I founded Opus Mind with one simple mission: to empower consumers with sustainable options that ensure the health of our beautiful planet. – Kathleen Kuo
Opus Mind delivers a classic sustainable backpack to last a lifetime. Classy beautiful leather that will be a part of our family for life. It is sleek, intrinsically handcrafted and simply put: a classic. When speaking to Kathleen Kuo I was so impressed in her attention to detail, every aspect of the way she is running this brand has been thought out.
Kathleen used to work at Chanel in her previous life and was so distraught as to how much was actually wasted in production. This inspired her down the path of sustainability. Opus Mind’s bags are handmade in Italy, and the leather used to make them is actually the scraps from a factory that makes gloves. How cool is this?
Recycled from scraps to make these exquisite pieces. I have to say I am already looking forward to owning the Saddle Crossbody when I am back in the city.
I truly cannot emphasise enough the quality of these bags. The detail in the craftsmanship is superb. These bags are functional and match any occasion. A day out in the city or a day at the beach, this bag looks good wherever you take it. The thought that the scraps that are used to make this bag would have ended up in landfills polluting our planet, instead you get to treasure it and pass it down to your kids, just like your grandfathers old classic briefcase!
Mine still looks brand new and I look forward to seeing how it ages. Send us pictures with you and your ¨Opus Mind¨ we would love to share them.
Eco Couple uses affiliate links. We promote products we have tried ourselves and truly believe in. If you make a purchase using a link we may receive a commission. Such revenue helps keep this website running, and allows us to keep the content free for readers.This motivates us to stay on our mission of inspiring conscious consumerism.
It is an absolute pleasure for us to introduce you to these brands and online stores that are all aligned with a more ethical, eco-friendly, fair trade sustainable lifestyle. We very much hope you like and enjoy them as much as we do. We always love to hear your feedback too…. so read on and comment below if you feel inclined.
¨Av Norden was the result of founder Jenny Jackson’s long time pursuit to launch a venture that would contribute to a healthier, more responsible, and more collaborative fashion industry.¨ and that is exactly what Jenny is doing. We got to virtually meet Jenny recently and I am so blessed to get to know people as wonderful as her. Not only does she have a great eye for amazing products but all of the brands she works with are some of the best products on the sustainable market. I guarantee you will feel the same when you touch these fabrics and see the attention to detail these brands put in their clothing. This neck protector/mask/headband is really a great accessory to have, and it is quite comfortable to breathe through for those that have trouble with regular face masks. So wether you are looking for yourself or your little ones this platform Has some really special unique pieces.
Who doesn’t like to run through the woods like a fairy in a beautifully flowing skirt! We had so much fun taking these pictures and in these trying times isn’t that what its all about! This skirt is wonderful because you can wear it while lounging around the house or dress it up for the holidays with a pair of heels and the beauty of it is it is a timeless piece that can fit into anyones capsule wardrobe.
As simple as this sounds, how many times have you bought your kids pants with little draw strings, that for some reason do not actually work as drawstrings? Never made sense to me… Our son is lean and lanky and if he is not in diapers most pants will fall right off. Not these! The design of this particular outfit speaks for itself, so freaking cute right? But it is also functional, I can tighten the pants around his waist and the pants as well as the t-shirt have pockets. If you have a toddler you probably know how much they like to stow away their treasures. Any time I try and put other pants on him now he frowns and says ¨Mom!!! No pockets.¨ Not only does the adorable hat protect my toddler from the sun but we are constantly asked where we got it. I hope he does not grow out of it too soon!
Daddy is so special to our little one, while I thought I would be able to have the Mommy and son look going, He specifically said ¨No Mom!¨This is Daddy’s and my hat. Needless to say they both look way to cute in them for me to disagree.
Please stop by Av_Norden’s online store and support this project, Jenny has some fun new projects coming soon. Stay tuned!
AllBirds did something very innovative and uses merino wool as well as other natural fibers, like sugar cane and trees in the making of their shoes. They even came up with their own fabric ¨Trino¨ Trees and Merino. This makes for a durable and sleek looking fabric for their shoes. I love that AllBirds has no logos and really fits into the basics of what one requires from a shoe.
