Since 1970, April 22 has marked the celebration of Earth Day. Set to coincide with Arbor Day — a day dedicated to planting trees — Earth Day was initiated as a way to bring together the various groups that were working on environmental issues and create a day focused on putting sustainable living ideas into action. 

Whether you’re reading this article ahead of Earth Day or simply want to do your bit to help the planet, here are our top seven sustainable living tips for celebrating Earth Day, every day.!

Sustainable Living Tip #1: Get Out in Nature

Sustainable living ideas start with a love for nature and a desire to protect it. But you can’t love nature if you spend all of your time indoors. As the Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu said, “Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things.”

The single best thing you can do to help this earth flourish is to go outside and take a walk, visit a national park, adopt an area as your own, and really get to know it. As the seasons pass and the landscape changes, you will become much more attuned to the cycles of nature and find that you start caring more about the local environment as well.

Sustainable Living Tip #2: Watch Wildlife

The second tip on our list of sustainable living ideas is an easy way to derive even more benefit from your time in nature. Whether you choose a kind of animal to watch (birds, insects, etc.) or simply wait and see what crosses your path, spend some of your time in nature simply staying still and watching. 

When you go outside, take a bird-identification book with you or make a sketch to look up when you get home. As you learn to recognize several species, you could even keep a log of the wildlife that you see on your wanderings. These logs provide valuable information about the wildlife in your area and how the numbers change over time. If you would like to promote sustainable living ideas in your community, you could volunteer with a conservation group that documents wildlife sightings for the purpose of advocacy and planning.

Sustainable Living Tip #3: Pick Up Trash

Ultimately, spending time in nature will open your eyes to the impact that humans have on the environment. For some, sustainable living ideas might mean taking a bag and pair of gloves to pick up trash in your local area. For others, it could mean taking shorter showers, turning off the lights at home, and only printing things out when you really need to. 

Every action counts, and not just because of the cumulative effect that enacting many sustainable living tips can have over months and years. Each action you take is also serving as a reminder to live lightly and thoughtfully — and that has benefits for your own well-being as well as your relationships with others!

Sustainable Living Tip #4: Plant a Tree

Seeing as Earth Day falls on the same date as Arbor Day, what better excuse to plant a tree? Trees provide oxygen, shade, soil stability, habitat, and can transform a barren area into a lush retreat. Whether you have a yard of your own or only a small balcony, adding trees of any size to your space will improve the air quality and can even lower the ambient temperature. It can also provide important nourishment for local insects, including bee populations and other important pollinator species.

Make sure to see these sustainable living ideas through by caring for your trees until they are well established. Planting a tree is one thing, but you will also need to water, mulch, prune, and fertilize each tree at the right time to help them grow healthy and strong.

Sustainable Living Tip #5: Grow a Garden

Food transportation accounts for around 11% of our carbon footprint, and the actual production of that food accounts for 83%. If you’re looking for sustainable living ideas to help the planet, growing a garden is a fantastic thing to do. By growing some of your own produce, you are cutting your food miles to essentially zero, and you will be eating pesticide-free, seasonal produce. Besides, who doesn’t love the taste of a homegrown tomato? Yum!

Sustainable Living Tip #6: Green Your Diet

Those of us who don’t have a balcony or the time to care for a home garden can make a difference with sustainable living ideas like shopping organic, seasonal produce and reducing the amount of red meat that we include in our diets.

According to experts, high-meat diets produce 3.3 tons of CO₂ emissions per year compared to 2.5 tons for an average diet, 1.9 for white meat only, 1.7 for vegetarians, and 1.5 for vegans. By switching from red meat to free-range chicken and fish, you can lower your food emissions by nearly a third overnight. By going from meat-loving to vegetarian, your food-print is slashed almost in half!

Sustainable Living Tip #7: Choose Conscious Consumption

Everyone needs to buy things in order to live, and there are very few people who don’t love a bit of retail therapy! Enjoy the fun without the harm by implementing sustainable living ideas into your shopping habits. Here are a few sustainable living tips for the conscious shopper:

• Choose FSC-certified and recycled paper and wood products.
• Look for the fair trade symbol when buying coffee and chocolate.
• Buy reusable bottles and containers for packaging take-out food.
• Use washable diapers and sanitary products instead of disposables that end up in landfills.
• Opt for eco-friendly women’s and men’s clothing.
• Wear recycled jewelry to avoid strip mining practices.
• Purchase eco-friendly gifts for friends and family.

Be Inspired at Faerie’s Dance

Whether you’re looking for sustainable living ideas or wanting to browse cute, eco-friendly clothing, you can find endless inspiration at Faerie’s Dance. We go to great lengths to source the most socially and environmentally responsible clothing, ethical lingerie, jewelry, and eco-friendly accessories and offer each item to our customers at less than the recommended retail price.

Browse our collections this Earth Day and enjoy knowing that by following these sustainable living tips and purchasing ethical, eco-friendly items, you’ll be doing something great for the planet we all share!

The days are growing warmer, and we can’t be more excited because that means we’re getting close to skirt season! If you’re looking for affordable organic women’s clothing to complete your spring capsule wardrobe, check out Faerie Dance’s selection of seven of the most gorgeous fair-trade,  organic skirts for enjoying the warmer seasons sustainably and in style!

Our Favorite Organic Skirts for Spring

EcoSkin Barrington Skirt

Flowing and elegant, this asymmetrical high-low organic skirt is perfect for a versatile look that you can dress up and down with ease. Made in the USA from 93% Tencel™ and 7% spandex, the Barrington skirt hangs beautifully with soft ruffles and a wide waistband that you can fold over to the length of your choice.

To style your affordable organic clothing for a casual day out, wear this gorgeous skirt with an organic tee on top. Dress things up for dinners and dates by twisting the longer part of the skirt to the back for a flirty look that pairs perfectly with a halter top and large statement earrings.

Les Lunes Long Lace Skirt

There’s something about springtime that conjures up images of sweet-and-delicate lace-inspired ensembles. The mid-calf organic skirt features a wide, stretch waistband that can be worn high on the waist for a vintage look or low on the hips for a more modern style. Accented with a wide, carefully-crafted lace hem that differs between the two colors (black features a diamond pattern, while green features a floral design) this skirt is the perfect work-to-weekend piece!

