Linen - It's Not Just For Miami Vice

My ever so hip & sexy guest blogger, Elena a.k.a. EcoDiva, has provided me with some fashion insight that I unknowingly have been following long before my days of consciously living more sustainably. Read what Elena has to say about a sustainable fabric style that's cool & not just in a Miami Vice sort of way...
Mia's Photo:(Me wearing my linen shorts & Viper Black organic tee. See my big box of recycling in the background too?!)

Linen is another great green fiber that we've forgotten. Some of my favorite summer gear includes fabulous linen tie pants. And who among us has not coveted the perfect tailored linen jacket. If you are among the non-linen-wearing, I will now convert you and answer some of your burning questions about linen and EcoDiva fabulous clothing:

What is linen? Linen is the fabric obtained by using parts of the stem of the Flax plant.

What is the difference between flax and linen? “Flax” refers to the plant and the fibers (flax plant, flax seeds, flax yarn), whereas “Linen” applies to products made from flax (linen fabrics, linen clothing, linen tablecloths etc.)

Which part of the flax plant contains the fibers used to make linen? The flax fibers used to produce linen are contained in the central part of the stem of the plant.

Why is linen so highly regarded as a textile fiber? Linen is luminous, clean, soft and strong. The brightness of linen comes from the nodes in the fibers that reflect light and the fresh feel and scent of washed linen is a luxury for your body. Linen has traditionally played a leading role in fashion; nearly every designer has experimented with this fiber.

How is linen created? First the pulled flax plants are left in the field (“retting”) for a certain period of time, allowing the fibers to separate naturally. Then the process begins by “scotching”—a process that extracts textile fibers from the bark and separates them from the wood particles with crushing and breaking motions. Finally, the flax fibers are combed into smooth, even slivers that will be spun into yarn.

When did linen originate? Linen is one of the oldest textiles around. It dates back to ancient times, making it difficult to say exactly where and when it originated. Known since antiquity, flax
is the oldest textile fiber in the world. The earliest traces of its use date to 8000 B.C. when the Egyptians Pharaohs were wrapped in linen fabrics at burial because of the quality, natural nobility, and strength of the material. Linen reached Europe when the Phoenicians bought flax in Egypt and later exported it to Ireland, England and Brittany. Today European linen is the most treasured luxury fabric in the world.

Is linen eco-friendly? Yes! Flax needs very little chemical fertilizer to grow and once the fiber has been extracted from the plant, it supplies a number of useful by-products, including flax oil (used to produce soap, cosmetics, paints, printing inks etc.) and fibers (paper and even the American dollar contain flax fibers). Nothing is wasted. Now that’s got the EcoDiva stamp of approval.

JohnPatrickOrganic.com

UndertheCanopy.com

TheGreenLoop.com

OrganicSelections.com


Signing Off...EcoDiva
Learn more about Ethical Luxury and theEcoDiva at theEcoDiva.blogspot.com

Happy 4th of July!!

Trader Joe's - Not so Friendly to our Friends of the Sea

As a member of Greenpeace, I periodically get email updates from them informing me of what's going on with on in the environment & our waterways... Here's some surprising info that I read about Trader Joe's market. A little food for thought.

xoxo,
Mia

The email:

Traitor Joe here. I'm up to my eyeballs in red list seafood. My stores have so many red list fish on ice, that I’d bet there aren’t any left in the oceans. Seafood gets red listed if it’s fished using methods that harm ocean habitats or other critters, or because there just aren’t that many of the fish around anymore. But have I helped save them? Heck no!

Greenpeace released the third edition of their supermarket scorecard and Trader Joe's came in at the bottom of the list again (17 out of 20). Ouch! In fact, this is the third time Trader Joe’s scored as the worst of the national supermarket chains surveyed about sustainable seafood. Just call me your one-stop-shop for ocean destruction.

If ocean destruction bothers you, and you want Trader Joe’s to get out of the business of trading red list seafood, then visit my website traitorjoe.com, and do something about it. Send a singing fish telegram to Trader Joe's and tell them to stop destroying the oceans and passing the guilt onto their customers.

But, I hope you won't, though, because that way I can keep confusing my customers, all while turning a profit.

