Moral Fibers Turns Art Into T-Shirts
Charity Business Supports Haitian Artists
Art lovers can wear original works on the beach, and enjoy a healthy dose of good karma, thanks to Moral Fibers. The Canadian company commissions paintings from artists living in Haiti and turns them into T-shirts.
Canadian business students Martin Weiss and Matthew Brightman launched the altruistic label earlier this year. Since then it's been helping Haitian artisans develo…No Comments
MODO Makes Eco by Summer Rayne Oakes Sunglasses
Model Designed Recycled Plastic Shades
Model and entrepreneur Summer Rayne Oakes has teamed up with MODO Eyewear for a green sunglasses collection. Called Eco by Summer Rayne Oakes, every pair of shades in the line is made from at least 95% recycled materials.
The sunglasses are crafted from recycled plastic and hypoallergenic stainless steel. The cases are also green, as they're made from recycled PET bottles. And ev…Eyebobs Collaborates with Iris Apfel
Sunglasses Inspired by Style Icon
The world's most stylish 90-year-old, Iris Apfel, has teamed up with eyewear company eyebobs for a limited edition range of sunglasses. The celebrity inspired shades take their cues from the colorful glasses that have become Apfel's trademark.
It's an appropriate pairing, as eyebobs have been dubbed "the designer of eyewear for the irreverent and slightly jaded." That descri…Suno & Warby Parker Design Sunglasses
Limited Edition Designer Collaboration Shades
Suno has teamed up with Warby Parker for a head-turning new eyewear line.
It makes sense for these labels to get together, as both have a strong philanthropic commitment. Suno was conceived as a reaction to the economic slump Kenya suffered when violence erupted after the country's controversial 2009 election. Warby Parker is a philanthropic pioneer with its famous "buy a pair, g…Carolina Herrara Releases New Eyewear Lines
Two Sunglasses Collections for 2012
Carolina Herrara is treating us to not one, but two new eyewear collections in 2012.
The first sees Herrara reinventing her iconic New York line. There are ten different styles in all, with the cheapest costing $270 and the most expensive topping $340.
If you're hard on your sunglasses, you'll probably feel that even the most affordable New York shades are too expensive. Thankfull…David Lynch Designs Supreme T-Shirts
New “Blue Velvet” Limited Edition Tee
Supreme has joined forces with some of cinema's greats for its new capsule collection of T-shirts. There are five tees in all featuring contributions from David Lynch and Harmony Korine. Their large graphic prints should help them appeal to movie-loving beachgoers.
I think the T-shirt with Isabella Rossellini's Dorothy Vallens singing by the piano from Blue Velvet is my favori…Jean Paul Gaultier & La Perla Do Swimsuits
New Designer Collaboration Spring Collection
Jean Paul Gaultier has again joined forces with La Perla for a brand new swimwear and lingerie line. The designers released their first collaborative collection early this year, and with the new range slated to hit stores in the New Year it seems they were keen to repeat the experience.
The first range only featured lingerie, so it's exciting to see swimwear added to the mix. This lat…Threadless & UNICEF Release $300, 000 T-Shirt
Charity Tees Bring Aid to Africa
The thought of spending $300, 000 on a humble T-shirt seems ludicrous to the average beachgoer, but Threadless, BBH New York, and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF are hoping a few cashed up sun lovers will make the splurge. The exorbitant tee is part of an innovative new collaboration from the T-shirt manufacturer, the advertising agency, and the global poverty fighter. The Good Shirts T-s…Jessica Gomes Designs Mambo Swimsuits
Australian Model Turns Swimwear Designer
Australian model Jessica Gomes is following in the footsteps of her fellow countrywomen Elle Macpherson, Megan Gale, and Jennifer Hawkins and releasing her own swimwear range.
After gracing the pages of Sports Illustrated, Gomes probably knows a thing or two about swimsuits. However she's not going it alone, preferring instead to work with established surfwear brand Mambo.
G…ICU Eyewear Doing Good
Green Sunglasses Help Charities
ICU Eyewear sunglasses do more than simply shield your eyes from the summer sun's rays; they also give back to the planet and community.