Plus, with two different lace designs for each color, there’s just enough difference between the two skirts to justify getting both — what could be a better versatile, sustainable clothing piece?

Sunshine Skirt from Indigenous Designs

When it comes to affordable organic clothing, it can help to keep in mind that the pieces you love and wear all the time can end up being much more economical than a fast-fashion item you buy and have to quickly throw out. This stylish sun-ray skirt in a deep plum hue is one of those skirts that you can combine easily for a variety of outfits. Pair with an elegant black, organic tunic top to make an instant go-to outfit for formal dinners, weddings, and other special occasions.

Made in Peru from Peruvian-grown organic cotton jersey and low-impact dyes, this elegant organic skirt from Indigenous Designs is as ethical as it is soft. A fair-trade certified product, you can be confident that every worker was treated with dignity and that your purchase is helping to provide hardworking families and communities with a decent livelihood.

Double Layer Skirt From Indigenous Designs

Another piece of beautiful, affordable organic clothing from Indigenous Designs, we love this Double Layer skirt for its distinctively bohemian look and rich, striking colors. Available in black, gray, and faded denim blue, this fair-trade slip-style skirt drapes elegantly below a tank or flowing blouse and looks just as stunning with flats (or even bare feet!) as it does with heels.

Similar to the shorter Sunshine Skirt featured above, this gorgeous organic skirt was Fair Trade made in Peru from Peruvian-grown organic cotton with low-impact dyes and is 100% free of latex.

Button Up Skirt from Blue Canoe

If you need something a little more formal for work, the Button Up Skirt from Blue Canoe is just the thing. It’s a fun piece made right here in the USA from a blend of organic cotton and organically grown bamboo. The smooth, covered elastic waistband sits perfectly below a solid-color eco-friendly shirt. After work simply slip into some flats, grab a casual tank top, and you’ll be ready for a lovely spring evening.

Earth Creations Rocket Skort

Short and sweet, this affordable organic clothing basic will keep you covered while still being wonderfully flirty and cute. The petal-shaped crossover design with layered fabric makes this an ideal skirt for active days on-the-go, and even has a hidden pocket in the waistband to keep your phone or keys secure while you enjoy getting active!

Made from 100% organic cotton jersey with a 90% organic cotton/10% lycra waistband, this skort from Earth Creations has stretch where you need it and is another great piece made in USA.

Ruffle Skirt

Our final pick for affordable organic clothing to have you ready for spring is this elegant ruffle skirt from Goddess Gear. Awarded a five-star rating from our customers, this slightly flared hemp and Tencel™ A-line skirt has the right amount of sophistication for a day at the office while maintaining a subtle touch of whimsy that works well at weddings and other special occasions. Pair this organic skirt with the matching Ruffle Blouse in black, moonlight, or sand tones for a complete outfit that is sure to attract compliments wherever you go!
 

Spring-Ready Clothing You’ll Love to Wear at Faerie’s Dance

Feeling inspired? We certainly are! There really is something for everyone when it comes to affordable organic clothing for spring. As we move into warmer weather, we invite you to browse our complete range of sustainable and organic skirts, shorts, and sustainable dresses for a spring capsule wardrobe you’ll want to wear again and again!
 

If you’ve heard people talk about “fast fashion,” you probably know that it’s a phrase that carries a negative connotation. But what is “fast fashion,” and what can you do to change it? Read on to learn how to avoid fast fashion and invest in a better, kinder world — starting with your wardrobe!

Our Great-Grandparents: The Sustainability Experts of Yesteryear

If you asked your grandparents or great-grandparents “what is fast fashion?” they probably wouldn’t be able to tell you. There’s a simple reason for this, clothing in the early to mid-twentieth century revolved around buying (or making) pieces that were made to last. 

Before the advent of mass-production and the globalization of the workforce, lower-income families would sew their own clothes while the middle and upper classes typically paid a dressmaker or tailor to create custom pieces. Because each item of clothing involved a significant investment of time and money, it was more economical to choose quality fabrics and continue to repair any damage accrued rather than discard the garment entirely. If you had to sew or knit all of your clothes yourself, you would probably find that your fashion choices would start to “slow down,” too!

What is Fast Fashion and How Did it Start?

While the sewing machine was patented in 1846, it wasn’t until World War II that mass-produced, functional clothing became the standard. For the majority of the previous century, local dressmaking businesses had been employing “sweaters” to work from home for very low wages to lower costs and increase profit margins; however, by the time that standardized, factory-made clothing became the norm for men and women of all social classes, garment manufacturing had moved into factories that employed a population largely composed of young female immigrants. 

Garment Manufacturers Move Abroad in What is the Largest Move Towards Fast Fashion

With the globalization of trade in the 1960s, the demand for ever-cheaper clothing eventually moved these factories overseas to take advantage of lower labor costs — creating what we know as “sweatshops” and the problem of worker exploitation.

Buying clothes at cheap prices started to become fashionable with the “savvy shopper” trends of the late 1990s and early 2000s. By 2014, shoppers were buying 60% more clothing per year than they did only 14 years earlier but had become more removed than ever before from their clothing’s production source.

What is Fast Fashion’s Impact on the Environment?

With increased consumer demand leading to higher rates of production, a sickening 85% of all textiles are now ending up in the dump each year — a statistic that should shake our fashion sensibilities to the core. The fashion industry also accounts for 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions and is the second-largest consumer of water resources in the world.

So if fast fashion is leading to worker poverty on the one hand and huge amounts of waste on the other, how can we avoid fast fashion and turn the situation around?

Making the Change

The good news when becoming aware of what “fast fashion” (and why it’s not sustainable) is that many fashion brands are taking steps to create a fairer, more sustainable system from the soil that grows the cotton to the factories where the garments are sewn. It is possible to find eco-friendly men’s and organic women’s clothing!

A Gold-Standard Example of Slow Fashion

Maggie’s Organics is an example of a clothing brand that has re-designed its concept of fashion from the ground up. Keeping a focus on organic cotton, Maggie’s Organics works with small-scale farmers, paying their sowing costs ahead of time and purchasing the entire crop when it is ready for harvest.

