Image Source: Organicwear

Let’s face facts. One of the main reasons why convincing the world to go green with organics is such an uphill battle is the expensive cost of such products.

Plain and simple, organic is not cheap. The cost of it is not just slightly more than normal products; often it is many times more which gives birth to the perception that the ability to lead an organic lifestyle is more of a luxury, affordable only to those with the larger paychecks.

Everyone knows organic products are good. It is likely that when you talk to someone and you tell them about the benefits of going organic, they are going to full heartedly nod their heads in agreement with you.

That however doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to jump on the band wagon and automatically go organic. Not when the answer to the practical question ‘Are organic products more expensive?’ is still ‘generally yes’.

Times are bad, and it’s got us reaching deeper into our pockets so the question of cost undoubtedly has taken priority in most households.

Now while this article won’t be able to miraculously bring down the price of organic products, it will however briefly explain to you why they cost as much as they do.

In a line, Organic products are more expensive than normal products because they are more costly to produce. Why? Well because of the following:

• No chemicals are used in the process, making it a labour intensive (hand weeding, hand harvesting, etc) industry that is time consuming.
• Can’t be directly profit orientated because as no chemicals are used, farmers need to use crop rotation to maintain the health of the soils. That would mean they can’t plant ‘cash crops’ each time.
• Organic feeds make for more expensive organic meat, it all about cost transfers.
• The small size of organic farms doesn’t allow for savings on cost from economics of scale.
• Products would need to be certified by regulatory boards to ensure they meet the standards before being labeled as organic. That would mean that farmers and companies have to pay many costly certification fees.
• In business, risk is associated with generating higher returns, which explains why the middle man (retailing stores) would expect to make more/ charge you more for organic products as they views them to be more of a risk to stock up on.

Sometimes the vast price difference it isn’t really because organic products are more expensive to produce, rather it is fact that their non-organic counterparts are cheaper to produce. Confusing? Not exactly.

You see, part of the reason behind the involvement of technology into the production/manufacture of products is the desire of manufacturers to cut down on costs and make a better profit. In doing so, chemicals and synthetics are introduced as they only cost a fraction of what the original natural ingredient would. Costs can also be minimized as they are spread out over a higher production yield that organic methods possibly cannot produce in the same time frame.

 At the end of it all, we know everyone would love to go organic, whether it is for the sake of health or sustaining the environment, it is just the monetary factor that’s holding us back. But we shouldn’t let that dissuade us completely from leading a green life because there are ways to go organic and yet not burn a hole in your pockets doing it.

Even the simplest lifestyle change like subscribing to green beauty can make all the difference. And that’s the thing about change, every little bit counts.

Image Source: Organic.org

Mother Nature gave us natural hair colorants in the form of Henna (Lawsonia inermis) and Indigo. Gifts have been used in India for thousands of years.

Making your own hair dye with henna and indigo is fun (it’s like a little chemistry project), safe (for the environment and for you because it’s all natural) and effective (your hair colour WILL change) but as with anything to do with dyes…it gets a tad messy so be prepared for it.

Henna is plant with red-orange molecules and that’s its only colour. There are no blonde henna, black henna or any other coloured Henna, so if you happen to chance upon a box that says there is, chances are it’s henna mixed with synthetic chemicals – not the eco-friendly or healthy choice you want.

Henna will results in a range of reddish to auburn coloured hair (sometimes even a strawberry blonde depending on your original hair colour, texture as well as which plant extract you mixed it with).

Mixing it with an acidic liquid like lemon juice will make the colour even richer and darker. It all looks very natural too because the henna stain is translucent, binding with the keratin in your hair, it blends naturally into it.

Another great thing about Henna is its healing properties – Henna works wonders to condition your hair. It can even bring back the life and gloss to chemically damaged hair so you get a rich colour with renewed life in each strand!  Henna can even get rid of dandruff and head lice!

But what if red isn’t your colour and you want to go darker? Well that’s where Indigo comes in.