Not only does this store have an incredible selection of eco-friendly shoes for your every day sustainable lifestyle but they also have actual stores located all over the world. So if you are ever curious and feel inclined to try a pair you can probably source a store near you, but if that isn’t enough you can also order a pair online and if you are not satisfied can return them within 30 days no questions asked. That to me is some good customer service.
Shoes that tread light on the planet – All Birds
This brand also really prides itself on reducing its carbon footprint. ¨Our ambition is to be like a tree, leaving the environment cleaner than we found it.¨ It is so inspiring to see how they are working towars bringing those numbers to neutrality.
Everybody needs a good staple cardigan in their closet! I love the simplicity of this one and I really support brands that use merino wool, it has so many great qualities. It is a breathable fabric, anti bacterial, sustainable, temperature regulating and feels really pleasant against the skin. So for me a nice oversized cardigan gets a lot of use.
Photos sourced at All Birds
I really love the puffer jacket but it doesn’t make much sense for us here on Hawaii. However it will be a go to for upcoming winters in Germany, when we get to go back for Christmas, hopefully next year.
They really go above and beyond for their natural resources from the all new chitosan fibre for their t-shirts, a fabric is a natural odor fighter, to using recycled polyester for the fillings of the jacket.
Even the detail of the packaging has been thoroughly thought out, using 90% post-consumer recycled cardboard that serves as a shoebox, shopping bag, and mailer all in one. Now that is what I call efficient and who knows what else you can use the box for once it is at your house.
This is really a great place to get your every day basics, from shoes, underwear to colourful socks and feel really good about supporting a brand that is striving towards bettering our planet.
Sometimes a name can say so much…. Soul Flower is exactly that. A free spirited, comfortable, fun, family oriented brand with such attention to detail. Our order came with a hand written note, and a bag of awesome stickers and you could really feel the love. It was truly appreciated on this end. Soul Flower even has their own eco-friendly screen printing facility in house. They have so many wonderful uplifting prints. They have a huge selection of products from yoga wear to headbands to boho hippie chic jewellery, bags and accessories.
¨We seek inspiration in the simplicity of everyday life – in nature and in music, in free-spirited adventures and in like-minded souls. We create clothing in a way that supports our planet, spreads a positive message, and most importantly — helps you express yourself. You can make a difference with what you wear, so share the vibe and let your Soul Flower in our natural fiber clothing!¨- Soul Flower this is so eloquently put that I couldn’t really say it better.
¨Soul Flower is a natural clothing brand for kind souls and free spirits.¨ If you want to be uplifted and feel the positivity of a brand this is the one for you.
This is an absolute favourite for us! A really sturdy pair of pants, reinforced at the knees, all sustainable, durable and more importantly one that can grow with your toddler. These pants have a functional draw string (I have already mentioned the importance of that for me), pockets and you can fold them up, so your child can grow into them and have them for a few years.
We will be posting more pics periodically as he grows with them. If that is not enough they have a ¨Trade Up¨ program where you can send back your pants when your child grows out of them and they will give you a $15 store credit, repair your old pants and resell them at a cheaper price on their Pre- Loved section of their web, you have to be a subscriber to shop this page. I think that is a pretty amazing deal and truly sustainable. We are already looking into buying our second pair (I really like the light ones).
¨Strong enough for active kids, gentle on the environment- Jackalo
So no matter what your budget is this purchase is well worth your while. These pants are perfect for the child that skates, climbs trees, plays in the dirt and loves the outdoors! I highly recommend you stop by the Jackalo store for a truly sustainable, durable, awesome shopping experience for you and your little ones.
I always like to remind you, the reader, that supporting these brands really does help our environment and makes a difference, you can help by purchasing these brands or sharing this article with family and friends. Thank you for stopping by and being a part of the Eco Couple family!
Eco Couple uses affiliate links. We promote products we have tried ourselves and truly believe in. If you make a purchase using a link we may receive a commission. Such revenue helps keep this website running, and allows us to keep the content free for readers. This motivates us to stay on our mission of inspiring conscious consumerism.
Want to be a conscious consumer but not sure where to shop? Well then this may be the most valuable list for you to start living a more conscious and eco-friendly life. We have all recently learned more about the importance of taking care of mother earth while still getting our needs met for our daily necessities. We researched and found some beautifully curated online stores carrying sustainable goods. So browse around, enjoy…and tell us about the products you have tried and love.