The label was one of the first to create a range of eco-friendly sunglasses and spectacles. Its eco-friendly collections for men and women feature shades made from reclaimed plastic, recycled metal, and sustainable bamboo. ICU Eyewear offers bo…Stella McCartney Launches Eyewear
Eco-Friendly Sunglasses for Spring
Eco-conscious fashion designer Stella McCartney will launch her first green eyewear collection this spring. The range of sunglasses and spectacles will be made entirely of natural and renewable materials.
The collection will feature three acetate designs and two metal versions. I'm particularly interested in the bio-injected plastic McCartney's using. We don't think of p…Fashion Bug Sells Pink Ribbon Tee
T-Shirts for Living Beyond Breast Cancer Charity
Show you care on the beach this month wearing the Pink Ribbon Tee from Fashion Bug. The retailer will donate all profits from the sale of the t-shirts to the charity Living Beyond Breast Cancer.
Specifically the donations will help in the distribution of the charity's key educational resource "Guide for the Newly Diagnosed." It will also help fund the organization's Survivor's He…Kendall Jenner Models for White Sands
Kardashian Sister Fronts Swimwear Advertisements
15-year-old Kendall Jenner is the new face of Australian swimsuit label White Sands. The teen better known as Kim Kardashian's little sister steps out from her famous sibling's shadow in this advertising campaign.
The ad doesn't have the vivaciousness we expect from a swimwear campaign, but there's a gentle beauty to the images, which were shot in Los Angeles in July. Jenner look…Diesel Launches Spring/Summer Sunglasses
New Season Marcolin Eyewear
Diesel recently launched its new spring/summer 2012 sunglasses and optical collection designed in conjunction with eyewear specialists Marcolin. It celebrated the milestone with a private party in Paris on October 1.
Despite working closely with Marcolin, the new shades reflect Diesel's contemporary image. The designs are bold, with a healthy dose of rock and roll styling.…Waiting for the Sun Makes Green Sunglasses
Unique Handcrafted Bamboo & Tea Wood Shades
French label Waiting for the Sun offers a green alternative to metal and acetate sunglasses with its sustainable and stylish shades.
The fashion house handcrafts its sunglasses from sustainable bamboo and tea wood, paying particular attention to the natural grains of the materials. These substances have been carefully chosen by the label. Bamboo renews itself quickly and can…Modo Sunglasses Go Green
Eco Shades from Recycled Materials
Modo is one sunglasses firm doing its best to go green. While many of the label's frames are made of the harmful plastics and metals we're used to, they're also sold alongside eco ranges for men and women.
Modo's eco range sees it working with used materials such as recycled stainless steel and repurposed plastic. You'd never guess that the frames are made from used materials; now the…Tumi Does Sunglasses
Travel Bags Company Signs Deal with REM Eyewear
Travel accessories Tumi is expanding its fashion horizons after signing a deal with REM Eyewear. The company plans to release sunglasses and prescription eyewear in the new year.
It seems like a bit of a leap from luggage to sunglasses, but the shades will feature elements Tumi's known for. The rings of Saturn at the temple tips are inspired by Tumi's zipper pulls, while the acid-et…Alexander Wang Makes Coffee Spill T-Shirt
New Limited Edition Starbucks Tee
It looks like the shirt of a new mom who's too frazzled to clean herself up, but Alexander Wang hopes we'll be wearing his latest tee on the beach this summer."The first thing we thought of was what everyone tries to avoid—spilled coffee on a T-shirt," explained Wang.It's certainly an interesting design concept to create a T-shirt made to mimic something undesirable! Wang's alwa…
eBay Sells Vitamin Water T-Shirts
Limited Edition Council of Fashion Designers of America Tees
eBay's Fashion Vault has teamed up with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and Vitamin Water to create a limited edition collection of designer T-shirts.
Prominent designers Derek Lam, Chris Benz, Rag & Bone, Richard Chai, Shipley & Halmon, and Vena Cava, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, and competition winner Guatam Dutta have designed the tees, which w…RubyMoon Reversible Swimsuits for Charity
Swimwear Firm Donates Micro Loans to Women in Poverty
British label RubyMoon creates swimsuits that are good for the environment, and its people.
