emiLime blog

Call to Action: Recycle Your Textiles!

Wed, 23 May 2012 18:01:00 GMT

Textile waste is a problem here in the US. We were surprised to find out that over 75% of textiles are trashed and not recycled or reused.

How do you feel about this? Do you plan to change the way you think about getting rid of those old clothes or that dress that doesn't fit like it used to? Leave us a comment! Also read how to greenify and recycle your closet for summer here!

Fashion Designers Without Borders

Mon, 21 May 2012 13:19:00 GMT

Fashion transcends cultures. It is an expression, a language, an art and it is starting to change the world. We are so excited for the launch of the Fashion Designers Without Borders program this week. Bringing the world together under one concept and the greater cause is so inspiring to us here at emiLime.

Backed by brands such as Whole Foods, Puma, Max Mara, Edun and many others, the program strives to "create ambassadors within brands to advocate and build relationships with artisan groups in developing countries." Chrissie Lam of The Supply Change and Elizabeth Gordon of Extraordinary Journeys partnered up to raise awareness of the fashion industry to bring about social and economic change. They are creating a long-term strategy that brings together international retailers, local manufacturers and social enterprises. The program immerses participating designers in a firsthand experience to artisan resources around the globe and develop close ethical partnerships. The first trip is scheduled for February 2013 to Kenya.

In an interview, Chrissie Lam stated:

"I believe change comes from within a company, and currently there is a disconnect between people in the design industry and social enterprises or artisan groups abroad. If design professionals can connect with great organizations, meet the artisans, witness the social impact, and be inspired by the local resources, they are more likely to return to their companies with enthusiasm and the knowledge to advocate for a brand-social enterprise collaboration."

This is exactly the kind of change we at emiLime Handcrafted love to see! It is refreshing to get to be apart of an industry where others are making efforts to get closer to artisans and resources around the world. Fashion can connect us all and the consumer-to-artist relationship is a value we saw many years ago and once we've worked very hard to cultivate. What are you most inspired by after reading the Fahsion Designers without Borders brief above?

The Secret of Turmeric - How to Make Your Own Natural Fabric Dye

Mon, 14 May 2012 14:32:00 GMT

Have you ever been curious to learn how to make your own eco friendly dyes? Conventional fabric dyes cause runnoff that pollutes waterways and the chemicals are overall unhealthy for those who work with conventional dyes on a large scale. We did some quick research and were pleasantly surprised to see how easy it is to create your own friendly dyes using regular fruits and veggies to create some beautiful colors.

One such plant we decided to work with for our dye project was turmeric, a plant from Southeast Asia whose roots are dried and ground into a powder that is often used in curries and is notorious for staining fabric. The color is a bright yellow, making it perfect for spicing up your springtime wardrobe!

You will need:

4 cups of water + 1/4 cup table salt
Undyed or light colored fabric of your choice.
2 cups water + 2 tablespoons of ground turmeric
non-reactive sauce pan (stainless steel or ceramic will work best)
wooden spoon

Directions:

1. Combine the water and salt in your pan and bring it to a boil, then add your fabric and let it simmer for one hour. The salt is your “fixative,” which helps your fabric take the dye.

2. Drain your fabric, wring it out when it’s cool enough to handle, and rinse your pot.

3. Combine the water and turmeric in the same pot, bring to a boil, and simmer for 15 minutes.

4. Turn off the heat, add your fabric to the pot, and use your wooden spoon to make sure that the fabric gets a nice coating in the dye. Let your fabric soak. The longer it soaks, the more vibrant your color will be check it after the first 5-10 minutes, then just keep checking on the fabric every few minutes until you get the vibrancy you’re looking for. Make sure that each time you pull the fabric out of the dye that you use your wooden spoon to fully submerge it again – you don’t want the dye job to turn out uneven! I let mine soak for about 15 minutes and you can see the result in the photo at the top of this page.

5. Rinse your fabric in the sink until the water runs clear, hang it to dry, and you’re ready to craft with your turmeric dyed fabric!

Wasn't that easy? Send us your pictures of how you used turmeric to brighten up your fabrics and receive 10% off your next emiLime purchase - just in time for summer!

Industry Report: The Development of Eco-Friendly Textile Dyes

Wed, 02 May 2012 13:47:00 GMT

According to a report titled "Textile Dyes: A Global Strategic Business Report" by Global Industries released a couple of days ago, the global market for textile dyes is projected to reach 5.9 billion by 2017. The main factors in this projection was the change in perception of consumers, technological innovations (see our Invisible T-shirt post!), consumer spending and population growth.

