green weddings
Haute Couture Necklaces by Klewism
In yesterday’s post, I blogged about the release of the summer issue of Eco-Beautiful Weddings. Did you noticed the necklace that the model bride was sporting on the cover of the magazine?
It really caught my eye. So I looked up the name of the jewelry designer because I wanted see more from their collection. WOW is all I have to say, the designs are impressive and the necklaces are pieces of art.
Even more, many of the materials used to make them are made from recycled materials, including some from heirlooms and because of the intricate design of each piece of jewelry, it is near impossible to replicate. Therefore, you will truly have an exclusive piece of jewelry.
The designer states on her website that:
Seeing my finished product is always a surprise to me on some level. Though expecting nothing specific, I’m still astonished (and usually pleased) at getting the unexpected.
In case you are wondering, Lindsey Bucklew is the designer of these one-of-kind fashion accessories and the name of her company is Klewism.You can see more of her jewelry designs in her Etsy shop.
Read MoreEco-Beautiful Wedding Magazine – Summer 2010 Issue
In case you haven’t heard, the summer issue of Eco-Beautiful Weddings Magazine, the hottest wedding e-zine is now available. Go check it out!
Read MoreEco-Beautiful Weddings – Spring 2010 Issue
If you have not already checked out the second issue of Eco-Beautiful Weddings, then I would like to invite you to do so now. This is truly one of the best digital wedding magazines out there and best of all it is a must read for you eco-brides, with over 100 pages of inspiration for your green wedding. I truly love this wedding magazine!
Read MoreHoneymoon Destinations – Pacuara Lodge in Costa Rica
You are reading correctly, this jewel is situated on 740 acres in the rain forest of Costa Rica on the Pacuara River. It’s away from everything. Let’s see here…
your own private pool with the honeymoon bungalow (Look at that view!),
spa treatments outside while listening to the nature’s music,
romance (What an ambiance!),
and lots of adventure–white water rafting on the Pacuare River, horseback riding, hiking trials, bird watching, swimming, fishing, etc.
Even more, Pacuara Lodge offers eco-friendly bungalows,
made of wood from tree farms and palm thatch collected in the rainforest by our Cabecar Indian neighbors. Each bungalow combines sustainable practices such as solar-heated water and low-impact septic systems with comforts such as orthopedic mattresses and spacious bathrooms.
If you are looking for a honeymoon destination where you can get away from it all, explore nature, and experience a bit of adventure in one of the most beautiful places in the world, you should consider this place.
In case you are wondering, they also permit weddings. It is relatively easy to marry in Costa Rica with a little planning ahead of time. The lodge is ideal for couples wanting to elope, or for intimate destination weddings as they can only accommodate up to 38 adults plus children.
Can you see why I want to visit this place so badly? Would you honeymoon or go on a romantic getaway here?
Photos: Pacuare Lodge
Eco-Fabrics – Bamboo Wedding Gowns
If you are just tuning in to my blog, I’ve been discussing eco-fabrics. To date, I have discussed reasons to consider eco-fabrics and am now introducing you to the most sustainable fabrics that are being used to design eco-chic bridal gowns. Yesterday, I talked about hemp fiber. Next on my list of eco-fabrics is bamboo.
What makes bamboo eco-friendly?
Bamboo is highly sustainable and just like hemp, it has thousands of practical uses. In addition to making textiles from bamboo, you can use it to build things (furniture and homes). You can even eat (vegetable) and drink (beer) bamboo. And of course, you can wear it.
Also, all products that are made from bamboo are 100 percent biodegradable and recyclable. In addition, bamboo grows very fast, in fact some species can grow up to a foot a day; it doesn’t deplete the soil and requires minimal care to grow. Bamboo also has an all-natural built-in anti-bacterial system (used to make bandages, masks, surgical clothes, etc.) and so it can grow naturally without the use of pesticides. It’s biodegradable in that it can be broken down in soil by microorganisms and so it does not pollute our environment when it decomposes.
With regard to bamboo fabrics, they “are made from pure bamboo fiber yarns [and bamboo pulp] which have an excellent wet permeability, moisture vapor transmission property, soft hand, better drape, easy dying, [and] splendid colors.”
Sources: eco-couture bamboo bridal gown – Natural Bridal Collection; quote – Swicofil
Eco-Fabrics – Hemp Bridal Gowns
Previously, I talked about reasons to consider eco-fabrics for your bridal attire. Now, I would like to share with you the most common Eco-fabrics used to make Eco-bridal gowns as well as what makes them an eco-friendly. I will begin with the most sustainable and versatile of all plants that are used to make textiles, which is as follows:
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Hemp is the most sustainable of all plants and it is very versatile in that it has hundreds or even thousands of practical uses. In addition to using hemp fiber for textiles, its fibers and oils are used to make building materials for houses, food, hair and skin care products, and perhaps the best of all of its practical uses is that it can be used to make bio fuels.
In my previous post, I told you that the textile industry is known as the number one polluter of clean water, next to agriculture because of all of the different chemicals they use from growing and harvesting crops (pesticides and herbicides) to create textiles to the chemicals they use to dye and produce the actual fabric.
Well growing hemp “does not exhaust the soil, uses little water, and requires no pesticides or herbicides” because “its skin is tough and insect resistant…” In addition, hemp fiber is one of the strongest fibers you can find, thereby making it the most sustainable of all textile fibers and it can be blended with other natural fibers. Most often, hemp fiber is blended with silk fibers to create Eco-chic bridal gowns like the one featured above and below:
Please join me again tomorrow as I talk more about different types of Eco-fabrics. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to my blog to be notified of new blog post. Stay tuned!
Sources: Hemp Bridal Gowns – Adele Wechsler; Quotes: Pick Natural.
Reasons to Consider Eco-Fabrics
Yesterday, I introduced you to the Eco-Chic Couture Bridal Collection by Gwendolyn Gleason and in that post I mentioned to you that I would discuss the different types of eco-fabrics that are being used by some fashion designers. I have decided that before I jump into discussing the different types of eco-fabrics and what makes them eco-friendly, I thought it would be best to briefly explain why you may want to consider a bridal gown made from eco-fabrics.
According to report by O EcoTextiles, “the textile industry has been condemned as being one of the world’s worst offenders in terms of pollution…” The primary reasons why the textile industry has received such a bad reputation is that they depend heavily upon toxic chemicals and water. With regard to their chemical use, it is estimated that the industry uses up to 2,000 different chemicals including formaldehyde, chlorine, metals such as lead and mercury, just to name a few, to dye and produce fabric.
Following, many textile mills are heavily dependent upon water throughout the entire process of producing fabric from start to finish, including transporting and washing the chemicals. It is for this reason, that the textile industry are considered the number one polluter of clean water, next to agriculture. In addition, the chemicals that are being released into the air we breath and mixed with the water we drink from the production fabric, are detrimental to our health.
That said, the fashion industry and actually the bridal gown industry alone, is a multi-billion dollar industry and of course, is heavily dependent upon the textile industry. So, my rationale is that every little bit counts. Whether you are planning a full-blown green wedding or you are a conscious bride and want to make your event as eco-friendly as possible, it may be of interest to you to opt for a bridal gown (or anything made from textile) that is made from eco-fabric. Stay tuned!
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