Banuq & Bananas

Banuq is a menswear label inspired by classics. In addition to only using organic textiles, creators Davide Grazioli and Mauro Pavesi claim that they have ongoing investment in “creating the first fully African ethical and organic supply-chain, all the way through the low mileage limited editions, like the Made in Italy heritage part of the collection” and “social improvement, support of traditional craftsmanship, promotion of low water consumption crops like hemp, use of accessories made out of waste materials like coconut shell buttons, use of the latest G.O.T.S., vegetal and mineral dyeing techniques, use of reclaimed, recycled or up-cycled materials. ” Check out Banuq’s lookbook (PDF)!

• GILT City i offering 40-50% off the amazing, guilt-free frozen fruit-based soft-serve from The Soft Serve Fruit Co. GILT City is member-only, so click here to join.

The shop features tastes of every season—banana, strawberry, mango, cranberry, pear, apple and pumpkin—and such toppings as fresh-cut fruit, hot peanut butter, pretzels, chocolate sauce and maple syrup.

The Soft Serve Fruit Co
Union Square  -  25 East 17th St, NYC
Upper East Side – 1371 Third Ave. (at 78th st.)

 

Dept. Store Finds & Getting Healthy Quick and Easy

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Sometimes it’s hard to just find that practical stuff  in sustainable textiles, like this organic, woven cotton shirt from Steve Alan made in the USA. Some other great department-store, sustainable menswear finds like Threads For Thought, and Nordstrom brand organic cotton blend tuxedo shirts and classic boxers.

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• Did you know that oregano, cinnamon, cloves and ginger are so high in antioxidants that they can counter-act a high-fat meal?

A year in the making, Michael Greger, M.D’s NutritionFacts.org is a hub for nutrition-related research, as published in scientific journals, translated into short, easy to understand video segments and posts. Michael Greger, M.D., is a physician, author, and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition, food safety, and public health issues.  A founding member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Greger is licensed as a general practitioner specializing in clinical nutrition.

You can also subscribe to the daily video feed (http://nutritionfacts.org/videos/feed/) or follow them on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/NutritionFacts.org) and twitter (http://twitter.com/nutrition_facts)

 

CPAS Spring 2011 & China Bans Animal Circuses

• CPAS continues to impress with recycled parachute blazers, organic cotton pants and jackets, upcycled tee-shirt liners, cool cuts and innovative accessories. CPAS is fairly-made and never uses leather or fur. Here are some looks you’ll see on the racks for Spring 2011:

• China has banned animal circuses and warned its zoos that they must stop abusing animals or face closure.”Live animal shows and circuses are hugely popular in China, and draw around 150 million visitors a year at 700 zoos”, According to The Telegraph. This is one of the first animal welfare laws in China’s history. Some highlights of the new law:

  • • The ban will also force zoos to stop selling animal parts in their shops and zoo restaurants will have to stop serving dishes made out of rare animals, another widespread practice.
  • • Zoos will no longer be able to pull the teeth of baby tigers so that tourists can hold them
  • • Zoos will have to stop attractions where live chickens, goats, cows and even horses are sold to visitors who can then watch them be torn apart by big cats.
  • • Zoos with “entertainment” like live monkey-fighting, tigers jumping through hoops of fire, and bears walking on tight-ropes must immediately discontinue these practices.

The ban came into force on Tuesday January 18th, 2011 across the 300 state-owned zoos ,which are part of the China Zoo Association. This is a huge turning point for China, and hopefully the law will call public attention to the incredible plight that animals who are kept confined or caged, outside of their natural habitat, prevented from doing anything their bodies and minds evolved to do, and forced to perform cruel tricks and beg for food, experience.

If China, the country that has bear-bile farms, the largest fur exports in the world (including domesticated dog and cat) and a taste for endangered animal parts, can outlaw animal circuses and other cruel acts -certainly, the United States can too.

