 2: The Allergen-Free Front Close Bra

This bra is does contain a small amount of elastic at the straps and under the bust.  However, the elastic is fully covered in organic cotton and contains no latex or spandex.  Sizes again run from 34B – 40DD.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this blog post including an e-mail address or phone number or some way to get in touch with you. (Note, if we can’t figure out how to tell you that you’ve won, we’ll have to pick someone else.) Contest ends Monday, April 25, 2011. Drawing will be held on Tuesday with the winner announced in the comments section.

There will be 2 winners – 1 for each bra. If you only want to be consider for one of the bras, please let us know. Otherwise, everyone gets in the draw for both picks.

Allergen Free Design Features:

• Latex free and spandex free for sensitive skin
• Bra #1 is also completely elastic free
• Bra #2 has hypo-allergenic plastic front closures for easy wear
• Purified organic cotton process
• Double-layered cotton lining
• Covered Seams prevent rubbing and agitation
• Irritation-Free label for sensitive skin
• Textile Dye-free & Resin-free for sensitive skin

Please, please pass this contest info along to anyone you know who might have skin contact allergies.  We’re excited to get feedback both from women who just want to try them for fit and also from anyone who really needs the extra attention to what goes into their clothing.

One of the concerns I hear most often is that women need more supportive sports bras in natural fabrics.  While FaeriesDance.com has sports bras in organic cotton and bamboo, thus far they haven’t rivaled their synthetic counterparts for really good support in high-impact sports.  Last year I ran my first 1/2 marathon wearing the (now discontinued) Bamboo Sports Bra, and while it was “good enough,” I have to agree with my fellow sports enthusiasts that it could have been better.  I also happen to be on the small side, falling between an A and a B cup.  The C and D cups out there are really struggling to find something natural, breathable, eco-friendly and supportive.

Then a few weeks ago in a rather jumpy power-sculpting class, the light bulb finally turned on.  We’ve got great natural fiber camis and tanks with built-in shelf bras and we’ve got decent sports bras.  What if I combined them?  So I have.  2 classes and 2 runs later and I’m hooked for life on an ultra-supportive combo concept.  In my case, I started with the Bamboo Sports Bra and then layered the organic cotton E Tank over top of it.  Since I fall between sizes, I wore the bra in small and the tank in medium.  If you find your almost always one size, I would suggest both pieces in the same size.

The sports bra provided the basic support.  I personally like the bamboo because it seems to control odor a lot and wicks a little, too.  However, I believe any of the lighter weight Yoga Bras or even the Jen’s Bra should work equally well as the bottom layer.  The internal shelf bra in the layering tank fits a tad tighter than usual since it’s now sitting on another garment instead of directly on the skin.  That tightness helped hold the sports bra in place and provided a full second layer of anti-bounce protection.  Almost any tank or cami with an internal shelf bra should work equally well, and as a side bonus, the layered look was quite attractive.  I should warn that my cami got a little stretched, and while its still perfect for the sports layering, extended wear this way might make it less usable on its own.

Of course, we’re still trying to find other options in technical sports wear.  I’ve found some companies that have the right idea.  One company is making technical sports bras out of traditional polyester, but using recycled fibers.  At the moment, they’re recycled content is only 35%, which doesn’t quite meet our eco standards, but it’s a good start, and we’ll keep following them to see if they can pull off a great design with more recycled materials.  But in the meantime if you need more support right now, just double up.

Stay active,

One thing I’ve mentioned often is that it’s just as important for clothing to be free of harsh chemical finishing agents as it is for the base agricultural material to be organically grown. Many people who are chemically sensitive have reactions to the chemicals that are put on the fabric last because those chemicals often have the strongest residue on the final product.

So I have some knowledge of finishing agents, and I figure a little research on my part will help out my customers who may want to know more about what’s in conventional clothing and what to avoid.  I knew some basics about common carcinogens such as formaldehyde, which is used to make fabrics wrinkle-resistant and Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), which are used as flame-retardants.  But with a little research, I learned that I had barely touched the surface of the chemical finishing agent pool. According to the textbook Chemical Finishing of Textiles, there are thousands (!) of chemical finishing agents.

