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Monthly Archives: September 2015

KEEN

29 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by Coco Eco in Fashion

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featured, KEEN

By Beth Doane, Features Editor

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Founded in 2003, Keen is an American shoe manufacturing company based in Portland, Oregon.

We find it amazing that this shoe company has more than a thousand retail locations across the United States, and are distributed worldwide,  yet every pair is still made in the USA. At KEEN they also have a great philosophy of living a HybridLife.

11539017_10153300542416084_1424864855469877767_oHybridLife is their commitment to creating solutions in each product and business practice, to design footwear, bags and socks that enable you to play anyplace without a ceiling; and their promise to care for each other and the world around us.

Learn more at keenfootwear.com.

Image Credit: Keen

BOURGEOIS BOHEME

27 Sunday Sep 2015

Posted by Coco Eco in Fashion

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boots, Bourgeois Boheme, eco, fashion, featured, shoes

By Sass Brown, Contributing Editor, EcoFashionTalks.com
BourgeoisBoheme3

Bourgeois Boheme produce a fashion forward, vegan line of men’s and women’s shoes and boots.

Individual in style with unique and unexpected details, BoBo shoes are deliberately and thoughtfully designed from innovative eco friendly, animal-free materials. Based in London, they are the quintessential British brand, inspired by street style and vintage fashion, truly original and entirely hand crafted.

BourgeoisBoheme4The journey of a BoBo shoe is up to a year in the making. The brands signature asymmetry and subtle lotus flower details infuse the collection with a unique perspective.  The journey begins in Portugal where first prototypes are produced in shoe factories that are handpicked for their ethical manufacturing.

BourgeoisBohemeInstagramEach style is tested and tried for size, fit and feel, often taking several iterations to perfect prior to production. Skilled artisans hand make each pair of BoBo shoes using traditional techniques, resulting in robust, considered footwear made ethically.

bboheme.com

Image Credit: Bourgeois Boheme

ALILA UBUD, BALI

25 Friday Sep 2015

Posted by Coco Eco in Travel

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eco, featured, indonesia, travel

By Nichola Zed, Travel Editor

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This stunning hillside resort is set in the foothills of Bali’s Ayung River valley, in the traditional hill village of Payangan.

The resort is just minutes from the centre of Bali’s spiritual and cultural heart of Ubud. Alila Ubud uses traditional Balinese architecture with a touch of contemporary design. With secluded courtyards, spacious terraces and private gardens it creates an intimate oasis for the perfect getaway.

744Fopxed5ut4NIFvN64s86FK2C6tG4jJjiTealbHgc,ZtQ4L6wNgpMAe6s71l1qiqGydpQVOvROB-P_hJdwY_E Most of the walls are constructed with rock from the Ayung River and pillars of local coconut wood support the roofs. The terraces benefit from the breeze created by the hillsides of alang-alang grass. Alila Ubud’s philosophy has always been one of environmental and social sustainability. The resort has 56 rooms with 12 villas, ranging from charming rooms to pool villas. Alila Ubud is one of the first hotels in Bali to seek international certification for environmental sustainability, were one of the pioneers to adapt the GreenGlobe 21 program and certification in 2007 and continues to be an industry leader in responsible tourism.

QLQwSt7jqmTBKxRdcRdQyn-K-jqoMaw81WJBqROMnOk,Q_xErgrniqNEkZUMYZDAZDx0D3UnHi-mFV1JdcAzW3sDesa Melinggih Kelod, Payangan
Gianyar, Bali 80572
Indonesia
P : +62 361 975 963
F : +62 361 975 968

www.alilahotels.com/ubud

Image Credit: Alila Ubud

GO RAW

24 Thursday Sep 2015

Posted by Coco Eco in Uncategorized

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feature, featured, gluten free, healthy, non-gmo, Organic, Raw Food, vegan

By Beth Doane, Features Editor 

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There are lots of innovative new brands popping up in the raw foods space but one of the true pioneers, Go Raw, has kept their product line a step above the rest.