China Bears

ULTIMATE Father’s Day Guide for the Ethically Handsome Dad

Every Father’s Day, we get dear-old-dad the same old stuff, but being a dad is cooler and braver than ever! Most fathers want what’s best for the family- and now he can also help protect animals and the planet too. The best part is, when getting these ethically handsome gifts for pop, you don’t have to sacrifice style, taste, or pleasure. Nor do you have to compromise on what dad likes! These cool gifts are a spin on traditional Father’s Day presents, from geeked-out gadgets and tools to socks and ties to sports gear and suits. I’ve even got recommendations for dads who have it all, from electric sports cars and motorcycles to Armani Bamboo Sports coats! Your father will be proud to be a personal hero to you and a superhero to the planet. Let’s not underestimate what it means to be protector this Father’s Day!

GIFTS:

• No one in the office will know! Organic Cotton Dress Shirts from Culturata, Velour, and Nordstrom. Organic cotton blows conventional cotton out of the water – growing conventional cotton requires the use of enormous amounts of pesticides, which has a huge environmental impact and presents health risks for those working around it. 25% of the world’s insecticide use and more than 10 percent of the world’s pesticide goes to cotton crops. In 2003, that amounted to about 55 million pounds of pesticides being sprayed on 12.8 million acres of cotton, according to the Organic Trade Association.

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http://www.aussiebum.com/content/items/1265_banana_brief_brf_white/ZM_banana_brf_white.jpg• Organic cotton, bamboo, and banana fiber underwear & socks from Aussiebum & Nordstrom. Supporting sustainable and ethical fashion is more than just an outer layer. Keeping pesticides away from sensitive areas is something any man will get behind.

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Nordstrom Bamboo Blend Socks (3-Pack) Nordstrom Organic Cotton Boxer  Shorts

• Sports gear: Carpenter Trade, professional baseball glove  $280 In addition to superior performance, most people don’t realize that the #1 cause of greenhouse gas emissions is from raising livestock for food and leather. Avoiding leather is one of the most powerful things to do for the environment. So have a custom made, professional-grade glove made with your dad’s name on it.

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• Mens organic, cruelty-free grooming products and scents. The last thing you should give pop is a guilty conscience with products that have been tested on animals. Most razors and many mainstream grooming products are still tested on animals and are not made from recycled plastics, but these items are totally cruelty-free and sustainable. (Preserve, Jack Black, Herban Cowboy, the Body Shop)

Triple Razor Replacement Blades

White Musk® for Men Eau de Toilette Organic Grooming by Herban Cowboy Cologne Dusk 1.7 oz

• Get your dad back into health with cookbooks, health guides, and diet books for dudes! The fireman’s Engine 2 Diet, the Triathlete’s THRIVE book series, Skinny Bastard, Meat is for Pussies, Vegan Bodybuilding and Tal Ronnen’s amazing cookbook, the Conscious Chef.

Buy The Engine 2 Diet book todayBook Cover Meat Is For Pussies book image

Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness By Robert Cheeke THRIVE FITNESS

• Stock the Pantry with delicious, gourmet food! Who says eating healthy means eating sprouts? What dad doesn’t love dark chocolate, smores, gourmet sausage, jerky, dips, and healthy, meaty meal-starters?

Vegan Double Chocolate Twinkies Twin Pack By Dulce Vegan Organic European-Style Chocolate Assortment By Sjaak's Smore Pies by Sweet & Sara

Vegan Grain Meat Sausages By Field Roast

Homestyle Beefless Tips By GardeinVegan Ground Beef By Match

Primal Strips Meatless JerkyVega Sport Performance Protein Tub

• Cruelty-free Accessories from NOHARM, Novacas, Bourgeois Boheme, Matt & Nat, Truth, and The Vegan Collection. Also check out the solar-charged briefcase from Voltaic, or a recycled canvas and vegetable-based faux-leather handbag. All sustainably leather-free.

