Apr 17, 2011

Green Looks Good On YouBy Connie TamotoWinnipegFreePress.com

SHOP local, sustainable textiles, up-cycle, recycle, fair trade — as Canadians become more environmentally conscious in their overall purchasing decisions, it’s only natural to see these same sentiments echoed when it comes to opting for eco-friendly fashion items.

And with Earth Day just around the corner — this coming Friday, to be precise — it’s the perfect time to highlight some of the boutiques, fashion lines and designers dedicated to bringing sustainable eco-fashions to the SSRqPeg.

Ten Thousand Villages, a program of the Mennonite Central Committee, has two stores in Winnipeg (134 Plaza Dr. and 963 Henderson Hwy. ) The stores carry fairly traded jewelry and accessories, including bangles, earrings, and embroidered bags, made in developing countries.

One of my personal favourite eco-friendly items is the fashionable and stylish reusable bag by b.b. Begonia. Unlike the structured plastic type you might get from the supermarket or drugstore, the b.b. Begonia bags are made out of a lightweight fabric that can be folded up into a wee little package — perfect for storing in your purse (even a clutch — I know because I’ve tried!).

In addition to being super portable, what I like about these bags is they offer the fashionista a stylish way to tote around boutique purchases, yoga gear and even a basket full of groceries. These great bags can carry up to 20 kilograms and come in fashionable prints, like the new Go With the Flow, Pocket Full of Posies and Yin and Yang collections.

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