We at Eco Couple truly believe that we ALL have to support each other . The more stores, brands and options we have for living a more eco-conscious lifestyle the closer we are coming to truly beneficially impacting our environment. We always try to remind you that every step you take, every dollar you spend supporting sustainable eco conscious brands gets us closer to a better future. These are some stores that are truly a one stop shop for some incredible brands and their initiatives.
This website is designed mostly for the outdoor enthusiast, from gardening to camping, although there are some great cleaning products as well as non toxic pest control options. It is well worth a visit and has a really great selection of eco friendly products, from home to garden to lighting to dehydrators.
This store has an especially wonderful selection of bedding as well as, honestly, a little bit of everything you may need for the home, the site is really easy to navigate. If you want a beautiful array of cookware or some eco friendly storage cubes. Browse through a wonderful selection and make your home just a touch more eco friendly one purchase at a time.
For all things fashion this store has over 70 brands to choose from, and each and every brand has been hand selected for its values, the quality of their clothes and of course it’s beautiful appearance. Aequem recently did an interview with us, you can find it on their Journal page.
We truly love the selection and style of this store, from your every day necessities to some really far out haute couture pieces.
Here we have another truly inspiring store. It is kind of liberating to let these websites to do the research and you can just feel good about what you are buying. All the while knowing that the companies have been thoroughly investigated from production right through to the end consumer. This store has a really impressive shoe collection, as well as beautiful clothes and
This store has a little bit of everything as well. From eco-friendly pet products to kids toys, to kitchen products and clothes for kids and sportswear for parents. Another worthy store to put in your favourites list.
¨Living a lifestyle you’re proud of, that supports a planet you’re proud for, should be simple.¨-Earth Hero
Categories: Clothing, Shop by Age, Zero Waste products and Accessories
We personally have created a favourite eco friendly products list on our Storefront on amazon. It is comprised of a few categories we have gathered over the years. All the products we have personally tried ourselves and believe in. We hope you enjoy the selection. If you ever have a question feel free to reach out.
Hope this list is useful to you feel free to share this post with your eco conscious friends. We are always interested in hearing about the pages and shops that inspire you the most… please let us know in the comments. Thank you.
We all love a good Spring Cleaning every now and then. I really love the concept of a sustainable ¨Capsule Wardrobe.¨ The term was coined by Susie Faux in the 1970’s A Capsule wardrobe consists of a collection of essential items that do not go out of style, that you can mix and match in many different ways. Saving you time, figuring out what to wear, and most importantly money. We are focusing on how to move towards the sustainable Capsule Wardrobe, for me this is a dream come true!
I will be featuring pictures from Pic Style out of the UK in this article and also take a look at Vetta Capsule if you are interested in some great basics. I must say we have very much have fallen in love Pic Style….. so many ways to wear these amazing pieces. 8 pieces = more than 50 outfits… how cool is that! Here are a few!
In the meantime let’s talk about how to evolve your very own wardrobe into something more manageable and hopefully more ethically conscious. I once heard a fun tip to start misting out the closet….If you turn all your hangers the other way around….and in one year check on what you have not worn….that is a really nice way of moving on from some of your clothing items.
Always sharing these items with friends or donating them to a good cause. As they say ¨one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.¨ I am very lucky in that respect as I have several friends that know me well enough and call me to come take a look when they are cleaning out their wardrobe!
The minimalist approach can seem overwhelming when it comes to clothes, but you would be surprised if you actually wrote down what you wore every day you would notice that you often repeat the clothes you really love and neglect a far larger percentage of what you own. So why not start donating the things you do’t wear and simplify your wardrobe.
Some companies have made this easier by creating a Capsule Wardrobe and helping you with ideas of how to wear them…they are especially great when you can wear them inside out or back to front to create new looks. We had the opportunity to do a lovely photoshoot with a few of PicStyle pieces…. I made a point to take these pictures with my sister who is twenty years younger than me, to show how ageless and timeless these pieces truly are. I hope you like them!
I am thrilled to say that there are so many exciting brands that are gearing towards this kind of wardrobe and that is what we thrive on over here @ecocouple For some more fun pieces take a browse through one of our recent posts ¨Favourite Sustainable Brands 2020¨
We would love to hear about your capsule wardrobe!