NOHARM Black Slip-on Vegan Ankle BootsBoBo Vida Black

Voigt Pebble Laptop Carrier BlackFaithless - Pebble Handbag BlackTellier - Snake Wallet Navy

BELT BELT

Solar Laptop Charger

• Buy your dad a gift or experience on Charity Buzz and support your favorite charities. Hang with celebs, get backstage, go on trips, amazing experiences, sports tickets, memorabilia, delicious meals, and more!

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• Satin Ties & Ties diverted from Landfills. With Jaanj’s high-end, luxury, non-silk ties, you’ll never miss the worms that get boiled alive. For cotton ties, the Hill-Side makes ties and pocket-squares from selvedge fabrics, diverting them from landfills and making really cool, classic square-end ties, pocket squares, and handkerchiefs.

• For the Handy-Dad: Gadgets and tools or a Gift Certificate to GREEN DEPOT, an environmental living & building store. From recycled cotton insulation and a home composter to soy based paints and finishes, any dad into home improvement will love these gifts.

• Lawn Order with Greenworks tools. From mowers, blowers, and log-splitters, to hedge-trimmers and cultivators, these greener lawn tools don’t use fossil fuels and make self-sufficiency easy and green!

18in : 5-blades : Reel Mower7 Amp : 160mph : Blower10in : 20V : Li-ION Chain Saw5 Ton 15A Log Splitter

• Vintage Sunglasses / Frames. The greenest gifts of all require no new resource extraction or manufacturing. Vintage is always an amazing option. Classic sunglasses are big right now, from aviators, wayfarers, and John-Lennon frames to the 50′s Halo frames.

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• Enthralling DVDs of Oscar winner’s and award nominees “The Cove”, “Food Inc”, and “End of the Line”.

The CoveFood, Inc. http://www.docurama.com/wp-content/uploads/art-downloads/NNVG169491-05.jpg

For the Dad with it All:

Tesla Electric Sportscar. 0-60 in 3.9 secs, 288 hp, 236 miles per charge. Starts at $101,500

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• Electric Motorcycle from Zero $9,995, or Brammo at $7,995
Zero S Electric Motorcycle - Click Image to Closehttp://www.electricbikee.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/right_side_700px.jpg

Trousers London: Win a Pair of Gourmet Demin

Trousers London

Trousers 10

Trousers London is a denim connoisseurs’ dream, and you can enter to win a pair! The line started in 2008 using exclusively 100% organic denim that is crafted in Italy. These jeans come in eight styles so far, each assigned a number, with more styles coming shortly.  They are built to last, as the designers claim these are not one-season jeans – they are for true collectors. The construction is genius and come from the brains of architects, designers, and other creatives. The best part? They take ecology very seriously:

“Trousers London believe that a sustainable outlook should be fundamental and not an afterthought when building a brand. However, “design” leads the way and they endeavour to boldly recreate a garment that has become a staple in society.”

Trousers SixTrousers FiveTrousers FourTrousers ThreeTrousers TwoTrousers OneTrousers Three White EditionWhite Leopard

THE CONTEST: Win A Pair of Trousers London #6

trousers-six

Simply enter your name & Email address below and you are automatically entered to win!

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Brave New Gear

Here are some cool tools to add to your aresnal for the approaching autumn. Whether you’re headed back to school or back to work, new flax kicks, acessories, and organic cotton shirts are a good place to start.

Loomstate teams up with Jil Planter for some cool accessories.

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The UO Linen Oxford combines a flax upper, a faux-leather inner, and a wood and resin sole. Now that’s smart and on sale for $39.99 .The other styles have real cow skin in them, so stick to these beige kicks.

Paul Smith has a distinguished autumn organic check shirt.

$item.image.namePaul Smith Shirt - Tailored Fit, Organic Cotton Check Shirt

TOPMAN offers up some handsome plimsoles in poly faux-leather brown, and red tartan. These are great for back-to-school and autumn adventures.