All Go Raw products are all GMO-free, nut-free, gluten-free, vegan, and of course raw. Raw food has a serious health factor but all Go Raw products also have impressive flavor profiles. Each variety is displayed clearly on the packaging in bright, playful colors along with additional indicators of quality that we love such as the “sprouted” icon and the USDA certified organic label. The line is also NON GMO Project Verified.

Learn more at www.goraw.com

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PHOTO CREDIT: Go Raw

SAIGON LAUNDRY

21 Monday Sep 2015

Posted by Coco Eco in Fashion

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eco, fashion, fashion4freedom, feature, featured, menswear, SAIGON LAUNDRY, womenswear

By Sass Brown, Contributing Editor, EcoFashionTalks.com
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Saigon Laundry is the fashion brand born of Fashion4Freedom, a full production company created to serve as a responsible alternative to mainstream production and sourcing options.

SaigonLaundry13With a belief that beautiful, healthy and well-crafted goods can be made with resourceful collaboration and thoughtful processes. The first socially responsible, ethical and transparent supply chain in Asia created by designers for designers. Fashion4Freedom grew out of the inability to find an affordable manufacturer to produce their own designs with standards for both ethics and quality, so they invented an entire supply chain themselves. Investing to ensure systematic change, Fashion4Freedom work directly with village artisans, and share the profit of their labor.

The Siagon Laundry collection spans menswear, womenswear and accessories. The women’s collection features a broad range of artisanal workmanship including hand embroidery, patchwork, applique and hand loomed textiles. Contemporary silhouettes seamlessly incorporate traditional techniques. Classic menswear has a youthful, European flavor with considered details, such as a fine paisley pattern lining in a classic suit jacket, or floral under collar on a slim fit shirt. Accessories include a line of menswear ties. The collections supports marginalized producers and artisans in Vietnam.

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fashion4freedom.com

Image Credit: Saigon Laundry

FREYCINET PENINSULA, TASMANIA

20 Sunday Sep 2015

Posted by Coco Eco in Travel

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australia, eco, Freycinet Peninsula, tasmania, travel

By Nichola Zed, Travel Editor

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The Freycinet Peninsula is surrounded by some of the most pristine waters in the world, with ancient granite mountains rising from the sea, sprinkled with native bushland and home to a variety of wildlife, and ringed by vast stretches of sandy beaches relatively untouched by man.

Saffire Freycinet overlooks the Hazard Mountains and the Freycinet National Park. The luxury resort has 20 suites. From each of the rooms guests have an enviable view across Great Oyster Bay to the Freycinet Peninsula and beyond. Freycinet Lodge features 60 cabins nestled in bushland, within the National Park.

SNKVUuI5lGctdU-s7v5B_QV7F8bEqHEmBdmqedRBiK4These eco-accredited cabins have one or two rooms and there are also exclusive couples’ retreats. The Lodge provides an opportunity to learn about the local environment, how to conserve by using resources wisely and help local communities.  There is also a range of tours for guests to book through the Lodge, from sea kayaking, offshore cruises, scenic flights, quad bike adventure rides and local food and wine tasting. Freycinet Lodge has been recognised as one of Australia’s leading and most innovative ecotourism projects, with Advanced Eco Certification from Ecotourism Australia.

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2352 Coles Bay Road
Coles Bay
TASMANIA 7215
National: 1800 SAFFIRE (1800 723 347)
INTERNATIONAL: +61 3 6256 7888

www.saffire-freycinet.com.au

Image Credit: Saffire Freycinet, Freycinet Lodge

DIY SKINCARE: COCONUT OIL INFUSION

16 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by Coco Eco in Beauty

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beauty, DIY, featured, Organic, Skincare

By Kendra Yoshinaga, Contributing Writer

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When it comes to skincare, coconut oil is a true multitasker.

You can use it as makeup remover, body lotion, leave-in conditioner, massage oil—the list goes on. It also makes an excellent base for herbal infusions. Here’s how to make two infusions: lavender and cardamom-vanilla.

