1. Buy organic clothes, there are plenty of amazing eco-designs out there.
2. Don’t iron unnecessarily and try not to tumble dry unless you have to. A clothes horse will save you on your electricity bill and will save your clothes as tumble drying can often shrink and ruin delicates.
3. Only wash your clothes when they’re actually dirty. Underwear will need a wash after one use but does all your clothes?
4. Avoid clothes that will need dry cleaning as most dry-cleaners use a fluid called tetrachloroethylene, which causes long-term pollution if it escapes into the waterways. If you have to get it done, check what chemicals your dry-cleaner uses.
5. Invest in Fairtrade cotton clothes, which ensures that the cotton growers get a fair deal.
6. Give away the clothes that you don’t use.
7. Buy second hand – you’ll be recycling, getting a bargain, giving to charity if you buy from a charity shop and you can tell everyone that it’s vintage!
8. Buy fewer clothes but buy on quality. Well-made clothes will last longer and gives you a chance to splurge.

Blood diamonds or conflict diamonds, as they’re also known, are diamonds that have been implicated in horrific human rights violations including diamond fuelled violence, child labour and environmental destruction.

An estimated 3.7 million people have died in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Liberia and Sierra Leone in conflicts fuelled by diamonds.

Amnesty International and Global Witness claim consumers have the power to effect industry-wide change by demanding that their diamonds are clean. They recommend that you ask the retailer the following questions before buying:

• Do you know where your diamonds come from?
• Can I see a copy of your company’s policy on conflict diamonds?
• How can I be sure that all of your jewellery if conflict-free?

Even if your diamonds are guaranteed as conflict-free, many in the industry says that because the industry is so dangerous anyway and working conditions often criminal, that all diamonds are blood diamonds. Diamond mining is very destructive to the environment, mining for precious stones and metal destroys thousands of acres and creates huge amounts of waste.

Luckily for us, being environmentally aware and looking lush now goes hand-in-hand courtesy of U.S. fashion label, Gypsy 05. “Good planets are hard to find,” is the motto that first began Gypsy’s fight against environmental exploitation in the spring of 2005.

Gypsy 05 incorporates a persuasive palate of vibrant, vivacious colours, airy fabrics and silhouettes to further emphasise their nature-inspired theme and showcase effortless elegance.

In an effort to further demonstrate that being environmentally aware and looking awe-inspiring can be one and the same, Gypsy’s one of a kind designs, incorporate organic fabrics, low impact dyes and water based printing in every collection. Aiming to be more than just an artistic statement, Gypsy 05 suggests the importance of smelling the roses, as opposed to picking them; of getting inspired by the majestic beauty of the vast ocean, rather than polluting it.

After enjoy incredibly success overseas and becoming the label of choice for celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, Hayden Panettiere, Christina Aguilera and Ashley Tisdale, Gypsy 05 hopes to evoke the environmental essence of all Australians.
Gypsy 05’s message is simple: Recycle, Reduce, Re-planet and feel naturally confident and free while living environmentally friendly and appearing outstanding!

 For more looks, stockists and info visit www.gypsy05.com

Trilogy rosehip oil is 100%, natural concentrate of pure rose hips, extracted from the seeds of contained in the intensely red, berry-like fruits or hips, of the wild rosebush. It is extracted using a solvent free, certified organic method that preserves the unique qualities of the oil.

The rosehip oil contains natural antioxidants and preservatives, and a high 80% content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (aka omega 3 and omega 6), one of the oils main active ingredients. It also contains natural antioxidants – beta carotene and lycopene – a precursor or vitamin A. The oil is proven to delay the effects of skin ageing by assisting cell regeneration and assisting collagen and elastin production to create smoother, firmer skin. 

The other benefits of using rosehip oil are:
• Nourishes and moisturies dry or very dry skin for softer, smoother skin
• Assists with normal skin renewel and repair
• Helps skin elasticity and resilience
• Restores a healthy, glowing complexion
• Smoothes fine lines and wrinkles
• Improves the appearance of fine lines, skin tone, pigmentation and other signs of premature ageing
• Aids the repair of sun damaged skin
• Assists the body in minimizing scarring
• Assists in the healing of acne scarring
• Assists in the reduction of stretch marks

Trilogy products are available at Myer, selected health food stores and pharmacies, for stockists visits www.trilogyproducts.com, $18.95

Here are some to whet your appetite.

• Olsen Haus (www.olsenhaus.com) – Think sleek high heels with candy-pop colours and all 100% vegan!
• Paspaley (www.paspaleypearls.com) – This company is committed to the sustainable management of the wild pearl oyster habitat.
• Elsom (www.elsom.com.au) – Gap but with better cuts and designs, plus they use organic and sustainable textiles.
• Stella McCartney (www.stellamccartney.com) – Not only is she a talented and well respected designer with a long list of celebrity followers including Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow and Paul McCartney (ahem!) But like her mum she is a big eco-defender; she never uses leather, has produced an organic capsule collection and skincare range and her company is 100% carbon neutral.
• Pandora (www.pandora.com.au) – Their new collection features wooden beads that are sourced from Forest Stewardship Council forests, meaning that these trees are only cut down in numbers which can be reproduced naturally.
• Tiffany & Co. – They were the first jewelers to sign up to the No Dirty Gold campaign (www.nodirtygold.org), which champions responsible mining sources.
• Gorman (www.gorman.ws) – Lisa Gorman is Australia’s premier eco-fashion designer. Her Organic range is always stylishly cool but she is always striving to make her company that bit more sustainable, from the fabric to the packaging to how it get shipped.