TARTAN CANVAS PLIMSOLLS

Nordstrom has a good selection of organic cotton dress shirts for under $30.

Nordstrom Traditional Fit Organic Cotton Dress ShirtNordstrom Traditional Fit Organic Cotton Dress Shirt

Nordstrom Traditional Fit Organic Cotton Dress ShirtNordstrom Traditional Fit Organic Cotton Dress Shirt

AUGUST CONTEST: Win a $150 Gift Certificate at the Turk + Taylor online store!

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Turk + Taylor creatively use organic and sustainable materials and processes to design gorgeous garments for both Picture 7men and women. Their mastery of reinventing classics and capturing nostalgia makes them one of our favorite lines. All goods are manufactured locally in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Turk+Taylor Pop-Up Shop is located at 1529 Fillmore Street in San Francisco. Their phone number is 415-336-5364. They’re open Thursday through Sunday, Noon – 7pm through the end of August.

Their Online store is: http://tnt.bigcartel.com/

You can win this $150 Turk + Taylor Gift Certificate in a few simple steps:

  1. Cities need trees! Friends of the Urban Forest http://www.fuf.net is one of Turk + Taylor’s favorite organizations! Check out their website and then send us anything that inspires you about greening our urban spaces! A letter about what you do, a photo of your rooftop garden, a poem about a tree on your block, a video. Anything goes as long as it’s about the urban forest. Don’t forget to send along an explanation if it’s a visual.
  2. Send to TheDiscerningbrute@gmail.com. The Subject line must read: AUGUST CONTEST: TURK+TAYLOR (otherwise it may get trashed)
  3. The best, most moving and creative submission wins!
  4. Deadline is AUGUST 31st.
  5. The winner will be announced SEPTEMBER 1st.

Fresh Friday Finds

Fact! There are 700,000 homeless people in the U.S., and 18 million vacant houses and apartments…
Source

1. Turk + Taylor, Spring 09 is looking good! T+T is one of our favorite designers, who we’ve been following for a few seasons now. The collection is almost 100% organic cotton. Check them out! Also check out their new organic tees.

2. These shoes are golden! Cool, Vegan, fair-trade, and eco-friendly, does it get any better than that ? Jinga was started 3 years ago by two gals who give back at least 5% of sales to a social project in a Rio de Janeiro favela (shantytown) which provides activities and education to children to keep them away from gangs! (Thanks to reader Michael B. for this info!)

Bronze Classic Black

3. Undercover Animal Lover. This guy is an ethical vegan who risks his safety killing animals all day and shooting undercover footage so we can get a glimpse into the heavily-shrouded meat and dairy industries. Can you imagine? Read this rare interview with TIME magazine, and check his HBO documentary Death on a Factory Farm airing March 16.

4. This Sunday, March 15th, eat good vegan food and help farm animals!

Farm Sanctuary’s Dinner Night Broadway East
171 East Broadway, New York, NY 10002
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Reservations for your party are available between 7:30 and 10 p.m.
Reserve your table online at
www.opentable.com or by calling Laurie at 212-228-3100.
Be sure to mention Farm Sanctuary when making your reservation.

5. One of our favorite organic companies, Loomstate, is having a party at one of our favorite eco-boutiques, Kaight, on Friday March 20th. Get a free Loomstate organic tee with any purchase of Loomstate S/S ’09!loomstatess091

http://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs015/1101388046492/img/141.jpg?a=1102501343552 Loomstate Tosh S/S Button Down

6.  Person to know: Historian and Activist GEORGE DRAFFAN

” ‘Development’ is a euphemism, much like the word ‘efficiency.’ Efficiency within the current system is really about how fast you can turn forests and mountains into wastepaper and soda pop cans. Is that good? If the purpose of life is to consume and destroy, then international trade and industrial civilization are definitely proven ways to speed that up .”