RubyMoon creates limited edition patterned pieces in small quantities, to ensure its customers can enjoy unique looks. They're also reversible so it's really like you're getting two swimsuits in one. The swimwear is made from Oeko-Tex certified materials sourced from ethical comp…Contego Sunglasses Give Back
Eyewear Firm Donates Prescription Glasses
New York eyewear label Contego is giving back with its stylish range of sunglasses.
Designers Aaron Hansen and Mikol Stambaugh created their company with an emphasis on quality craftsmanship and innovative designs. Their sunglasses feature frames in a variety of shapes and colors to suit male and female sun lovers. Each frame is handcrafted from acetate and reinforced with tou…tanQ’s Charity T-Shirts
Company Supports New Non-Profit Every Month
Disillusioned with her work as a designer for multinational brands like Nike and Columbia Sportswear, Judy Tan set about making a change. She established tanQ, a T-shirt company which supports a different charity each month.
Tan refuses to take a one size fits all approach. Instead she carefully designs a new limited edition T-shirt every month to support a cause fighting povert…Scientists Developing Sunscreen Pill
Ditch Sunblock with New Tablet
Zimmerman Swimwear for Net-A-Porter
Australian Sisters Design Exclusive Capsule Collection
Australian swimwear brand Zimmerman has created a small capsule collection exclusively for luxury e-tailer Net-A-Porter.
Australia isn't short on beaches, but sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmerman seem to have been inspired by Hawaii's shores. The seven-piece collection features Hawaiian style prints and soft florals. Feminine pink and purple hues dominate the line's color…Sass + Bide Launch Sunglasses
Australian Designing Friends Do King of Plenty Shades
Levi’s New Celebrity Designed T-Shirts
Limited Edition Organic Cotton Tees with Seeds
Levi's is celebrating the 40th anniversary of California's famous farm-to-fork restaurant Chez Panisse with the release of a quirky limited edition T-shirt collection.
The five unisex T-shirts feature the artworks of a host of celebrities including filmmaker Sofia Coppola, Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, authors Dave Eggers and Maira Kalman, and Chez Panisse's founde…La Blanca by Rod Beattie Wild Slide Bikini
Modern Black & White Halter-Neck String Swim Top
La Blanca has had a long association with Rod Beattie. The designer began to work with the swimsuit brand in 1988, and enjoyed six successful years with the firm before joining Anne Cole. But Beattie couldn't stay away for too long, and in 1999 he was back to take the creative director job and add his name to the label. This Wild Slide bikini is one of the head-turning creations he made du…Classics Specs Launches Fab Five Sunglasses
Colored Shades for Glasses Charity
We've all heard of the Fab Four, but what about the Fab Five? It might not be as big as The Beatles, but this charitable sunglasses collection should make waves on the beach this summer.
The colorful limited edition collection is the brainchild of Classic Specs. Each one of the varieties features opaque plastic frames and bold colored IRX Polarized lenses. There are five different s…Snooki Shows Off Sunglasses
“Jersey Shore” Star Designs Poof Nation Shades
Infamous Jersey Shore star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi is expanding her fashion empire with a collection of sunglasses. The shades follow the recent release of her range of sandals and flip flops. Snooki's Twitter followers got a sneak peek at the eyewear collection recently. The reality star shared a picture showing her modeling a pink and black pair of the sunglasses. It's a bit har…Gucci Releases Limited Edition Leather Sunglasses
1921 Shades Celebrate 90th Birthday
Gucci is celebrating its 90th birthday with the release of a limited edition range of its iconic 1921 glasses.
The shades, which are named to celebrate the year the fashion house was established in Florence, were made by the Safilo Group. Gucci sunglasses are always luxurious, but the leather covered frames on these ones make them feel extra opulent.
But the pampering doesn't stop…Luxury David Palmer Painted Chipkos Flip Flops
Expensive Shoes Save Rainforests
How much would you pay for a pair of flip flops? $5 if you're a budget shopper, $20 for the average, and maybe $50 if they're a pair of stunning designer summer shoes, right? How about a cool $18, 000? That's the price tag on this pair of Chipkos sandals which have been hand painted by Los Angeles artist David Palmer.