Continuing to run against what the fast fashion industry is doing, Maggie’s then processes the cotton themselves at a 200-year old spinning mill in rural Massachusetts — passing the financial benefits of smaller batches of the processed material to their knitters and investing in the continuation of appropriate technology. 

Commercial Brands Are Changing Too

As more and more customers start asking “what is fast fashion?” and wonder how to avoid fast fashion while staying stylish, mainstream brands that were not traditionally “sustainable” are finding new ways to incorporate eco-friendly fabrics and ethical treatment of workers.

A prime example, Swegmark of Sweden, started producing women’s intimates in 1937 and soon became known for their ultra-comfortable bras. More recently, this European designer has added organic, fair-trade cotton bras to their line, and we’re excited to be able to feature a selection of these styles in our curated collection of women’s ethical and organic lingerie.

If You Want to Take Slow Fashion All the Way…

After asking the question “what is fast fashion?” and discovering the high cost of mass-produced trends, you might be wondering if it’s possible to turn back the clock and return to the days of local, handmade clothing.

Unless you have a large property to grow you’re own cotton, space at home for a spinning wheel and a sewing machine, and a lot of free time to sew, hand making your own clothes is probably not the answer!

But switching to sustainably and ethically made clothing is possible.

How to Avoid Fast Fashion in the Modern World

For those of us who simply don’t have the time to sew our own clothes or the money to pay a seamstress, there are a number of steps you can take to reverse what is known as the fast fashion trend and minimize your environmental footprint:

1. Look through your wardrobe and identify the items that could be worn again next year with few (if any) repairs or embellishments.
2. Source any items you genuinely need from second-hand dealers and clothing swap parties.
3. Repurpose worn-out clothing by turning them into cushion covers, sock puppets, and cleaning rags.
4. Donate any unwanted clothing in good condition to a friend, a local charity such as a homeless shelter, or to a Goodwill or local thrift store.
5. Source basics like intimates and socks, as well as any items you can’t get second-hand, from fair and eco-friendly clothing brands such as the ones that we stock at Faerie’s Dance.

By becoming more aware of what “fast fashion” is and changing our habits for the better, fashion can be transformed from one of the most damaging industries worldwide into something that unites us in building a fairer and more beautiful world.

With February 14th right around the corner, it might just be time to spruce up the lingerie drawer. At Faerie’s Dance, that means a chance to splurge on some cute, eco-friendly lingerie that’s as gentle on your skin as it is on the planet.

This Valentine’s Day, consider spicing things up with some luxuriously-soft, beautifully-designed underwear from our featured sustainable lingerie brands to boost your confidence and help you feel your best. With eco-friendly fabrics and a super-soft finish, these organic bras and organic women’s underwear are filled with love from start to finish!

Our Favorite Sustainable Lingerie Brands

Xylem Clothing

Possibly the most sensual sustainable lingerie brand on the block, Xylem is an Oregon-based family business that focuses on creating intimate, eco-friendly lingerie. Their bras, panties, nighties, and tees gracefully accentuate your curves with comfortable bamboo that is grown sustainably, and silky-soft, reclaimed soy fibers that gently stretch for a perfect fit.

For a steamy Valentine’s underwear combo, we recommend their drop-dead gorgeous soy lace thong and matching soy lace bralette or their provocative soy lace cheeky panty and matching soy lace cami bra. Both of these options are adorned with lace that is ultra-cute and non-itchy on the skin!

Pants to Poverty

Britain-based Pants to Poverty showcased a manufacturing alternative that could reverse poverty in the poorest areas of the world while providing food, clothing, and education for tribal farmers and their families. While the experiment has now ended, the results are leading the way for Fair Trade analysis and production in the garment industry. Faerie’s Dance is grateful to have their last batch of colorful, eco-friendly lingerie in stock now. Grab a fun pair of “pants” (British for undies), and celebrate the strides in sustainable manufacturing they’ve helped create. In addition to being organic and Fair Trade, these pieces were made with the use of water-saving drip irrigation and low carbon emission factories.

If you’re a fan of upbeat prints and cheeky cuts, we think you’ll love their women’s briefs and men’s organic underwear which are made from 100% organic cotton and look like your regular fashion underwear. For the ladies, our Valentine’s picks are their hot-pink Love Thong with a print featuring tiny hearts or their Fashion Revolution thong and cami for an explosion of eye-catching color. For the men, we love their jet-black M’s Poverty Fighter Briefs and their suave, blue-lined Grey Marl Tank top — because who says men can’t have lingerie on V-Day, too!

Peau-Ethique

After two sustainable lingerie brands for the daring, we have the elegant and very feminine French brand Peau-Ethique (roughly translated to “Skin-Ethic”) for those who like more classic designs. Made from organic cotton, their lovely bras, beautiful briefs, and luxuriously comfortable pajama sets have been produced with fair-trade practices, low-impact dyes, and no chemical processing. Their eco-friendly lingerie line also features feminine details like miniature bows and subtle prints that provide the ideal aesthetic for sweet, earth-conscious ladies who want to shop with integrity. The result is a skin-friendly finish that makes your body and soul sing. 

For the perfect Valentine’s Day eco-friendly lingerie combination, we love their Sublime collection with its range of chic, retro-style lace-and-bow thongs, high-waisted briefs, corsets, and bras. A more mainline option for the conservative and shy is their pretty pink Eva bikini or thong with the matching Eva underwire demi bra. No matter which of their designs take your fancy, you can be assured that these undergarments are as ethical as they are attractive with organic cotton, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), and fair trade certifications to back up the brand’s claims. Peau-Ethique’s stunning underwear shows that “eco-friendly really can be beautiful!”

Love Nature

Love Nature offers eco-friendly lingerie for the free-spirited woman who appreciates intimate day and nightwear that is feminine at its essence and features subtle touches of whimsy. Made from organic cotton, this sustainable lingerie brand’s elegant latex-free lace panties, sumptuous push-up bras made with cotton foam instead of polyurethane, flowing cotton nightgowns, and dreamy pajamas are sure to evoke a sense of wonder and delight.

