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Posts Tagged ‘Organic Linens’

Green Goods to Keep You Warm at Home

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

I know that I’ve written a lot recently about eco-friendly winter-wear(long underwear, gear, boots), but with winter lasting so long and being so cold (and snowy), you can always use another pair of gloves or socks, an extra hat to keep in the car, or ski pants for outdoor activities. Seeing as it’s January and I have no immediate plans for a warm weather vacation, I’m apt to write about what’s on my mind and what I could use to keep me a little toastier on these chilly evenings and even colder mornings (can you tell I just can’t get warm)!

Keep Warm at Home

Blankets – Each of these DreamSacks Silk Filled Comforters are handmade by 4 women who sit together and hand stretch layer after layer of silk fibers to create the comforters’ silk fillings. According to the company’s website, the silk adjusts to your body’s temperature and provides an extra layer of warmth so you drift off to sleep feeling as if you’re wrapped in a silk cloud. While pricey at $480 a piece, I have to admit that I would buy one of these comforters if I had the extra cash lying around! If you can’t afford one of their comforters, you might consider a Silk Fleece Blanket (starting at $99) instead.

Pajamas – I love that this SheAndMe 100% organic cotton Little Green Riding Hood comes equip with a hoodie – it shows the designers understand what it’s like to live in buildings that lack adequate insulation! Paired with these 100% be organic Everyday Lounge Pants you’re sure to keep warm and look cute to boot! Both items are made in the USA, and are relatively affordable ($95 for the hoodie and $68 for the bottoms).

Sheets – If it’s affordable and organic that you’re looking for, you might want to check out Target’s Organic Sheet Sets. Made from 100% organic cotton, these sheets are available in Sage Green, and range in price from $10.50-$42.00. For slightly more luxourious organic sheets, you might consider West Elm’s Organic Cotton Frayed-Edge Sheet Sets. These sheets have a 230-thread count and can be purchased for between $79 and $119 per set (includes a flat & fitted sheet, plus 2 pillowcases).

Slippers – According to the ‘disclaimer’ on Viva Terra’s website, you shouldn’t try these slippers on first if you’re intending on giving them as a gift – they’re that comfortable! Hand assembled and knit by a group of indigenous people in South America, these Cozy Knit Slipper Booties look to be well-worth their $58 price tag. I also like the looks of these Acorn Cozy Booties – vegan slippers that are made with memory foam mid-soles and weatherproof out-soles so your toes stay dry when you run out to start your car or grab the mail in your slippers!

Notice how limited my world view is when it comes to keeping warm! I haven’t included any hardcore winter athletic gear here, as I’m mostly concerned with finding eco-goods that can keep you warm when you’re not intentionally putting yourself in situations where being cold is part of the plan (i.e. snowshoeing, bike riding, winter surfing and skiing).

Stay tuned – I have 2 more posts planned to help you find great eco-goods that will keep you warm outside (gloves, hats, etc), and at work – because life is too short to be cold all winter long!

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I Heart Organic Linens

Thursday, August 21st, 2008

OK, when it comes to my bedding, I can be somewhat of a diva. I don’t like to sleep in hotels unless the sheets are soft, clean and cozy (which rules out an awful lot of hotels), and I have shamelessly purchased bedding for boyfriends whose standards for soft linens hasn’t quite matched mine! Hey, if I’m going to spend 8 hours a night sleeping atop something, it really should be soft and comfy!

LOOP is an organic linen company that makes fine linens for the home and for hospitality/wholesale. With a focus sustainability (the company’s mantra seems to be “Sustainability is our core value,” LOOP is concerned not only with producing high-quality organic products, but also strives to educate consumers about the harm that is done to the environment through conventional cotton growing practices. While I do not own, nor have I ever felt LOOP linens, they look like they’re pretty soft. And if I were actually in the market for new sheets (and not just vicariously window shopping through the research I’m doing for this blog), the company sends out fabric swatches upon request.