After a very short bought of reading up on chemicals such as fluorocarbons, silicons, acids and chlorines, I started to get depressed, and I particularly didn’t want to look up each of them in OSHA’s database.  Then I remembered that part of the reason I named my business Faerie’s Dance was because I wanted to approach environmentalism with a sense of joy and beauty rather than gloom and doom about toxic chemicals.  (And I almost didn’t publish this post.) 

So this is my final (somewhat limited) word on chemical finishing agents.  They’re mostly not environmentally friendly or people friendly and I avoid purchasing items made with them for our online store. 

Next time – something more fun! 🙂

There seems to be some confusion about the difference between clothing that is “organic” versus clothing that is “eco-friendly”.  So I’d like to provide a little clarification of these terms.

First off the term “organic” is a short-cut term for an agricultural crop that has been organically grown, that is grown without harmful chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.  For a crop to be labelled as organically grown, it must be certified by a government agriculture agency either here or abroad.  In the USA the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Organic Certification Program is the primary certifying agency for organic crops.  Up until recently, companies could be certified by local government authorities such as the Organic Tilth Standards or the Texas Department of Agriculture.  Now those programs are incorporated into the overall USDA Organic certification by acting as agencies accredited by the USDA to certify organic crops.  In addition to the USA, this program accredits 42 foreign agencies (as of 12/2010) to certify crops as organically grown in other countries.

In general we can say that most organic fabrics are eco-friendly.  However a fabric could possibly be organic and still be dyed using conventional chemical dyes, finished with toxic chemicals or sewn using child or sweatshop labor.  Additional certifications such as the Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS), Oeko-Tex® for Confidence in Textiles or Fair Trade Federation standards govern those extra details.

Eco-Friendly clothing can be environmentally beneficial while not being organically grown.  For example, FaeriesDance.com’s Lingerie Wash Bag is made from recycled PET from plastic bottles that might otherwise wind up in landfills.  Plastic is a petroleum product and in its initial form would definitely not be considered eco-friendly.  Since it’s not an agricultural product, the term organic doesn’t even apply.  But reusing waste products is better for the planet than tossing them out.  No new chemicals are introduced during the recycling and restyling process, so the bags are definitely eco-friendly.

Soy fibre clothing is another good example.  The clothing is made from the discarded outer casing of the soy bean, which otherwise goes into landfills.  (The casings can be composted, but they seldom are at the manufacturing level.)  While the original soy beans can be certified organically grown as an agricultural product, both organic and non-organic soy bean casings are used in creating soy fibre clothing.  This is because the emphasis is on the environmental benefits of reclaiming the waste product rather than on ensuring organic production.

In summary, growing crops organically is better for the environment and our health, but a final piece of clothing made from organic fabric may or may not be completely eco-friendly depending on how it was dyed and finished.  Reclaimed, reused and recycled fabrics make great eco-friendly options even if the base material wasn’t originally organically grown.  So the terms “organic” and “eco-friendly” while often used together, are not actually synonymous.

Happy New Year,

Celebrate World Vegetarian Day next weekend with great food and fun.  Even if you’re a carnivore, October 1st is a great day to try a local vegetarian restaurant.  Check out happycow.net to find vegetarian restaurants in every US state as well as most countries around the world.  Angelinos will appreciate Vegetarians in Paradise, a website that offers up reviews of vegetarian restaurants in and around Los Angeles.  Or try your hand at your own vegetarian creation using one of VegNew Magazine’s thousands of recipe ideas.

Folks living in San Francisco can enjoy World Veg Festival next weekend, October 2-3.  While Bostonians will want to check out the 15th annual Boston Vegetarian Food Festival at the end of the month on Halloween weekend.  The Phuket Vegetarian Festival in Thailand is arguably the most elaborate vegetarian festival in the world.