This Valentine’s Day, wrap yourself in beauty with Love Nature’s cherry-licious Princess brief and matching Alba No Wire Support Bra for an underwear set that will enhance your natural glow. Their Sweet Sport Brazilian panty and matching Sweet Sport no wire bra combine an athletic look with a delicate touch of pink lace—a sure winner for active women who’d like to add a dash of pretty for this romantic occasion.

Do You Green

The last of our sustainable lingerie brands and one of our personal favorites, Do You Green is a small French company that produces eco-friendly lingerie from white pine tree trimmings. They collect this pesticide-free source material in cooperation with tree trimming companies and combine it with a small amount of spandex to create a fabric that is velvety-soft with a nice amount of stretch. The gorgeous colors featured in their men’s and women’s underwear are achieved using OEKO-Tex certified dyes that have passed stringent standards in relation to their impact on health and the environment.

Reduce landfill waste and turn up the romance this Valentine’s Day with their stormy-blue Amsterdam Shorty Thong and matching no wire padded bra. For the guys, we love their smooth, fly-free pine tree boxer brief in sensual black. Best of all, Do You Green’s sizzling, eco-friendly lingerie comes wrapped in paper envelopes with no plastic!

Spending This Valentine’s Day Alone?

With all the focus on couples and romance, swinging it solo on Valentine’s Day can feel like a bit of a downer. At Faerie’s Dance, we believe in living your best and most joyful life no matter if you’re happily partnered or scintillatingly single. This Valentine’s treat yourself to some eco-friendly lingerie just because you’re awesome and give yourself some self-love with our soy and bamboo bath and spa accessories. 

Save the Planet in Style at Faerie’s Dance

As you’ve seen with our sustainable lingerie brands, eco-friendly lingerie can be cute as well as environmentally conscious. Shop our organic women’s and sustainable men’s clothing today and get free US shipping on orders over $99.

As the end of another year approaches, toy factories and shopping malls are working overtime to prepare for the onslaught of anxious shoppers. With 28% of gifts returned after the big day and 25% more waste thrown into landfills between Thanksgiving and New Year, it’s a good time to be thinking about ways to be eco-friendly over the holiday season for a happier (and healthier!) planet. At Faerie’s Dance, we’re here to help redefine how people think about eco-friendly shopping. Here are our top 5 ideas to consider for making your holidays more eco-friendly!

1. Ditch the Tinsel and Disposable Knives and Forks

Tradition and convenience are attractive go-to’s when the family is coming over and there’s way too much to do. Fortunately, there are several ways to be eco-friendly and prevent the huge amounts of plastic that are purchased and disposed of around holiday time each year.

Instead of plastic tinsel and baubles, consider opting for the more nature-friendly pine cones and rose hips, decorating your home with pieces of brightly colored organic cotton and homemade bunting. For ways to be eco-friendly with your holiday meal, think about switching your single-use plastic cutlery for compostable bamboo disposables or preferably make a fun activity out of washing dishes by turning up the holiday music and laying out the leftovers for helpers to help pack up. With the treats off the table and the party in the kitchen, you’ll soon have a team of eager volunteers!

2. Purchase Gifts that Give Twice

With so many birthdays and holidays in a lifetime, finding the perfect gift for each person can be a challenge. Make your presents meaningful as well as sustainable by shopping local and giving preference to eco-friendly gifts for the holidays.

Organic cotton children’s toys are free from flame-retardants and other chemicals making them a safer, softer option for bringing a smile to the kids’ faces. Organic women’s clothing or sustainable men’s styles are other ideas for ways to be eco-friendly when buying gifts for the whole family. The styles available in organic and sustainable fabrics means you won’t have to sacrifice on fashionability, and your purchase will help small family businesses make a decent living in countries around the world.

3. Wrap Your Gifts Without Killing Trees

According to a study from Sundale Research, Americans spend a whopping $7 billion on wrapping paper every year. Keep gifts a surprise without damaging our forests by looking for alternatives to brand-new “virgin” wrapping paper. As an item that is used once (or at most twice) and then thrown away, this holiday tradition can easily be replaced with gorgeous tree-free gift bags that can be folded back up and used again. The red cloth stocking hanging from the mantelpiece is a similar idea and brings back the nostalgia of centuries past.

If you must wrap with paper, there are ways to be eco-friendly while still giving the kids the fun of ripping each package apart. Create a rustic feel by wrapping gifts with newspaper and securing it with twine or colored cloth rather than plastic-coated sticky tape. When you’re done unwrapping, compost your newspaper wrapping paper to return the goodness to the earth. For those who like a sea of color in their living room, swap the newspaper for some colorful pages from used magazines. While this option isn’t as great for your compost pile, it can still be recycled for more eco-friendly holidays!

4. Gift Experiences Rather than Toys

Creative gifts can be a way to be eco-friendly and counter the excess of consumption that pollutes our homes and our hearts. Whet the appetite of curious kids with a science clinic or cake-making workshop and give the older ones the thrill of a lifetime with a voucher for a tandem skydive or white-water rafting. Is there a couple on your list who could do with a romantic getaway? For ways to be eco-friendly at the same time as showing some sacrificial generosity, consider gifting a hotel, restaurant, or movie voucher and offering to watch the kids!

5. Give Them a Choice

Having someone guess the exact gift we want is a rare pleasure that is usually preceded by 12 months of hint-dropping. Avoid the problem of gift-return and reduce waste by giving your loved ones a gift card printed on recycled paper or charity-based “gift” that plants trees or “adopts” an endangered animal.

Looking for ways to be eco-friendly with a sustainable holiday budget that won’t put you in the red? Time vouchers are a creative idea for eco-friendly holidays that only cost you an hour (or two or three) and leave the details up to the recipient. You could make these vouchers fun and attractive by including a few suggestions and decorating the page by hand. A time-voucher for your teenage son could offer activities such as:

• An afternoon of go-karting
• Putting together an engine for his future car
• Going on a camping trip together to the local state park
• Helping him practice his basketball shots
• Spending time together during something he enjoys

While this gift could seem like more effort than checking out an iPhone and calling it good, it will create unforgettable memories that last for a lifetime.

