Greenloop: A Fashionably-Green Virtual World

"Out to Change the World – One Organic Tee, Vegan Slide, Soy Wrap Dress and Recycled Rubber Handbag at a Time". This is a quote from the press release of a earth-friendly online shopping experience called Greenloop that I recently discovered, provided by Nikki Gersten, PR specialist.

According to owner and founder of Greenloop, Aysia Wright, "For many, what we wear is a key element of personal expression. The goal at Greenloop is to be a solid resource for people looking to live a more planet friendly lifestyle without feeling as though they have to sacrifice their sense of style in doing so" (quote provided by Nikki Gersten)

Wright is right. If you shop at Greenloop's Web site, you definitely won't be sacrificing your style. The Greenloop site sells a plethora of organic and earth-friendly clothing, footwear and jewelry pieces. Some of the brands I really enjoyed taking a look at were:

Green Label (men's and women's t-shirts mainly, with fun, green-worthy sayings like "Re-Think" and "Organic Revolution")
Perfectly Imperfect (men's and women's pieces, including organic leggings and great long-sleeve shirts for women)
Loomstate (I also mentioned in a previous blog how Loomstate provided a line especially for Barneys--however the selection of the brand on Greenloop is more extensive with lots of printed tees, jeans, skirts, and zip-up hoodies available)
Deity Akon (only three pieces, but if you are looking for organic undies or boxers, here's your place)
Loyale (a great off-white blazer)

Edun (A really comfy-looking knee-length sweater for winter, and I actually liked the guy's Edun tees more than the girls, especially the long-sleeved, striped ones)

Positive Energy +E (simple, white, ribbed tank tops with one-word saying like "Wild", "Dangerous" and "Beautiful")

Charmone' Shoes (these are definitely the most stylish and elegant earth-friendly heels I have ever seen--very architectural-looking too)

Also, be sure to check out the accessories page, where you can find everything from beer-bottle cap belts, to recycled tire watches!

The online company opened its virtual doors in February 2005, but the store itself had already been in existence for about a year. According to the Greenloop press release, "Opened in 2004 on the outskirts of Portland, OR, Greenloop was one of the first eco-fashion boutiques to kick off the burlap-and-Birkenstock stereotype, opting instead for hip, sustainable styles by fresh young talent with something to say". The Greenloop boutique has been featured in national magazines such as Elle, Vanity Fair, Glamour and Nylon, just to name a few.

According to the biography of Wright provided by Gersten, Wright was not brought up in a completely environmentally-concerned family (although she did have 23 cats, 9 dogs and a conglomeration of different types of birds). Her love of animals brought her naturally into an environmental awareness by the time she was in high school. Wright earned a B.A. in Environmental Science at San Diego State University, and afterwards she went on to graduate from the University of Virginia School of Law. After some time working as an estate attorney (not in any way using her 'green' degree from SDSU), she opened the Greenloop boutique, which, according to Wright's biography, was "one of the nation’s first fashion retailers to place equal emphasis on ethics and style". Wright now lives in West Linn, OR. with her husband and two children and works to ensure the success of both Greenloop stores: boutique and online.

One aspect of the Greenloop Web site that I found especially interesting are the "project green" items. Particular items on the site are labeled as "project green" pieces, and when you purchase one of these items, $10 of the sale goes directly to various Environmental groups such as Global Green, Healthy Child Healthy World, Earth Share, and many others! This is a great way to feel good about giving back to our planet.

The great thing about shopping with Greenloop is you can get everything you need to outfit yourself in one virtual stop. According to Wright, "Greenloop is a one-stop shopping experience for those seeking sustainable apparel and accessories. The site is user friendly, has good product information and detailed photography to help make the online shopping experience as easy as possible" (quote provided by Gersten).

Also, another great feature I found available on Greenloop was the ability to download thumbnail pics and links to their limited edition reduced price pieces. Check it out just to the right of my posting!

I'm sure right now you are ready to check out Greenloop and all the stylish, eco-friendly fashions they have to offer, so go ahead and click away!

Amy