Even the greeting card companies are getting involved.  123Greetings.com is offering up a free World Vegetarian Day e-card with music and veg-wishes.

Bon Appetit,

Last week I ran (mostly) my first 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles). I’d been training for this for the last few months (during the times when I should have been posting to this blog…), so completing it was a huge success for me. The last few miles were pretty rough and I finished more on my own force of will than on my body’s fitness level. I clocked in at a slow 2:29 (2 hours, 29 minutes), which is good, because it means I have lots of room to improve. 😀

As a side note, the winner clocked in at 1:07. So he could have run the 1/2 marathon, sat and had a relaxing latte for 15 minutes, run it again, and he still would have beaten me!

Adrienne’s race day attire: the (now discontinued) Bamboo Sports Bra and Workout Shorts, Short Sport Socks – Repreve®, and Bamboo Briefs, which are particularly fabulous for sports.

But I digress. The point of this story is actually about chemical finishing agents on clothing. (Didn’t see that coming, did you?) Having operated an eco-fashion store for more than 5 years now, it’s been a long time since I’ve bought any “conventional” clothing. During the race expo I came across a company that sold women’s technical running gear with absolutely awesome sayings on them. There were cute things like “yes, I run like a girl, try to keep up” and “some girls chase boys, I pass ’em.” But being a slow-ish runner, my favorites included “Race Day Strategy: Start slow and then back off” and the one I finally settled on “Who moved the finish line?”

I was so proud of my accomplishment, and in so much pain, I really wanted to show off my “Who moved the finish line?” shirt that same day. But when I put it on, it stunk! I mean really reeked of chemicals. Now I don’t now have, nor have I ever had, any chemical sensitivities. And when I bought conventional clothes on a regular basis, while they may have had chemical smells, I never really noticed them. I guess I had gotten used to what new clothes smell like. Only after wearing clean, organic clothes with no finishing agents and low-impact dyes for years did the chemical smell of conventional clothing really hit me. It was just an “ah-ha” moment that I thought I would share. It also gives me a new found empathy for all of our chemically sensitive clients.

Of course, the biggest thing I learned (besides the fact that I need to train more before embarking on another 1/2 marathon) is that FaeriesDance.com really needs to carry more technical sports clothing! It is my goal to make hard-to-find items available, and good sportswear is needed. I’m always on the lookout for more supportive sports bras as well and we’ve got some new items coming in spring that I’m hoping will work well for a wider variety of cup sizes.

Stay Active!

Ok, we’re always touting the benefits of going green right down to your skivvies.  But if you’re greening your underthings with some gorgeous new organic bras, what do you do with the old bras?  Well, you recycle them, of course!  The Bra Recyclers over at brarecycling.com will give new life to your old bras.

So what are the Bra Recyclers all about?  Here’s their story according to their website:

• We are a textile recycling company specializing in recycling bras and providing deserving women in our communities who are facing challenges with a basic lingerie staple.
• We are creating awareness about delaying the number of re-usable textiles, such as bras, that are unnecessarily being sent to landfills that could be used for women and girls in our communities who are experiencing challenges in their lives
• We are using simple encouragements to develop, blossom, and renew positive attitudes and self-esteem.

 
You can leave your old bras at one of their drop off locations or mail your washed, functional bras to:
 
Bra Recycling
3317 S. Higley Rd, Ste 114-441
Gilbert, AZ 85297

For years humans have been making clothing fibers from wood cellulose.  Rayon was the first fabric that could start as wood and, through a series of chemical processes, end as cloth fiber.  Rayon is also considered the first of the synthetic fibers, having been developed in the 19th century as an alternative to silk.  Rayon can be created with any cellulose, not just wood, even cotton cellulose works.  While there is more than one way to make Rayon, the most commonly used method is called the viscose process.  Rayon is generally considered harmful to the environment because its processing employs several harsh chemicals, including carbon disulfide, and because the production process generates quite a bit of chemical waste.  Approximately 50% of the carbon disulfide ends up as waste product.