Textile dyes are considered an age old chemical business, but it has come a long way and evolved into a specialty field. Fashion is categorized as a short-term factor in the textile industry, as it is always changing. No matter how short-term a trend is, it still has a predominant role in determining the colors to be used. Environmental regulations are becoming more strict and producers worldwide are developing innovative materials to abide by these new laws. The growth of the textile industry in the future is dependent on the changing customer preferences and rising demand for sturdier infrastructures in emerging countries.

Ecological concerns are gaining momentum in the textiles industry, which we love to see and there is a worldwide eye on these developments. In recent years, we have also seen various dyes being prohibited across the globe due to environmental concerns. With the increasing demand for eco-friendly textiles, companies are starting to recognize the need to increase spending on innovative dyes.

We were very excited to read how far dyes have come as well as the interesting projections that conscionistas all over the world (including ourselves!) have to look forward to. If you've had a chance to read the report, what was most interesting to you? Do you think it is accurate for where the market is heading? We'd love to hear your feedback so leave a comment and be sure to let us know what you think!

Shopping Local & Green in Austin, Texas

Tue, 01 May 2012 03:13:00 GMT

Here is a list of local boutiques in Austin that specialize in green, eco-friendly fashion. Support your local businesses and the environment simultaneously.

Earth Axxessories

With a wide variety of styles and uses, Earth Axxessories sells tote bags made of natural fabrics. Textiles used include jute, silk, raffia, and canvas. Whether you need a new beach bag, gym bag, laptop tote, or even a wine sac, feel free to visit their store or shop online. They make great gifts.1007 S. Heatherwilde Blvd.Building A #300, Pflugerville,Texas earthaxxessories@sbcglobal.net, www.earthaxxessories.com.

Green Toe Shoes

Here you will find shoes made out of recycled tires and cork, as well as other materials. Multiple Austin retailers are sporting them. Deckers Outdoor Corporation, 495-A S. Fairview, Goleta, Calif., 866/896-3708. www.simpleshoes.com.

Sarah Bird Designs

Clothes and furnishings from recycled and restored materials are salvaged and recreated by this local Austin designer. 467-9224. birdsh@netzero.net.

Ten Thousand Villages

Emphasizing sustainable trade and fair practices, Ten Thousand Villages buys gifts, toys, clothing, accessories, and furniture from artisans around the world. 1317 S. Congress, 512-440-0440. austin@tenthousandvillages.com, austin.tenthousandvillages.com.

Sola

Supporting green fashion with some new spring and summer clothing styles! 2005 South Lamar, Austin, TX 78704 www. solastyle.com

Have You Met Our Artisans?

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:59:00 GMT

Take a few moments to get to know the wonderful people we work with in Peru. They really are a cultural inspiration and are the driving forces behind emiLime. We couldn't be more thankful that they have joined our vision in sustainable, quality fashion!

Are there any other things about emiLime that you would like to see showcased in our videos? Let us know!

Earth Day is Sunday the 22nd : Celebrate with Green Fashion

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:12:00 GMT

This sunday there will be many events across the country celebrating Earth Day with green fashion! Look for your city, and find an event you can go be a part of. Some are trash fashion shows, other are eco friendly events, and even eco-clothing fashion shows and clothing swaps.

Baton Rouge, LA

Alexandria, VA

Cincinnati, OH

San Francisco, CA

New York, NY

Tampa Bay, FL

A few others:

New York, NY - New York City Green Festival

Austin, TX - Earth Day Clothing Swap

California - A list of events all over the state!

Vancouver - ReFashion Vancouver

If you know of any events going on that should be here as well please leave a comment and let us know!

Article Spotlight: Forbes Magazine on Green Fashion

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:53:00 GMT

Is Fashion Ready To Go Green?

Photo of Jian River in Luoyang, China.

The fashion industry is a lot of things—glamorous, big business, global. The most environmentally conscious sector however, it is not. The industry has drawn ire from environmental activists for everything from the harm that happens during production, to the fast fashion cycle, which promotes disposable clothing.