The Elite Consensus: When Corporations Wield the Constitution

Welcome to the Machine: Science, Surveillance, and the Culture of Control

Strangely Like War: The Global Assault on ForestsRailroads and Clearcuts: Legacy of Congress's 1864 Northern Pacific Railroad Land Grant

gg125x125.jpg7. Chloé Jo and the GGA weigh in on the myth that leather can be ‘eco-friendly‘ , on the best Vegan Cheeses, and on the controversy surrounding veganizing your companion animal. Watch out for those crazy cat people! They get their claws out!

Inside a typical tannery

Parma, you so fine.  I wanna make you mine!

8. You might need a french terrycloth motorcycle jacket. I’m just saying….

9. From the folks who brought you EcoRazzi, Veg Daily is Born!veg daily logo, vegetarian, vegan, veggies, eating healthy

10. Veteran vegan rockers Propagandhi talk to VegNews about their forthcoming album, Supporting Caste.

Fresh Friday Finds

1. CROW Clothing
New Menswear from CROW Clothing is made from organic cotton, bamboo, and soy. But that’s not the best thing – they have a sliding scale for prices, so you pay what you can afford!

2. The numbers are in!
Forest Ethics released a report this week citing that “emissions generated by junk mail is equivalent to the emissions of more than 9 million cars, or if you prefer, 2.5 million cars idling 24 hours a day for 7 days a week.”

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2. Howies Organic Denim
This Howies organic cotton jacket is perfect for fall. And their organic skinny jeans with natural indigo are half off!
NedsterBackyard Jeans

3. Monkey Thanker
Friend of DB, Karen Dawn (author: Thanking the Monkey) was recently featured in a news segment connecting going green with compassion for farm animals. Check out the video here.

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4. HSUS Back to School Fur Free guide:

http://hsus.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/05/22/281x269_dereon_raccoon_dog_.jpg

Printable guide to telling real fur from fake fur:
http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/fur/field-guide-on-real-vs-fake-fur-final.pdf
Printable fur labeling case report:
http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/fur/fur-labeling-case-report-final.pdf
Printable list of fur-free companies:
http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/fur/fur-free-list-pocket-guide-final.pdf

5. It seems unbelievable…
http://www.avert.org/photo_library/images/normal_photo_no_247.jpg
…but the Bush Administration is quietly trying to redefine “abortion” to include birth control. The Houston Chronicle says this could wipe out dozens of state laws that protect women’s reproductive freedom and protect rape victims. This “rule change” doesn’t need congressional approval. Can you sign an emergency message to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, whose department is considering this rule change right now?

Fresh Friday Finds

1. Tying not to use silk? Thanks to DB reader Pierre for this, we’ve been informed of the all Vegan Ties made from satin and cotton at: www.jaanj.com


Brown Blue Yellow Cotton Ties in Brown/Blue/Yellow Tan Blue Red White Cotton Ties in Tan/Blue/Red/White Light Color Solid Tie in Pink Wide Ridged Stripes Tie in Yellow/Light Green/Light Blue/Silver-White

2. Give Leather a Smack-down. More Vegan Mixed Martial Arts gloves! I still think there should be an official “Mac Danzig signature vegan glove”. Hey Mac, get in touch!

3. Suits made from 100% recycled post-consumer material! ECOGIR from Bagir Global Innovative Tailoring also features organic cotton, bamboo and tagua nut suits!

4. FISA vote sends us into 1984.

5. Organic Hemp B-boys from THTC. From organic growing, to processing, treating and dying the hemp and cotton fibres, to labor practices – THTC is a leader in ethical fashion. With it’s heart in breakdancing, graffiti art, Hip Hop, Reggae, Breaks and Drum & Bass, the designs coming from this collective is making waves in the urban scene, with fans emerging like Morcheeba, Asian Dub Foundation, Goldie and the Mad Professor.

http://www.smartplanet.com/i/s/comps/thtc_tee.jpgFashions from THTCZulu Nation UK PFunk