I might, maybe be tempted to spend that sort of exorbitant money on a pair o…Topshop’s Limited Edition Kimonos
Floral Cover-Ups for Teen Cancer Charity
British fashion retailer Topshop is doing its bit to promote sun protection with the release of three limited edition cover-ups.
The printed kimono style tops make it cool to cover-up, so hopefully they'll catch on amongst young fashionistas. They're available in a range of fashionable prints: red rose, navy sheer floral, and black sheer floral. The cover-ups are made entirely…Earth Makes Eco-Friendly Gladiator Sandals
Recycled Beach Shoes Burn Calories
Earth has created a pair of gladiator sandals that are as good for the planet as they are for your figure, with this striking pair of summer shoes.
These on-trend sandals look like they're made from your choice of snakeskin or suede, but they're actually crafted from 70% recycled materials. It's a little disappointing that the retailer Gaiam.com doesn't tell us exactly what recycl…Burberry Brights Foldable Sunglasses
Convenient Colored New Shades
Burberry's celebrating the current 80s revival with its fun new sunglasses collection, Burberry Brights.
The shades feature a classic wayfarer silhouette and a color palette which mixes conservative neutrals and shocking retro hues. Traditionalists will flock to the black, white, and tortoiseshell shades, but I prefer the more daring colors including lime green, opal blue…Suno Vintage African Swimwear
Unique Sustainable Tribal Bikinis
Suno combines New York artistry with African style with its range of sustainable swimwear.
Max Osterweis was inspired to launch the label in spring 2009 following post-election violence in Kenya, an African nation Osterweis considers to be his second home. The violence threatened to damage the country's economy and industry, and Osterweis desperately wanted to help. He enlis…Linda Loudermilk Compostable Bikini
World First Eco-Friendly Swimsuit at Miami Swim Week
Miami Swim Week has introduced us to some weird and wonderful swimwear. Some, like the glass Diesel bikini modeled by Kristin Cavallari, are striking but not very smart. However other suits, like Linda Loudermilk's compostable swimsuit, take technology into new, practical directions.
The eco-conscious designer claims her plant starch bikini is the first compostable swimsu…Apolis Co-Op Sandals
Handcrafted Leather Flip Flops Help Israeli Artisans
For many of us, a pair of flip flops is a throwaway item, a cheap and cheerful footwear option for those summer months spent lounging near the sand. But for Apolis, this humble shoe is a force for social change.
The social enterprise is behind the Co-Op sandal, a beautiful flip flop featuring a recycled rubber sole and soft vegetable-tanned leather upper and accents. The style is simp…Kristin Cavallari Wears Glass Diesel Bikini
American Fashion Brand Collaborates with SKYY Vodka on Quirky Swimwear
It's Miami Swim Fashion Week, and everybody seems to be stripping down and donning their best beachwear. But few are wearing any swimsuits as impractical as the one former reality TV star Kristin Cavallari paraded down Diesel's runway. The striking asymmetrical blue bikini was made entirely of shards of glass!
I've often written about swimsuits that are more about fashion than s…Nicole Miller’s African Summer Shorts & Skirts
American Designer Collaborates with Indego Africa
American designer Nicole Miller has again teamed up with non-profit social group Indego Africa for a tribal themed apparel and accessories collection.
The first collaboration came about in 2010, following Miller's travels to Rwanda. She saw first-hand the way that Indego Africa empowers its artisans. The project trains local craftspeople and helps them connect with global b…Bantu African Swimwear
Local Craftspeople Make Tribal Swimsuits
With African prints and tribal patterns offering some of the hottest looks in swimwear, it makes sense to go straight to the source. Innovative label Bantu designs stylish swimsuits which are crafted by African artisans.
The company helps create jobs in some of Africa's most impoverished neighborhoods. By offering employment to local artisans, Bantu helps boost the economy in…M&M Environmental’s New Bed Bugs T-Shirts
Quirky Dating Tees
New York based pest control firm M&M Environmental is making a surprising step into the fashion world with its cheeky range of bed bug themed T-shirts.
