green & indie finds for your uncommon life – modern handmade + sustainable design

Young designer Carlee Santarelli creates the most beautiful handmade cabochon rings using a collection of recycled vintage fabrics. These babies are definitely eye-catching, and they’ve even caught the attention of celebrities like Madonna and Ashlee Simpson!

Carlee found me via Facebook and let me know about her work — I’m a sucker for vintage lace, so I immediately fell in love with the bold, timeless look of her rings. I chatted with her to find out a little more about how she got started as a designer and what inspires her beautiful creations.

How did you get started as a designer? I’ve always have been designing — even as a little girl.  I knew that the fashion industry is where I wanted to be, but I never imagined that it would be designing accessories.  I always assumed I would be a buyer for a boutique or designing clothes.  Who knows where I will be in the future, but I am here now.  I’ve always been a creative person.  I get that from my mom.

What inspires your work? Everything inspires my work. Life from the daily activities, to the struggles, love, those who come and go into my life, my mom’s photography, my brother Brian, music, films, boredom, happiness, scents…everything.  As far as inspiration for my first collection, the Romantic Laces, that was inspired from a mini tv series from the 80’s, The Thorn Birds, which takes place in the 20s and 30s.  I love long and feminine lace gowns.

Who are your favorite designers? I admire and have a lot of respect for the talented designers that set the trends and make the fashion weeks, but I personally prefer vintage clothes.  My closets are filled with labels that no one would know of.

What are your fashion & beauty must-haves? My top beauty must-have is my MAC Ruby Woo lipstick.  A good, matte, deep red lip always does the trick and goes with almost anything.  My top fashion must-have is bloomers. I live in bloomers winter, spring, summer and fall-day and night. 

What advice would you give to aspiring designers? Whatever you design or whatever idea you think would be fun to to, do it.  If it makes you happy, that’s all that matters.  Even if it doesn’t work out, you will learn a lot and it will lead you to something else.  Fear, the unknown and judgment are probably biggest barriers to success.  Don’t let them decide for you.

Where can people find your work? www.carleesantarelli.com will be up soon.  I also sell to Luxelab (Montana Ave. in Santa Monica), Hairroin Salon (Hollywood), Sonya Ooten (Larchmont Village) & www.sonyaooten.com, Mesh & Lace (Silver Lake), Beverly Glen Pharmacy, and soon to be in ARCADE (West Hollywood) — all in California.

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Shopflick’s latest episode of their regular video series, Hall of Style, is all about eco-friendly fashion, and it’s definitely worth a peek.

Hosted by Davida Hall (who is an absolute sweetheart by the way, I’ve had frequent e-mail correspondence with her over the last few months), this episode of Hall of Style features eco-friendly lines EcoSkin, Smart Glass, Linda Loudermilk and Mr. Larkin. You actually get to see some of these eco-friendly and upcycled materials being transformed into beautiful clothing and accessories. I really admire all of these designers for striving to create their lines in the most sustainable way possible.

Right now, through the month of April, many of the eco-friendly items found on Shopflick are on sale, including this beautiful Smart Glass Open Triple Lariat which is made from upcycled bottles. Check out more about Atlanta-based Smart Glass designer Kathleen Plate in the video below or watch the Hall of Style video and you’ll get to see step-by-step how these are made — it’s really cool!

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We’re still working on getting our new apartment in order, and my boyfriend has been busy creating an awesome backyard garden space. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but we’re hoping that by the fall it will be how we want it. We were looking at bird feeders at the hardware store the other day, and I just checked Etsy to see what I could find there instead, and I discovered these incredible handmade bird feeders that are more like works of art for your yard!

These beautiful outdoor sculptures are hand crafted and welded from steel and copper by Joseph Papendick. Amazing, no?

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I’ve mentioned the handmade retro swimwear by Popina here before (back in 2007), but designer Pamela Levenson’s collection of vintage inspired swimsuits has continued to evolve since then, and she’s got new styles and fabrics that are definitely worth checking out with summer right around the corner!