LOOP sheets aren’t cheap, but their prices are comparable to those of other non-organically produced, high-end sheet sets. For about $200, you can buy a sheet set that includes a full sheet, a fitted sheet and 2 standard pillow cases (all sheet sets I’m listing are for queen-sized sheets). According to the website, these organic sateen sheets have a 250-thread count, are made by expert weavers, and are cut with deep pockets to accommodate mattresses up to 14 inches thick, with strong elastic around each end to ensure a tight fit. The company also sells handmade hemp linen accent pillows with a “birch” design that is screen printed for an antique sun-faded look.

I found some beautiful organic sheets in a most surprising place – Pottery Barn! That’s right – the mammoth, over-priced furniture company is going green (or at least greener), and linens seems to be one of their prime organic focuses. Although I am somewhat skeptical about the manufacturing processes involved in mass-producing anything organic, I will also admit that I like how these sheets look, they aren’t horribly expensive, and the fact that Pottery Barn is trying is a good thing that should be recognized and (possibly) rewarded with my green dollars. The design gurus at Apartment Therapy also wrote about Pottery Barn’s switch to organics in a local post which you can check out here.

Check out this Tile Organic, a 200-thread-count sheet set that is made from 100% organic cotton percale, which is grown without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. The Moroccan-tile inspired sheets are sold in sets that include a fitted sheet, a top sheet and 2 pillowcases, are machine washable and emerge “smooth and soft from the dryer” after each wash. Sheet sets range from $79-$129 and are only available through the Pottery Barn catalog or via their website. Eileen Fisher Pintucked Organic BeddingYou might also want to check out the Watercolor Organic Bedding Ensemble. On sale for $189.99-$269.99, this set includes a duvet cover, 2 shams, 2 pillowcases, a fitted and a flat sheet. This stripy sheet set has a 200-thread count and is made from 100% organic cotton.

Eileen Fisher is a designer best known for her women’s clothing line, but she has also started making luxurious organic bedding that’s beautiful and presumably soft too! While the sheet set offered on her website is a little expensive ($70 for one pillow case seems somewhat outrageous to me), the fitted and flat sheets retail for $80 each, which puts them on par with other high-end organic linens. The Pintucked Organic Cotton Bedding pieces are crafted with an attention to detail, have a 200-thread count, and are 100% organic cotton. Personally, I like how the comforter looks – it reminds me of my own (which is super fluffy and perfect for curling up underneath). Eileen Fisher is committed to working with eco-friendly fabrics in the production of her clothing and home goods, and has created a “Celebrate the Earth” page on her website that explains her company’s eco-policies.

If you’re looking for something warm and beautiful that’s also earth friendly, you might like this Organic Shaker Patchwork Quilt by Gaiam. Gaiam Shaker Patchwork QuiltI’ll admit that I’m kind of a sucker for quilts, though I usually prefer the handmade, personalized crazy quilts that my mom has been known to make. In this case though, the quilt looks so good that I don’t think I mind that it’s (most likely) mass produced and (definitely) imported. The quilt has a 180-thread count, is made from 100% organic cotton, and has matching shams that can be purchased separately. Priced from $240-$300, the quilt is fairly priced and looks like it could keep the most eco-friendly of us warm throughout the winter. Gaiam also carries a line of Organic Cotton Vintage Paisley & Solid Knit Sheets that are 200 gram-weight and made from 100% organic cotton, colored with low eco-impact dyes and finished without chlorine bleach or chemical softeners. The sheets come in muted hues like bark, mauve and green tea, and range from $15.99 (for 2 pillowcases) to $119 (for a set that includes a fitted and a flat sheet).

The items listed here include just a few of the many, many organic and eco-friendly linens I found online. Every time I write a post that includes eco-products I’m amazed at the wide variety of items on the market, and the growing number of eco-retailers and manufacturers out there who are committed to creating products using sustainable and eco-friendly practices. While I don’t have the time or the space to list everything I see, I am compiling a list (that will one day hopefully be a guide) of eco-products, so feel free to send me links to sites you like that offer the kinds of products I list here.

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