6. Change Your Mindset to Transform the World

Although looking for ways to be eco-friendly with our celebrations can make an enormous difference, changing the way we think has benefits that extend far beyond the holidays. Take a moment to step away from the hustle, bustle, lights, and music, and ask yourself these important questions:

• What am I trying to achieve with this year’s festivities?
• Which gifts have I received from others that really changed and enriched my life?
• What will I do this holiday season to build relationships with the people in my life?
• What can I let go of this holiday season?

When you step back and look at the big picture, you might realize that the most important thing is spending time with family, making memories, taking time to rest, and filling your home with joy. Ready to make your holiday more eco-friendly? Explore the best eco-friendly gifts in our collection.

Happy Holidays from Faerie’s Dance! We wish you a healthy, prosperous and, most of all, joyous New Year!

Looking for eco-friendly gift ideas for the holidays? Faerie’s Dance has you covered! With an extensive selection of practical and sustainable clothing and accessories, we offer the best eco-friendly gifts for the whole family in one place. Here are our top picks for the men, women, children, and significant others in your life!

Best Eco-Friendly Gifts For Him

Ok—so we don’t sell reclaimed timber baseball bats or bamboo bicycles just yet, but we do have a selection of eco-friendly gift ideas — like stylish sustainable men’s clothing — to keep the men in your life cozy and comfortable all year round.

A Soft and Sustainable Pullover

Made from hemp and organic cotton, our luxuriously soft men’s pullovers are perfect for keeping your man snuggly and warm all winter long. Made in ethical conditions within the United States or in fair-trade regulated factories overseas, these classic men’s garments are a wardrobe staple that he can layer with a tee or polo for a versatile look. 

A Pair of Bamboo Boxers

It’s not something he’d usually buy for himself, so take advantage of the holiday celebrations to treat your man to some silky-soft bamboo or organic cotton underwear. Whether he’s into briefs, boxers, long johns, or thermals, you can find it all in our eco-friendly collection.

An Organic Cotton Button-Down 

The best eco-friendly gift ideas are those that can be used straight away. A classic button-down in timeless colors will have the man in your life rocking the holiday parties in style. An organic shirt—while great for the planet—is also good for your man and your home as well. With zero toxic finishing products or harsh dyes, our shirts are not likely to irritate his skin while he enjoys doing what he loves most.

Best Eco-Friendly Gifts For Her

Buying for women can sometimes be easier than men—when it comes to organic women’s clothing, the choices are nearly endless! Here are our top eco-friendly gift ideas for the ladies.

Cotton Knit Knee-Highs

For most of us, the holiday season comes with a blast of cold that’s enough to make you want to tuck up by the fireplace all winter long. Keep your loved one’s legs toasty and warm with a colorful pair of knee-high socks. Some of these knee-highs are mismatched on purpose to chase away the winter blues. Buy two pairs—or three!—and bring a smile to her face as she steps into the fun of ethical fashion.

A Free Range Alpaca Coat

Set at a higher price tag than many eco-friendly gift ideas, a bamboo, hemp, or alpaca eco-friendly winter coat is one of those luxury gift items that is worth saving for. Give this coat or jacket as a mouth-dropping standalone present, or pair it with a scarf, hat, and a pair of gloves for a complete set of the best eco-friendly winter gifts.

Recycled and Sustainble Jewelry

Our natural jewelry is another great gift for the special woman in your life. Chic and affordable, choose from our selection of recycled metals and nature-inspired designs featuring seeds, clay, nuts, and grasses. These eco-friendly gift ideas are beautifully rustic and avoid the problems of conflict stones and strip mines that plague the conventional jewelry industry.

Best Eco-Friendly Gifts For the Kids

Little ones can join in on the eco-friendly fun, too! After all, it’s never too early to teach your little one about the importance of looking after the planet. Watch your children’s eyes light up with these easy eco-friendly gift ideas:

Organic Cotton Plush Toys

Like most of us reading this article, you can probably remember a prized teddy that was given to you as a child. Create the bond of a lifetime while keeping your little ones safe from chemicals with our gorgeous animal-themed organic cotton plush toys. These adorable teddies are free from pesticides and finishing products and come in sizes as large as 16”.

Mismatched Rainbow Socks

Solve the problem of missing socks once and for all with the best eco-friendly gifts for children (and their parents!): funky three- and five-packs of mismatched kids socks from the family-owned American company Solmate Socks! Complete your children’s eco-friendly gift ideas with soft organic cotton kids’ clothing that is as soft on the kids’ skin as it is gentle on the environment.

Best Eco-Friendly Gifts For Everyone

Eco-friendly gift ideas extend beyond the immediate family to your wider circle of relatives, friends, and work colleagues as well. Our bath and spa accessories add ambiance and charm to any home with naturally flavored soy candles and tea lights, essential oil soaps, bamboo soap holders, and ergonomic bamboo hairbrushes and scrunchies. 

For a family that is expecting a new arrival or has recently had a baby, our organic cotton and hemp baby clothes are sure to be appreciated. Ideal for newborns’ sensitive skin, these adorable baby onesies, bibs, sleeping bags, and layette sets are provided in gender-specific and neutral colors and include sizes to fit babies from newborn to two years old.

The Perfect Gift

Is there someone who you think would enjoy shopping for the best eco-friendly gifts on our website but you’re not quite sure what they would like? Give the gift of choice with our site-wide gift card! Our eco-friendly gift card receipts are emailed to the email address of your choice and can be purchased in the recipient’s name—the perfect low emissions present that won’t be re-gifted!

Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas that Give and Give Again

When you shop the clothing, accessories, toys, and jewelry at Faerie’s Dance, we give 1% of the gross sale price to three well-known environmental charities:

• The Nature Conservancy
• Sierra Club Foundation
• EarthWatch Institute

This is our gift to the planet for a peaceful and more prosperous world for everyone and continues to make a difference all year round.

If you’d like help with eco-friendly gift ideas for someone special or want to know if your order will arrive in time for the holidays, please contact us. We are happy to help! Shop our selection today to find the perfect gift for the loved ones in your life!

