English Retreads-Recycling Rubber Tires

One of the most clever companies I have come across lately in my research for eco-chic green products is English Retreads.

In their own words:

"At English Retreads, we turn recycling into a bold fashion statement with our unique handbags and accessories. Designed specifically for conscientious consumers and savvy fashionistas, each one-of-a-kind English Retreads product is handcrafted from reclaimed truck inner tubes—right here in Boulder, Colorado.

One hundred percent vegan, our materials are an ecologically sound alternative to animal products. And even though our bags are designed to keep on truckin' forever, it's always good to buy a spare. Following in the tire tracks of Henry Ford's original Model T, English Retreads are available in any color you want—as long as it's black!"

English Retreads gets the inner tubes from truck stops in the Boulder, Colorado area where they are located. And the bags are really cute, and can take a lot of wear and tear.

Wash Your Eco-Chic Green Clothing in a Green Laundry Washing Kit

Once you find the perfect eco-chic green bamboo shirt, or bamboo blanket, the next step is to take care of it in a eco-chic green fashion, with a green laundry washing products. More and more eco-friendly laundry products are becoming available for different fabrics, and washing methods.

One place to start is with a True Green Laundry Washing Kit.

The True Green Laundry Washing Kit includes the green products below:

The Truegreen Laundry Washing Ball is an Extremely Earth Friendly and People Friendly Product that DOES NOT contain harmful synthetic detergents, perfumes, dyes or oils.

The Washing Ball cleans your clothes without bleach or detergents in cold water. You will be amazed at how bright your whites will be.

The Laundry Washing Ball is cheaper than detergents and bleach and much more convenient.

The Dryer Ball lifts and separates laundry so air can circulate more freely.

1. Reduces ironing, static and creases

2. Reduces drying time by 25%

3. Naturally softens fabrics

4. Non Toxic-no chemicals

5. Will last approximately 6 months

The Dryer Balls are re-usable, just leave them in your dryer and enjoy their benefits time and time again.

Alternation: The Perfect Eco-Chic Gift for Creative Sewers and Knitters

Do you have a person in your family that loves to sew or knit? If so, there is a great book just for them that shows you how to create new clothing and accessories out of old ones. This is a book written by two fellow Clevelanders, Shannon Okey and Alexandra Underhill. Both of the authors are extremely creative people as well as extremely interesting.

Alternation reflects their varied talents. To purchase Alternation, you can link directly to the page on Lake Erie Artists Gallery's website, and I will ship it right to you, or you can buy it directly from Amazon in the U.S. or Amazon in the UK.

Both Shannon and Alexandra are very into recycling and reusing old materials in new ways. Shannon is an expert knitter and crocheter. She has written several other books on both topics, the most well known is the knitgrrl series. For more information on Shannon's books, click here.

Alexandra Underhill (also known as Xan) is most well known as a costume designer, dancer, and stiltwalker. She also is a proponent of eating raw foods. If you see a woman on a pair of stilts, and her hair is blond with other colors mixed in, chances are that it is Xan. This is her first book.