Christie’s held its third annual Green Auction: Bid to Save the Earth this week in New York City, which raised approximately $600,000 and counting (the event will continue raising money online until April 19), with a focus on the world’s water. Four organizations are benefiting from the event—Oceana, Conservation International, the Central Park Conservancy and the Natural Resources Defense Council [NRDC]. Susan Rockefeller, a honorary co-chair of the event and longtime conservationist said of the auction, which she has been involved with since 2009, “We wanted to create an innovative fundraiser that not only would raise money, but also would bring awareness to the critical protection needed for our environment.”The event showcased that the fashion industry is increasingly rallying together to clean up its act. Vogue editor Anna Wintour said in a video shown at the event discussing fashion’s eco-conscious push, “This is something that we have to do together.” One of the auction’s lots, “Clean by Design,” supporting NRDC’s work, drew attention to the rampant water pollution in China, where 65% of the world’s clothing is produced. NRDC President Frances Beinecke reiterated the saying, “You know the color that’s going to be in fashion next season by the color of the rivers in China.” The overall lot brought in $185,000, with the money going towards outreach to compel apparel companies to clean up their production lines, workshops to help Chinese factories meet environmental efficiency standards and programs to help brands use water more efficiently.“I think the [fashion] industry is making great progress in terms of going green, and it’s doing it in a way that shows consumers that ‘green’ doesn’t have to mean unstylish or boring,” Rockefeller said. “Many fashion companies are thinking about how to protect the environment, while still producing their visions.”

Of the fashion companies making the biggest strides, luxury conglomerate PPR (which owns Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, among other brands) started the Creative Sustainability Lab in 2011 to help foster innovation around sustainability. It should be noted that François-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of PPR, was also a honorary co-chair of this year’s Christie’s Green Auction. On the mass side of the spectrum, H&M has made a push into sustainable fashion with its “Conscious Collection” which uses environmentally friendly fabrics like organic cotton and recycled plastic bottles. The brand has also made changes like using lower-impact water-based solvents to make nearly 2.5 million pairs of shoes last year. Brand’s like LVMH-owned Edun have proven that eco-fashion can be as chic as anything else.

Still, the fashion industry clearly has a long way to go. One need only to look at the photo above of red polluted water flowing from a sewer into the Jian River in Luoyang, China, taken last year, to know that there is still much to be done.

emiLime + Flechada

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:50:00 GMT

We are proud to announce that emiLime products are now also available on Flechada.com! With the theme of Flechada's blog being "a fashion blog with some latin attitude thrown in for good measure" we knew we had to get in on this. You can search by designer or by category, but don't forget to check out their blog and press page, as they were named the Best of the Web Winner by InStyle Magazine in 2011.

Happy shopping!

The 321 Collection from Loomstate

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:37:00 GMT

By merging on-trend color blocking and multi-functional wardrobe pieces, Loomstate's new 321 collection is sure to get attention this summer. Not only is the collection on target with current trends, the fabric used is a material called Tencel, which is made from wood pulp that is processed in a closed-loop production. The fabric is biodegradable and sourced from the US, not to mention super soft. Take a look!

above: The Akan Dress can be reversed and rotated to create 8 color combinations.

above: The Yoko Cardigan doubles as a cardigan and a cardigan with a shirt underneath.

above: The Aya Tank, which can be worn six ways.

What do you think of the 321 Collection? Would you wear the reversible threads? If so, where would you like to see it picked up...? We're thinking Target, H&M or Forever21 would certainly be a new market for the modern conscionista!

Large Companies Look to Small Businesses for Innovation in Sustainable Fashion

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:07:00 GMT

Having a large company has always been considered as "the" achievement for most businesses, but as Seth Godin's book "Small is the New Big" expresses - the age of "big business" has come to an end. Smaller companies are becoming the leaders of innovation and in the sustainable fashion world this shift provides huge opportunities for small eco-fashion businesses.

Small organizations are led by specialists and the small scale of the company provides more flexibility and adaptability to diverse markets and economic turbulence. In the past few years a trend has emerged whereby large corporations and small businesses across all sectors collaborate. In today's hyper-segmented markets, big brands need the flexibility and the fresh ideas that only small businesses can guarantee. As a consequence, more large businesses decide to outsource innovation to small, highly specialist organizations, which in turn help them to stay ahead of the crowd and remain (or become) unique.

Fashion and creativity go hand in hand. Fashion brands invest in innovation because this is the only way they can compete. Every year fashion trends change and evolve so it takes a lot of work to keep up. The fashion industry in its present incarnation has got through one of the biggest negative impacts on the environment as well as on communities. The situation is such that the fashion business really desperately needs to change its business model to embrace creativity that reaches out beyond mere product design to break rules and minimum standards. Equally, if not more importantly, there is a business case to be made for re-thinking business models in a sustainable manner. An increasing number of awards in the industry celebrate fashion businesses that pioneer and go beyond sustainability rules, such examples include the Ethical Fashion Forum's Innovation award, the Guardian Sustainable Business Awards and the Observer Ethical Awards.

