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January 24">
     

 

 

what's new • denim • designers • jewelry • accessories • coming soon • shoes • blog • checkout • press

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Questions?   281-304-7767

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January 24, 2008

Feeling green with envy

Photo courtesy Matt & NatMatt & Nat bags are fashion-forward and eco-friendly.
 

If one of your New Year's resolutions was to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, you were not alone. Green is definitely in, but it can still be challenging to find fashionable clothing, accessories and shoes that look good and are great for the environment. And while it can be overwhelming to discern organic from vegan, making small style choices can lead to big results.
 

If you follow the ``You Are What You Wear'' credo, bags by Matt & Nat are for you. The collection of totes, hobos, clutches, satchels and overnight bags are free of animal byproducts, a must for creator Inder Bedi. An avid vegetarian, Bedi developed Matt & Nat in 1997 and uses everything from recycled plastic water bottles to faux leather in his bags. Bedi's search for materials is ongoing.
 

``One of the biggest challenges and hardest things to balance is finding `eco' fabrics that are fashionable. I have a feeling that it will probably get better as the demand grows, but it used to be that really great eco fabrics were not great fashion,'' Bedi said.

The bags come in all sizes, shapes and colors and rival their leather counterparts in style and wear. Bedi said the company is focused on expanding to other items and establishing a ``lifestyle brand'' with Matt & Nat.

The bags start at $115 and can be found locally at B. Ellen boutique in Cypress and Hemline Boutique in Sugar Land.

Green dreamers will also adore Dreamsacks' pajamas and lounge wear made of bamboo. Gaining in popularity, bamboo clothing is strong and soft, a good clothing combination. Olio, a whimsical and eclectic shop in Rice Village, carries Dreamsacks for adults and babies, as well as elegant wraps.

Over in the Galleria area, Adeline Sung is breaking new ground with her boutique, Green by Adeline. Sung uses a mix of fabrics including certified organic cotton, hemp, soy, wood pulp and bamboo in her designs. Sung's attention to earth-friendly materials extends beyond the clothing she makes; her boutique was built with reusable resources and energy efficient materials such as fluorescent lighting, treated windows and special insulation.
 

Posted by Heather Staible at January 24, 2008 12:00 AM

 

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