A New Year's Resolution - Eco-Friendly Exercise

One of the most common New Year's Resolutions is to embrace a healthier lifestyle, which usually includes an increase in exercise. Oftentimes, eco-minded exercisers overlook the many ways one can incorporate eco-friendly values into getting fit, staying trim, and building muscle. Go beyond taking sips of hydration from a reusable, toxic-free water bottle (helping to cut down on the yearly waste accumulating in landfills) and allow us to broaden your horizons with the following green exercise suggestions: Footwear Running, jogging or taking a leisurely stroll are popular methods of increasing your daily exercise. The market is full of environmentally friendly footwear that allows you to accomplish your fitness goals. From recycled rubber outsoles to packing products in unbleached recycled cardboard boxes, an increasing number of shoe companies have stopped using chemicals and materials harmful to the environment, such as polyvinyl chloride (better known as PVC). To get an idea of the possibilities, check out the entire line of Brooks' Trail footwear collection or their Green Silence racing flat (shown above) – comprised of 75% recycled materials. Socks You can't enjoy a good workout without protecting your feet from sweat and friction. A good pair of socks doesn’t have to contain bleached, synthetic fibers. Choose socks from companies, like Teko, which provide high quality through renewable resources, such as wool, organic cotton, and fibers made from corn. Teko uses "premium merino wool" sourced from farms in Argentina and recycled tekoPOLY to create socks with a luxury fit and insulation. Shown is the tekoPOLY Light Mini Crew for women. Clothing During exercise, you may cover your limbs and warm your body with a range of eco friendly clothing choices – fashioned out of renewable, organic, and recycled materials. Companies, such as Patagonia and Gaiam are known for pushing the envelope of sustainability with cotton, hemp, bamboo and soy fibers that make an earth conscious workout program easier to achieve. In addition to Birkenstocks Unisex Eco-Friendly Socks (combination of EcoSpun and cotton) to eye-catching swimwear, the Cannondale bike jersey shown is comprised of high-quality fibers comprised of recycled soda bottles. Exercise Mats To accommodate your Pilates and yoga sessions, an exercise mat protects your body during a workout. You can protect the environment by selecting products that forego the use of toxic chemicals and damaging manufacturing processes. For example, the Natural Fitness Powerhouse eco friendly workout mat provides cushioning for floor exercises by using an environmentally friendly foam material sans toxic phthalates or PVC. As part of the Zero Impact Program, trees are planted every time one of the mats is sold. Other companies offering eco-friendly exercise mats include GreenYoga, Gaiam and BareFootYoga. Exercise Equipment From using eco-friendly paints to coat machinery and working with sustainable materials, incorporate earth-conscious exercise equipment into your get-fit routines. Interesting selections include the WaterRower – a wooden rowing machine that uses water to create resistance during workouts. The fine hardwoods used in the construction of the machine come from sources of replenishable ash, cherrywood, and Black American walnut sources. The WaterRower uses no electricity, as it gains power from your effort.

Hot Mama Gowns - Organic Maternity Wear

Mamas-to-be, if you've ever had the pleasure of staying at a hospital, then you already know your temporary digs is no five-star hotel. Surrounded by the beep of blood pressure monitors and scent of antiseptic soap, you can probably think of a million different places you'd rather give birth to your bundle of joy. To make matters worse, you're wearing a generic hospital gown that certainly cramps your fashion sense and for many, actually adds to your physical discomfort. In order to stop the spread of germs and prevent infection, hospitals must use water at extremely hot temperatures with strong chemicals to disinfect gowns. If that wasn’t bad enough, countless patients have worn the faded hospital gown given to expectant mothers. The wear and tear on gowns is usually not the way you’d like to welcome new baby into the world. Are you looking for a better way to make this a more special and healthier memory? With Hot Mama Gowns, women can express their individuality and enjoy the miracle of life in eco-fashion style. Hospital- and birthing center-friendly, these organic maternity gowns supply mothers with:

• Short sleeves
• Full coverage snap-open back
• Two ribbon-tied panels for quick and convenient nursing
• Trendy and expressive styles

Hot Mama Gowns is Born It took two years of jotting down notes and creating proto-types until the brainchild of Hot Mama Gowns, Deidrea Haysel, constructed her fashionable masterpieces. Surrounded by itchy material, the scent of hospital chemicals, and less-than-desirable threads, Deidra turned the first moments spent with her newborn daughter into a business venture that forever changed the way mothers coped with the preamble, experience, and aftermath of delivery. Inspired by her organic eating habits, Deidrea set out to design natural, fashionable maternity wear with added convenience for breastfeeding mothers. Organic and comfortable, Hot Mama Gowns reduce the impact on the environment by using 100% natural or low-impact dyes. In the end, expectant mothers wrap up in "super-soft organic cotton" without the harshness of cleaning chemicals often found in hospitals. Hot Mama Gowns are fashioned from organic cotton:

• Grown from natural seeds without the use of fungicides or insecticides
• Cultivated in healthy soil due to crop rotation
• That forgoes aerial spraying of insecticides and pesticides
• Produced with non-toxic cornstarch instead of synthetic waxes
• Whitened in safe peroxide – no chlorine bleaching
• Follows fair trade practices

Whether you're having one child, twins or triplets, Hot Mama Gowns are designed to accommodate growing bellies of all different shapes and sizes – thanks to the two ribbon-tied panels. When ordering, it is suggested to request a gown based upon your true pre-pregnancy size. Larger pregnancies would benefit from ordering one size larger than pre-pregnancy size. Want to keep up-to-date with the latest Hot Mama Gowns news - follow them on Twitter. Photo Credits: Hot Mama Gowns

What is Peace Silk?