I’ve always loved the retro look for swimwear — I’ve actually got an amazing vintage pin-up style bathing suit that I adore, but true vintage bathing suits are often hard to find in good condition and the right size!

The Popina retro swimwear collection includes halter one-piece suits, tankinis, bikinis and swim skirts, in a variety of fabrics and sizes, and Pamela also stocks chemical-free lotions on her website. If you’re near Portland, Oregon, you can check out these suits in person at the Popina Portland Swimwear Boutique, where Pamela even offers custom sizing services.

I recently caught up with Pamela to find out a little more about how she got started making these amazing retro swimsuits.

Tell me a little about yourself and your work. My name is Pamela Levenson I am an independent swimwear designer, I live in Portland, Oregon, my swimsuit brand is called Retro Swimwear by Popina.

I grew up in Victoria, British Columbia and have been working in the garment industry for the past 20 years. This experience has given me opportunities to work for Guess? Jeans in Los Angeles, Ca and Paris, France and several larger clothing companies in Oregon. I have lived in Northeast Portland in the Beaumont Wilshire Neighborhood for the last ten years, which is an easy 20 minute walk from home to my shop and studio.

How did you get started as a designer? I began working with swimsuits while in fashion school in Los Angeles when I worked as intern at a prominent boutique bathing suit shop in Hermosa Beach California. At the time I never dreamed the skills I acquired cutting, measuring and doing custom suit orders would come in handy in such a direct way.

What inspires your work? Retro Swimwear by Popina is inspired by the past and the great women who wore them. One of my first swim suit styles was created because I could not find a fashionable swimsuit that fit and flattered the way I wanted. I have always had a passion for styling of the past (40s and 50s in particular) and swimwear was no exception. Reaching back to those eras, I created styles with the influence of days gone by but with the modern convenience of today’s fabric innovations and bathing suit construction. What’s great about Retro Swimwear by Popina is that you can be active or just relax on the beach in style. You will find Retro Swimwear by Popina somewhere between the Copacabana of the 40s and Ipanema today.

What advice you would give to aspiring designers? Love what you do because it is really hard work, get your work out there, don’t be afraid to start small, just start!

Where can people find your work? I sell my suits at my brick and mortar Bathing Suit Boutique in Portland, Oregon, online and wholesale at over 50 spas, boutiques, water parks, resorts and swimwear shops in 15 states.

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Amazing indie designer Rebecca Turbow just recently launched her Spring/Summer 2009 collection, and she’s offered MissMalaprop readers an exclusive 25% off discount for 3 days only!

Rebecca has been creating her fantastic clothing line, Safe, by hand in her New York City home for more than five years and gaining legions of fans for her modern, monochrome style. I loved her recent fall collection (light grey striped socks with grey dresses, so cute!), and her new spring collection is equally fun and versatile. Grey is one of my favorite colors to wear, so I love to see so much of it appearing in Rebecca’s recent collections!

Just enter the code missmalaprop when you shop at the Rebecca Turbow online shop during the next 3 days, and you’ll get 25% off!

Also, check out this fun video featuring the new collection, with music by friends of Rebecca, the band Micachu and the Shapes:

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Today is Earth Day, and while I obviously believe in everything it stands for, I also think it’s one of those holidays like Thanksgiving — shouldn’t we really be honoring the things that are represented by this day everyday?

I’m not perfect, and I don’t expect anyone else to be either, but when we’re knowledgeable and conscious of what we do and how that affects the world around us, I think that makes us more inclined to change our habits over time, and change them for the better. I know that since I started writing this blog over two and a half years ago, I’ve learned a lot and I’ve made a lot of small changes in both my daily habits and what I buy, how I buy it, and where I buy it from.

I’m much more careful about looking at the ingredients in things now, particularly products that are going to go on or in my body. I keep a copy of The Green Guide’s The Dirty Dozen Chemicals in Cosmetics list in my wallet, along with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch guide, so I can refer to them as I’m shopping and stay away from products that are harmful to me and the environment.