RECYCLED GLASS “SUNDROPS”

If you’re not familiar with Sundrop Jewelry, now’s the time to check out this elegant line of recycled glass “drops” that come in a variety of colors.  Sundrop is simple and classy with a wonderful story behind it that will have you talking about your jewelry to everyone you see.

The Sundrop jewelers create their unique glass droplets using focused sunshine!  The heat of the sun is focused by a three foot tall magnifying glass (technically a fresnel lens).  Artisans put recycled glass pieces under the concentrated heat and then let gravity form the droplets.  The beautiful cobalt blue “Sky” color shown left is made from recycled Skyy Vodka bottles. While the light blue “Water” color shown at the top of the page is made from Bombay Sapphire Gin bottles.

This creative process is all done right here in the USA in a Minneapolis back yard.  Of course, we love supporting small, woman-owned, eco businesses, so Sunglass Jewelry was an easy choice for us to offer.  You may be aware from our recent post on artistic scarves, that we also support independent artists whenever possible, especially those who create art with sustainability in mind.

To really appreciate the science and artistry that goes into each and every sundrop, take a look at this video of creator Tawny making one.

CONTEST DETAILS

This giveaway is for one Sundrop necklace in your choice of any of the four colors shown (light blue Sky, cobalt blue Water, green Tree or brown Earth).

TO ENTER: Simple fill out the contest form below AND leave a comment on this blog post. You can earn extra entries after the first one by following us on social media and tweeting about this contest.

BONUS COUPON!!

Every person who enters the contest from our blog will be sent a bonus one-time coupon for 20% off any Sundrop Jewelry purchase at FaeriesDance.com. Look for the winner announcement e-mail and bonus coupon once the contest ends. Please whitelist “service@faeriesdance.com” to ensure you get your coupon.

 

WIN THE EARRINGS, TOO!

You have a chance to win the earrings, too! We are giving away a set of sundrop earrings in any one of the same four colors as part of our weekly Facebook Live Tuesday videos. Enter on Facebook or enter on Instagram.

 

NEW TO FAERIE’S DANCE?

Since 2005 Faerie’s Dance has been a force for good in the fashion world.  We support independent artisans, and small, sustainable businesses, many of which are women- or family-owned.  Everything we carry is ethically made and sustainably produced. Check out our carefully curated collection of more than 1200 eco-friendly items including organic, natural fiber and recycled clothing, accessories and jewelry.  Find out more about our philosophy and our funny name as well as our generous charity policy.

We love fashion, sustainability and ART! At the 2019 Sustainable Fashion Forum in Portland, we met artist Loveleen Saxena, and fell in love with her pen and ink drawings. For the last few months, we’ve collaborated to bring you her bright, bold artwork printed on sustainable modal scarves using low-impact water-based inks.

Our first four art-inspired scarfs are online now. We thought you might want to know more about the artist and this fantastic alliance. So we sat down with Loveleen to talk about what inspires her.

Faerie’s Dance: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Loveleen Saxena: Hello everyone! I am a self-taught artist based in Katy, Texas. I have been dabbling in art since I was a kid. Creativity has always been a part of my life and career. Getting my education in architecture and construction fostered creative expression in a different way for me.

FD: How long have you been creating art?

LS: I rediscovered my love for art six years back when I started carrying my journal during lunch walks in Downtown Houston, while working in my corporate job. And I haven’t stopped since then.

First few years I made art to de-stress. And I loved sharing my work online. I never intended to become a full time artist. In 2014, my husband and I took a seven month backpacking trip to ten countries. That was a game changer. It gave me the courage to continue following my heart and live a purposeful life. Life that is in alignment with my truth.

So when we came back, a year later I decided to leave my career in construction and dive full time into art, along with starting a business with my husband.

It’s been a beautiful and unique journey so far!

I can say creativity is my meditation. My spiritual practices and creative expression have helped me learn so much about myself.

And that’s what inspires me to create everyday. So I can share those nuggets of wisdom with everyone, through my art. My vision is to awaken our inner joy, to spread love and see beauty in simple things. And I feel so grateful I’m doing that everyday.

FD: Where do you create most of your art? Do you have a home studio, or prefer to work outside in nature?

LS: I have a home studio but my entire home is my workspace! Some days I work in our backyard, some days in the dining area and some days in my studio.

I just take my pens and paper and find a spot that calls me that day. I find it so freeing to create when I feel inspired. Be it a coffee shop, during my bus rides, in the plane or train, by the beach, in the park and even while I’m in a waiting area.

I do love working outside in nature the most. Especially during mornings. Making art while listening to birds is a precious experience.

FD: Are there particular places or things that inspire new designs for you?  Where does your inspiration come from?

LS: Nature is my biggest inspiration. Hanging out in our backyard and talking to our trees is one of my favorite things to do.

But my spirituality is the force that brings out new designs on paper. Without my spiritual practices I don’t think I would create the way I do now.

My drawings express and celebrate nature, our connection with everything in the Universe and lessons that we’re here to learn in the school of life.

When I create, I am not Loveleen – the artist anymore, I become a vehicle to let the Divine wisdom and creativity flow through.

FD: Are there particular artists or art styles that influence your creations?

LS: There are few artists and illustrators that really inspire me. One of them is Lisa Congdon, another self-taught artist who began her creative journey in her 40’s. It’s her stories and her journey to become a successful artist that inspire me to continue on my own journey. Then there is Lizze Snow. Her pen and ink work is amazing and I learn so much from seeing her work.

FD: All of the designs we currently see are line drawings, is this your preferred method of creation or is this just what calls to you at the moment? 

LS: It’s been my preferred method for the past 6 years. Although I am not fixed upon using it only. I dabble with acrylics and even mixed media. I love pen and ink because I feel more in the flow with this medium. Plus this medium gives me the freedom and simplicity to create wherever I am. That’s how I started, making doodles in my bus ride. My favorite pens to use are Sakura microns.

FD: Does your color inspiration come after the work is finished or do you have colors in mind as your creating?

LS: Both. In my bigger original pieces I start with color and then draw over it. And in smaller pieces, I typically finish the drawing and then play with colors.