Indigo is a plant with natural blue pigment. If you dye your gray hair with it, you’re going to get a head full of blue, but if you mix indigo with henna, you can create hair colours that range from brunette to jet black.

Now if you’re really interested in using Henna, then you should visit hennaforhair where you can learn all you should know about colouring with Henna – they even have an E-book you can download for free.

As I mentioned before, the resulting hair colour is dependent on the ratio of the components in the mixture and of course the natural hair colour of your hair as well its texture. At hennaforhair, they have Henna mixture recipes you can follow and pictures of results on different coloured hairs.

Even if you’re not going to colour your hair with henna, just drop by for a visit anyways because you will be impressed by the results!

However if mixing your own natural dye seems a bit too much work for you then I guess the next best option I can suggest is you try Lush’s Les Caca (if you know French, you know what caca means) range.

Les Caca is Lush’s 100% natural henna dye and come in the four colours of Marron, Rouge, Brun and Noir.

As with everything at Lush, the bars of Les Cacas come ‘naked’ (unpackaged), all part of the Company’s efforts to help reduce waste.

Now before you yawn and turn away, realize that this obviously isn’t a religious article because it’s is on Girlsustainable- which means it has to somehow be about eco-friendly women.

Therefore, bear with me for a minute and see what I’m getting at. After all, there’s no harm in gaining a bit of general knowledge in the wait now is there?

Quoting chapter 3 of The Book Of Genesis about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden:

[3:6] So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.

[3:7] Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

If you didn’t understand any of that, it’s quite alright because essentially I just wanted you to see that the tree in the garden was a fig tree and it was fig leaves that covered the modesties of Adam and Eve.

Well what if I told you that in support of our eco-system we should do as Adam and Eve’s did and employ fig leaves to guard our modesty?

Only this to be more specific, we’ll use the Greenleaves of Figleaves which is actually a range of eco-friendly undergarments by the online retailer.

Figleaves is the world’s largest online retailer of intimate apparel. They do not manufacture the products, but instead source them from around the world and presently carry over 200 brands.

So why Figleaves if they don’t manufacture their own products?

Well quite simply because the Greenleaves range, although fairly new (launched in March 2008) is a carefully sourced collection of eco-friendly garments from various famous eco-brands such as Eco-Boudoir, Enamore, Green Knickers, Chantelle, C-IN2 and People Tree, which means:

• They are certainly eco-friendly because these brands have been made with sustainable materials, such as bamboo fibre and organic cotton.
• They are not the cliché granny knickers but instead an extensive range comfortable and fashionably sensual designs.

You can read about how Figleaves ‘reduces their impact’ on the environment here.

Are you now frowning and thinking about how you’ll have to submit yourself to a lifetime of wearing the more casual styled eco-friendly footwears such as hemp sandals, organic cotton flip-flops and organic cotton canvas slip-on flats?

If you are, then stop because all is not lost. I agree that most eco-friendly shoes you find sold are casual in style and often leaving you parched for choice, they also don’t make for very suitable accessories/necessities in formal work space.

I’m sure you’d agree it wouldn’t be very professional looking to enter the courthouse in a pair of eco-friendly moccasins. Don’t get me wrong, they are lovely and absolutely comfortable but again not very well suited, matched with a power suit.

It’s worth noting at this point that there is a difference between Eco-Friendly shoes and Vegan shoes although both arguably serve to a good cause in their own way (eco-friendly sustains the earth, vegan sustains animals which in-directly also sustains the eco-system).

Eco friendly shoes are made from recycled materials, sustainable materials and aren’t chemically treated. Vegan shoes on the other hand simply mean that it is free in make from remotely any animal products and isn’t tested on animals.

So where do you turn to in order to find that “eco friendly and preferably vegan fashionable shoes” (that’s a mouthful to say isn’t it?)?

Well just let the eco- champions below show you how cruelty free, eco-friendly and fashionably sassy can all come together to fit on your feet!