In the world of eco-friendly clothing, silk is used to create breathtaking wedding dresses to fashionable shawls to breathable yoga garments. However, you should know an oftentimes hidden truth behind commercial silk that should encourage you to seek out the rare and less readily available option of 'peace silk.' The majority of commercial silk products are created by boiling whole cocoons that are later unraveled onto reels into a single silk strand. The process kills the silkworm found inside just so the silk fibers stay intact and produce a continuous strand. In an effort to keep the population of silkworms flowing, only a couple of moths are allowed to live past their cocoon stage. While it may save time and energy, it is unnecessary to kill the silkworm, as the silk can still be spun like other fibers if the moths are allowed to live. "Vegetarian Silk" The process of creating peace silk greatly differs from most commercial endeavora, as the silkworm is allowed to live out its full life cycle, thus gaining the nickname of "vegetarian silk." Instead of being reeled, the silk undergoes a process of degumming and is then spun in a similar manner as other fibers. The results are the same, if not better. The yarn is flexible, soft, and airy. If you're looking for a product that is warm, peace silk is highly recommended, as it's also known to provide therapeutic comfort. Tussah Peace Silk When browsing eco-friendly fashion sites, you may come across the term, 'Tussah' – also known as wild silk. This method of collecting the silk used in organic clothing involves venturing into the wild to gather cocoons that moths have naturally left behind. Handspun Tussah silk yarn is famously molded into wrist and foot warmers in Europe, perfect for arthritis patients trying to provide T.L.C. to poorly circulated limbs. Examples of Peace Silk Shown: Deborah Lindquist Peace Silk Dress (peace silk and organic cotton lace) (l) ; Dolce & Gabbana Tussah Silk Tank Dress (textured Tussah silk) (r); Unisex Hand-Loomed Wild (Peace) Silk Scarf by Sevya (above) Image Credits: Elegant Roots, Embodies

Make Life "Simple" with Eco-Conscious Footwear

It's not uncommon for some people to turn their noses up at the mention of goods comprised of recycled materials. For many, there's just something about 'used' stuff that clouds their sensibilities. However, the creativity and perseverance of eco-friendly minds, like Simple, who make "shoes for a happy planet," has helped shape a growing market and interest for sustainable clothing and footwear. With stylish footwear for men, women, and children – it's quite easy to forget that Simple's comfy sandals, trendy sneakers, and adorable infant shoes are made from recycled carpet padding, car tires, unbleached hemp, bamboo, as well as used soda and water bottles. Feast your eyes on the following selections and you'll see what I mean. Infant's Weebit $24 Colors: Nile Green or Candy Pink (shown)

• Wool felt
• Organic cotton
• Recycled plastic bottles

Kid's GT Janie - Big Kid's $45 Colors: Nile Green (shown) or Candy Pink

• Vegan friendly
• Organic cotton uppers
• Jute – midsoles
• Recycled car tires – outsoles
• Coconut buttons

Women's Teetoe – Silk $65 Other Style: Organic Cotton

• Cork
• Water-based glue
• Recycled car tires - outsoles
• Silk

Women's Satire - Hemp $55 Colors: Black, Cub, or Natural

• Recycled soda bottles for shoe laces
• Recycled car tires - outsoles
• Organic cotton lining and uppers
• Hemp

Men's CARload-Hemp $65 Other Styles: Certified Suede

• Hemp uppers
• Vegan friendly
• Certified organic cotton knit linings
• Recycled car tires for outsoles

About Simple Simple has been around since 1991 and the company has since been successful in learning how to mold natural and recycled materials into strikingly useful, eco-friendly creations. In 2006, Simple embraced post-consumer recycled boxes and biodegradable bags for shipping off their products to happy customers. By introducing recycled materials and securing access to certified pesticide-free organic cotton in 2007, the company further expanded their planet-first approach. Sustainable sneakers soon followed, which ultimately led to the first-ever Footwear Plus Green Award in 2007. Photo Credit: Simple

The Greenest Tee on the Planet

What's better than relaxing in your favorite comfy tee-shirt?

Relaxing in your favorite sustainable comfy tee, of course!  

Deep in the heart of the humid south - Atlanta, to be exact - Clint Zeagler is serving up the hottest pecan pie you'll ever get your hands on.  Pecan Pie Couture isn't about dessert, however - it's the latest, not to mention trendiest, sustainable clothing line that combines "southern charm with high fashion flavor."

At Pecan Pie Couture, creating original clothing that looks and feels great is a priority - making these awesome tee shirts with the least possible impact on the planet is even more important.  It starts with organic cotton grown locally near their Atlanta shop.  Pecan Pie Couture designs their own cut and knits are prepared by the veteran crew of 14 at nearby Villa Rica Knitters.  

Each organic cotton tee is hand-stitched and hand-embroidered; natural dyes (turmeric, indigo, coffee, tea) are used during a traditional hand-dying process.  Some Pecan Pie Couture tees even feature authentic Native American beadwork - produced on the nearby Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina.

Pecan Pie Couture tee shirts are one-of-a-kind creations - classic, 

sustainable clothing with just the right combination of chic style and southern sass.  Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be a way to get your own slice of Pecan Pie Couture online - at least not yet.  The organic clothing line is available in a quickly-growing selection of department stores and fashion boutiques, currently including several stores in Georgia, as well as Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Ohio.  

Check out Pecan Pie Couture for the latest information on styles, upcoming events, and availability in your area.  

Photos via PecanPieCouture.com - top image featuring Aveda Natural Beauty Care at the Perimeter Mall in Atlanta; middle image by Brent Walker at the Revival fashion show; bottom image Pecan Pie Couture's 2008 launch at Bloomingdales, Atlanta.