Becky Stern’s cool bike tube headband at Craft: is simple to make and a great way to use up punctured bike inner-tubes.  We get through these in our family.  Lots of thorns in South Africa.

Bike Tube Headband [Craft:]

If your impression of second-hand things is dull and dowdy, take a look at these vintage finds from Etsy.

From left-right and top-bottom: vintage ANDREA PFISTER suede clutch; VTG 80’s ITALIAN Teal leather SNAKE SKIN Avant Garde OTK Over Knee Boots 6.5; Authentic military uniform, with all the bells, pins and whistles; The Anita Pallenberg Cape; Vintage 70s 80s Oversized SLOUCHY Sweater Cardigan S M; Dropwaist Velvet one shoulder Dress with Fortuny Mary McFadden Style Pleated Skirt; 80s LANVIN One Shoulder Art Print Maxi Dress; Chunky Cable Knit Cardigan with Wood Buttons, sz. L; Captain Jack vintage lightweight coat

The designs are silk screened with water-based inks onto 100% recycled cotton tote bags by Eco-Bags.

There’s something particularly special about the Cape Town Green Map launch that I wanted to share with you. It’s probably the lowest carbon launch of all the Green Maps, and I’m quoting from the launch invitation to illustrate why/how:

The venue is “your laptop, PC or iPhone so there are no travel costs or [additional] carbon footprint. The dres code is “optional – but locally designed garb from hemp/bamboo/organic cotton is encouraged”. There are no speakers – “an untold saving on hot air and CO2 emissions”.

In addition there are “no printed invitations (save on ink/chemicals, paper/trees), no printed media packs (save on ink/chemicals, paper/trees and packaging), no travel to the venue (save on CO2 emissions, time and roadwork frustration), no food or beverages (save on packaging, waste, energy and food miles) and no speakers, official openings, ‘live’ performers (save on CO2 emissions, uncomfortable silences and the effort to look impressed)”.

Isn’t that cool? And in this very wet weather I’m extra-specially glad not to be going anywhere!

Here’s a bit more about Cape Town Green Map for Capetonians who are interested in giving it a test-drive:

Cape Town Green Map is updated by interested green Capetonians, making it a direct, democratic communication of local knowledge and action. You can find community gardens, craft centres, recycling drop-offs, areas of natural beauty, shops and markets that sell green and organic products, restaurants and bars who serve organic food and drinks and more. If you know about somewhere green that’s not on the map, you can suggest it to the mapmakers, or become a mapmaker yourself.

More great green news for Cape Town is that in October A&C Maps, who print “Not the official guide to Cape Town”, the “Pink Map” and the “Food Map” will be bringing out a printed version of the Cape Town Green Map. Look out for it!

A big thanks to Open Green Map, the City of Cape Town, urban sprout and A&C Maps for this great tool.

*Read Treehugger’s great article about why maps are such a good tool for helping us go green.

Pure Design is a UK-based social enterprise that seeks out the latest talents and designer eco products and makes them available via an online boutique. They represent established as well as emerging eco designers and artists, and offers an exclusive collection of eco-friendly pieces selected for their craftsmanship, style and eco credentials.

The Pure Design website has been given a stylish makeover, making the site a pleasure to browse and incorporating more product images to make shopping easier. They have also added some new designers to the fold including Katie Chaplin’s hand-made one-of-a-kind Kimono Brooches, EaKo’s cool reclaimed fire-hose accessories and Studiomold’s jaw-dropping statement piece the Spaghetti Princess chandelier.

To celebrate the launch of the new site, Pure Design is offering 20% off all products for the month of May. Delivery is free if you spend over £150.

My pick of the bags are these dragonfly print jute shoulder bags with cotton lining (the handles are lined too to be comfortable on bare shoulders) with a cell phone pocket.

“Each Freeset Bag tells a story of one woman’s journey to freedom. She used to stand with 6,000 other prostitutes in a small but well known area of North Calcutta. She didn’t choose her profession; it chose her. Poverty does that. It robs people of their dignity and children of their innocence.

She still lives in the same area, but instead of selling her body she makes Freeset Bags. Now she has choices, the choice to work decent hours for decent pay, to re-establish her dignity in her community and to learn to read and write. Now her daughter won’t have to stand in the street selling her body like her mother used to. Freedom has been passed on to the next generation.” – from the Freeset website.

Also check out these wood-free Kantha journals. They are handbound, with a kantha- stitch multilayered cover, a screen-printed pencil and white wool paper. Each journal is unique. They are made by the daughters of sex workers. Freeset’s goal is to bring wholeness and restoration to their lives. Many tragic stories are told by the girls. By giving these girls a dignified job, Freeset have given them a step up, to gain respect by society. The cycle of shame is broken!

Freeset products are available in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Sweden.

The next Fashion Exchange event, happening on the 9th May at Cafe Sofia in Rondebosch. It’s a new venture in South Africa and it’s organiser Tonia Zorbas says it stemmed from the need to reduce local clothing wastage. It’s also a fabulous way of making your money go further during these troubled economic times.

So, how does it work? Quite simple really. You turn up at a clothing exchange event with a maximum of 6 lightly worn or new garments or accessories that you think someone else might like, but that you don’t want any more (or things that don’t fit you any more). All the items are screened on arrival and you are given a button for each item that you bring. You can then use the buttons to “buy” other garments and accessories. Once everything has been put on display, you can start choosing your “new” clothes from what’s available and then “pay” using your buttons.

So, not only do you get to go home with new clothes, you’ll be doing something good for the planet and for your pocket, and it’s guaranteed to be more fun than traipsing around the shops.

Tickets to the event are R30 and can be pre-purchased through www.webtickets.co.za or buy your ticket at the door on the day. See you there.

Patagonia donate time, services and at least 1% of their sales to environmental groups worldwide, while using recycled polyester in many of its clothes and only organic, rather than pesticide-intensive, cotton.

Their Spring ‘09 collection is now available online in the UK from the Ethical Superstore (remember that buying online is better for the environment when you’re just buying a few non-food items).

Here’s what Ethical Superstore has to say about the new range of Patagonia gear:

“we think it’s safe to say that Patagonia not only make good looking, pro-performing gear, but are a great example of how man and nature can work side-by-side, co-existing and co-depending on the other for a mutually beneficial existance.”

Take a look.

For men:

For ladies:

See more at the Ethical Superstore.

Get a new outfit for free at this fun Swishing event as part of East Festival in London. Fashionistas are hunting down the best pieces at Swishing events all over the country. Who knows what treasures you may find…

12noon – 2pm Clothes drop off:

Bring your clothes, shoes or accessories to the swishing area and drop them off, you will receive a stamp for each item (minimum 1, maximum 5)

2.30pm Browsing time:

Take time to browse the goodies on display – look, but no touching until the Swish begins

3.00pm Swishing officially opens:

There will be a brief introduction to the Swish and it will then be declared open for you to start swishing.

The Rules

• Bring at least 1 good quality item of clothing, shoes or accessories that you no longer wear but would be proud to pass onto a fellow Swisher – no rags please!
• You can bring up to 5 items, you will recieve a stamp for each, so feel free to take as many items as you brought along.
• You will have time to browse the rails and look at the fantastic free goodies on display – but remember, you cannot claim these items until the swish is officially open!
• Once declared open, swish to your hearts content! Remember, be kind to your fellow Swishers…no scratching, spitting or biting!
• Have fun!