It was the first Ethical fashion Show held at Funkhaus Berlin. We had to take a sneak peak at all the wonderfully innovative up and coming sustainable designers. The location was amazing. Funkhaus really emanates the true spirit of Berlin and its sustainable trends.
The first day we arrived Green Showroom we were really excited to go to Safia Minney’s book presentation “Slave to Fashion” 💕 Safia’s book reinforces the truth of what is happening in the production chain of fashion. And we highly recommend it if you are interested in learning more about the ethical fashion industry.
Safia is currently the director for Po-Zu and founder of Tree People. I was lucky enough to check out the new Star Wars collection.
Philomena Zanetti and I have a fun story, we met because I was desperately waiting for the Postal service to deliver a dress for an event. The morning of the event nothing arrived. I was introduced to Julia and within a few hours I was all ready to go to my event. I loved wearing her on several occassions. Here I am talking to Barbara Meier who not only is a friend but is now also an Abassador for fair trade textiles in Germany. So I hope we will possibly collaborate on something fun together in the future.
Sanny van Heteren – Ankunft zur Fashion Show Rebekka Ruètz zur Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek Berlin Spring-/Summer 2018 im Kaufhaus Jandorf in Berlin am 05.07.2017. Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek Berlin – Spring/Summer 2018 Sanny van HETEREN Arrival to Fashion Show Rebekka Ruètz to Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Berlin Spring Summer 2018 in Department store JANDORF in Berlin at 05 07 2017 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Berlin Spring Summer 2018
We also came across two really fun companies Globe Hope and Mimmeko, Globe Hope makes bags from parachutes and other recycled materials. This bag is made from recycled sails. We so love that!
We also met Lanius I am wearing a Lanius top and Philomena Zanetti trousers in the left pic. Lanius has a reall great basic collection of responsible clothing.
Sanny van Heteren mit Freund Inaki Lopez Esparza – Ankunft zur Fashion Show Rebekka Ruètz zur Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek Berlin Spring-/Summer 2018 im Kaufhaus Jandorf in Berlin am 05.07.2017. Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek Berlin – Spring/Summer 2018 Sanny van HETEREN with Friend Inaki Lopez Esparza Arrival to Fashion Show Rebekka Ruètz to Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Berlin Spring Summer 2018 in Department store JANDORF in Berlin at 05 07 2017 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Berlin Spring Summer 2018
I really loved the super stylish outfit I came across from Sanikai Clothing. I decided to wear it for the Ethical Fashion Show and was spotted by friends on instagram. Apparently even a few guests went down to visit the designer after the show which makes me very happy.
I am especially excited to have found an ethical jeans designer Mud Jeans
Here I am in a comfy look by Mud Jeans and the super cool Star Wars sneaker by Po-Zu.
Needless to stay we have found a lot of exciting brands and will be keeping our eye out for upcoming trendy sustainable fashion we can share with you.
The greatest thing about Tarifa is its wilderness, it is surrounded by rolling hills and stretches of beaches beyond the eye can see. It is the idealic paradise for any wind related activity. Nature in raw form leaving you time and time again with your jaw slightly dropped as you stare out into the Mediterranean or Atlantic (depending what beach you’re r on).
As I have lived in LA for the last two decades (very spoiled) I seem to be on the constant search for organic and sustainable products while traveling. I believe it is absolutely imperative that we all stand together with where we spend our money.
In lieu of this I have found my favourite places to shop and be fashionable in the most amazing places in the world. This story starts in tarifa….
I came across a fabulous ultra chic and sexy sustainable line. I got to wear one of her fabulous outfits for the Cannes film festival this year. Maria Malo, her line is produced sustainably in Bali.
For a discount please enter code SANNYFRIENDS
She also has an organic bamboo yoga line that I absolutely love too.
Maria lives and breathes what she and her company stand for. On instagram @mariamaloline
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Another brand that I had the pleasure of coming across is @emebeme
They produce everything in Portugal and are also organic and consciously aware of every step of their production process.
My boyfriend and I had the opportunity to do a photo shoot with Marina, the founder and CEO of Emebeme. Here are some of our favourites
…. you can also find us on Instagram @ecocouple
This is the store front…. I’m wearing the super cute t-shirt jumpsuit 🙂
If you drop into either of these stores while in Tarifa please say hello from me.