Terra Plana

A British eco-conscious fashion company that lives by its poetic ethical policy:

Sustainable shoes are like stars,

We may never succeed in making them

But like the sea faring man on the desert of waters,

We use them as our guides

And by following them

We reach our destiny

Terra Plana has some of the most amazingly eco- responsible cruelty free gorgeous shoes that you will want to take home with you! Terra Plana isn’t a vegan company so there are leather products so do take note if you are specifically looking for eco-friendly vegan shoes…some might not fit your requirements.

Charmone

The New York based company that believes in compassion for animals, planet and people makes them a delightful choice to shop from, especially since their designs are simply femininely divine. With shoes that go under such attractive collection names:

• Butterfly Collection
• High Tea Collection
• High Art Collection
• Organic Collection
• Herb Collection

What’s there to keep you from indulging in it?

NeuAura

The Company that has made its commitment to sustaining animals and the environment:

“Our purpose is to provide fun and exciting quality footwear that does not involve unnecessary harm to animals and to the environment.”

NeuAura is the brand that boasts of “contemporary, high-quality, animal-friendly fashion footwear for today’s uncompromising consumer. Its Spring and Fall collections, though with much designs and choices when compared to the other brands is still worth a look – quantity is not quality!

Olsen Haus

Olsen Haus is a purely vegan and eco-friendly footwear fashion house. Founded on philosophy of

“universal truth, respect for all beings, with a dedication to the expression of spiritual truth in the material world.”

The beauty of the OlsenHaus shoes can only be second to the cause it fights for. Their Fall08-Spring09 is out and ready for your admiration and support.

NIMLI

Nimli is an eco and animal rights conscious online retailer. Founded in New York by vegetarian Rajat Arora, Nimli was his way of advocating the organic cruelty free way of life. Nimli produces more than just shoes, but all their products are created with

“the vision, hope, and philosophy of making it possible for people to adopt a sustainable lifestyle through an extensive offering of green products and services.”

NIMLI makes really beautiful shoes, from boots to pumps, sneakers to flats.

If you want keep with your passion for fashion yet stay green and animal friendly doing it, those are the brands you want to stay with. Yes, some might get a little pricey but if you can afford them then it’s for a good cause so why not?

Note: Shoes are available on line at the respective websites and via authorised retailers listed on the site. And please remember to visit the ‘about us’ site for each company that you may read about their causes and how their products are made to be eco-friendly and animal friendly.

P.S. Check out their clothing line as well! I’m putting their Garden Dress on my Christmas list…

The French Letter Condom Company has the coolest condom website I’ve ever seen in my life, though I wish the song were in French. Anyway, French Letter manufactures high-quality condoms made entirely from fair trade and FSC certified rubber. They come in four scintillating varieties: Linger Lust (which includes a “potency ring for prolonged performance”), Sheer Caress (their ultra-thin variety), Stimulating Massage (their textured condom) and Aphrodisiac (that are scented and flavored). And if the eco-factor wasn’t convincing enough, the rubbers are so adorably packaged, you’ll want to showcase them on your coffee table instead of stashing them in your nightstand. Just think: every time you get down, you’re supporting ensuring ethical working conditions and a living wage for the rubber tappers of South Asia. Which is a good enough reason as any for some hanky panky.

O’My is right! This natural lubricant is paraben-, fragrance-, and artificial flavor-free. It does contain vegetable-based glycerin, so it will taste slightly sweet. It also contains hemp, which, according to the manufacturer “helps contribute to a healthy pH, discouraging the growth of bacteria, yeasts and even fungal infection.” Hooray! Plus, I love love love it’s packaging; the box it comes in is adorable, and the product itself could totally pass as hand soap or or face wash (until someone asks what hand soap is doing on your nightstand…) O’My is water-based, so that means it’s safe to use gratuitously with both latex condoms and silicone toys. And jump-worthy people, of course.

Pinkapple.com also has a great stock of O’My’s other flavors. Besides their unflavored version, you can also score the lube in Kiwi Strawberry*mm!), Melon, Passion Fruit and Cherry. The Blue Cheesecake flavor seems a little suspicious, though. Hm…