As in other sectors, there has been a trend of big fashion brands and retailers partnering with and sourcing from sustainable small companies. Tesco's in-house brand F&F partnered the pioneering upcycle fashion brand, From Somewhere to make use of the textile waste stored in warehouses of some of its Sri Lankan factories. This led to the launch of a six-piece collection made of obsolete fabrics in a green factory in Sri Lanka with a 'zero waste to landfill' policy. The first collection sold 1500 pieces and was succeeded by another two collections.

Levi's has just launched a campaign to refit vintage Levi's 501 in collaboration with Reformation, a fashion brand that repurposes vintage clothing and materials in their studios in New York and Los Angeles. Customers will be invited not to throw away their old jeans, but encouraged to send them back to Levi's reducing the amount of discarded garments going to landfill.

Levi's is collaborating with Reformation in a campaign to refit its customer's vintage 501 jeans.

Worn Again is yet another interesting case. This tiny company is a conglomerate of bright entrepreneurs full of unconventional ideas on what to do with textiles. Its credo is that things are "just too good to waste" and it partners with corporations such as Virgin, Royal Mail and Eurostar to help them re-use textiles they would otherwise discard. The results are stunning bags out of postal workers' decommissioned storm jackets.

Are there any other examples of big companies looking to smaller organizations to innovate sustainable fashion that you've been inspired by? Leave a comment and share here to receive 10% off your next emiLime purchase!

Invisible T-shirts, good for eco-fashion?

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:50:00 GMT

Rapanui, an eco-fashion brand, has been working with the Isle of Wright University to create a new type of fabric that makes t-shirts appear invisible. Utilizing optic fibers, this new fabric captures light on one side of the garment and sends the same light to the opposite side to give the illusion of being invisible.

“The research has been around for a long time but the principle is actually quite simple – to take light from the front of the garment and relay it to the back – and vice versa. Optic fibers are simply light conductive threads. They capture the light in the space immediately surrounding the garment and relay them through the threads. If you can direct this light directly out of the shirt, as we have done, the result is a vivid perception of invisibility,” explained Martin Drake-Knight, a designer at Rapanui.

Textiles specialist Professor Barry Green said it would be “quite some time” before the technology could come to market, adding that an early idea would be to make landfill sites invisible: “Sustainability is an out-of-sight, out-of-mind problem. We can throw invisible t-shirts in open-air landfill sites – or even just on the street – and nobody will know they are there.”

While Rapanui is an eco-fashion brand, optic fibers are not eco-friendly. This development in fiber is mainly a statement to raise awareness of making clothing "invisible" to the environment. Rapanui co-founder Rob Drake-Knight says, "We are delighted to announce this innovation; we hope it helps to raise awareness of transparency and traceability within fashion."

How do you feel about this technology? Do you think it will succeed at raising awareness?

Here is a similar idea that Mercedes-Benz has been campaigning - pretty cool stuff!

H&M Launches Eco-Friendly Clothing Line

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:06:00 GMT

In celebration of April (Earth Day is April 22nd) H&M has released its new eco-friendly clothing line. Last year H&M was accused of not performing proper clothing disposal practices, trashing out damaged or unsold clothes that could easily be used elsewhere or recycled for other items. Named the Conscious Collection, H&M decided to turn things around and release the new spring line that debuted in over 100 stores world-wide. Designs include organic cotton, hemp, and recycled polyester. According to H&M’s website, “the collection showcases the diversity of what is now possible in greener fashion, with outfits in different styles reflecting the variety of today’s red carpet fashion.”

Take a look at some of the new styles, does this collection make you feel like you could become more conscious?

DIY: Create a Great Swimsuit from an Old T-Shirt

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:18:00 GMT

Swimsuit shopping is not fun for a lot of women out there. From the mis-fitting two-pieces, to the ugly halogen lighting in dressing rooms, to the prices of a nice swimsuit, it can be a stressful experience. With Spring full in bloom and the sun finally making a routine appearance, we wanted to share a great idea on how to create a perfect fitting swimsuit out of your favorite t-shirt! You could also get really creative with beads, lace and embroidery for a custom design.

Top:

1. Find an old T-shirt (not too transparent)—the bigger the better.

2. Lay your T-shirt out flat.

3. Cut off the bottom hem of the T-shirt.

4. Cut off two more 1.5-inch-wide strips from the bottom to use as straps.

5. Lay out and pin an existing bikini top out onto the front of the T-shirt (make sure not to pin it through to the back!). T-shirt fabric does not need hemming, so it won’t fray after it’s been cut. Should you, however, choose to hem your suit, add a 1-inch seam allowance on all sides of the pattern.

