VivaTerra, an online home furnishings supplier dedicated to living in harmony with nature, recently started selling these elegant fair trade silk wall hangings. Crafted by villagers in Cambodia, they are hand loomed with first grade silk and weighted by genuine Cambodian coins sewn into the corners.

So what is the best part? The villagers are assured a fair price for their goods and the business generated supports local village artisans and the welfare of children in need.

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The land of poets and sages brings us a new wisdom called Edun. Fully embracing sustainable style and commerce, Bono of U2 fame, his wife Ali Hewson, and designer Rogan are the creators behind this new fashion line. Drawing upon a business model as beautiful as its design aesthetics, the company was founded on what it calls the Four Respects:

1.) Respect for the people who make our product.
2.) Respect for the place where we make it.
3.) Respect for the materials used.
4.) Respect for the consumer.

Ali Hewson's involvement in fair trade and social issues has brought about a company that is interested in giving more than charity to underdeveloped countries. Edun actively works with third world communities to build stable fair trade commerce providing lasting benefit. Every piece of clothing has the inscription "We carry the story of the people who make our clothes around with us."

Watch and listen to the poetry of the people at edun.ie (click on "media" for the short film).

From jeans to blouses and jackets the line includes items made with organic materials and dyes. Look for Edun in Barney's, Saks Fifth Avenue and select boutiques. Prices range from $45 - $300.

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New York design studio Here There Designs produces an elegant line of lamps made from sustainable abaca fiber formed by their unique molding technique. The lamps are available in several variations from pendant to table top designs.

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So you want that fresh, clean bottled water without the waste right? Biota, meaning "way of life" in ancient Greek, was founded by David Zutler as a way of addressing the 95 billion non-renewable plastic bottles dumped in landfill last year. Biota's bottles are made from 100% compostable and renewable corn resin. That's right, lovely fields of golden corn can now be turned into natural plastic using a more ecologically friendly process. Finally, an answer for those of us who just love carrying those little bottles around.

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Recently, a friend asked if I knew of any beautifully designed, ecologically conscious prefab homes. To be honest, I was completely stumped by the question. Like many people, I had a poorly conceived notion of what prefab housing can be. Think of prefab and what comes to mind? Cardboard like walls, mass produced chemically saturated building materials, forms devoid of personal character and quality sacrificed for quantity. While many prefab houses fit that description, there is a growing movement to develop affordable homes with style and conscience. Enter the new prefab, an elegant answer to the challenging market we live in.

Michelle Kaufman, designer of the Glidehouse as well as the Breezehouse (a joint venture with Sunset Magazine) is a pioneer in bringing affordable ecological design to the masses. What sets these two homes apart? The off site construction creates very little waste, takes less time and has a lower environmental impact on the home site. Both the Breezehouse and Glidehouse are built using sustainable materials including bamboo flooring, galvalume metal roof, on demand hot water, bio-radiant heating, and non toxic paints. Style and substance, good work Michelle!

Filed under: Architecture | Bookmark with del.icio.us