From the bottom of the barrel,






Traitor Joe

Manly Men & the Natural Products that make them look Hot!

An alchemist can turn metal into gold, but Kaia House can turn your skin into pure radiance. Even scruffy Joe Schmoe can be transformed into a handsome gentleman… How you ask? It starts from the neck up. Indulge your hair and skin with Kaia House’s nourishing natural products that are both Safe and Effective, as well as Animal and Environmentally friendly.

If you haven’t been hiding under a rock these past few years, you’ve probably noticed that men are picking up on a lot of the beauty tips and regimens that women have been following for decades. Maybe you’ve even caught your man red handed dipping his fingers in your anti-aging night cream before! The truth’s out…men want in on the same great natural beauty/health care products that women have, but they want their own versions - MANLY versions.

I’ve found these “manly” products for men! And just to prove that I know they’re great, I had my friend Nick test them out before giving my seal of approval.

For the scalp: Kaia House Organics Peppermint & Tea Tree Shampoo

Nick said, “The shampoo smells great and feels really nice. It lathers up very well and I don't need much to get a lot of lather. It's also totally clear and that makes me feel like it's more natural and not full of chemicals.”

Kaia House knows how important it is to care about what we put on our bodies. That’s why this minty fragranced shampoo is sulfate-free and enhanced with Pro-Vitamin B5 that helps to strengthen brittle hair.

For the scalp : Kaia House Organics Green Tea & Rosehip Conditioner

Nick said, “I've never thought my hair really needed conditioner. It went in easily and rinsed out easily and left my hair feeling soft and smooth.”

Kaia House’s extra moisturizing conditioner leaves hair feeling silky and helps improve shine without weighing hair down.

For the face: Biotique Bitter Orange Nourishing Lotion for Men

Nick said, “The lotion is absolutely great. I think it smells nice and has a neutral odor that's not masculine or feminine. I definitely feel like it leaves my skin softer and fresher and has no oily feeling at all. I have a Vera Wang after shave lotion as well and I actually like this one better.”

BIOTIQUE's light moisturizing lotion nourishes the skin with natural Vitamins and is great for combating ingrown hairs from shaving.

Check out Kaia House to view their wide variety of men's, women's, and children's products.

xoxo,

Mia & Nick

“Face in a Case” Mineral Makeup

Me & celebrity lifestyle blogger Micah Jesse @ Steve Nash's Party

I am without a doubt, a girl on the go. Ask anyone who calls or messages me, and they’ll tell you that I’m always making a mad dash from one place to another. My days start early and usually end late (sometimes even into the wee hours of the next morning). Life in the city can be unpredictable too. You never know where you might go or who you might bump into – After I left the cmarchuska trunk show @ The Green Room NYC last Wednesday, I ran into Fat Joe @ Milk Gallery and Steve Nash @ his party being held at Hudson Terrace. (It was an unexpectedly busy day – I even lost a shoe that night!) But the one thing I never worried about was how my face looked. Thanks to my Dieci Colori “Face in a Case” mineral makeup kit, I kept my face looking fresh and colorful.

Dieci Colori cosmetics make life easier for busy women like me, who are looking for a convenient and natural way to enhance their beauty. Marie Gaglioti, president of Dieci Cosmetics has designed an innovative cosmetics line (among others beauty & wellness product lines) that is simple, chic, and healthy for your skin.

Dieci Colori uses micronized minerals to protect and gently correct skin tones. The minerals have powerful light reflective properties that hide imperfections and reveal your skin’s natural radiance.

My make-up case comes complete with:
• Multi-colored Mineral Powder
• Mineral Matte Blush
• 3 Mineral Matte Eyeshadows
• Mineral Shadow
• Large Shadow Eyeliner
• Shadow Applicator/Blender Brush
• Lip Liner
• Lip Stick

This line offers an array of wearable, hypoallergenic formulas and classic shades. There is also a vast assortment of lipsticks, shadows, and eye and lip pencils featuring the latest colors. Plus, you’re not just limited to that… blend different shadow shades and blushes together to create your own unique colors!

Check out all of your color options and products at Dieci Colori.

xoxo,
Mia