An example of this is Sexy Hair Organics; nourishing hair care products containing up to 95% organic ingredients and free from parabens, petrochemicals, dyes and sulphates. The range has a delicious signature fragrance combining mimosa, lily and sage – yummy! They also contain Pureganic extract – an organic essential oil grown and extracted in compliance with the guidelines of the USDA Final Rule National Organic Program.

The Moisturizing Treatment is our favourite; it nourishes and makes the hair soft without weighing it down like some other moisture intense treatments. Plus is smells good enough to eat. 

The range was created by LA-based celebrity session stylist Michael O’Rourke to get high fashion hair without the hard work. The range includes of over 60 products to cater to customers who love to indulge their hair and skin.

Sexy hair products are only available for sale in professional salons. To find your nearest stockists call 1300 365 311 or view www.sexyhair.com

Organic cotton farming starts with seeds that have not been genetically modified or treated with pesticides or fungicides. During the growth phase, weed control is achieved through hand hoeing or physical removal and pest control is accomplished through the use of natural predators, trap crops and other biological and cultural practices.

Terry Rich is a premium Australian beach towel and resort wear label with a reputation for striking design and superior quality. The Summer 2009/10 collection features a beach towel made with 100% Certified Organic cotton: the Beluga Beach towel in Black and Ivory is the first product from the label’s collection of superior beach towels and resort wear to be produced using 100% Organic Cotton. The Organic towels will be identified by a specific Organic Cotton swing tag as well as via the care instruction label. The new beach towel range not only feels good, but has that feel good factor about the purchase.
 
The new Organic towels will be available nationally through David Jones and selected independent stockists.

More and more companies are turning green and using organic products. This is certainly true from the fashion industry and many are producing some very good, high fashion, quality products. Dunlop has jumped on board by giving its iconic Volley a green makeover – the first planet-friendly children’s trainer! Perfect for tiny fashionistas with big consciences, it features planet friendly materials with an organic cotton upper and recycled rubber outsole.

Dunlop has said that “organic cotton is softer, more comfortable, smells cleaner and is less likely to trigger children’s allergies, which is important in the day to day life of your family.” The materials have been “grown and harvested in an environmentally sensitive way without the use of toxic chemicals, organic cotton is safer for farmers, for you, for your children and for the environment.”

Your little ones might not fully comprehend their environmental and fashion statement, but incorporating environmentally friendly choices into your family’s lifestyle is a fantastic way to teach and introduce your children to sustainable skills and practices that will stay with them for life. With the current trend toward eco-living it’s important for children to learn about healthy lifestyles, biodiversity and protecting natural resources from an early age, as this will be common throughout their lifetime. With sizes starting from infancy the First ‘Green’ Volley is accessible at every age making educating your child on the importance of green living as easy as slipping on a shoe.

For stockists call 1800 700 227, $15

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As we try to get everyone to become more ‘green’ aware, eco-friendly reusable tote bags are becoming a popular cotton bag to take out. Cotton and tote bags are great to take to the grocery store but they can be a good (and plastic free) way to hold your cosmetic products. Many of the environmentally friendly bags come with a green earth message and the Tarte cosmetics “be good to your mother (earth) bag is a popular choice.

The Tarte cosmetics company wants to reward you for trying to keep the earth clean, and when you purchase this eco-friendly tote they will give you three lip sheers. These lip sheers also smear the environmental message, the reduce, reuse, recycle method implemented in materials and packaging.

The containers the lip sheers come in is post-consumer recycled aluminium and the lip sheers are made from natural beeswax, mango butter, peppermint oil, coconut oil and vitamin E. All of these things will help to keep your lips in a (natural) top condition.

The all natural lip sheers also have SPF15 sun protection so you can feel confident to step out on those sunny days. You can get other skin care products and cosmetics from Tarte from their website. But this is the environmentally friendly option.

Lead is the most common problem with lipsticks around the globe and is a neurotoxin that if exposed highly to can cause brain damage, cancer, miscarriage, and infertility.

There have been opposing views on the amounts of lead in lipsticks, some claiming it is only tiny amounts.

Lead in Lipstick Might Not Be So Bad:

According to a member of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and fragrance association John Bailey the levels of lead in lipstick appear to be quite low. He told the ABC news that he believes the trace levels of lead found are actually quite low and does not present a concern.

But there are those on the other hand that say even tiny amounts of exposeure to lead can be a large health concern.

Lead in Lipstick Might Be Really Bad:

According to a member from the Safe Cosmetics campaign Mark Mitchell it is the lead build up over time that is the problem. If you apply lead containing lipstick on a daily basis, you can be exposed to dangerously high levels in the end.

“The latest studies show there is no safe level of lead exposure”.

Yet many cosmetic brands are still producing a range of lead lipsticks. But there are a range of lead-free brands that are trying to make cosmetic use safer for ourselves and the environment. The last thing we need is poison on our lips.