Ideal Bite’s daily email newsletter keeps me informed about greener options I never would have thought about otherwise. (One of their recent emails was about reusable glass straws — I didn’t even know those existed!) Tiny Choices is a fantastic blog filled with tons of great tips on easy ways to get started going green.

How are you celebrating Earth Day this year? What are some ways that you’ve found your own habits changing recently in an effort to be kinder to the earth? What changes do you want to make for the future?

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My friend Liz recently brought this indie clothing line to my attention in her search for new summer dresses: She-bible was founded by best friends Deirdre O’Boyle and Stacy Rodgers. What started in their kitchen with a hand-made screen printing press has grown into a beautiful line of clothing stocked by small boutiques across the country. Despite their success though, all of their goods are still sewn and printed in their hometown of San Francisco — no overseas outsourcing for these gals!

Many of their styles are currently on sale, and some of the new spring dresses are available in organic fabrics, including their Classic Dress, which is what Liz picked up, only she got one of the fall color options that are currently on sale for $60.

Personally, the piece I’m lusting after is their dramatic Pop Doyle shirt, made from 100% organic cotton:

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Want a chance to win a pair of Plueys rainboots? Join the discussion at the Plueys Facebook page, and post your answer to “Why do you love the rain?” The contest is open now through April 30, and 3 pairs of boots are up for grabs, plus all fans who enter this promo will get a 15% discount off of any purchase at www.plueys.com.

Today and tomorrow only, check out Floating Robot’s sample sale. You can pick up one of Lesley Robin’s quirky faux taxidermy pieces for less than $20, and if you mention the code FRfreeshipping09 at checkout, Lesley will refund MissMalaprop readers the cost of shipping. The code and the sale are only good through tomorrow though — Tuesday, April 21, 2009, so if you want this awesome unicorn to hang on your wall, you better act fast!

Designer Shanah Lewis of Little Houses Clothing is having a 25% off sale on these super stylish handmade sweaters: The Boreal, The Bratislava, and The Rosemont. Once she sells out, she won’t be making any more in these styles, so if you’ve had your eye on any of these, now is your last chance! Check out Shanah’s website or Etsy shop to order your own.

If you’ve got a Buffalo Exchange in your town, be sure to stop by this Saturday, April 25 for their Dollar Day Sale. Many items will be on sale for only $1 each, and all proceeds from these items will go to the Save Whales-Not Whaling campaign of The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International. Whaling still takes place all over the world, both legally and illegally. We watched the Kingdom of the Blue Whale documentary a few weeks ago on the National Geographic Channel, and amazingly enough even these creatures, the largest in the world, are still ending up in fish markets in Japan illegally, sometimes by accidentally being killed during legal fishing operations.

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When a note about the work of Australian artist Emily Valentine came through my inbox the other day, I wasn’t sure what to think. And quite frankly, I’m still not. But nevertheless, I can’t stop staring in awe at her pieces:

In Emily’s own words: “Feathers are my paint. Over the last ten years I have developed my own technique and style using feathers from road kill, cat kill and dead pets. Recently I have moved into a new source of feathers. I have been trapping and killing the registered pest, the Indian Mynah bird. With these feathers I made Mynah Collie 2007, a feathered dog, one of my dog flu series, and it was awarded a merit prize in the Norseweart, the New Zealand Contemporary Art Award.”

“In my work I wish to discuss how attitudes to wearing animals and birds parts have changed. Is this just because of fashion, or has society become more caring of animals? I wish to stimulate the viewer with the uncomfortable nature of the feather, to question our callousness treatment of animals and birds, and ask how we sub-consciously classify animals – pet or pest, valued or worthless, beautiful or plain and why.”

It’s definitely a unique way of recycling, if you can call it that? These pieces are beautiful, haunting, and thought-provoking at the same time. Most of all, I think I’m just amazed at how realistic they look. Don’t they look like these could be real creatures, created by nature?

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