6. Now outline the pattern onto the T-shirt. Once you are finished, cut the shape out of the front of your T-shirt.

7. Remove the bikini from the T-shirt fabric. You’ll notice that your top has very short straps. Cut out two strips at least 6 inches long, from your leftover scraps. Tip: Feel free to use a different stretch or jersey fabric to add color or flavor!

8. Hand-sew each strip onto the short ties of your bikini top so that your straps are long enough to tie in a bow. Trick of the trade: Once the straps are sewn on, tug on them to make them more string-like.

9. We added a lace detail and dyed our bikini top, but feel free to use your creative energies and add your own touch.

Bottom:

1. Find an old T-shirt (not too transparent)—the bigger the better.

2. Lay your T-shirt out flat.

3. Cut off the bottom hem of the T-shirt

4. Cut off two more 1.5-inch-wide strips from the bottom to use as straps.

5. Lay out and pin an existing bikini bottom out onto the front of the T-shirt (make sure not to pin it through to the back!). T-shirt fabric does not need hemming, so it won't fray after it’s been cut. Should you, however, choose to hem your suit, add a 1-inch seam allowance on all sides of the pattern.

6. Now outline the pattern onto the T-shirt. Once you are finished, cut the shape out of the front of your t-shirt.

7. You will notice that your bottoms has very short straps. Cut out two strips at least 6 inches long and 2 inches wide from your leftover scraps. Tip: Feel free to use a different fabric for the strips to add color or flavor!

8. Hand-sew each strip onto the short ties of your bikini bottom so that your straps are long enough to tie in a bow. Tip of the trade:Once the straps are sewn on, tug on them to make them more string-like. Fold the bottoms in half lengthwise and tie side straps to fit.

Leave a comment along with your picture of your new swimsuit and receive a special discount from emiLime's Spring collection!

The Adventure to True Design Discovery

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:56:00 GMT

I just recently returned from an inspiring trip to the Amazon jungle. Every since I arrived to Peru five years ago, I have been feeling an urge to go and explore the jungle. It comprises 59% of Peru after all! I’m sure that experiences from this trip will continue to seep into other blog entries, but right now I want to touch on one realization that I had during this trip: I am a sentient designer. Sentient people are able to perceive or feel things around them with a high level of sensitivity or awareness. For me, when I see a color or touch a fiber that inspires me, I have a physical reaction in my body. Being complete emerged in the jungle for one week, I feel much more in touch when things cause that certain effect in my body and I feel like it is going to tremendously help me with my future collections.

The very first fashion show that I put together with friends during college was called “Despertar Emociones,” which means “to wake emotions.” I read the book “Despertar Emociones” for my Spanish class, and that title really resonated with me so I decided that I wanted everything that I designed to evoke some sort of emotion and cause some sort of reaction from people who saw my work. I know that this is not unique for designers, but I do think I have a slightly different method. I just made that connection today, that when I very first started to design that this was my mission. It has taken me nine years to return to that original purpose and I am now confident that it is going to stay with me.

When I try to create a new product, collection, etc, it is important for me to completely submerge myself in the process completely. For example, when I pick out my colors for a collection, I sleep right next to the selected colors so I know how they make me feel when I go to bed and when I wake up. I smell everything, I think on a very basic level that is why I love to work with natural products. Smelling plastic fresh out of a box evokes a horrible emotion for me. I also touch everything. What is so amazing about knit wear is that you have the fiber that has a distinct tactile quality and then it also has another layer with the stitch.. Also when it is handmade you can feel the slight irregularities and the energy of the people who made it.

Sometimes I have a design and need to find an artisan and sometimes I meet artisans that I want to work with and I have to come up with the design. I think it is very important for me to meet my artisans and go to where they live and work. I like to fully feel their environment because I think that helps me better understand how we can collaborate and also adds to the whole experience.

Today I noticed some wood and trash that had washed up on the shores of Lima. I was disgusted at first and tried to move myself as far away as possible, but then as I got closer and saw all the little pieces with layers of paint, little nails and curved surfaces - I felt differently. Today I have also been getting an excited feeling in my upper chest when I see anything neon. That makes me want to incorporate neon into my spring collection.

The creative process is different for everyone and I am curious how other people interact with their senses in order to tap into their creative self. Is there a certain sound, light, color, etc that causes a sensation that can then guide you towards your creative vision?