FD: Do you have a personal favorite art piece of yours?

LS: Oh I love every piece that flows through me. They might not be perfect in a traditional sense, but I love them because with each piece I grow a bit more.

There are a few which are extra special because I clearly remember when I created them. One of them is called “Journey of Life”. I created it on my birthday, a few years back. I love it because it captures my inner growth throughout the years. And I feel it’s the growth we are all going through, no matter how unique our journeys may be.

FD: Do you have a personal favorite art piece from any other artist?

LS: It keeps changing as I change 😀

FD: Have you ever considered printing any of your artwork on other clothing pieces?  I personally would love to see your “Inner Beauty” on a skirt!

LS: Yes I have! It’s my vision to collaborate with brands and designers and have my art on their beautiful and sustainable clothes, such as dresses and skirts.

Right now I’m working with a small startup for the art printing, and I use the options that are offered by them, which are limited.

FD: On your blog you wrote “I barely shopped from 2015-2018 because I wanted to invest in pieces that match my values (sustainable, ethical, fair trade).” How do you shop differently now to ensure your values are reflected in your choices? 

LS: Oh it’s completely different how I shop now! Before shopping was a therapy for me. Now it’s only when I need something that I shop. Many years back going to the mall was an adventure. But I don’t do impulse shopping anymore. In fact, I don’t feel the desire to do so anymore.

And since it’s more challenging to find sustainable options in the shopping malls, I mostly shop online. 

I research brands, read their mission statement and their practices. I follow them on social media. I read blogs and reviews to get a feel for their brand. I have a few favorite brands now, and I am on their email so if I come across something that I love, I invest in it. I have added Faeries Dance to my list too!

I only shop a few times a year, even less. And when I do I invest more in sustainable pieces.

FD: Sustainable, ethical clothing does cost a little more (and it should since workers are being paid fairly for their labor and environmental impacts are priced into the garments rather than being something for governments to deal with later).  Do you have a strategy to afford new items like saving up to buy pieces or filling in gaps with thrift finds or budgeting for clothing?

LS: My shopping style and strategy has shifted tremendously in the past few years. I use what I have in my wardrobe to it’s maximum life. And I shop only when I intuitively feel the need of certain things. When I get that feeling I start looking for sustainable options. I buy versatile pieces – colors that complement each other and pieces that I can wear on different occasions. So I do invest more in each piece because I know their true value. I do always have a certain budget in mind so I stick to that, unless I find something that really makes my soul dance! 

FD: What is your favorite wardrobe piece and why.  What calls to you in fashion?

LS: While my go-to wardrobe pieces include jeans and tee, my favorite are scarves. And lately my modal scarves.

I have loved scarves for a long time because they’re the most functional pieces in my wardrobe. I can dress up by adding a scarf, I can cuddle in them when I’m cold. Scarves are something I wear no matter what season.

Fashion for me is what can bring out my inner beauty. Comfort, ease, versatility and sustainability are the few things that I go for. I go for things that light me up. Pieces that can bring out my true essence. Pieces that feel right when I wear them. Lately the sustainable pieces I have invested in do that for me. Because I know their true value plus they resonate with what I stand for – living in harmony with our own selves and with the environment.

FD: Is there anything else I haven’t covered that you would like to add?

LS: If you want to learn more about my work or my creative journey check out my website www.loveleensaxena.com

In 2009 we started The Eco-Fashion Philosopher with this very question. By 2019 the terminology has gotten more complex rather than less. Is “eco-fashion” the same as “sustainable fashion”? What about “Ethical Fashion” or “Slow Fashion”? Ten years on, and the need to clarify is more prevalent today than when we started. Let’s take a look at these terms and what they all mean.

“Eco-Fashion” Explained

Eco-fashion describes clothing produced with minimal environmental impact.

When people talk about “eco-fashion”, they are generally referring to the ecological impact that fashion has in the world. At Faerie’s Dance, we look at four factors when determining if a garment meets the “eco-fashion” label:

1. How was the input material grown or made?
2. Are toxic chemicals required for the transformation of the input material into fabric?
3. How much production waste is generated?
4. Which dyes or finishing agents are used in the final garment?

Just to be clear, though, conventional fashion is a dirty business. Exactly how dirty is hard to quantify because fashion touches so many different things such as water chemical pollution, ocean plastic pollution, soil pollution, carbon emissions, petroleum usage, desertification, and on and on. Entire movies have been made about fashion industry pollution. Check out this documentary preview on river pollution for a quick look into some of the main issues with the fashion industry.

RiverBlue – Official Trailer from RiverBlue on Vimeo.

“Ethical Fashion” Unpacked

Ethical Fashion ensures the well-being of the farmers and factory workers.

The creation of fashion is extremely labor intensive. Sewing machines are about as high-tech as things get in the fashion industry, and there are actual people who operate them. The USA once had a booming clothing manufacturing industry. In 1960, 95% of clothing sold in the U.S. was manufactured in New York’s Garment Center. With rising wages in the USA, companies started outsourcing clothing manufacturing.

Initially China was the place to go for cheap labor and minimal regulations. Sweatshop working conditions and child labor became the norm with profit margins skyrocketing for western companies that could still charge a premium. As the world became focused on the plight of the Chinese garment worker, conditions slowly improved and wages started to rise. In some ways, the problem became worse. In the never-ending “race to the bottom” western companies started leaving China to set up garment manufacturing in even poorer areas, with even fewer regulations. Fashion industry workers were increasingly being paid less and less for working longer and longer hours.

In 2013, the Rana Plaza garment building in Bangladesh collapsed killing 1134 people who were making clothing for western companies. The building was not zoned for manufacturing. The upper floors had been built without permits. Worst of all, the workers had been threatened with job lose and pay withholding if they did not come to work even after cracks were spotted in the building. This disaster really shone a spot-light on the plight of the garment workers around the world. The Fashion Revolution was started to counteract this type of worker abuse.

Today, the hashtag #WhoMadeMyClothes is used as a call to action to ensure people in the fashion manufacturing chain are treated with dignity, while Fair Trade standards and certifications ensure they are paid fairly and receive living wages.

