The Discerning Brute: fashion, food & etiquette for the ethically handsome man » organic cotton

Tanzanian Organic Cotton Made in Africa

joshuakatcher — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 03:05:26 +0000

"A Question Of" is a radical street fashion brand from Copenhagen using fair-trade, Tanzanian organic cotton to make tee shirts in Africa by empowered workers. As they say on their website "We are believers in sustainable fashion made with love and respect to people and the environment." Their online store features eleven collaborating artists, and a good dose of humor. From the tongue-in-cheek "Conscious Karl" Karl Lagerfeld and "Conscious Anna" Anna Wintour graphics to the "Eco-Yuppie" shirts, "A Question Of" is certainly making waves with their message and their practices. Join "A Question Of" on Facebook.

Backbone

joshuakatcher — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:39:16 +0000

Nudie Jeans has launched a new core program on tops called Backbone. I especially like the title, as we Discerning Brutes and Brave GentleMen know, it does take fortitude and courage to depart from what's cheapest and most convenient in exchange for fair labor, sustainable textiles and recycled packaging. Soon, I'll be carrying them at BraveGentleMan.com! Backbone is a complete jersey program consisting of nine different fits including a tank top, long and short-sleeved t-shirts and a sweatshirt. In addition to the tops there are also two different fits on underwear; briefs and boxers. All products are made of organic cotton and produced in Europe. Each garment comes in recycled paper packaging, confirming the obvious idea that Nudie Jeans stands for simplicity and sustainability. The sleek and handsome styles are classic and perfect as basics that can go with or beneath almost anything.

Organic Plaid, Raw Chef & Locavores Get Schooled

joshuakatcher — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:58:35 +0000

• Jackthreads, a member-only website, if offering a bunch of Nudie Jeans organic cotton shirts and a cardigan. Click here for your invite. They also offer organic twill denim, but continue to use that little leather belt-patch on the back, so I won't recommend those (hey Nudie! Just swap that out with a non-leather tag. Simple. What's wrong with leather?). • Christopher Jolly is a New Jersey-based raw foods chef whose decadent and fresh innovations are worth checking out. LiveJollyFoods.com has all his info, and rumor has it, he has a line of raw desserts coming our for Whole Foods. Check him out. • On the latest episode of Our Hen House, hosts Jasmin Singer and Marianne Sullivan conduct an interview we all need to hear. James E. McWilliams does not mince words when it comes to being an environmentalist who eats meat - and his stance, which is mainly ecological, is sure to infuriate those who claim to care about the planet, yet continue to eat mean when there are other options. From Our Hen House:

"James E. McWilliams, esteemed columnist for The Atlantic and the New York Times and author of several books, including Just Food: Where Locavores Get it Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly. James, a true environmentalist, will give us his take on veganism, and how sustainable food choices should be shaped by what our food is, not where it comes from.

Bloomingdale’s Hosts ECOLUX Pop-Up

joshuakatcher — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:38:10 +0000

The NYC-based "Artists & Revolutionaries" is one of several brands that NYC's eco-fashion fans will be able to get their paws on at The Green Shows pop-up shop hosted in Bloomingdale's from Wed April 20th - Fri April 22nd. Click here for the details. Below are some of the menswear images from the line Artists & Revolutionaries. Designer John-Michael Schlotter uses 70% organic cotton and 30% hemp in the styles depicted below. They are hand-dyed with low impact dyes (thus each garment is unique), unisex, and one size. All Artists & Revolutionaries garments are all locally produced in Brooklyn. The flagship store is at 200 Franklin st, Brooklyn NY 11222. (*As a disclaimer, the designer is a vegetarian, and does use recycled leather in other garments and accessories, as well as some cashmere, but these are the awesome vegan options for ya'll)

H&M’s Conscious Collection

joshuakatcher — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 22:40:50 +0000

It looks like H&M is releasing a bunch of organic cotton blends. This is good news, because a lot of people shop there, and not everyone can afford organics from independent and more expensive designers - and organic cotton is far superior to conventional cotton considering the colossal pesticide usage. Is H&M attempting to legitimately clean up its act after recent scandals including the trashing of clothes and the sweat-shop fires? Time will tell.

Misericordia & The Seal Hunt Begins

joshuakatcher — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 23:39:01 +0000

• Misericordia is a peruvian fashion label that is trying to increase the amount of organic cotton in the collection. They use local, far labor in Peru, locally sourced textiles, and, according to their website "The clothes are ethically produced in the Misericordia workshop in Lima by our own team of seamstresses with a unique know-how." Here is a few of their organic cotton pieces: • Canada's bloody seal hunt has begun today. Even though the ice is thinner than ever - and as a result of global warming many babies are drowning, these bullies are still bludgeoning by the hundreds-of-thousands. This "tradition" could be easily stopped if we all act together and demand it. Please visit Canada's Shame to find out how to help defend these babies.

Prim I am, Pin Contest & Vérité Catering

joshuakatcher — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:41:07 +0000

• Fine, sustainable spring fashions for you to ponder today from the Danish line Prim I Am : • Whoa! NYC's most impressive catering comany - Vérité Catering - is giving up to 69%-Off Private Cooking Lessons or Catering on Gilt City. Gilt in invite only, so click here for your invite and cash in on this for your next party or for your own cooking skills!

Explore the simple and elegantly delectable power of gourmet vegan cuisine with Vérité Catering. No lying: you’ll never have experienced all-vegan food this good before. — Laura Vogel, Gilt City Editor

• Hey Artists and designers who "don't hate animals" (that's you!), enter this cool anti-fur pin art contest and get your work seen by Todd Oldham and Marc Bouwer! PINNACLE: Reinvent The Icon and Busy Beaver Button Co. have teamed up to award one lucky artist with 100 pins in their awesome design (which will be all the rage) and a feature story on the PINNACLE website. Everyone who enters gets a secret code for 10% off the purchase of their pin production from Busy Beaver Button Co so we can ALL make rad anti-fur pins!

This is Format

joshuakatcher — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:49:19 +0000

• The German label, Format, by Mareike Ulman utilizes organic cotton, local and fair-labor conditions, and avoids mass production in the pursuit of sustainability and individual style. The solid and modern shapes matched with the unsaturated shades of black and white make a statement about casual strength.