The cute T-shirts look to advertise your bed-bug free status to potential mates with slogans like "Date Me I'm Bed Bug Free" and "BBFF," an acronym which translates to bed bug free forever.
Natalie Raben, M&M Environmental…Kayu Sunglasses Do Good
Bamboo Shades Fund Sight Surgery
Kayu promises to help you look good while doing good with its range of sustainable sunglasses.
The label combines Texan-born Jamie Lim's commitment to craftsmanship, ethics, and the environment. While Kayu is the Malay word for wood, her sunglasses are made from bamboo, which is technically a grass. Whatever you want to call it, it's one of the most sustainable fibers in the world…Boys Scouts Make Green T-Shirts
Eco-Friendly Tees From Recycled Plastic Bottles
The Boy Scouts are making more than bird houses and model rocket ships these days. The youth organization has teamed up with SustainU to create a range of patriotic T-shirts crafted from recycled polyester called Repreve.
The fabric is so soft, it's hard to believe it was once plastic PET bottles. These old soda bottles are cleaned, melted down, and spun into a brand new fiber withou…Studio Swine’s Hair Sunglasses
Recycled Biodegradable Eco-Friendly Shades
Through their design company Studio Swine, British designers Alexander Groves and Azusa Murakami have created sustainable sunglasses and eyewear from an unlikely material. You'd never know it from looking at them, but these modern specs are made from human and synthetic hair!
It might sound a bit on the nose, but let's remember that we've been using human and synthetic hair to ma…PaperFlops’s New Recycled Newspaper Flip Flops
Cute Eco-Friendly Beach Shoes Make Indonesian Jobs
PaperFlops is a brand new line of flip flops cleverly made from recycled newspapers and other eco-friendly materials.
The shoes are innovatively designed using newspaper, coconut shells, and palm tree root. You might hesitate to wear shoes made from paper near the ocean, but PaperFlops has thought of that. A thin layer of natural rubber seals each shoe, ensuring it's water-resi…Claudia Schiffer Models Chanel Sunglasses
Supermodel Fronts Prestige Eyewear Ad Campaign
Chanel has ditched the double Cs for another iconic design element with its Prestige Fall 2011 eyewear collection.
The spectacles and sunglasses feature arms made of chain woven with lambskin, a detail which replicates the straps of Chanel's famous handbags. It's a subtle way to point to the brand’s heritage, which makes it very on trend. The world is moving away from obvious lo…Snooki Designs Flip Flops & Sandals
“Jersey Shore’s” Nicole Polizzi Launches Summer Footwear Line
Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi is determined to make the most of her 15 minutes of fame with the launch of a collection of summer footwear.
The Jersey Shore star has already released Happy Feet slippers through her company Snooki Enterprises, so I suppose flip flops and wedge sandals are the next logical step. Snooki fans aren't likely to be disappointed by these beach-ready shoes, as the…Headwear Association Gives Away Hats
Free Wide Brimmed Sunhats for Beach
The Headwear Association wants you to be sun smart on the beach this summer, so it's dubbed today, Friday June 17, Hat Day in the Sun. To celebrate, the organization will hand out wide-brimmed hats in a variety of American locations.
These hats were chosen to offer maximum protection to the face, neck, eyes, and ears. The association suggests women should follow the "more skin, more…TOMS’ New Sunglasses
Footwear Brand’s Shades Help Restore Sight
TOMS has extended its famous "one for one" business model with the launch of its new collection of sunglasses.
Just as it does with its footwear, TOMS will donate a pair of glasses to a person in need for each one sold. We've seen this kind of practice before from other altruistic eyewear labels including Warby Parker, so what makes TOMS special?
Well for starters, TOMS was the first co…Shapeways Sells World’s First 3D Swimsuit
High Tech Three-Dimensional N12 Bikini
Continuum Fashion and Shapeways have banded together to create the world's first 3D printed bikini, and you don't even need those pesky glasses to enjoy the effect.
The N12 is named after the nylon 12 material used to create the bikini. This fabric is strong and flexible, even when it's as thin as 0.7 millimeters. That makes the lightweight material very comfortable to wear at the be…