I bought my herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs, which sells pretty much every bulk herb and spice imaginable. This recipe is based on their DIY herbal salve tutorial.

You’ll need the following: IMG_0203

16 ounces virgin or extra-virgin coconut oil

One handful lavender buds

Four or five tablespoons hulled cardamom

One vanilla bean

Strainer

Cheesecloth

Pans and heat-safe dishes for double-boiling

Two clean, small, wide-mouthed jars

Slice the vanilla bean open and scrape the seeds into a heat-safe dish. Using a rolling pin or mortar and pestle, crush the cardamom until you’ve broken most of the seeds, then put it in the dish with the vanilla. Place the lavender in another heat-safe dish.

IMG_0201Microwave your coconut oil until melted, then divide between your lavender dish and your cardamom dish. Place each dish in a water-filled saucepan on the stove and turn the stove on very low heat. You want to warm your oil without cooking the herbs—try to keep the temperature between 100 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and stir occasionally. It can take up to five hours for the herbs to take on the color and aroma of the herbs. When ready, use a cheesecloth to strain the oils into your jars.

The IMG_0257best thing about this recipe is that the possibilities are endless—you can experiment with different kinds of oils and herbs until you find a combination you like. These oils will keep for about a year when stored in a cool, dark place.

Image Credit: Kendra Yoshinaga

SHOULD WE LEGALIZE THE IVORY TRADE?

15 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by Coco Eco in Culture

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africa, china, conservation, elephants, ivory legalization, ivory trade, wildlife

By Caitlin Hamilton, Contributing Editor

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Earlier this year on the eve of Prince William’s royal visit to China, the Chinese State Administration of Forestry declared a one-year ban on the trade of carved ivory products.

Yet I cannot help but feel that the move played by the Chinese government to impose this ban is a half-hearted nod towards appeasing the second in line to the British throne. After all, Prince William has long been an advocator for banning the ivory trade: he is the royal patron of TUSK, an organisation dedicated to initiating and funding conservation programmes throughout Africa.

According to data collected by National Geographic, the amount of illegal ivory goods seized from China over the past twenty years were the highest of all Asian countries-–more than double that of Thailand, ranked in second place.

IMG_4121So what will a mere yearlong ban in the Chinese market really accomplish? I wonder whether, in a country where ivory is already a sought-after commodity, this ruling may result in a surge in demand when the ban is lifted in a few short months. Coming from a zoology background, and having spent many months working and volunteering abroad on various conservation projects, I have spoken with people from all backgrounds about this topic. What surprised me in the beginning was how many of these avid animal lovers suggested that ivory trade be made totally legal.

What may sound counterintuitive in the first hearing, soon makes sense when you think about it: reducing the demand for ivory is the only way to prevent the continued mass slaughter of tusked animals. The International Trade on African Elephants argue that legalising the trade would decrease the market rate of the ivory products, which would lower the incentives for poaching. Dan Stiles, who works for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), argues that: “With a legal raw ivory trade, elephants can thrive.”

Much of the obsession over ivory, and the products crafted from it, stem from the sheer novelty value. A comparison may be made to the forbidden fruit of Eden–people desire what they cannot and should not have.

Owning ivory is a status symbol for many in China, and as such there is a huge demand for ivory products in the country. The New York Times wrote that 70 per cent of the world’s illegal ivory makes its way to China, and for those who are willing and able to pay, it is easy to come by–the country is known for its incredibly lax ivory import controls. In a leaked report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), it was shown that the country could not account for 121 tons of ivory–that is the equivalent of tusks from 11,000 elephants.

The procedure of organising the illegal poaching, killing, and mutilating of these animals is a risky one. The subsequent packaging and smuggling of the goods out of one country and into another requires skill. The cogs in this mill are fuelled by money and greed, and by the time the ivory reaches its destination it is accompanied by a bloodthirsty tale. A kilogram of illegal ivory now reaches more than $1,600 in China, a price that has tripled in three years alongside an increase in affluent Chinese middle-class citizens who desire exotic trophies.