“Slow Fashion” Sorted

Slow Fashion emphasizes quality over quantity and lasting appeal over trendiness.

Once fashion production was moved to places with cheap labor, the industry realized that more money could be made by offering lower quality goods, thus reducing prices even further. Moreover, if prices were cheap enough, producers could sell significantly more. The pace of fashion trends picked up significantly in the 1980s and 1990s. Instead of collections coming out seasonally, suddenly new items were being introduced monthly, and then weekly. The strategy was to get fashion from the catwalk to the consumer as fast as possible.

Planned obsolescence became the standard for fashion rather than quality. A shirt no longer had to last season after season. Wearing an item 2-3 times and then tossing it became the norm. The term “fast fashion” was born to describe this new model of production. And the pileup of fashion waste increased exponentially.

After a few decades of rampant “fast fashion” the toll on the environment, the buildup of landfill, and the emotional weight on people owning all this “stuff” became too much. Books like Marie Kondos “The Life Changing Magic of Tyding Up” became international best-sellers as people have become bogged down in a sea of over-consumption. An entire industry of decluttering grew out of the mess. Frustrated consumers and fashion designers are fostering a new movement towards “slow fashion,” in an attempt to find a path back to quality, timelessness and sanity in fashion.

So What is Sustainable Fashion Then?

Sustainable Fashion is the all-encompassing term for fashion that is ecologically sound, ethically produced, and high quality. In other words, both environmentally and socially sustainable as well as well-made and stylish.

We’ve learned a lot since we opened our little online fashion boutique in 2005 with just 70 or so styles. We continue to educate ourselves about fashion, style, ethics and sustainability. Our research into new garments and manufacturers is extensive, and our verification methods have become increasingly sophisticated. Today FaeriesDance.com offers more than 1200 items, each one curated to be sustainable from every point of view.

When we started blogging way back in 2009, we did a series of short “Quick Fact” posts about different textile inputs in the eco-fashion landscape. Looking over those quick facts 10 years later, and a lot of the information has changed and many of the resources linked are no longer available. So here’s a round up of some of those old posts, just as interesting, but now also up-to-date.

Organic Cotton Statistics

For years Turkey held the record for growing the largest amount of certified organic cotton in the world.  But in 2008 alone, India increased its production of organically grown cotton by 292% to become the number one grower.  Since then, India has continued to expand their production of organically grown cotton acreage and according to the Organic Cotton Market Report of 2017, India grows 56% of all organic cotton worldwide. China is second with 14%, and Turkey now represents only 7% of worldwide organic cotton production. The good news is, that’s not because Turkey is growing less cotton organically, but that the rest of the world has massively increased organic production.

Fun Facts:

• 18 countries grow some organic cotton.
• The top 7 countries (India, China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Tajikistan, US and Tanzania) grow 97% of all organic cotton. 
• The USA grows just 4% of the world’s organic cotton.
• The demand for organic cotton in the USA far exceeds production, forcing most fashion producers to import organic cotton.
• It takes 3 years to convert conventional farmland to certified organic.

Hemp Status in the USA

Hemp has had a rocky past in the USA. In 1619 at Jamestown Colony in Virginia it was mandatory for farmers to grow hemp because there was such a shortage. But the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 made the cultivation of industrial hemp impractical, though not strictly illegal. That’s because hemp was categorized as a drug along with it’s cousin marijuana even though industrial hemp contains less than 1 percent of  tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical in marijuana which produces psychoactive effects.

However, the 2018 Farm Bill removed the restrictions on growing hemp, and industrial hemp is no longer classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. It’s too early to say exactly how much hemp growth will expand in the USA, but the West Virginia Department of Agriculture alone reports
there is 15 fold increase in hemp cultivation in 2019 over 2018.

Fun Facts:

• The first USA flag was made from hemp.
• Both President George Washington and President Thomas Jefferson were cultivators of hemp.
• In addition to apparel and textiles, hemp can be found in food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
• Hemp “milk” can now be found in your grocery store.
• Hemp may well be the single most eco-friendly fabric.

Latex and Spandex Allergies

Natural rubber latex is derived from the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis.  There is a specific protein in latex that acts as a sensitizer and causes allergies.  Many individuals are not initially allergic to latex, but can develop sensitivity to it after prolonged exposure.

Latex allergies are particularly tricky because latex can sometimes be found in elastic, but not always.  Manufacturers are not required to specify if a product contains a small amount of elastic as trim.  Even when they do note that elastic is present, the underlying source of the elastic is almost never listed.  So it is rare to find a garment hang tag that will say with any certainty whether latex is present.

One of the biggest misconceptions about latex allergies is that spandex (also lycra or elastane) is the same as latex and can cause the same allergic reaction. Spandex is actually a man-made, petroleum-based fabric made from polymer polyurethane and does not contain the rubber tree protein that causes latex sensitivities. While some people do have allergic reactions to spandex, it is much less common than latex allergies.

Unfortunately, since spandex allergies are less common, it’s even harder to find apparel that is spandex free than finding apparel that’s latex free. Even the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) allows for a small amount of spandex to be added to an organic textile and still be certifiable. In general, though the presence of spandex in a garment is usually easier to determine since it’s often in the fabric itself, not just the elastic trim.

Resources:

• The American Latex Allergy Association posts relevant information for allergy sufferers.
• Cottonique brand clothing is completely free of both spandex and latex.
• Indigenous Designs uses no spandex in their main fabrics, and covers all their elastics so they don’t touch the skin at any point.
• Green Tree Organic, our in-house brand, uses guaranteed latex free elastics in all of the panties except the printed ones. (Note that there is 5% spandex in our fabric.)
• At FaeriesDance.com, check the “Details” section for the phrase “latex free.” If that isn’t listed, we can’t confirm if the elastics contain latex. Also check the “Fabric & Care” tab for the fabric contents and the presence of spandex.

Need Other “Quick Facts”?

Take a look around our blog for other eco-fashion facts and tips. Here are some of our most popular posts from the last 10 years. If you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

• What are “Natural” Fabrics?
• Which Fabrics Are the Most Eco-Friendly?
• Modal is touted as the new eco-fabric; does it live up to the hype?
• All About Dyes