Tencel is a relatively new fiber on the scene, developed by the Austrian company Lenzing.  Tencel also begins as wood cellulose.  However, Tencel employs a closed-loop process that creates almost no waste by redirecting the waste products back into production.  It also uses fewer and less harmful chemicals.  Tencel has been awarded the European Union Eco-label certification and the Nordic Swan.  Tencel also starts with  Forest Stewardship Council certified wood products.

If you’ve had a chance to feel Tencel, you’ll find it has a lovely drape similar to Rayon and makes a great eco-alternative to Rayon.  Buyers should note that, like Rayon, Tencel doesn’t generally like the dryer.

The reason I’m bringing this up is to discuss the Great Bamboo Debate.  Is Bamboo an eco-fabric or not?  Let’s start at the beginning.  Bamboo itself is the fastest-growing woody plant in the world. (It’s actually a member of the grass family.)  Bamboo grows naturally without any pesticides or herbicides and is very hearty.  So as an input material, Bamboo is very eco-friendly.  From there, however, things get dicey.  It seems most Bamboo-based fabrics are created using the traditional Rayon viscose process, which is why the Federal Trade Commission is concerned.  However, there are some companies claiming to use a closed-loop processing method similar to Tencel.  So on processing, it’s not black and white.

Finishing must also be mentioned.  Companies creating products from Bamboo who don’t specifically have an eco-philosophy may use conventional chemical finishing agents and dyes.  So the fact that something is Bamboo doesn’t give it an automatic eco-pass.  All of the companies FaeriesDance.com works with are specifically focused on eco-production.  So none of our Bamboo fashions have harsh chemical finishes and they are all low-impact dyed, not conventionally dyed.

In truth, we have not followed the producer train back far enough to know which of our vendors are using viscose processing and which are using a closed-loop system.  We do know that several of our severely chemically sensitive clients have had very good luck with our bamboo products.  That may be due more to the lack of chemical finishes than anything else, but it’s something to consider.

In the end you as the consumer will have to decide if eco-friendly growing, finishing and dyeing are enough to warrant a green label if you’re uncertain of the processing step.  In the meantime, we’ll be following up with each of our manufacturers to determine how the Bamboo was processed.

This week I’m headed off for an all-vegan, holistic cruise to the Caribbean.  I booked this last year, having found it a week before last year’s sailing and just too late to make it aboard.  I’m a mediocre cook at best.  (Even before I was a vegan, I apparently didn’t get the “cooking gene.”)  So hopefully, these cooking classes will do me some good.

In any event, FaeriesDance.com will be shipping and processing returns and refunds at our normal lightning pace.  However, customer service responses via phone will not be available and via e-mail will be a bit slower than normal.  I apologize for any inconvenience this causes anyone and will be happy to get back to you as soon as I’m back in town.

Having somewhat of a sweet tooth, I’m particularly looking forward to the “gourmet vegan pastry chefs!”

We’re pleased to announce our newest vendor, Smart Glass Jewelry.  Smart Glass offers classic and contemporary jewelry pieces made from cut and polished glass rings from drinking bottles.  The artist, Kathleen Plate, individually hand makes each piece right here in the US.  She uses bottles from Champagne, wine, beer, vodka, sake and even Coke©.  The pieces are all unique as there are slight variations from bottle to bottle and cut to cut.

You’ll find 7 distinctive designs in the Jewelry Section at FaeriesDance.com.  Our list prices are between 15% – 20% off MSRP, so you can try these wonderful pieces at a discount.

We’re kicking off this new line by giving away a Recycled Bottle Circle Necklace in Cobalt, which the manufacturer graciously sponsored.  The give-a-way necklace has the same circle design shown in the top photo, but is hanging on their thinner, single-attachment sterling silver chain (like the picture to the right).

TO ENTER: Leave on comment on this blog post by midnight March 31, 2010. You must include an e-mail address or phone number so we can contact you.  Drawing will be held Friday, April 2.