If suddenly everyone and anyone could legally purchase a product made from ivory, than the novelty and status may dwindle. No longer would owning an ivory chess set impress dinner guests, and perhaps people may ponder to spend their savings on some other equally shiny object.

This forbidden fruit effect has been seen before. When cigarette smoking was prohibited in a few states back in the 1890s, it was found that cigarette usage declined for the first few years, but then steadily increased afterwards, despite the ban. Rather now warnings are given against the perils of smoking, and the country has seen a decline since 1965. If potential buyers and traders were warned of the effects of poaching, perhaps demand in the ivory trade would dwindle too.

IMG_3685The WWF believe that over 100,000 elephants were killed for their ivory tusks in the past three years alone. Populations of African elephants are estimated at 700,000 on a good day and as little as 400,000 on a bad one. Going with a conservative guess, we may be without these magnificent animals in twenty years.

Whatever the future of ivory trading–whether it be its legalisation, or more stringent regulations set in place for its trade–it is clear that the role that China plays will be crucial.

Founder of Save the Elephants, Iain Douglas-Hamilton gave a rather poetic quote, which I think sums this debate up poignantly: “Although half a world away, China holds the key to the future of the African elephant.”

tusk.org
savetheelephants.org

Image Credit: Kelly Calagna, Managing Editor

LONGING FOR SLEEP

14 Monday Sep 2015

Posted by Coco Eco in Fashion

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By Sass Brown, NY Editor, and Founder of Ecofashiontalk.com

For those days when you want to stay in bed, wrapped in a blanket all day long.

Borrowing its name from the Estonian title for Chekhov’s Novel, “Let Me Sleep”, the conceptual collection “Longing For Sleep” is about the haunting wish to sleep during dark wintery times, and refers to the period in the northern hemisphere when the days are very short with barely any light.

An attempt to materialize the feeling of a wish to stay in bed, wrapped in a blanket all day long, the collection created by Marit Ilison, and is made entirely from vintage Soviet wool blankets.

Titled the “true poetess of clothing” by French haute couture magazine Stiletto, Marit Ilison is a multidisciplinary artist and freelance designer working in the fields of conceptual art, fashion, costume and exhibition design. Mixing deep concepts with feelings and eye-catching form, Ilison starts everything from a concept or a feeling. The Vogue TALENT of 2014, she was also a finalist at the 29th Hyeres Fashion & Photography Festival.

The phrase Longing for Sleep had haunted Ilison for years before the project of colorful woolen coats came to fruition after 10 years. Discrete and minimal the collection is embellished with crystals, and expressed through a wide range of colors and patterns.

Shop.longingforsleep.com

PHOTO CREDIT: Longing for Sleep

ALLERGEN “FRIENDLY” PASCHA CHOCOLATE

13 Sunday Sep 2015

Posted by Coco Eco in Thrive

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Chocoalte eco, GMO Free, Gourmet, kosher, Pascha, sweet

By Beth Doane, Features Editor

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Pascha Chocolate has integrated the rich allure of the cacao bean in a rare format that’s as close to nature as possible. 

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Without harmful additives and allergens, Pascha offers chocolate bars and chips with 60% Cacao and Maca root, adding vitamins B, C, and E to the mix while increasing energy and stamina and supporting women’s wellbeing.

The Pascha 70% Cacao with Lucuma has a touch more sweetness while maintaining a low glycemic index thanks to its use of the Lucuma super-fruit which is high in beta-carotene, B3, and iron. Unlike other chocolatiers that boast allergen “friendly” products, Pascha is truly safe. Its creators were inspired to develop a pure chocolate after battling their own and their children’s food intolerances and allergic reactions so their facility is clear of peanuts, nuts, dairy, soy, eggs, wheat, corn, sesame, and rice. Each irresistible offering is certified organic, fair trade, kosher, and vegan as well as non-GMO verified.

Learn More at paschachocolate.com.

PHOTO CREDIT: Pascha Chocolate

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